My body dipped like a pit opened under my feet, but my knees firmed up and I didn’t fall. “Was I not good enough?”
He cringed. “I’m sure you were a doll, but he’s feeling guilty and worried he might’ve hurt you... and other bullshit.” He glanced around with a huff. “I’ll walk you back to his house if that is where you want to be. I promised him I’d make sure you got somewhere safe.”
“But what happened? Why isn’t he here? Did he have an emergency?”
“Yes. I would say he considers it an emergency, but I certainly don’t.” He grinned at me. “It’s called Catholicism, and it afflicts quite a few otherwise reasonable people in this city.”
Mr. Jericho was confusing, and I glanced around. I didn’t like it. “What did Daddy say he wanted me to do?” I couldn’t be getting left again so soon, could I? My heart hurt and I curled forward.
“Do you want to go back to his place?”
I nodded, but now I wasn’t certain what was going on. Had Daddy simply gone home without me? Why?
“Okay.” Another priest came into the hall and waved at Mr. Jericho impatiently, but Mr. Jericho ignored him and snagged my hand, tugging me quickly along behind himself so that we were nearly jogging. “Let’s go. I’ll get you home.”
Once we were outside the walk wasn’t long, and it was familiar, but tears began to spill onto my cheeks, and I couldn’t tell where we were. I tried to stay in the shadows so Mr. Jericho wouldn’t notice because people didn’t usually like to see me cry. I felt so confused. If Daddy had felt good, which he had, and he liked me, which I thought he did, why did he leave me at the church?
“You said there was an emergency?” I asked, stumbling on the sidewalk in the dark. I dodged out of the way when he tried to catch my arm to help me and ended up going to a knee. Feeling clumsy, I got up, and he took a step back from me.
“Of sorts.”
“Did he ask you to take me somewhere else?”
Mr. Jericho’s brow wrinkled, and he paced toward a streetlight that broke up the shadows on the sidewalk. “No. He said he wasn’t sure he was strong enough to have you living in his house.”
“What?” I stomped toward him. “That isn’t right. He’s been nice to me, protected me.”
Mr. Jericho shrugged. “He’s a priest.” He didn’t sound impressed, and his bad attitude made me angry on Daddy’s behalf.
I crossed my arms. “My Daddy can do or be whatever he wants.”
“Why?” Mr. Jericho cocked his head and paid close attention to me, something no one except Daddy had ever done... as far as I could remember.
“Because he is my Daddy.” Horror pelted through me and my stomach turned. “Oh no, he asked me not to call him that in front of other people.” I wanted to hide somewhere but stood still. Was the Father Rule active only when we were in the church or all the time around peoplefromthe church?
“It’s okay, I won’t tell anyone.” Mr. Jericho smiled, which was nice, but I didn’t feel like reciprocating. He began walking again, and I followed him. After a while Daddy’s house came into view and I almost sobbed in relief. It was the same cozy place I’d been in earlier and it still looked friendly.
And best of all, Daddy was inside.
But then fear bit at me.
“Daddy left me at the church?” I asked, misery growing in the pit of my stomach as I stopped near the porch. There was a light burning beside the front door.
Mr. Jericho climbed the steps and turned to smile down at me. “I brought you here because I don’t believe he wanted to leave you anywhere.” The door behind him opened, but he didn’t turn around. “I think Gian wants you right here in this house.”
“That isn’t your choice to make,” Daddy said sternly, and my stomach roiled.
“Well, I could use a good boy if you won’t keep him.” Mr. Jericho turned and winked.
Daddy nearly shoved Mr. Jericho aside as he came down to me, which left his friend howling with laughter. “Goodbye, Jay,” Daddy snapped.
Quivering, I almost talked myself out of it, but I threw my arms around Daddy, and he caught me and hugged me close. “I’ll be better next time, I promise. Anything you want, I’ll do.”
Daddy rested his cheek on top of my head, and even though I was confused, I didn’t feel scared in his arms. He was strong and would keep me safe.
“You’re perfect, that’s the problem.” But he kissed my forehead and his warm lips on my skin made me feel like I was glowing inside. How big of a problem could it really be? I’d do whatever he said, and he would want to keep me. I just had to try harder.
8
