“Come sit down,” I ordered, my voice stern enough that she didn’t dare argue.
She plopped down on the couch and crossed her arms over her chest.
“I know you’re mad at me because I told Derek what happened, but you need to understand that it isn’t just your story.”
She opened her mouth, but I held up my hand.
“I’m not finished.”
Her lips clamped shut, and she glared at me. I sat down in the corner of the couch, one leg bent on the cushion so I could face my daughter.
“Derek opened up to me. He told me about his parents, and then he asked about Richard. I didn’t think about it; I just started talking. I know I should have talked to you first, but... I’m sorry, Frankie. I can’t take it back. All I can do is promise not to do it again.”
“Do you like him?” she asked.
“Derek?” She nodded, and I thought about how to answer her. “He seems like a nice guy.”
“But is he someone you think you could fall in love with?”
I stared at my daughter. “Frankie, where is this coming from?” Her eyes settled on her hands as her fingers twisted together. She shrugged and looked away.
“Frankie, I told you, sweetheart.” I reached under her chin and turned her to face me. “You are the most important person in my life. I’m not looking to be with anyone.”
Tears hovered on the edge of her lower eyelids. “But do you think you could love him?”
“Frankie, talk to me. What’s going on?”
She took a deep breath and wiped her nose on her sleeve. “I wish I had my dad,” she whispered.
I pulled her against me, wrapping my arms around her tightly. “I wish you had a dad too, baby. But I suck at picking men.” I expected a chuckle like every other time we talked about the possibility of me dating. When she remained silent, I inhaled a steadying breath and told her the truth. “Richard was arrested again.”
She sat up and looked at me. “Why?”
I sank back into the corner and pulled my feet up. I locked my arms around my legs and rested my chin on my knees. She deserved to know the truth, despite how much I wanted to protect her.
“He hurt Hannah.”
The tears she’d been holding back slipped down her cheek when she blinked at me. “The way he hurt me?”
I nodded. “Slyce sent me a news article. Someone broke into their house and found him in her room. The guy beat the shit out of him and left him on the front lawn for the police.”
“Derek,” Frankie breathed.
“What?”
“Derek—that’s where he went.” Her face brightened instantly. “When he left town,” she said. “He went to beat up Richard for what he did to us.”
She scooted to the edge of the couch and turned her body to face mine. “He didn’t leave us,” she boasted. “He went to avenge us.”
She threw her arms around me and then jumped off the couch.
“Frankie,” I called before she disappeared.
“Don’t you get it?” she asked.
I shook my head because I didn’t get it.
“He loves us, Mom.”
