Page 45 of Her Courage

"I know." I cut her off gently. "I know it's not rational. Therapy helped me understand that. But knowing something intellectually and believing it are different things."

Andrei's hand landed on my shoulder, squeezing hard enough to ground me.

"Every time she calls, every time she demands something, I feel like I'm fifteen again." My voice cracked. "Standing in that kitchen while she screamed about how disappointed my father would be in me for not giving her what she wanted. Using his memory as a weapon."

"Oh, Kaleb." Lottie's voice broke on my name.

"She's manipulated me for years." The admission tasted like ashes on my tongue. "Guilt trips. Emotional blackmail. 'After everything I've done for you.' 'Your sisters need this.' 'You're breaking your father's heart in heaven.'" I shook my head. "I'd write checks just to make her stop. To make the poisonous words stop."

Silence stretched, heavy and suffocating.

Then Lottie tugged on my ear—not hard, just enough to make me lift my head and meet her gaze.

Tears tracked down her cheeks, but determination blazed in her eyes.

"No more," she said firmly. "You don't owe her anything. Not money. Not time. Not a single piece of yourself."

My chest heaved with the effort of containing everything roiling inside me.

"I wanted to protect you from all this," I whispered. "Didn't want her poison touching you. But she found you anyway. Threatened you. Put a gun—" My voice broke completely.

Lottie's thumbs swept across my cheeks, catching the tears I couldn't hold back anymore.

"I'm okay. I'm right here." She pressed her forehead to mine. "And I'm not going anywhere. Whatever comes next, we face it together."

"Together," Andrei echoed quietly.

"Always together," Colby added from across the kitchen.

The dam burst.

Years of repressed emotion—anger, grief, shame, fear—came pouring out in harsh sobs that wracked my entire body. I clutched Lottie tighter, buried my face in her stomach, and finally let myself shatter.

Because I knew she'd help me put the pieces back together.

Her hands never stopped their gentle movement across my head and neck. Her body stayed strong against mine, absorbing every tremor.

"I've got you," she whispered. "We've all got you, Daddy K. Let it out. Let it all out."

So I did.

I cried for the boy who'd lost his father too young. For the teenager who'd shouldered burdens no child should carry. For the man who'd spent decades convinced he wasn't worthy of love unless he paid for it.

Time lost meaning. Could have been minutes. Could have been hours.

Eventually, the sobs quieted to shuddering breaths. My eyes burned. My head pounded. Every muscle ached from the force of emotion that had torn through me.

But beneath the exhaustion, something else stirred.

Relief.

"Better?" Lottie's voice was soft against my ear.

I managed a weak nod against her stomach. "Sorry for falling apart on you."

"Don't." Her hands framed my face again, tilting it up. "Don't you dare apologize for being human. For feeling. For trusting us enough to break down."

My throat worked as I swallowed hard.