28. Evie

twenty-eight

I’d never been hit by a moving train, but I assumed this was what it felt like.

Like your insides were twisting unnaturally, and your organs were being torn apart.

Don”t call me that. You’re not the daughter I raised.

Watching Dad go was like being stabbed with many knives at once.

Everything in me wanted to run after him, tell him to stay, but my limbs refused to move.

My hands were heavy with guilt as they clutched Sophie even tighter.

My worst fear had come to pass. Dad disowned me.

Heavy footsteps from behind brought my attention to it.

Still with Sophie’s head tightly secured on my chest, I turned to Ethan.

The anger I expected to feel in me was numb.

I should be angry… yell at him for bringing me into such a mess.

But that would be unfair. Indeed, it was equally my choice just as much as it was his.

I could have said no… stood my ground… stopped him. But I didn”t.

Dad had never spoken to me in that manner. I”d never done anything to warrant it.

But in a split second, that had changed. My life had changed… for the worse.

Sophie untucked her head from my chest.

Her eyes were teary. My heart ached at the sight. I wondered what was running through her head.

Her dad’s bloodied face was not a sight she needed to see. Not especially when she was recovering.

She sniffed and then ran to her dad.

I turned around to see him cleaned up.

Except for a few blood-stained bruises on his lips and above his eyebrows, his face wasn”t bloody.

He’d cleaned it up because he knew it could possibly be triggering for Sophie.

“It’s okay, Sophie.” He leaned down to wrap her in a hug before rising to his full height with her. Her head was now on his chest.

“It’s okay, baby,” he cooed, patting her back. “I”m sorry for making so much noise.”

I noticed a subtle limp in his step as he brushed past me and out of the kitchen without sparing me a glance.

The guilt clenching my heart overrode any meaningless feelings.

Finally rising from my kneeling position, I found my phone in my pocket, dialing Dad’s number as I held my breath.

With each passing second, the phone rang. Hurt sank my bones when he didn”t pick.

I tried again, hoping, but it was futile.

More tears streamed down my cheeks.

Of course. What did I expect? I betrayed his trust. I let him down.

My knees gave way, and I crumbled to the ground.

My sobs were uncontrollable. What have I done?

Confusion tugged my nerves.

I fisted my hair as if the physical pain would deflect the one in my heart. What do I do now?

Instinctively, I focused my eyes to see the mess in the kitchen.

There were small streaks of blood on the floor, the knife was on the floor, and shards of glass littered the corner where he”d fallen.

Chaos.

I caused chaos between two best friends. I brought chaos upon myself. I brought chaos upon Sophie.

Swallowing thickly, I turned in the direction of the stairs. Sophie.

The little girl was innocent. She didn”t deserve to suffer for anything at all.

When I entered her room, she was fast asleep, holding a small teddy bear to her chest.

Another tear slipped through my eyes as I studied the gentle rise and fall of her chest.

I”d blame myself if tonight’s incident halted her progress.

I’d blame myself if this day was the reason she retracted into her shell.

My stomach tumbled uncontrollably. This was all too much. Too much for me to handle.

Not wanting to wake her with my sobs, I quietly exited the room.

I was torn. I didn”t know what to do. Where did Dad go? How long would he stay mad at me?

I had no answer to the question, but I would find out.

I couldn”t lose Dad… not this way. Not anyway.

With a new sense of urgency, I raced down the stairs and into the night.

The cold wind bit harshly at my skin. The spaghetti strapped dress did nothing to shield me from the cold as I jogged down the road.

Taxis didn”t often ply this estate. Getting to the main road was the fastest way to get to Dad.

The sky seemed to turn darker the farther I went. The occasional street lights were my only source of illumination on the dreary road.

But I wasn”t scared. The only thing I was scared of was being rejected by Dad the second time.

Adrenaline pumped my feet as I turned a corner, running as fast as my legs could carry me. I was heaving when I reached the main road.

The honk of cars struck my ears as I struggled to find a safe spot amidst the sea of people.

Digging my hands through my hair, I scanned everywhere. Every possible place for as far as my vision reached.

The confusion in my head worsened. Where could he have gone?

I brought my phone out to redial his number.

I shut my eyes this time, muttering a silent prayer that he picked. My prayers fell on deaf ears.

Shit.

I should have run after him when I had the chance.

The tears burned my eyes, and in no time, they started rolling down my face.

I yelled into the night. Whether it wasn”t loud enough or the people just didn”t seem to care, I didn”t know.

I was still struggling to piece my thoughts together when I suddenly had an idea. Without a second thought, I stopped a taxi.

“Take me to the nearest cheap motel.”

The driver stared at me weirdly before nodding.

I hurriedly entered, hoping my predictions were right.

The drive to the motel was a blur.

I paid the driver and climbed out of the vehicle. Without another thought, I entered the small building, heading straight for the receptionist.

She was a young brunette.

“Hello, please. I”m here to see James Norman.”

She plastered a practiced smile on her face. “Just a minute.”

I held my breath as she tapped away on the small system. “James Norman….. Right.”

She grabbed the telephone beside the computer, but before she could press any button, I quickly interrupted.

“No, please. Don”t call him.”

She eyed me wearily, holding the phone away from her ear but not putting it down.

“Ma’am, we may be a cheap motel, but we still have policies in place to protect—”

“I know, trust me. But please… don”t call him. He doesn”t want to see me right now. There was a bit of misunderstanding at home and…just please,” I explained.

She raised a brow. “Your name?”

“Evie Norman.”

“Daughter?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

“That doesn”t still mean I should let you in. But I will.” She dropped the phone.

“Because you look distressed. Room 42.” She gestured in a direction.

“Thank you. Thank you.” I rushed out and sprinted towards the direction.

I climbed the stairs and slowed down when I reached the room number.

My heart hammered in my chest as I inhaled a long breath.

What did I even want to say? Apologies?

I was thankful to whatever was in the sky when he opened the door without asking for my name.

He frowned when he saw me. Guilt wrenched my soul. “Dad,” I breathed.

He clenched his jaws. “I said don”t —”

“Please let me in.”

I didn”t want to hear his words the second time.

He seemed to be contemplating.

“Please…”

After a few seconds, he let me in.

I didn”t have time to look at the musty interior when I turned to him.

“Why are you here?”

I winced at the coldness in his voice. “I can”t… not be here.”

“You should have listened to me and packed your bags then,” he replied dryly, walking to the bed where he sat.

“I fucked up dad. I messed up and deserved every bit of your anger. I’m sorry…. I’m sorry.”

“When I first got here, Sophie was just how you described her. Quiet, emotionless. Everyone around her was sad, I was too,” I started.

“The first time she spoke, she told me she liked my dress. It was more than words, Dad. It was happiness, for me and everyone around. For once in my life, I actually felt fulfilled in my dreams… I felt relevant.”

He held my gaze. I continued. “Packing my bags and leaving would mean walking out on her. It would mean letting the uncontrollable affect her. The little girl is innocent.”

He dropped his gaze to fix them on a small wooden chair by his side.

“I”m sorry about… everything. But I can”t leave… just like that.”

I held my breath when he raised hardened eyes at me.

“Is this about Sophie or him?”

I swallowed. I wished I could say I was taken aback.

“It”s…it’s about my passion.”

Was it really?

“Don”t lie to me.” He shook his head, rising to his feet.

My heart picked up its harsh rhythm. “I fucking traveled twenty-five hours to come to wish you a happy birthday. I couldn”t afford a plane ticket and went through the hassle of traveling by car. Do you know how hurtful it is to see what I saw? My best friend with my daughter on the kitchen counter?”

“… You betrayed my trust yet have the guts to tell me about passion?”

The anger in his tone started to climb higher. “I single-handedly raised you since you were fourteen. I know you, Evie… and I know when you”re lying. This has everything to do with Ethan and little to do with Sophie.”

“I don”t know why you”re here when you’ve clearly made your choice.” He turned his back on me. “I will return to Minnesota tomorrow.”