Page 107 of Protecting You

“Not my problem.”

“Hannah, come on.”

“I had to get someone to cover my classes today so I could take care ofyourdaughter. Listen, I love her. Iadoreher. I’d love nothing more than to take care of her twenty-four seven. But I have a job. Now, with everything going on with Dad, he’s going to need help. Mom’s going to need help. I can’t risk my career because you refuse to risk yours.”

Obviously, Peri wasn’t with them. But where was she?

Hannah said something too low for Alyssa to hear as she tiptoed back toward the front door and peeked into the living room. Peri wasn’t there.

“I know, I know.” Callan sounded wrung out. “You’re right. I know, it’s just…I’m worried, that’s all.”

“If it’s that dangerous, thenyoushouldn’t be involved. You promised us, Callan.”

“It’s not. It’s…”

Alyssa thought about their terrifying escape the night before and all the things thatcouldhave happened. It was dangerous, this thing they were involved in. And Callan shouldn’t have anything to do with it. He’d stepped in to help her, and now look what had happened.

She peeked into the dining room and found Peri sitting against the wall between that room and the kitchen, her knees pulled up to her chest, her forehead pressed against them.

“You need to step up,” Hannah said. “She’s your daughter.”

Alyssa wrapped her arm around the child's shoulders and urged her toward the stairs. “Come on, sweetie.”

They made it back to Peri’s bedroom, where Alyssa settled on the edge and lifted Peri onto her lap.

She could feel little sobs against her chest.

“It’s okay, baby. They’ll figure it out.”

“He doesn’t want me.” Her words were almost too faint to hear.

“Hedoeswant you. Of course he does.” She backed up to see her face. “Who wouldn’t? You’re amazing.”

She shook her head, her long hair falling across her cheek.

Alyssa brushed it back. “Your daddy wants to be with you more than anything.” Alyssa hoped it was true. Prayed it was true. “He’s just got a really hard job, and he’s having trouble getting out of it. He’s a hero. Did you know that?”

Peri swiped her fingers beneath her eyes. “Like Spider-Man?”

Alyssa smiled. “He’s better than Spider-Man because he doesn’t have to wear that silly outfit. Can you imagine your daddy in bright red tights?”

That elicited a smile.

“Your daddy saved me from a bad guy, and he’s trying to keep me safe. He wants to be with you, though. More than anything.”

The girl’s smile faded. “Mommy said Daddy doesn’t love me and doesn’t want me.”

Megan had said that? To a child?

Why?

Was it true? Or had she said it out of anger or jealousy? Alyssa had loved Megan, but not so much that she hadn’t seen her friend’s vindictive streak.

True or not, she shouldn’t have said that to little Peri. Anger burned in Alyssa’s chest. How could any loving mother tell her little girl something like that?

How could Callan be such an inept father that he’d allow Peri to believe it?

“Your father loves you so much, and he wants to be with you.” She hoped, anyway.

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