Page 90 of Rule

My stomach dropped and I stared down atBella. “Bella, why would you do that?”

“I colourin’, Papa,” Bella said. Shelifted her arms to me, but I refused to pick her up.

“You know that you are only supposed tocolour in your colouring books, is that not right, Bella?”

She ducked her head, staring at her feetand even the big fat tears dropping from her eyes were not enough to quell mygrowing anger. “Answer me, Bella.”

“Yes, Papa,” she sobbed.

“You have ruined a picture that was specialto Evelyn.”

“I sorry, Papa,” she cried. “Bella sorry,no be mad. Please, Papa.”

She burst into tears, and I ignored my urgeto pick her up and soothe her. “Bella, you cannot -”

“What’s wrong?” Evelyn was hurrying intothe room and she gave Bella a worried look. “Honey, why are you crying?”

“No be mad at Bella, girl!” Bella sobbed.“Bella sorry, girl. Please.”

Evelyn scooped up Bella and kissed hercheek before allowing Bella to bury her face in her neck. She hugged her tightand rocked her back and forth. “Shh, baby. Don’t cry. Shh.”

“Girl mad at Bella,” Bella wailed againsther throat.

“I’m not, honey. I’m not mad at you.” Evelyngave me a confused look, and feeling sick to my stomach, I held out the pictureof her father.

His face a pale green, Court said, “Bella colouredon the picture of your father, Evie.”

“I am sorry,” I said as she took thepicture from me. “I should have been watching Bella closer. I am so sorry,sadora.”

She stared at the picture in her hand asBella sobbed harder. “Bella sorry, girl. Bella sorry!”

Court’s grunt of surprise matched my ownwhen Evelyn dropped the picture on the bed and rubbed Bella’s back. “Shh,honey. Shh, it’s okay. Stop crying, baby.”

She sat on the bed, holding Bella on herlap, and rocked her back and forth until Bella’s sobs slowed. She pushed Bellaback gently and kissed her forehead. She wiped the tears from her cheeks and smiledat her. “Don’t cry, baby.”

Bella stared at her and then at the pictureon the bed next to them. Her lower lip trembled, and she gave me a quickglance as fresh tears spilled down her cheeks. “Bella break picture?”

“Yes,” I said, but my voice was gentle. “Youdestroyed a picture that was very important to Evelyn, meena.”

Bella stared up at Evie as Evelyn wipedaway the new tears. “I sorry, Evie-girl.”

Evelyn kissed her forehead again. “I knowyou are, baby. Thank you for saying you’re sorry.”

“Evie girl mad at Bella?” Bella stared ather in sorrow.

Evelyn shook her head immediately. “No, baby.I’m not mad at you.”

“Evie girl love Bella?” Bella made awavering little sigh as she stared up at Evelyn.

“Yes,” Evie said. “Evie loves Bella.”

“Bella loves Evie,” Bella said and threwher arms around Evelyn as she started to cry again. “Bella loves Evie.”

“I love you too, honey,” Evelyn said.

She scooted back on the bed and laid on herside, holding Bella against her and pressing kisses against the top of her headas Bella’s tail wrapped tight around her forearm. I stared silently at them untilCourt touched my arm.

I glanced at him and then followed him outof the room, shutting the bedroom door behind me.

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