Page 51 of Losing Faith

Her jokes about being depressed ring in my mind, butthatclearly isn’t a joke.

My eyes meet hers and she’s already watching me, catching me staring.

“Sorry,” I shake my head at myself, feeling like an asshole for being one of those people who stare at someone’s scars.

“That was a horrible apology.” She pouts and I know she’s joking, but I also know she’s just hiding behind her humor. “You should find a better way to say sorry.” She gives me a once over but I don’t entertain her flirty comment.

“If you ever need a reason to get out of bed, you always have one with us.”

She meets my eyes, her smile slowly fading. I nod once, silently telling her I mean it.

She opens her mouth, but I stop her from making a joke. “Don’t,” is all I say before taking her hand and dragging Isabelle over to hold her. “Come on.” I guide them forward and Lisette doesn’t say anything as she walks ahead, holding hands with my daughter.

I watch them as Isabelle records the fair and occasionally me and Lisette. My phone starts ringing, but she ignores it as she takes a picture of the biggest apple tree on the field. When someone calls again, she lets her head fall to the sky with a sigh and answers, but I snatch the phone from her before her smartass can say something.

“Daddy, tell them you’re not working.” She rolls her eyes and instead of reprimanding her for the attitude, I try my hardest to be understanding. I told her I won’t work today, but I’ve been getting calls all day and she knows it’s work.

When I look down at my phone, I realize the last one was my mom, but I don’t answer, knowing exactly why she’s calling. “They won’t call again.” I put my phone on Do Not Disturb and hand it back to her.

“This girl just won’t back off, huh?” Lisette teases.

I shake my head of my thoughts but decide to rant. “One of my clients is my living nightmare. He just got into a really bad fight and the other guy, who’s my other client, is now in the hospital. He’s making my life hell. His offers are being pulled from under him left and right, and if I don’t clean his image and secure him on a team, I’m going to be losing a lot of money.”

Lisette’s brows raise but she understandably doesn’t look all that interested. “I’m sure you won’t go broke. Worst case scenario, sell your castle or one of your cars.” She shrugs and a laugh escapes me.

“I know it doesn’t seem like a big deal, but this is my job and—”

“Hey, I was kidding.” She shrugs again, turning more serious. “He sounds like a pain, but I’m guessing you don’t have him saved asmain your phone.” She gives me a knowing look and I feel my shoulders sag.

I glance down at Belle and decide this isn’t a conversation she needs to be a part of. When we reach the tree house, I ask Belle if she wants to go play in it, which she does.

I keep a close eye on her, but when she’s out of earshot, I turn to Lisette. “Rome was who I was texting in the car and he’s been calling me all day, my mom is a whole other story.”

She raises her brows. “Does everyone have mommy issues or is that what I attract?”

“I have a great relationship with my mom,” I clarify. “The last few days, she’s been bugging me aboutIsabelle’smom. She wants me to talk to Belle about her, but I don’t want to and I know I’m being selfish, but it’s hard for everyone. I feel like shit and I really don’t want to talk about it.”

I watch for Lisette’s reaction, but she simply nods slowly as she thankfully changes the topic.

“I guess this week is just a feel like shit week for everyone.”

I keep my gaze on her as she settles onto the bench beside us.

“I did something really really stupid this week.” She shakes her head at herself, her tone in complete despair.

I settle beside her before shoving her with my shoulder. “Do you want to talk about it or sit in silence?”

She glances over at me before looking over at the tree house in thought. “You know Sire and I are adopted, yeah?”

“Mhm.” I hum in response as I lean back on the bench.

“My sister recently reached out to me, and every time she talks about our bio mom, I actually want to jump off of a roof, especially when she talks about howgoodshe is. I didn’t have that good mom she had, and I hate myself for being jealous, but I think I am. She just made me feel so unworthy of love and I hate her so much.”

Her shoulders sag as if a weight was physically taken off of her.

When she looks over at me, all I can see is how broken she feels and I do the only thing I know how to make someone feel better. I hug her.

She goes still, but as I hold her tighter, her tensed shoulders slowly ease.

---