Page 44 of Hardy

Therewere smudges on the page where tearshad clearly fallen as she wrote.His heart broke for what Rose wentthrough.He’d never wanted to hurt her, and yet over the years,he’d done exactly that, hurting her, breaking her.

What kind of a husband didthat?

She’s pregnant.

On one page that was all shewrote.

Those two words held so much pain, andhe was the cause.When it came to Rose’s pain, he was always thecause.

He couldn’t handle anymore reading,and so he put the diaries away, and packed everythingaway.

Climbing out of the attic, he smileddown at Rose as she entered.

“How was your day?”heasked.

“It was great.I’m so tiredthough.You wouldn’t believe how exhausting kids canbe.”

He followed her into the kitchen, and knewhe was going to start making some changes.Rose deserved someonemuch better than he was.

Chapter Seven

“Sally is just through that room.She’s fifteen, and yes, she’s gone from one foster home to another, butgive her time.She hasn’t had the best start,” the social workersaid.

Lacey was nervous as she stood besideWhizz.He wrapped his arms around her shoulders, and glanced downat his watch.The longer this trip lasted the better.He didn’tagree with Lash and Angel, but he’d do what they asked.

“Will you stop?”Lacey said,digging him in the ribs.

“What?”

“This is our chance, and you’regoing to ruin it.How do you think she’ll feel if she sees youlooking at your watch?”

“Fine, fine, I’llstop.”

He walked into the room the social workerpointed to, and when he opened the door, he stopped.The girl,Sally, was sitting at a table, scribbling in a notebook.

“She’s doing her homework,”the social worker said.“Sally, honey, you’ve gotvisitors.”

The pen hovered over the page for a splitsecond, and then Sally looked up.Whizz would have taken a stepback in that moment.Her brown eyes were filled with so much pain,so much anguish.She knew she wasn’t wanted, that no one wantedher.The wall came down over her eyes as she stared back atthem.

“Shall I leave you threealone?”the social worker asked.

Sally’s hand tightened around her pen.Whizz wasn’t wearing his leather cut as he’d not wanted to frightenanyone.

“Will you feel okay withus?”Lacey asked.

“Sure, whatever,” Sally said,glancing down at her work.She slammed the book closed, and he sawit was a math book.

Taking a seat opposite Sally, Whizzlowered himself down into a chair with Lacey by hisside.

Sally kept looking at him, but none ofthem spoke until the social worker left.

“What happened to yourface?”she asked.

Whizz smiled.He’d been tortured forhours in getting the scars on his face and body.

“I got into a badfight.”

“I’m sorry,” shesaid.

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