Page 109 of Salvation

“I don’t have to be perfect to be worthy,” I said.

“I don’t have to be perfect to be worthy!”

“I am kind, and my actions make a difference!”

“I am kind, and my actions make a difference!” Her foot stomped with this line, and I felt a small smile pull on my lips.

“I am creative. My imagination knows no bounds!”

She repeated it, her fists clenching at her sides.

“I do amazing things that make the world better!”

“I do amazing things that make the world better!”

“I am loved for who I am, exactly as I am!”

She repeated it and then turned around to face me.

“Your turn,” she whispered.

“My turn?”

“Repeat it.”

“I—”

“I am loved for who I am, exactly as I am. You repeat it, Rachel.”

I gave her a soft smile and pulled her to me, wrapping my arms around her. “I am loved for who I am, exactly as I am,” I whispered tearfully into her hair. “And I love you.”

She didn’t respond with words, but she did tighten her hold on me, and that was enough.

Would she continue talking from here on out? Who knew? But my Bee was still in there, fighting to be free. We just had to have patience. And maybe one day, when I had proven myself, she would deem me worthy enough to say those three words to me again.

“So,” I said, smiling through my tears. “How about we go tell your daddy the good news?”

Chapter 47

Rachel

We waited for Dante to come home, the both of us excited to see his reaction.

As soon as he walked through the door, I called him in to the front room, no longer caring about Vicky and her ridiculous earlier confession. Tonight was going to be about our little girl, and I couldn’t wait to see the look on his face.

“There’s my girls,” he smiled at us, though I noticed a weariness around his eyes.

Just what did he get up to when he wasn’t here?

But that wasn’t my place to ask. Not anymore.

He came forward and planted a small kiss on my cheek and wrapped Bee up in a tight hug. “How have you been today, little Bee?” He asked her.

“Good,” she whispered shyly, a coy smile on her lips, even though she tried to hide behind the hair hanging over her face.

Dante’s eyes widened with shock, his arms tightening around his daughter. I bit the inside of my cheek to stop from grinning as he looked at her in amazement.

“Wellthat,” he said, brushing the hair away from her eyes and rubbing his nose against hers. “Is music to my ears. And you’re okay?”

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