Page 84 of In You
I look over at Tamryn, imagining her pregnant
Tingles erupt in my chest, and I remember Frank's advice that I need to feel. And I do…but instead of letting myself always look for the negative, I embrace this feeling as something positive. I'd never put much thought into being a dad, figuring my abuse was so deep I'd never have a normal relationship with a woman.
I turn, running my hand down her hair and then lean in to place a kiss against her temple.
"Don't you think we have enough sweet stuff?" I say in a teasing voice, gesturing at the cart. "We got enough sugary treats here to last us through the winter-"
"Daddy!"she screeches over me, putting her palms to her cheeks, and then bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet much like she did this morning in the bedroom.
In slow motion, my head turns as I follow her gaze to the man about fifteen feet away. My heart skips a beat, the pain in my chest exploding throughout my body to the point my ears ring, and all hearing fades as she bounds on her feet towards the family with her arms stretched out towards the man holding the child.
No.
Holy mother fuckingfuucckkk!
"Tamryn,no!"I snap, horrified, pain erupting throughout my muscles as my entire body locks up in shock.
The two older kids; a boy who looks to be about nine, and another girl who's probably seven, turns to look at Tamryn running to them. As does the man's wife. The woman's brows scrunch together, her lip curls, and she takes a couple hasty steps back with the two older kid's hands in hers, pulling them back with her.
But it's the man's reaction that I laser focus on: his face flushes as recognition flashes in his eyes, hidden behind wire-framed glasses. He's about early fifties, maybe a little less, six-foot tall, dark brown and white hair, and…big ears.
"Tamryn, get back here,"I say sharply, breaking out in a dead run right as she throws herself at the man and the toddler he's holding.
Pure, unadulterated chaos ensues.
Lunging forward, I grip Tamryn's elbow, my brain furiously racing to formulate a plan that'll get us out of this.
"Daddy, I knew that was you! I haven't seen you in so long.Where have you been?"Tamryn whines in a high pitched, young girl voice, digging her fingers into his arms and giving him a small shake.
"I-I don't know what you're talking about,"he snaps,"get away from me!"
She yelps as I jerk her back a few steps, staring at the man so hard that it only hits me right then that I'm not acting right either.
"Mr. Calvin had to get me another daddy because you didn't come back like you said you would!" She stomps her foot, getting a scowl on her face as she gives the other children and even the man's wife a dirty look. "Because you have anew family!"she spits venomously, pointing a finger at the little girl in his arms, now with a look of betrayal on her face.
"I'm sorry,"I say hurriedly, yanking Tamryn to my side and clamping my hand hard on her shoulder. "Honey, be quiet. Come with me," I say firmly.
Looking at the woman, I open my mouth to speak, but can't get a word in before Tamryn blurts out:"Do you eat dog food out of her too?"she asks loudly, pointing at the seven-year-old girl that's clutching the mom's hand and staring up at us with her mouth opened.
My eyes snap to the man's, and his widen as all the color drains out of his face.
"Do you eat dog food out of her girlfriend too, Daddy?"Tamryn yells angrily, stomping her foot. “Tell me!”
The mom cries out, outraged, and shoves the kids behind her and takes the cart with the baby, pulling it back as well."Get away from us!"she shouts.
The man turns beet red now when people crowd at either end of the isle to stare, and he starts stammering, looking guilty as fucking sin.
'But, Daddy," Tamryn says, her face breaking as she realizes the man is rejecting her. Her eyes turn sad, and she bows her head, touching her chin to her chest as she pouts. "Daddy, I thought you loved me.You said you loved meeee."
Something sick I've never felt before rolls down my spine and fills me up from the inside out. So much of it, that I know that I will not sleep until this man is dead.
I can say, without a shadow of a doubt, I have never felt fury like this. Ever. The gun burns from its spot tucked into my pants, and I truly think that if Tamryn didn't need me so badly, I'd pull it out and gun him down even in front of his kids and everyone else in this store. But if I do that, I'll lose Tamryn.
The man turns towards his wife and shakes his head, putting his hand to their toddler's hair and rubs it tenderly. "Nancy, I don't know that woman, I swear on our kid’s lives."
A pretty ironic swear, considering he's a pedophile.
Andconsidering he's a dead man walking.
