Page 27 of Blow Me Away
“Remember that little punishment of yours the night of the banquet?” She asked, leaning down so her bare breasts were flat against his chest. Cooper nodded and she dipped down to nip his earlobe before she whispered, “Payback is a bitch.”
chapter nine.
right fit.
Kara came strolling into the apartment with their mail in her hand, setting it down on the island before she slipped out of her light coat. Elliott looked up from her seat on the couch as her friend approached, handing her a small stack of letters.
“I wish I could stay, but I have to run,” she informed her, grabbing her book bag off the floor and heading back towards the door. “Have a study session with my econ group. I’ll be back in a few hours, okay? Maybe I’ll grab us some dinner on the way home.”
“Sounds good, hun,” Elliott said, leaning back against the cushion with the letters in her hand.
Kara was running out the door without another word, leaving her alone in the quiet. She turned the letters over in her hand, looking at the top left corner to see who they were from.
School. Credit card company. Hello Fresh. California Correctional. Landlord. Utilities.
She suddenly faltered, going back to the fourth letter in the stack. She reread the name five times, her stomach in her throat as her palms immediately grew sweaty. She set the rest of the letters down on the coffee table before she flipped the envelope over with shaky hands, tearing it open.
The lump in her throat grew as she unfolded the letter, staring at her father’s handwriting.
Elliott,
I’m regretting this letter as I write it, but I had to reach out on the news I’ve received; they’re transferring me out of state.
I know that you’ve never visited in all the years I’ve been here, that you’ve never responded to any of the letters I used to send you. I know you’re also wondering how I even tracked you down, but I don’t think I’m going to divulge that information. Anyway, I am writing to ask if you’d put your hatred for me aside and come visit me one last time.
I know I’ve made mistakes; I know that I’ve hurt you in ways you may never come back from. I can admit that I was a horrible man, and an even worse father. But not a single day has gone by where I haven’t thought about you.
I still hear your laugh as clear as day in my head, can see your smile and the way your eyes used to light up when I’d bring you a new coloring book. You were so artistic back then, and I hope you stuck with that. I know you’re in your last year of college, and should you respond to this letter, I’d love to know what you majored in. You were always such a headstrong and brave kid, so my guess is something with law—you’ve always wanted to change the world.
How’s your mother doing? I hope she’s well. I also recall that friend of yours, I can’t recall her name, that the ten-year anniversary of her father’s death is coming up, too. Too bad that wasn’t me, huh? Sorry, grim joke.
I’ve lost track of this letter, if I’m being honest. I don’t know what to say to you to make you forgive me, nor do I have the words to say to get you to visit. But I am your father, Elliott. I’ll always be your father, whether or not you want me to be. And, as your father, I think I deserve one last ask.
No, one last demand.
I want to see you.
The guards will await your call to schedule a visitation; I will be here until the end of the month. I hope to see you.
I love you, my sweet girl.
Dad
Elliott took a few shaky, sputtering breaths as tears of fiery anger ran down her face. She shredded the paper up in her hands, watching as they fell to the floor. She stood off the couch and walked circles around the coffee table, unable to catch her breath as her chest tightened, and she gripped her hair tightly.
She suddenly collapsed to the floor, resting on her knees as she reached for the remnants of the letter and tried to destroy it more than she already had.The nerve of that bastard,she thought, the tears not slowing and staining the shreds of paper before her.I hope he dies in the next prison.
Meanwhile, Cooper was standing outside the door, knocking. He could hear her inside. It sounded like she was crying, but he couldn’t be sure. He pulled out his phone, glancing at the time to see that he was only a couple of minutes early for their date. He took a risk and reached for the handle, finding it unlocked.
As he stepped inside, his heart broke at the sight that lay before him.
Elliott was sitting on the floor with her back against the couch, her elbows resting on her knees as she gripped her hair tightly between her fists, her cheeks stained from tears.
Cooper hastily closed the door and ran over to her, dropping to his knees in front of her. He didn’t touch her, however, not wanting to startle her with his arrival, as he was positive she wasn’t focused enough to notice him.
“Hey,” he said softly, angling himself so he was in her line of sight. “Elliott, it’s Cooper.” She said nothing, but her eyes squeezed shut as a sob tore through her. He closed the distance between them and sat beside her, pulling her into his body as he hugged her tightly, and she immediately fisted his shirt as she cried. “It’s okay, baby, I’m here. I’m here. I got you.”
Elliott let all of her pent up anger and sadness from before she was twelve pour out of her, all the memories of the pain and abuse he had inflicted upon her flashing through her mind. He was the reason she was as screwed up as she was, the reason she couldn’t commit, the reason why she needed to feel in control, why she didn’t think she was worth any love, affection, or time. Why she wouldn’t let any guy truly close.
