Page 26 of Skid
She pulled me into a hug and whispered, “You may be scared, but your daddy will make everything all better. I promise. Trust your daddy and remember your promise.”
She stood and urged, “Drink up. We don’t want to keep your daddy waiting, do we?”
I finished the small glass in a couple of big swallows and wiped my mouth. “Let’s go.”
I was eager to get whatever this was over so I would know for certain, my daddy loved me. I wanted to be sophisticated like Ms. Stella, and if it meant Connie couldn’t break my connection with Kevin, all the better.
I stood from the table and my head felt fuzzy as Ms. Stella took me by the hand and led me out of the kitchen. We walked down another hallway, and at the end were two closed doors. She knocked once, and someone said, “Come in,” from the other side. She released my hand and looked down at me with a smile.
“Are you ready?”
I nodded and wobbled a little on my feet as she opened the doors. Taking me by the hand, she led me into a large den with heavy red curtains hanging over what appeared to be floor-to-ceiling windows. The room had bookshelves lining one wall with a long wooden table in front of it, and the other side had an ornate screen blocking a large section of the room. There were five men sitting at the table, all facing toward the screens, and when I stepped into the room, they all turned their gazes to me.
Stella released my hand and whispered, “Congratulations, Grace.”
I smiled up at her, hoping my nervousness wasn’t showing. Standing tall, I wanted to make Daddy proud, so I waited for someone to tell me what to do.
“Welcome, Grace,” one of the men said.
“Thank you for having me,” I replied.
A noise from over my shoulder made me glance in that direction, and I saw Daddy standing near the screen with a huge smile on his face. I smiled at him and turned my attention back to the men at the table. They all wore suits and had a drink in front of them. They looked important, and I was getting a little scared. Remembering Stella telling me it may be unpleasant, I suspected this is what she meant.
Were they looking at me to make sure I was a good daughter?
Did they know my mother threw me away?
Would they change their minds, and I lose Kevin?
Daddy approached me and placed his warm hand on my shoulder, encouraging me to turn toward him. “Did you talk with Stella?”
“Yes, Daddy.”
“And you want this? For me to be your daddy? To teach you everything that will be expected of you later in life?” I nodded, and my head spun briefly before I focused again. “And you promise never to tell our secret?”
“I promise, Daddy.”
“You may proceed,” another man said, and Daddy led me across the room to the ornate screens.
Pulling one to the side, I looked behind them, unable to see what they were hiding. He moved another one, and I was unsure why there was a bed in the den. Confused, I looked up at Daddy, and he smiled down at me.
“Follow me, Grace. If this is what you truly want.” He reached his hand out to me, and I willingly placed my palm into his.
He smiled, and the men stood from the chairs, moving closer to us as Kevin walked me to the bed and urged me to sit down. The mattress was soft, and he scooted me back until my knees hugged the side and my feet were dangling above the floor. He kneeled in front of me and took my hand, “With these actions, I choose you, Grace, to be my little girl. I vow to guide and teach you all the lessons that you need in life. I promise to be a good daddy to you. I pledge my love to you, Grace.”
“I love you too, Daddy,” I explained, and he smiled before leaning over and kissing my cheek.
The longer I was in the room, the heavier my head became until I was so tired, I couldn’t keep it up anymore. Kevin helped lower me to the bed, and I smiled up at him as he turned me on the covers and laid down next to me. My eyelids were heavy, and I blinked as he rubbed his hand on my knee.
I jumped up from the couch and spun around, not knowing where I was for a moment. Dalton was in front of me, speaking calmly to me as I tried to focus on something, anything, to get my brain out of the memory.
“Grace, darlin’, it’s okay. You’re safe. I’m here with you, and we’re alone. No one can hurt you,” he said, and I met his worried eyes, feeling the tears well up in mine. I never wanted him to see me like this. Shame filled me, and I turned away from him, hiding my face as the tears fell.
“Can you leave, please?” I stuttered through broken tears and prayed he would leave before he saw how much of a mess I really was.
He wouldn’t be back after seeing me like this, and I couldn’t bear to watch him leave.
“I’m not leaving until I know you’re okay,” he replied, and I turned to him with tears falling down my face.
