Page 80 of Sins of the Father

Vivian takes his arm. “Let’s go.”

They leave, and I turn to Anna. Hope is cuddled into her chest, and tears are flowing everywhere.

I sit next to her and gently ask, “Is this the first time he hit you?”

She squeezes her eyes and turns away.

“How long has it been going on?”

“He’s under a lot of stress. I shouldn’t have...” she breaks down.

I embrace her. “This is not your fault. It will never be your fault.”

Her chest heaves with emotion, and Hope cries out.

“I’m sorry,” she weeps.

I take Hope and can feel a bulky diaper. “It’s not you. I need to change her.”

I hand her back to Anna and put a blanket on the ground, and take out the wipes and fresh diaper.

Anna sits next to me and puts Hope on her back. She strokes her head.

I unsnap Hope’s onesie and quietly ask, “Do you want to tell me what happened?”

“No. I really don’t want anyone knowing.”

“Did you get here this morning?”

“Late last night.”

“How did Chase get there?”

“He had a meeting in New York and came to check on me. I... I didn’t know he was coming.” She sobs, hard.

I finish changing Hope, flip her on her stomach, and put several toys out. I slide over and put my arms around Anna. “This isn’t your fault.”

“It is.”

“No, it’s not,” I sternly tell her.

Her phone rings and she freezes.

“Is that him?”

“Yes, I need to get it.”

I jump up and reach for the phone before she does and send the call to voice mail.

“What are you doing? He’s going to be even more upset now.”

“You are not talking to him or going back to him.”

“It wasn’t his fault,” she cries out.

I stick her phone in my pocket. “This is entirely his fault.”

“You don’t even know what happened.”

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