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Because he’d never really been there

What did I just do? How could I do such a thing? What is themyself up from the sheets, I headed to the bathroom and turned on the shower I stepped inside with round as the water washed over uilt down the drain, toleavewith my own tears, and I stayed there until the water ran cold I shivered in the tub and closed my eyes

I’d never felt so alone

Chapter Thirteen

Elizabeth

Despite Tanner’s protests, I chose to keep having Tristan come to care for the lawn Every Saturday he would corass, and head into town to ith Mr Henson Sos, other tiht We hadn’t spoken since ht Emma always played with Zeus in the front yard as I sat on the porch, reading a ro, there was so a book filled with love The pages were soain Maybe one day I would be all right

Each week, I tried to give Tristan money, but he declined it Each week, I invited him to stay for a meal, and each week he said no

One Saturday, he arrived right as Emma was in the middle of an e his best not to interrupt

"No! Mao back! Daddy doesn’t knohere we are!" Emma cried

"I’m sure he does, baby I think we just have to wait a little while Give Daddy ti! There’s no feathers! We have to go back!" she hollered as I tried to pull her into a hug, but she yanked away frohed, and when I looked up at Tristan, I saw his scowl I shruggedlook

He turned to walk back toward his house

"Where are you going?"

"Ho to sit out here and listen to your da"

Mean Tristan was back in full force "God Sometimes I start to o ahead and remind me of how much of a jerk you are"

He didn’t reply, but disappeared onceI akened to a hyper E up and down onthe sleep from my eyes "Emma, we sleep in on Sundays, remember?"

"But, Mahter when I heard a laer outside Tossing on a pair of sweatpants and a tank top, I followed irl to the front of the house When we stepped outside, a sasp left my lips as I stared at the porch, which was covered hite feathers

"See, Mama! He found us!"

My hands coveredto float around the space from the bursts of wind

"Don’t cry, Mama Daddy’s here You said he would find us and he did," Emma explained