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"You look after our girls, yeah, bud?" I ask, sing the sting of deceit of what I’aht up at the task

"You got it" He puffs out his eleven-year-old chest and a small smile falls on my lips Jesus, I love this kid

"Love you," I call before I close the door, shutting out his reply I walk the path to the front drive and mountto release ether," I beratewhat I need to do forher You’re helping," I re the bike up to block out the reply I’ her

If only I kne to help her

CHAPTER TWO

Kadence

"He left," I whisper to the e a reply, but the heaviness of the truth sits painfully on hme to my knees as I sink to the floor I don’t understand the uneasiness ofin a bliss of new baby s so thick I can’t see five inches in front of me

How could he just leave like this? He knows I can’t be left alone He left when I begged him not to A prickly sensation of hysteria claws ata breath becomes too painful I can’t do this What if she wakes up? My eyes drift to the cordless phone, sitting on the edge of the kitchen counter Moving slowly, as ing it first go Controlling the sins in ers

Holly My best friend

She will co and I can already hear the smile in her voice, but I don’t have tih ?" I try to co but Myon a show for the last feeeks, and I’er I can keep going

"I’ly oblivious to theon the floor of et to the club for the club et her to come over

"U and a round but can’t et Sy to drop you off before," I suggest, keeping the pleading out of ht there" She shuts downme down into a hole so deep I fear no one can hear in as the first sounds of Harlohih the crackle of the o," she says, and before I can beg for help, she’s gone

Oh, God, what a to do now? I let the phone drop to the floor as Harlow’s little murmurs turn into cries Cries that I can’t handle

"Kadence, Low is awake," Z calls out fro room

"Yeah, I know, bud I’ll ether at least for the kids’ sake

"Hey, baby Lo you doin’?" I hear Z h the monitor Her cries stop as she hears her brother’s voice, and if I wasn’t in total breakdown mode, I would smile at how much she already loves hi that love to her

I check the clock sitting above the fridge in front of me It’s only been seven minutes Seven whole minutes Seven , Kadence?" Z calls again, antsy to play with his sister We only have one rule, one rule I’m strict on, and that’s he can’t pick Harlow up out of the crib withoutfor et to the kids, the worse it will be for all of us; I gradually pick o to er than nor with each step I clis in the center; purple letters adorned in golds and pinks spell out her nah my nose and try to calm myself before I push the door open and force myself to enter

"Here’s momma," Z comforts his sister, his knuckle in herif anyone else was here, they would see pasttoward the honey-stained oak crib, I catch the first glimpse of her dark curls I re I noticed was her dark hair Just like her father’s Then she opened her eyes and it was like falling in love in slowthe side of the crib, I peer over and watch as those same eyes come to mine Green, vibrant and just like her father’s They still melt me each time I see them