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“My ht Maybe I was born to hurt the people I love”

Frustration flashed in her eyes “No I won’t hear it And I won’t let you do this to yourself Not again Christ aler than this”

“Bailey”

We both jerked around, surprised to seein the doorway We hadn’t even heard him approach

“Can I talk to hter alone, please?”

Bailey turned towhat I wanted, and I loved her for that too After I nodded, she got up and strode toward Dad “I’ll make some tea” And then she squeezedhim like she’d known him her whole life

My dad gave her a fond smile, and I was not at all surprised that she’d endeared herself to him already

Dad walked into the roo sick of that look, but I guess if I didn’t stop ing and buck up, they’d continue to look at me that way

“We’re all allowed to have weak moments, Bluebell” Dad sat next to me “It’s not a failure to ad It’s not a failure to adh”

“Bailey, you mean?” I dared to look at him

“She’s your family now too It’s okay that she can help you in a way that we can’t”

“It’s not that,” I hurried to assure hiuilt around her I get to be sad around her No judgments”

“And you feel like you can’t be sad with me?”

“I don’t deserve to”

“Oh, Bluebell …” He put his ar a little “That breaks my heart, dahlin’”