Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 45946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
“We do.” She’d always been closest to him. “I just… you were all so united and I felt pressured to agree and I needed some time to think. And none of you would give it to me. I couldn’t go anywhere without one of you calling me or tracking me down to get me to agree. It was too much. So I ran. I’m sorry, I know it wasn’t mature of me. I should have at least told you, Joe. But I couldn’t breathe from the pressure. It was so hard to live in that house without Dad. I needed time and you weren’t giving it to me.”
They all looked at her with shock and sorrow.
“Jesus, Phoebe, we’re sorry,” Darin said.
“Wish you’d told us, kid,” Tony added.
The others all made murmurs of agreement.
“Maybe this is something we can all talk about as a family while we’re here,” Clay suggested.
“How long are you here for?” she asked
“We were leaving tonight,” Paul said. “But maybe we can talk about it now.”
“Tomorrow,” Barren said firmly. “I’ll have Melly book you a hotel. But, right now, Phoebe has had enough, and she needs some time to herself.”
She felt bad as her brothers left, but she didn’t protest. Because Barren was right. She needed some space to work through everything. When they were gone, she turned in his lap to face him, giving him a guilty look. “Am I in trouble, Daddy?”
“Yes,” he told her.
He reached over for a glass of water and held it to her mouth so she could sip from it. She was surprisingly thirsty. Then he set it down.
“You’re in trouble for not telling me about all of this so I could have helped.”
“What about for what I said to Freida?”
He shook his head. “I don’t care about that. I wish you had texted me what happened straight away, and I would prefer you didn’t open the door to her from now on. But, no, I’m not upset about that. What upsets me is that you were worrying about all of this stuff with your brothers, that you were using a different last name and didn’t tell me.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I just wanted to be someone else for a while, you know? To forget about it all. I know I was burying my head in the sand, and I had made up my mind to tell you today. I just needed a break from the world for a while.”
“I get that.” He drew her close. “I’m here for you. I’ll be here for you no matter what. But from now on, you’re to tell me everything. Understand?”
“Yes, Daddy.” She wrapped her arms around him. “I promise to tell you everything.”
“My baby. God, I love you. I’m sorry you had to deal with Krystal.”
“I would deal with a hundred Krystals if it meant I got to be with you. Fate sent you to me for a reason and I don’t ever intend to let you go.”
“Good, little girl. Because you won’t ever be allowed to. You’re mine, Phoebe. And you always will be.”
EPILOGUE
“I’m so excited to be back here!” Phoebe cried, clapping her hands. She was sitting in a proper car seat for adult Littles. It had straps that secured her in so she wasn’t really able to do a happy dance.
Daddy was a bit overprotective when it came to her safety, but she wasn’t complaining. He always took such good care of her.
“I’m sorry it’s taken us so long to get back to Rawhide Ranch,” he told her.
“Don’t be sorry, Daddy! We’re here now and for a whole two weeks. I’m going to see all my friends and I can play on the playground. And do some crafting. Snickerdoodle is really happy to be back too.” She held her horse close. “Do you think everyone will remember me?”
She grabbed her necklace, pulling the chewable part into her mouth. It had had to be replaced fairly regularly when she’d first moved in with Barren. But she didn’t need to use it as much anymore.
“Of course they will, little girl. Who could forget you?”
They pulled up in front of the front steps and a feeling of rightness, of peace, filled her.