Page 124 of Silk Sheets

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After hours we had finally convinced my mom to file for divorce and accept Kaden’s lawyer.

Still seeming unsure of it all, she flashed her most believable smile before heading to bed.

When Kaden and I got back home, I found myself in the kitchen, gulping down as much water as possible.

With trembling hands, I tried twisting the bottle cap back on but kept failing.

He took the bottle from me, placing it on the kitchen island, and I shook my head up at him.

“It’s all my fault,” I breathlessly said. “I left her there knowing what kind of man he was—”

“It’s not your fault,” he pulled me into his safe embrace. I buried my face in his chest as I cried, feeling my body overflow with exhaustion.

My head pounded as I stood, feeling weak and, worst of all,guilty.

THIRTY-ONE

DAKOTA

4 Months Later

“Finally,” my mom half giggled as we entered the apartment.

“Home sweet home,” I happily sighed, plopping down on the couch with my legs in the air before dropping them.

My mom placed her shopping bags on the kitchen island, finding her place at the end of the couch, allowing my feet to rest on her lap.

After a stressful few months, my fathers hearing was next week.

He promised me he’d plead guilty, not only because of the evidence against him, but because he didn’t want to hurt my mom and I more than he already had. He was ridden by guilt and shame and couldn’t even look at me.

He wasn’t the most emotionally available father, but when it came to providing, he didn’t hesitate. In any aspect; safety, financially, advice, mentally readying me for any situation I was up against.

Though, that didn’t necessarily apply when it came to being a husband because mom and I experienced two different versions of him.

As my father, I absolutely adored him. But as my mother’s husband, I despised him.

I always believed that my dad was never a bad man, he just… had really bad anger issues. I didn’t want him to be a bad man. I just wanted him to be my dad.

“I’m sorry,” my mother apologetically said, tears brimming in her eyes. “I know how much you love him—”

“No, don’t apologize,” I cut her off. “All I want is for you to be safe. And happy,” I assured her, and she nodded.

I’d been staying with her most nights as she cried herself to sleep. I needed to be with her, and the guys understood that.

My mother really loved him and wanted him to be better. She had hoped for it every single day.

“How are you feeling?” she suddenly asked, gently rubbing her hand up and down my leg.

“Me?” I asked, sitting up. “Mom, you just lost your husband because of how abusive he was. How areyoufeeling?”

A sad smile played on her lips. “Sweetheart, I’m okay. You don’t have to worry about me, and you know that.”

“You’ll call me if you need anything, right?” I asked, taking her hand in both of mine.

“Of course, I will.”