Chapter 17 - HEALING THE BROKEN|
"Dad!" Rosie cried out, her small feet pitter-pattering across the marble floor.
I dropped to my knees, throwing my arms wide open. Rosie threw herself into my chest, wrapping her tiny arms around my neck as hard as she could.
Jack walked up right behind her. He didn't stand like a soldier with his hands behind his back anymore. He looked at me with open, trusting eyes.
I reached out with my free arm and pulled my son into the embrace, burying my face in his shoulder.
"Are they gone?" Jack whispered into my ear, his voice trembling slightly. "The bad lady... is she gone?"
I pulled back, looking both of my children directly in the eyes.
"She is gone forever, Jack," I promised them, my voice firm as iron. "She will never touch you, never yell at you, and never step foot in this house again."
I reached into my pocket and pulled out Isabella's faded blue stuffed rabbit—the one I had retrieved from the library floor before leaving for the hotel.
I handed it gently back to Rosie.
Rosie clutched the bunny against her cheek, tears of joy filling her eyes. "Mommy's bunny..."
"Your mommy loved you both more than life itself," I told them, wiping a tear from Rosie's cheek. "And so do I. I made a mistake letting danger into this house, but I promise you on my life: no one will ever make you feel small again."
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Jack wiped his nose with his sleeve and offered a small, genuine smile—the first real smile I had seen on his face in three months.
"Come on," I said, lifting Rosie into my arms. "Let's go make some late-night pancakes."
