Part 259 (2/2)

”I want to see her.” He pulled Bev against him. ”We want to see her

now.” He walked to the door as Marianne came out. He didn't speak, only

stared for a moment at his daughter lying in the bed.

”Baby.” He held tight to Bev as he crossed the room.

Emma looked at them. One hand fluttered to her bruised cheek. Then she

lifted both to cover her face. She hadn't wanted him to see her like

this. Gently, he drew her hand away.

”Emma.” He lowered his head to press a kiss to her forehead. ”I'm

sorry. I'm so sorry.”

She let the tears come then, stumbling over her own apologies and

explanations. When she was exhausted, she lay with her hand in his. ”I

don't even know how it all happened, not really. Or why. I wanted to

have someone love me, just me. I wanted a family, and I thought She let

out a long sigh. ”I thought he was like you.”

He wanted to cry then. It was almost impossible to keep his head from

lowering to her breast to weep. But he only brought her hand to his

lips again. ”You're not to worry about it. You're not to even think

about it. No one's ever going to hurt you again. I swear it.”

”All that matters is that you're safe now.” Gently, Bev brushed the hair

back from Emma's bandaged forehead. ”That's all that matters to any of

us.”

”I killed him,” Emma murmured. ”Did they tell you I killed him?”

Over his daughter's head, Brian's shocked eyes met Bev's. ”It's-it's

over now.” He fumbled for Emma's hand again.

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