Page 77 of Through the Storms

“It’s okay.” Riley laughed again, surprised at how light she felt. “I’m not losing it. I was just thinking about how my dad tells it. He said at that moment he fell in love with me. The scrappy little kid with the dark circles under her eyes was ready to defend her teddy bear come hell or high water.”

Tears filled Riley’s eyes. “I just wish I could have protected my mom like that.”

“Oh, my god, did your mom…did she—”

“No, no. She lived.”

“Oh, thank god.” A loud exhalation escaped Chloe.

“He’d broken her back.”

“Oh, god. I’m so sorry.” Chloe squeezed Riley’s hand.

“She was in the hospital and rehab for six months. Had to learn how to walk again.”

“Andhim?” Chloe’s nose wrinkled in disgust.

“He went to jail. Got shanked and bled to death when I was eighteen.”

“Oh, no, I’m so sorry.”

“I’m not. It was the best day of my life.” Riley shook her head. “No, not the best, but I was relieved. Is that wrong?” When Chloe didn’t answer right away, Riley said, “I saw the fear in my mom’s eyes every year when he came up for parole, and I was relieved that she didn’t have to live in fear any longer.”

“I understand,” Chloe said softly.

Riley didn’t sense any horror or judgment, but she had to know. “Do you think I’m a horrible person?”

“Absolutely not.” Chloe’s tone was firm.

“He was a monster, in the truest sense. Soulless. He enjoyed inflicting pain and fear.” Riley could no longer hold Chloe’s gaze, so she stared at the ugly hotel room painting. “And those are the genes I have in me.”

“Are you afraid you’re like him?”

Riley nodded and didn’t look at Chloe.

“Riley, I just met you, but the only thing I’ve felt from the moment I met you was gentleness and caring. Tell me about your dad.” Chloe’s voice was perky, encouraging Riley out of the dark place she’d slipped into.

Riley grinned. “He’s my hero. When he found me in the closet, he knelt but kept his distance.” Her smile broadened. “He didn’t talk directly to me, he talked to Mr. Poppers.”

Chloe’s eyes filled with tears.

“He asked Mr. Poppers what his name was and asked Mr. Poppers what my name was. He must have talked to Mr. Poppers for ten minutes before I started talking for myself. Then he did the strangest thing. Well, I thought it was strange at the time.”

“What did he do?”

Riley’s gaze locked on Chloe’s. “He asked me if he could pick me up.” Riley put her hand on her chest. “He asked me. He didn’t just yank me up from the floor. He gave me a choice. And he’s never stopped giving me a choice.”

“He sounds like an amazing man.”

“The best. And that’s why I became an EMT. I wanted to be like my dad. I wanted to be a hero to another kid that needed one.”

“That is so beautiful.” Tears streamed down Chloe’s cheek, and she swiped them away. “I’m so sorry. You should be the one crying.”

“No.” Riley smiled. “I’ve cried enough tears. But it’s touching that you feel my story so deeply.”

“Who wouldn’t?”

“You’d be surprised. It makes some people uncomfortable.”