Page 26 of Two Daddies for Little Jenna

Nick is a nice man. He would never do that to me. He would never hurt me.

"You're so silly sometimes. Do you want me to give you a ride?"

He knelt on the floor and offered his back.

With much effort, I climbed onto his back and tried to sound cheerful. "Up, Nick! Up!"

I wrapped my arms around his neck as he stood up. Holding onto my hands, he piggybacked me down the stairs until he stood before the basement door. He was too tall for the door, so he had to be careful as he stepped in since I could get my head hit.

I climbed down his back when he knelt again. He turned around and motioned for me to go forward, but I shook my head. I looked back at the door. I could still make it out if I was fast enough.

With a frown, he walked over to the washing machine and put the clothes in. All the while, I was ever so slowly taking steps back towards the door.

When he was done and looked behind me, I panicked. Was he looking at the door? Was he going to lock me in here for weeks on end? No matter what, I couldn't let Nick stand behind me. I couldn't let him have quicker access to the door than me.

The memories of my past came rushing back to me and it was all too much. Suddenly I was back at that wretched old place, being dragged into the basement as I kicked and screamed. I was locked in the basement with nothing but darkness surrounding me. I used to cry and beg to be let out, but I knew nothing could change the outcome. I would be locked in there for weeks, starved and thirsty with barely enough food to survive. Now I had to remind myself this was nothing like that.

Nick is a nice man. He would never do that to me. He would never hurt me.

I tried everything Daddy had taught me. I tried to normalize my breathing, take deep breaths and picture his loving face to calm my anxiety, but to no avail.

"Oh, look!" Nick said, rushing past me. "Yae is behind you."

His swift movement was enough to convince me he was rushing to the door to lock me in there for weeks.

"No!" I screamed at the top of my voice.

Running out of there as fast as I could, I ran up the stairs and didn't stop till I was safely away from the basement. Adrenaline coursed through me as I took a seat on the stairs. With my head pressed up against the wall, I shook and trembled. I was so scared my teeth were clattering. My heart raced in my chest and my throat was closing up. My eyes burnt and it felt like I was about to wail, but the tears just wouldn't come.

Chapter 15: Nick

It was surreal how loudly Jenna had screamed before bolting out the door. Yae was so startled she jumped and landed in my arms.

It was all so sudden it took me a moment to register what had happened. But then I connected the dots and realized it had something to do with her flinching back when I tried to grab the remote controller.

I was such a bad Daddy. I failed to recognize that she had frozen when I mentioned going to the basement. She looked so uncomfortable being in the basement, but I brushed it off as her being shy. I couldn't for the life of me understand why someone would be scared of basements, but it didn't matter. Whatever it was, I was sure she had a good reason for her fear.

Placing Yae on the windowsill, I placed the cup of food before her and bolted out of the basement. I found Jenna trembling halfway up the stairs.

"Oh, darling." I took a seat next to her and enveloped her with my body and big arms. "You're shaking like a leaf."

First, she shook harder, but then she began to relax as I sang her the lullaby I had sung to her back when I saved her from the creep at the club.

Your Daddy loves you so dearly, so don't you cry sweet babygirl. Your Daddy will make all your worries go away. All you need to do is be yourself and be happy. He'll spoil you with his love and all the treats in the world. So don't you cry, sweet babygirl. Your Daddy loves you so dearly…

"I-I'm sorry, Nick. S-sorry for shouting at you."

"Hush now, my sweet girl. You did nothing wrong. Let's get you inside first."

With a hand shifting to her bottom, I carried her up in my arms and up to my apartment. Pushing the door open, I sat her down on the couch and closed the door before returning to her side.

"You're being very brave, darling." I kissed her on the cheek and stroked her hair in long strikes. "I'm very proud of you. Your Daddy would be too if he were here. It looks like you've been through a lot. We'll call off the sleepover. There will always be other times. Do you need your Daddy right now? Do you want me to call him?"

She shook her head frantically. "No use worrying him over nothing. Just stay close and I'll be fine."

I enveloped her with my body again and rocked her back and forth. I patted her back softly and hummed a tune.

"You don't have to answer if you don't want to." I wasn't sure if it was the time or place, but there was no harm in asking. "Did someone hurt you before you met your Daddy?"