Sitting Pretty by S.I. Hayes & J. Haney

Author:S.I. Hayes & J. Haney [Hayes, S.I. & Haney, J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Deviant Darlings Publications
Published: 2022-12-21T00:00:00+00:00

21

Cordelia

Something is not right. I can feel it in my gut. Beckham and my daddy haven’t come down yet, and I’m starting to think that I may be about to go upstairs to find a mess. After all that singing and those drinks, I wouldn’t put it past him to start a fight on Christmas morning. It wouldn’t be the first one. Daddy was never violent, but he could cut you down with words like no man I’ve ever known.

The girls are in their spots, and Missus Morrow and I are getting the food lain out. I look at her and clear my throat. “I-um think I’m gonna go see what’s keeping them.”

“You go right ahead and tell them momma says get a move on, or they’re cleaning up.”

Taking off the apron, I smooth down my dress and head for the stairs. “Christ!” I jump as I see Beckham standing about halfway down them. He has a look on his face like he’s trying to figure out where to hide the body. “Beckham? What’s wrong?” Seeing him crumpling something in his hand, I head up the steps, and he backs up them, keeping distance between us. “Where’s my daddy? What’s going on?” My mouth is dry, and my stomach is releasing bile into my throat. I swallow back the acrid flavor. Getting to the top of the stairs, he backed himself into the bedroom door. “Talk to me,” I beg, tears already sliding down my cheeks.

“I’m sorry.” It comes out broken. “I’m sorry, it’s my fault. Christ! I didn’t—” He cuts off, wilting to the floor, his knees to his chest. How so large a man can be reduced to nothing astonishes me. I’m on the floor, pulling him to my chest without much thought.

“He’s gone, isn’t he?” I whisper coldly. The tears in my eyes freezing at the thought that my daddy could be so cruel. I lace my fingers into his hand and pull the crumpled bit of paper from it. He tries to rip it back, but I stay him with my steely blue stare. I read the simple but razor-sharp single phrase as he buries his head in his hands. “Hey, it’s okay. Really, it’s better this way. I promise.”

“It’s my fault for wanting you. For wanting you in my bed and in my heart. How could you think this is okay? I’m so sorry, Cordelia.” His palm goes to my cheek, sending all the synapses I’ve been trying to ignore on fire.

“Beckham…” I whimper. “My daddy is a bastard. You know that. Come on. Let’s pull you together and go spend the day with those beautiful little girls who are eagerly waiting on their daddy.”

His eyes bore into mine. “He left you because of me. Please don’t hate me or the girls. They need you. I can’t give them everything they need, no matter how much I wish I could.”

“Look, I can’t say I’m not sad. But I don’t hate you. His leaving was out of fear.

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