The Rose He Killed novel Chapter 71

Chapter 64: Tom Worries-2

“We built a lot of towers”

“I heard.” A tiny smile played at her lips. “The crashing was hard to miss.

“He needed to be loud,” I said, remembering Tom’s confession about trying to be good for her. “He’s been holding too much in.”

Bella’s smile faded. “What do you mean?”

“He told me he tries to be good so he doesn’t make you sad, that he hears you crying at night.” I kept my voice low so I wouldn’t wake Tom. “Bella, he’s three years old and he’s worried about your feelings.”

She looked away, wrapping her arms around herself. “I didn’t know he heard me.”

“He loves you so much he’s trying to protect you.” I shifted Tom slightly, trying to get feeling back in my arm. “You’ve done an incredible job with him, but you don’t have to do it alone anymore.”

“I’ve been alone for years, Caleb, I don’t know how to not do it alone.”

Before I could respond, Tom shifted in his sleep, mumbling something that sounded like “blocks.”

“I should put him in his bed,” I said.

I stood carefully, cradling Tom against my chest. He was heavier than he looked, solid and real and mine. I carried him to his new room, Bella following silently, and laid him down on his bed. He immediately curled around his stuffed penguin without waking.

“He really does love penguins,” I whispered.

“Since he was very little.” Bella pulled the blanket up around him. “We watched a documentary and he’s been obsessed ever since.”

We stood there looking down at him, two parents united by love for this child even if nothing else connected us anymore.

“Thank you,” I said quietly. “For this morning, for letting me have this time with him.”

“You’re his father.” She didn’t look at me. “He deserves to know you.”

“I know I don’t deserve this chance, but I’m going to be better, I’m going to prove to you that I’ve changed.”

“Words mean nothing, Caleb,” she said, repeating what she’d told me last night. “Prove it with actions.”

“I will.”

She moved toward the door and I followed, but as we reached it, Tom’s sleepy voice stopped us.

“Love you, Daddy.”

I froze, turning back to the bed. Tom was still asleep, the words mumbled in a dream, but they hit me like a punch to the gut. My son loved me. After knowing me for less than few days, he loved me.

Chapter 64 Fe Wanies 2

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Hooked at Bella and saw tears streaming down her face. She walked out quickly, leaving me standing There unable to move, unable to breathe.

“I love you too, buddy,” whispered to my sleeping son. “More than you’ll ever know.”

When I finally left Tom’s room, I found Bella on the terrace again, crying with her back to the door. I should have left her alone, given her privacy, but I couldn’t.

“Bella.”

She wiped her face quickly. “Don’t, just don’t say anything.”

“He’s lucky to have you as his mother.”

“Stop it.” She turned to face me, eyes red. “Stop being kind, stop acting like you care. I can handle your apologies and I can handle sharing custody but I can’t handle you being nice to me.”

“Why not?”

“Because it makes me remember!” The words burst out of her. “It makes me remember that I used to think you could be this person, that I wanted you to be this person. And I can’t go back to being that naive girl who hoped you might actually love her someday.”

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