Family Ties (Rewritten)

Protector

Emily:

Twenty four hours had passed since Martin and Amy delivered the terrible news of Vincent's escape from the hospital. Twenty four hours of pure fear and paranoia, looking out the window every time I heard a sound from outside. My family members were numb when I told them, but they tried to mask it with forced reassurances.

"The police will get them."  Mother promised.

"That dipshit won't make it one night out of the insane asylum." Robbie said.

"You're welcome to any of my guns." Dad offered.

The only one who didn't know was Cora. I made them promise not to tell her. There was no reason she needed to know about that psychopath.  All he could do was bring her misery and despair.  James was her father.  Nothing would change that.

BOOM!!

The ceramic coffee cup fell from my hands.  We were sitting at the breakfast table when the sound echoed from outside.  My hands trembled.  James placed his hand on my knee.  "It's the house down the street, Em.  They're demolishing it today."

"Oh, right."  I steadied my hands by placing them between my thighs underneath the table.  "Sorry."

Cora shoveled a spoonful of chocolate cereal into her mouth.  "Are you okay?  You look sad."

"Yes, baby. Just a little jumpy, I suppose."

"Maybe it's cause of that scary movie you and Daddy watched the other night. You know, the one with the fish man who lived in the black lagoon."

"You're probably right." I smiled and picked up the pieces of broken ceramic. "I'll stick to happy movies about princesses from now on."

"You don't have to worry, Mommy. Monsters aren't real." She picked up her spoon and swung it in the air like a sword. "And even if they were real, me and Daddy would protect you. Right, Daddy?"

James nodded his head. "Absolutely."

"Plus, Daddy Martin and Amy are always coming around to protect us!"

"You're right, baby." I said, "There's no way a big bad monster would ever bother us."

I hope I'm right. God, I hope I'm right.

After driving Cora to her school, I met James in my classroom. Thankfully, it was my conference period, so I had time to confide in him before dealing with the stress of my work day.

"Everything is going to be okay, Emily." He said, taking my hands into his.  "I'm not going to let that sick bastard within an inch of you or Cora."

"What if you can't stop him?" The words probably seemed cruel. I regretted them as soon as they left me. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to sound-"

"I understand your doubts. He put you through so much, but I won't let it happen again."

"What about your business trip?"

"I'll cancel it."

"You can't do that. Your boss has been on your ass about the Beijing meeting for months."

"I'm not the only real estate agent who represents our company. He can send someone else."

"But that's your meeting. You don't want to miss out on that big commission."