We Can't(stepdadxstepdaughter)

29

Four days later

Justine

"Daddy!" Chris yells as Chad and I come into the house and he picks her up as the triplets come over and he hugs all of them.

"I missed all of you." Chad says and I look around for Mel, but don't see her or Daniel. Ryan and Nel brought the triplets and Chris over.

Chad goes to the day room with the kids and I walk over to Ryan.

"Where's Mel and Dan? I get he is upset with Chad for what happened, but she is still my child." I say and Ryan shrugs.

"Don't know for sure where they are. Dan called last night asking if we could pick up Chris and the triplets on our way here. I asked about Mel and he said that he was keeping her until Sunday." Ryan tells me and I scoff as I pull out my cell and dial Daniel's number.

J- "Why didn't you send Mel with Ryan and Nel?"

D- "I wanted to keep her for the rest of the week and weekend, if that's okay. I also don't really feel comfortable with her around Chad."

J- "Daniel, he feels remorse! He even agreed to go to AA and Anger Management counseling for fucks sake! What more do you want?"

D- "I wanted you, Justine, but I see where your loyalty lies. I'll bring Mel back on Sunday. I gotta go, she just got off the swings at the fair."

J- "Daniel don't hang up-"

The dial tone signals he hung up and I groan as I slam my cell down.

"Baby, what's wrong?" Chad asks and I begin to sob.

"Daniel won't let Mel come over because I went back to you." I say and he sighs as he hugs me, Ryan giving him a intense glare as he nods as he lets me go.

"Technically, your the sole guardian. He can't do that without court order." Ryan mentions and I nod, but sigh.

"I don't want to go that route, but it may be necessary." I say and Ryan nods as he and Nel leave our home and i start dinner.

After the kids are fed, bathed, and in bed, I go to the spare room, as Chad bought the house so I gets the master, and close the door as Chad watches me do so.

Laying down in bed, I notice a note and open it, seeing it's from Chad.

'Justine,

I love you so much baby. More than words can describe. The day I met you was the day I knew I found my soulmate. Never imagined that she would be so much younger than myself, but here I was. Enamored by your presence and head over heels in love with you.

When you started experiencing morning sickness with Melody, I knew if I didn't get someone to say she was mine, I'd lose you forever and I couldn't be alone with someone I didn't love. So I paid off the doctor to say she was mine. Only when she got older and started to experience the same issues Daniel has with his stomach and digestive system did I realize I fucked up.

I planned on telling you about it alone the day Dan showed up demanding a paternity test. I was so pissed that I couldn't tell you alone, and that's why I got into with Daniel.

Then came the day I hurt you and killed our babies. That kills me to think about. That I killed our four babies. Innocent little babies caught in a crossfire. I woke up to you not being here and none of the kids here either and I got worried. I tried your cell, but kept getting your voicemail, so I got it in my head that you were cheating on me with Dan and the kids were at Maya's or Ryan and Nel's place. I got shit faced that day on jack, beer, vodka, basically anything with alcohol content. When you came into the house afterwords, I was three sheets to the wind and pissed.

I, against better judgement, made the wrong motherfucking call. I hurt you and the babies and had you not kicked me in the nuts, I would have done something that I would have regretted for years from now. I would have raped you. I am so glad you stopped me.

I was so scared I'd lose you and felt so guilty for what I had done that I tried to kill myself for the second time.

The pain I felt blinded me when you came in and I thought I was seeing shit so I kept with the plan.

I am 100% okay with the boundaries you set and I will abide by them until you are ready for the relationship we had before shit hit the fan.

I love you,
Chad

After reading the note, I curl into a ball and wipe away the tears I have and feel the bed dip down behind me and an arm wrap around me.

Turning I see Chad behind me and roll over into his chest.

Chad
Five minutes ago

I'm standing outside my wife's door as I hear her sob and realize she got my note I left there earlier while she was putting the kids to bed.

I wrote the note while alone in the hospital before I came home.

Finally having enough of hearing her cries I enter the room and lie down beside her, cuddling her lightly so she has the chance to move if she wants.

She turns to look at me before turning and resting her head into my chest, meaning she wants me to hold her and I accommodate her request as she sobs.