What It Seems | Wattys 2023

Chapter 64

When Baylor had woken up, I doctored the cuts on his hands. And while he was in the shower, I cleaned up the mess downstairs. But then it was quiet when Baylor had fallen back asleep when it was around one in the morning. He didn't speak much, just a simple "thank you."

I stirred awake at an odd three AM. I didn't feel the presence beside me, and I decided to get up to find Baylor. I pulled the duvet from over me and slid out of bed. My feet scuffed across the carpeted floor and I made my way slowly downstairs due to my sleepy legs. The living room was dark and so was the kitchen.

I walked towards the balcony door and saw him peering over the railing outside. I slid the door open and closed it back once my feet touched the concrete outside.

"Baylor," I called out. He didn't turn to look at me or even acknowledge me.

I waltzed over to him and pressed my chest to his back and snaked my arms around his waist.

"Come back to bed," I whispered and kissed the bare spot between his shoulder blades.

"I couldn't sleep," he simply answered.

I unglued myself from him and went to stand beside him. I wrapped my arm around him and scratched his back.

"How can he just return and act like everything's okay? A second chance? That's bullshit," he scoffed. He was looking out at the blinking lights with an angry expression sketched out on his handsome face.

"My mom and I were abused by him and she was cheated on. Had two kids with two women who were able to have kids. Left us alone and went about his own business. And now he wants a position in my life."

Baylor crossed his arms against his chest and peeked down below when a light turned on downstairs.

"He thought I was his son and I thought he was my father. Until he turned into an unknown monster, he wasn't my father and I wasn't his son. He turned into someone who I didn't know. He had too many personalities . . . he was crazy."

I laid my head on his shoulder for support.

I debated on taking his hand into mine, but I did anyway. I joined our fingers together and pulled him away from the rail. I closed the door back and locked it, closing the blinds as well.

"C'mon." When he had followed me upstairs to his bedroom, he laid down in his spot and I did afterwards. He placed his forehead against my cheek and placed an arm across my torso. I laid my hand into his hair and played with it.

"I do know one thing. Dan is a very good man to your mother. And to you. I saw the way he looked at your mom whenever he made her laugh. And he loves you. I know he does because he treats you with respect and he's the one who supported you when your mom and him got married. When Coluer left, he was no longer your dad. But I do think that Dan deserves the position in being your dad."

Baylor didn't speak. All he did was stare into open space.

"Why do you think he deserves it?" he asked.

"A man with that much power to make your mom happy again, like she deserves to be after what she went through, is a man to honor. He treats you like a son. He supports you and provides for you. He wanted to get to know you better when he entered your life. He knows what you and your mom went through. I know because my mom was in that same position. She was abused by her father, and when her mom got remarried, she was scared that he would be the same like her father. But she then saw that he made her mom happy, and she gave him a chance. And he, my grandpa, treated her like she was his own child. My dad and him were basically best friends."

I felt Baylor's eyelashes bat across my cheek, and a drop of moisture rolled down from his brown eyes. I moved his head to my chest.

"I'm so blessed to have you, Adalynne. I love you a lot." I wrapped my arms around his shoulder and kissed the crown of his head.