Fallen Petals

Chapter six

Lucas couldn't sleep that night as his mind was full of things Deanna might do when she arrived. His only intention was to get away from her, yet she had caught up with him. Her words of dragging him back to jail if he didn't see her haunted him.
"I wish I could divorce this monster." He cried. The hours that passed by weren't long enough and he wished that the earth would swallow him. Rosie came to him like she did most nights and she tapped his shoulder.
"Daddy." She said. He turned to her and smiled.
"Hey Rosie did you have another nightmare?" He asked.
She shook her head and clutched Peach in her arms.

"No Daddy I can't sleep I am worried." She said. He assumed it was because of her scales from earlier and allowed her to climb into his bed.
"Hey you don't have to worry about the scales honey, they've vanished and I'll find out what's going on." He responded. The ten-year-old shook her head again and hugged him.
"Somewhat but Daddy I'm more worried about you, I heard someone yelling at you over the phone. I know you told me not to but I looked through the pictures on the computer." She admitted. Her face dropped from the guilt like it always did when she was caught in a lie. Lucas was about to scold her but found he was too exhausted to do more than a disapproving look.

"Rosie I appreciate your concern but you shouldn't go through those old photos, I have them all on that computer for a reason." He explained. The laptop was old but it had a lot of evidence against Deanna being a serial abuser. Yet of course no one believed it and Lucas kept the evidence locked up.
"But daddy I saw all of those men with that evil Deanna and you were only in one picture. You got married in that picture." She argued. Lucas felt his face flush at the mention of his wedding.
"Yes that was one of the worst days of my life honey but this all is my problem, I don't want you to get caught in it. She yelled at me because she found out about you and wanted to see you." He explained.

His throat became tighter and Rosie hugged him when he began to hyperventilate. She caught his glasses when they fell off his face as he began to have a panic attack.
"Breathe Daddy please breathe stay with me." She cried. He hugged her back and her tears made his anxiety lessen. Her voice had become like an angel singing to him. It took a few minutes before he calmed down and stroked Rosie's hair.
"I'm here Rosie remember Daddy isn't going anywhere, I just got scared." He responded. He kissed her on the forehead to comfort her while she tried to comfort him.
"I know Daddy I'm sorry I went through the pictures but I wanted to help you." She said.
Lucas said nothing he only smiled and kissed her on the forehead again.

The little girl went on about how she would make him proud before she fell asleep.
"I am very proud of you my little flower." He said. Lucas smiled and covered her with his blankets before he fell asleep himself. The next morning his brief beauty sleep was interrupted by intense yelling from downstairs. His heart sped up inside his chest and every time he covered his ears, the more he heard. Her voice got more aggressive yet she never yelled.
"Lucas I know you are in there, let me in, honey let me in. What are you doing let me in." Deanna urged as she knocked. Rosie flinched near him from all the noise and Lucas got up to defend her. His fear of her being trembled by his desire to keep his daughter safe.

When he walked down the stairs and opened the door, he was met with a punch in the face. He flinched and held his bloody nose, as she crossed her arms.
"You could have waited until I was awake." He argued. She gave him a look of disappointment and took off her white gloves.
"Lucas you know I hate our fights especially when I was the one who was left behind." She said. Her eyes glared down at him and she teared up when he tried to defend himself.
"You...you...you have no right to say that I don't trust you." He stammered.
"You shouldn't say that or think I'm your wife you are supposed to trust me. No one is going to love you the way I do and I've been looking for you for so long." She cried.