The Second Chance {Tyler Carter}

His Secret Plan

*Tyler's POV*

"She's smarter than we think, Kay," I sighed as I leaned over the island. She put tater tots on a tray and shoved them into the oven,"She's gonna catch on if she hasn't already. If we don't tell her, she'll find out on her own."

"I can't do that to her, Tyler. Last time it came up, she didn't talk for a week."

"Maybe she's older no--"

"Fuck!" she groaned as she noticed her spatula fall to the ground. I knew if she bent down to get it, it'd be hell for her to get up again.

"I got it," I said as I picked it up for her,"But she might already know. She's got all the puzzle pieces pretty close together. It's only a matter of time before they slip into place."

"I guess so,"she sighed,"Would you go ask her if she wants something to munch on while I cook?"

"Yeah, sure. I got it."

"Thanks."

"No problem, baby love."

I loved the way she smiled, especially when I called her that. I always called her that kind of stuff, just way more now that we were together. It made me laugh when she still blushed. I loved how only I would ever get to do things like that with her.

Anyway, I kissed her briefly before heading up stairs. Suddenly, I stopped. I heard the muffled sounds of sniffling. I froze, but then I knocked softly on her door.

"Hey, Cutie," I said softly,"Can I come in?"

"No."

"Why not?" I asked. Hearing her normally happy voice cracking from tears was something that hurt more than I could've ever imagined,"I'm coming in."

I slowly opened the door to see her sitting on the bed in silence and looking up at me with her big, bluish eyes.

"Hey there," I said softly as I shut the door and sat beside her,"What's wrong, sweetie?"

"Nothing."

"Obviously," I remarked as I wrapped my arms around her tiny frame and hugged her. I felt her small hands grab hold of my shirt.

"Please, don't get hurt anymore."

Hurt anymore? She knows. Oh god, she knows.

"Hurt?"

"That bad man," she sniffled,"I know who that is. He's scary, Uncle Tyler."

Hearing her speak with such fear was literally destroying my heart. The fact she was so worried about me was cute, but it killed me to see her in tears. This guy was making our lives hell, and he wasn't even there. How could I stop that?

"Don't worry about me, Jen," I said softly. A few strands of hair were plastered against her wet cheek, so I helped move them for her.

She looked up at me with her big bluish-green, glassy eyes, and it honestly broke my heart. I hated him even more for it. Now, it was affecting my little girl. It was bad enough he did it to Kayla, but at least she wasn't seven.

"But he is really strong!"

"And that's why I'm the one who's making sure that nothing happens to our family."

"But what if he hurts you?"

"Hopefully, he won't. If he does, I'll just take it. It's okay. I can handle it. You don't need to worry."