Stealing Beauty

Part 8- Overprotected

Somehow, throughout all the chaos we made it home. I was reunited with my baby girl, and ever since my father passed and we returned home, I hadn't let go of her. We've been home since yesterday afternoon. Konnor tried to get me to sleep but I just couldn't. This isn't the first time I've done the Grief Dance. I refuse to sleep for days; I see the people I've lost in my dreams. So instead, I spend the ungodly hours in Karsyn's nursery, rocking her or watching her sleep.

It was now 6:34 on Monday morning, and I was fighting sleep. Konnor had come in an hour ago to check on me and usher me to bed, but I couldn't. I had to control my emotions from the pain and sleep deprivation. Tamara and Jack said Karsyn slept all through the night at their house this weekend; if only that was the sake here. It seems she's been sleeping extra uneasy since we returned home, like she knew something was wrong with the world.

"Hey baby," Konnor said from behind me. I had just settle Karsyn back in her crib and sat in the rocking chair, watching the sun rise through the window. I didn't even budge at his words. I heard his feet creak on the hardwood floor as he walked closer to me. Finally he made his way around to my face, and knelt down in front of me.

"Are you okay?" He asked. I was so fed up from the loss of sleep, loss of emotion, loss of motivation, loss of my father. I shot him a look and he held his hands up. "I know, stupid question."

Normally when he says something like this, I smile easily at him, but it was different. I had to fight back that smile to show it was not going to be so easy to heal me or make me feel better.

"It's going to be okay," he reached for my hand but I snatched it from him.

"No, it's not, Konnor. That's not something you can easily say. You didn't just witness your father DIE. I did."

"I know, I know. But I've been to more funerals than I can count. I know what you're feeling."

"No you don't. Don't act like you do." I stood up from the chair and started pacing the room. The atmosphere between us had changed. I shivered at the change. Did he turn the temperature down?

"Baby I understa-"

"I don't need you to understand!" I started to raise my voice at him. There was probably no reason to, and I would regret it later. But for now, my emotions were flying around the walls, like they had literally hit the ceiling fan.

"Then what do you need?" He asked gently, moving closer to me.

"To leave me alone." I shot back at him. Konnor shook his head.

"I can't."

"Why not? What if the space is what I need?"

"First of all," he started slowly, as if trying not to upset me. "You don't need the space. You need to be protected. Secondly, I made a promise."

"Protected? From what, Konnor? Huh? The big bad wolf?" I laughed darkly in his face. "And since when did you go off promising shit without my consent? Was it my dad?"

"Yes. That day we went to visit him, I made him a promise to protect you."

"Why the hell would you have any reason to promise him that? Konnor what the fuck is going on?! Ever since you came out of that room something has been going on. You know something and you choose to hide it from me?!"

"It's complicated, Natali-"

"Bullshit. If you loved me and cared for me you would tell me and be honest with me. Not keEPING SHIT BETWEEN YOU AND MY DECEASED FATHER!!!!"

Karsyn moved a little when she heard me scream, but my daughter was like me; she could sleep as hard as a rock when she was out.

"Look, baby-"

"Don't 'baby' me."

"I can see where you're upset, but now isn't the time."

"So when is the right time, Konnor? When did you plan on telling me? My father's funeral? Our daughter's first birthday? Our wedding?"

"No...be mad at me all you want, Nat, but you're not leaving."

"I'm not leaving? Ha! No. You do not control me. Last I checked you were supposed to be my fiance, not my fucking mother! I can leave if I please. You know what? Just fucking watch me."

I started to walk around the room, throwing clothes in bags.

"Oh and did I mention, Konnor? I'm taking our daughter, too."

"Natalie just take a second to relax. Let's be civil and talk about it...."

But his words were silent. I tuned out his voice as my hands shook, packing mine and Karsyn's bags. As mad as I was, I gently set her in the car seat and snatched my keys from the coffee table. I carried her and all of our bags to my truck and buckled her in safely.

"Natalie, please don't do this.."

He looked broken. For one moment I took a good look at him. He was fighting a war in his hard-ass head. He was confused. Neither one of us truly knew what was going on or why I was leaving. But I was too angry and emotional to stay. I needed to get away for a while.

"I love you." He said as I got in the driver's side and turned the truck on. I drove away and at 7:02 A.M., I looked back one last time. I sadly left Konnor Adams in the dirt.

***

A.N.- Things are getting real intense really fast. But honestly, you hadn't read anything yet. Just letting y'all know now: Konnor won't be able to protect Natalie from a distance.

And yes, she'll regret the way she acted. For yelling at him and acting irrational. And even leaving. But right now, she's sulking in her own self guilt. She's blaming herself for everything that ever went wrong in her life. Konnor doesn't see it because he's too busy worrying about her. He'll see it though, but it'll take him a while.

Plus, Natalie has that stubborn attitude where she's going to do what she wants no matter what anyone says, especially if someone says she can't do something. Even if it's the one guy she loves. And Konnor can't even see because his head is so damn hard.

It's late, that's why I'm thoroughly explaining this to you all.

I don't know when the next update will be. Just give me another bad day and boom! New chapter.

Bare with me. This book is going to be a great one.

XOXO,

-Lucky8Girl. <3