Catherine

8. Brave Little Girl

Gordon arrived home,tired, downhearted... He looked around, as he got in the house. There was no one in the living room, in the kitchen, or in the backyard, and just when he decided to go upstairs, his wife,  Carine, came down.

" Gordon? " she said. He looked up to her, with the guilt on his shoulders,  getting heavier every second. He was wordless. 

Carine approached. " What happened to you? " she asked, holding his face.

" I don't know... everything happened no quickly, and she just disappeared..."

" I'm talking about you,z Gordon. You have blood everywhere. " she said.

" I... got punched. " he shrugged. " And... I'm sorry..."

" Oh, honey. You sound like a child when you talk like that. It's alright. It's over. " Carine said, hugging him . " You should have punched him back, you know? Harder than he did. " she stared at him.

" I couldn't do that! Much less in front of our daughter. " he answered.

Carine burst out a laugh, as if he had said some nonsense.

" What? " he asked. " What did I say? "

" Nothing. I just think you're the only man I know, that can't even punch a guy. "

" I tried to grab him, but-"

" That's why I love you. " Carine stared at him, smiling. " I'm glad everything is okay. "

Gordon smiled.

" Let me take care of you. " Carine said as she went to look for the first-aid-kit, then she came back to the living room. They sit on the coach.

" Where are the girls? " He asked.

" They're napping right now. It was a rough day... " Carine said.

" It was... " he said, staring at his reflection on the black screen in front of him. " How did you find Ellen? " Gordon asked at some point.

  " I didn't... my mother did. " She said, as Gordon stared at her, looking surprised. " She was very upset, and Ellen was crying a lot. She must have told her terrible things." Carine said " My poor baby girl... ".  

Gordon sighed.

  " It's alright honey. My mother doesn't know what she says... she merely went through a lot... and has a different perspective of how things should be. " Carine said. 

 " Maybe she is right. " Gordon replied.

" Oh dear... don't say that, it wasn't your fault. "

" But what if, I'm not good enough to protect all of you? "

" Gordon! " Carine stared at him, shocked. " My mother is old. She doesn't know anything about our lives! She doesn't know what you've been through, to have the life, and the family you have today! And I love you, your daughters love you, and we TRUST you with our lives! We put all our fates in you, because I know I choose the right man to spend the rest of my life with, and NOBODY is or will ever be a better father for them than YOU are. And that is NEVER going to change. "

Gordon looked at her and smiled.

" What are you smiling about? I'm serious! " she said.

" I know. " he laughed.

" If you ever say that again, I'll be very upset. For real. "

" Upset or not, I still married the most wonderful woman in the World. " he said.

Carine smiled and kissed him. " Well, I have to make dinner. It's getting late. " she stood up and went to the kitchen. " You better get up there and check on your daughters. "

As Gordon reached his daughters's room, he saw Ellen, on her bed, thoughtful looking.

" Heeey... How's my baby girl doing? " he said. Ellen turned her face the other way, when she realized he was in the room.

" I don't know... " she answered, with her arms crossed, holding her elbows.

" Where is your sister? " he asked.

" In the bathroom... "

Gordon sat on her bed. " Listen... how am I going to say this... I know how you feel, after what happened today, and I'm sorry I made you feel in danger. But... sometimes, in life, things like this happen. " he said.

" I know dad. " Ellen answered.

" Well, uh... " Gordon stared at her, hoping that she would say anything else.

" Look. I won't make you talk if you don't want to. I just want to let you know that, you can talk about it, whenever you feel ready. To me, and your mother, or even your sister, and we'll always be here for you. " he said, waiting for an answer. She still wouldn't look at him.

" Yea... " she said.

" I know you're scared... I know that was traumatizing, but there's no reason to hide it, Ellen, I love you. We all love you, and we're here to take care of each other. You might never be totally recovered from this, and I'm sorry for that, I'm sorry it happened today. I fight everyday to protect all of you, and now I know I'm just not strong enough, and making you feel like that is not what I want, I never want it to happen again... but... "

Ellen wasn't turning. She didn't wan't to look at her father. He sighed.

" Why won't you look at me? " Gordon asked. " Ellen. Why won't you look at your father? "

" Because... I'm crying. And I don't want to cry. " she said as she turned to him sobbing, and breathing nervously. 

Her father cuddled her as she cried on his shoulders. " It's okay to cry, you will always be my little baby. Even though you're grown up fast, and there will be times where you won't need so much attention, but we'll work it out. Parents always find a way to work it out. So, it's okay to cry. " He said.

" I don't think you're weak at all. I don't feel insecure, because only you and mom can make me feel safe, and you will always be my Hero. " Ellen said as she cleaned the tears from her face. Her father smiled and kissed her forehead.

" Brave baby girl. "