Be Alright: Somebody To Love #6

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Justin’s POV

“Daddy! You’re cheating!” Aria screamed, laughing as I tickled her. Kingston jumped on me and I started to tickle him as well. I had them both pinned to the ground, laughing hysterically, when Stella came down.

“Save us!” Aria squealed.

“No.” Stella sat down on the couch and gave me a death glare.

“Annie’s up in her room, she wants to talk to you.” Madelyn informed me. “And this one is happy to see you.” She gave Stella a look.

“Hi Daddy. How are you?” Stella batted her eyelashes at me. I could see through her act.

“I’ll be back for you. I’m going to go talk to Annie.”

I made a pitstop into my closet, where my bag was. I dug through it until I found my gifts for the kids. With my bribe in hand, I walked to Aniston’s room. I knocked lightly before I opened the door. Aniston was sitting on her bed, crying.

“Baby girl, why are you upset?” I sat down next to her, but not too close. I wanted her to come to me. I didn’t want to force her to forgive me.

“Because last year you made me a promise that you wouldn’t ever leave again! You promised! And even though you and Mom were fighting, I believed you wouldn’t leave us. And then we came home and Mom told us you left. And I was so mad. I was more than mad at you, Dad. I was pissed.”

“Hey. Don’t let your mom here you say that word or we’ll both be killed.” I laughed, trying to make a joke. She didn’t laugh. “I’m sorry I left, Aniston. But there’s things going on you don’t know about. I left to help your mom, not to hurt her. And I know that’s hard for you to understand, but you have to believe me. I’m sorry I hurt you by leaving, but it was what I had to do.”

She looked at me trying to decide if I was telling her the truth.

“I guess if you did it for Mommy, I’m not as mad.” She was so much like Madelyn when she got mad, it made me laugh. 

“I got you something.” I handed her a little blue box. She took it and opened it. She smiled when she opened it.

“It’s beautiful, Daddy.” She smiled. I took it from her and got it out of the box. She held up her hair and I fastened it around her neck. The little heart, set with diamonds, sat perfectly on her.

“I know someday I won’t be the only guy in your life. You’ll find some hunky guy that will steal your heart away, and you won’t be my little girl anymore. But even when that happens, I’ll always be here for you. You were my first baby girl and I’ll always have a really special place in my heart for you.” I kissed her forehead. She looked at me for a second before she wrapped her arms around my neck.

“I’m sorry, Dad. I really do love you. You’re pretty great.”

“I know, baby girl. I love you, too.”

Madelyn’s POV

I hadn’t meant to eavesdrop on Justin and Aniston’s heart to heart. I was walking to my room when I heard him make his little speech about always loving her. I was once again awestruck by how great of a dad he was to our girls. I smiled as I walked back downstairs.

“Can we watch a movie when Dad and Annie come downstairs?” Kingston asked.

“How about after we eat dinner?”

“Okay.” He settled.

“I’m not doing anything with Dad.”

“Why don’t you guys go start your homework?” Aria and Kingston groaned but got up and listened. Stella had already done her online homework for the day, so she stayed put on the couch.