The Last Great Seduction

Chapter Forty Eight

"Mama?" I heard Julian call softly as I was getting dressed. My off days weren't even that anymore. I had to figure out where the hell my mother was, because there were really only two people looking for her. We didn't want to worry Milena, so we didn't tell her anything. We were hoping to find mama before Milena was able to get out. Speaking of her getting out, the progress that she's made was wonderful, actually. Her counselor said that she'd never seen someone really that determined to get clean like Milena. I was proud, and more proud that she'd be coming home to the sweetest little baby in the world.

"Yes?" I answered Julian while looking in the mirror.

I could see him looking at me from the corner of my eye. "Never mind," he said softly.

"No. Sit down," I told him. Shawn and Daniel had gone out to get them something to eat. Julian didn't go because he didn't want to get out the bed.

He sat down on the edge of my bed while I walked up to him. "What is going on with you?" I squatted in front of him to make sure that I was at his level. One thing I learned about children is that they get intimidated easily.

"I don't know."

"You do know. What happened with Rihanna? Why did you yell at your dad like that? Why do you treat me like this, Julian? Do you not realize everything I've ever done is for you? I'm not able to live for myself, because I have to make sure you're good, whether it be now or in the future. I've solidified your future, baby. Whatever you want to do – you have the chance to. Not a lot of people have that."

"Rihanna said he hurt you," Julian said lowly.

"He who?"

"Dad."

"How did he hurt me?"

"He...hurt you," Julian said shrugging. I had a feeling that he was talking about the rape. He was only eight years old. Why would she tell him that?

"What did Rihanna say?"

"She said that he r.."

"Ok," I quickly stopped him. "And what else?"

"He's not my dad?"

I ran my hands over my face. I never really wanted to have this discussion with Julian. I always thought that it would be easy to just make this happen. Shawn was a wonderful provider and person for Julian.

"He's not your biological dad. Your real father did some bad things to mommy."

"Did he r-?"

"No. He did things worse. He did things that Shawn had to save me from. When you were two, you and Shawn had so much fun when we were staying in the other house. He bought you all these toys. Even after we moved back, he was still there for you. Your real father can't be there for you, baby. If you want to see him, I'm going today. I can't keep you from seeing him or knowing about him."

Julian was quiet. More than quiet.

"Do you want to see him?"

Slowly, he nodded his head.

"Okay. Before we do that, why are you mad at me?"

"Because you stayed with him."

I smirked at that. "Listen, your dad and I weren't always together. We only dealt with one another because of you. Our love for you is much stronger than our problems. You wanna know a secret?"

Happily and excitedly, Julian nodded his head.

I laughed a bit. "We're getting married."

"With Uncle Corey and Auntie Nia?!"