Immortal Lovers {Run 2}

15. Son...

I told myself I would get help. Rosie believed I was, and to an extent I was keeping the promise I made to her. I was speaking to someone about my past, but it wasn't a therapist or a doctor. It was Luke.

I had been continuing my sessions with Luke without Rosie knowing. A part of me felt guilt for not involving her, but we were happy without the added stress of my past getting involved. I got good at pretending to be normal. I was the husband and dad Rosie had always wanted me to be. I was raising our girl the best that I could. She was getting so strong and confident just like her mother.

Despite creating all these happy memories with my new family, deep down I knew these exposed memories from my past were bad for me, but I needed to know what my childhood was like. So much of my past had been a lie and I deserved to know the truth.

As I put my coat on to leave the house, I heard Rosie call out our daughter's name seconds before Kayla stumbled out of the kitchen to find me. As soon as her eyes met mine, she reached out and moved as fast as she could towards me.

"Daddy!"

I grinned and swept her up in my arms. Her vocabular was growing by the week. We knew she was advancing faster than any other child her age, but we swallowed our worries and encouraged her to grow as strong as she could be. I gave her a big kiss on the cheek as a flustered Rosie emerged from the kitchen, her cheeks red and her dark hair falling from her bun. She approached us to take Kayla from me.

"Ever since she learnt to walk, I just can't keep up with her anymore," Rosie said. "Oh, and she's just learnt a new word, haven't you baby?"

"Wuke!" Kayla cried, her grin as wide as mine. "Wuke! Wuke!"

"Yes, she knows how to say Luke," Rosie said, giving me a small look of annoyance. "She's been saying it all morning."

"Wuke!" Kayla cried again.

I gave Rosie a sympathetic look and reached out to squeeze her hip. "I'm so proud of you, baby," I said, sprinkling kisses over Kayla's face which I knew always made her giggle. Rosie couldn't help but smile. "Now be nice to your mummy. I'll be back soon."

"Good luck," Rosie said, reaching up to kiss me. "You're doing so well," she murmured against my lips. "That therapy is really working."

I felt a pang of guilt, but I buried it deep. I simply nodded and gave my family a wave before slamming the door shut behind me. A deep sigh fell from my lips as I leaned up against the front door, but I knew not to linger in case Rosie got suspicious.

I climbed onto my bike and headed to Luke's. To my frustration, my mind had been blocking my past memories. Many were too blurry to make out and it would only get me angry and we'd have to stop. The memories that I have been able to access were short and explained very little, but Luke said he had come up with a new idea. At this point, I was desperate. I would try anything.

I texted Luke that I was outside his house and within seconds the front door swung open and Luke gave me a large grin before locking his door and approaching me. I noticed his stride was more confident than before. He was not as anxious and stuttered less now. I was quietly pleased that he had gotten used to my company and could be himself more now. He offered me his fist which I hit lightly with my own before he climbed onto the bike behind me.

"Where to, boss?" I asked, turning my head to the side.

"The cliffside," he stated with little explanation, but I trusted him enough to not question his choice of destination and drove there as quick as I could. Today, I felt as though something was different. I would be able to open up more about my past. The wall in my mind was weakening and with Luke's confidence, it reassured me that whatever we were going to do would work.