Under My Protection

Chapter 6

For AnnMarieThrush

"You're home!" David hugged my legs when I walked through the door. I laughed.

"I just went to get groceries." I noticed Mitch standing in the doorway. His eyes traveled up his son to reach me. He gave me a weak smile. He looked so tired.

"Go play David." David ran up the stairs into his room. I made my way into the kitchen to put the groceries down.

"He thought you weren't coming back." I turned to look where Mitch was standing. "He thought it was going to be only the two of us again. And you know what he said?" I stayed quiet as the tears building in his eyes spilled over. "He asked me why everyone leaves us?"

"Mitch-"

"How am I suppose to answer that?" He wiped the tears away with his fingers. "If I say they're protecting people, he's going to ask why they aren't protecting us. How am I suppose to explain to him anything that's happening?" I pulled him into a comforting hug.

"He's too smart. He gets it from you." I was rubbing my hand up and down his back. He was crying quietly against my chest. I put my lips on his forehead.

"Daddy?" David was standing in the doorway. Mitch quickly wiped the tears away and turned to his son with a big smile. That immediately reassured David that his dad was okay and he ran into Mitch's arms. The little boy was balanced on one of Mitch's hips. "Do guys want see spongebob with me?" We were all in the living room now and I was trying to watch cartoons but Mitch was distracting me. He'd bounce his leg or tap his fingers in an annoying fashion.

"Relax." I slipped my hand in his to try and calm him down. He let his head rest on my shoulder and made sure our fingers were laced together. David was staring at our hands with an intrigued look. His head tilted sideways. That is what caused Mitch and I to break away. We didn't need David to be confused. The little boy climbed on his dad's lap and cuddled to his chest. Mitch ran his fingers through David's long hair.

Looking at Mitch this way, taking care of his child, it made him more attractive. It showed he had a gentle side that only is seen with his son around. But you can tell in his eyes that he had been broken and he was slowly being rebuilt.

"Can I have a cookie please?"

"One." Mitch put up one finger when David ran to the kitchen.

"Okay!" I put a hand on Mitch's knee.

"You doing okay?"

"No." It came out with a sad laugh at the end. He once again let his head fall on my shoulder. He sat up to give me a small kiss. "Thank you. For doing this for us."

"No problem." He glanced down at my lips nervously. I decided to kiss him. His arm slowly snaked around my neck and I cupped one of his cheeks in my hands.

"I want milk." David broke us apart. He was standing in front of us with a cookie in one hand and an empty cup in the other.

"Magic word?" Mitch calmly waited for the little boy's answer.

"Please." He took the cup in the kitchen as David sat down next to me. "Daddy's happy now. Papa made daddy sad."

"Why would you say that?"

"Daddy was worried that Papa wouldn't come home. They'd yell." David looked down at his lap. "Was it my fault Papa's not coming back?"

"No David. It wasn't your fault. It's complicated. Your Papa will be home soon."

"I don't want him home. I want you to stay Scotty. You make Daddy happy. You won't leave us will you Scotty?" I didn't know what to say. Eventually, Chris will come back. The killer doesn't kill cops. He only kills the families to slowly break down the cops. Sometimes into killing themselves. But Chris would come back to his family and I'll have to leave.

"What happens when your Papa comes home?"

"Daddy will fight with him and he'll go away again. And Daddy will cry every night." I brushed David's hair from his face.

"You're so smart. But I don't know if I'll stay David. Your parents love each other."

"They love me, not each other." I was speechless. How could this three year old know all of this? "Please stay. Don't you love my Daddy?" I felt put on the spot. I wasn't in love with Mitch. He was more like a friend. Actually, he was a job.

"I love your Daddy like a friend."

"Friends can get married." David wasn't going to drop the subject.

"I'll tell you what, if I fall in love with him, I'll marry him. I pinky promise." He put out his pinky for me to take. I accepted it. Mitch came into the living room and set down the glass of milk with a plate.

"Hold over." I couldn't read his face. I had no idea what he was thinking but I knew he heard the conversation. He wouldn't be trying to act passive if he didn't. His hand was running through David's hair. "We need to get your hair cut." Mitch laughed at his son smiling up at him. "Go put your dishes up."

"Mitch I'm sor-"

"Thank you." I was confused. "For not trying to....to make him hate Chris. He'll just hate me."

"Why would he hate you?"

"Because I'm tired of this. I can't take it. If Chris isn't going to quit, I have to divorce him to keep my family safe. And you'll be gone." I stood up.

"Mitch." I rubbed my hands up and down his arms.

"I love Chris but I love my son more." I knew what he was saying. He would never allow me to fulfill the promised I made to David. Even if we did fall in love.