Kitten

Chapter 51: This is goodbye

You're gonna need tissues. 🤧

2 weeks later

James

"Princess, I'm begging you, you need to eat something. It's not good for you or the baby".

She didn't acknowledge me as I pleaded with her for the 7th time this day. She never moved away from the window. Her eyes were glued to the world outside hoping and anticipating Alexander's return. But he wasn't coming back.

"Baby, you need to let go. He's not coming home"-

"He will. I know he will. He has to".

She was hopeful that he'd come back to her, but there was no way a man could survive such a fall. Rescuers had searched for his body, but it couldn't be found.

The waves were vicious on that particular day. The likelihood was that his body collided with the rocks and the waves carried his body away.

Placing down the tray of food on her bed, I walked over to her and rested my hand gently on her shoulder.

She turned her eyes away from the window and stared up at me with tears pouring down her cheeks.

"I loved him dad".

Her voice broke out into broken sobs. All the emotions she had kept bottled up inside came crashing out slowly like a gentle stream.

Wrapping my arms around her shoulders, I pulled my princess up into my arms and held her tightly. I knew she loved him. Anyone with eyes could see how much she loved him. No-one expected him to come back suddenly, but he did and it cost him his life. Even after all he did and put us through, I'll always be thankful to him for saving my daughter's life.

"I know sweetheart. He did terrible things, but I believe he has gained redemption. He saved your life, I'll always be thankful to him".

She cried harder into my chest. Her body trembled in my arms. I felt my own eyes sting with tears as I listened to my little girl cry in desperation.

"I can't do this alone. I need him. I can't raise this baby without him. I hated him. I was angry at him, but deep down I loved him. The times I spent with him were so real".

"I know sweetheart. Perhaps he was using you at first, but there was something so real about the feelings he had for you. He looked at you the way I look at your mother. He stared at you like you were his whole world. You can't fake that. He had troubles, but you changed him. If he truly wanted revenge, he would have left you and let Liam do whatever with you. But he tracked you down and saved you. I'm eternally grateful for the things he did. He's at peace now darling and we need to accept that. And you're not alone. You have us to help with the baby. We will get through this".

She clung onto my shirt and cried harder. There was nothing I could do or say to ease her pain. She was in love and she'd lost the other half of her. If I lost Isabella then I'd be a wreck too. But it was different. She was carrying a baby, a baby who was going to grow up without a dad. I didn't know if Alexander would be apart of his child's life, but I'd make sure that this child knew of his father's bravery and love for their mum.

"I love him" she sobbed repeating the simple statement to herself.

"I know you do sweetheart, I know".

I pulled her away from me and wiped away the tears that trailed down her pale and sunken cheeks.

"When is the last time you slept Princess? You need to think of your health".

"I can't. I can't sleep without him. Ever since he left me I haven't slept properly. I can't dad".

I nodded in understanding and looked down at Lily.