Operation Revenge

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Holding A Broken Heart

I woke up in the middle of the night because i heard crying, Tadley didn't even budge. I blame it on the mom ears though, ever since i had Cade i can wake up at the smallest noises and hear the quietest whimpers.

I got out of bed and went into Cade's nursery but he was sound asleep, i quickly made my way to Joey's room and saw him curled up in bed and crying. I immediately ran over and sat beside him and rubbed his back softly.

"What's the matter, hon?"

"Mommy was hurting me....i dreamed mommy was hurting me...." He was trembling and tears were streaming down his face, my heart clenched in my chest for this little boy. All the pain and heartbreak he's had to go through, all because he had a mother that wasn't worth shit and only cared about herself.

"Come here, baby." I opened my arms to him and he climbed on my lap and clung to me tightly. "I will not let anything happen to you, do you hear me? Nobody is ever going to hurt you again, i promise you this, they will have to go through me first."

"I tried to be a good boy...I tried really really hard...." The more tears that fell down his face tore at another piece of my heart. He's only five years old, he should not be feeling this kind of pain.. it makes me so angry, i just want to spend ten minutes in a room with Taylor so i could show her what it feels like.

"None of this is your fault, baby. I don't want you to ever think that any of this was your fault. Your mommy wasn't ready to be a mommy, she only cared about what she wanted and not what was best for you. I know i can't replace your mommy, but i will spend the rest of my life making you feel the love and happiness that you deserve. I will spend the rest of my life protecting you and giving you any and everything you need. I can't take away the pain she caused you, but i can give you the life you're meant to have. I can give you all the love in the world, and give you a home you can always come to no matter how old you get." I meant every single word that i just said.

"Can you stay with me?" He begged.

"Of course i can!" I gently rocked him back and forth and rubbed his back in soothing circles to calm him down. Then the song my mom used to sing to me when i was upset started coming out of my lips without me even realizing it. It's the song from Tarzan "You'll be in my heart."

He continued to cling to me, and listened to me singing to him quietly. I continued singing and rocking him and by the time i was finished with the song he was out like a light. I kissed the top of his head and then pulled back his blanket and carefully laid him back down, covering him up, and tucking him in safely. I smiled down at this sweet little boy sadly, i gently moved some hair off of his forehead and placed a kiss there.

"It's okay, sweet boy, you're safe now. You'll always be safe." I vowed. I don't care what i had to do, i would protect him from all the bad in this world, he's been through enough.

"You have a beautiful voice, you're a natural at this whole mother thing." I jumped when Tadley's voice sounded from the doorway.

"I actually have no clue what i'm doing, i've only been a mother for seven months, and now i have two boys and one is five..i'm just learning how to take care of a baby, i have no clue what to do with a five year old.. All i know is i'm going to do my best, and that's all i can do. I'm going to love him, protect him, and teach him everything i can. It's going to be scary, but i refuse to let this little boy down. He's been let down enough..." I looked over at my husband sadly, he came over and wrapped his arms around me and kissed the top of my head.

"I'm so sorry you have to be drug into all of this... i know you never asked for any of this..." He looked at me guiltily.

"Neither did you, Tadley. You couldn't have known that you're ex-wife for a weekend at eighteen years old had a kid and was keeping him from you, you couldn't have known that she would show up years later and try to turn your world upside down. But none of that matters, because we're in this, and we're in it together. We gained another sweet little boy to our family, yeah, things are a little messy right now...but i couldn't be happier... and whatever happens from here on out we will get through it...together. All of us, as a family." I assured him, squeezing him a little tighter into our embrace.