Page 55 of His Forever

Her tears turned to sobs. So much was now clear – why her mother couldn’t bear to be around her, why she was so hard on her. She was nothing.

“Princess? Obviously, she wasn’t successful and you need to hear this clearly, okay?” her father asked. “I have never cared that you weren’t mine. Ever. You’re a part of your mother and that was and is good enough for me to love you as if I were actually your biological father.”

“Is that…is that why I’ve never been good enough, Mother?” she finally asked.

“What? How could you think that?” her mother asked.

“Because of how you’ve treated me all my life, as though I was less than.”

At that, her mother broke down in tears. “I…it never…I…”

The men looked at each other and then George nodded at Zeus. “Princess? Your mother closed herself off to everyone, even me. She took care of the house and you kids but wasn’t there, at least not like she was before the attack,” he said. “I’ve been trying for years to get her to talk to someone about how she feels and it wasn’t until you said something a few weeks ago that she finally agreed.”

Marleigh looked down at her hands.It explains so fucking much.So, so much.“Do…do the others know?” she finally asked, not looking at anyone.

“No, they don’t but they remember how your mom was before so they know that something happened,” her father answered.

“Is that why I spent so much time at Aunt Jeanie and Uncle Sam’s?”

“Yes,” her mother replied. “I had a hard time, Marleigh, and I don’t expect you to understand or forgive me for my actions, but I wanted you to have that unconditional love I wasn’t able to give you.”

“Thank you for explaining, Mother. I am sorry for what you went through, but I’m going to need some time to process all of this.”

“I understand. Please know that youareloved.”

She turned her head into Zeus’ chest, unwilling to look at her parents any longer. After a few minutes, she felt her dad’s hand as it brushed across her head before he leaned down and kissed her temple. “Love you, Princess. This changes nothing. You’ve always been mine.”

She fell asleep crying while Zeus held her.

***

Waking later in the evening, she saw that he hadn’t moved. “Zeus?”

“Mi siempre hermosa, I’m here,” he said huskily. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“What my mother said, it explains so much,” she told him. “I’ve always felt less than and now I understand that it wasn’t me, it was what happened to her that caused it all.”

“Si, and I feel for what she endured and how scared she must have been, especially finding out she was pregnant. Your dad seems like an alright kind of man, but there are many who would have presumed the worst,” he told her. “And Marleigh? The fact she wasn’t successful at what she attempted tells me that there was a bigger plan at work. God knew you were made for me, mi siempre hermosa.”

“He did, did He?” she asked.

“Si, He did. I know you may not choose to have a relationship with her still, but she needs you, mi siempre hermosa. She needs all of us as she tries to heal,” he replied. “Can you try? I know it won’t be easy but I will be here with you.”

She sighed deeply. “Yes, I’ll try.”

Chapter Seventeen

The nurse laughed when she came into the room and saw her patient fully dressed except for her shirt. Moving to her side she said, “Someone’s anxious to go home, huh?”

“Oh my goodness yes!” Marleigh exclaimed. “I mean, y’all have been great, but I have pets and work and everything.”

“Let me get this IV out and you can finish getting dressed, okay?” the nurse asked as she gathered her supplies. Within a few minutes, she had the IV out and the area bandaged. “Your man has the discharge paperwork and is going to get his truck. Let me help you get dressed so we can get you to him.”

Marleigh rolled her eyes as she was helped into the wheelchair. “Is this necessary? I mean, I know I wasn’t conscious when I came in, but I know I can walk now.”

“Hospital policy, Marleigh. Now come on, let’s get you to that good-looking man of yours.”

As they approached the running truck, she saw him get out and go to the passenger side where he opened the door before he scooped her up and placed her gently inside. “I’ve got the discharge paperwork, mi siempre hermosa. Let’s get you home, okay?”