Chapter 2 - The Colonel at the Door
Three days later, Ryan was standing in the kitchen when someone knocked.
Linda glanced toward the door.
“Expecting someone?”
“No.”
The knock came again.
Harder.
Ryan opened it.
Every trace of color disappeared from his face.
My father stood in the hallway.
He had come directly from a military ceremony and was still wearing his Army dress uniform.
Silver eagles rested on his shoulders.
His expression was calm.
Too calm.
“Colonel Bennett.”
Ryan forced a smile.
“You should've called.”
“I wanted to surprise Emily.”
Linda appeared behind Ryan.
“Oh.”
Dad looked at her.
“Linda.”
“William.”
“Where's my daughter?”
“She’s resting.”
“I'll wake her.”
Linda blocked the hallway.
“She really shouldn't have excitement right now.”
Dad stared at her.
“My daughter can tell me that herself.”
Nobody moved.
Then Ryan stepped aside.
“Of course.”
Dad entered.
His eyes immediately began studying the apartment.
Everything had been arranged perfectly.
A bowl of soup sat on a tray.
A full glass of water.
Prenatal vitamins.
Fresh flowers.
Dad pointed toward them.
“She's eating?”
Ryan nodded quickly.
“Absolutely.”
Dad touched the soup.
Cold.
His eyes moved to the glass.
Untouched.
Then toward the hallway.
“Which room?”
Ryan's jaw tightened.
“You know which room.”
Dad walked past him.
When the bedroom door opened, I knew immediately who it was.
I recognized his footsteps.
“Dad?”
He stopped.
I was beneath the blue blanket.
My hair was tangled.
My face was pale.
I hadn't expected him.
For one terrible second, I wanted to hide.
Then I wanted to run into his arms like I was five years old again.
“Hey, sweetheart.”
His voice nearly destroyed me.
“What are you doing here?”
“Visiting my daughter.”
“You should've called.”
“Apparently nobody wanted me to.”
He sat beside me.
I kept both hands above the blanket.
Dad noticed.
He always noticed.
He took my hand.
“You're shaking.”
“I'm cold.”
“The room's warm.”
“Dad…”
His eyes moved over my face.
“Look at me.”
I couldn't.
“Emily.”
I finally raised my eyes.
His expression changed.
Not anger.
Not yet.
Fear.
“Tell me what's wrong.”
“Nothing.”
“Don't do that.”
“I'm just tired.”
“You've been afraid for weeks.”
My breathing became shallow.
“I haven't.”
“Yes, you have.”
The bedroom door opened.
Linda stood there.
“See? This is what we've been dealing with.”
Dad turned.
“What?”
“The drama.”
I closed my eyes.
Linda continued.
“Pregnant women can become very emotional. Emily needs stability, not interrogation.”
Ryan appeared behind her.
“She's been uncomfortable.”
Dad stood.
“Leave the room.”
Ryan blinked.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
“This is my bedroom.”
Dad took one step toward him.
“And that's my daughter sitting there terrified of something.”
“She's not terrified.”
“Then let her tell me.”
Ryan looked at me.
That look said everything.
Dad saw it.
His voice dropped.
“Ryan.”
“What?”
“Stop looking at her.”
Silence.
Linda scoffed.
“This is ridiculous.”
Dad pointed toward the hallway.
“Out.”
“You don't order me around in my son's home.”
“I just did.”
“Dad,” I whispered.
He immediately turned back.
“I'm here.”
Tears rolled down my face.
“Please.”
He sat beside me again.
“Tell me.”
I tightened my fingers around the blanket.
“If you see everything…”
“What?”
“Everything will fall apart.”
His expression softened.
“Maybe it needs to.”
Ryan suddenly stepped forward.
“Sir, don't touch that blanket.”
My father's eyes snapped toward him.
The room became silent.
Linda spoke quickly.
“She fell.”
Dad looked at her.
“What?”
“Emily fell a few days ago. Pregnant women lose their balance.”
My heart pounded.
Dad slowly turned toward me.
“Emily.”
I couldn't speak.
He looked at the blanket.
Then at Ryan.
Then back at me.
“Sweetheart, I'm going to move this.”
I started crying harder.
“Daddy…”
His voice cracked for the first time.
“I'm sorry.”
His hand reached for the edge of the blue blanket.
Ryan stepped forward.
“Don't.”
Dad pulled it away.
May you like
And the lies ended.
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