“Don’t call me son. You’re no father of mine. Of course, I care about her. She’s looked after Nan these last few months.”
Was that the only reason he cared about her? No, it couldn’t be. He probably didn’t want to admit to anything in front of his father. She knew all about hiding your true feelings. She’d learned not to let her father know when something truly mattered to her.
It just gave him a way to hurt her.
Her breath shuddered in and out of her lungs as she waited for his dad to tell Macca her secret. But he just smiled. “That’s going to be interesting, isn’t it?”
“What is?” Macca growled.
“I’m leaving now. I don’t have time for this.” Mr. McKenzie smacked his son’s arm away, although she figured that Macca let him.
He turned towards his car, stopping to look down at her. “My son won’t be around forever. He chose sides a long time ago. Just remember that.”
A cold shiver ran through her. What would happen when Macca wasn’t here to protect her?
She’d be on her own again. Like always.
15
“All right, baby girl,” Macca crooned to her in a quiet voice. “Let’s get you in the bath.”
She looked around the bathroom. She’d been in a bit of a daze since Macca’s father left. All the adrenaline that had flooded her as she’d fled had drained away, leaving her exhausted. Luckily, Macca had taken over. He’d carried her inside, murmuring comforting words. He’d taken them straight into the main bathroom, setting her down on the counter.
She grabbed hold of his hand with a small cry. “Don’t leave me.”
“I’m not leaving, sweet pea. I promise. I’m staying right here. I just need to fill the bath for you, all right? We need to clean those feet and a bath will help you feel better.”
She let go of him reluctantly. “Tired.” That nap she’d just had felt like a lifetime ago now.
“I know, baby. You don’t have to do anything. I’m going to take care of you.”
She should tell him the full story of her past. But once she did, would his opinion of her change? Would he still want anything to do with her? He was here for such a short time anyway, what did it matter if she kept her secret? Once he was gone, she’d never see him again.
Sadness stabbed her. With every day she spent with him, she knew it would hurt just a bit more when he left.
And she wouldn’t change a thing.
“Once you feel better, we’re going to have a little chat about obeying Daddy’s orders,” he told her as he stripped her then lifted her up, placing her in the bath.
She hissed as her feet hit the water. “Ow! Ouchie!” She raised her feet out of the water, grasping hold of the sides, so she didn’t go under the water.
“I know, baby girl,” he said gently. “But we have to get them clean. Put them back under please.”
Tears filled her eyes. “Hurts.”
“I know it hurts. Daddy is going to make it all better, though.”
She wished that were true. Wished she was really a child with a father who cared about her. Who protected her. Loved her.
“You’ve been sorely treated by the McKenzie men, haven’t you, sweet pea?”
“Not you. You’re not like him. He’s. . .he’s. . .evil.”
He watched her solemnly. “I’m so sorry you had to be in his presence. I promise I never would have left you if I thought for a minute he’d come here.”
“I’ve only met him once before. He never comes here. You couldn’t have known.”
“Still doesn’t make me feel any better for leaving you. That won’t happen again.”