And not tonight.
Chapter Five
Peter
She was about to open up to me.
I could feel it.
Something caused her to shut down, though, and I’m not sure what it was. I instantly feel the loss of her trust, but that’s okay. I have all night, I remind myself, and that’s plenty of time to break down the walls Heather has built up around herself.
I finish drying her off, blow-dry her hair, and lead her back into the bedroom. This is when she notices the dress and stockings that are hanging in the room.
“What’s that?”
“That’s what you’re going to wear tonight,” I tell her.
“For what?”
“For our tea party, of course.”
She looks at me curiously. She seems to have forgotten her own nudity because she’s not covering herself or trying to avoid my gaze.
“A tea party?”
“Yes.”
“Why are we having a tea party?”
“Because it pleases me.”
“Oh.”
“Heather?”
“Yes?”
“Have you ever had a tea party?”
She hesitates for just a second too long, and then finally shakes her head.
“No. I’m afraid I don’t even know where to begin.”
What kind of child never got to have a tea party? There’s a lot about Heather I don’t know or understand, and I hate that she has been through so much alone. She’s the kind of woman who always has to be brave and strong for other people, but when is someone going to be brave and strong for her?
That’s what I want to know.
When is someone going to take care of her?
To worship her?
To honor her?
When is someone going to take care of everything in her life, so she doesn’t have to?
“Don’t worry,” I say. “I’ll show you.”
“Thank you, Daddy.”