Chapter 6 - I Believe You
After James carried Emily out of the bedroom, the house filled with controlled movement.
Paramedics examined her in the living room. A police officer photographed the damaged door and collected the recorder from beneath the bed. Another officer separated Ryan and Linda for questioning.
Ryan attempted to recover his authority.
“I am a captain in the Illinois Army National Guard,” he announced.
The detective replied, “Then you should understand the importance of following instructions.”
Linda insisted the injuries were caused by Emily’s clumsiness.
But the recorder contradicted her.
So did the broken bedroom door.
So did the unsent messages stored on the tablet Ryan had tried to hide beneath his jacket.
When an officer discovered the device, Ryan claimed it belonged to him. Emily correctly provided the password.
At the hospital, James waited outside while doctors treated his daughter.
He stood with his back against the wall, staring at the floor.
Marcus approached quietly.
“The military side has been referred to an independent command,” he said. “Ryan has been temporarily suspended from duty and ordered not to contact Emily.”
James nodded.
“Sir, none of this is your fault.”
James looked at him.
“I saw something in Ryan years ago. I pushed Emily so hard that she believed she had to choose between us.”
“You were trying to protect her.”
“I was trying to be right.”
Marcus had no answer.
Hours later, a nurse allowed James into the room.
Emily lay beneath a clean hospital blanket. The fetal monitor showed a steady rhythm. Her baby was safe, but doctors wanted to observe her overnight.
James sat beside the bed.
For a while, neither spoke.
Then Emily whispered, “I’m sorry.”
James leaned forward. “For what?”
“For not listening to you.”
“No.”
“For telling you I never wanted to see you again.”
“You were angry.”
“I chose him.”
James took her hand.
“Emily, look at me.”
She did.
“You are not responsible for another person choosing to harm you.”
Tears slipped down her face.
“I should have left sooner.”
“You survived long enough to send the message.”
“I was scared.”
“Being scared does not make you weak.”
Emily looked toward the window. “What happens now?”
“We take one day at a time.”
“What if people believe him?”
James reached inside his jacket and removed the childhood photograph.
He placed it beside her.
“I believed you before I saw the bruises. The evidence will help others understand, but you never had to prove your pain to earn my support.”
Emily covered her face and cried.
James remained beside her.
He did not tell her to stop.
May you like
He did not promise that everything would become easy.
He simply stayed.
