Page 51 of Animal's Reformation
Chapter Thirteen
Animal stood outsidethe door, listening to Lucy’s muffled cries and hoarse gasps, and he didn’t move. Each sob was like a stab to his gut and his heart. Not knowing what to do or say to his daughter, he almost retreated until he heard something crash on the floor. He knocked softly before he opened the door.
Lucy sat cross-legged on a pink and green striped comforter, clutching her worn out rainbow llama—Cuddles. The room was a complete mess. It looked like a cyclone had just struck. All of the throw pillows and the window seat cushions were on the floor. Broken pieces of a white dresser lamp littered the floor along with video games, books, and several LEGO designs. A bent and twisted dark pink lampshade laid next to one of the lime-green painted walls, and Lucy’s beloved musical ballerina jewelry box was perched precariously on the edge of the dresser.
For a few seconds, Animal stood at the doorway watching as his daughter’s head hung disconsolately on her chest, her fingers digging into Cuddles.
He crossed the room and moved the jewelry box to the middle of the dresser then sat on the edge of the bed.
“What’s going on, kiddo?” he asked.
Lucy sniffled then wiped her nose with her hand, but she didn’t answer.
Animal pressed his lips together and reached out and touched her knee. Lucy jumped and scooted away. He slowly rose to his feet and began picking up the chaos on the floor, and from the corner of his eye, he saw Lucy watching him.
After he finished cleaning up and vacuuming the floor and rug, he pulled out the desk chair and sat down. Leaning back, he laced his fingers over his chest and let out a long sigh. The room was quiet like a tomb, and Animal sat waiting for his daughter to acknowledge him. After several long minutes, she looked over at him and they locked gazes.
“Do you want to tell me why you’re upset?” he said in a low voice.
“I want to go home,” she mumbled, tugging her braid with her free hand.
Animal scrubbed his face with both hands. “I know,” he replied.
“I miss, Mom.” Lucy’s voice quivered.
He wiped his palms on his jeans. “I’m sorry that you feel bad, and I bet it’s hard not having your mom around.”
“Why doesn’t Mom call me?” She wiped her nose again with her hand.
Animal pulled out a tissue from the box then walked over to the bed and handed it to her. Lucy took it without looking at him, and he perched on the bed next to her.
“I’m not sure, kiddo, but sometimes parents get caught up in their lives and forget about their kids. It doesn’t mean she doesn’t love you, it’s just that she’s settling down.”
Lucy looked up, a small frown forming on her face. “That doesn’t make sense.”
He nodded. “You’re right. I wish I could make this easier for you.”
“Why doesn’t Mom love me?”
Animal placed a tentative hand on his daughter’s shoulder and when she didn’t flinch away, he drew her to him.
“Your mom loves you. She’s just having a hard time right now.”
Lucy buried her face in his chest. “I must’ve been really bad.” Her small sob muffled into his shirt.
Hot anger pricked his skin and his mind. “You’re not bad, kiddo. I think you’re great, and so does Aunt Jada, Grandma and Grandpa, Jax, Cherri, Hawk, Smokey … Damn, I could go on for a long time, just telling you how many people think you’re pretty awesome.” She leaned silently against him. “I can also tell you how glad I am that you’re with me. I tried to reach out to you so many times over the years.”
“Mom told me you didn’t care. You never called me.”
He placed two fingers under Lucy’s chin, tilting her head back so she had to look at him. “I called you, sent you cards, presents on your birthday and Christmas—the whole nine yards. Your mom and I didn’t have a good relationship, and I’m afraid you were caught in the middle. I’m sorry about that, but I want you to know that I’m damn happy you’re with me.” He bent down and kissed the top of her head. “I love you, kiddo, and I’m not ever leaving you.”
“Promise?” she whispered.
“Promise.” Animal hugged her close and she wrapped her arm around his waist. He wished he could glue back together Lucy’s broken heart or give her a potion to erase away her pain, but he couldn’t.
She pulled away and climbed off the bed then padded over to the dresser and opened one of the drawers in her jewelry box. Then she took something out and walked back to the bed.
“Here,” she said, handing Animal a feather.
