His eyes move from my father to me. “Never leave my side, until I know who’s in the room.”
His words are too close to the ones Marcus had said to me time and time again. “I will go to my Dad anytime I want.”
Bowie takes a step closer, glaring down at me. “I can’t protect you, if you don’t let me.”
“I don’t need protection from my own father.”
“That bastard could’ve been in here.” He spits out, his eyes flashing with anger. “He could’ve hurt you, before I even knew what the fuck was going on.”
It’s at that moment, I realize that it’s not anger that is making Bowie act like an ass, it’s fear. He is truly afraid for me. I pull out of my dad’s arms and walk straight to the man that would do anything to keep me safe. Placing my hands on his chest, I make him a promise. “I won’t do it again.”
He stares at me a second before blowing out a breath. His body finally relaxes as he wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me into his chest. “I need to take care of you, Shay. Please let me do that.”
I lift my hand to his face, rubbing my palm over the rough bristles that line his chin. “Whatever you need.”
“Shay?” My dad asks, his voice full of confusion.
I don’t blame him; sometimes, I’m confused myself. “I’m Shay now; Laura is gone.”
I can see by his eyes that my words have caused him pain. That wasn’t my goal, but he needs to know that I’m not Laura anymore. I’m someone new, someone that I don’t even know. “You need to call me Shay, Daddy. If not, one of the nurses could over-hear you calling me Laura.”
I hear a weak voice coming from behind me. “I don’t care what name you’re going by now. You’re still my baby girl.”
I turn just in time to see my mother struggling to push herself up in the bed. Before I can get to her, Bowie is by her side. His large hands are gentle as he helps her sit up. As soon as he’s done, he steps back and looks at me. There is a question in his eyes, something I don’t understand.
Looking away from him, I move to Mom. I sink down into the bed beside her and place my forehead against her shoulder, raising my hand to rest on one of her legs. “I missed you, Mom.”
She slowly raises her hand to cover mine. “I missed you too, baby.”
No other words are spoken. We sit there silently, connected to each other. Being near her brings forth a fresh wave of pain. There is no doubt in my mind that this is the last time I will ever see my mother alive. A bit of relief also hits me; I’m glad that she got to see me as I am now. Not, the woman Marcus forced me to become.
Finally, after a long moment of silence, Dad steps to my side and lays a hand on my shoulder. “We are so glad you made it, Shay.”
Hearing him call me by my new name brings me out of my fog. I carefully lift my head from Mom’s shoulder and force a smile. “I missed you too, Dad.”
I feel Mom move and turn to see her looking up at Bowie. “Hello, young man.”
“Ma’am.” He says in a voice so polite that it sounds foreign coming from his mouth.
Mom looks him up and down then says, “You plan on taking care of my daughter; don’t you?”
Bowie nods and a determined look crosses his face. “I won’t let anything happen to her. Marcus will not get near her.”
His words are a promise, a vow. For some reason they fill me with warmth. I know that Bowie will do anything to keep me safe, and that alone eases my fear.
Mom shakes her head, before leaning back against the mattress. “I know you will keep her safe from that monster, but that’s not what I’m talking about.”
She pulls in a deep breath, struggling for air. I watch her, wishing I could do something to help but knowing I can’t. Feeling defeated, I lift my hand up to her head and run it over her hair. “I’ll be fine, Mom.”
She ignores me, her eyes clouded with pain are still set on Bowie. “You are going to make her happy, just like her dad did me. Give her babies and fill her life with laughter.”
Mom’s words shock me, causing me to jerk my eyes to him. I was sure I would see denial on his face. Instead, I see determination. “She will get everything she ever dreamed of.”
His eyes slowly move to mine. There is something there, again I don’t understand it. “She’ll be happy; I’ll make sure of it.”
My mouth drops open in shock, because I can swear he means every word he says. My brain is working on hyper speed. A little voice in my head is screaming at me, this man is your future. I want to deny it but I can’t. I don’t know how it happened or even when it happened. But as crazy as it sounds, I know the truth. I just know that Bowie is the man I want to spend my life with.