Chapter 24 - WHEN BRINLEY ASKED WHY
Children remembered danger differently.
Micah remembered the bird.
Brinley remembered the door.
One evening she asked Belle:
“Why did Uncle Callum lock me outside?”
Renick was in the room.
He froze.
Belle looked at him.
He nodded.
Truth.
No more family lies.
Belle sat beside Brinley.
“Because he wanted your dad to be scared.”
“That’s mean.”
“Yes.”
“Did he hate me?”
Belle thought carefully.
“No.”
Brinley frowned.
“He tried to hurt me.”
“Sometimes people hurt someone because of what they represent, not because of who they are.”
Renick watched.
Brinley looked at him.
“What do I represent?”
Renick sat beside her.
“My heart.”
Brinley rolled her eyes.
“That’s cheesy.”
Belle laughed.
Renick looked offended.
“You asked.”
Brinley smiled.
Then she became serious.
“Micah saved me.”
“Yes.”
“Does that mean I owe him forever?”
Renick looked at Belle.
Belle answered.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because helping someone isn’t a debt.”
Brinley considered it.
“What if I want to help him?”
“That’s friendship.”
She smiled.
“Okay.”
Later, Renick thanked Belle.
“For what?”
“Knowing what to say.”
“I make it up.”
“You make it look deliberate.”
“So do you.”
He looked toward Brinley.
“I’m trying.”
May you like
Belle nodded.
“That’s what parenting is.”
