The Day Our Promise Breaks

Holding Evelyn's cold hand, Charles looked up at her, his heart aching in ways he couldn't put into words.

"Eve..."

Evelyn jerked her hand away, glaring down at him, her eyes burning with anger.

"I'm sorry."

Charles's own eyes were rimmed red.

He knew all too well how much Charlie's rejection cut into Eve-how deep that pain went.

Evelyn pressed her lips together, her eyes welling up with unshed tears.

Charles wanted to say something to comfort her, but before he could, a small figure on the bed began to toss and turn, her sleep disturbed by another nightmare. Soft, panicked sobs filled the room. "Daddy... Daddy..."

That was Luna's handiwork-she'd planted the idea in Charlie's mind to keep Charles away from Evelyn, using his guilt to pull him back to the house.

Every time Charlie fell asleep, the nightmares came.

Her tiny hands reached out into the empty air, as if searching for something-or someone to anchor her.

"Charlie, it's okay. Daddy's here. I'm right here."

Charles answered her instantly, his voice gentle and steady.

Seeing Charlie so frightened made her want to rush to her side, but she remembered how Charlie had pushed her away before.

Charles noticed.

wheelchair, turning to Evelyn with concern. He

resist the chance to be near

let Charles guide her

"Daddy..."

lost in her

Evelyn closer, reaching out his big hand to gently

snuggling closer and grabbing hold of

with a

her heart breaking with longing, but too

Charlie gradually settled

world balanced on the edge of that small

Evelyn couldn't say no.

was her Charlie-the daughter she'd

a moment by her side, even knowing that when morning came, Charlie

sleeping face, unable to look away. Carefully, she lay down on the other side of the bed,

detail, listening to

Charlie

down her cheeks, soaking into the pillow in

Charles slept

just kept watch over