The heat engulfing my entire body flares even hotter as I glance over at the sheriff, who’s watching us with a keen interest now. Dropping my gaze to the floor, I shake my head.
“Eyes on me, Tabitha Grace.”
There’s a snap to my Daddy’s voice I’ve never heard before, and it has me jerking my head up to meet his furious gaze. “Sorry, D-Daddy.”
“Better. Now, use your diaper and then Daddy will change you andthenwe will talk about why you were up on the goddamn roof.”
Tears blur my vision. “I’m sorry,” I whisper hoarsely.
“You can apologize after we finish here. I suggest you start doing as you’re toldnow, little girl.”
“Colt, maybe we should?—”
“Stay out of this, Grayson.”
Auntie Gray’s mouth snaps closed, but her eyes are blazing with anger as she steps back into position beside Sheriff Donnelly, her entire body stiff as if she’s trying to keep herself from actually touching Reese.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I focus on the pressure in my abdomen. Even with my eyes closed, I am uncomfortably, painfully aware of the eyes on me as I force my muscles to loosen so I can pee myself right there on the couch.
A sob bursts out of me as my bladder finally releases and the familiar sensation of my diaper filling with urine presses against me.
“Let’s get you changed.”
That’s all Daddy says. No “good girl”, no telling me how proud he is, or what a good job I did. And the loss of his praise cuts even more keenly than the sharp edge of his voice.
Bringing my hands up, I cover my face as Daddy flips me on my back and peels the diaper from me. I try not to think about how exposed I am, how everyone, including the sheriff of allpeople, can see all my private parts while Daddy wipes me clean and wraps me up in a fresh diaper.
And it feels like my heart might shatter into a billion pieces when he sets me back on the couch instead of holding me on his lap.
“Look at me, Tabitha Grace.”
I force myself to lower my trembling hands and peek up at him through my lashes.
“Why were you on the roof?”
Even if I thought I could get away with not telling him the truth, there isn’t a good enough lie to get me out of the punishment I no doubt have coming, so I might as well be honest. “I was hiding.”
Daddy’s eyes narrow dangerously. “Hiding from who?”
“Everyone.”
“All right, I’ve heard enough,” Sheriff Donnelly snaps. “Everyone, out. I need to talk to Tabitha alone.”
Looking more furious than I’ve ever seen her, Auntie Gray whirls on Reese. “Absolutely the fuck not!”
But the sheriff doesn’t back down. If Auntie Gray is fire, Reese is a rock, immovable and unflinching. “You can either let me talk to her alone here, or I can take every single one of you down to the station for questioning. Your call, Grayson.”
Daddy lays a hand on Auntie Gray’s shoulder. “It’s all right. We have nothing to hide.”
For several long seconds, Auntie Gray doesn’t move, locked in a silent battle of wills with Reese. But then she turns, her movements stiff as she levels a hard stare in my direction. “We’ll be in the dining room if you need us.”
With that, she storms out of the room and the rest of our family follows, except for Daddy. He lingers, the weight of his disappointment settling heavy on my shoulders. “Be a good girlfor the sheriff and tell her everything. You do not want Daddy to find out you’ve lied to her. Understood?”
“Y-yes, Daddy.”
“If you need me, just call for me and I’ll be right here.” Turning, he pins the sheriff with that stony glare. “I’m trusting you with the most precious thing in my life right now, Sheriff. Be careful with her.”
He leaves without kissing me or telling me he loves me, and my chest feels so heavy I can barely breathe.
