Page 70 of Alec’s Dream

“Why? Why should I care? He doesn’t care about me. He doesn’t care about you, or about yelling at you or hurting you. He only cares about talking bad about you to Rory so she’ll be on his side. But you know what? He doesn’t care about her either. He doesn’t want us, he just wants to screw with you.”

“Caleb—”

“What, Mom? It’s true. I’m not a kid. I know what he’s doing. I know him. I remember. I know he told you that he’d take us away from you just so you have nothing. I heard it. He didn’t say he was going to take us because he loved us—he just wanted you to have nothing.”

My heart shattered. Doug had said that. I just had no idea Caleb had heard. There were so many thoughts racing through my head I couldn’t keep them straight. I didn’t know what to address first.

“Sweetheart, I know you don’t believe this, but your dad does love you.”

“No, he doesn’t. And if you believe that, it’s time you woke up.”

Damn. I wanted to believe it. I wanted to be able to reassure my children their father really did love them and do it honestly. But I didn’t actually think Doug loved them. Caleb had been a burden to him and my precious Rory was simply a pawn to keep me in line.

That was Doug—heartless.

I made the decision to share even though I wasn’t sure it was the right thing, but I needed Caleb to understand I heard him and I had his back on this.

“On Friday I contacted my attorney. We’re going to petition the court so your dad only has supervised visitation and no more overnights. Will that work for you? A few hours twice a month with a court-ordered person with you. That way maybe your dad can try to repair his relationship with you and Rory. I agree with you and I don’t want you going back over there until I know it is safe and you want to.”

“If Rory has to go over there then I’m going. I won’t leave him alone with her.”

Best big brother ever!

“I’m talking about you and Rory.”

“Then yes. I’m happy with that.”

“Okay. Your grilled cheese is ready. You got anything else you wanna talk about?”

“No.”

“All right. I hope you know you can tell me anything.”

“I liked Alec coming over yesterday. It was cool of him to show me how to do the windows. That way, next year I can do them so you don’t have to.”

I seriously had the best kid.

“That was cool of him.”

I handed Caleb his plate and ambled into the living room where Rory was eating her lunch in front of the TV. Normally that was a no-no but it was Sunday and there was a show on she’d been dying to watch. At that moment I was grateful I’d given in and allowed it. That way, Caleb could have his say without his sister hearing.

I tagged my cell off the counter and strolled back into my bedroom. Then I did something I never thought I’d do.

I called Alec.

“Hey, babe. I’m pulling down your street now. Everything okay?”

“Um. You’re coming here?”

“Yeah. What’s wrong?”

“Why are you coming here?”

“Macy. Why’d you call? You sound freaked.”

I was freaked for a variety of reasons, one being Alec had been my first thought after Caleb told me Josh had threatened to kill Doug. Another being Alec was on his way to my house—this would be the third day in a row.

“I’ll tell you when you get here.”