74 You’re Safe. I Promise

(Jayden)

I hand soda out to the kids who are dripping on my deck. “You lot have worked up a real thirst. Is anyone hungry?” I ask.

Bobby and Sarah both look down and shake their heads, their expressions guarded. Abby bounces up and down, full of energy. “I am!” she exclaims.

“I have some strawberries here and I’ll cut some banana and watermelon,” I offer, hoping to coax the other kids into some healthy food.

“Oh,” Abby says, looking a little crestfallen.

I smile, trying to make it sound fun. “No junk food till after dinner, Abby.”

“I need to go potty,” she announces suddenly.

“Mommy is inside; she’ll help you get your wet swimsuit off,” I tell her, watching as she runs inside where Winona is resting after her incident.

She really lost it at that guy. I’m worried about her mental health at this point. I think she may need some professional advice, and we need to get her father out of her life. I’ll have the bastard jailed if I can.

I peel bananas and cut them up for the fruit platter,