For Their Child's Sake

He slowly released her, and Tara headed up the steps to her daughter’s bedroom. She eased open the door and found Marley sitting on her bed hugging her stuffed mermaid.

Without a word, Tara sat on the edge of the bed and placed her hand on her daughter’s leg. “I’m sorry you remembered seeing Daisy hurt.”

Marley sniffed and continued to toy with the yarn hair on the mermaid. Like most children, Marley closed in on herself when she was hurting. Likely because she didn’t know how to express her emotions properly or she just didn’t want to. Tara needed her daughter to know she wasn’t alone.

“Your daddy said he told you about the bump on your head making some of your memories go away.”

Marley nodded. “Why can’t you guys just tell me everything?”

“Well, the doctor thought it was best if you remembered on your own.”

Tara couldn’t say too much else without giving it all away, but having her daughter relive all the terrible moments over the past year was going to be heart-wrenching. Perhaps she would remember some of the good memories, as well, and those would outweigh the bad.

But Tara doubted it. Between Sam leaving, the ruined family vacations and Daisy dying, the past year had actually been pure hell for all of them. At this point Tara only hoped she could make happy, new memories and keep Marley’s spirits up.

“Will I get to keep the new Daisy?”

Tara smiled and patted Marley’s leg. “Of course you can.”

Over the past few days Tara had gotten used to the slobbering, the flying fur and constantly walking around a giant beast in her home. How could she not love the new Daisy? The beast was a cuddly ball and so affectionate.

Marley sat up, tossed her mermaid aside and threw her arms around Tara’s neck. Tara hugged her daughter and squeezed her tight. This was only one hurdle of many they still had to overcome, and there was no way of knowing how everything else would turn out once Marley discovered the whole truth.

“I’m going to go make us some lunch,” Tara stated. “Why don’t you go outside and play with Daisy, because she has missed you.”

Marley hopped off her bed and raced from the room. Tara figured that had gone much better than she’d originally thought. Then again, children were resilient and Marley hadn’t recalled all the issues from her missing year.

On a sigh, Tara came to her feet and went into her bedroom. She needed to change her shirt since she had dog hair all over it. She was still getting used to changing her clothes before cooking because she really didn’t want to serve up a side of St. Bernard fur.

As soon as she opened her closet, Tara stilled at the envelope hanging from a bright yellow ribbon around one hanger.

Another letter. She knew full well what this was before she even reached for it. This was a note with Sam’s feelings.

Before she and Sam were married, during their marriage and since he’d been out of rehab, he would randomly leave her notes. Sometimes they were lengthy and heartfelt; other times they were short, sweet, and utterly heart-melting...sometimes panty-melting.

No matter the highs or lows of their lives, this one constant had always remained. Persistence had been one of the many reasons she’d fallen in love with Sam. He never gave up and the one time she’d needed him to, he refused.

Sam knew exactly what to do, what to say, to get her emotions open and vulnerable. Even now, especially now.

But she couldn’t let him back in. She simply couldn’t, for both of their sakes.

Pulling up her courage and strength, Tara reached for the ribbon and slid the silk strands loose from the hanger. She glanced over her shoulder to make sure she was still alone. Sam had to have placed this in here after she’d dressed this morning and before he went to his mother’s house.

Tara took the envelope and went over to sit on the edge of her bed. She didn’t know why this one made her so nervous when the others hadn’t. Perhaps it was because he was in her house now; he was actually right downstairs, likely waiting for her reaction.

With shaky fingers, Tara opened the envelope and pulled out the folded sheet of paper. In his familiar slanted handwriting, she read the simple words, “I’m not perfect, but I’m better than I was. I’m always here for you.”