Quarterback Daddy (17 page)

She remembered every detail and gulped for air, her chest so tight she was panting, but she had to finish the story while she could.

“But I couldn’t get away…and then he raped me and I was crying and
‘please, please, please’
…and—and my mother—my mother! She just watched! That’s all she did…and I don’t know how could she do that.” Sobbing, she squinted at the doctor and cried, “How…how could she do that to me?”

She was done. Out of words, her voice trailed away, her body as limp as the rag doll Sherri used to play with, the one she carried with her at all times, the one she named Michelle.

Alexis barely knew where she was.

“Easy, baby, easy,” Dan’s low voice rumbled in her ear. “I’m right beside you.”

Thank goodness.

Then he leaned over and scooped her onto his lap.

Even better.

She wondered why he wasn’t disgusted, why he could still touch her.

“I thought I left the chaos behind me when I left that house,” she said, surprised she wanted to reveal more, “but I guess I didn’t. And my poor little sister, Sherri…
she was alone with them. I left her there alone, the day I graduated high school and walked out. I’ll never forgive myself.”

She paused then, exhausted, as her tears rolled, but she still hadn’t finished. “It seems I brought all the secrets, all the unhappiness, right along with me into adulthood, didn’t I, Dr. Tanner?”

“You’re facing it now, and it’s never too late.”

“It’s affecting my life, and Dan’s, and I don’t want that. You heard him yourself. Alcoholism doesn’t run in his family, but it sure runs in mine. It is my hot button, like he said. I always assume everyone drinks like Cal. I condemn everyone before I know the truth. I’m even suspicious of a glass of wine. I don’t trust anyone about this.” She struggled for another breath. “And I don’t want to live that way anymore. Can you help me?”

“Absolutely. You’ve already made a great start.” The woman walked to her computer. “I seem to have an opening on Wednesday evenings,” she said with a smile. “How does that sound?”

“Totally frightening, but absolutely fine. I’ll be here.”

“Just think of it as a practice session,” Dan said. “You’re the quarterback and the doc’s the coach. It’s a snap.”

The other two groaned in unison, wry smiles following. “A little humor is always good medicine,” said Dr. Tanner. “But Dan, try to up the game, will you?”

Groaning and chuckling again, Ally left the office with Dan, walking arm in arm. A thoughtful silence surrounded them, lasting until they entered the car. As Dan was about to press the ignition, Ally stopped him.

“Before we go home…” She turned toward him, her gaze darting everywhere except at Dan. She twisted strands of hair through her fingers. More than anything else, she wanted to hide her face. The shame of it. What Cal did was beyond horrible. It was criminal, in all ways. She had to clear the air. She tried to find the words.

Dan beat her to it.

“It wasn’t your fault, Ally. None of it. In fact, I’d like to pay your old man a visit he’d never forget.” He leaned down and kissed her until her doubts fled.

“About my appointments with Dr. Tanner…”

“You’re going. I’ll drive you there myself and wait in the car.”

“I’m—I’m not used to discussing these things.”

“An understatement,” he interrupted with a gentle smile. “But as the doc said, you made a great start tonight.”

“I’m scared. I hate him. I hate the man. And now I’ll have to talk about him.” Her tears ran then, silent tears from a hurt so deep, it had never had a voice until now.

“I was scared, too, Ally, but I didn’t want to lose you. My love for you was stronger than my fear, so I made the appointment. I will admit that talking was hard in the beginning. But I learned a lot.

“I want you to remember this—you and I are in this life together. All the way. We don’t run just because we get sacked a few times.”

She stretched closer to him until she could cover his mouth with hers. “You are the most amazing man I’ve ever met,” she said, punctuating her words with kisses. “The smartest. The most loving man, too.”

“Say that when I’m not behind the wheel of a car,” he teased, “and I can do something about it.”

She glanced at her watch. “Hmm…maybe in an hour or so.”

“It’s a date,” he replied. “And by the way, you forgot something back at the house. It’s in my pocket.”

She reached inside his jacket and felt the small box. Without another word, she put her ring back where it belonged.