PART 9 – Exposing Brokenness

The cries raked through Jamie’s soul so hot that he couldn’t feel the world. He was vaguely aware of Emily hugging him and speaking soothes in his ear, and he felt the coolness on his skin when she pulled away.

“Papa!” Emily shouted.

Jamie tensed, scooted to the corner quickly, and hugged his knees, hiding his face long enough to dry his tears with his sleeve.

“This is our time,” he warned quietly. “No secrets leave us.”

Emily reached out and patted his head gently, pressing his face against her chest and dropping her voice. “You tell me the truth so I can hear. I can tell you the truth, but you won’t hear it from me. Not about this.” Then she shouted again, “ Papa!”

“Yesu, girl! Keep your voice down,” Jayne hollered, trotting over to them. “People will think you’re dying.”

Jayne knelt beside them, going quiet as he sensed the mood, and Jamie cringed again, fighting a shudder. He hadn’t been this close to Jayne since he broke his arm and it was a hundred percent intentional. Too afraid to speak, he clung to Emily and searched for an excuse to leave. They must’ve looked like quite a pair, her being half his age and half his size, but keeping her arms wrapped protectively around him. He felt like such a coward.

Emily looked sternly at her father. “You need to tell Jamie that you’re sorry.”

“Come again?” Jayne asked. Jamie had the same reaction, but didn’t speak it. He had no desire to converse with Jayne.

“You’re sorry,” Emily explained, “for breaking his arm and for scaring him and for letting him think that it’s his fault Momma died.”

“Tian sha de,” Jayne swore, his voice shaking.

Hearing Emily say those things brought a fresh wave of grief and emotion, but Jamie bit his lip and held back.

“I know you don’t like words,” Emily said gently, patting her father’s shoulder as if he were the child. “But you need to tell him so he believes it.”

“I’m fine,” Jamie finally managed, releasing Emily and looking squarely at Jayne. His stom