When He Finally Believed Me

"Mommy's not a bad person…and I'm not trash…"

Tess's voice pulled me back.

I looked at her stubborn little face; something seemed to be crushing my chest, squeezing the air right out of me.

I drifted closer, eyes burning, and gently brushed her cheek.

If I hadn't let go of her in the water, if I had just held on tighter, she wouldn't have been swept away. She wouldn't be here alone, getting blamed for everything.

My tears fell without a sound, landing on her arm.

She seemed to feel something. Suddenly, she yanked free from Amelia's grip, grabbed a fruit knife off the table, and drove it toward herself.

Amelia didn't react in time. She let out a gasp.

Blood hit the floor.

I froze, staring at the knife just inches from sinking into Tess's stomach.

A hand clamped down around the blade, and blood poured out instantly.

It was Hanson.

At the last second, he caught the knife meant for her.

For a split second, I was pulled back into the past.

Back when I was younger, a man had followed me home and cornered me with a knife. Hanson had grabbed the blade back then, too, just like this, holding it tightly to keep it from reaching me.

He used to protect me.

Even after we got married, after Tess was born, he still loved me the same.

But now…

"Hanson!"

Edward rushed over, grabbing a handful of tissues and pressing them against the wound, his voice tight with panic.

"Why are you helping her? If Julia sees this, she's going to worry."

My parents hurried over as well, crowding around him with concern.

Only Tess shrank back at the sight of the blood, clutching her head.

"Mommy… I want Mommy…"

Edward turned on her, anger flaring. "Stop talking about your mother! She's a disgrace! And you, if you don't behave, we're sending you back again!"

"I don't want to go!" she shouted back.

"That's enough." Hanson cut him off.

He looked at Tess, something complicated flickering in his eyes. It seemed like he was finally noticing something was wrong.

"If you tell me where your mom is, you won't have to go back to that reform school."

Tess nodded right away. She lifted her hand and pointed out the window, toward the ocean.

"Mommy's over there."

Her small, simple words sent a chill through the room.

Amelia grabbed her radio, her voice steady. "Search the waters where the child was found. Check for any other survivors…or bodies."

Hanson's jaw tightened. The veins in his forehead stood out as his fists clenched. The wound that had just stopped bleeding split open again, soaking through the white bandage.

"There's no way Melody's dead," Edward said, certain. "She's probably in some guy's bed right now."

"Exactly," my mother added, frowning. "She couldn't stand seeing Julia marry Hanson today, so she's using the kid to make up lies and ruin it."

Then her voice softened, almost to herself.

"Melody wouldn't drown herself. She's always been scared of water. She almost drowned when she was little… She wouldn't do it…"

I let out a quiet, bitter smile.

Sorry to disappoint, I guess.

In the end, I chose the one way I feared most.

Just then, a soft voice came from the doorway.

"There you are. What took you all so long? Did something happen to Melody?"

Julia stepped inside, still wearing her wedding dress.