Chapter 7
I walk into the park slowly, I shuffle my feet roughly across the ground. I look over to the children area, and I see him there sitting on a swing set. I catch his eyes, and I quickly move over to him, he stays on the swing waiting for me.
"So…" he said slowly, I now sat on the swing next to him, and then hold the metal chains.
"What…" I add now slowly starting to swing back and forth, "Got anything to tell me?" I whisper keep swinging, and he looks away from me.
"I didn't break my promise." he said darkly, and I stop the swing.
"No, but, Linc…" I start swinging again, and I then try and think if I really cared that my father could be beat or worse dead.
"I'm sorry Lil, I heard you crying in your sleep, I just couldn't listen to you cry like that." his voice a still calm, but his eyes felt strange watching me.
"Lincoln, I just don't know what to do right now." my word slow, everything had happened so fast, and now I wasn't sure where I stood.
"Lily, if you want I can call it off…" he spoke honestly, and I then think back to the man that called himself my father. I remember the fights, the fact he would call me a failure, a waste of space.
I never known a love from him, and what he did last night was the last straw. I wasn't a girl to show emotions, and I'd always pushed things that upset me away, like they weren't really there.
"No it's ok." I now push myself harder on the swing, I just wanted it to be over with, and Lincoln was now off his swing holding mine still.
"Lillian, I sent some real deal people, and I told them what he did to you…" he said holding his hands over mine.
My eyes stay focus forward, "Well I don't care, and he never really cared about me." I spat now trying to moved, but he was keeping me there.
"Lil, why didn't you tell me he was like that?" Lincoln said softly now moving around to face me, "why didn't you let me know?" his eyes desperately searching mine.
"I didn't want anyone to know, its no big deal, I lived with it…." my eyes avoided his for a second, but his hand holds me still.
"Why do you say it's not a big deal, it is!" his voice holding back frustration.
"Linc you were in Juvie, and you left me, a lot went down." my voice seemed edgy, and his eyes burned deeper in mine. "Linc, I didn't want you in trouble, cos I knew you would have done something stupid, and I don't want you doing time for me."
Lincoln holding his hand to sides of my face, and then caught my eyes, "I'd do anything to keep you safe, you should of told me…" his voice breaking up, and I avoid his gaze, "God damn it Lillian, you didn't need to suffer." his voice raised, and I keep still.
"Look if I didn't say it out loud, then it wasn't real, if I kept everything normal, then it wasn't real…" my eyes felt like they were swimming, and Lincoln pulled me into his arms.
"Lil, you stupid girl…." his now placed his forehead on mine watching my eyes, "How could you do this to yourself?" his begged, and I shrugged.
"I don't know I just not want others in my problems; I didn't want you in trouble." Lincoln nodded, and hugged me in his arms strongly.
"I love you, so I am going to have to be the person you can tell these things to." his voice softer, and then brushed his hands over my hair, "I don't want you hiding from me no more." I feel him kissing me carefully, and I place my hands resting on the nap on his neck kissing him back slowly.
Pulling away I slowly look over to the entrance of the park, my eyes fall onto the face of Veronica, and she was wide mouthed, and Michael stood next to her not looking too phased by what he saw.
"I, Lincoln how could you?" she sounded wounded, and I now try to make a gap between me and Lincoln.
Veronica turning away and running away, she didn't even look back. Lincoln glanced at me, then where Veronica went.
"You better go talk to her." I now say getting to my feet, and Lincoln quickly kisses me before rushing off.
Michael and I walk back to his house, and I see the cars before we get to the front door and my throat tighten up, and Michael placed a hand on my shoulder walking me closer to his house.
Sally rushing out to meet me holding me in her arms, "Lil, your father, his." she pursed in between her words, and I hold my breath, was he dead?
"Lil, his in hospital, his in critical condition." her voice sounding more worried for me, than him.
"What are the police here for?" Michael asked, and Sally looked over him, "They knew Lillian would be here, and they want to ask her some questions." Sally looked over me, and I turn to face Michael with a lost expression to show I didn't know.
We followed Sally back into the house, and there were three officers, and one was female.
"Lillian, we just want to let you know, that you don't have to be scared of us." the female officer spoke carefully, and the taller of the two men smile.
"I am Officer Doyle, this is officer Parker." he pointed to the short stubby officer, then finally looking to the woman.
"I am officer Riddle, and I want you to know, you are not to blame." she spoke carefully, like I was a child.
"I know I'm not to blame, blame for what?" I stare at them, and they all look at me scared to speak.
"We found a room, in your house." Officer Parker spoke with a thick Irish accent, and I then looked to officer Riddle. "He had evidence of him committing child molestation." her voice worried again. "Did her ever, touch you?" she said slowly, and I felt irritated.
"I'm not ten, you can talk to me like a normal person!" I snap, and Sally places a hand on my shoulder to calm me down.
"And yes, but last night was the first time he touched me, in a sexual manner." my voice dull, and the officers stare at each other. I laugh inside thinking; they thought I'd be one of them girls crying in an emotional state. "He used to hit me before then." my voice staying the same tone, and Michael staring at me lost, Sally trying to keep her hands on my shoulders.
"How long?" Officer Doyle asked me, his voice seemed to be only one as if he was talking to a adult, not a child.
"Since I was about fifteen." I reply, and they all look at each other.
"You're sixteen, I believe." Officer Riddle said now taking away the childish tone. I just nod, her shocked glances to the other officers makes me want to laugh.
"Do you know why someone would do this to your father?" Officer Doyle asked, now Parker held a Polaroid of my father, his face was beaten so badly his face was unrecognizable. My eyes stare at his face, and I just shrugged, "Maybe one of his victims told a friend." I reply coolly. The Officers stare at me.
"Was it you?" Doyle asked me sharply, and I now shrug, "I don't talk to anyone about it." I now fold my arms across my chest, and the stare more intense.
"Well if you have any more information, you can contact me here." Riddle now handing me a card with a number, and I place it in my pocket. "If you need someone to talk to, you can call me…" I now shrug, and finally they left the house.
Sally let out a deep sigh, "They was really here for Lincoln, but when they told me what your father did, I told them Lincoln was with you all night, and then went to work a few minutes before they got here." she sounded worried looking to my face. "Lil, did he do that to your father?" her words calm, and I shrug.
"I' sorry Sally, I don't know…" I now look out the window to the officers driving away, and then covered my eyes, this wasn't good.
