Chapter 10

Miley lifted Kailey into sitting position, beginning to burp her. She gently patted her back, patiently waiting for a burp. "Jake has to be involved."

"What are you talking about?" Travis asked, pouring milk into a bowl of cereal.

"Everything that's going on." Miley said. "How'd he know about...what happened? What you did."

"I have not a clue." Travis slipped a spoonful of cereal into his mouth.

"I wish Meredith could remember. I think she knew who hit her, but she can't even remember being hit." Miley slipped a pacifier into her daughter's mouth and gently rocked her back and forth. "Maybe I should call Jake."

"Miley no. That's not a good idea. You need to stop worrying about things. When Meredith remembers, we'll work things out."

"But I know he has something to do with all of this. Too many bad things are happening to us and it's not normal. and I'm afraid of what's going to happen next. We've all been affected. I mean Izzie with her boyfriend, Kailey with the complications, Meredith with the car, and us with your secret. So what's next?"

"Miley, just stop."

"No, I have to call him. He can't get away with this." Miley grabbed the phone on the kitchen table, beginning to scroll though the directory.

Travis grabbed the phone from her hand, becoming frustrated. "No. You're not calling him. He's nothing but trouble. He's just going to make things worse. Okay? And if you tell him you know he's involved he's going to make it look like he isn't, if he is involved. And he's trying to split us up. I have no more secrets, but he's Jake, he'll find someway to make us miserable."

"Okay, then let me call the police to tell them he's involved."

"Okay and what are you going to tell them? You know he's involved because you hate him?" Travis asked. "You have no proof or reasons."

"Fine, we'll just let a murderer run on the loose."

"Miley he hasn't murdered anyone."

"He almost killed me."

"But he didn't."

"Because I got the chance to call 911." Miley said, becoming annoyed. "And whose side are you on?"

"Miley, I'm just saying. You can't report him to the police because you hate him."

"I have reason's to hate him. Okay? He tried to split us up, he's tried to rape me, he's tried to hurt our daughters, and he used to abuse me."

Travis's eyes widened at the unfamiliar news. "He what? Does anyone know?"

"Lilly...kind of."

"And why haven't you told me?"

"Because it's not that big of a deal."

"And you were down my throat when I wasn't honest!" Travis raised his voice, becoming frustrated.

"How could you even compare that? I didn't cheat on you!" Miley screamed in defense. There was a long pause, before Miley continued. "I'm sorry. Okay? We shouldn't be fighting. I didn't tell you because at the time I didn't want to press charges or go into therapy and I knew somebody would make me. Okay? I just wanted to forget about it and move on. And after it was too late to press charges I knew you were going to react like this."

"You're right. And I'm sorry. I shouldn't have reacting like this. And we shouldn't be fighting. This is supposed to be a happy time, we just had a baby. And Meredith needs her rest and Izzie's going through too much. They don't need to listen to us fight. And I don't want us to fight. I love you." He took a step forward, taking her hand.

"I love you too. And I don't want to fight either." Miley let a tear slip from her eye. "I'm sorry for not telling you."

"It's okay. Just...what did he do to you?"

"Nothing much. He just was violent. He punched and slapped and kicked me and pushed me down the stairs once. And once he cheated on me I broke up with him and he left me alone until that time he came to my house when I was pregnant with the girls."

"Well he's never going to lay a hand on any of us ever again. Okay?" Travis pulled her into a hug, gently rubbing her back. "No more secrets between us, okay?"

"Okay." Miley let her tears go. She had reached her breaking point. So many things had been happening and she couldn't take anymore of it. It was too much. She sobbed into his chest, leaving a wet stain on his shirt.

"Miley, are you alright?" He asked, pulling her off of him to look at her sorrow filled face.

"I just...everything has to stop. I can't handle all of this happening." Miley continued to sob as Travis comforted her.

"Shh, it'll all get better."

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