Ethan had left the house to go take care of the morning chores. He told his mother to stay away from Mark. He would be gone soon anyway. He had passed Mark on the way out the door but refused to look at him or speak to him. Mark had went up and packed all his stuff up. Ethan had left his wallet on the dresser. Mark picked it up and opened it. All his money and credit cards were still in there. Mark had gone back downstairs and went in the kitchen.

"I'm sorry your kids have to be upset like this, but you have no one to blame but your self." Mark said.

Lacy turned around and looked at him. Mark looked at her and felt; well he didn't know what he was feeling. His emotions were so mixed up right now. The main thing that was feeding him was anger. He couldn't get past the anger right now.

"Ya know, you can probably sue me for child support for yer baby and win, but that will be the only way you ever get a dime out of me." Mark said.

"I don't want your money Mark, This baby will be fine. As you pointed out, this baby isn't really yours; it belongs to a man that doesn't exist anymore. I won't come after you for child support." Lacy said and she turned away from him.

Mark stared at her trying to figure out her game. He was sure she had been trying to get his money that's why she had pretended to be his wife. She would pop up looking for money eventually, that's the way women worked. Glen would be here soon and he would be glad to get out of here.

Mark sat down on the front porch to wait. It wasn't long before he seen Glen drive up in his truck. Mark picked up his bag and walked out to the truck.

"Hey buddy." Glen said.

"Hey Glen, I'm glad you're here, I'm ready to get the hell out of here." Mark said.

"Daddy!"

Mark heard Jessie yell at the top of her lungs. Glen looked up and about had a heart attack. A little girl was hanging precariously from the top branch of a tree near the house.

"Mark look up there." Glen said.

Mark's heart lurched as he saw Jessie hanging from the top limb. There was no foot hold anywhere near her. She must have slipped out her window and tried to make it to the tree. Mark dropped his bag and ran over and Glen followed.

"Daddy I'm going to fall!" Jessie cried out.

Mark could hear the tears in her voice.

Lacy came running out and screamed when she seen Jessie hanging from the top limb.

Lacy started to climb up the tree but Mark grabbed her.

"Keep a hold of her, I don't need them both breaking there neck." Mark said to Glen.

Glen took a hold of Lacy's arm.

"Mark will get her down, just calm down." Glen said.

Lacy stood there and watched as Mark started up the tree. It was hard going because this tree had limbs few and far apart.

"Daddy my hands are slipping!" Jessie screamed out.

"Baby girl, hold on, don't let go no matter what!" Mark shouted at her.

Jessie was crying outright now, scared to death.

"I'm coming Jessie, don't cry." Mark said. He was getting closer to her.

"Daddy hurry!" Jessie cried.

Mark was beside her on another limb.

"Jessie I need you to give me one of your hands." Mark said holding out his hand.

"I cant, I'll fall." Jessie said.

"I wont let you fall honey, do you trust me?" Mark said looking at her.

Jessie stared at him and then reached one hand out to him. Mark grabbed her hand and pulled her over to him. Mark kissed her cheek and held her tight for a minute. Jessie was shaking and crying.

"It's alright Jessie, your safe baby." Mark said trying to soothe her.

Lacy started crying when Mark grabbed her. Her body filled with relief.

"It's okay; I told you Mark would get her." Glen said holding on to her.

Mark made his way down the tree holding on to Jessie. He reached the ground and placed a kiss on her head and handed her to Lacy.

"Thank you." Lacy said holding her girl close to her.

Mark just nodded and turned to walk back to Glen's truck. Glen turned and followed. Mark was not being honest about his time here. It was obvious at least to Glen he loved that child.

"Daddy don't go!" Jessie screamed out.

Mark turned and walked back to Jessie and Lacy.

"Let me have her for a minute." Mark said holding out his arms.

Jessie scrambled into his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Please don't go daddy." She cried against him.

Mark walked away from Lacy and Glen and sat down on a tree stump holding Jessie in his lap.

"Jessie look at me and stop crying, okay." Mark said. Mark knew he if she didn't stop he was going to start.

Jessie looked up at him with big teary eyes.

"Honey, ya know I'm not yer daddy, I can't stay here."" Mark said.

"You love us and we love you, isn't that all that matters." Jessie asked.

"Jessie I wished that was all that mattered but its not." Mark said.

"You're mad cause we lied to you. I'm sorry, but me and Ethan wanted a daddy so bad, that's all. Mommy wanted to tell you but we kept begging her. She was just trying to make us happy is all." Jessie said

"Jessie I'm not mad at you. You are the best little girl in the world and I mean that. Ya know you remind me of myself when I was a kid, always in trouble." Mark said smiling at her.

Mark pulled a card out of his wallet and wrote his address and phone on it.

"If ya ever need anything baby, just let me know." Mark said handing her the card.

"I need you daddy. I don't care what you say, you'll always be my daddy." Jessie said. She flung her arms around his neck and kissed him. Glen watched with tears in his eyes. How could Mark just rip this kid's heart out?

Mark picked her up and set her back in Lacy's arms.

'Take care of her and the wee ones and the boy too." Mark said and turned and walked away. He kept walking even though he heard Jessie calling for him. He got in the truck and Glen got in the driver's side.

"Mark how can you..." Glen started.

"Not one word Glen." Mark said quietly.

Glen started the truck and drove away with Jessie's crying loud in their ears.