Chapter 88
"What! AJ, what is it?" Krystal asked trembling so hard her teeth chattered.
"She is afraid of someone loving her! Your father beat her while he was telling her that he loved her! She thinks that if I love her I'll hurt her too!"
"Dad did things like that, mind games. It was his way of teaching us to be strong. Actually, it was his way of having fun with us. I went to his memorial service and sat in the front row, but I wasn't a bit sad. In fact, I was so happy the bastard was dead I would have loved to have gotten up and told them he may have been a hero, but he was also a child abuser," Krystal said finally relieved to get the truth off her chest. "I never loved my father, I hated the man."
"I can understand that, Krystal. I'm so sorry that you and Krista had to go through that. But you're right in one thing, you're stronger that Krista, you gave your heart to Tom; you were able to love him and trust in that love. I think she's afraid to love someone, to place her trust in them for fear that they'll hurt her like your father did," AJ told her as he held her in his arms. Never even one thought of how this would be viewed if someone saw them. In each other's arms, and in the same chain of command. She was simply a woman hurting and he cared for her.
"You know something, you're not such a bad guy after all. I think I'm going to like to having you for a brother-in-law," she said trying to wipe the tears from her eyes, but they wouldn't stop flowing. "You've started something that just won't stop. You've opened a door that has been locked away for years."
"Let it out, Darlin', I have broad shoulders, go ahead and have a good cry. Know that Tom and I will always be here for the both of you. You might just make a good sister-in-law too!" he chuckled a bit even though he was still very concerned at what was going on in the bedroom just a few feet away.
Tom walked into the bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed. "AJ said that you wanted to talk to me Krista. What can I help you with?"
"Oh, Tom! You know him better than anyone don't you?" she sobbed raising her tear-streaked face from the pillow to look at him.
"Yes, sweetheart, I do. I'd say I know him as well as anyone. What did you need to know about AJ?" Tom asked wishing he could take her in his arms and hold her, but knowing that she would pull away in fright.
"Will he hurt me? If he loves me?" she asked wishing that he would hold her, wishing someone would.
"Krista, would you like it if I held you?" asked Tom, his heart tearing at the sound of her voice. She was a little girl lost; he thought that she just might need to feel strong arms around her
while she was frightened.
"Will you hurt me?" she was afraid to admit she needed to be held.
"No, sweetheart, I would never hurt you. How could I when you look so much like your twin who I've given my heart to? Come here, and I'll hold you tight while I tell you the answer to your question," Tom replied holding open his arms waiting to see if she would come to him or back away.
She slowly moved into his arms, still afraid, but needing to be held more than she feared him. As she settled into his strong arms he could feel the slight movements of the babies growing inside of her.
"Your babies appear to be strong and healthy. Krystal and I are going to start right away trying for our family, did she tell you?" he asked softly trying to calm her nerves.
To be continued…