The Heart Left Behind (Cole and Yvonne) novel Chapter 50

Jonas tilted his head up, his small voice trembling as he asked, "Daddy, am I really annoying?"

The question hit me like a punch to the chest, squeezing my heart into a painful knot.

"Jonas, you're the sweetest kid in the world. No one could ever think you're annoying."

"Then why does Mommy…" His voice trailed off, and he quickly clamped his tiny hands over his mouth, worried he had said too much.

"Will Ms. Sommerton be mad if she hears?"

Even though the bathroom door was firmly shut, he was still worried about being overheard. How could anyone not love such a thoughtful, gentle kid?

I rested a hand on his shoulder and said gently, "Jonas, not everyone in this world will like you, but that doesn't mean it's your fault. Sometimes, it's because they don't deserve you."

He looked at me with wide, confused eyes. He was too young to understand what it meant for someone to be undeserving. All he knew was that he felt a little less safe, a little less loved.

Seeing him nod earnestly, trying to make sense of my words, broke my heart all over again. How could I ever have left him with Yvonne? The guilt crept in like a rising tide, threatening to overwhelm me. I didn't even hear Lorraine knocking at the door until she finally spoke up.

"I'm coming in."

Her voice startled me, and I realized she must have thought something had happened to us.

"No rush. I just wanted to make sure you two didn't pass out in there," she said with a soft laugh. She placed two bottles of water on the counter and gave me a reassuring smile that washed away my embarrassment.

"Take your time. I'm not in a hurry," she added before leaving.

By the time we finished and came out, it was clear that space was going to be an issue. The bed wasn't big enough for all of us, so I decided to sleep on the floor.