Page 17 of Butch

“You won’t believe me,” she whispered.

I believe you. I know you wouldn’t falsely accuse someone of anything. Tell me his name, and I’ll believe you.

Tears ran down her face as she covered it with her hands. Rae shook her head again and cried into her hands. While she might be his stepsister and the person he loved, there were some relationships that trumped those, and this was one of them.

Butch gently patted her back, and she looked at him. He smiled sadly as they looked at each other. Rae never got bored with looking at Butch, and she didn’t think she ever would. He was gorgeous, spectacular, manly, and everything she wanted in a guy.

He turned the whiteboard around. It’s okay. You’ll tell me when you believe that I’ll be taking your side, no matter what. I’ll just have to show you that you mean the world to me still, and nothing else matters, no other relationship I have with anyone.

Did he know who it was? No, he couldn’t. Just because he said no other relationship mattered didn’t mean he actually knew who had her this whole time.

Rae yawned and looked over at Butch.

Sleep. I’ll keep you safe.

Rae nestled into her blankets and held out her pinky, wanting some contact with Butch. She needed it to sleep. She used to be able to get a little sleep before she came to Springfield, but ever since Butch held her and she fell asleep, she hasn’t been able to without him. Rae had tried whenever he was out talking to Deccan, and no matter how exhausted she was, she could never actually fall asleep.

Butch grabbed her hand and gave it a small squeeze, letting her know he was here for her.

Raelynn was staring at Doc and Butch. It hadn’t been long since she had woken up from her nap, and Daddy had made her eat. It was like clockwork; Daddy would always have food at least three times a day, making sure that she ate every single bite.

In the beginning, it didn’t bother Rae much, but as time went on, it was harder and harder to eat every single bite. It seemed like he had upped the food with each meal.

“You need to stop adding food to my plate,” Rae stated.

You have to eat more food to gain the weight that you’ve lost. So you need to eat more, which is why I’ve put more food on your plate than before, but I will decrease it a little. Butch wrote.

Rae nodded and looked over at Doc, tilting her head to the side. He had been in the room for several minutes, but hadn’t written or uttered a single word to either of them.

“Why are you here?” she asked.

I want to talk about your ears and what you want to do. The suggested device is a cochlear implant. You will have to undergo surgery and wait two to six weeks before you will be able to hear anything.

Her heart rate slowly picked up as she thought about having a medical procedure. What if there was a complication and it made it worse instead of better?

I know the thought of it is scary, but everyone is here for you. We won’t let anything bad happen to you. But if you want it, he has an opening tomorrow for this surgery that he’s willing to hold for you.

Rae immediately looked at Butch to see his expression. He gave her an encouraging smile, but she didn’t know what to do. It was her body, so she needed to make the choice, but right now she didn’t want to. She didn’t want to bear the consequences if she chose to get it and everything went to shit.

Talk to us. Tell us what you’re thinking. Butch wrote.

Raelynn took a deep breath and locked eyes with Butch. “I want to do this, but at the same time I don’t. I know there are always complications, and I don’t want to be the percentage where something goes wrong. I don’t want to get it, and then him find me. I don’t want to make a choice. But I know I have to because it’s my body, and nobody else can decide for me. But it’s hard when I’m so exhausted and just want to lie in bed and do nothing. Not eat, drink, sleep, or do anything.”

She knew how bad it sounded. Maybe she was a little depressed or in one of her special moods. But either way, panic flew across both their faces as she spoke, and she knew she was a little too truthful this time.

“But I’m okay. I guess I should do this. If he ever does find me, I’ll just have to deal with the consequences.” She spoke again, gaining their attention.

We’re talking about this later. It’s not good to hold all these feelings in and not tell anybody about them. Butch wrote and gave her a pointed look.

Yeah, she knew she wasn’t going to get out of this conversation. In high school, Butch was very conscious about mental health and its importance, and she knew it hadn’t changed one bit.

I’ll tell my friend that you want the slot. No eating after midnight, and no drinking either. I’ll text Butch with the surgery time and when you need to be there. Doc wrote and showed her.

She nodded and wrung her hands together as the nerves took over. She was actually going through with this, and she didn’t know how to feel.

I would also suggest taking a shower tonight and washing your hair because it might be difficult to get it clean with the incision. But I don’t want you taking a warm shower on your own. Either have him help you in a bath or in a shower, but you are not to be on your own, with how dizzy you’re still getting.

“How did you know I was getting dizzy?” she asked.