“I’m sorry, Bryony.” John said softly as she ran up the stairs.

“Bryony, wait!” Wendy started up the stairs.

“Wait, Honey, I got this.” John said as Wendy walked back down the stairs.

“Don’t talk to me.” Bryony cried before John got a chance to knock on the door.

“Bryony, what’s this all really about? Are you afraid that I ruined your chance of making love with Harper?” He asked as he walked in Claire’s room.

“Mr. Gallagher, I’m not a liar.” She said as she turned around with not a single tear in her eyes.

“Oh, yeah, what about the times when you said–” Mr. Gallagher started.

“Mr. Gallagher, why would I lie about something like this. You and Mrs. Gallagher are the nicest people I’ve ever met, I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you.”

“Oh, yeah! Then, why did you do that to Brandon. He’s eleven, eleven!” John screamed madly at her.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Gallagher. I had to go through that at an even younger age. My father did it to me. Not my stepfather, my biological father. How do you think that made me feel? I was raised that way Mr. Gallagher. I like little children, more than my own age group.” She said as she hugged him.

“Bryony, you’re so fake!” He screamed as he pushed her onto Claire’s queen-sized bed. He softened up when he noticed her trembling and bawling.

“I just need a father and a mother!” She screamed into the comforter.

“Bry-Bryony, I’m sorry. I-I, I understand.” He frowned as he stood her up and pulled her into his chest.

Bryony wiped away the tears in her eyes and looked into John’s, “I love you.” And with that she raised her head up and passionately kissed him. John pushed her away after about a minute and a half.

“Bryony, I’m sorry if your folks raised you to be like this. But that’s not going to work.” He sighed as he walked out of the room.

“So, how’d it go?” Wendy asked as he walked downstairs.

“I think she’s better.” He smiled a small smile as he walked into the den with his wife.

“Good. Claire, Brandon, go to bed.” Wendy said.

“But Mom, it’s not even eleven!” Claire protested, “And I want to talk with Harper.”

“Okay, okay, it is the weekend. But be in bed by 1 a.m.” She sighed as her and James walked up the staircase.

“Honey, I think you were right about the counselling. Bryony said her father made her do disturbing things to his body.”

“Really? Now wonder she’s so messed up.” Wendy frowned as she walked into their master bedroom.

“She’s not messed up, she just doesn’t understand.” John changed into his pjs.

“She doesn’t understand what?”

“Life. She basically knows nothing. I can tell by the look in her eyes.” John sighed as he fell on their bed.

“Did Bryony say something to you, Honey?” Wendy asked as she propped on the bed beside him.

“No, more like did something to me. She kissed me and told me she loved me.”

“What! First Brandon, now you, oh, she has to go!”

“Sweetheart, you don’t understand. Trust me, she just needs a home.” John smiled as he turned his back towards her and closed his eyes, “And right now, we’re the closest thing to it.”

The next day, Claire panicked when she didn’t see Bryony anywhere in the room and the window opened.

“OMG!” She whispered to herself as she walked over and looked out of the window, “Bryony! Bryony!”

“Yes, Clarinda?” Bryony startled Claire.

“Oh. Bryony, you sure made me scared.” Claire calmed down.

“I’m not sorry, but I didn’t plan on it.” Bryony said as she sat on the bed.

“You know, you didn’t have to wear the same clothes. You could’ve borrowed some of mines, I wouldn’t have minded.”

“No thanks. This was my mother’s dress when she was my age.”

“So, it’s an honor to wear it?” Claire asked excitedly.

“No, it’s the only thing I have left of her.”

“Then, it’s an honor.”

“No, I hated my mother.” And with that Bryony walked down the stairs swiftly.

“Wow.” Claire whispered to herself.