Serendipitous Chapter 21 B

Tyler and Rebeka met 123 days ago. (I put this here because I only post once a week or twice a week, so it seems much longer. This will NOT be in my manuscript.)

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Tyler left NICU and a nurse walked up to him. "Dr. Butler, can I speak with you?"

"I'm needed in surgery. Can it wait?"

"Not really. I should have said something Saturday when I saw it but chickened out. Yesterday I was off."

"Can we walk and talk?"

"Not really walk. I think you'll agree this needs to be kept between us."

Tyler stepped into a vacant room. "What's so important?"

TODAY'S POST:

Chapter 21 B
Jakob is 4 days old

The nurse exhaled a deep breath before she said, "After the diaper accident Saturday and your wife changed from her wet clothes into scrubs, I noticed scars on her back. She tried to hide them, so I didn't address them. I know you haven't been married for long. I thought she might be keeping them from you. If it were my spouse, I'd want to know."

Tyler closed his eyes. "Thank you for telling me and for keeping it confidential."

*****
Six o'clock came, and Tyler hadn't arrived at NICU. An OR (operating room) nurse hurried into NICU. "Mrs. Butler, your husband asked me to let you know he should be here in about thirty minutes. The surgery lasted longer than anticipated."

"Thank you for letting me know."

The nurse left.

*****
Tyler arrived at NICU, spent a few minutes with Jakob, and then asked, "Beka, ready?"

"I am. How did your surgery go?"

They left NICU as Tyler said, "A few complications but it ended well."

The ride home was silent. Tyler parked, helped Rebeka out, and put his hand on the small of her back.

Inside the house they spent a few minutes with Lily and Elizabeth, before Tyler said, "Aunt Beth, Beka and I have something to discuss. We may be late for dinner. Please keep ours warm."

He offered his hand to his wife. "Join me."

Inside their room, Tyler shut the door.

"I'm sorry about what happened in the cafeteria," said Rebeka.

"That's not what we need to talk about. I need to see your back."

"Ty, no." Tears fell from her eyes.

"I was told you have scars."

Rebeka backed against the wall as the tears flowed heavier.

"Buttercup, I won't hurt you. Turn around and show me your back." Tyler waited as she inched around. He touched the bottom of her blouse. "I'm going to raise this and look at your back."

He blew out a few breaths as he lowered the blouse. "Beka, why haven't you told me?"

Rebeka wept.

Tyler turned her and moved her head against his chest. "You didn't say anything because you were afraid of judgments or maybe ashamed," he whispered, "or maybe saying it out loud, it becomes real."

She nodded.

A moment of silence continued, before he said, "I didn't fully understand why you kept your pregnancy a secret for so long."

He slipped his arm around her waist and led her to the bed. "Let's sit." At the bed, Tyler continued to hold her. "If I wouldn't have been with you at your parents' house, you would've been beaten. When we left, Elijah beat your mother, didn't he?"

She nodded.

"So many things make sense now. That's why you worried this morning about being late. You were beaten if you were late." He took a moment, moved back enough his eyes met hers. "I'll never hurt you. Not all men abuse women." Moisture entered his eyes. "Don't ever be afraid of me."

She cuddled into his chest and held tight.

Silence continued as Tyler allowed Rebeka to cry.

When her tears lessoned, he asked, "What did he use? A strap?"

"Whatever he had handy."

"How old were you when they started?"

"My first strap beating...maybe around three or four. I was careless and spilt milk during dinner."

Through gritted teeth, Tyler said, "That young."

"I got beaten whenever I messed up."

"Those kinds of things?"

"Sometimes I didn't even know why. Maybe because I existed."

Tyler struggled keeping his emotions under control. "What other ways did your dad hurt you?"

"Grabbed my hair and held me, while he hit me." Rebeka sat up straighter, reached for a Kleenex, and wiped her eyes. "I'm sorry. I'm fine. I'll need to pump soon."

"You're far from fine. But you're right." Tyler checked his watch. "You'll need to pump in about thirty minutes." He removed his shoes and sat on the edge of the bed. "Would it be all right if I lay beside you?" They cuddled in silence.

*****
While Rebeka pumped, Tyler checked on Missy then went downstairs to his den and called Roger. "Hey, buddy how long is the statute of limitations on child abuse?" Before Roger answered, Tyler explained the situation.

"Ten years. Since Beka's twenty-two, was she abused between thirteen and seventeen? At seventeen she'd be considered an adult." Roger hesitated. "Are you sure you want to put her through that?"

"You know I don't, but I want that bastard to pay for what he's done."

'I understand the feeling. I bet right now it's more important to help her heal so you can continue your life together. Just a minute." Roger called Amber over.

Roger asked her if she knew about Rebeka's abuse. She suspected it but didn't know for sure. It had been hidden from her as well.

Then Tyler went into the kitchen. Elizabeth stood at the kitchen sink and turned. "What's going on?"

Tyler relayed about Rebeka having strap scars on her back. "I just found out. It explains everything. No wonder she doesn't trust men and has such a low self-esteem." He got a drink of water. "Will she ever get past this?"

"I know you love her. You're one of the most patient men I know. With time and love she'll get past it. Beka loves you as much as she's capable of right now. That's a start. It'll take time before she can fully love you. This is a start to healing. She needs you now more than ever."

"I keep reassuring her that she's safe with me."

"She needs to believe it. Only time will help. You'll need to prove it repeatedly."

Tyler leaned over and pecked Elizabeth's cheek. "Thank you for listening."

"Always. I've got Lily tonight. Beka needs you."

*****
Tyler opened the bedroom door and found Rebeka almost in a fetal position on the bed. She faced him. "Ty?" He nodded, so she said, "I'm sorry for tonight. You shouldn't have had put up with my meltdown."

"It wasn't a meltdown. It was raw emotions. You've suppressed them for years. They need to come out so you can deal with them and heal. I'm honored you trusted me enough to allow them out. We'll work this out together."

"You shouldn't have to. They're not your problems."

"They're my problems because I care about you and want to be there for you."

"Thank you."

"I'm going to get ready for bed. I'll be right back." He went into the bathroom and prayed he'd find the words and strength to help Rebeka.

*Unless life gets in the way, the ending to this novel will be posted October 29, 2025.*

~~~~~

Rebeka Miller - our heroine, she's twenty -two, a romance award winning author, extremely old fashioned

Dr. Tyler Butler - 'Ty' an ER doctor, raising his niece, Lily.

Jakob Tyler Butler - Rebeka's baby from a forced pregnancy.

Richard Stuart - Rebeka's agent and rich spoilt brat, a not nice person

Amber Wilson - Rebeka's personal assistant and best friend

Peter Dawson - Tyler's friend and part-time ranch hand

Elizabeth - 'Aunt Beth', helping raise Lily and helped raise Tyler after parents died

Christina - Elizabeth's close friend

Lily - 'Missy', Tyler's niece, 5 years old

Lori - Tyler's deceased sister and mother of Lily

Zeke - Golden Retriever mix, family dog

Roger Whitmore - a lawyer and Tyler's best friend

Dr. Heather Sharp - OB/GYN and Tyler's childhood friend

Ruth and Elijah Miller - Rebeka's parents