Page 79 of Beaten

“Mom, is Craig dead?”

She nodded. “I’m sorry honey, but he tried to shoot John.” She squeezed my hand. “John had to defend himself.”

“That’s what I thought.” I thought about it for a second. “I’m sorry he’s dead, but not that Mr. Sheppard shot him. He wanted to kill me.” She flinched at my directness. “And he may have killed you and Dad, too.”

On second thought, I’m not sorry he’s dead.If he’d survived, I would’ve spent the rest of my life looking over my shoulder. Terrified.

“I’m not sorry.”

My eyes opened so wide I thought they’d pop out of my head. “MOM!” I winced, yelling hurt my head and my bruised ribs.

“I’m sorry honey, but after what he did to you, to us, he deserved what he got.”

It was good to see the color back in her cheeks. To see her fired up. She’d looked so scared and shocked in the kitchen that I’d been worried it’d be a good while before I saw the real her again.

“Thanks, Mom.” I sniffed. “I’m sorry-”

“None of that.” She handed me tissue just as someone knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

Chris came in and practically ran to my bed. He glanced at my mom before bending down and squeezing me in a big brotherly hug that made my ribs hurt like hell.

“Be careful, Christopher.”

“Right, sorry.” He pulled away, his eyes searching my face. “Are you okay? How bad is it?”

“I’m okay, honestly. My ribs are bruised, my face is a mess, and I have a killer headache, but there’s nothing that won’t heal in a few days.” Or maybe weeks.

Chris nodded as he searched my face.

I reached out and held his hand, “I’ll be fine Chris, I promise.”

Chris turned to Mom. “Are you okay?” He asked as he pulled her into a tight hug. “How’s Dad?”

Mom teared up a little as she filled him in. Luckily, her only physical injuries were a few bruises on her face and wrists, but Dad hadn’t fared as well. He had a concussion, and needed stitches for the gash in his forehead, plus several nasty bruises.

My brave, foolish father. He shouldn’t have tried to stand up to Craig.

After Chris was convinced I was okay, he said he wanted to go visit Dad. Before leaving, he said, “Emily, Jamie’s outside and wants to see you. Do you want to see him?”

I did but I was worried about him seeing me like this. Then I remembered he’d seen me looking even worse on the kitchen floor. I nodded. “Yeah, I do. Thanks.”

Mom and Chris each hugged me before leaving.

Then I waited for Jamie.

Chapter 40

Jamie

Chris was only with Emily for ten minutes or so, but it felt more like ten hours as I wore a path in the tile floor outside her door. Meg put her hand on my arm, leaned up and whispered, “You’re making everyone nervous.”

I could only imagine how I looked to other people right now, pacing the floor like a man possessed, a mixture of fear, determination, and impatience written all over my face.

I couldn’t help it, I needed to talk to Emily and make sure she was okay. And make things right. To tell her how I felt, and beg her to forgive me.This time she can’t run away from me if there’s a misunderstanding.

I closed the distance to Emily’s door when I saw it open. Chris had his arm around his mom’s shoulders as he led her out. Mrs. Taylor still looked overwhelmed, but at least she wasn’t in shock anymore.

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