Page 36 of Love's Cure

Misty shook her head. “It just started a couple of weeks ago. He said he couldn’t help it. But I know better. Two days ago, he hit me again. After he stormed off, I packed my things as quickly as I could and drove here.”

“I believe I heard you live in Florida—

Misty lifted her face and cut him off. “Lived in Florida. No more. I won’t go back.”

Emmett and Crystal exchanged glances.

Crystal gave her a nod of approval. “Good for you, Misty. You know you have a home here with me for as long as you want.”

“I know,” Misty said softly. “You’ve always taken care of me.”

“Heart, pulse, and temperature fine. Now, let’s get that look at you,” said Emmett. “Please strip down to your underwear and put on a robe. I’ll leave the room and come back when you’re ready.”

He returned moments later. He studied Misty’s face and gingerly touched the areas around the blackened eye and then the rest of her face. Her tan skin had grown darker from the sun in Florida, but even standing away from her, Crystal could see spots of bruising. Her stomach filled with acid.

Emmett softly spoke to Misty as he examined her torso. “Did he ever hurt you sexually?”

Misty shook her head and glanced at Crystal. “It’s just like Mom all over again, huh.”

“My mother used to get beaten by boyfriends,” Crystal explained to Emmet and turned to Misty. “You’re not the same. You were smart enough to get away, and you’re not addicted to drugs and alcohol.”

“My boyfriend never hit me sober. He always got angry after he’d been drinking.”

“Your mother was unable to get help for her addictions?” Emmett asked.

“She wouldn’t accept it,” said Crystal. “Believe me, I tried. She’d go on a binge and wake up not remembering anything. That’s why Misty and I have two different unknown fathers. I was eight when Misty was born.”

“And who took care of her?” Emmett asked, his expression neutral, though Crystal could tell from the tightening of his jaw he already knew the answer.

“Crystal has been like my mother,” said Misty, her dark eyes shiny with tears.

“She was my baby in many respects. I loved Misty and cared for her. I didn’t want her to be taken away from us by social workers,” said Crystal. “I’ve always been her big sister watching out for her.”

“That’s very admirable of you,” said Emmett as he checked the last of Misty’s limbs. “Nothing is broken but it will take a while for your bruises to go away,” he said to Misty. “Most are on your torso, and in checking you out, you don’t appear to have any excessive pain in that area. Are you having any trouble with your teeth?”

Misty shook her head. “No, but if I’d stayed, I know things would’ve gotten worse. Like I said, it only happened twice before I took off. I knew enough to get away.”

“I want to take photographs of your face and torso,” Crystal said to Misty. She snapped a few from her cell phone while Emmett began typing information into his computer.

“What are you going to do from here?” Emmett asked, turning from his computer to Misty with a sympathetic expression.

“I’m staying with Crystal. I think I might want to live here for a while. It was great to leave Lilac Lake and be on my own, but maybe it’s time for me to come home. I’m a very good teacher. I know schools are always looking for them.”

“It sounds like a good plan.” He stood. “There’s nothing more to be done for you. You probably already know you’ll be sore and stiff for a while. Take a light painkiller if necessary and get some rest. I know you’ll have some excellent food from the Café.”

“Thank you, Dr. Chambers. I appreciate your seeing me,” said Misty, standing before him.

“Yes, Emmett, thank you. I wanted Misty to have some privacy before facing old friends. It was good of you to see her before your day has officially started. Want to come to the Café for breakfast? It’s on me, of course.”

Emmett grinned and checked his watch. “You know what? I’ve got time. I’ll be right there.”

Crystal and Misty got into her car and headed back to the Café.

“What is Emmett to you, anyway?” Misty asked her.

“He’s a friend. Someone new in town,” Crystal answered, trying not to give away her feelings for him.

Misty studied her. “Uh, huh. Just a friend? I saw the way you two were looking at one another.”

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