Page 66 of Justice for Daesha

“They’re afraid you’ll get sick and throw up, honey, and you don’t need to lose any fluids.”

“I know, I know. But I want to get out of here. I want to go home with Amos.”

Amos thought of something. “Hey, how did she get you into the cooler?”

“She told me Marshall had gone in there and fallen, and wanted me to help get him up. She said if she called an emergency crew, it would be all over the news, but she knew I had enough medical background to help him. When we got there, I followed her to the cooler and she pointed in. She told me to go on in and she’d get a light from the car and be right back. As soon as I was about five feet in, the door slammed shut behind me. I didn’t know what had happened. I thought something had happened to her, and I was really worried.” She held up her hands, and Amos could see the bruising on their outer edges and the heels of her palms. “I pounded and pounded on the door, but nobody came. Marshall was there, right?”

“She had him elsewhere in the plant, tied to a chair.”

“That’s what the boys told me. And they told me about them and Dorinda too. I feel bad for them. They loved her. They still love her.”

“Yes, they do. But not as much as I love you.”

“And not as much as I love you.” Daesha pressed a palm to his cheek. “You really are my knight in shining armor.”

He smiled. “And you’re most definitely my warrior princess!”

* * *

“Well,wefinallygot to do this!” Denise exclaimed as she set dishes on the table.

“What can I do to help?”

“You go sit down, girl. You just got out of the hospital,” Jack and Amos’s mother ordered and pointed toward the living room.

Daesha moped in and sat down beside Amos. “I’m not an invalid, but everybody’s treating me like one.”

“Everybody wants you to get your strength back,” Amos said and kissed her temple.

“So you’re off work this week?” Lawrence asked.

“Yeah. We are. I’m off because of, well, obvious, but they gave Amos the week off too so he could stay with me.” Daesha took his hand and smiled. “We get to spend the whole week together.”

“Yes. We. Do.” Amos smiled and gripped her hand tightly. No way was he letting go.

“Time to eat!” Denise called out as she and Aleta put the finishing touches on everything.

Two hours later and the kitchen cleaned up, Denise reminded Lawrence that she’d made a plate for him to take home, and they were all sitting around the den in the Fletcher’s house. “So, Jack, you two doing okay?” Henry asked.

“Yep. Still hoping. And hey, the practicing is fun,” Jack said, and Aleta slapped his arm. “Well, it is! You’re not complaining!” She blushed and everybody laughed.

“And what about you two?” Henry asked and pointed to Amos and Daesha. “What’s next for you?”

Amos’s face was one huge grin. “Well, we’ve got some shopping to do.” Daesha stared up at him. “I mean, if you want to.”

“Shopping?”

“Yeah. Ring shopping. Would you like that?”

She nodded and leaned into him. “I would. Can I get anything I want?”

“No. I’m not made of money. But I would like to know what styles you like so I know what to choose from. That would make it easier.”

“Oh! I can definitely show you some I like. But you need to pick.”

Amos grinned. “I intend to. I’ll pick what I want you to have and you’ll like it or else.”

There was that giggle he loved so much. “Or else what?”

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