Page 125 of Dark Endures

“I bet you are.” I can’t stop myself from touching her cheek. This can’t be my Mindy. “Rest. I’ll take care of you.”

She closes her eyes, and her head lolls. I gently help it lower to the pillow.

Now to deal with the crazy women around me. I stand up and pay attention to their wild conversation for a second.

It seems they’re fighting about who gets to take care of Mindy. Years of experience have taught me never to wade into a fight with women. You can’t win. Today, I have to win. Because having Mindy away from me, even for a second, while she’s like this is not an option. I pull the blanket up and cover Mindy’s shoulders, so she doesn’t get cold in her sleep.

Time to face the proverbial firing squad.

“Ladies.”

They all stop and stare at me. This was a bad idea. A very bad idea. “As Mindy’s best friends, I’m sure you’re concerned with her well-being first and foremost.”

“Of course we are.” The one in the sweet dress looks a little offended.

“Traveling to each of your homes would be extremely taxing on Mindy in the condition she’s in.”

Leonie smiles. “See. I told them that.”

“In the interest of fairness and protecting her well-being, I suggest she come home with me.”

“What?” they say in unison, surprisingly quietly.

“Each of you can come visit her and spend as long as you like with her. She will have full access to a doctor and all the nursing staff she needs at my place. Mindy will also be steps away from a clinic that’s staffed with state-of-the-art equipment, doctors, and psychiatrists around the clock.”

“We can all provide her with that.” The businesswoman puts her hand on her hip.

I’m about to lose this argument.

“Maddox Locke should take care of her,” the woman with the notebook says. “He touched her face twice.”

Leonie walks up and gets in my face. “You hurt her, and I’ll lock you up for the rest of your life.”

Good to know.

“No, you won’t, because there won’t be a body left to lock up. I’m Winnie.” She holds a handout to me. “If you’re going to take care of Mindy, you’ll need to know a few things.”

“Yes.” The thin one with a stumblingly beautiful face but a nervous look about her steps forward. “Like Mindy won’t sit down. When she starts feeling better, you’re going to need to tie her down to get her to rest.”

“And Mindy hates oatmeal. Despises it. She’ll smile and eat it because her manners won’t allow her to do anything else. But she absolutely hates it. I’m Greer, by the way.” The nervous one holds her hand out for me to shake.

But the one in the old-time dress steps forward before I can take it. “Mindy hates watching television. She’ll watch movies but only with people. You need to get her popcorn when she watches them. She loves popcorn with chocolate-covered raisins in it. I’m Cordelia. And Ottilie is the one taking notes.”

These women are so cute.

“The space needs to be warm and welcoming for her. Mindy likes pretty things around her. And plants. She’s always wanted one of those vining plants that hang around all the walls. And you should know, we don’t know this Kyle person, though he claims to be a friend of hers.” Winnie stares at him with suspicion.

“Kyle’s a great guy.” Though, I don’t know about him being friends with Mindy. That’s all he'd better be thinking of.“How about this? My best friend is standing outside this door, waiting for me. He can take you to my place. The four of you can get everything set up just the way Mindy needs it before I take her home.”

“You’ll just give us free access to your home?” Winnie asks.

All the secret stuff is kept in my office or the dungeon. “Anything you need.”

“To get it done this fast, we’ll need to hire an army.” Greer taps her pink fingernail on her pants.

“No, you won’t. My brothers will help with anything you need, from painting to wallpaper. It doesn’t matter. Tell them and they will make it happen. Are those acceptable terms?”

“What if I want to know more about Willow Street?” Leonie asks.

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