Page 66 of Harmony Island Gazette
He paused and glanced over his shoulder. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
I shook my head as I pressed my hands against the mattress and pushed myself up until I was sitting. “It’s okay. I wasn’t asleep, just resting my eyes.”
He nodded as he turned and then took a few steps toward me. “I’m here to ask you a few questions.”
“I figured.” I reached over and turned down the TV that Mom had turned on to give me some background noise. Then I set the remote on the side table and glanced over at him. “Okay.”
He asked me some basic questions about what had happened. He let me know that he didn’t want to push me past what I was comfortable with, but I just waved off his concern. I was ready for Kevin to face consequences for his actions. I was ready to take charge of my safety. I needed to for the baby.
If Kevin was going to treat me like a punching bag, he was going to suffer the repercussions. It was time someone held a Proctor’s feet to the fire.
I recounted the evening, but I paused before I mentioned Boone. I wanted to know where he was before I talked about his involvement in the situation. So, I ended the story with Kevin hitting me.
The deputy was busy writing down my last statement. I studied him, wondering how I could ask about Boone without raising suspicion. The deputy took a moment to read over his notes before he glanced up at me. “And Boone Grimes? What’s your involvement with him?”
I stared down at my hands. Whatwasmy involvement with him? Who was he to me? Who was I to him? How did he know where I was going to be? Had that been his truck I saw passing by? Why hadn’t he left town? I’d been so awful to him. Anyone else would have split and never looked back.
I sighed as I glanced up. I doubted the deputy had any answers to those questions. I would probably never get the answers to those questions. The best thing I could do was come to Boone’s defense. He’d put himself in a bad situation to help me. It was only right that I return the favor.
“He’s my friend,” I said, hating that I’d treated him the way I did. “He must have been passing by and heard our fight. He came in to protect me. Kevin…” I paused, my voice cracking from the pain I’d lived with for so long.
The deputy drew his eyebrows together. “It’s okay. Take your time.”
I nodded in an effort to thank him for his words. I pinched my lips together until the wave of pain washing through my chest had subsided. I took in a deep breath. “I’m not sure what he would have done to me if Boone hadn’t come in.”
The deputy sheriff was quiet while he finished writing my statement. Then he clicked his pen and slipped it into his front pocket. He flipped the cover of his notepad closed and turned his attention to me. “Thank you for answering my questions.” He gave me a small smile before he turned to head out the door.
“Excuse me,” I called out.
He stopped and turned. “Yeah?”
I swallowed, unsure of how to ask this question. So I decided the direct way was the best. “Is Boone okay?”
The deputy nodded. “He’s okay. He was pinning down Kevin when we got there. We offered him medical attention, but he denied it.” He gave me a soft nod. “You have a good friend there.”
Tears pricked my eyes. He was a good friend. The best of friends. I was an idiot for even thinking he could work for Kevin.
I swallowed against the emotions in my throat. “And Kevin?”
The deputy slipped his notepad in his front pocket next to his pen so he could fold his arms. “He’s been arrested.” He gave me a stern look like he wanted me to listen. “He won’t be able to hurt you again.”
I nodded. That was the hope. But Kevin was a Proctor. They had a way of getting out of things. “Thanks,” was all I could say.
The deputy nodded and then left, closing the hospital door behind him. I lay back against the bed and closed my eyes, taking in slow, deep breaths. Kevin was locked up. Boone had walked away from the scene. I should be happy, but I wasn’t.
I wanted to thank Boone for being there, and I feared that I wasn’t going to get the chance.
Mom came in with an armful of vending machine food. We ate and talked until I yawned, and she tsked me for letting her talk so long. She threw away the garbage, tucked me in, and kissed me on the cheek. She would be back tomorrow morning to be with me until I was discharged.
I nodded as I settled back against the pillow and closed my eyes. I wasn’t sure how much time passed before I heard the latch on my door release. I peeked over and saw the shadow of a man enter the room. He approached me. My heart was pounding with fear that it was Kevin, coming back to finish what he’d started.
I stilled myself, hoping he’d leave, but in the soft glow of the moonlight, I saw Boone’s face as he peered down at me.
“Boone?” I asked as I pushed my hands against the mattress so I could sit up.
He stepped back as if I’d startled him. “I didn’t mean to wake you up.”
I found the remote attached to my bed and turned a light on. My entire body froze when I took in his face. His eyebrow had been split open. His cheek was bruised, and his lip was fat. He turned his face away from me when my gaze lingered too long.
