Page 192 of My Sweet Dollie, You Have to Love Me
He picks up a pen on the table and writes a message below the note he’s already scribbled.
That’s okay. You can keep it.
“Because of the germs?”
Another squiggle of handwriting appears.
Because you seem to love hoodies so much, and that one is soft.
“And comforting.”
I glance up at his other message.
Are you okay?
“I think so,” I lie, still slightly trembling. “I mean, I think I’m okay. I’m disappointed about my only pretty dress, but aside from that, I’m okay.”
Tight lips suggest he doesn’t believe me. Standing, he leaves his chair, tucking it in perfectly behind him.
His height sends fear down my spine. I’d been fine with him in the car. Fine with him in the rain, where we stood together getting drenched. He wasn’t intimidating then.
But I fail to fight the urge to step back as he steps forward, needing that little extra distance between us. A space where all my questions can get lost, and I won’t have to learn any painful answers.
He doesn’t comment, but his eyebrows dip into a frown as he moves away. He lingers in the den doorway, his head bobbing for me to follow.
Bubbles goes before me, pounding toward him because she trusts him more than I do.
One foot in front of the other, I follow silently, thinking that the den wouldn’t likely be his choice of murder venue should he decide to hurt me. The kitchen offers a lot more brutal ways to end my life.
God, I am being ridiculous. He just saved me.
Stepping inside, I find the curtains drawn and the room lit by the light of the TV he’d set up a few days back. My favorite comfort movie paused on the screen. The blue and pink dresses of the princess and the pauper bring a smile to my face.
“Did you find my DVDs?” I find the courage to step around Ambrose, plopping myself down on a soft cushion next to Duggan, who’s been brought in and placed on a blanket I love.
My brother’s head shakes as I look up at him, and the sweet smile he gives me reminds me of the boy I once knew…
The boy, I felt so many things for that were never allowed.
“Subscriptions?”
He nods, sitting at my side on the sofa arm. A twirling finger asks me to turn around.
And when I fail to move, his lips spell out the words,You’re safe now, Dollie.
Bubbles jumps up behind me, reminding me of her feelings toward Ambrose. So much love and trust. I follow her lead and twirl around, noticing a fresh hoodie on the other sofa arm, folded neatly with a frilly pair of yellow bed shorts and socks on top, along with my phone, which was wiped down and is being charged.
Turning, I notice Ambrose is no longer in the den, giving me the space to change clothes.
I leave my wet towels on the sofa before wondering how much it cost him and thinking it was probably at least a whole paycheck. I kick them to the floor and tuck my feet into the fluffy blanket as I pick up my phone.
More messages from Lucky are waiting for me. I read over the most recent before typing a quick reply.
Lucky:
Tell me you’re okay?
Dollancie:
