Page 78 of Caught in the Axe
I wrapped my arm around her as I led her to my car.
“You don’t have to do this.” She peered up at me, her face still wan.
“Of course I do. It’s just a ride, Lila.” That was a lie. It was so much more to me. The woman I cared for deeply was hurt and scared. I’d do anything to make sure she was safe and cared for. So I’d gladly take her home and keep an eye on her. Even if that meant camping out in her driveway for the night.
“Thank you,” she said softly as we stepped into her house. “I should probably take a shower.” Her eyes were wide as she focused on me. “Can you stay? I don’t want to be alone.”
With a relieved sigh, I nodded and pulled her in for a hug.
She removed my jacket, letting it fall to the floor, then disappeared into the bathroom.
I scooped it up and hung it by the door, then wandered to the kitchen and put the kettle on for tea.
The home was quaint and only a few blocks from where I’d grown up, on a side street lined with cookie-cutter houses. The walls were all painted bright, cheery colors, and photos of Lila were hung on just about every wall.
As I took them in, one at a time, I found myself pulled into her life story. Lila as a tiny baby with chubby cheeks on the hip of a teenager with massive bangs, then a skinny kid with a big smile wearing several glittery pageant outfits, and everywhere in between.
She was adorable and always smiling.
I made two mugs of tea and found the honey Lila liked on the countertop. In my pocket, my phone was buzzing almost nonstop. No doubt my brothers were panicking about today’s incident and expecting me to fix it. I ignored it. I was here for Lila.
I was so lost in my thoughts I didn’t hear the door open.
“Oh my God, is she okay? Where is she?”
I spun and came face-to-face with Lila’s mom. Sandra looked like an older, fancier version of her daughter. Even in her medical scrubs, she was dressed up. Hair done, lots of jewelry, and perfect red lipstick.
I nodded down the hall. “Shower,” I said, offering her my hand. “I’m Owen.”
Taking it, she gave me an appraising once-over. “Finally I get to meet the famous Owen Hebert. Thank you for taking care of my baby.”
“Today was a lot.” I sighed, rubbing at the back of my neck. “The police, the questioning—”
She held up a hand. “Not just today. You’ve been good to her. You’ve done so much for that girl’s confidence. I’ll miss her, but I know she’ll be ready to take on the world when she leaves.”
I cleared my throat, surprised at the direction of this conversation. “She’s incredible,” I said, only realizing howpotentially creepy that sounded once the words were out. “At accounting. Work, you know,” I stuttered like a bumbling idiot. “She’s very smart.”
Sandra pursed her lips and crossed her arms. For a long moment, she scrutinized me, then dropped her arms and stepped over to the stove. “Let’s sit down.” She handed one mug of tea I’d prepared to me and pulled another mug from the cabinet.
“I don’t want to intrude.”
She pinned me with a look that reminded me so much of Lila I did a double take. “Don’t you dare leave.” Once she’d added honey to her tea, she nodded toward the living room. “Go sit your ass down so we can have a chat.”
I followed her into the cheery space and sat on the sofa.
“I apologize for the chill,” she said, blowing on her mug. “I’d light the fire, but we’re out of wood, and I can’t bring myself to order more. It’s May, for Christ’s sake. I’ve lived here my entire life and still get angry every year when spring never arrives.”
I nodded politely, but I kept my mouth shut, terrified that if I spoke, I’d say something stupid. Rather than a successful businessman, I felt like a teenager waiting to take Lila to prom.
“This place,” she mused, “is not for everyone. I’ve grown a thick skin over the decades, but Lila deserves a hell of a lot more.”
I sipped my tea to give myself something to do while I deciphered her words. Was this a test? It had been a long time since I’d had to deal with the parents of a love interest.
Of course Lila deserved more. She deserved the world.But I didn’t want to show my hand to her mom, especially with the skeptical way she was looking at me.
“You know,” she said, “if I were the type of person to listen to the rumors, I’d kick you out of my house right now. According to the gossips, you’re one of those greedy city types. Got too big for your britches and forgot where you came from.”
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. My stomach had sunken to my feet and my throat had gone dry.
