Page 52 of Kian's Devotio
Karalee was packing in her room and was surprisingly unfazed by hearing of her mother's death.
But he knew that her mom hated her and always had. And that affected a person, no matter how hard they tried to deny it.
“Kara,” he said, and she started, “Kian, what are you doing here?”
“I know you said you wanted to go alone, and I am doing my best to respect that, I just worry that you shouldn’t be alone right now. That you really need support, even if you act like you don’t.”
She sagged against her bed and he hurried to her side. “She is gone. Just gone. I knew that one day everything would catch up to her, and I am surprised she hasn’t done this before, I just don’t want to drag you into this mess of my life. You don’t even know the half of it.”
He hugged her, “Babe, I know a lot more than you think. I may not know everything that happened in the last few years, but before that? I would sit outside your room all night, doing my best to protect you from anyone. There were a few of the men your mom brought home that tried to come into your room at night and I always slipped through the window to scare them away. They never even got close to you. And then you started sleeping with a dresser in front of your door, but I still hated that your mom told you how much of a problem you were and how badly she treated you. It was hard to hear and I wanted nothing more than to save you from that.”
She looked up at him, “Really? You did that? I always wondered why my room would smell like you.”
He gave a sheepish grin, “I wasn’t like peeking in at you while you undressed or anything, and I didn’t do it every night. I just did my best to protect you and your mom didn’t care if you spent ninety percent of your time at our house. She was so far gone most days and I tried so hard to protect you. To keep you safe. To keep you fed.”
Her eyebrows drew together, “You were the one to leave me breakfast? Of course you were. Silly me. Even when you didn’t speak to me, you were still concerned for me.”
He smiled, “You got that right. So just know that I know more about your mom and her life and her crazy than you think. Okay? I would never judge you for her past or her sins, because they have never been yours. They were never your choices and never your responsibility. Okay?”
She nodded, “Thank you. Okay, I would like it if you came with me. Is that okay?”
He nodded, “I would love that and Brek gave me the time off. Just let me throw some things in a bag, and I am set. Besides, my mom has been thinking about selling the house. What better time than now?”
Karalee smiled and he kissed her then ran to his room to change and throw some clothes in a bag.
He did it all within ten minutes and then they were leaving town and heading back to their small town of Mount Vernon, Illinois.
