Page 94 of The Persistence of Thornes
It’s like they planned it on purpose, like they’re imitating the Spiderman meme, since they’re both dressed in Spiderman costumes.
As tense as the atmosphere is, it’s hard not to break into laughter.
“I don’t care who it was.” Halle drops to the floor and carefully picks the lamp up by its neck. “Both of you, tell Caleb you’re sorry and that you’ll replace it.”
“Hal,” I say before the boys can speak. “It’s just a light. It’s no big deal, I promise.” I unplug it from the wall and take the broken pieces from her. “No one’s hurt. That’s what matters.”
She frowns up at me, still on her knees, brushing her fingers over the carpet subconsciously.
“Halle?” I prompt when she doesn’t speak.
Her breaths become jagged, choppy, like she’s struggling to get air into her lungs.
“Halle?” I repeat. When she still doesn’t respond, I hold the lamp pieces out to Casen. “Take this down to the trash.”
He takes them, looking from me to his sister and back, brows pulled low in concern. Eventually, he shuffles from the room. Quinn hasn’t moved, his expression full of just as much worry.
“I’ve got her,” I assure him, nodding at the door. “I promise.”
He dips his head in acknowledgment before quietly slipping out of the room.
Halle slowly raises her head, her eyes welling with unshed tears.
“Baby.” The word falls from me as I get down on my knees in front of her and gently cup her rigid shoulders. “What’s wrong?”
“I just…” Her face contorts with a pain I wish I could take from her. I wish we could go back to moments ago when I was tying the corset. “I remembered something.”
I cup her cheeks, trying not to get too excited about the way she relaxes at my touch. “Do you want to talk about it?”
She shakes her head.
I nod. I can respect that. One day, I hope she’ll open up to me, but for now, I won’t push.
With a sharp inhale, she blinks and straightens a little. “Actually, I do.”
I stay quiet, waiting for her to fill in the blanks when she’s ready.
“I knocked a lamp off the table once. I was dancing, just being a kid, you know? It broke, and the guy my momwas seeing back then backhanded me. Gave me a black eye. My mom told the school I fell off our front porch steps. I…” She trails off, attention dropping to the floor between us. “I don’t know how I managed to forget that until now.”
“The brain is capable of some pretty incredible things.” I smooth her hair back from her forehead. “Including repressing memories in order to protect us.”
“I didn’t scare them, did I?” Lips tipped in a pained frown, she eyes the open door.
I give her a gentle smile. “I think they’re just worried about you.”
She sighs. “Can’t say I blame them.”
“Ready to get up?” I’ll stay down here on the floor with her for as long as she needs me to, but moving on from this moment may do her some good.
She nods, so I stand and hold my hands out to her.
Even when she’s steady on her feet, I don’t let go. “How do you feel?”
She gives me a small, barely there smile. “Like I almost had a panic attack, but I’m better now. Promise.”
My chest tightens. “You sure? We can stay here if you want.”
Her eyes soften, gentle fingers grazing my jaw. “I appreciate the offer, even more so because I know you’d do it without complaint. But we need to go. Seda’s waiting. I’m fine, I promise. And if I’m not, I know my way back over here.”
