Chapter 33
33
[Vale]
W e’d fallen asleep exactly as he suggested, his softening shaft eventually slipping out of me.
We were a mess and yet I didn’t care.
Until my phone suddenly rings.
A lamp is still on in my room.
Cort is still wrapped around me.
Fumbling for my phone on the stand, I quickly read the time and the caller ID.
“Hudson?” I shift, pressing up on my elbow, while Cort tightens his arm around my waist.
“Miss Sylver.” The quiet female voice has me even more alarmed.
“Amelia? Honey, what’s wrong?”
With a heavy sob, the girl tries to speak.
“Hudson told me to call you.”
“Are you okay? Is he?” I sit upright, as Cort’s arm loosens around my waist but doesn’t release me.
The tension in his forearm suggests he’s awake as well and listening .
“Mom.” Hudson’s voice is both relief and fear.
“Can you come get me?”
“Of course.” I’m already pushing at Cort’s arm and rushing off the bed, trying to juggle the slim phone between my ear and shoulder as I reach for my clothes.
The phone slips free.
“Shit.” I reach for it and press the speaker button.
“You’re still at the Stanton’s, right?” My fear is the kids have snuck out of the house, like something I might have done when I was a tad older than their present age and have gotten in over their heads somewhere.
I have a no-questions-asked policy with Hudson, reminding him often that he simply needs to call me for help.
I’ll ask questions later.
I’ve never had to indulge that promise until now, and it takes everything in me to not bombard him with an inquisition.
“We’re here. But hurry, okay?”
“Okay. I’m getting dressed.” I should ask where Henry is?
What were they doing?
Why was it Amelia who called first?
But I keep my composure, hastily dressing.
Cort has sat up as well and slowly slips off the side of my bed, stepping into his pants without underwear and tugging on his shirt.
“I can keep you on the phone,” I tell Hudson, worried that he’s hurt, as he’s clearly afraid of something.
“I’m okay. Just come and get me.”
“I’m on my way.” I click off the phone with trembling fingers.
Cort covers my hand in the firm grip of his own.
“Stanton’s, right?”
“I’ve got to go,” I say, looking at him.
“I’m going with you.”
“No.” I can’t handle explaining what he’s doing with me or why at this late hour.
“Not arguing with you, Vale. I’m not letting you go to that prick’s house alone. I’ll drive. ”
I do nothing but nod.
No-questions-asked. I’ll explain myself to Hudson later.
When we pull up in front of the Stanton’s house, all three kids are outside, huddled together.
Hudson has his arm around Atticus who leans forward with his head on his knees.
Amelia sits close beside Hudson on his other side.
Cort and I hop out of his truck at the same time, and I race up the sidewalk, instantly cupping Hudson’s face to inspect him.
“I’m fine, Mom.” He exhales heavily.
“It’s Atticus.”
Reaching for the child, I lift his head and discover a large welt beneath his eye.
“What happened?”
Atticus doesn’t speak but Amelia whispers in a quivering voice.
“Daddy.”
Cort is up the porch stairs in one giant step.
“Cort,” I cry out as he thunders across the wooden planks and opens the screen door with so much force, it hits the exterior of the house.
He helps himself to enter and I glance back at all three kids.
“Stay right here. Hudson, call 9-1-1 if you hear anything.”
“Mom,” he gasps.
I step around him and rush up the porch steps myself.
I don’t want to imagine what might happen, but Cort has entered the Stanton home, Henry unaware, and as Henry is clearly unhinged, I can’t risk Cort surprising him.
“Cort,” I quietly call out, searching the lower-level rooms before he thunders back down the staircase, meeting me at the bottom.
“Fucking bastard. He’s out cold.” He breaths heavily.
“You hit him?” I shriek .
“Passed out drunk,” Cort clarifies with a shake of his head.
He glances toward the front porch.
“Let’s get them out of here.”
As we step toward the front door, I suggest, “We should call Stone.”
Cort simply shakes his head.
“You need a sheriff report now.” Which reminds me Stone is out of town.
“I’m a mandated reporter, Vale.”
As a coach, he’s obligated to report abuse to the authorities.
As Cort approaches Atticus, he crouches in front of him.
“Hey, buddy. Want to tell me what happened?”
Atticus rolls his head side to side.
“Can we just get out of here?” He shivers in his thin shirt and pajama pants, minus shoes.
Hudson still has his arm around his friend while only slightly better dressed in pajamas plus his gym shoes.
His backpack is on the step behind him.
Amelia clutches a blue bear to her chest and is dressed like she’s headed to a sporting event.
Leggings, gym shoes and a large, zippered sweatshirt.
“Let’s go,” I whisper, reaching down for Cort’s shoulder in his hunched position in front of Atticus.
“We can talk later.”
Hudson and I share a glance, and he nods once, then stands and guides Atticus to follow his lead.
As Atticus steps toward Cort, Hudson takes Amelia’s hand, and I wrap my arm around her as we guide all three kids to Cortland’s truck.
Once in the backseat, Atticus closes his eyes and tips his head against the window.
Hudson stares out the opposite window while Amelia sits between them.
I have so much I want to ask but bite my tongue other than to whisper to Cort, “Thank you.”
He reaches for my hand across the center console and gives my fingers a squeeze, then holds on.
I risk another glance at the kids in the back seat but don’t pull free from Cort’s hand, needing his touch to ground me.
When we got back to the house, Cort follows us inside, and I don’t argue with him.
I retrieve a bag of peas and hand it to Cort for Atticus’s cheek, then I take Amelia to the guest room she was previously in.
Cort leads Atticus and Hudson to my son’s room.
“Okay, sweetheart. Did he hurt you?” I ask, running my hand over Amelia’s head while inspecting her face.
She shakes her head and her lips quiver again.
“He’s never done that before. He yells a lot and makes threats, but he’s never hit us.” She swallows around a sob.
“I don’t even know what happened. I just heard him yelling and then Atticus screamed. Dad slammed his bedroom door, and I waited a few minutes before I snuck into my brother’s room.”
She leans forward, covering her face while she cries, and I tug her to me, wrapping my arms around her thin frame.
I’ll kill Henry Stanton for frightening his daughter and hurting his son.
There will be no mercy for him.
Finally, drying Amelia’s face and offering her the same clothes she wore weeks ago to sleep in, I tuck her into bed.
She still hiccups, but exhaustion eventually settles over her while she clutches her blue bear.
Stepping into the hallway, I pause when I see Cort standing outside Hudson’s door.
“How is Atticus?”
“Shaken and scared. Pissed, too.” Cort bitterly chuffs, leaning against the wall.
“Kid’s got a mouth, and I know where he gets it.” He lowers his gaze and purses his lips.
“I’ve got to call the sheriff.”
“I know.”
Cort nods and steps toward the staircase.
“I just need a minute,” I state, pointing toward Hudson’s room.
“Of course.” Cort descends the stairs while I open Hudson’s door.
Once inside his bedroom, I approach Hudson’s twin bed.
He’s rolled toward the wall, and I don’t want to disturb him.
I just need to see him, check on him.
When I swipe my hand over his hair, he rolls to face me.
“Hey, bud. How are you doin’?”
I lower to the edge of his bed as he sits upright and flings his arms around me.
“I didn’t know what to do.”
“It’s okay, buddy.” I hold him tightly.
“You did the right thing by calling me.”
“His dad just came out of nowhere, screaming at us to turn down the video game. It wasn’t even that loud. Atticus told him to go to bed, and his dad picked up a baseball and flung it at his head. It happened so fast.”
Hudson holds onto me harder.
“It’s okay now, baby.” I stroke the back of his head.
“You’re home now, okay? Coach is going to call the sheriff, and I’ll talk to Uncle Stone.”
Hudson pulls back.
“Will their dad go to jail?”
Sadly, I don’t think so.
There probably won’t be any repercussion other than a harsh warning and a strong suggestion to seek counseling.
For now, Atticus and Amelia are safe.
Only for tonight.
“No, bud.” At least, not yet.
Hudson nods and folds down to his pillow.
“Try to get some rest.” I run my hand along his face and cup his cheeks.
“I love you. You did the right thing tonight by calling me. I’m always here for you, Hudson. Always.”
He shouldn’t need the reminder, but I tell him anyway.
I’ll never be like the Henrys of the world.
Or the Baileys. I’ll never be like my father either.
After pressing a kiss to his forehead, I stand and step over to the other bed.
Glancing down at Atticus, my original dislike of the kid is now peppered with guilt.
He’s who he is because of his father.
Lying there, he looks so innocent, and I reach down and brush back his hair as well, hoping I won’t disturb him while praying for protection over him and his sister.
Their road is not going to be easy.
Exiting Hudson’s room, I silently close the door and head down the stairs.
Cort sits at the kitchen island, holding his phone.
Coffee brews in the machine.
I’m wired while exhausted, and the last thing I need is a cup of coffee.
I’m already jittery.
“What did the sheriff’s department say?”
“They’ll investigate. Send a mediator to interview the kids. Send someone to talk to Henry. I told Andy the kids are here.”
I nod.
Andy Whitehall works with Stone, but I’m not a fan of him.
He can hold a grudge, and he’s done so against Sebastian and his past, even though everyone else in the community forgives Sebastian for his transgressions.
Cort shifts on the island stool and holds out his arm.
I step into his embrace, wedging between his legs while wrapping my arms around his neck.
“How are you doing?”
I blow out a deep breath.
“Tired.” I chuckle sorrowfully before pulling back from his much-needed hug.
“And kind of feeling like our night was ruined.” Only an hour or so ago, Cort was in my bed.
“There’s going to be questions about why I was with you.”
I nod slowly.
“I think I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.” I pause a second.
“But I’m grateful you were here.”
While I could have handled this situation on my own, I’m relieved I didn’t have to.
“I hate to leave you to the firing squad in the morning, but I’ve got Josh’s graduation later today.”
I press back while holding onto Cort’s shoulders.
“Oh my gosh.” Glancing at Cort’s phone, the time reads two a.m. West Virginia University is three hours away.
“You need some sleep.”
Cort meets my concerned eyes.
“I don’t want to leave you alone with them yet. I’d already planned that if I leave by five, I’ll make it to Morgantown by eight. The graduation is at nine.”
“Cort, I’m so sorry I forgot.” Weeks ago, he mentioned this achievement for his son.
The Haven Hitters don’t have practice this weekend because of Cort’s commitment.
“Why don’t you head to bed? I’m gonna hang on your couch for a while, then I’ll head out.”
Everything in me wants to invite Cort back upstairs and return us to our previous position, him wrapped around me, but too much has happened in such a short period.
“You don’t have to stay,” I whisper, contradicting all I want.
“I’m not leaving, Vale.” He swipes his finger down my nose.
“Go to bed, sweetness.”
Cupping his bristly jaw in my hand, I lean forward and kiss him, slow and deliberate, hoping to convey how grateful I am that he was with me tonight.
That he came to me, despite the risks, and we shared ourselves with one another in a new way.
Pulling back, there’s no doubt about what Cort would hear if he could read my mind. I love you .