Chapter 11
Eleven
SLOANE
Perhaps the last few weeks had finally caught up to me, but when my daughter insisted I take a nap, I fell into a deep sleep.
I’d returned home to the cottage feeling a whole slew of emotions.
Excited and overjoyed for Monroe and Brodan that their little boy had arrived safe and healthy into the world.
That Monroe was safe and healthy too. Yet, the entire time I’d sat in that hospital waiting room for news of my best friend and her child, fear had slithered its way inside me.
Something had felt off about my so-called mugging. And could it really be coincidence to be attacked twice in one month? Or was it Hoffman exacting a little payback?
It couldn’t be anything else.
Or could it?
While I waited for Regan to drop off Callie, I called Flora to explain why I couldn’t deliver on this Saturday’s cakes. She was perfectly understanding, but I felt awful that I was already letting her down.
Relief, however, soothed me when Callie walked through the door. I hugged her so hard, she teasingly complained.
“I love you,” I whispered almost desperately against her hair.
Callie arched her neck to look up at me and grin. “Did seeing Monroe’s baby make you mushy, Mom?”
Grinning, I smoothed my hands over her soft cheeks to cup her face. “Can you tell?”
Not even a few minutes later, though, when I stumbled into the sofa while attempting to walk to the kitchen, I found my way barred by my kid. “Mom, you need bed.”
“I’m fine.” I didn’t want to leave her unattended today.
But Callie scowled. “Mom, you look like the walking dead, and you need to take better care of yourself.”
“Gee, thanks.”
She rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean. Take a nap. I’ll be fine. I’m in the middle of a really good book.”
Swaying on my feet, I knew I needed rest. “I’ll nap if you snuggle with me. Bring your book.”
Callie nodded. “I’ll snuggle with you.”
My kid was the best kid in the world. “Okay, grab your book and head on up. I’ll be up in a second.”
Thankfully, she didn’t argue, and it allowed me to make sure the door and windows were locked without her asking questions.
A few minutes later, changed into sweats and a tee, I climbed into bed beside Callie, who sat on top of the duvet reading what looked like a fantasy novel.
I must have passed out as soon as my head hit the pillow.
Callie’s voice drifted into my consciousness. “She’s sleeping, but I’ll tell her you called … Yeah, we’re okay … well, she was up all night.”
I blinked out of the dark of sleep, feeling groggy and dry-mouthed. Callie sat up on the bed beside me, holding my phone to her ear. “Who you talking to, baby girl?” I asked, voice rasping.
What time was it?
“Oh, she’s awake, Walker.” Callie grinned and held out the phone. “It’s Walker.”
What the hell?
Why was Walker calling me?
Pushing up to sitting, I took the phone and glanced at the clock.
I’d been asleep for eight hours. Crap. Had Callie eaten? “Did you eat?” I asked her as I held the phone to my ear.
“I had a couple of snacks.” She shrugged and returned to reading what looked like a new book.
“Sloane?” Walker’s deep voice rumbled in my ear. “You there?”
Scrubbing at my face, I grumbled, “Barely.”
“Callie said you were sleeping.”
“Yeah. It was supposed to be a nap that apparently turned into a whole day of sleeping. Damn it.”
“You obviously needed it.”
I yawned, feeling like crap. “Right. What’s up?” Something occurred to me and I was suddenly alert. “Are Roe and Lennox okay?”
“They’re fine,” he assured me. “I wanted to let you know that come Monday, I’ll be driving you and Callie to school and work.
I’ll also drive you to Regan’s on the days Callie isn’t at tae kwon do to collect her, and drop you both off at the cottage.
We’ll wait to see if there are any more threats to your safety before we consider putting extra security on Callie when she’s not with us. ”
The barrage of information was one of the lengthiest things he’d ever said, and I was entirely confused. “Uh … what? What is going on?” I shoved off my duvet, feeling hot and sweaty and yucky from my day’s sleep.
Callie lowered her book, watching me with a frown. “What is going on?”
I waved her off to hear Walker as he explained, “The attack last night might have been deliberate, and until we know for sure, I will drive you and Callie wherever you need to go.”
Was he nuts? “I can’t ask you to do that.” I mouthed at Callie to stay put and I hurried down the stairs for privacy while Walker insisted this was the plan. “What about Callie?” I hissed low so she couldn’t hear. “How am I supposed to explain you driving us everywhere?”
“Tell her the Hyundai was a loaner. That I’m doing you a favor until you get a new car.”
“I’m not leaving myself without transportation. I have a cake to deliver tomorrow to a client in Golspie.”
“No, you don’t. I’ll deliver the cake. You stay put.”
I didn’t know what annoyed me more, his bossiness or the idea of being trapped in the cottage indefinitely. “I’m not living like that.”
“It’s just temporary.”
A creak on the stairs had me whirling around. Callie stood a few steps up, arms crossed, worry all over her little face. “Mom, what’s going on?”
“Callie, I’m talking to Walker. Go back upstairs.”
Her expression turned mulish and she stomped down the last few steps. “No. Lewis and I overheard Regan tell Lewis’s dad that something happened to you. Does it have something to do with the bruise on your face last month? What’s going on?”
Oh. Crap.
I sighed heavily. “Did you hear that?” I asked Walker.
“Aye,” he answered grimly.
“Then you know I need to hang up now.”
“I’ll be by tomorrow morning for the cake.” He hung up before I could argue.
Lowering the phone, I stared at my daughter, feeling that terrifying, dizzying sensation I always felt when I wasn’t certain what the right thing to do was.
“I’m not a kid anymore. You can tell me.”
I smiled sadly. “You are ten, baby girl. That’s still a kid. And I want you to stay being a kid for at least another eight years.”
She tilted her chin stubbornly. “I know you don’t want me to know things after what happened that night with Dad. But you think I don’t know when you’re upset, and I do. Everyone was weird when you came home with that bruise. And now Walker’s calling and arguing with you. What is it?”
My gut churned. “All you need to know is that a bad person tried to hurt me. The key word being tried. Okay? Walker and another kind man stopped him before he could.”
My daughter’s eyes glistened, and her lips trembled. “But you’re all right?”
Her fear and upset were exactly why I’d avoided telling her. “I am more than all right.” I crossed the room to pull her into my arms, and she burrowed her head against my chest.
After a few minutes of holding her, soothing her, and hoping like hell I hadn’t made a mistake in telling her even that paltry amount, Callie pulled back. “So, why is Walker calling you and making you act all weird?”
It was either tell her the truth and freak her out … or give up my car. “I didn’t want to tell you this, but I can’t keep the new car. So Walker is going to drive us around for a while until I can find one that’s more in my budget.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Why would he do that?”
Not wanting her to get the wrong idea, I shrugged.
“Because he works for Brodan, and Monroe asked him to make sure you and I are okay. So, Brodan asked Walker to chauffeur us around for a bit.” I grinned, like it was no big deal.
“Which means we better be cool people to chauffeur around or the poor guy might quit.”
Callie flashed me a grin, and I relaxed marginally. “We’re cool. Walker likes us. I don’t think he’d have said yes to driving us around otherwise.”
“Don’t go getting all attached to him, you hear,” I teased, but I meant every word. I ventured toward the kitchen, hungry. “I don’t think Walker will stick around Ardnoch forever.”
“Will we?”
I whirled at her quiet question.
“Well?”
“Do you want to?”
She nodded.
Fear of disappointing her rode my shoulders. “You know it was never meant to be permanent here, right? My work visa only lasts five years.” The Howards had pulled off getting me a skilled workers’ visa … but I didn’t know if we could get that extended. I said as much to Callie.
“But we’ll stay another four years, for sure?” she asked.
“If it’s what you want.”
“I want you to be happy, too, Mom.”
I beamed at my daughter. My kid was the best. “I’m happy too … I’ll be even happier with some food in my belly. How does mac and cheese and fries sound?”
“Uh, like a promise you better keep.”
Laughing, I strolled into the kitchen, forcing myself not to think about Walker or protection or anything scary for a while.