Chapter 24
Acouple of days later, Ashley was home recuperating.
Noah and the girls hardly left her side.
Noah’s parents hovered in the background.
Nikki and Callie lay like guards, one on either side of her bed or chair.
As if sensing Ashley needed their protection, they barked at any sudden noise.
Hourly, if not more often, they paced around the room and made perimeter sniffs.
Trina insisted on nesting in her lap at every opportunity. It was so sweet… and so suffocating.
Desperate for some alone time to process and…
just be, she’d spoken with Noah last night after dinner.
“Honey, your parents are leaving in the morning, and the girls need to get back into their schedule. I think they should go back to school tomorrow, and then Emma has dance class and Katie has a riding lesson. Are you okay with taking them and running some errands?”
Noah looked at her, concern written on his face. “Will you be okay by… yourself?”
“I’ll be fine, babe. Honestly, I need some thinking time.”
His dark brown eyes filled with compassion as he looked at her battered face. “Got it. Understand.”
He rubbed his hands together and planned out loud. “I’ll pack lunches for tomorrow and make sure Katie and Emma have everything they need for their lessons.”
“Thanks, babe. I appreciate you.”
After the bustle of everyone leaving that morning, Ashley sat down with a cup of coffee, her journal, and her Bible.
Trina lay on top of the throw on her lap, kneading biscuits, then circled three times and tucked her tail around her.
She slow-blinked a few kitty kisses Ashley’s way, then closed her eyes, purring.
Ashley reached down to give her head a rub, which led to louder reverberations.
Glancing around the cozy room, she spotted Nikki and Callie lying across both doorways, silent sentinels keeping a vigilant watch.
They appeared to be napping, but their ears twitched with every sound of a passing car or the icemaker going through its gyrations.
Ashley read her Bible and made a few notations in her journal.
Leaning back on the recliner, she closed her eyes in prayer.
“Lord. Thank you again for Your protection and for the strength and courage to survive. I pray for Jason as he must be grieving for the loss of his dad. Even though he had a tough childhood, he was still his father. Please show us how Noah and I can help this boy. Direct us in Your perfect will. In Jesus’s name, Amen. ”
She closed her Bible and journal and set them aside on the end table.
Pulling the soft, fluffy Afghan up around her shoulders, she sank into the comfort of the chair.
Her mind crept back to the petrifying events at the school, the horror of the shed, and the final spine-chilling hours with Carlo.
What a nightmare. She felt saddened by the gruesome deaths of Hank and Carlo and prayed for their souls.
Shuddering, she recalled Hank’s murderous face moments before his death.
Never had she seen so much hate in someone’s expression.
No wonder Jason had been so terrified of the man.
She would have been dead if Carlo had not appeared when he did. Ashley couldn’t understand what had twisted Carlo’s mind to such vengeance, but she knew he too would not have hesitated to end her existence if it had benefitted him.
The bathroom mirror this morning had reflected her numerous bruises turning purplish yellow, but at least the swelling was going down.
She touched her nose gingerly. It was bandaged across the top and excruciatingly sensitive.
The slightest bump or turn in the night on her pillow sent arches of pain across her face.
Her hand was still bandaged and also painful.
It rested on a pillow, elevated to decrease the swelling.
The good news was that there was no nerve damage.
It would just take time for the wound to heal before she could begin rehabilitation.
She reached into the cooler beside her that Noah had filled with ice packs and chipped ice.
Covering her nose with a dry washcloth, she placed an ice pack ever so warily on the bridge of her nose.
Thank goodness Sally had agreed to come out of retirement and fill in for the remainder of the school year.
Ashley was hopeful she would be fully recovered by the start of the next school year.
Yesterday, she had spoken to Rachel, the lead special education teacher, about the events that had transpired.
“Ashley. I was terrified. I still feel like I’m in shock. How are you?”
“I’m taking it easy and recovering.”
“Is there anything you need? I’d like to come visit soon if that’s okay.”
“I’d like that. Maybe next week? I still don’t have much endurance.”
“Of course. I’ll check in with you then.”
“Rachel, how are the children? I would imagine everyone is still pretty shaken up.”
“The children and their families are amazing. We’ve had counselors on site every day for the students and the faculty.
The school has installed additional safety features and is planning more drills.
Some parents have pulled their kids out and are homeschooling.
But a lot of the children are back. They ask about you every day.
” There was a long pause on Rachel’s end of the phone.
When she spoke again, Ashley could hear the angst in her voice.
“I wanted to say thank you…with all of my heart. You were so brave stepping forward and attacking those men. You saved us.” She choked out.
Ashley’s eyes misted at the thought of what could have been. “Thank you. God gave me the strength to do what needed to be done.” There was no other explanation. She had been so afraid, but yet… “Rachel, I do have a question.”
“Yes?”
“What happened with Carlo? I could have sworn he was dead.”
“I thought so, too. I waited ten minutes, like Hank told me to, and was getting ready to call 911 when he sat up and threatened me with his nightstick. He was bleeding all over the place, and the children were so frightened. Of course I did what he said. He would have killed all of us.” She sniffled again.
“Yes,” Ashley affirmed. “Both of those men were bad guys. You did the right thing.”
“After he left, I waited again as he instructed. Then I called 911. The SWAT team was already on site, and they came instantly.”
Ashley pondered for a moment. “Did the investigators discover how they got in? All the doors were locked.”
“Yes, the police just shared the results of their investigation with the faculty the other day. Carlo had been in foster care with Sue and Jeff Hendricks.”
Ashley covered her mouth. “No!”
“Yes, many years ago. We had a staff debriefing Friday, and the Police Chief gave us some details.”
Holding the phone closer to her ear, Ashley listened intently.
“Apparently Carlo had attended Greystone for a few months and knew the layout. He and Hank Peterson entered through the loading dock next to the cafeteria. The code had never been changed.”
Ashley’s eyes widened. “Oh...that’s not good. The security team has worked hard on school safety. Just a weak link, I guess, and a heads up for other schools.
“Yes. They discussed that as well. So, you know, Felix is back in school, but Jason hasn’t returned yet.”
A bell chimed in the distance.
“Ashley, I’ve got to get back to work. My break’s over. I’ll touch base with you next week.”
“Sounds good.” Ashley ended the call and sat back. This had to have been really rough for Sue and Jeff.
They had stopped by for a brief visit the other day, but Ashley’s nose was so swollen she had difficulty speaking. The house had been crazy, full of family and animals swarming. Today was the first time she’d had quiet in almost a week. She rested her head back against her pillows and slept.
Hours later, she woke to the sounds of bags rustling in the kitchen. The dogs were yipping happily. The sliding glass door whooshed open, and their barks became fainter. Noah’s home.
She stretched, content to be the patient instead of the nurse, as the echoes of the cabinets and fridge opening and closing resonated from the kitchen.
After a few minutes, Noah came into the living room and eased down on the couch next to her. “How’s my girl?” He asked with a wink. “You look rested. Did you nap?”
“I did. Fell into a comma was more like it. I slept harder than I have since the… the incident.”
Noah’s brows furrowed as he searched her troubled expression and forced smile. “What’s wrong, babe?”
“You read me like a book, don’t you? I’ve never been able to keep anything a secret.”
Noah reached across and took her hand in his. Trina stirred and rose into an exaggerated stretch. She yawned and bumped their joined hands across her forehead for a rub.
“Yes, Miss Trina. I see you.” He scratched her head. Turning his attention back to Ashley, he persevered with his line of questioning. “What is it, Ash? You know you can tell me anything. I’ve got you.”
“I’ve been thinking about this past year and praying for some clarity.” Noah nodded. “Our family has had more than its share of tragedy. Our marriage, your accident, and now this.” Ashley fingered the cross around her neck. “I don’t understand the whys.”
Noah squeezed her hand. “I don’t either, but here we are. Our family is together and we’re alive… with a lot of life ahead of us.”
“Yes… and I’m very thankful. I know this world is fallen, but God hears and answers our prayers. My heart is heavy for Jason. Even though Hank was a monster, he was still his father—and his mother deserted him. The kids at school pick on him, and he just seems so lost and unhappy.”
“He’s been in my thoughts as well.” His face creased, and the corners of his lips rose. “I would still like to be his mentor if he’s willing. What do you think?
She looked up, her eyes brimming with love. “I think you’re a wonderful man.”
“I’m all yours.” He dipped his head for a kiss. “And you, Mrs. Smith, are a special woman.”