Safe With You

39. Chapter Thirty-nine

Ethan sat while having his wounds examined, cleaned, stitched, and bandaged, but all he wanted was to get out of this examination room. Though thankful the wound to his side wasn’t as deep as they’d feared and hadn’t caused any serious internal damage, he could only think about Katie. No one was able to update him on where she was or what was happening. What if Christopher had hurt her more than he realized? It was hard not to imagine the worst.

After what felt like hours, the doctor finally finished and was ready to discharge him. A nurse brought him a clean tee shirt to replace his bloodied one and then led him out of the room. His heart thumped for news as they walked down the sterile hall toward the door to the waiting area.

When he stepped into the quiet space, his eyes locked on his family in one corner. Joel, Megan, and Adam were there with them. Huddled between everyone sat Katie. They spotted him immediately and jumped to their feet to meet him, bombarding him with questions about his condition.

“I’m all right,” he assured them, but his attention was divided. He was still breathing and standing. What mattered now was Katie.

The questions died away as he focused on her. He reached to grasp her shoulders. “Are you all right?”

He looked her over for signs of injury, sliding his hand to the brace on her wrist.

She lifted it. “Just a sprain.”

Her voice was rough, but he didn’t know if it was from nearly drowning or emotion. Looking into her eyes again, he saw how red they were, and tears had begun to pool. Fear still lingered there, bringing him back to the broken little girl she’d been during their childhood. He’d tried so hard to protect her, yet here they were.

He drew her closer, and she fell into him as he wrapped his arms around her, burying her face against his chest. Hearing her cry pained him, but all he could do was hold her and tell her everything was all right.

A glance at the clock on the mantle in the living room told Ethan it was just after two in the morning. Dad and Becca had gone to bed at Mom’s insistence. Ethan had tried to coax Katie to do so, but she didn’t want to be alone and said she didn’t think she could sleep. He didn’t blame her. Sleep wasn’t his first inclination either. But he’d grabbed one of the throw pillows and put it on his lap, telling her to at least lie down and rest. She had done so, and now she was out, hopefully sleeping peacefully with his arm wrapped around her. Her steady, even breaths soothed him.

Quiet movement brought his attention to Mom, who draped a light blanket over Katie. He smiled appreciatively, thankful for how she had always cared for Katie like one of her own.

She stepped closer to him and whispered, “Do you want me to move the ottoman so you can put your feet up?”

Ethan nodded, and she slid the big ottoman to the couch. He lifted his legs onto it, trying not to jostle Katie too much. It probably wouldn’t take much to wake her. Careful as he was, the movement sent pain shooting through his side, and he couldn’t hold back a wince.

Of course, Mom noticed. “Do you want me to get you one of your painkillers?”

He shook his head. He’d rather not take anything if he didn’t have to, and as long as he didn’t move too much, right now, it was tolerable. “No, thank you.”

The pain subsided as he relaxed back against the couch. He stared down at Katie, thinking for the hundredth time of coming upon the scene and realizing what was happening. He shook his head, his chest seizing up.

“I was almost too late.”

Had he ignored what had clearly been a prompting from God or waited a few more minutes, he would have been. He might have had to pull her limp body out of the lake instead. The thought left him cold.

Mom bent over him and pressed a lingering kiss to the top of his head. When she straightened, moisture shone in her eyes that wasn’t there before. Tonight could have easily ended in tragedy.

“I am thankful you’re both all right.” She put her hand on his and squeezed it. “Try to get some sleep. I’ll be right here if you need anything.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

Katie stood between the kitchen and the living room at the cottage and looked around. In the four days since Christopher had tried to kill her, she hadn’t been here much. The memories of that night had been too fresh. They still were, but today, she was determined to face them. Christopher, her mom, and Grant had all been trying to steal this place from her from the very beginning. She couldn’t let Christopher succeed by robbing her of the peace she’d always had here. This was still her sanctuary, even if he had broken into it.

She crossed the living room and entered her sewing room, where he’d forced his way in. The screen would have to be replaced at some point. But she looked away from the window and focused instead on the shelves Ethan had made. It wasn’t just reminders of Grandma’s love and care that filled the cottage, but Ethan’s, even if it had taken her until recently to realize the depth of it. Those were things Christopher’s actions couldn’t steal.

“Are you all right?”

Ethan’s gentle voice came from the doorway. She turned to him, and he studied her, searching her face.

She smiled. “Just admiring your handiwork.”

His answering smile warmed her and chased away the lingering darkness. Both of them had come far too close to dying. There was no escaping that fact, but this lightheartedness between them was good. Healing.

The jolting ring from Katie’s phone made her jump and shattered the moment. She tugged it from her pocket, her heart pounding at her mom’s name on the screen. It was the first call she’d received from her since the attack. Katie had left it to the police to notify her and Grant of what had happened. Of course, she hadn’t expected her mom to come rushing to ensure her daughter was safe, but it did sting a little that it had taken four days to hear from her.

On the flip side, she found relief too. Knowing her mom, she probably blamed Katie that Christopher now faced a significant prison sentence. She could far too easily imagine what sort of hatred her mom might spew if she answered the call. So she didn’t answer. Instead, she sent it to voicemail and shoved the phone back in her pocket.

She shared a look with Ethan. “I’ll have to deal with her at some point after this, but not today.”

A couple of minutes later, the phone dinged with a voicemail alert. She sighed and pulled it out. Might as well face whatever Mom had to say with Ethan here. She turned the speaker on and tapped play. A long pause preceded the message.

“Katie, I know why you didn’t answer. I didn’t think you would. I um…I just…listen, I know I am probably just about the last person you ever want to see again. I deserve that. But I would really like to talk to you. I’m going to be in Two Lakes for another day or two. I understand if I don’t hear from you…I just wanted to try.”

Katie stared at the phone for several seconds after the message ended. “I’ve never heard her sound like this before.” She sounded so…genuine. The emotion in her voice actually sounded real, not contrived or manipulative.

Ethan looked from the phone to her. “What are you going to do?”

Katie shook her head. “I… don’t know.”

Should she call her back and set up a meeting? Her stomach rolled at the thought, and yet…

She drew a deep breath. If there was even the slightest chance of reconciliation after a lifetime of pain, should she not seek it?

Katie’s knee bounced as she sat and waited on the porch with Ethan. Had she really given her mom permission to come out here? Part of her panicked that this had been a bad idea, but it was too late to turn back now. She prayed this wasn’t a manipulative trick to saddle her with guilt over what had happened. Strangely, another calmer part of herself didn’t think it was. But even if she were wrong, Ethan would not allow that to happen anyway. As long as he was here, she could do this.

He reached over and took her hand, squeezing it. She squeezed back and gave him a sheepish look.

“Sorry, my fingers are sweaty.”

He just smiled at her. “I don’t mind.”

She drew a deep breath and swallowed hard, her throat still tender. Bruises had shown up along her neck a couple of days ago. Her stomach coiled in a tight knot, twisting nauseously with a myriad of conflicting emotions.

A few minutes later, a car pulled into the driveway. Katie’s legs shook as they stood up, but Ethan’s hand pressed reassuringly to her back, and she gathered her resolve. They left the porch as a white car pulled up, not the black BMW. The driver’s door opened, and Mom stepped out. She must have caught the way Katie eyed the vehicle to make sure no one else was inside.

“It’s just me. Grant is still in Madison…staying with a colleague for now.”

Katie wasn’t sure what to make of that cryptic statement. But she took particular notice of how worn out Mom looked. Her unusually light makeup did nothing to hide the shadows under her eyes, and her faded skinny jeans, sweatshirt, and sneakers were surprisingly casual. She clearly hadn’t put much effort into her appearance for once.

Mom glanced at Ethan, though it wasn’t the disdainful look Katie was used to. Instead, she detected a tentative uncertainty as if afraid he’d send her away.

“Thank you for letting me come.”

Katie nodded, not sure how to respond to her. The scarred little girl deep inside ignited a temptation to unload all her hurts and lay blame for the attack on her mom. After all, if she’d raised Christopher better, this wouldn’t have happened. But, with effort, she swallowed that bitterness.

Before either of them could say anything else, Ethan’s hand shifted to Katie’s shoulder, and he stepped around to face her. “I’ll let you two talk, but I’ll be nearby if you need me.”

He looked deeply into her eyes, seeming to ask if she was okay with that. Gathering her courage, she nodded. Her gaze followed him as he walked toward the lake, where he waited near the dock—far enough to give them privacy while remaining close enough for her to call him back. Finally, she turned to her mom, who watched Ethan too.

“He really cares about you.” Something in Mom’s expression held a deep sadness. “I’ve never been a good judge of character, especially with men. But he’s a good one. That much I can tell.”

Katie didn’t know whether to be glad or irritated by her mom’s analysis of him. He didn’t need any approval from her.

Mom finally faced her, though she struggled to meet her eye. “I’m glad you have him. I’m glad you have all of them and that they could give you the family I failed to.”

Katie lifted her brows. She’d never heard her mom own up to any failings before.

Real tears glittered in Mom’s eyes now. “I was not a good mother. Not to you or Christopher. And now…” Her voice grew thick, and she cleared her throat. Regaining her composure, she pushed on. “Now Christopher will be in prison for nearly killing you, and you and I have no relationship.”

Katie’s nose stung with tears as emotion welled in her throat. She wasn’t sure if she was ready for this conversation with her mom. “It wasn’t my choice not to have a relationship.”

“I know. That is on me.” Mom grimaced. “I’ve made a lot of awful choices over my life. Choices I can see now have left me with nothing.” She sniffed and dabbed one of her eyes, a move Katie would have once suspected was an act. “I never should have let Grant hurt you. I should have left him the moment he put his hands on you. I was selfish and only concerned with my own happiness. I understand if you won’t believe me or forgive me. I don’t forgive myself. And I know it doesn’t fix anything I’ve done, but I am sorry.”

Katie blinked hard, but a tear dripped from her burning eyes anyway. After all these long and painful years, she’d never dreamed of receiving an apology from her mom. Part of her didn’t even know how to accept it. She swiped away the tear.

“I do forgive you, Mom. I don’t know if I can ever trust you, but I forgive you.”

Now it was Mom’s turn to brush away tears. “Thank you, and I understand. I could never hope to make up for all the pain I’ve caused you. But, if you will allow me, I would like to find ways to communicate and perhaps repair even a small part of the damage.”

Katie hesitated, her first inclination to push her as far away as possible. For so many years, all she’d wanted was to have her mom and Grant out of her life for good. It was hard to imagine anything pleasant between them, yet the little girl inside her still desperately craved her mom’s love. She crossed her arms tightly, wavering.

“What about Grant?” Contact with her mom meant Grant was still in her life, even if indirectly. She couldn’t do that anymore.

Bitterness crept into Mom’s voice. “He’s already talking about moving. He believes Christopher’s arrest will cast him in a poor light, and he wants to get as far away as possible. I don’t think I’ll be going with him.”

Katie didn’t even know how to process that. Mom had sacrificed her to keep Grant. That she was willing to walk away from him now lent credibility to her sincerity, at least at this moment. But would she go through with it? Or would she run back to him once the chaos Christopher had caused died down?

Katie took a deep breath, a little of the armor she’d built around her heart cracking. She wouldn’t let it crack completely. Not yet, but perhaps someday, if her mom proved truthful. “All right, we can try.”

A small, broken smile appeared on her mom’s face, her voice choked again. “Thank you.”

She wiped away lingering tears. “I won’t take up any more of your time.” She backed toward the car. “Just let me know if there’s anything I can do.”

Katie nodded and watched her climb back into the car and drive away. They had a long way to go before she would believe her mom was indeed changing, but today was the first small step. She breathed out a long breath and glanced skyward before closing her eyes. Too many emotions overwhelmed her thoughts to know exactly what to pray, but a whisper of hope mixed with them.

When she opened her eyes again, she focused on Ethan. Crossing the yard, she walked down to him by the lake. He studied her face as she approached.

“How did that go?”

“I think it was the first heart-to-heart conversation we’ve had in my entire life.”

“So it went well?”

“I think so.” Once the emotions wore off, her mom might go back to her old ways, but she wanted to believe the change was genuine and would continue. “She wants to try to repair our relationship.”

“How do you feel about that?”

Katie released a heavy sigh. “I’m not even sure. It’s a lot to take in. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to trust her, but…maybe there could be some dialog between us. It’s more than I could have dreamed possible. And I know how happy Grandma would be at even the slightest chance things could work out between us. It’s all just so much. I feel a sense of hope I’ve never had before, but I’m also afraid.”

Ethan reached out, his warm fingers wrapping around her arms and drawing her closer. “Don’t be afraid. You don’t have to figure it out by yourself. I’ll be right here no matter what you decide or how things work out between you.”

Katie gazed up at him, all the swirling emotions settling until only the spark of hope for the future remained. “Thank you for always making me feel safe.”

Instead of smiling as she expected, his expression fell. “I wish I could always keep you safe.” He glanced at the lake where Christopher had nearly drowned her and winced. “I couldn’t the other night.”

Katie leaned in closer. “Yes, you did. I wouldn’t still be here if not.”

Finally, a tender smile emerged, and his eyes studied her face. His fingers brushed over her cheek before sliding into her hair as he drew her into a kiss.