AllFreeNovel
Share Us
5
Exhaustion tightened the muscles in Marie’s neck. She fought to relax as Nora struggled to nurse. Usually Nora was an eating champ, but there was no way her baby hadn’t picked up on the stress chipping away at Marie. No matter how hard she tried to stay calm and serene for Nora’s benefit—something she’d had to do since her daughter’s birth—today’s development was too much.
Too upsetting.
Too dangerous.
Bill might be an asshole, but Marie had known him most of her life. She could read his moods and guess what he’d do before he’d even made the decision. But now he was out there. Pissed, hurt, and in more trouble than she’d imagined.
And he’d want to get his hands on her no matter the price.
Nora’s frustrated cries snapped her back to the moment. Fat tears slid down her red face.
“I’m sorry, baby girl. Let’s take a little break. I think we both need it.” Marie readjusted her shirt and stood with Nora in her arms. She pressed her lips to Nora’s forehead, bouncing up and down to calm her. “See, we’re okay, girlie. You and me against the world, right? Mommy loves you so much. I’ll make sure you’re always safe. No matter what.”
Nora’s happy gurgles made her smile.
Savory scents wafted through the cracks under the door, reminding her that Nora wasn’t the only one who hadn’t eaten much today.
“How about we venture downstairs and see what’s for lunch? No reason to stay in here all day.”
Tying the homemade wrap around her chest, she nestled Nora inside and made her way downstairs. She couldn’t help but run her fingers along the gleaming woodwork on the banister or poke her head into one of the sitting rooms on the first floor. Laura had given her a brief tour of the second and third floors, but there was still so much left to discover. She could lose herself for hours in this house.
A swinging door that led to the back of the house opened and an older woman with gray hair, glasses, and bright smile burst into the foyer. “Perfect timing, my dear. I was just about to let you know lunch is ready if you’re hungry. I’m Mrs. Collins, by the way.” She wiped her palm on the white-and-blue checked apron tied around her waist then offered it to Marie.
Marie secured Nora with one palm and shook Mrs. Collins’ hand with the other. “Hello.”
The door swung open again and a little girl bounded out on her tiptoes. Brown hair was tied in pigtails with little red ribbons. “I’m starving,” she said, with enough drama to make Marie believe she hadn’t eaten in days. “Can we eat now?”
Mrs. Collins clicked her tongue. “Amelia, don’t be rude. This is our new guest, and we need to make sure she’s fed too.”
Amelia’s little mouth made a small o shape before grinning. “You have a baby! I love babies. Can I hold her?”
Hesitation stole Marie’s words. This child couldn’t be more than five or six years old. No way she could let her hold Nora, but she didn’t want to offend anyone.
Mrs. Collins pulled the small child to her side. “Give her space, love. Let’s sit and eat some lunch, get to know her a little before we start trying to hold the baby. Deal?”
Amelia swished her lips to the side and stared up at Mrs. Collins, as if giving her suggestion serious consideration. “Deal. Mom’s getting out plates. Let’s go!” She turned and ran back the way she’d come without waiting for an answer.
Mrs. Collins chuckled. “She comes with her mom to volunteer. A very rambunctious child with lots of personality.”
“She reminds me of my sister,” Marie said, smiling. “She’s a teenager now, but there’s enough of an age gap that I still remember when she was that age. Always smiling and full of life.”
“Are you still close?”
A familiar pang of longing forced her to tighten her smile. She wanted nothing more than to return home and be with her sister, but Bill had taken that option away. “As close as we can be.”
Mrs. Collins offered her a sympathetic look, setting her emotions into overdrive. Tears threatened to swell in her eyes, and she sniffed them back. Kindness and compassion weren’t things she’d been on the receiving end of recently. She’d forgotten how nice it was to have people around who cared about her.
“Come now,” Mrs. Collins said, anchoring a forearm against the small of Marie’s back and leading her through the swinging door and into the kitchen.
A colorful explosion of flowers in clear vases sat in the middle of a large, farmhouse table at the far end of the room and on the giant island. White marble set off the light gray of the cabinets and soft blue mosaic tiles covered the wall above the countertops.
Amelia knelt on a high stool tucked under the lip of the island. She grabbed a slice of toasted bread from a stack and lined it with bacon from a plate beside her. She glanced over her shoulder before returning her focus to assembling her lunch. “See, Mama. A baby.”
The woman who’d brought the car seat for Nora stood on the other side of the island and sliced a red tomato. The freckles across her face mirrored that of her daughter’s, as did her emerald green eyes. “I know, honey. I met them both earlier.” She offered Marie a small smile. “I’m Sadie.”
“I remember,” Marie said. “Thank you again for the car seat. You were a life saver.”
