Page 48 of Day Break

CHAPTER TEN

“One may not reach the dawn

save by path of night.”

- Khalil Gibran

Chloe

What had Lane meant by that? I climbed out of the car and grabbed the four bags of items I had bought. I had spent more money on them than I had ever seen in my life.

Items I had earned myself. Items that were now mine.

As I climbed the stairs, Lane’s words played over in my head. What did he mean the government would take my money?

I had felt embarrassed in the bank, trying to explain why I had never had a bank account anywhere. Why I didn’t even have a driver’s license.

When the clerk had looked down his nose at me and told me there would be a ten percent fee for cashing a check, I hadn’t wanted to argue. I’d just wanted to escape.

I figured I could deal with the next check George gave me when the moment arose. For now, I was just happy I was able to afford underwear and feminine products. By my calculations, my period would start up again soon. My body was now back on its natural course, thanks to the steady diet and exercise that I was getting.

It had been so easy to lose track of time before. Now, with my daily tasks to care for George, I had gotten good at keeping track of schedules. Food deliveries. Medicine deliveries. Even the daily newspapers he had dropped off on the doorstep reminded me of the passing of time.

I’d been so afraid at first when I’d seen Lane’s cousin Phil. The man had looked at me like several men in my past had.

I might have been naive as far as lust and sex went, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t tell when someone wanted something from me. Phil definitely wanted something.

Then I remembered my kiss with Lane the night before and felt my face heat. Okay, so I’d wanted something from him. But Lane didn’t look at me like a wolf stalking a sheep. He looked at me with kindness. Like I was a puzzle he wanted to solve.

I knew I couldn’t keep my secrets from everyone forever. Eventually, George would find out who I was. His family would as well. I had no doubt, on that day, I’d be out of a job.

I just hoped that I would have enough money saved up by then to get by.

I dropped my bags on the bed and took my time hanging up each of my new items. I put my money in the wallet and tucked it and my two printed forms of ID into my purse.

Then I changed out of Sherry’s clothes and pulled on new undergarments, a cream-colored button-up blouse, and a black knee-length skirt. It was the best attire I could afford that looked like a uniform.

The bra was instantly uncomfortable. It was far too loose, but I’d been too embarrassed to try it on in the store with Lane watching me. Thankfully, the underwear was comfortable enough.

I slipped on my new black flats and, before I headed down to the kitchen to start dinner prep, I tossed all of the clothes that I’d borrowed from Sherry’s closet into the washing machine with hopes of returning them by morning.

When I stepped into the kitchen, I gasped at the sight of Lane lying on the floor with a bloody lip and nose while a larger man stood over him.

Both men jerked their gazes towards me, and for a moment I thought of running away. Then I saw Lane smile as he stood up and shook himself off.

“I think you’ve worn out your welcome,” he told the man. “Leave now, before Grandpa comes downstairs.” He wiped the blood from his face with his sleeve.

“Screw you,” the other man growled out. “You can’t keep me from him. He is my grandfather.”

Lane’s eyebrows rose slowly. “I’ll pass on your message. If he wants to talk to you, he knows how to get in touch.” Lane jerked his thumb towards the door. “Go. Before I have Chloe call the police.”

The other man glanced between me and Lane, then jerked around. I shrank away from him and moved aside just in time for him to storm past me.

“Are you okay?” I asked, rushing forward and grabbing a clean towel to help Lane clear the blood from his face.

“Yeah,” he said, sitting down on a barstool. “I let him hit me. Son of a…” He dropped off. “If I had been the one to throw the punch, he’d no doubt have me locked up for the night.”

I dampened the corner of the towel and then gently swiped at the small cut on his lip.