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Chapter Eleven
Emma clutched at Devon’s hand as they walked into the rehabilitation center where her aunt lived.
“Why are you so nervous, pet?”
“I’m more anxious. I haven’t seen Aunt Louise in weeks, and I miss her.”
He wrapped an arm around her. “I bet she’s excited to see you, too. You guys didn’t talk very long last night.”
“I could tell she was tired.”
Devon stopped to talk to a large man who stood inside the doors.
“Who’s that?”
“That’s the guard we put here to protect your aunt.”
“Oh.”
Devon walked them up to the desk inside the front door. “We’re here to see Louise Hammond.”
“She’ll be in room forty-eight.” The woman pointed down a hallway. “Just follow that hallway.”
“Thank you.”
Emma’s first look at her aunt made tears pool in her eyes. She walked toward her as her aunt sat in a wheelchair and looked out her window.
“Aunt Louise.”
The older woman turned, and a smile broke across her face. She raised the arm not affected by the stroke.
“Come here, Emma. I miss you so much.”
Emma raced to her and wrapped her arms around her. She looked really good and could move more than she had the last time Emma had seen her.
“Aunt Louise, I’d like you to meet a … friend, Devon.”
“Well, young man, I heard you were the one who found her and put a guard at the front of the building?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Then I am forever in your debt.”
“No, I was just glad I got to her.”
“I’ve heard a bit about what happened from your man, but I want to hear it from you two.”
Devon pulled up two chairs, so they sat close to her aunt and Emma could hold her hand.
Emma talked about her mother showing up. She paused at the point when the man attacked her and looked at Devon.
“I think she needs to hear all of it, honey.”
Emma nodded and told her aunt about what the man did. She went on to talk about working for Lacey’s mother and what happened there. Emma was exhausted, and her aunt was pissed by the time she got done.
“Good Lord, child. I’m gone for a few months, and everything goes to hell.”
Emma giggled.
“We’re checking into some things, but I also want to ask you a few questions.”
“Anything,” Louise said.
“Did your mother leave a will?”
“Yes. I got half the house and everything in it, and Emma gets the other. Now that I’m staying here, I’ll sign over my half to her.”
“Wait…” Emma said.
“No, dear. Listen. I’ll be here for the rest of my life.”
“But there’s a chance you’ll get to come home.”
“No.”
“What if we had someone in to take care of you when I’m not there?”
Louise reached for Emma’s hand. “Sweetheart. This is as good as I’m going to get. I feel blessed to have a place like this to live. Besides, I’ve made so many friends here, and I would hate to leave them. There are so many things that keep me busy, and I’m never bored.”
