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He shook his head.
“Okay. I’m going to run upstairs and change. When you’re done, you can go back to the entryway.”
“Don’t let them make me go back. I can’t go back there.”
“I promise you.” I backed out of the bathroom and reached for the door handle. “I’ll meet you in the entryway in a few minutes.” I closed the door and then jogged down the hallway into the foyer. Dad was still in the entryway, but I heard Mom in the kitchen on the phone. “Who is she talking to?” I asked.
“Your grandpa. She’s going to see if he and your grandma can come over to stay with Morgan and Chase for a while.”
“Why? Morgan can watch Chase.”
“We might be at the hospital for a while.”
“He’s not going back there, Dad. I won’t let him.”
“I know, Hollis. Patrick will probably never step foot into that house again. Now go change unless you want to go to the hospital in your gi.”
I ran up the stairs, taking two at a time, and rushed down the hall to my room. I went to the closet and grabbed some jeans off a hanger and plucked a navy t-shirt off another hanger. I tossed my clothes on the bed and went to my dresser to grab some socks and clean underwear. I toed off my shoes, pulled off my gi, and set it on the bed. I took off the underwear I wore to karate and flung it toward the hamper, then quickly pulled my clean boxer briefs on. I had just stepped into my jeans and sat on my bed to put my socks and shoes on when Morgan appeared in the doorway.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
I shook my head and looked at him.
“Where’s Chase?”
“In my room. We’re playing Mario. What’s going on?”
“Patrick’s dad has been beating on him. He’s black and blue.”
“Fuck,” Morgan murmured.
“Yeah. Mom and Dad said he needs to go to the hospital.” I stood, zipped and buttoned my jeans, and then grabbed my t-shirt.
“Is he hurt bad?”
“Bad enough.”
I breezed by Morgan and pulled on my t-shirt as I hurried down the hall and to the stairs. As soon as my foot hit the stairs, I looked over the winding banister into the foyer to see if Patrick was there waiting. He hadn’t finished in the bathroom yet, but Dad was pacing between the foyer, great room, and kitchen. When Dad saw me, he walked over.
“The doctors at the hospital are going to have to report this to the police, Hollis.”
“Fine. But they’re not going to make him go back there, right?”
For whatever reason, I suddenly needed more reassurance. I didn’t know what would happen exactly, but I wasn’t going to let Patrick go back there. I’d promised him.
“No. Once they see the damage, they’re not going to allow it. Patrick is probably going to go through a lot of exams and questioning today.”
“He’ll be okay. Patrick is tough, and we’ll be there.”
Mom came out of the kitchen and was heading upstairs.
“I’m going to let Morgan and Chase know Grandma and Grandpa will be over soon. Hollis, sweetie, go check on Patrick and see if he needs anything,” Mom said as she climbed the stairs.
I ran down the hallway and knocked gently on the door.
“Patrick, do you need anything?”
“Um.” I waited for him to speak up. A few moments later he opened the bathroom door and then went back to the vanity to stuff his gi in his bag. He glanced at me and forced a smile onto his face. “I feel underdressed,” he said as he zipped up his bag. He wore dark gray sweatpants and a white undershirt.
