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“Yeah,” she sounds broken and exhausted. Just listening to her cry in the shower brought the biggest lump to my throat.
Taking the first aid box from Jackson, I get out antiseptic wipes and clean the cut on Hope's arm as Jackson hands her a plate of food. She takes it but just stares at it.
“You’ll feel better once you eat something.”
“Can I go to sleep? I just want to sleep.”
I wish she'd eat, but I understand that food is the last thing on her mind right now. "Yeah, get some sleep. You'll feel better in the morning." I smile reassuringly and take the plate from her. Without another word, she leaves. Have I just gone back to step one with her? I hope not. I was finally getting her to smile, and I want to see that smile every damn day.
Jackson pats my back. “I think we all need to get some sleep. I’ll be over in the morning. Wewillfind him." I nod and smile weakly as he leaves. Once I'm alone, I sit staring at the fireplace.
Jack knows I'm looking for him. He practically challenged me to find him. And even though he's in New York, I know it might be as hard to see him again as it was before. Tomorrow every hotel will be looked at, every pimp house, I want this man dead.
Once upstairs, I stand in the doorway and I watch Hope lying on the floor looking out of the window, no cover, no pillow. Taking a deep breath, I walk over to her and lie in front of her. “What happened to sleeping with a pillow?”
“I like sleeping like this.”
“Hope, by the end of this week I promise that Jack will be dead. And you can finally be free.” I push her hair over her shoulder so that I can see her face. “This is just a bump in the road to freedom. You’ll smile every day. I miss your smile.”
“Will you hold me?”
“Yes.” Pulling her closer to me, I place my arm under her head. Feeling her breath on my chest, I wait until it becomes steady and I know that she’s sleeping before I pull the blanket on top of us.
By the end of the week, I'm going to get her to sleep in my bed too. I know she doesn't like beds, but the winter is coming, and I know that my room will be a lot better for her than this one. I'll show her why tomorrow.
* * *
"I don't think he'll be in a high-end hotel. Wouldn't he want to stay low key?" I say as I pour coffee for myself and Jackson. "So, what about some of the cheap hotels? Have a look into them." Leaving him in the kitchen, I walk to the stairs as I see Hope coming down. "Morning beautiful."
“Morning.”
“Feeling better?”
"A little, thank you." She goes to walk downstairs, but I stop her.
"I want to show you something. If you won't sleep in a bed or with a cover, I want you to start sleeping in my room." Taking her hand in mine, I walk her to my bedroom.
“But—”
"But nothing," I stop her before she can tell me some stupid reason to why she can't. "Trust me, you'll find it better in here, and the view is still really nice. I promise." Opening the door to my room, I walk in with her.
I watch her as she goes over to the window. She doesn’t look at anything else.
"At night it's really nice," I say as I stand next to her. "So, the reason I want you to sleep in here tonight is that of this." I point behind her and wait for her to turn around.
I see the smile on her lips, and that makes me so happy right now. "Tonight we can sleep in front of the fireplace. I thought this way you won't be uncomfortable with a blanket on you, but you'll still be warm at night."
Placing my hand on her lower back, she leans back a little, making me move my whole body behind her to that she can lean on me. “Thank you.”
“Anytime.”
I kiss her cheek and she turns around and wraps her arms around me. I just hold her for a moment; a moment that feels perfect.
Later, sitting at the dining table, I watch Hope eating a little of her breakfast as Jackson works at looking for Jack. We also have that big meeting today with We are Loved which I can't cancel. My dad keeps asking why I've been missing work, and if I cancel this, then he'll be asking again. The other reason I need to be there is that the doctor is also coming after I called her about the plan too.
"Right, I'm in court this morning; soon as I'm out, I'll be over at the office for the meeting." Jackson closes the laptop and gets his things together. "Right beautiful, I'll see you this afternoon." He gives me a nod too and leaves.
“What’s happening this afternoon?”
