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thirty-one
Hobbs had actually spent many a Christmas morning at either the police station or the hospital. Today, he got to spend time at both. At one point in his life, he’d thought that was normal.
By the end of the day, though, everyone had been checked out and statements had been taken. Timbley was in custody and everyone else had come back to the house and collapsed in the living room around Hannah’s spectacular Douglas fir. No one was in the mood for gifts, nobody really felt like eating, and after a mug of hot cocoa Hannah decided to try sleeping.
“Thank you again, Tabitha.” Hannah and Tabitha clutched each other in an embrace. “You were so brave. I can’t believe I let him in. When he knocked, I thought it was Chris, because he gave his keys to Victor. I’m so stupid.”
Tabitha shook her head. She carefully touched around Hannah’s wounded face. “Nothing about this is your fault. You go get some rest. It’ll all look better in the morning.”
Once Hannah had disappeared down the hall, with George following behind her at a quick trot, Hobbs turned to Tabitha. Her sexy outfit from last night was torn and dirty, her face gaunt and tired. He wanted to be angry with her for busting in here and putting herself in danger, but truth was, Hobbs was only angry at himself for being duped by Hannah’s abusive ex. He and Victor had already hashed out their stupidity together before Victor had declared this Christmas a loss, though strangely also a victory. “It’s actually one of the better Christmases I’ve ever had,” Victor had said dryly. “You’re one brave young lady,” he’d told Tabitha. “He doesn’t deserve you.” And then Victor had headed down the hall toward Hobbs’s room. “I’m sleeping in here like we planned,” he’d shouted over his shoulder. “Enjoy the couch.”
Hobbs sighed. Once they were alone, he faced Tabitha. “I’m so sorry this happened to you in my house. I’m sorry that you got mixed up in the mess that is my life and my past, Tabby Cat. I don’t even know what to say.”
Inexplicably, Tabitha smiled. “Well, I’m not sorry for anything. Except maybe giving Auntie El a heart attack when I called from the hospital.” She laughed briefly at herself, then sobered up. “I’m just glad I was here. I’m glad Hannah is all right.”
Hobbs drew Tabitha in and held her tight against his chest. She smelled like the stale sweat of fear, blood and old snow. “You sure thought on your feet,” he admitted, even if he didn’t like to think about her being in harm’s way.
“All my old training came back.” Tabitha pulled back and smiled again. “Besides, that man hurt both Hannah and Trinity. That was just the last straw. I’ve come to feel really protective of Hannah, and Trinity spends her entire life taking care of me. I had to do the same for her.”
Hobbs looked down at the pit bull, who was asleep on the floor, her breathing deep and labored, like she was recovering from her horrible morning. “Of course you did.”
“You helped me, too,” Tabitha admitted. “I heard your stupid voice in my head. Yelling at me to get mad. Get aggressive.”
“See?” Hobbs laughed. “It worked.”
Tabitha smiled and gave him a shove. Silence stretched between them. Tabitha cocked her head to the side. “I need to go check on Auntie El. Any chance you want to come?”
Hobbs almost said no on default. It didn’t come up much in his world, but he didn’t meet the parents, ever.I don’t even like my own parents, he’d say.Why would I want to meet yours?But when he opened his mouth to speak, he realized that he didn’t want to be here right now, in this house with Hannah and Victor. If Hobbs lay on the couch, he’d toss and turn, thinking about Tabitha and how much he wanted to be with her. So why let her go? “Yes,” he said, surprising himself. From the look on Tabitha’s face, she was just as shocked.
“Okay,” she said. “Good.” Then she smiled. “And bring Gracie. Trinity could use some company.”
Auntie El was in the kitchen, fussing with bread and fish and pie and any other thing she’d busied herself with that day, once Tabitha had called and explained and convinced her that everything was fine now. She wore a long purple dress with bright red flowers all over it and looked rested, despite her obvious worry.
Her arms opened as soon as Tabitha came inside. Auntie El crushed her in a bear hug and rocked her side to side. “My little T,” she murmured, her embrace so tight Tabitha struggled to breathe. “You’re all right now. Mama’s here.”
After a while, Auntie El stepped back and held Tabitha at arm’s length. “I’m okay,” Tabitha said. “It’s Trinity who got hit. Trying to protect me.”
Auntie El looked down at the little pit bull and made a rare motherly sound toward the dog. She stooped down and stroked her head. “Good girl,” she said. Then she grabbed some meat from a plate on the counter and offered it to Trinity, who took the morsel politely and scarfed it down.
“Auntie, this is my friend Chris.” Tabitha motioned to the man who, up until now, had stayed behind her, quiet, with Gracie by his side. His nice clothes, which he’d never changed, were rumpled, and his wavy hair was finger-combed into place. His eyes were bloodshot and his boisterous personality tucked away behind fatigue and probably more than a little respect. “And his dog, Gracie.”
“Hello.” Auntie El looked him up and down.
“He’s Hannah’s brother. The lady I helped last night.”
“Oh, I see.” Auntie El studied him, her demeanor kind of soft and open, her eyes curious behind her glasses.
“Nice to meet you, ma’am.” Hobbs offered his hand for a shake.
Auntie El touched her fingertips to his and lightly clasped them. “You look like someone I used to know,” she said, her gaze only once flicking away, to check out Gracie, who had flopped to the floor next to Trinity, both of them exhausted. “A boy I fostered, way back in the day. His name was Casey.” Auntie El finally drew her hand away. She looked at Tabitha. “You wouldn’t remember him, I expect. But he looked a lot like this boy, here.” She pointed at Hobbs. “His hair was a little darker and he was a little smaller but something about the eyes. Same color. Same kind of look.” Auntie El’s voice got faraway and her eyes clouded over a little.
“I remember you talking about Casey,” Tabitha said, even though it was Reverend Stokes who had told her about him. “He was important to you.”
Auntie El’s face brightened. “That’s right.” She gave a little shake, like she was snapping herself out of her reverie. “Anyway, Chris, I hope you’re hungry. I made all this food for Christmas and nobody’s been here to eat it.”
Hobbs smiled. In that moment, it was like somebody had pulled the plug on a tub full of tension and Tabitha watched it slowly drain away. “Thank you, ma’am. As a matter of fact...I’m starving.”
On cue, Tabitha’s stomach growled. Everyone looked at her, including the two dogs, then burst into laughter.
