AllFreeNovel
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The entire scene twangs every one of my heartstrings.
“Mom, you’re going to be fine,” Cole says as he walks by.
“Thank you.” She lifts her chin like her child. “Take care of that cut on your face,” she calls after him.
He gives a thumbs-up before getting into his truck.
“Mom, don’t worry.” Joey grabs her hand. “Everyone knows superheroes have healing powers.”
“Yes. They do,” I say, hoping the child is right while watching Cole drive away.
Fucking heroes.
We get to the motel an hour later.
“Joey, I’ll run a bath for you, and then it’s off to bed, young man,” Kendra says, busy getting his things together.
“Okay, Mom.” He sits on the bed.
Kendra goes into the bathroom.
I sit down beside Joey. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” He leans toward me. “But could you check my mom? I know she’s hurtin’, but she won’t show it. He hit her real hard this time.”
“Where?”
“Her sides, back, and tummy,” he says as he stands to point at each spot on his own body. “He kicked her. Punched her. I tried to stop him, but—” He shakes his head.
I want to curl into a fetal position and cry my heart out for this brave little boy. “Yes, Joey. I’ll make sure she’s okay.”
He smiles at me. “Thanks for gettin’ us.” He plops back down on the mattress and swings his legs.
Kendra pops her head out. “All set.”
“Coming,” Joey says, jumping off the mattress.
I order some food, and Joey passes out on the bed two hours later.
I walk over to the small table and hand Kendra a bottled water. “He’s a great kid.”
“Yeah,” she says, gazing at the tiny hump under the covers on the mattress.“Thanks.” She looks up, noting the water, and takes it. “He’s not his father. The man who did this to me.” She points at her bruised face and neck. “I couldn’t imagine it if he was. The thought of him taking him from me, hurting Joey on a daily basis. I’d kill him first or die trying.” She lowers her eyes. “When it was just me, I thought I had a handle on it, recognized his triggers. But when he hit Joey, that was it.”
Why would you stay with him? Why would you jeopardize your son’s well-being when you knew what he was doing to you was wrong? What the hell is wrong with you? The questions shoot off in my head like a rapid-firing cap gun in a kid’s eager hand. Of course, I hold my tongue. Rule number one: it’s not my place to judge.
“Well, let’s concentrate on getting you and Joey somewhere safe.”
She nods.
“Is there any way he can track you?” Yeah, I learned my lesson with Amanda. “Do you have anything on your cell? Any apps he might’ve put on there?”
She shakes her head. “I wasn’t allowed to have a cell. I used the neighbor’s phone to call the hotline. Janice, she’s a nice elderly lady. Oh!” Her eyes pop wide. “You don’t think he’ll go after her?”
“Does he know you were using her phone?”
“No. I’d go over during the day when Joey was at school, and he was at work. He didn’t know. He knew she’d watch Joey sometimes when I had to run to the store or something, but I don’t think he knew she was trying to help me.”
“I’ll have the man who picked you up stop by and check on her tomorrow. Is she to the left or the right of you?”
