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“I caught up to Sher when we were in Seattle, and we spoke.”
Her eyes lit up, and she beamed. “That’s great! So?”
He swallowed. He wasn’t sure how to word himself next, but he knew he had to keep going.
“It didn’t go well.”
Her face slipped.
“I can’t have you guys going outside freely anymore. Sher is being protective over Zara, and I don’t know her true intent.”
She frowned. “I don’t understand.”
“It’s complicated. But what I do know is Sher is making threats, and I don’t want to see her go through with them.”
She went silent for a moment. “So we can’t go outside?”
“Not unless I’m outside with you.”
Her frown tightened. “That’s not fair.”
“Kirsten.”
“It’s not.” She pushed herself up. “You can’t cage me here, Henry.”
“I’m trying to protect you,” he cooed back. “Please understand that. It’s not forever. It’s just for right now.”
She shook her head, crossing her arms. “Henry, I understand that, but you can’t keep us inside all the time. That isn’t the answer to the problem. Zara needs her fresh air, and I can’t be stuck indoors all day. I’ll go crazy, which will be another issue on your hands.”
He didn’t know what to say. He knew she was going to fight the idea. He didn’t like the idea any more than she did, but what else was he supposed to do?
“I’m not saying you won’t be outside at all, Kirsten. It’s just going to be limited.”
She shook her head, walking into the kitchen. “That’s not fair. You have work and things to do. I can’t rely on you when I want to go outside.”
“It’s just for now,” he restated, hoping to soften the blow. “It’s not forever.”
“It will feel like forever, Henry. I can’t be stuck inside. I need my freedom, and in the span of my being here, I’ve done a full circle. I felt trapped where I used to live. I moved, and I found excitement and freedom once again. But now you want to imprison me.”
He didn’t like that word, and he scowled at her. “I’m not imprisoning you.”
“That’s how it will feel,” she snapped back, followed by a sigh. “It doesn’t matter how you mean it to be, Henry. That’s exactly how it will feel. I can’t do that. If you want me here, you have to give me something else. I don’t care. Get a guard. Get ten. But I’m going outside.”
She sighed and turned into the kitchen. He understood her point. If he wanted her happy, everything couldn’t just go his way.
As much as Sher’s threats scare me, I can’t hold that against Kirsten. She doesn’t deserve to lose her freedom because Sher is being difficult.
“If I get a guard or however many I feel we need, do you promise to stay in the yard? No venturing out into the woods.”
She glanced at him, throwing her banana peel away. “Yes.”
He needed to compromise with her. He wanted her to be happy.
“Alright, then I’ll hire some guards. I was planning to anyway. But know that there will be days that I just won’t be able to allow you outside if things get worse. Can you accept that?”
She stood quiet for a second, mulling over his words. After a second, she gave him a nod. “That I can.”
He gave her a nod before he turned and grabbed his phone. He was going to hire some people immediately, so this wasn’t an issue.
