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“Well, I know she should have done that a long time ago, but I’m glad she’s finally seen the light and is doing it now.” I leaned over and pressed a kiss to her lips. “It’s going to be okay, Imogen. I know I said I might go to prison, but I will do everything possible to make that not happen. I just got you back after fifteen years, and I damn sure ain’t letting you go again.”
Janet hung up the phone and turned to Imogen and me. “Well, not the best news. We can’t get in today because they don’t have keys to the storage units.”
“Dammit,” Imogen sighed.
“But the person who does have them will be in tomorrow. They said they will leave a note, and we should be able to go through everything tomorrow morning.”
I squeezed Imogen’s leg. This was good. We could wait one more day.
“I don’t know if this is a trap, and you just called the police on us.” Imogen eyed Janet warily.
Janet sagged. “I deserve that.”
Imogen shifted uncomfortably. “You can’t expect me to suddenly trust you when you’ve never really been there for me my whole life. Sure, you gave me a place to live and didn’t turn me away, but you didn’t give me a home. You gave me shelter, nothing more.”
Imogen had every right to feel the way she did. She had so little for most of her life.
It was good that Janet felt remorse for how she treated Imogen, but it didn’t remove the hurt and mistrust.
“I know there will never be a day you can trust me, Imogen, but I promise I did not just call the police. I want to help you and Mace, and I will do anything you need.” Janet leaned heavily on the kitchen table. “For as long as I have left to live, I promise to do everything to make up for the years of hurt I gave you.”
“I just want the rape kit,” Imogen grunted. “Nothing else.”
“Come back in the morning, and hopefully, you’ll find it,” Janet sighed.
I could tell the exchange with Imogen had worn out Janet. She seemed like a fighter, but her age was catching up with her.
“All right,” I called. I stood and held my hand out to Imogen. “We’ll be back in the morning.”
Imogen put her hand in mine, and I pulled her up from the couch.
“Staying in town?” Janet asked.
“Mace got us a house to stay in.” Imogen squeezed my hand.
“Oh, that sounds nice.” Janet straightened and walked us to the door. “Maybe try to have some fun tonight. I’ve heard the nurses talk about the restaurants downtown.”
“We’ll look into it,” I replied.
Imogen stuck to my side and nodded to Janet. “We’ll be back tomorrow.”
“Okay. Have a good night.” She closed the door behind us, and Imogen’s shoulders visibly sagged when the door clicked shut.
“Mace,” she whispered.
“Hold it together for thirty more seconds, babe.” A lot had happened in those fifteen minutes. Things I don’t think Imogen ever expected to hear.
Her hand squeezed mine tightly. I pulled her down the hallway, past the nurse's station, and out the front doors.
Imogen was hanging on by a thread.
We made it to my bike, and she crumbled in my arms.
“She loved me, Mace,” she sobbed. “She loved me, but my stupid mom destroyed that, too.”
“Shh, babe. Just let it out. Let it out, baby.”
Her tears soaked my shirt, and her sobs broke my heart.
