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I stand and reach my hand for her, “Let’s get you something to eat. Can you walk?”
She stands, answering my question, “Yes.”
I glance at her as we walk down to the kitchen, “No more kneeling mom. The things that have been done to you are no more. You are safe here. Max will not let anything happen to you.”
Pulling out an empty chair for her in the kitchen and motion for her to sit, and she does. I walk to the island and gasp at the spread, “Who made all this?”
Hunter stands beside me as I make a plate for my mom, “When Max finds this many women, he has a chef on staff that will cater to them. Frequently, they’re malnourished, so he wants to make sure they have what they need. The chef works with a dietician to be sure each girl's needs are being met.”
Shaking my head in disbelief, I say, “He’s a good man.”
He grins, “He is. Max hasn’t had an easy life. One day I’ll tell you about it.”
I take the plate over to my mom, “Start on this. When was the last time you ate?”
Silent for a few minutes, she finally answers, “A week or two. I’m not sure.”
“Jesus Christ,” Hunter says.
I grab his arm, “Leave us for a few minutes.”
He stands, arms crossed over his chest, glaring at me, “No.”
I cup his face with my hands, “I love you for caring about me the way you do. My mom is not going to hurt me. I’m not asking you to leave the house. Just the kitchen.”
He growls and walks to the door of the kitchen, “This is as far as I’m going.”
I smile at my guard dog and say, “Thank you, baby.”
He tries, but he can’t hide the grin on his impossibly gorgeous face.
Glancing back at my mom, I ask, “Why haven’t you eaten since you came here?”
She shrugs, “I’m not hungry anymore. I don’t think I can eat this.”
I pull the recently vacated chair beside her and sit, “Mom. If you don’t eat you will die of starvation. Please don’t do that to me. Just a couple of bites.”
She stares at the plate in disgust. I did not just get her back, only to lose her to this.
“You’re the only grandparent this baby will have. Please, Mom.”
Her shoulders slump in defeat, she picks up her fork, and sticks it into the chicken and eats a bite. In total, she eats two bites of chicken, three baby potatoes, and a piece of broccoli. I’m thrilled. I didn’t expect her to eat the entire plate, in fact, that may have made her sick, given how long it’s been since she's had food. I hand her a glass of water and she drinks more than half of it.
“Let’s get you clean.”
We walk upstairs with Hunter on our tail. I escort her to the bathroom and turn to Hunter, “You’re not coming in. You’ll wait outside, patiently.”
He stares at me with an intense gaze, “You don’t know what she’s been through. She might not be the same person anymore.”
“I’ll call for you if I need you,” Then I shut the door in his face which I know I’ll pay for later.
I turn the shower on for her, “The body wash and shampoo are in a dispenser. If you need help let me know.”
Then I help get her out of her clothes. When I see the lash marks, my heart breaks. Our lives while not spent together over the last decade, haven’t been very different. She tries to cover them but it’s impossible.
“It’s okay mom. I have them too. But that’s over now.”
She steps silently into the shower, but eventually asks, “Is he good to you?”
