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She gives me a hard look as I silently will her to tell me. “It doesn’t matter now. I tried not to be a burden in your life, Mads. But I have nowhere else to go. I’m all out of options. And I’m tired.”
My heart constricts. “You are not alone,” is all I say.
She grabs me and holds on tight. We stay like this, both of us grateful to have the other back.
Pulling us from our embrace, Travis tries to not-so-subtly cough from behind us. “Uh, Mads? It’s time to go.”
“Where are you going?” Lauren asks.
I look at her wiping her tears off her cheeks. “I’ll explain later. You’ll be here when we get back?”
She nods her head, and I’m filled with happiness, followed by immediate sadness that the reality is Dean won’t be coming home. I can’t let myself think about it. The thought kills me.
“Give me two minutes,” I tell Travis, standing out of my chair. He nods and unexpectedly, I go in search of Red. “Can I have a word?” I ask when I find her.
She’s busy getting the kitchen ready before the guys arrive. “You want to talk? Usually you just look down your nose at me. What’s changed in the past half hour?”
“I’ve looked down at you because you’re infatuated with the man whose baby I’m carrying.”
Scowling, she replies, “You’re wrong, but if he didn’t care about me, why hasn’t he gotten rid of me? Made me leave or some shit?” She carries on wiping glasses.
“He doesn’t want to see you without a job. He’s a decent man.” My mind trails. He’s about to have a hearing on a murdercharge, but his heart… his heart is the purest I’ve known.
Red stops as if thinking the same. “So, what do you want from me all of a sudden?”
“I need a favour,” I say.
She laughs shaking her head. “Honey, I’m not teaching you how to give hand jobs under the prison table.”
I stare at her. My face blank. Expressionless.Don’t rise to it. “See the girl out there?” I motion towards Lauren who I catch fist bumping Travis. Their small gesture makes me smile.
“Yeah, what of her?”
“I need you to keep an eye on her whilst we’re out. Don’t let her leave. Let her sleep or keep her busy if you have to.” I turn back to her, waiting for her reply.
“You’re serious?” she asks. Not moving, she can tell by my expression that I am. “Fine,” she mutters.
Walking away, I then stop myself by the door. Slowly, I turn around to face her. “Thank you.”
Red looks up, shocked, then after a minute she simply nods her head.
Sitting in the reception area, I look at the clock. Mollie went into the courtroom an hour ago to meet with Dean. I haven’t seen her since getting the all-clear Saturday night, but I don’t think she’ll be surprised to see me.
After not moving for four days then with having to see the doctor, time had run out to take me anywhere. Until I know exactly what’s happening, I refuse to leave. I’m holding on, even though I know deep down Dean isn’t getting out of here.
I look up at Travis.
He holds a coffee out for me.
“Where’d you get these?” I ask looking around.
“Vending machine. I’ll tell you now, it’s shit coffee.”
I sigh, but I’m grateful for the warm brew now heating my hands. Stroking my thumb across the top of the lid, I ask, “Whathappens next?”
Travis sighs. “Normal process is charges will be read against him.” He doesn’t say anything more. He sips his coffee staring dead ahead.
“And then?”
