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The man shook his head slowly. It was going to take a bottle of his family’s good whiskey to settle his temper at being evaded again.
First things first.
Leo took Amelia’s hand. “Do you feel safe in this house?”
“I’ve lived here without dying or permanent injury for eighteen years. Three more weeks should be no problem. We can handle anything for three weeks, Leo.”
Leaning forward, he cupped her skull as he kissed her forehead. Bending, he whispered at her ear, “If you need me, I’ll be here. Instantly, Amelia.” She nodded. “I love you.”
“I love you. Thank you for today. I’m sorry the ending was so terrible.”
Taking her chin between his fingers, he smiled. “Not terrible. Unavoidable. Nothing could make any part of this day terrible. I’ll pick you up for school.”
“Absolutely not!” Augusta screamed. “You can’t be trusted with such a simple task.”
Looking over his shoulder, he stared at her for a long moment. “I’ll be here to pick Amelia up for school as usual. You have my word that we’ll attend every day remaining of the school year...but I will be driving her there and home.”
“Get in the house, Amelia,” the woman hissed. “You’re grounded…”
Amelia pulled Leo down and kissed his lips lightly. “See you tomorrow.” Then she walked around her parents and into the house with her head high.
Without another word, Leo got in his SUV and drove home.
* * *
Amelia was grounded from seeing Leo outside school until graduation. They spoke on the phone constantly.
Leo was shocked - and pleased - at the metamorphosis his girl underwent after their time at the cabin.
She refused all travel under any circumstances and when her mother attempted to talk her into jobs, she left the room.
Two weeks later, Leo walked around his vehicle to assist Amelia to the driveway. Augusta threw the front door open and shouted, “You’re late again!”
Amelia looked at her watch and sighed. “Three minutes.”
“You’re still late. I’ve been waiting to talk to you! I was just contacted about you walking for Calvin Klein during fashion week in New York and they love your portfolio…”
“I won’t be here in September and I’ve told you repeatedly that I’m not taking any more work.” Amelia smiled up at Leo. “Thank you for seeing me there and home again.”
“Always.”
“See you tomorrow.”
“Finals and then graduation. Excited?” She nodded. “Me, too. I know you’re ready for all your classes so no stress.”
Augusta stormed over to them. “You’re grounded, Amy! Get in the house! You can’t see him until next week!”
Amelia went up on her toes to kiss him and he met her halfway. “I’ll call you in a few hours. I love you.”
“I love you, Amelia.”
At his own house, Leo straightened his room while he steadily purged things that wouldn’t be going with him to college. Without being able to spend time with Amelia on a Friday night, he had a stupid amount of time on his hands.
Some things were being kept by his mother, others were being donated, and then there was the trash pile.
“So much schoolwork that will never see the light of day again,” he murmured with a chuckle. “And I’m about to get a shit ton more.”
While he went through things, he separated things to take on the Jamaica trip with Amelia.
