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Martha shook her head. “No, they just met a while ago. He was trying to use Jimmy as an excuse to get to me, and he tried to force himself on me.”
I placed my hand on the small of Martha’s back and squeezed. “Officers, as you can see, she’s been through a lot. If you need her to, she can come down to the station later and give a statement.”
The two of them nodded.
“You should also consider getting a restraining order, ma’am.”
Martha nodded and loosed a breath. “I will, thank you.”
After a brief pause, the female officer reached into the pocket of her shirt and pulled out a card. She handed it to Martha, along with a sympathetic smile, before turning around. In silence, the officers walked back to their car and drove away. Once the tires peeled away from the asphalt, Martha pressed her face to my side and exhaled.
“They’re right. I don’t know why I haven’t filed a restraining order.”
I draped an arm over her shoulders and steered her inside. “You probably didn’t think it was going to get this far.”
Martha paused to slam the door and latch it shut. “I didn’t. Horace was really sweet and caring in the beginning. Until he wasn’t, maybe I should’ve just slept with him.”
I drew her to a halt and placed one hand on either side of her shoulders. “Martha, whatever your reasons are for not sleeping with him, you’re entitled to them. It doesn’t matter how nice or caring a man is. You don’t owe him sex.”
Martha blushed and looked away. “I guess.”
I released her and took a step back. “You deserve better than that. So does Jimmy.”
Martha looked back at me, and her expression turned strange. “Thanks.”
I cleared my throat, relief flooding me at the knowledge that Jimmy wasn’t Horace’s son. Considering how hard he fought to see him, I was beginning to have my doubts. Thankfully, I was back to my initial suspicion after only a few moments in the kid’s presence.
Jimmy was my son.
He had to be.
But I couldn’t understand why Martha was reluctant to tell me.
“Why don’t I make us some tea or something?” I stepped into the kitchen, opening and closing several cupboards as I did. “I can make Jimmy something to drink too. Does he like tea?”
“There’s some cocoa powder on the top shelf.” Martha leaned against the kitchen counter and gestured. “You don’t have to stay, though. I’m sure you have more important things to do.”
Except I had no intention of leaving her unsafe again.
I shook my head and reached for the box of tea. “I don’t. If you don’t mind the company, I can stay for a while.”
Especially because I was sure this wasn’t the last we’d be seeing of Horace.
Men like him had a hard time taking no for an answer.
Martha ran a hand over her face. “You’re always coming to my rescue. I’m sorry about that.”
“Don’t be,” I added a spoonful of cocoa into a mug before glancing up at her. “I’m glad I’m around to help.”
Martha studied my face, and her expression softened. “Yeah, me too.”
Even if neither of us had any idea where we went from there.
Chapter 16
Martha
I held the phone up to my ear and sucked in a harsh breath. “It’s my boss.”
