Page 105 of Under His Protection
We pull in through the back gate and into the garage. Charlie and Mateo pull in beside us.
Once we’re all out of our vehicles, Charlie puts her arm around Haley and walks her inside the house.
“How about some dinner?” Charlie asks her. “Since you didn’t actually get to eat anything this evening.”
“I’m not hungry,” Haley says.
Mateo is the last one inside, and he sets the alarm system out of habit. “I guess that is overkill now,” he says with a chuckle.
“You need to eat, sweetie,” Charlie says to Haley. “What sounds good?”
“How about grilled cheese sandwiches?” I say. If anyone deserves some comfort food right now, it’s Haley.
She nods. “I could go for that.”
I put a skillet on the stove to preheat while I gather the ingredients. “Sit down, Hale. You’re pale as a sheet.”
She takes a seat at the kitchen table.
Charlie pours her a Coke. “Maybe caffeine will revive you.”
“I want to thank you all,” Haley says as her eyes tear up. “For everything you’ve done. For protecting me, and for donating your time to live here around the clock. I can’t thank you enough.” She breaks off as her voice cracks.
Charlie steps up to my side. “I’ll take over here. Go comfort your girl.”
“Thanks.” I hold out my hand to Haley. “Why don’t we go upstairs so you can change into something more comfortable?”
Haley glances down at her dress and tights. “That’s a great idea. I would kill for a pair of sweats right now.”
We walk up the back staircase and down the hall to her bedroom. She glances back to see if I’m following. “Aren’t you coming?”
I’d held back a few steps, wondering if she needed some privacy. She’s been through so much tonight. I’d understand if she wanted some time alone to process. “If you want me to.”
“Of course, I do.”
I follow her into the bedroom and close the door behind me. “How are you doing,really?”
Her false bravado slips. “Not too well, actually.”
I pull her into my arms and rub her back. “I know, sweetheart. Why don’t you get changed? You’ll feel better, and then we’ll talk, all right?”
She nods. “All right.”
Haley opens her closet and pulls out a pair of gray sweat pants and a long-sleeved, light blue Hello Kitty T-shirt, and changes clothes. After changing, she sits on the bed, looking preoccupied. Almost haunted.
I crouch down in front of her and take her hands in mine. “Talk to me, Hale.”
“I feel so awful.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t understand why this happened. Why is he obsessing overme? Christian said Mark is obsessed with me, but the truth is, it was Christian. He doesn’t even know me. It’s like some kind oflove at first sight, but horror style. And now, because of his actions, he’s completely derailed his life and his education.”
“We may never understand why Christian did what he did. Obviously, he’s unbalanced. I just hope the judge puts him away for a long while.”
“Poor Andrea. She’s going to be devastated when she finds out.”
“And then there’s Mark. I’m going to have a talk with him before your next class. I promise you he won’t cause you any trouble after that.”
