Page 16 of Save Me
“Why what?” he asked.
“Why are you here? I mean, anyone could have helped me out. I get that your parents… I work for them and all, but why drop everything and come all the way down here?” She tilted her head as she looked up at him. “Please don’t tell me it’s guilt.”
“No,” he said softly. “Well, not all of it is guilt,” he explained.
“Then what?” she asked, her eyes scanning his.
“Responsibility,” he answered without thinking. This answer made her frown. A small crease formed at the upper corner of her lips.
“For me?”
“And Emma,” he answered, still trapped within her haunting blue eyes. Without thinking about it, his hands had moved back up to her shoulders. “You probably don’t remember, but I used to visit you in the hospital.”
“You did?” she asked softly.
He nodded slightly. “I understand how your ex treated you and Emma after the divorce. Knew the horrors of what you’d gone through. Yes, guilt may have been the initial driving factor, but after a while… I just wanted…” He shook his head quickly. “No, I needed to know that you and Emma were okay.”
He watched her swallow slowly, then to his surprise, her eyes moved down to his lips.
That move seemed to shake him out of his trance. Again, he dropped his light hold on her and this time took a giant step back.
He watched her face turn a slight pink just before she turned away from him.
“I… should get to work.” She disappeared into the back hallway.
He stood there like a stupid statue made of marble as he listened to her tossing items into the washing machine.
Then, disgusted with himself for the gut reaction to kiss her, he turned and left.
After a trip to the hardware store and to the local police station to have a chat with his father, he returned to the house shortly before dinner.
He had hoped to have the new cameras installed, but he didn’t want to disturb the guests while they enjoyed an evening by the pool. He figured he’d have plenty of time to put them up tomorrow.
Instead, he found Crissy and Emma enjoying some mac and cheese while they sat around the small kitchen table.
Upon seeing him, Emma smiled and grew excited.
“Brock, Brock, I made you something.” She rushed to get off the chair.
Crissy glanced over at him while her daughter rushed over and grabbed a drawing off the refrigerator and handed it to him.
He squatted down and took the paper from Emma and noticed how excited the little girl was to see him.
“You made this for me?” he asked, looking at all the bright colors on the paper. To his eye, he couldn’t see any patterns to the madness.
“Uh-huh.” Emma nodded. “It’s a picture of you helping Mama out.” She smiled up at him and he grinned.
“Of course, it is.” He held up the paper and, suddenly, he could see it clearly. The blue line was him, the red one Crissy. “Are we…” He squinted and guessed, “Doing laundry?”
“Yes!” She clapped cheerfully and then rushed back to her chair. “We’re having Macheese,” she said as she climbed back onto the chair with Crissy’s help.
“Yeah, smells good,” he joked.
“There’s chicken and peas in it. I don’t like the peas.” Emma frowned. “But I gotta have my veg.” She rolled her eyes and made him laugh.
“Sorry, mac and cheese is Emma’s favorite. If you want…” Crissy started to get up, but he stopped her by holding a hand up.
“I’m good with whatever. I can get a bowl myself.” He assured her. “I don’t want you feeling like you have to serve me.” He waited until she nodded in agreement before walking over and getting some dinner for himself.
