“Come with me, Caley. I’ll take care of you. I have some money saved. You can finally write those books in your head. It will be fun.”
It sounded frightening and freeing at the same time. “I’ll call you.” She climbed out and slowly entered the house. At first, she thought no one else was there. Then she saw movement from the living room. Her mom stood up and turned.
“Mom? I—”
“How dare you!” her mother screeched as she rushed towards her. She swung her arm, slapping her palm against Caley’s cheek.
Pain exploded in her face. She stood there in shock, her cheek stinging. Tears filled her eyes. Her mother had never hit her. She’d never even spanked her. In fact, most of the time she barely noticed Caley was alive.
“George! She’s here!”
Her father thundered down the stairs. Trembles shook her entire body. What was happening?
“You sick little bitch!” Her father yelled. “How dare you shame this family! I was going to run for mayor and now you’ve ruined everything. My reputation. My business.”
“W-what?” Running for mayor? His business? What was he talking about?
“We’re ruined,” her mother wailed. “We’ll be lucky if anyone talks to us again. I had to turn off my phone because of all the calls about you.”
“I never want to see you again. Not in this house. Not this town. Now leave!” Her father’s face was mottled. Her mother looked ill. Her father came towards her, his arm raised.
And Caley knew there was only one choice.
She fled.
“Caley!”
Into a burning building. Fire everywhere. Heat. Smoke.
“Love, wake up.”
She couldn’t breathe.
Issy! Archie! Help!
“Poppet, wake up now!”
She came awake, startled to see Archer leaning over her. Her body was trembling, her lungs burning for air, fear a stench in the air. And there he stood, his face filled with concern.
She lunged at him.
“Hey, hey, easy, love. You’re all right. I’m here. Shh. It was just a nightmare. You’re safe. I have you. You’re safe.”
She was always safe with him. With both him and Issy. Issy was like the ocean. He could be turbulent and rocky but with hidden depths. Archer was a calm, still lake. Always there. Steady. Rock solid.
God, she’d missed him.
“Easy, love. You’re safe. I’m here.” He rubbed his hand up and down her back in long, soothing strokes.
“Sorry. Sorry,” she told him.
“Don’t be sorry,” he replied. “Was your nightmare about the fire?”
“It started off with…with me being run out of Spencerville then it ended with the fire.”
He leaned back, sitting on the bed facing her. She wanted to pull him back, to snuggle in where it was safe.
“Are you all right? Did you hurt your hands? Do you need me to get the nurse?”