No one had said anything and it wouldn’t have mattered anyway because I wasn’t leaving.
I can’t imagine what it’s like to have a daughter that’s been hurt so severely, but I’m sure her dad understood how I felt.
He was in love with his woman after all, so he would know that it would be close to impossible for me to do anything other than what I’m doing. Sitting here with her, willing her to come back to me.
My next trick was getting her home with me when she left here, or finding a way into spending the night at her house. Either way it was going to be a while before I was comfortable having her out of my sight.
The others had gone off to school, and it was strange how life could go on around you when yours seemed to be at a standstill.
Although I didn’t share my suspicions, I got the feeling that most of our friends suspected something was off.
For one thing, how did Sian get from the bus to that alley? The attacker hadn’t walked onto that bus and taken her, somebody would’ve seen something for sure.
So how did whoever it was get her off that bus? She wouldn’t have gone to a stranger, and she wouldn’t have been with Mandy alone because she knew better.
The cops had nothing so far that was of any use, and I was fighting the urge to go get shit started on my own.
Jared at least knew to keep his eyes and ears open, and also, just in case this wasn’t a one off, to keep his eyes on the other girls.
Sitting forward, I clasped my hands under my chin and studied her face. I would like to say that I was finally able to relax, having her here alive if not altogether well, but I can’t. I’ll never be able to relax again, until everyone responsible has paid.
“Sian, come on babe, enough.” I got up from the chair when her face suddenly scrunched up at my demand.
Leaning over her I kissed her lips softly before whispering in her ear. “That’s it baby come back to me, I miss you.”
I kept whispering to her, touching her, trying in my own way to awaken her until I finally climbed onto the bed and held her.
Chapter 5
TAMMY
“Tam, what’re you doing here? We didn’t have a session this evening did we?” He looked confused as he opened the door for me to come in.
“No uh...” I knew I was going to flake out, I just knew it. I looked down at the floor in sudden embarrassment, but he turned my face back to his.
His finger under my chin was so touching, so intimate, that it almost had me blurting out my reason for being there.
“What is it hon, did something else happen?” He was pulling me into the house as he spoke. I looked around in a panic for his mom, who I had totally overlooked in my rushed plan.
We reached his room and I took a deep breath. If I was going to go through with this, then now was the time.
But first I had to fortify myself. I looked around his room stalling for time. He was like every typical teenage boy into sports.
The walls weren’t lined with posters, but instead there were trophies and awards, as well as a few plaques that on closer inspection were all anecdotes and old proverbs. I guess not so typical after all.
I hadn’t allowed myself to explore the couple times I’d been here before for fear of overstepping, but with the way things have been in the last few days, I was feeling a little braver.
Or maybe it was one of those awakening things, where something monumental happens that changes your whole perspective.
“Shane, when Sian was in the hospital it got me thinking.” I fumbled through the first words trying not to show my nervousness by rushing.
“We can be gone tomorrow without any warning.”
“Baby...” I love the way he said that, but I held up my hand to stop him nonetheless.
“No let me finish please. I want you to make love to me Shane.” It did come out in a rush after all, and I got my body in motion to take flight in case of his rejection.
“I know you don’t like me the way I...the way...” In the end I couldn’t say it. I couldn’t look at him now, and was wishing more than anything that the floor would open up and swallow me.
Thankfully, he didn’t leave me wondering too long as he reached his hand out for mine.
“Shh, come ‘ere, stop it. I’ve already told you I love you didn’t I.” That’s true, he had said those words to me, but that was when we got the news that Sian was going to be okay, while we were at the hospital surrounded by the others.
“I know, but I thought that was just a heat of the moment kind of thing, I wouldn’t hold you to it.” Could my voice sound anymore hopeful?
“Then you should. When a guy tells you he loves you, you say that shit back or at least give him a thank you, anything but throwing it back in his face and telling him he’s stupid for feeling the way he does.”
Now he was being playful and I thought my heart would bust in my chest it was beating so hard.
“But how do you expect me to believe that you like me when I’m... and you’re...”
“What, when you’re what? Say it and I’ll smack your ass.” He picked me up like I weighed nothing and held me high against his chest so that I was looking down at his grinning face.
“Shane put me down before you put your back out.” I couldn’t help laughing because he was making me so happy in that moment that I never wanted it to end.
“Tammy, I don’t know where it is that you got the idea that you’re this grotesque beast that should be hidden away somewhere.