He walked through the backdoor, allowing the screen to slam behind him. “Where’s Lou?” he barked.
Sadie rose from her chair, quickly taking in the bloodstains on his shirt and the cut above his eye. “Oh, my Lord. You’re hurt.” She wet a cloth in the sink and reached to raise it to his eye.
He caught her hand in his own and stopped her movements. “Where’s Lou?” he asked, looking directly into her eyes.
“She’s upstairs with Sarah, child. But you had better give her some time…” Her voice trailed off behind him as he ran up the stairs.
The door to Lou’s room stood open so he stepped inside. He heard noises coming from the bathroom and stepped through the open door. Lou sat on the side of the tub, casually splashing water on Sarah, who was covered from head to toe with bubbles. John sat on the closed toilet lid, quietly teasing them both.
Brody brushed past them both and kneeled in front of the tub. Sarah grinned at him from amid the bubbles.
“You okay, kiddo?” he asked.
“I’m fine, Brody. Mommy let me have a lot of bubbles.”
“I see that. You look like you are having a great time. Let me see your hands.” He held out his own. Her small hands landed in his large ones, palms up. Brody grimaced when he saw the abraded flesh. “They don’t look too bad,” he mumbled. “Do you hurt anywhere else?”
“Nope. I’m fine. You look much worse than I do.” She reached her bubble-laced fingers toward the bruised flesh around his eye. He flinched as she touched it and moved back out of her reach.
John stood up, grabbed a towel off the counter, and wet it in the sink. “You have blood on your face, Brody.” He held the towel out to him and Brody took it in his hand, holding it up to his eye, wiping gently.
John pointed to his face, “Uh, you missed a spot, there.”
Brody turned toward the mirror and assessed the damage. “I look like one scary guy, huh, Sarah?” he joked, turning back to Sarah.
“Not nearly as scary as that man was.” She shook her head vehemently.
He leaned down to the tub and kissed her soapy forehead. He sighed deeply. “I had a great time tonight. Thanks for letting me take you to the dance.”
“Thank you for saving my life,” Sarah replied stoically.
“Any time, kiddo.” He turned to walk out of the room. His eyes met Lou’s. “Can I talk to you, please?” he barked in her direction.
“No,” was her only reply. His flinty eyes darkened with anger. He grabbed her arm and swung her around.
“Yes!” he said quietly but forcefully. “John, watch Sarah. We’ll be right outside.”
“Won’t take my eyes off her,” John said.
“Where have I heard that befo
re?” Lou asked sarcastically, pulling her arm out his grasp.
He grabbed her again, dragging her through the doorway and out onto the porch. She stumped her toe going across the threshold and fell against him. He looked down into her upturned face. She placed two hands against his chest and pushed with all her might. He stumbled backward.
“What is wrong with you, Lou? Damn it, will you calm down?”
“What do you want, Brody?” Lou asked quietly, her brown eyes flashing a challenge.
“I want to know if she’s all right, Lou,” he said, his face suddenly tormented. He ran his fingers through his hair in a frustrated motion, wincing as his hand brushed across his temple. “I have never been so scared in my whole life as I was when I thought I lost her,” he breathed.
“How could you lose her, Brody? How could you?” Tears filled her eyes and ran down her cheeks.
“She went to the bathroom, Lou. She went to the bathroom and when she came out, I was moving a table and she didn’t see me. So, she walked outside to see if I was out there. That’s where he grabbed her. I heard her scream. I saw her kicking. I was afraid I couldn’t get there in time. I fought like hell, Lou. I swear to God, I did. I would have let him kill me before I would let him have Sarah.”
“You would?” she asked. “Why?” Tears streamed down her cheeks, falling onto her shirt like raindrops running down a window.
“Because she’s a kid, damn it. I was taking care of her. And I did, Lou. We had a great night.” He smiled slowly, remembering her antics, her smiles, and how happy she was for an evening. He grabbed Lou’s forearms and pulled her close to him, despite her protests. “And because she’s yours. You would never let me speak to you again if something happened to Sarah.”