“What can I say? I’m a changed man now. I don’t share Hallie anymore.”
He arched a brow high. “Anymore?”
“Yeah, anymore.Now quit keeping me from taking my girl home.” I clapped him on the shoulder and strode over to where the women were talking smack with Zeke.
I wove my arm around Hallie’s waist and gently pulled her close. “Ready to come home with me? To Fort Irwin?”
Her hazel eyes met mine from under her lashes. “You’re leaving?”
“I removed myself from the course, babe. Much to my commander’s dismay. I’ve got some leave planned to look after you.”
“I don’t need looking after,” she huffed.
“No, Hells; you don’t want to be looked after, but you do need it.”
“What about Mom?”
“Your mom—”
“Will be fine,” Trudy cut me off. She hugged Hallie and kissed the side of her head, then met my gaze. “I have a house set up and waiting in Bakersfield. Come stay a few days?”
I didn’t miss the way her grip tightened protectively around her daughter. Understanding softened my resolve. It wasn’t just Trudy that needed this time; Hallie did too.
“Of course. I guess we need to stick around here for a few days to get all your paperwork and cards sorted, not to mention clothing…”
She nodded. “I have a contact there that I left back-up documents with just in case this situation ever happened. I knew Johannes would eventually come, so I had to be prepared.”
“Mom?”
She turned her grim expression to Hallie. “Yeah, honey?”
“I heard what you said to Avery about Arnauld.”
Trudy’s face turned ashen, and her mouth worked open and closed. “Hallie…”
A tear slid down Hells’ cheek. “I’m just so glad you had someone to look out for you when I wasn’t able to.”
Trudy mashed her lips together and held Hallie tight. “And I’m thankful you’re not married to that narcissistic monster, Reinhardt.”
~*~
We took a few days to get Trudy set up and both women everything they needed after leaving essential items and wallets behind in Cape Town. Hallie and her mom had a monstrous amount of emotional baggage to sort through and they drank their way through pots of caffeine as part of the process.
Hallie remained stoic during her mother’s recount of how her and Arnauld had fallen in love during the three lonely years of her being held in open ransom.
Mutual tears fell when Hallie confided about her rape at the hands of Johannes’s men, then again when she assured her mother that Arnauld had been caring despite carrying out her father’s bidding.
The long, emotional days combined with the sleepless nights left Hallie exhausted and pale. While the time reconnecting with her mom was important for them both, I was grateful when the time came to load our bags into my truck, destination: Fort Irwin.
After a tear-filled goodbye with her mom, Hallie slid into the passenger seat and dabbed at her tears.
I clicked the door closed and wrapped Trudy in a hug.
“Thank you for taking care of my baby,” she murmured.
“It’s the least I can do; for either of you.”
“You’re a good man, Avery. Don’t be a stranger, okay?”