Page 90 of Safe With You

His answering smile warmed her and chased away the lingering darkness. Both of them had come far too close to dying. There was no escaping that fact, but this lightheartedness between them was good. Healing.

The jolting ring from Katie’s phone made her jump and shattered the moment. She tugged it from her pocket, her heart pounding at her mom’s name on the screen. It was the first call she’d received from her since the attack. Katie had left it to the police to notify her and Grant of what had happened. Of course, she hadn’t expected her mom to come rushing to ensure her daughter was safe, but it did sting a little that it had taken four days to hear from her.

On the flip side, she found relief too. Knowing her mom, she probably blamed Katie that Christopher now faced a significant prison sentence. She could far too easily imagine what sort of hatred her mom might spew if she answered the call. So she didn’t answer. Instead, she sent it to voicemail and shoved the phone back in her pocket.

She shared a look with Ethan. “I’ll have to deal with her at some point after this, but not today.”

A couple of minutes later, the phone dinged with a voicemail alert. She sighed and pulled it out. Might as well face whatever Mom had to say with Ethan here. She turned the speaker on and tapped play. A long pause preceded the message.

“Katie, I know why you didn’t answer. I didn’t think you would. I um…I just…listen, I know I am probably just about the last person you ever want to see again. I deserve that. But I would really like to talk to you. I’m going to be in Two Lakes for another day or two. I understand if I don’t hear from you…I just wanted to try.”

Katie stared at the phone for several seconds after the message ended. “I’ve never heard her sound like this before.” She sounded so…genuine. The emotion in her voice actually sounded real, not contrived or manipulative.

Ethan looked from the phone to her. “What are you going to do?”

Katie shook her head. “I… don’t know.”

Should she call her back and set up a meeting? Her stomach rolled at the thought, and yet…

She drew a deep breath. If there was even the slightest chance of reconciliation after a lifetime of pain, should she not seek it?

Katie’s knee bounced as she sat and waited on the porch with Ethan. Had she really given her mom permission to come out here? Part of her panicked that this had been a bad idea, but it was too late to turn back now. She prayed this wasn’t a manipulative trick to saddle her with guilt over what had happened. Strangely, another calmer part of herself didn’t think it was. But even if she were wrong, Ethan would not allow that to happen anyway. As long as he was here, she could do this.

He reached over and took her hand, squeezing it. She squeezed back and gave him a sheepish look.

“Sorry, my fingers are sweaty.”

He just smiled at her. “I don’t mind.”

She drew a deep breath and swallowed hard, her throat still tender. Bruises had shown up along her neck a couple of days ago. Her stomach coiled in a tight knot, twisting nauseously with a myriad of conflicting emotions.

A few minutes later, a car pulled into the driveway. Katie’s legs shook as they stood up, but Ethan’s hand pressed reassuringly to her back, and she gathered her resolve. They left the porch as a white car pulled up, not the black BMW. The driver’s door opened, and Mom stepped out. She must have caught the way Katie eyed the vehicle to make sure no one else was inside.

“It’s just me. Grant is still in Madison…staying with a colleague for now.”

Katie wasn’t sure what to make of that cryptic statement. But she took particular notice of how worn out Mom looked. Her unusually light makeup did nothing to hide the shadows under her eyes, and her faded skinny jeans, sweatshirt, and sneakers were surprisingly casual. She clearly hadn’t put much effort into her appearance for once.

Mom glanced at Ethan, though it wasn’t the disdainful look Katie was used to. Instead, she detected a tentative uncertainty as if afraid he’d send her away.

“Thank you for letting me come.”

Katie nodded, not sure how to respond to her. The scarred little girl deep inside ignited a temptation to unload all her hurts and lay blame for the attack on her mom. After all, if she’d raised Christopher better, this wouldn’t have happened. But, with effort, she swallowed that bitterness.

Before either of them could say anything else, Ethan’s hand shifted to Katie’s shoulder, and he stepped around to face her. “I’ll let you two talk, but I’ll be nearby if you need me.”

He looked deeply into her eyes, seeming to ask if she was okay with that. Gathering her courage, she nodded. Her gaze followed him as he walked toward the lake, where he waited near the dock—far enough to give them privacy while remaining close enough for her to call him back. Finally, she turned to her mom, who watched Ethan too.

“He really cares about you.” Something in Mom’s expression held a deep sadness. “I’ve never been a good judge of character, especially with men. But he’s a good one. That much I can tell.”

Katie didn’t know whether to be glad or irritated by her mom’s analysis of him. He didn’t need any approval from her.

Mom finally faced her, though she struggled to meet her eye. “I’m glad you have him. I’m glad you have all of them and that they could give you the family I failed to.”

Katie lifted her brows. She’d never heard her mom own up to any failings before.

Real tears glittered in Mom’s eyes now. “I was not a good mother. Not to you or Christopher. And now…” Her voice grew thick, and she cleared her throat. Regaining her composure, she pushed on. “Now Christopher will be in prison for nearly killing you, and you and I have no relationship.”

Katie’s nose stung with tears as emotion welled in her throat. She wasn’t sure if she was ready for this conversation with her mom. “It wasn’t my choice not to have a relationship.”

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