Page 117 of Already Home

She supposed she should ask what Marshall had said, or whatstrings he’d pulled. For all she knew, he had threatened Cliff. But she couldn’tbring herself to care.

Tears filled her eyes. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“You’re welcome.” He crossed to her, wrapped his arm around herand kissed her forehead.

She leaned into him, wondering if this was what it felt like tohave a father. “No one’s ever taken care of me before,” she admitted.

“Then you’re going to have to get used to it, because we’re notgoing anywhere. And neither are you. Don’t take this information as a hint youshould move out. Beth and I like having you around.”

“I need to get back to my own life.”

“Maybe, but not today. Oh, and I’ll be following up with Cliffto make sure he really does move.”

She nodded because there was too much emotion for her tospeak.

Marshall set down his coffee and excused himself to finishgetting ready for work. Violet sank down at the kitchen table, holding her mugin both hands.

Free, she thought. She was free, or she would be when Cliff wasreally gone.

Beth shuffled into the kitchen. Her blond hair was rumpled, herbody covered in a pink fuzzy robe. Her hostess made it to the coffee, poured amug and then drank deeply. When she’d swallowed, she looked up and wrinkled hernose.

“You’re not even wearing makeup and you’re beautiful. Do youknow how depressing that is for me?”

Violet laughed, then pressed her hand to her side. “Ignoringthe honking big bruise on my face.”

“That will fade. My wrinkles won’t.”

“Your wrinkles are only in your imagination.”

Beth smiled. “I love it when you flatter me.” She crossed tothe table and sat across from Violet. “Marshall told me the good news. You mustbe relieved.”

“I am. I’ve been so scared he would come after me again.”

“Marshall would be happy to fix you up with a nice little gunand some training on how to use it.”

“I’m not exactly a weapons kind of girl.”

Beth didn’t look convinced. “If you’d had a gun when Cliff hadfirst hit you?”

“He’d be dead now.” Violet knew that was more than apossibility. Probably why she shouldn’t be trusted with a gun.

“I’m going back to work today,” she said, changing the subject.“And moving back to my own apartment.”

Beth sighed. “I was afraid you were going to say that. We wouldlove you to stay longer. At least until we know he’s gone.”

“I’d love it, too, but I’m concerned that if I don’t get backto my life, the fear will win. I need to stay strong.” For a lot of reasons Bethwould never understand. “Besides, Cliff isn’t going to hurt me after talking toMarshall.” Something she felt in her gut. Not that she wouldn’t sleep betterwhen he was several states away.

“You’re very brave,” Beth told her.

“There’s nothing to admire.” On the contrary. She had plenty tobe ashamed about.

“You’re wrong, Violet. As you get older, you’ll see that.”

“Maybe.”

“There’s nothing I can do to convince you to stay?” Bethasked.

“Sorry. No.”

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