Page 25 of Saved By Two

“I heard a scream. I thought…” she stammers.

I cradle the back of her head against my chest. “Shhh, I’m sorry, totally my fault. I startled Maggie. She’s our housekeeper and family friend,” I say softly, stroking my other hand up and down her back, hoping to soothe her. “You’re safe.”

Maggie reappears behind Jessica with a tray in her hands. “How about some tea and biscuits?”

Pulling back, I look down at Jessica. “Sound good?”

She worries her lip, eyes assessing me, and I give her an encouraging nod.

“Yeah, okay.”

I drop my hand to her lower back and lead her towards the living room. Maggie is leaning over the small table, already unloading the tray’s contents.

“Maggie, this is Jessica, Mason’s sister,” I say in the way of introduction. “She’ll be staying with us for a while.”

Smiling, Maggie stands to her full height, barely five foot two, and holds her hand out to Jessica.

“Yes, I believe I met you briefly at the party.”

Jessica shakes her hand. “Yes, you made the cake. It was delicious.”

Maggie waves off the praise and then takes a seat. “Oh, shoot, I forgot the sugar,” she says, her eyes flicking to mine.

“I’ll get it.”

I glance at Jessica and give her what I hope is a reassuring smile before I fetch the sugar. My phone vibrates in my back pocket, and I pull it out to see a text notification.

Caleb: Is she okay?

Me: Yeah, apart from me forgetting Maggie was here this morning. I scared the shit out of her when she came through the front door. Jessica panicked.

Caleb: Fuck.

Me: Yeah, Maggie made tea. I’ve been sent to get the ‘sugar’, code for I need to check on her woman to woman.

I grab the small bowl of sugar cubes and stuff my phone back into my pocket. When I return, Maggie is sitting next to Jessica, who wipes a stray tear, but as I approach, Maggie moves back to her seat.

My phone buzzes again, and I pull it free before sitting beside Jessica.

Caleb: Maybe it will put her a little more at ease being around Maggie.

Me: One can only hope.

Swiping out of my messages, I place my phone on the coffee table and, using the sugar tongs, I grab one and drop it into a mug, stirring it before passing it to Jessica.

Her cheeks flush, and it's the first bit of colour to grace her skin…other than the bruising.

“Thank you,” she says quietly, blowing on the contents before taking a timid sip.

I catch Maggie staring, and she quickly makes herself busy with her tea, but I know she has questions. Thankfully, I know she’ll refrain from airing them in Jessica’s presence.

Maggie fills the silence with easy conversation until we’ve all finished our tea and then excuses herself to take care of the housework.

Jessica sinks further into the sofa cushions with a vacant look. I wish I could tell her we had some news on Mason, but I can’t.

“Hey, you doing? Okay?”

She doesn’t acknowledge my question, and I wonder if she can hear me.

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