Page 57 of Crude Heir

Nicole

I’m fixated on the screen, my gaze lowered as Derrick maneuvers along the flooded street.

The phone rings again.

My first instinct is to press the button to decline the call, but I can’t bring myself to do it. I’ve had good manners drilled into me my entire life, and ignoring this call goes against every fiber in my being.

“Who’s calling?” Derrick’s voice cuts through my thoughts, the hard edge making my nerves all jittery.

The phone rings again, the insistent tone putting my nerves on end.

I tighten my grip as my tummy twists into a knot. I recognized the ring tone immediately and I swear I could melt into this seat. His unwavering gaze intensifies, his shoulders stiffening.

I swallow hard, bracing myself. “It’s my grandmother,” I admit, my voice barely above a whisper.

The tension in his shoulders eases. “For goodness’ sakes, answer her,” he replies, sounding more understanding.

He doesn’t get it. Well, he doesn’t know about the conversation I had with her before he showed up at my door.

“You give that man whatever he wants, if it keeps you safe.”

I knew precisely what she meant when she tried to convince me to stay. Though it wasn’t exactly to keep me safe, I did give him what he wanted, and my body’s still tingling because of it.

Reluctantly, I press the button to answer and send up a quick plea to the heavens, asking for a little more courage.

It’s the last call I want to take in front of him, but at this point, I don’t have much of a choice.

“Mija,”I hear the distress in her voice before the phone even reaches my ear. “Are you safe?”

“Abuela,”I automatically switch to Spanish then steal a glance over at Derrick. I didn’t think to tell him she doesn’t speak English very well. “I’m okay.” I swallow hard. “I’m safe.”

“Gracias a Dios.”She sobs, releasing some of her pent-up emotion. “I was worried sick when you cut off the call so quickly.”

“Ay,Abuela.”The guilt of ending the call the way I did, leaving her worried, rushes through me. “I’m sorry, I’m safe, I promise.” I wet my lips, one phrase after another going through my head while my cheeks warm up. “I… Derrick’s here. He came to check on me. Derrick. That’s his name.” Feeling scattered, I manage to fumble every single thing I’m trying to tell her.

“And what happened?” she asks, her voice tight with concern. It’s a natural curiosity, but of course, my brain turns to what happened later. To all the things I could never say to her.

“We talked it out.” I rush through the words while the memory of my headboard hitting the wall replays in my head. Thankfully, he’s oblivious.

“And you told him?” Her voice is laced with worry.

“Yes, ma’am. He’s aware of what happened,” I confirm, trying to sound reassuring.

“Everything,mija?” She asks as if she needs to make sure it’s all out in the open.

“Yes, ma’am.”

Her sigh of relief comes across the line, easing my battered conscience. “I’m so glad you worked things out. You won’t be leaving, then, right?”

We’re going home.That’s all he said to me once things cooled down.

“No,” I murmur into the phone, hoping to keep Derrick from overhearing. “I won’t be leaving.”

“He’s keeping you from running away again, isn’t he? You’re staying for him?” The hope in her voice is heartbreaking.

“Yes. I believe in him.” My heart does a little flip-flop. Is it because of the note in her voice? Or is it that I just had a revelation about him, and how I feel about him?

There’s a pause.“Mija,”she says, with concern. “A man who understands what’s happened with you and stands by you just the same, has to be a good man. I’ll pray for him.”

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