Page 84 of Jael

Becca kept looking over her shoulder as Jael led her and the kids to the room.

“Martin didn’t follow,” Jael said. “Danny was watching for anyone.”

“I know. I can’t help it.”

“You’ll feel better once you’re settled in.”

While Becca unpacked the bags, Jael tucked a few hundred dollars under the lamp by the bed.

“I’ll find better accommodation as soon as I can,” she said. “In the meantime, we’ll continue moving forward. Everything will be back on track in no time.”

Becca hugged Jael and thanked her, then looked at Danny, who had remained at the door. “Thanks for your help too,” she said. “I—I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t turned up.” She looked at Jael. “I wanted to come out and save you when he attacked you, but I froze.”

“Good,” Jael said. “There’s nothing you could have done. The best thing you did was freeze, even if it wasn’t on purpose.”

“I’m just glad you’re safe now,” Danny said. “If you want my number, you can call me anytime. Or send a text. If you see someone suspicious outside, I can stop by and check it out for you.”

“That’s too much to ask,” Becca said.

“No, it’s not.”

“I’ll text you his number,” Jael said. “You should take him up on the offer.”

“Okay, but only if it’s an emergency.”

“Even if it’s not,” Danny said. “I don’t mind if only to set your mind at ease. It’s the least I can do.”

Jael looked at Danny, thankful and confused, but afraid to trust him.

She took her time with Becca, hoping Danny would get the hint and leave. She sat beside Kaitlin to look at the pictures she’d been drawing, but Danny remained at his post until Jael had run out of things to do.

“You call me if you need anything, okay?” she told Becca as they said goodbye. “Anything at all. And you have Hannah’s number.”

“I do.”

“I’ll call you tomorrow if I don’t see you.”

Jael shooed Danny out the door ahead of her, pulling the door closed as they went.

“You didn’t have to stay,” she said as they made their way back to the parking lot.

“It’s not only Becca I’m worried about.”

She stopped to look at him, then continued walking. “I’m fine.”

“You’ve been through a lot.”

She stopped again and turned to him. She was so tired of the charade.

“Can you please stop?” she said. Her plan had been to ignore him until he went away, but that turned out to be impossible. Maybe it was the fight with Martin still coursing through her that made her want to confront the issue instead of leaving it.

“Stop what?” Danny said. “Caring?”

“Please. That’s not what this is.”

“You think I’m pretending to care?”

“I don’t know why you’re still hanging around, but I do know it’s not because you care.”

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