Page 62 of Keep This Promise
He is so sweet. “You are protecting me, but I want to help people as well. I may not be a doctor or anything like that, but I can be here for you and other people who need help.”
Holden steps closer to me, lifts his hand, and brushes his thumb against my cheek, making my heart race. “This wasn’t supposed to be a date, but I really wished it was.”
Oh, Lord. I wished it more times than I could count. I really wish he would kiss me, but it’s not the right time. I should’ve kissed him that night in the kitchen, but I was so afraid.
“Then maybe we’ll have to plan one,” I say, finding courage I didn’t know I had.
He grins. “Maybe we will.”
“Holden?” a woman says from the back door, and we move apart.
“I’m here.”
“Oh, thank God. The one girl is in bad shape. She has bruises on her face and . . .” The woman from the hospital stops talking when she sees me. Her long brown hair is pulled back, but wisps of hair are falling around her beautiful face. “Sophie. I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were here.” She turns her attention back to Holden. “I was over at George’s house when he got the call, so I came with him.”
“Sophie and I were at dinner, and we both rushed here as well.”
She smiles. “We have four girls and could use all the help we can get.” Kate goes back inside, but we don’t follow right away.
Holden lifts the second bag and then takes my hand. “I need to explain something. Run to Me helps girls who have either run away or are victims of human trafficking or domestic violence. Blakely works with a team, which is me for medical triage, Kate for mental health, and Emmett and George for law enforcement when they are requested. When I enter that door, I won’t be the same. I know that sounds crazy, but I’ll be hyper-focused and only thinking about the medicine. I won’t be able to divide myself. I’m sorry if I say or do anything rude. According to Emmett, when I’m in that zone, I’m a world-class asshole to everyone but my patient.”
I squeeze his hand. “You’ll always be a hero to me, Holden. Let’s go.”
When we enter the back door, my heart drops to my stomach. There are three girls who can’t be much older than fourteen. The first girl is blonde, but her hair almost appears brown from all the dirt and mud in it. She has bruises all down her arms, tattered clothing, and tear streaks down her face.
The second one looks slightly better, but there is a gash on her cheek.
The third girl is the worst, and immediately, I see what Holden warned me about. His hand releases mine, and he quickly moves to her, asking her permission before looking over the cut on her arm. He and Blakely are speaking back and forth as he crouches in front of the girl. Then they disappear into the back.
Brielle walks over to me. “Hi.”
“Hi, what can I do to help?” I ask.
“Blakely asked if someone could just sit beside the girl on the end. None of them have told us their names or what happened, but Kate has already assessed her and is going to talk to the one on the couch while Holden helps the girl in the back.” She motions to the other girl. “I am taking notes until Emmett tells us the next steps.”
“There’s another in the back?”
Brielle nods. “She’s in the worst shape, so we brought her there for privacy while Holden works.”
“What happened to them?”
Sadness fills her eyes. “We don’t know yet, but the one in the back was stabbed and probably had every bone in her right arm shattered. There is a triage back there where Holden can deal with non-life-threatening injuries, and then once we have seen to their needs, we transport them if they need additional help.”
Wow. I was in the back when I came here and didn’t notice it. “Well, I’ll do whatever I can. Any suggestions?”
“Just be there. She may want to talk and give us some clue as to what happened or she may not. Kate thinks she’s in shock right now, so don’t push her to talk if she doesn’t want to.”
“Okay.”
“Here is the device we keep on and use to record anything said in here. It can’t be used in court, but it helps us piece things together later if we need to.”
I accept what looks like an ordinary pen. “Whatever you need. Do I try to talk to her?”
Brielle shrugs. “Sometimes it’s best not to. I usually introduce myself and offer what I can. It’s really a crap shoot if they respond. We aren’t too sure if they’re on something either.”
There is a long, painful wail from the girl in the back room, and both of us turn to look. Brielle shifts, and I nod. “Go, I’ll do what I can for her.”
She hurries off, and I walk toward the girl at the end. I sit, my back against the wall, not speaking while the young girl, who is covered in dirt, rocks slightly. After a few moments, she looks over, and I smile softly. I don’t know how to do this, but these girls came here afraid and lost, so the least I can do is sit with her. She looks to me, back at her knees, and back again a few times. Once her eyes meet mine for longer than a heartbeat, I speak. “My name is Sophie. Would you be able to tell me your name?” She shakes her head, rocking a little faster. “That’s all right. We don’t have to talk. Is it okay if I sit with you for a while?” She doesn’t say it is, but she doesn’t shake her head either, so I take that as permission. “If you need anything, just tell me.”
