Page 51 of Anders and the Girl Worth Fighting For
“Tink?” I asked the voice in my ear.
“I’m here,” he said.
“Thank you.”
“You know we would do anything for you,” he said in a subdued voice now that the action was over.
“I know. Me, too.”
Grace looked up at me then. “Tink?” She asked and then comprehension lit up her eyes when she saw my Bluetooth headphones. “Oh. Tell him thank you from me.” She sounded so tired. I smiled down at her.
“He heard you.” She nodded her head and then closed hereyes.
We weren’t done with all this. There was still the news from her grandmother, and was sure the police would want a statement, but all I wanted was to take Grace home and curl around her like I’d been dying to do since I first laid eyes on her. I didn’t think I would let her out of my sight anytime soon.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Are you ready for this?” Anders asked as he parked outside my grandma’s house. I hadn’t been here since the funeral. We parked near the spot where Bill made me walk hom. Pain wound through my wrists where he had tied me.
It had only been a few days since I Bill kidnapped me and Anders had been hovering like a mother hen, not that I’m complaining. I think I needed him around as much as he needed the same. I decided today that I’d had enough sitting around and was ready to find out the last piece of information my grandmother had to share with me.
“Honestly, no, but it has to be done,” I said before opening the car door to get out. Anders walk around the car and grabbed my hand by the time I closed the door.
“We can do it another time,” he said as he squeezed my hand. “Either way, whatever way, and whenever, I’m here for you.”
“That’s the whole reason Icando this.” I squeezed his hand in return and offered him a small smile before we started up the path to the front door. To my great disappointment, I had to let go of my anchor and fish around my purse for the key. When I turned the key, I discovered the door wasn’t locked to begin with.
“That’s odd,” Anders said as I pushed the door open. He motioned for me to stay behind him as we entered the house. I was more than happy to stick behind him as we made our wayinside. After everything I’d been through, I knew I could count on him to protect me.
The lights were off throughout the house and a faint musty smell lingered in the air. The curtains were drawn, but Anders made no move to turn on the lights. Just enough light filtered through the cracks in the curtains that we could see around the room. Dust danced in the rays. Despite the unlocked door, it was clear no one had been here in some time.
“Stay here,” he said when we entered one of the front rooms of the house. He motioned to the fireplace in the room, more specifically the poker by the fireplace. “I’m going to check out the rest of the house. Use that if someone comes in.” He gave me a light kiss before slinking out of the door and closing it quietly. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to his kisses.
The quiet of the house settled over me like a blanket and I began poking around the room. Nothing had been moved since my grandma died. That much was clear. It was like the house had been closed up after the funeral and forgotten. That made me incredibly sad to think about. I should have come. I shouldn’t have been afraid. I should have been the one to go through all her things and pack them up as needed. I should have done so many things.
A picture of my grandmother and grandfather adorned the mantel and stood out prominently in the dusty room. I had never met the latter, but heard plenty of stories about their epic love. They were young, perhaps my age. Their expressions were serious, but something in my grandma’s eye showed mischief.
A sound behind me startled me and I gripped the poker in my hand tightly. I was glad that I didn’t hesitate to pick it up when Anders pointed it out. A door to the side of the room creaked open.
“Anders?” I called out, hoping it was him. I had enough trouble for a lifetime. I inched towards the door that led to thefoyer, just in case it was something I needed to worry about.
“Grace?” a voice asked from the dark of the newly opened doorway.
“Mother?” I said in disbelief.
“Oh, Grace,” she said as she came fully into the room. Her hair, usually immaculate, drooped flat against her head and there were dark purple bags under her eyes. “It’s really you. I’m so glad to see you!”
She rushed to me and threw herself at me. I stood there, too stunned to move, poker in hand, while she wrapped her arms around me.
“I was so worried about you,” she cried.
Since when?I thought unkindly, but not incorrectly.
I didn’t trust it. This suddenly caring and worried mother. I hadn’t changed my number, and she knew where I lived. If she had been worried about me, why didn’t she call?
Another part of me remembered George there that night and his threats against my mother. He seemed so willing to do to her what they were doing to me. She didn’t have someone in her corner like I did. Maybe she hid here, unsure if it was safe to come out.
“What are you doing here?” I finally asked, chasing my thoughts through a bog and sinking ever deeper with each step.
