Page 33 of Until Kendal

“I wanted to sleep in my own bed and to take a few of my things that can't be replaced.”

“We could have sent those after you.”

“There are some things I don’t want anyone touching but me.”

“Nothing in the house is worth your life.”

“I make my own choices, and my grandmother’s recipe book is a legacy.”

“Movers can bring that to you.”

“Things get lost, and this is my house and my things. I’m going as fast as I can, dear.”

Her pictures and mementos mattered more than her life. When I’d called the police on my father, he'd been wanted on the TV. He’d wanted to shoot me, but she’d hidden me in the closet, so he beat her till the police arrived.

My pulse raced. “Your guard stayed the night?”

“He slept in your old room. Nothing happened. The house is quiet. Once I finish packing, I’ll let you know.”

Prison hadn’t made my father fat at all. And his stare directly at me told me without words he hated me. I swallowed, hoping he would stay away from her and me. I sighed and said, “Just be safe and hurry. Whatever you forget, we can send for. Speed is important.”

“I will go as fast as I can, and for the record, I like your Joel.”

I did too. I wasn’t sure how long this would work out, but for now, he was good for both of us. He absolutely deserved better than me. I felt like I was using him, but he'd offered, and I had nothing else. I heard the shower turn off and said, “Okay, see you soon, Mom.”

He came out wearing his blue boxer briefs and pointed for me to take a turn in the shower. We were off to see the Maysons today for the barbeque. We would be safe there. The Maysons worked in law enforcement, so I headed in, but as I passed Joel, he asked, “Are you worried about her?”

“She’s all I have.” My stomach twisted as I wished I had him too, forever. Despite everything in my soul, I knew I liked him.

He grabbed a gray T-shirt and tugged it over those muscles of his. “Good. Family who loves you is important.”

My pulse zipped like he saw through me, but I nodded. “Agreed. There is a major difference. Everyone in your family seems capable and fully living their lives. My mom might not have been strong, but she is sweet. She didn’t go as planned because she wanted to pack her things.”

I showered quickly, changed, and came out ready to go. Joel wore jeans that left little to the imagination, and my heart pounded.

He asked, “Do you want to go find your mom?”

“No, I’ll slow her down as she’ll explain everything instead of just planning on telling me later.” I met his gaze, and I got lost in his eyes. “Did you ever make any mistake when it comes to family?”

“I'll text my security that it’s important to move her, and he can hire any movers he thinks will help her head to the plane.”

“Thank you.”

We headed out, stopped at the liquor store down the street for a bottle of wine and a pack of beer, then returned to the car.

“When I was sixteen and at my first country club at a Beverly Hills event, they were giving out alcohol to everyone…” He stopped as he started the car, but when we were driving to the picnic, he said, “I thought the country club was making a huge mistake, so I took all the bottles when the server wasn’t looking.”

“You drank?”

“No, I poured it all in the ocean," he said as we headed down the side street where Ellie and Jax lived. “I’d promised to always be good and thought giving my brothers and their friends drinks was a bad idea. They were so mad at me.”

I laughed. I remembered being at a party as a teenager. They'd given me a beer, but I'd just put it down. “What did they do?”

His lips curved higher. “They brought me to Pedar, who once I told him what I did, offered me an ice cream sundae.”

At least he had a good father figure in his life. We parked outside the two-story home, and I swung open my door before he offered.

He showed his arm for me to hold and said, “I’m glad you’re with me.”

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