Page 83 of Ky
So then he did.
Sliding up beside me, he pulled out his phone and brought up all the information he had saved on the place. He had Cable do some digging to make sure it was legit. And it was. Glow Woods Sanctuary was actually first known for being an animal sanctuary. The lady that had started it wanted to combine her love of rescuing wildlife with her need to do the same to humans, in a way. I mean, it wasn’t put that way on the website, but that was what it boiled down to. She had been a social worker for fifteen years prior to opening up Glow Woods. She’d seen how abused and abandoned children had trouble after they had been taken away from their unsafe situations. She set up the farm as a place where they could go and feel safe. Where they could work through the things that they needed and have the guidance there to help them through it. It a sense, it was meant to be a bridge between what they were coming out of and the world that the rest of us knew.
It was perfect for Ingram’s situation.
Mouse was right, it was what she needed.
It wasn’t about what I wanted. It wasn’t about that scared feeling that shook me at the thought that I might lose her. That I wouldn’t be there to protect her. It wasn’t about her turning her back on her family. No, it was more about her wanting to find a way to be stronger for herself, for Chry, for us. It made sense. And had I taken a moment and gotten the information first, I probably would have seen that right away.
There were therapists and counselors. There were opportunities to heal and move on. To grow and find her true self. To work towards a goal of making it on her own.
“You can visit her whenever you want. It isn’t some lockdown place where you drop them off and never see them again. You can go up there, spend a day or two, play with your nephew and still get to see him grow. And it isn’t forever.” He looked at me and I nodded my head.
He was right. This was just a path in life, a step in the right direction. There was nothing saying that her path couldn’t come back around. It wasn’t permanent, it was just as long as she needed it.
“So…what do we do to get her in there?” I found myself asking with a heavy heart.
“I’ve already talked to the woman that runs it. Lily sounds sweet and caring. I explained a little of what Ingram’s situation is and she said that she believes that they could help walk her through everything, get Ingram to acknowledge the things that she was raised with and understand that she doesn’t have to believe those things.”
“Alright,” I said, my head bobbing absently as I processed everything. “I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, I get it,” he replied. “Have fun explaining that to Chris.” He chuckled and the back of my hand connected with his shoulder.
“Asshole,” I grumbled though he wasn’t wrong about that.
“Youare callingmean asshole? That’s rich.” He may have been joking but he was right.
“I’m working on it,” I admitted with a shrug.
“Yeah, I see that. You bought him flowers, I hear.”
My head fell back as I laughed. Of course, that shit had gotten out and around. I wouldn’t doubt that the whole club knew.
“What can I say?” I got to my feet. “I like the guy.”
I didn’t even feel weird about admitting it to Mouse. Or out loud. I got it now, that they wouldn’t judge me.
“Now, let’s clean this shit up so I can go figure this stuff out,” I said as I went in search of a broom.
“I got this, brother. You go do what you need to do. I’m here if you need me,” he said with a clap on my back.
I dialed Chris as I walked up to the garage. I needed to get lost in something and clear my mind but I didn’t want to leave him hanging. I regretted the way I’d taken off this morning. I couldn’t fix that, but I could at least let him know everything was fine. Sort of. Good thing he couldn’t see my face right now. Shit. I wasn’t looking forward to that and no doubt that he would be on Mouse’s side. I should have taken a page out of his book and listened instead of jumping on my angry emotions. Anger that had been brought on by fear, maybe. Because I was scared for Ingram. I was scared about losing her and not being able to look out for her. I was scared that something might happen to her or Chry and I wouldn’t be around to watch out for them
“Is he dead?” Chris asked as he answered the phone.
I huffed out a laugh mostly out of nervousness. His tone was almost joking, which made me feel even more like shit.
“No,” I said and hung my head even though he couldn’t see it.
“You alright?”
“No,” I answered truthfully but didn’t bother to follow up with why. “I’m headed to the garage. I need to clear my head. Sort shit out and whatnot.”
“Okay,” he said like he wasn’t even going to argue or get me to talk. Another reason why this guy was so fucking perfect for me. He got me, even when I didn’t get myself. “Will you be home by dinner?”
“Yes, I will definitely be home in time for dinner.” I felt the smile spread across my face.
“Okay, then. I’ll see you later. We’re talking tonight,” he said like I didn’t have a choice.
And that was alright with me because I really did want to sit down with him and work this all out. I wanted us to look over the information together then go to Ingram with level heads, ready to figure out the next move.
My boots came to a halt a few feet away from the garage. My eyes moved to look at the sky, phone still glued to my ear though there was a silence lingering there.
“I’m glad I have you,” I breathed out. It came out so low that I wasn’t even sure that he’d heard me.
“I’m glad you finally let me in,” he said back, his voice much stronger than mine. “Do what you need to do. I’ll make lasagna.”
Then he was gone and I knew he didn’t hang up because he was mad. No, not Chris. He was giving me an out. I’d opened myself a little for a moment without him having to pull it out of me, and he knew that I wouldn’t be able to linger after. He gave me an out before I felt the need to take it.
Yeah, Chris was mine. I wasn’t going to give him up now that I had him. And I’d fucking fight anyone that tried to get in the way of that.
