Page 50 of Playing for Keeps
Shaking his head, Justin wiped at the blood again. “I wanted to, don’t get me wrong. I just… know I can’t now.”
“You mean now that you know about Jesus?Justin, I don’t think you’re supposed to just let someone attack you.”
“But he’s my dad!” Justin threw his hands out at his sides. “I can’t read the Ten Commandments and just forget the one that says honor your father and mother. How am I supposed to honor that?” he asked, pointing toward the front door as if Chuck were standing there as Exhibit A.
Caroline opened a drawer and pulled out a tattered cleaning rag with shaky hands. She turned on the faucet and held the rag under it before squeezing it out and turning to him.
The cut was on the edge of his brow, still seeping bright-red blood down his bruised face.
She touched the rag to the brutal place as a drop of water fell from his freshly washed hair onto her finger. When her gaze met his, her vision swam.
Justin brushed the pad of his thumb over her cheek. “Please don’t cry. I’m fine.”
She sniffled and shook her head. “You’re not fine.”
His hand wrapped around her wrist, his thumb pressing against the thudding of her pulse. “I promise I’m fine. He didn’t hurt me.”
“How can you say that? You’re bleeding and bruised and freezing!”
He pulled her closer with an arm wrapped around the small of her back. “I’m much better nowthat I’m with you. I’m not cold anymore, and you’re doing a good job stopping the bleeding.”
She pulled the rag away to check the cut. This time, the red didn’t seep out. “Let me get a bandage. I think you need stitches.”
“You got any super glue?”
She swatted his arm and pulled out of his grasp. “You are not gluing your skin together. That’s a terrible idea.”
His eyes widened and he looked away. “Okay. Then I won’t tell you how many times I’ve done it.”
Her jaw hung open. “Justin!”
He held up his hands in surrender. “It was better than nothing.”
Fudge cake, another reminder of how awful life had been for Justin. She’d never had stitches, but her parents would have gotten her the care she needed if she was ever injured.
She couldn’t speak, and she couldn’t stand in front of him without bursting into tears. The sadness welled up inside her until it demanded a release.
“I’ll be right back,” she whispered before turning on her heel and darting for the linen closet. She took her time locating bandages and anything else she thought he might need for the cut.
Letting out a whoosh of air from rounded lips, she wrapped her hand around the supplies and closed her eyes. “Lord, please give me strength.”
When she returned to the kitchen, Justin was putting two plates of meatloaf on the table.
“Let me bandage you up first,” Caroline said as she opened the Band-Aid with shaking hands.
His big hand wrapped around hers, stilling the trembling. “Sweetheart, please calm down.”
“I’m calm. Totally chill. I’m so chill, I’m a popsicle.”
The right side of his mouth turned up in a grin. “I love popsicles.”
Then his lips were on hers, brushing softly, then pressing until she melted into him. The missing him. The wanting him. It all culminated in his heated kiss as she pulled him closer.
Did she have to let go? Couldn’t she stay like this with him, hiding away from the troubles of the world forever?
He peppered small kisses on her jaw, her cheeks, and her brow before stepping back. “I have some news.”
“Good news or bad news?” she asked.
