Page 173 of Receiving His Mercy
“But listen to me. There are going to be rules.”
“All right,” she said slowly.
“We wait another week until you’re in less pain.”
“Okay.”
“I’m going to be by your side the entire time. You will not be alone with her.”
Relief filled her. “All right.”
“If at any time she gets abusive, I’m going to remove you from her presence and you will never return, understood?”
“Understood.”
She leaned against him. “I don’t deserve you.”
“Actually, it’s me who doesn’t deserve you, my precious, wonderful girl.”
Caren clungto Travis’s hand as he led her through the home where her mother was now living. She recognized the guard at the front as the same who had helped her when she was last here. But her tongue was frozen so all she could do was nod at him.
A week had passed since Mr. Peterson called. Travis had tried to talk her out of coming, but she just needed to see her mother one last time. Perhaps it wasn’t healthy, but she felt like she had no choice. However, Travis had insisted that she wait until she felt better. It had been close to six weeks since she’d been taken by Aadan’s men. She wasn’t sure when the nightmares would stop, when she’d cease having panic attacks.
Unfortunately, her decision to come here seemed to have set her back. She’d woken up twice last night with nightmares.
This time they didn’t have to wait around to meet with Mr. Peterson, which was a pleasure she was happy to be denied. Instead, Brenna came out and greeted them.
“Caren! How are you? I was surprised to hear you were visiting today.” There was concern on the older woman’s face as she reached them. That concern turned to curiosity and a touch of hunger when she caught sight of Travis. “Well, um, hello.”
“Hi, Brenna,” she said warmly, amused by the way Brenna just stared at Travis. “This is my fiancé, Travis. Travis, this is Brenna who is my mother’s main carer.”
“Nice to meet you, Brenna. Thanks for everything you do.” Travis held out his hand and Brenna took it with a surprisingly high-pitched giggle.
“How is Mother?” Caren asked.
Brenna sobered with a sigh. “The truth is that I wish you hadn’t come. She has good days and bad. But even during her good days, she is . . .” she trailed off.
“You can give it to me straight,” Caren told her.
“Argumentative. Sorry,” Brenna said. “I wouldn’t normally be so blunt but knowing how she treated you last time and as a child along with some of the things she says . . . well, I honestly don’t want you to get hurt.”
Caren grimaced. “I get it.”
“The reason we’re here is because Mr. Peterson called and practically bullied Caren into coming.”
Right. Like Travis would allow that.
“He used guilt as a motivator. And I don’t like that,” Travis said. “He needs to stop calling and I’m prepared to have a chat with him. Maybe you’d sit with Caren while I do.”
“You don’t want me to go with you?” Caren asked with dread.
“It’s best you don’t.” He shot her a warning look.
Caren nodded. “I still feel like I need some sort of closure. A reason for why she treated me so badly. But if it will upset her, we can go.”
Maybe she’d just have to live with never having that closure.
Brenna eyed her. “All right, well, she is having a clear day today.”
