Jennie had hugged her baba that day with a thankful prayer in her heart. She would be fine, and her baby would be loved. And as for Kane, she’d block that bastard from her mind, shut and lock that door. But… the emptiness inside, if she thought about love, had never disappeared.
When she tried to imagine a life with Kane back in it, only hate and fear reared their ugly heads. She might have never replaced him but at least she’d never suffered that agony, that horrible feeling of betrayal and exploitation again.
Just as she had begun to accept that her daughter might have a completely different agenda when it came to her father, headlights pulled into the driveway. She recognized Kane’s truck. A tall stranger stepped out of the passenger seat, making way, holding out a hand to help another person alight.
Lisa, her beautiful face showing in the streetlight, gave the man a fierce hug before turning her back and coming toward the steps. She hesitated, motioned toward the driver, and waited to see if he’d be joining her. When the vehicle was put in reverse and began backing out, she cussed, turned toward her mother and baba, and slowly came to join them.
Jennie rushed to her daughter and stopped to see the look in her eyes before releasing her own agony of worry.
Instantly, Lisa threw herself into her arms, crying, hugging… holding tight.
Jennie had seen her Lisa in all kinds of moods… tearful times when she’d been overlooked by a boy or lost a competition, all kinds of teenage angst that every youngster goes through. This time was different.
This time, there were bruises.
This time, her daughter’s sobs ripping through her body were caused by a bad experience and recognizing this, Jennie did what every smart mother should. She guided her daughter to the now vacant chair, sat down, and held on when Lisa fell to her knees, her head in her mother’s lap.
Hearing the door softly open, Jennie looked up and saw Baba wave to her as her way of saying goodnight. Without words, she’d given over her authority – I leave this in your hands now.