Page 26 of Knight

She breathes heavily, and I can barely hear the words, but hear them I do. "Love you."

And I know more than anything, I love her too. Nothing in the world will ever change how I feel about her, and in this moment - it's fucking perfect.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Rina

Watching Taylor be surrounded by her family and friends is one of the most emotional things I've ever seen. Her aunts are openly crying, as is Taylor. I turn away from them so they don't have to see me crying too. I'm thankful to be a part of this, but I also know if I wasn't married to Mason, I wouldn't be here right now.

"Thank you for being here," her aunt says as she walks up to me, holding her arms out for a hug.

"I wouldn't be anywhere else," I assure her.

"How is she doing?" I ask quietly. "I heard she'll be homeschooling the rest of the year, and then coming back at the beginning of next. I think that's a good idea for her. She's been through a lot, and she'll have to figure out what her new normal is. As much as I hate that phrase."

"She's scared, a lot. She sleeps with a light on, and we keep her door open at all hours. The therapist says as long as she continues to work toward making positive changes every day, things will eventually become easier. It’s just a matter of getting her comfortable. None of us knows when that’s actually going to happen,” she sighs.

“There’s not a whole lot I can do, but one thing I can do is help with her school work, if you need it. Please don’t hesitate to ask, she’s such a bright light in the classroom. She has such a heart for helping others, and I pray he hasn’t ruined that for her,” I reach out and put my hand on her shoulder.

“I know. She hasn’t told us everything that happened to her…”

I can imagine what she’s hiding, just because she doesn’t want her family to know how badly she was hurt. Protecting everyone, even when she needs the protection more than anyone else. If that’s not the epitome of who this amazing kid is, nothing else is.

“She probably won’t ever tell you what happened to her,” I continue. “She doesn’t strike me as the type of person who will ever do a tell-all. I think once she’s at peace with what happened to her, she’ll live her life as she’s always wanted to. Taylor will never be a victim.”

“No she won’t,” her aunt agrees. “And I thank you for your offer of help. If we need it, you’ll be the first person we call.”

“Thank you, and if I haven’t said it to you yet, I’m so grateful Taylor’s home.”

I stand to the back of the room, watching what’s happening around us. The kids I’ve seen walking around with frowns on their faces since Taylor was taken are happy. They’re smiling and reveling in the fact that Taylor’s back. Excitedly, they’re all filling her in on what she missed while she was gone. They aren’t treating her like she’s any different than she was when she was taken. For them, it’s as if she’s been gone, maybe on a vacation, and they’re picking up where they left off. Truth be told, it’s probably the best thing for her at the moment.

Ruby comes up beside me, putting her arm around me. “I know things have been a little crazy with Caleb and I lately. I know you’re wondering what’s going on, and I wish I could tell you. There’s a lot,” she sighs. “Things that shouldn’t be a big deal have compounded on each other. We haven’t been communicating and this is what happens when we don’t communicate.”

I want to offer her some sort of advice, but Mason and I have never had an issue when it comes to communicating, or marital problems. It’s been the one thing we’ve managed to excel at in the over twenty years we’ve been together. “When was the last time Caleb slept at ya’ll’s house?”

“It’s been a month,” she admits, fear in both her voice and her gaze. “And I’m worried the longer we go, the better of a chance he won’t come back.”

“Caleb loves his family, Ruby.”

“Does he? I’ve asked him to make some changes so that we can be a better family, and he’s denied me at every turn,” she cries, wiping at the tears on her face.

“What are you asking him to change?”

“He really hasn’t spoken with you about this? I thought for sure he would’ve run to you. You’re the one he typically goes to, even before Mason.”

I shake my head. “He hasn’t told me anything. In fact, that’s the reason I’ve been so worried. He’s been a closed off book, something he’s never been before.”

“I asked him to stop being a cop,” she shrugs.

“Why?” I gasp. “You know he loves it.”

“But he should love us more, shouldn’t he?”

She turns and walks away, leaving me wondering what the correct answer should be.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Menace

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