Protector - Laurel Dewey [138]
“Couldn’t go?”
“I don’t mean ’couldn’t go.’” Emily was obviously flustered. “I mean, we couldn’t, um . . . we couldn’t afford it. Money’s been really tight since daddy died.”
“So, your mother took the stitches out?”
“Yeah. And the best part is she didn’t hurt me at all!” Kathy stiffened as her eyes filled with tears. Emily was confused by the woman’s reaction. “What’s wrong?”
Kathy reached up and gently stroked Emily’s cheek. “You’ve been through a lot of pain. I can see it in your eyes. You’re so young. You don’t deserve that kind of hurt.” Emily could feel herself slipping away from herself and didn’t want to lose it in front of Kathy like she did with Dan. She quickly turned away from Kathy. “It’s okay, darling,” Kathy said with great compassion.
“I’m sorry, I can’t—”
“There’s no need to apologize,” Kathy said, increasingly concerned.
“It’s just that, ah,” Emily felt herself falling into the void, “it’s . . . I . . .” The more she searched for the right words, the more she stuttered, sounding more suspicious.
“It’s okay.” Kathy leaned over and hugged Emily with all her might. Emily resisted before she fell against Kathy’s chest, draping one arm around her shoulder. “You’re so brave,” Kathy whispered to Emily, choking back tears. “You shouldn’t have to endure any of this.” Pulling back, she tenderly cupped her palms around Emily’s face. “Listen to me,” she said with great urgency, “you can tell me anything and it will stay between us forever!”
Emily felt her heart racing faster as her head spun. She desperately wanted to blurt out the truth. “I’m sorry . . . I—”
“I can help you!” Kathy whispered. “You have to trust me!”
“Patty!” Jane hollered from a distance.
Emily jumped slightly and turned to the sound of Jane’s voice. “I have to go!” Emily said, pulling away from Kathy.
Kathy grabbed the child’s hand. “Patty, I mean what I said. If you want to talk to me about anything, I’ll be there for you!”
“Thank you. You’re a nice lady.” Emily turned and walked out the door. As she rounded the corner, she ran smack into Jane.
“Christ almighty!” Jane exclaimed. “I’ve been calling your name for five fucking minutes! Where have you been?” Emily looked back at the open door of the workshop, knowing that Kathy must have heard Jane’s harangue. Not wanting to create more problems, Emily kept walking to gain distance from the workshop. Jane, not understanding Emily’s behavior, angrily followed her. “Hey! Don’t walk away from me when I’m talking to you!”
Emily turned to Jane with a “Be careful” look on her face. “Mom, don’t!”
At that moment, unbeknownst to Jane, Kathy quietly appeared outside the workshop door holding a small case of jars in her arms. Emily motioned with her eyes to get Jane to realize the intrusion. Jane caught the drift and turned around to face Kathy. There was a heavy hush between the two of them as Kathy scrutinized Jane with guarded scorn.
“I’ll take these jars into the house,” Kathy said, her throat choked with apprehension. “It’s time to pit those cherries.” She quietly closed the workshop door with her elbow and walked across the grass and into her house.
Jane turned to Emily. “What in the hell was that about?”
“I tried to tell you but you weren’t watching my eyes!” Emily said under her breath, slightly irritated.
“Where in the fuck were you all this time?”
“I was in the workshop helping Kathy get extra jars for the cherries.”
Jane felt her cop radar encircle Emily and sensed that a lie was afoot. “Then where are your jars?”
“What?” Emily replied, feeling Jane’s probing eyes.
“Don’t ‘what,’ me!” Jane said angrily. “You’re not being truthful! What in the hell was going on in there?”
“Nothing!” Emily said, exasperated. “I know you don’t like Kathy, but that’s ’cause you don’t know her—”
“The hell I don’t know her!” Jane said abruptly.
“She’s nice!”
“Is that so?” Jane replied sarcastically.
“Yeah, that’s so! Emily turned away from Jane. “She just . . .” Emily said quietly, “she just wanted to know if I was okay, that’s all.”
Jane smelled a rat. “That’s all, huh?” she responded, not