Lost in Silence (The Lost Series Book 1)(93)

“No, it’s not. You felt safe and you had every right to feel that way, meant I was doing my job,” he cuts her off. “But I should’ve known better.”

“Zero…”

“I’m glad he’s dead,” he cuts her off again. “Sorry I wasn’t the one to do it and you got to carry it with you but he’s gone now. You’re safe and he can’t hurt you anymore.”

I hold my breath, waiting for Alice to react. No one’s mentioned what happened to her, although everyone knows after tonight. I notice Missy and Jeanette standing off to my left, their also watching the two of them.

“I’m glad he’s dead too,” Alice’s voice breaks the silence. Her face is blank but her eyes waged a different war. “He can’t hurt anyone anymore.”

“You don’t hold onto that, you hear me?” he tells her because he sees the same war raging in her eyes I had. On top of everything she was struggling with the guilt of taking a life. “You let that shit go. You don’t, you’re just giving him power, even in death.”

She flinches from his words but he’s right and she needs to hear it from someone other than me. He pulls her to him one more time hugging her tightly before letting go and walking out of the house. She stands and watches him go, her eyes on him down the walkway to his truck. It isn’t until he pulls away she closes the door and turns, her eyes look for me. I close the distance between us and take her in my arms. She’s slumps exhaustedly against me. The night drained what strength she had left.

“You should go lay down,” I suggest, rubbing her back. Jeannette comes up beside us.

“I’m going to head home with Missy,” she explains. Alice turns her head, resting it against my chest but her eyes on her mother. “You gonna be okay?”

Alice yawns and nods, she was fading fast, “Come for breakfast?”

“I’d like that,” Jeanette smiles, her eyes bright. She steps back and looking at me. I read her eyes clearly.

“You’re welcome to stay,” I offer but I need to be clear where I stand with her daughter. “The bed pulls out and it’s quite comfortable.”

Jeanette falters for only a second, reading me loud and clear.

“I think its better this way, gives you both some privacy,” she nods and touches my arm, her warm brown eyes glisten up at me. “Thank you Hudson, for everything.”

She turns and links arms with Missy who’s smirking at me. I roll my eyes at her and lean down to kiss Alice’s hair. They make their exit and it isn’t until I hear Missy’s car start I lift Alice into my arms and carry her to our bed. She was fast asleep even before I pulled the covers up around her.

“I love you, precious,” I whisper against her hair, knowing how lucky I got today. How lucky we all got.

*****

Alice

The last few days have been a blur, an absolute whirlwind and the people around me a blessing. Between breakfasts with my Mom, dinners spent with our dwindling group, nights spent in Hudson’s arms, I haven’t been able to sit down and process everything. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or bad thing but I’m just enjoying the company of those I have come to know and love.

I stare at myself in the mirror, amazed at the strong confident woman staring back at me. I never thought I’d make it this far but I’m grateful for it. Now if only I could get Hudson to stop treating me like I’m a fragile piece of glass that will break if he does more than kiss me. It was frustrating and every time I tried to bring up the subject with him, we are interrupted by someone stopping in to check on us. It was making me crazy.

“Alice?” My mother’s voice calls from the kitchen.

“In here,” I call back, putting away my hairbrush and the little bit of makeup I have. I close the door to the bathroom just as she enters into the room.

“Hi sweetie,” she smiles, her eyes move about the room nervously, eventually settling on me. “I was hoping you had a moment we could talk?”

“Sure,” I sit down at the end of the bed, patting the spot beside me. She hesitates before finally sitting, clasping her hands in her lap. “Everything okay?”

“Yes,” she tells me but she’s fidgety.

“Mom, relax,” I smile and reach for her hand. She relaxes.

“I’m going to head home in a couple of days,” her voice is soft.

“Okay,” I respond, everything becoming a little clearer.

“I was wondering,” she pauses and takes a deep breath. “Maybe you might want to come back with me?”

“I...I hadn’t thought of it honestly,” I answer. My throat feels thicker.