Safe and Sound(39)

Dr. Jones soon took her place; her expression and tone no nonsense. “You need to rest, Lola.”

“I can’t. Every time I close my eyes I see him. I can still feel him…smell him.” Lola shuddered, a bad taste in her mouth.

“Okay. It’s okay.” Dr. Jones sat down beside her and rubbed her back. Lola rested her cheek on her shoulder. “I’m sorry I failed you, Lola.”

Lola pulled away. “What?”

Dr. Jones’s face was guilt-stricken. “I let you down. You didn’t feel you could come to me. For that, I’m sorry.”

“I couldn’t go to anyone. He threatened me. He…he…” Lola’s strangled voice cut off. She couldn’t breathe.

“Shh. Easy. Easy.” Dr. Jones made a circular motion between Lola’s shoulders, soothing her. “Don’t think about it.”

“Where’s my mom, Dr. Jones? Why isn’t she here?” Lola heard the pain in her voice, the broken quality of it.

“I don’t know, Lola. She’ll be here soon. And…I know it’s not the same, but…I’m here. And I’ll help you any way I can. Always.”

Lola wiped her face and turned to her side so her back was to Dr. Jones. She just wanted to be alone. She was so tired and so heartbroken over everything.

Dr. Jones sighed. “Sebastian and I have to get home, Lola. But I’ll be back in the morning. Sebastian doesn’t want to leave, but I’m making him.” She gave a little laugh. “Stubborn boy.”

When Lola didn’t respond, Dr. Jones sighed once more and got up, the door clicking shut behind her.

Hot, hated tears streamed from her eyes onto the bedding. Lola stared at the pale blue wall across the room. Her mother blamed her. That’s why she wasn’t there. She was going to believe Bob’s side of the story. Lana was picking him; a cruel, malicious, evil man, over her own flesh and blood.

Lola bit her fist to keep a sob inside; her shoulders wracked from the effort it took to restrain it.

Her mother didn’t want Lola. She didn’t love her. She couldn’t. How could her own mother sacrifice her? And for what? For him? It shouldn’t hurt anymore; she should be used to it.

It still hurt Lola. It always would.





11



Startled by the gentle touch on her shoulder, Lola jerked to a sitting position.

Jack was there. There were brackets around his mouth and eyes, like he was in physical pain. He didn’t say anything. He never had to say anything. Lola already knew.

He moved closer, pressed his forehead to hers and inhaled slowly, deeply. Lola closed her eyes, savored the smell and touch of him; his presence.

“Did he…?”

Lola immediately knew what he meant. She averted her eyes and shook her head. He would have, though, given the chance. That knowledge filled her with repugnance, fear, and dread.

“I want…to kill him,” he bit out, lips barely moving. His jaw was set, his nostrils flared with every shallow breath he took.

“Jack—“

He swung his head around to pierce Lola with eyes that flashed. “I shouldn’t have let you go back. I wish…” He turned his back to her, shoulders tense. “I wish I could take you away. This isn’t right, what’s happened to you.”

Lola flinched at the dismal look on his face.

“You never deserved this. You know that, right? Lola? Lola.” Strong hands gripped her shoulders. “This isn’t your fault. You didn’t do anything wrong. Look at me. Look at me.” She finally did. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I know…I know that, in my head. I know this isn’t my fault. But it feels like it is too. Maybe I said something, maybe I did something. I mean, why would my mom…want someone like that over me? And what did I do to make him act like that toward me?” Her lips trembled and her eyes burned with unshed tears. “What’s wrong with me?”

Jack sat down on the bed and pulled Lola half on his lap and into his arms. Lola inhaled his faint cologne, feeling safe. His body was ripcord hard and lean against her; strong and sturdy.

“And my mom.” Lola’s voice broke. “Why didn’t she stop him? Why didn’t she take my side over his? Why didn’t she protect me?”

Her body convulsed and Jack’s arms tightened around her. “She’s not here, Jack. She didn’t even come.” Lola wept, wetting his shirt with her sorrow. “How could my own mother not come see me after what happened? Am I unlovable? Am I a horrible person? Is that’s what’s wrong with me?”

He pressed his jaw to her forehead. “There’s nothing wrong with you. You don’t ever think that way, Lola. It’s him. It’s all him. And your mother. She’s wrong, Lola, wrong for letting this happen, wrong for not being here. No parent should forsake their child. No parent should let this happen to their child.