“It’s all right, Angel,” North said quietly. “It’s all right. You’re safe. I need to wash my hands so I can pick you up. Can you stay there?”
“R-R-Rex,” she sobbed.
“I know.” North’s voice was tight. “I know. Jared will be home soon. But right now, I’m the only one here. And I will look after you. Okay? Just let me wash my hands. Don’t move.”
But as he left she found herself getting to her feet. Her legs were trembling as she forced herself down the stairs.
She had to see.
Just a small peek.
Why? She had no idea. Maybe she thought it might be a prank.
At least, that’s what she was praying for. Even as she knew that wasn’t the case
Before she reached the box, she was stopped with an arm around her waist. She was lifted into the air as North drew her away.
“You are in big trouble.” He carried her into the living room and set her down on the sofa. “Stay here. I mean it this time. I know you’ve had a fright, but I will take you over my knee if you disobey me.”
She gulped. Okay. He seemed serious.
Nervous energy filled her, but she sat where she was until he returned with a blanket and a warm drink. North settled the blanket around her and placed the mug on the coffee table. Then he sat on the coffee table facing her.
“It’s R-Rex,” she said, her teeth chattering.
He nodded solemnly. “It is.”
“W-W-Who would do that?”
“I don’t know.” He glanced over her shoulder. “But I will find out.”
“I l-l-liked him,” she said.
“I know you did. He was a good cook.” He looked almost awkward as he spoke, as though he wasn’t sure what to say or do. “Jared is still an hour away.”
“O-O-Okay,” she said as she hugged herself tight and rocked back and forth.
She’d seen some terrible things as Fergus’s wife. Had awful things done to her.
But she’d never seen anything like this. And never to anyone that she’d liked. It felt like a family member had been murdered.
In an extremely brutal way.
Her breathing grew rapid. She was going to vomit.
“It . . . it’s all right i-if you h-have to g-go deal with t-this,” she said. “I’m o-o-okay.”
“Why are you lying to me about this?” he asked. “It’s clear to me that you’re not all right and I’m unsure why you would say that you are.”
“B-Because I don’t w-want you to f-feel like you have t-to babysit me.”
“I wasn’t aware that you regressed that young,” he mused.
Um. Okay.
She needed to explain herself better. “Not saying I’m a b-baby. Just . . . you must h-have important t-things to do.”
“And you think these things are more important than taking care of you? I must be going wrong somewhere if you believe that.”
