“Of course. And Naomi? If you change your mind, that’s okay too.”
“I won’t.”
They said goodbye, and Naomi put her phone on the table.
She needed to tell Micah.
He’d want to know. He’d probably insist on driving her, on being there, on making sure she and Grace were safe.
Somewhere in the last few days that had become normal. Micah being there. Micah showing up. Micah being part of the decisions she made.
She wasn’t sure when that had happened.
But it had.
And she didn’t hate it.
A few minutes after her phone call ended, Caleb turned to her. “You got a minute?”
Naomi nodded up at her brother. “I do. But I thought you and Millie were hanging out.”
“We are. But there’s something I wanted to mention to you before I forgot.”
She turned toward him. “Go ahead.”
“I know we have a new woman talking about coming here to stay.” Caleb paused. “But with everything going on right now—Travis, Grace, Richard’s family—I wanted to make sure you were okay bringing someone new onto the property.”
Naomi looked at his careful, concerned expression. He was asking if she felt safe enough to do this right now.
And the truth was, she didn’t know.
But the shelter wasn’t just for her. It was for women who had nowhere else to go. Women like this one who’d just contacted them, someone who needed a place to breathe, to think, to figure out what came next.
She couldn’t close the doors just because things were complicated.
“We’ll make it work,” Naomi said. “If she needs us, we’re here.”
Caleb studied her before nodding. “Okay. I just wanted to double-check.”
He turned to leave but paused. “You doing all right? I know this has been a lot.”
Naomi looked down at her tea and nodded. “Yeah, I’m okay. Just a little shaken.”
Caleb didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t push. “Let me know if you need anything.”
“I will. Thanks.”
He left, and the room went quiet again.
Naomi pulled out her phone, found Micah’s contact number, and typed:
Setting up a jail visit with Sissy. Bringing Grace. Will let you know when it’s scheduled.
She hesitated, thumb hovering over the send button.
Then she added:
Thought you should know.
She hit Send before she could second-guess it.
The reply came almost immediately.
I’m coming with you.
Naomi stared at the screen, something warm and complicated stirring in her chest.
Knowing he’d be with her made everything feel better.
But that feeling in itself was dangerous, and she couldn’t let herself forget it.
