“She was.”He smiles softly, then reaches out.“May I say grace?”
“Oh, yeah.”Even as my fingers tremble, I slide them into his and bow my head.
“Heavenly Father, we thank You for this food.I want to thank You for this new friend sitting across from me.Please bless her and her son and be with them always.Please let this food nourish our bodies, and please be with the Hardings during this troubling time.In the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, I pray.Amen.”
“Amen.”I pull my hand free, then take a bite of the food.The savory flavor is a welcome assault on my senses, and my stomach aches for more.“Thomas told me there was an incident at school today with Kyle Harding.Is that why you had to leave your apartment earlier?”
Something flashes over Garrison’s expression.
“If you can’t or don’t want to talk about it, I understand.”
He sighs.“This is delicious, by the way.”
“Thanks.It’s one of Thomas’s favorites.”
“I can see why.”He takes a deep breath and swirls his spoon in his bowl.“Kyle is a good kid who did something he shouldn’t have.He was afraid for his life and the lives of his mom and sister.He wasn’t going to hurt anyone; the knife was because he wanted to protect his sister.”
Pain for this poor boy makes my chest ache all over again.“He stuck up for Thomas once.He was being bullied when we first moved here, and Kyle came to his defense.”
Garrison nods, a haunted smile on his face.“Like I said, he’s a good kid.Just makes poor choices.The school expelled him, but his mom is going to homeschool him through a charter school so he can still graduate next year.I’m going to spend some time with him, see if I can help him keep his nose clean until then.”
Before we left the last town we lived in, Thomas wasreallystruggling with his grades.His attitude was horrible, and he’d tried to run away twice, only to be brought back by the police.I can’t even imagine being in the position Kyle’s mom is in right now.
I don’t know her, but I feel for her.
“His sister has a full-time caretaker, but he can’t be trusted not to sneak out.”
“A caretaker?”
“She suffers from seizures.They’re trying some new medication to help her, but she’s in and out of school because of it.Which is why Kyle was there today.She was having a good day and was able to go to class after over a week of being stuck at home.”
“He went with her?”
Garrison nods, his expression tight.“He wanted to protect her.”
“Oh, that poor family.”My stomach twists just thinking about all that mother must be going through.
“It’s definitely been rough, but Ursula—his mom—is strong.She’s fighting through it.Anyway, you may see him hanging around my apartment.”
“That’s really kind of you.”
“I don’t want this to be the setback that derails his future.Not when he’s come as far as he has.So, I will be playing the distraction while I try to talk him through everything he’s carrying.”
“Why did he think he needed to protect his sister with a knife?”Garrison goes quiet again, and I worry that I’ve pushed too far.“You don’t have to tell me.Sorry, I’m being nosy.”
“No, it’s okay.Uh, they don’t want it to be public knowledge.And as his counselor?—”
“Say no more; I completely understand.If anyone gets the need for privacy, it’s me,” I add quickly, then kick myself.Watch what you say, Katelyn.
He smiles appreciatively.“Things like this have a way of haunting a person, and Kyle has enough ghosts of his own.He’s not a risk to anyone, though.I wouldn’t allow him anywhere close to you or Thomas if he were.”
The way he speaks those words sends my heart racing because there’s no doubt in my mind that he means every single word.
This man doesn’t know us, and we don’t really know him, but there’s this feeling in my gut, this understanding, that he’d protect us if we ever needed it.And there’s a part of me relieved to know it.Especially with who I’m hiding from and what he’s capable of.
“So, Navy SEAL to counselor.How did that happen?”
He laughs.“To be honest, I think God knew I needed that community center more than they needed me.”