Her cheeks flush with color, so I wipe the shock from my face.“I have a spare room, and I can take the couch.You guys can have your own beds.I’ll get help over here tomorrow, and you can call the landlord in the morning.I know Geoff will want to help, but he keeps his phone on silent at night.”
“I can sleep in the tub,” Katelyn says.“I’ve done it before.”
My heart drops at her confession.The tub?She’s slept in a bathtub?
“Come on, Mom.Allof our blankets are on the floor.Please?”
She chews on her bottom lip but finally nods.“Okay.Thank you, Garrison.”
“Yeah.”Agitation laces my tone, but I can’t figure outwhyshe’s so apprehensive around me.I haven’t ever done anything to warrant it.The fear on her face when we’d been on that beach surfaces in my memory, reminding me that I havenoidea what this woman has gone through.“I can help you grab some stuff if you want to make sure it stays safe.”
“We’ll just grab a set of clothes for tomorrow and his school stuff.We’ll be over in a few.”
“You don’t need help?”
She shakes her head.“Give us just a few.”
“Sure.”I run a hand through my now-wet hair as she and Thomas head down the rain-soaked hallway.The carpet is saturated with it, and I imagine there will be damage not just to this apartment but the one below it, too.
Since I imagine her sending me home was her way of getting some space, I don’t wait for them to get what they need before heading back toward my apartment.Quickly, I change into some dry clothes, then strip my bed, replacing my sheets with a clean set.
The bedding in the spare bedroom was changed after Zane’s wife, Tessa, stayed in it before they were married.But I still pop in and make sure there’s nothing out of place before tossing my sheets onto the couch for me to use.
I’m just about to head back over to Katelyn’s when there’s a knock on the door.I pull it open and step aside as she and Thomas come in.As soon as the door is closed, I engage the security alarm Elijah installed.
To be honest, I haven’t actually used it yet, but with them here, it’s not an option.
“This place is awesome.”Thomas moves over toward the pictures I have on the wall and points to one.“Is this from when you were in the Navy?”
I nod.“I was doing some training overseas, and those were the local kids.I still get letters from some of them.”
“Really?”he asks.
I nod.
“That’s so cool.”
“They’re great kids.”With the adrenaline still coursing through my veins, I know I’m not going to be much for conversation, but I force a smile anyway.“I can show you guys the rooms if you’d like.”
“Yes, please,” Katelyn says.Her face is pale, eyes still wide from the shock of having her windows shattered.Her hair is soaked, and there’s a bit of blood on her left cheek.Likely from a shard of glass hitting her.
Since it’s not too bad, I don’t bring any attention to it.The last thing I want to do is put her on edge.
“Whoa, is that where you?—”
I glance back over my shoulder just in time to see Thomas point to the shadow of a stain on my floor.
“It is.Now come on.Bed.”Katelyn gently tugs him farther down the hall, following me, all while he keeps trying to look back at it.I face forward again and push open the door to the spare room.
“This is the spare.”I point inside, and Thomas goes in and sets his stuff down.“You can stay here,” I tell Katelyn, pointing to the room across the small hall.
She leans in, then looks back at me.“I’ll take the couch.”
“Not a chance.I changed the sheets so they’re clean.If either of you wants to shower, there’s fresh towels in the cabinets and soap in both showers.”
“I just need a bed.”Thomas yawns and pulls back the sheets.
Katelyn moves into his room and pulls him into her arms.“Are you sure you’re okay?”she asks.