Chapter 22
“Hold that thought,” I told Alex and rushed to Katie. “Feel better now after a hot bath?” Her chin quivered and a tear slipped down her cheek. I guided her toward the sofa. “Everything’s going to be okay, honey. You’ll see. This, too, shall pass.” I smoothed back her hair. She had a terrible experience, but she was strong and would get past it.
Alex cleared his throat. “Maybe you should call Jonathan.”
Katie whimpered beside me. “I can’t keep this from your father. You know that, don’t you?”
She nodded.
“And you know, too, how much your father loves you?”
“He’s still going to get really mad.”
I took the cordless phone in my hand. “He’ll understand.” Eventually. Jonathan saw on a daily basis what happened to young girls who put themselves in situations like Katie had, ending up victims of assault and rape, victims of their own naiveté. He would know, too, how close she came to being killed or scarred for the remainder of her life. And for those reasons he would be furious with her and, as illogical as it sounded, with me for allowing it to happen.
“Was Daddy mad?” Katie asked after I disconnected the line.
“A little. But he’s relieved you’re all right.” Truthfully, he was livid. Once again I shielded her from the truth. I couldn’t seem to stop myself from doing that. Maybe he’d cool off on the drive from the police station. I looked at Alex. “Maybe you should go.”
Katie let out a cry. “Why can’t he stay?”
At the moment Alex was her rock and her protector. I understood that, but Jonathan was angry enough at the moment. Alex’s presence and involvement in something Jonathan would consider none of his business would only anger him more. Then Irwin might intervene. That worried me more than Jonathan’s anger. Irwin took every opportunity to hurt him, whether it was because he didn’t like him or whether he protected me, I didn’t know. Where would Irwin stop?
That was something I intended never to learn. “It’s better that he goes, Katie.”
“I can stay. It’s no problem.”
Images of Alex, Jonathan and Irwin duking it out like bad boys flashed through my mind.
“That’s so nice of you,” and courageous and foolhardy, “but it’s best if you go.” A moment passed, then another where he obviously decided whether to comply with my request.
“I’ll go. But if you need me, I’m just a phone call away.”
“I know.” I stood and walked him to the door. “I can’t thank you enough for everything you did for Katie tonight and for being here for me. If it weren’t for you ....” My voice caught in my throat.
He cupped my face in his hands. “I meant what I said. If Jonathan gives you or Katie a hard time — ”
“You’re just a phone call away.” He would be the only person I’d call. I hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
He brushed his lips against my cheek. “You’re a strong woman, Susan. Don’t let Jonathan intimidate you.”
“I won’t. I promise.” At his skeptical expression, I added, “I can be Attila the Hun where it concerns my children.”
He chuckled. “Now that I would like to see.”
“Well, you can’t. Now go.” I shooed him out the door.
Ten minutes later, Jonathan arrived, eyes blazing and red-faced, just as I expected he would.
“Jonathan, I’ll explain everything.”
He ignored me and stomped to Katie. She visibly shriveled.
“Tell me what happened.” His voice was stern, his posture rigid.
Katie looked at me. The fear she experienced was clearly inscribed in her eyes. “It’s okay, honey. Tell your father.” I nudged her on with a nod.
She took a deep breath, stared down at the floor and related the story to him. When she neared the end, I inched closer to Jonathan. He never struck either Katie or Benjamin before, but since neither of them ever gave him reason to lose his temper, I couldn’t trust this wouldn’t be the first time.
“What were you thinking, Katie,” he screamed.
Despite my intention to field any blows, when he threw his arms into the air, I flinched. Perhaps I overestimated myself.
Katie curled into a ball, her arms shielding her face.
A sob raced up my throat seeing her like that. “Jonathan, calm down. Please. You’re frightening her. She’s fine. What happened wasn’t her fault. It could have been a lot worse, and we should be thankful for that.”
“Thankful?” He arched a brow. “Thankful? It’s not as though fate placed her in that situation.”
“True, but she learned her lesson, and I’m sure she won’t let it happen again.” I forced softness into my voice.
“I certainly hope so. She was almost raped.” He threw his arms into the air again. “I still can’t believe you would act so irresponsibly or be so stupid, Katie.”
I wanted to scream, ‘You’re a fine one to talk’, but a remark like that would only antagonize him.
“Daddy, I didn’t think — ”
“You’re damned right you didn’t think.”
Her wails lanced my heart. “Jonathan, please.”
He turned toward me so swiftly, I took a step back.
“And you... how could you let this happen, Susan?”
I hadn’t prepared myself well enough for the accusation. Though I anticipated it, it still angered me. It almost slipped out about Katie’s deceit and deviousness and that she lied to me time after time. I inhaled deeply and composed myself. “Jonathan, how was I supposed — ”
“It wasn’t Mom’s fault," Katie yelled. "I told her I was going to Veronica’s to watch videos.”
My mouth fell open. My daughter protected me. Tears slipped from my eyes. “Oh, Katie — ”
“You lied to your mother? Why you — ” He made a move toward her.
Quickly, I regained my composure and blocked him like a defensive guard. “Jonathan, please don’t do something you’ll regret.”
“Get out of my way. Let me handle this.” He shoved me aside.
I stumbled a few feet and almost fell before righting myself. Peripherally, I saw Irwin materialize. I squinted hard, shook my head vigorously, praying he would take heed, and sprinted back to Jonathan. “Handle it how? The same way your father would? No, you won’t. Lay one hand on her and as God is my witness ....” I eyed the nine-millimeter pistol in his shoulder holster. At that moment, I could have shot him. When I looked up, my eyes must have told him I meant business because he raised his hands in air, palms out, and backed away. I took a soothing breath, forcing composure I didn’t feel.
“Jonathan,” I said softly, “please. Hasn’t she been through enough? She knows she shouldn’t have gone to that boy’s apartment and won’t do something like that again.” I turned to my daughter. “Right, Katie?”
She bobbed her head. “I promise.”
My heart leapt to my throat as Jonathan clenched and unclenched his hands while he studied her, seemingly deciding whether to believe her or backhand her. I suspected the latter was about to happen and searched the room for Irwin. He was nowhere to be seen. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t here. Jonathan needed to be calmed before it was too late. “Take a deep breath, Jon,” I said softly and rested a hand on his arm. “Katie’s fine. She didn’t get hurt.”
After a moment, his breathing returned to normal and the flush on his face disappeared. I never wanted my children to see this side of their father. He should be one of the two persons they could always turn to. In his work, he stayed objective and never allowed the atrocities that was part of his job get to him. But this was different. This was his little girl.
“Feel better?” I asked.
“Uh-huh.”
“Good.” Maybe now we could discuss the situation rationally and calmly, like two parents who loved their children and understood how mistakes happened.
He drew in a deep bre
ath. “Katie, why didn’t you call me instead of Alex?”
“I didn’t. I called Mom. He just happened to be here and answered the phone.”
The look that crossed his face told me another storm was blowing in. It needed deflecting. “What should we do now?” I asked, hoping to distract him from the subject of Alex.
He stared at me like I just sprouted horns. “You’re not going to do anything. I am.”
Alex was right. Jonathan wouldn’t handle this by the book. I wanted that bastard to pay for what he did to my daughter, but not in the conventional way. I didn’t want Jonathan to get into trouble, though. He was my children’s father, and despite how I thought of him from time to time, I didn’t want him to ruin his life or his career. “Please don’t do something crazy.”
“I won’t do anything crazy, Susan. I’m not stupid.”
“No, you’re not, just don’t let your emotions rule your actions.” His quizzical look puzzled me. How could he think his well-being wouldn’t concern me?
“Katie, what’s this Rob’s last name and where does he live?”
She looked at me. I nodded. She gave the information to him.
I wouldn’t ask what he intended to do. All I needed to know was that the scum bag would not get away scot-free. And he wouldn’t. The look in Jonathan's eyes told me so.
I sat with Katie in my arms and we talked for a long while after Jonathan left. For the first time in many months, she was forthright with me. She purged herself of her demons.
Katie would heal now.
I would, too.
Restless Souls Page 34
