Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33577 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33577 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
“Close the door, Little girl. I’m not leaving you here to deal with rats. They are dangerous and often infected with different diseases.”
“I know. I’ve heard all this before. Getting out of here is at the top of my list. I just don’t have enough to move yet.”
“Close the door, Melissa. Come sit down and talk to me.”
“The pizza’s going to bring more here. Can you just leave and take it with you?”
“Food is safe in the refrigerator, right?” he asked.
“Yes.”
Rocky grabbed the pizza box and bag of candy from the floor. He opened the fridge and shook his head at the sight of a generic small jar of peanut butter and a store brand of thinly sliced bread. Nothing else. No jelly, no mustard, no sodas, no nothing.
Forcing himself to control his anger, Rocky fit the large box into the fridge. He opened the bag of chocolates and pulled out three before adding the candy to an empty shelf. Returning, he told her again, “Close the door, Little girl. I’ll leave after we talk if you want me to.”
Rocky set the kisses on the chair she’d crouched on and perched himself precariously in the other. To his relief, she closed the door. As he watched, she automatically relatched the first lock. It wasn’t safe here for many reasons.
Melissa collected the chocolates and lifted them to her nose. Inhaling their scent, she sat down.
“Eat,” he told her gently when she didn’t open them. “You don’t want them to melt in your hand.”
She shook her head, obviously appalled by that idea, and unwrapped the foil to pop the first one into her mouth. A moan of delight came from deep inside her. Immediately, Rocky wanted to hear that sound for a completely different reason.
“It’s so good. Thank you,” she mumbled, covering her mouth.
“I’m glad.”
He waited until she’d popped the second into her mouth before telling her, “I mentioned that I’ve waited a long time to find my Little girl. I don’t think I told you how long I’ve searched to find you.”
She looked up and knew she was replaying their conversation in her head. “No. Has it been a long time?”
“Twenty-four years, three months, and twelve days.”
Melissa’s jaw dropped. “That’s a long time.”
“It is. I keep track of it carefully because I know what’s important. In high school, I found the most precious person at a football game. She was a clarinet player in the band. Not the best. Probably the worst,” he said, feeling his lips curve fondly.
“Why aren’t you still with her?”
“Her stepfather picked her up one night. I didn’t know he was drunk. He was always in a crappy mood. There was an accident and Ellen died. He didn’t.”
“She was your Little girl?” Melissa asked.
“We didn’t know what kind of relationship we had. We were kids. But yes. She was Little.”
“That’s so sad,” Melissa said, with tears in her eyes. She stood and walked the short distance to offer Rocky her last chocolate.
He took it and unwrapped the gift carefully before lifting it to her lips. “You eat it for me, Little girl.”
When she opened her mouth, he set it gently inside, feeling his heart swell in his chest. She trusted him and let him take care of her with that small piece of chocolate. Rocky dared to reach out and gather her into his arms, lifting her to sit on his lap. Please let this damn rickety chair hold together. Please let her accept comfort.
To his delight, she curled up on his chest and rested her head on his shoulder. Rocky rubbed her back lightly as he tried to memorize this moment in time. Her scent, her warmth, the feel of her body relaxed against him.
“Little girl,” he breathed out softly. “I’m so glad I found you.”
“I’m glad I found you, too.”
The sound of the rodents returning to the kitchen made her lift her feet up. She lifted her head to look toward the open doorway.
“I can’t let you stay here. It’s taken years for me to forgive myself for letting Ellen get in that car. I can’t leave you in jeopardy. It’s not safe here.”
“I don’t have anywhere else to go,” she whispered.
“You do now. You can stay with me. No strings attached.”
“I don’t even know you,” she protested weakly.
“We can get to know each other. You know the PLAYTIME app does a background check. You can send my information to someone you trust. Tami and Archer.”
The scurry of feet made her shudder. “I hate it here.”
“Then let me get you out of here. Tonight. You’re hurt. I would bet you don’t sleep well. You’ve endured this way too long.”
Silence stretched between them as she studied his face. Finally, she whispered, “Okay. I’ll go with you.”
“Thank you, Melissa. Go pack a bag with whatever you need through the week, and we’ll come back to grab the rest. Is it all right for me to look through your phone to find Tami and Archer’s contact information and send them a photo of my driver’s license with my address?”