Mine to Keep by Wendy Hudson

Author:Wendy Hudson [Wendy Hudson]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9783955338848
Amazon: B076HRFJN7
Goodreads: 36446198
Publisher: Ylva Publishing
Published: 2017-11-01T03:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 25

Erin slammed the front door and moved down the porch steps quickly. She headed past her car towards the lane as she rooted in her bag for her phone. She didn’t trust her voice to make a call, so instead she sent George a text.

Can you come and get me now? I’m heading down the lane on foot. Thanks.

She had bumped into him at reception on her way out and something had made her tell him where she was heading. As well as her idea to pick up the bottle. He’d seemed concerned, even tried to talk her out of it before suggesting she not go alone. Erin guessed she was being afforded the same brotherly protectiveness Abby received. So, when he’d offered to be her personal taxi, she’d accepted to keep him happy.

Her phone beeped, and she felt a little relief.

Sure, I’ll be there in 10 mins.

She swiped the screen to bring up the torch function and continued along the lane, determined not to look back. Thankfully, it didn’t look like her dad had felt the need to come after her.

Round a corner, the shadow of a large tree stood stark against the moonlit sky, foreboding yet drawing her in. She clambered between its gnarled, sturdy roots, leant against it, and pulled her knees to her chest, waiting for George.

It wasn’t long before she heard his car and headlights lit up the hedgerow. She held up a hand hoping he would see her, and the car stopped a few feet past the tree. At the sight of him the tears came again, and then he was at her side, holding her close.

“Hey, hey. What happened? Are you okay?”

She could only nod into his chest, and he squeezed her tighter.

“C’mon. Let’s get you back.”

She allowed herself to be led to the car. He opened the door, and she gratefully climbed inside, the sanctity of the warm space enveloping her.

He got in and rubbed a reassuring hand along her arm. “You’re safe, Erin. It’ll be okay.”

They didn’t speak on the journey back to the hotel, and eventually her silent tears subsided. Her body still trembled, and she was torn between curling up into a ball and screaming in pure frustration. It enraged her that her dad could still spark the same anxieties and dread, yet the feel of his arms around her came with comfort. The juxtaposition of feelings did nothing to help answer the one question that kept circling in her head.

Why was she doing this?

Once parked up at the castle, neither moved. “Can I get you anything? Do you want me to fetch Abby?”

She heard the worry in his voice but shook her head. “No. Don’t do that. I’m okay, George.”

“Are you sure? I can knock off early if you want some company?”

Erin smiled his way, grateful to have him but also desperate for him to leave her alone. So, this is what it feels like to have a brother. His face held concern, and she appreciated it. She could see he needed reassurance, but she didn’t have more than formal niceties to console him.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.