Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 36646 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36646 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
“Motherfucker,” she muttered. “You coulda told me you were gonna go get a fuckin’ car.”
“Just givin’ you time to yourself. Seemed to be what you wanted.”
“I did!” she yelled. “But you should tell me when you fuckin’ leave! I thought you’d fuckin’ gone.”
“I ain’t leavin’ you, Jo. Not ever. Might as well get used to it now.” I started the car, and we took off. Finding where Gracie lived wasn’t that hard. Everyone knew her and her family. While a couple of her neighbors tried to help her out occasionally, most of them didn’t want anything to do with her. She was the white girl pregnant with the colored boy’s child. Persona non grata.
We sat outside the tiny shack for a full minute before Josephine shook her head. Opening the door, she stepped out and slammed it shut, not looking to see if I followed her. She rapped on the door three times before stepping back to give the girl room to open the door if she answered.
It wasn’t long before the slender brunette opened the door a crack. She looked terrified. “What do you want?” Her voice was strong, if a bit shaky. She had a black eye, and I noticed finger-shaped bruises on her upper arm.
“My name’s Jo. I’m here on Alex’s behalf.”
“Oh no.” Her whispered response was an anguish plea. “I know his unit got called up, but…”
“He’s all right, honey.” Jo tried her best to reassure the girl, but really. What could she say? Alex wasn’t dead, was no telling when he’d get out of prison, or if Gracie would ever see him again. “Can we come in?”
Gracie shook her head. “I’ll come out. If you’re gonna hurt me, you’ll have to do it in front of God and everyone.” She lifted her chin as she exited the house and stepped onto the porch.
“Christ.” I shook my head as I took her in. Bruises on her face and arms were likely just the tip of the iceberg. I noticed she had one hand holding her side. Probably had damaged ribs.
“We’re not gonna hurt you, honey. We’ll back off further if it makes you comfortable.” Jo moved her hands to the side, palms up so the girl could see she was unarmed.
Gracie wore a yellow maternity sundress that should have looked pretty on her, but the material was dirty and threadbare, and every inch of skin that showed had bruises on it somewhere. The girl clutched her belly tightly, as if protecting the baby she carried inside her. I saw Jo clench her teeth. The muscle in her jaw ticked like a son of a bitch. I knew the feeling. Mine was doing the same thing.
“Who did this to you?” I couldn’t stop the growl in my voice. It made the girl flinch, and I had my answer before she gave it.
“My father. My brothers.” She gave us the information in a quiet voice, then shrugged. “I learned not to answer the door when they come by.”
“Go pack a bag,” Jo ordered. “You’re comin’ with us.”
Gracie lifted her chin as she shook her head. “I don’t know you.”
“No, you don’t,” Jo bit out. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, obviously trying to rein it in. The mama tiger in her was surging to the fore. “But I guaran-damn-tee you we won’t be as harsh as this.” She waved her hand to indicate Gracie from head to toe.
“I’m not giving up my baby.” The girl’s hands clutched her gently rounded abdomen, her slender arms circling her belly even tighter than before. “People don’t understand, but I love Alex. He’s kind of simple, but he’s been good to me since the day I met him. He works hard and has the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever met.” She looked off. “Much better than my own family.”
“Ain’t askin’ you to give up your child, Gracie.” Josephine softened her tone, stepping closer to the girl. “We’re here to make sure you and your baby get a decent start. Come with us. You can stay until you’re back on your feet. Longer if you want. But Alex wouldn’t want you livin’ in a place like this if he could help it.”
“He gives me his Army pay but I don’t spend it. We’re not married. And I might need it for the baby. I won’t spend his money on myself, but I’ll do whatever I have to, to protect our child.”
“I know you will.” Jo took the opening Gracie had just given her. “He’d want that too. Which is why you’re going to come with us to Somerset. This is for your child.”
That made the girl blink. Obviously, she was carefully considering her decision. “How do I know you’re not trying to trick me?”
“Honey, I promised Alex I’d find you. I’ll tell you everything that happened on the way. I’ve got you ten minutes of privacy to talk with him. Well, as private as I can get. You discuss it with Alex. After that, I’ll do whatever you want. But I promise you, Alex is gonna want you to come with us.”