Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 20653 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 103(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 69(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20653 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 103(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 69(@300wpm)
Gertie looks up at me with those coke-bottle frames of hers, her old eyes focusing a bit. “Well, well, if it isn’t Graham Rough. It’s going how you’d expect. Everyone’s in a bad way.”
Tallie looks up to see me, light igniting in her eyes. She looks to me, and then to Gertie. “You know him?”
“Oh yes, I’m friends with his mother. I’ve seen this lad grow up from playing cops and robbers with his brothers into a real police officer. Although back in the day he was usually playing the robber...”
“I got my robbing out of my system when I was young, Gertie,” I say, smiling.
“The Rough family has been good for Home, and Home’s been good to them,” Gertie says. “What brings you in here, Graham?”
“Just call me a softie who's particularly worried about a woman and her baby. I wanted to check to see how they are, and I was wondering if there’s anything I can do.”
“You’ve done so much already,” Tallie says, shaking her head.
“I can do more if you let me.”
“I’m going around getting the names of everyone here,” Gertie says. “And seeing if they have options other than staying here. Family or friends in Home, or somewhere else nearby. Sleeping in a cot under a fairground tent is no one’s first choice for where they want to stay for a night.”
“Wait, you have names?” Tallie says, her voice picking up. “Have you found Julia Miller?”
Gertie flips through her papers. “We don’t have a Julia recorded here. Not yet, anyway. I’ll notify you if we get in contact with her.”
The color drains from Tallie’s face. She seems so very worried and even though it’s warranted given the situation, my heart aches for her.
“I’m more worried about you and your baby right now,” Gertie says. “Do you have anyone who would be willing to take you in, if only for a few days?”
Tallie shakes her head. “No. No one to take me in. I have nowhere to go.”
I cock an eyebrow. “You don’t have a husband? A partner?”
“No. No, I don’t. Never had one.”
Never had one? My heart breaks further. If that were my baby – my woman – I’d die before I left them. How could anyone let them go?
Nevertheless, she’s a woman in danger, and I feel the need to help however I can. “If you want to get out of here, you can come to my home, Tallie.”
Her eyes shoot open. “What?”
“I have a ton of extra space in my cabin. It was recently built, and my parents can help make it childproof. They’re always willing to help out someone in need, doubly so if they have a child.”
She looks around the fairgrounds. Kindness built this place, but it’s not where any of us want to be. People need to be at home, not among a sea of desperate people. They’ll survive here but in no way will they thrive.
Tallie shakes her head. “I need to stay here. In case they find my sister.”
I kneel down, a hand on her shoulder. “Gertie says she’ll notify you if anyone named Julia shows up. And she’s a woman of her word.”
Gertie nods. “And I can vouch for the character of the Roughs, miss. This one will take good care of you. This is no place for a baby.”
Tallie’s eyes dart back and forth in thought before she finally relents, her shoulders sinking. “Alright. If you’re willing to help, I guess I have to accept your offer.”
I’m relieved to hear it. “Come on then. You need a hot meal, a hot shower, a warm bed, and the peace of mind that the roof over your head is going to be there tomorrow.” I offer my hand.
She takes it. “Thank you. You’ve just done so much already.”
“Giving can be just as fulfilling as receiving sometimes,” I say, my eyebrow cocked, wondering if she’s in the mental place to notice the double entendre that slipped out before I noticed it.
I give my contact info to Gertie, then head out to my truck, Tallie in tow. She’s so overwhelmed, and hesitant to make eye contact.
She's a mess, and it isn’t hard to see why. I worry that not even my hospitality will be enough to put her at ease.
But damn, I’ll try my hardest.
4
TALLIE
I ride along in his pickup, still holding Lucy tight. The rescue team had some baby formula and warm bottles to help me calm her and let her sleep through most of this, and I’m hoping that she won’t have the memory of this mayhem. That it won’t scar her for years to come.
Because I know damn well it’s going to scar me.
I’m still so surprised that Graham has offered me a safe place to sleep. I keep expecting the other shoe to drop, but the social worker gave me the faith to trust him.