Redemption Chapter Six

Aidan stayed out of the conversation, mostly because he’d felt conflicted himself. Molly deserved a place to stay where people could help her recuperate. At the same time, he wondered how she had no one in her life. Even if her parents were dead, most people had other family, friends, significant others, coworkers—someone they could call for help. Especially this day and age. Someone being truly alone, was not only rare, but—sad.

Or it meant they were running from something, or Aidan thought, since Molly didn’t seem the criminal type, maybe she was running from someone.

It also didn’t help that he couldn’t keep his eyes off her. Even with the thick cast and light bruises, there was something about this woman that captivated Aidan. Something he couldn’t put his finger on, and it went deeper than just her looks. Guilt balled into his belly. He had a girlfriend. A girlfriend that probably wasn’t going to be thrilled that Molly would be hanging out in the room next to his.

Leaving Cody with Molly and the others, he walked into the hall to call Krysta. He wanted to give her a heads up that they were going to have a house guest. He walked through the waiting room and out the automatic sliding doors.

“Mr. Spencer!” Lacey Jones jogged up to him, her high heels clacking against the sidewalk. She held a small digital voice recorder in her hands. “I was wondering if I could have a few moments of your time!”

Aidan put his cell in his pocket and turned on his heel, walking for the door. The last thing he needed right now was another reporter. Most of them respected the family’s wishes to be left alone. Reporters had gained a bad rap for trying to get the story at any costs. Lacey Jones, however, didn’t get the memo to back off.

“Please, Mr. Spencer—”

“I’ve got nothing to say.”

“Your son was nearly killed a few days ago—”

Without saying anything, he continued inside, and back to Molly’s room. Lacey stopped in the waiting area. Aidan breathed a sigh of relief, and was glad to see Molly was almost ready to go. No doubt Lacey would try to get them on their way out. They may be better off slipping through a different exit. He relayed his plan to Corbett, who agreed. His father shuffled from the room, and they wheeled her out.

Molly had nothing but the clothes on her back, her camera and her cell. The clothes had been cut off, the rest destroyed when she’d been hit by the car. The hospital had given her a pair of scrubs and some slippers to leave in. She moved stiffly, her muscles rigid from the trauma. He noticed Molly holding her breath at times, her cheeks slightly puffed out. He smirked, not at her pain, but how adorable the chipmunk imitation made her look.

 They’d offered her a prescription for painkillers, but she’d declined. Aidan helped her from the wheelchair into the back of the SUV. Heather sat on the other side, with Cody in the middle. Corbett took the passenger side and Aidan drove them home.

He glanced at her from the rear view mirror when they were at stoplights or stuck in a little bit of traffic. At one point, Aidan had been staring at nothing for so long, Corbett had to let him know the light turned green. It didn’t take them long to get to the house. It was on the beach near the bay. Two stories with lots of windows and an ocean breeze that never seemed to stop.

Heather talked to Molly, generic questions about her parents and friends, but Molly kept her answers as vague as possible. Aidan didn’t know if Heather was prying to find out who they were bringing home or if she just didn’t trust Molly. Hell, Aidan didn’t know if he trusted Molly. He didn’t have a reason to doubt her. The opposite in fact. Maybe he just had second thoughts because of his attraction to her.

He parked the car and got out. Heather took Cody’s hand as he hopped out and Corbett came around to help Molly. She bit her lip, grimacing a bit.

“You should have taken the meds,” Corbett told her. “No shame in a needin’ a little help for the pain.”

“No,” Molly said, her voice soft. “There isn’t.”

Aidan went up to the house, unlocking the door. Corbett kept Molly’s good hand, letting her lean on him and took her inside. Krysta pulled up in her silver BMW. Aidan shut the door and went back down the stairs to greet her. He knew Heather would make sure Molly was taken care of, and Krysta deserved an explanation before she walked into the house and found Molly tucked into bed. After Lacey approached them, he’d wanted to get them out of there as quick as possible, and Aidan had forgotten all about calling Krysta.

She smiled brightly, her arm bent at the elbow, an overly expensive purse hanging by the straps. Prada, as he’d learned. She didn’t buy any other brand. Aidan had purchased a no name brand from the catalog at the store for her once. Krysta had tried to accept it gracefully, but the sour look on her face told Aidan he’d botched it. He didn’t understand why a name on a purse was so important, and even when Krysta explained the do’s and don’ts of purse buying, Aidan was at a loss. He’d decided to forego handbag buying in the future.

“Hey baby.” He met her half way and she gave him a kiss.

The feel of her lips didn’t send a zing through Aidan, but it was familiar and comforting.

“How’s Cody,” she asked.

“He’s good. Healing up fine.”

Her heels dipped into the soft ground. She wore another designer suit—it was purple to match the purse, or vice versa. Krysta enjoyed the finer things and often tried to get Aidan to spruce up the house. More than once they had a conversation about him going back to school so he could do something better with his time than work at the general store.

Aidan loved his life and working at the store. It wasn’t a glamorous job sure, but it was a family thing, and he didn’t need fancy clothes like Krysta. He preferred a simpler life. One where happiness came first and the rest came second. Money paid the bills, but having lost so many people he loved, Aidan knew what took priority in his life.

Krysta had different values, but she’d grown up with both her parents, had been handed everything she wanted; at the same token, busted her ass to make sure she got the grades to get into law school. She wasn’t spoiled, but Aidan sometimes wished she was more attentive to the things that mattered to him as well as herself.

He took her arm, helping her walk through the gravel drive to the door. “Molly’s doing well,” he said. “They released her today.”

“That’s great!” Krysta smiled. “I’m glad she’s okay.”

“She’s still got a lot of healing to do,” Aidan said. “It’ll take some time.”

“Of course it will, but I’m sure she’s got people to help her.”

They walked up the front steps. “She does. Heather asked her to stay with us for a while.”

Krysta stiffened and moved her purse from one arm to the other. She cocked her hip and licked her pink-sheened lips. “Oh? Do you think that’s a good idea?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

“She’s a stranger.”

He nodded. “A stranger that could have died saving my son’s life.”

She pressed her lips in a thin line. “Maybe so, but you still don’t know her.”

“I know she took Cody’s place in front of that car. That’s enough.”

Aidan was surprised at his own words, considering the doubt he’d had earlier, but the fact remained, she had saved his son, and with no one else to help her, taking her in was the right thing to do. At least until they were sure that Molly would be all right on her own.

Krysta let out an exasperated breath. “She has no one else?”

He shook his head. “Not that we know of. She claims not to.”

“What about the local PD? Aren’t they investigating?”

Aidan nodded. “They’ll be here later today to question her about the hit and run. Dr. Noles held them off long enough so that it wouldn’t be too detrimental to Molly. They sent a request down to Florida, but haven’t heard back yet.”

“That’s unfortunate,” Krysta said. She looked out to the horizon, watching the waves, before turning back to Aidan. “You’re right. This is probably the best thing until they find out more information.”

“Until she’s well, you mean?”

Krysta tilted her head, giving him a look of exasperation. “I’m not trying to be difficult, Aidan. I love Cody too, and I’m glad Molly is okay. It’s just—a little awkward for me.”

“I know,” he let out a slow breath. It was awkward for him too.

“Would you be all right if I had a man who was a complete stranger coming to stay with me,” she asked, her green eyes searching his face for something.

Aidan thought about that for a moment. He wasn’t sure, but he knew the answer she’d want to hear. He frowned, not saying anything—not because he’d be jealous, but because he wasn’t sure if he would be.

“Aidan?” Her lips turned down and she put a hand on his arm.

“Sorry. It’s been a long few days,” he said. “I’m sorry. I meant to call you at the hospital, but this reporter flanked me before I could.”

She rubbed the tip of her nose. “I know. This hasn’t been easy for anyone. Just—try not to drop anymore surprises on me, okay?”

He nodded. “I’ll do my best.”

“Thank you.” She kissed him before walking inside.

Aidan stood on the porch for a minute, his hands stuffed in the pocket of his jeans. The waves crashed on the shore. High tide was settling in. Something in the pit of his stomach left a sour feeling. Maybe it had been Krysta’s nature, or maybe it was Molly being here. Maybe it was because his son could have been killed by that car and Aidan would have lost another person in his life.

Instead of dwelling on it, he followed Krysta.

Heather had taken Molly to the room upstairs next to Aidan’s. By the time he arrived she was already tucked in bed, while trying to protest that she could walk.

Aidan leaned against the door frame and chuckled. “Don’t try and argue with her. Heather is all about taking care of people.”

Heather chuckled and continued tucking Molly in. Krysta walked up behind him, putting a hand on his shoulder.

“Hi, Molly. I don’t know if you remember me—”

“Krysta,” Molly said. “Aidan’s girlfriend.”

A bright smile washed over Krysta. “That’s right. Sometimes with head injuries, people can forget recent details they may have learned.”

She shook her head. “No, I remember everything.”

“Speaking of,” Corbett said. “Sheriff Tidwell will be here soon to take your statement. Other witnesses gave their descriptions of the car. Someone even got a partial plate, but they still need to find out what you remember.”

Molly nodded a bit, her fingers trailing along her cast. “Of course. I’ll do everything I can to help find the person responsible for almost hurting Cody.”

“They still hurt you, dear,” Heather said. “I’m going to make you some soup. You’re not allergic to anything are you?”

“Strawberries.” She shook her head. “But I don’t think that has a place in soup.”

Heather smirked. “I don’t think so either.”

Molly smiled, her cheeks flushed, and she stared at the floor.

Aidan couldn’t help but watch Molly’s mannerisms. She kept her gaze down most of the time, and was mostly soft spoken. He didn’t know much about her, but there was a sadness in her deep brown eyes, and he wondered what had caused it. Maybe it was loneliness since she had no one.

Cody peeked around the door, holding a Nintendo DS in his small hands.

Molly smiled at him. He sniffled and wiped his nose with the back of his hand.

“Hey Cody,” she said in an easy tone. “Cool DS you got there.”

“Do you like to play,” he asked in a soft voice.

The sadness drifted from Molly’s eyes. “I do, but unfortunately, I’m not very good.”

“That’s okay,” Cody said. “I can show you.”

Cody walked over and sat on the edge of Molly’s bed. Aidan was glad his son was starting to warm up to her. Krysta stood tense next to him. He understood her reticence toward Molly. Krysta worried about Aidan and everything he’d been through, but she couldn’t protect him from the world.

A whisper crossed his mind that it was exactly what she was doing. Aidan was letting Krysta be a buffer between him and finding someone he could give his heart to. She was comfort, and it meant he didn’t have to put himself on the line again.

Sounds and beeps came off the handheld set. Heather went into the kitchen, and Corbett winked at Molly before wandering out.

“Come on, hon,” Krysta said taking Aidan’s hand. “It looks like they’re having fun on their own.”

“Let me know if you need anything,” Aidan told Molly. “Cody, don’t bother Miss Molly too much. She needs her rest.”

Molly waved him off with her casted hand. “He’s fine.”

Cody grinned and they continued playing. Aidan smiled and left the room with Krysta, bypassing Heather as she went back in the room with a tray of homemade soup and crackers. He kissed Krysta’s temple and they walked outside to the back porch, sitting on the old swing. Aidan leaned his head back and closed his eyes, trying to let himself relax after the last few days.

Krysta leaned into the crook of his arm, overlooking the water. “I could speed up the process of finding out who she is. After all, we don’t want her family to worry.”

“She doesn’t have any,” he said. “At least that’s what she said. Parents died when she was young.”

“Siblings? Aunts? Cousins?”

Aidan gave an exasperated sigh. “She said no one. That’s why Heather wanted her to come and stay with us.”

“Well, I still can’t say I like it. I have a few contacts,” she pressed. “I’ll see what I can find out.”

He didn’t argue with her about it anymore. Krysta would do it whether he protested or not. Her strong will tended to overtake everything else when she put her mind to it. Instead, he just kept his eyes closed until the gravel in the drive crunched beneath tires.

Sheriff Tidwell had arrived.

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