Chapter Forty-six
Les,
I have so much I want to say, but I don’t even know how to begin.
Everything with Sky couldn’t have turned out better. She’s back home with Karen now where she belongs.
I knew Karen wouldn’t have harmed Sky. I could tell just from the little time I spent with them that Karen loved her as much as I did. It turns out, I was right. Karen took Sky from her father because Karen knew what he was doing to her. Karen was his sister . . . Sky’s aunt. And she had been through every single thing that Sky went through. She took her because she couldn’t just sit back and allow it to continue to happen. Now that Sky knows the whole truth, she’s decided to stay with Karen. Karen risked her entire life for that girl. She risked her entire future and I could never thank her enough.
I said this to Sky and I’ll say it to you. The only thing I wish Karen would have done differently, is I wish she could have taken you, too.
I didn’t know, Les. I had no idea what he was doing to you and I’m so sorry.
I’ll tell you more tomorrow, but tonight I just needed to tell you that I love you.
Chapter Forty-seven
Happy Halloween. Sure hope you decide to wear something sexy for once.
I hit send and set the phone on my nightstand, then climb out of bed. I didn’t leave Sky’s house until after four o’clock this morning, then I came home and wrote Les a note before I crawled into bed. It’s been days of little sleep and high emotion.
I walk to the closet and grab a T-shirt, then pull it on over my head. My phone sounds off so I walk to it and pick it up to read her text.
Hi, Holder. It’s Karen. Still haven’t returned Sky’s phone to her, but I’ll relay the message. Or not.
Oh, shit. I laugh and text Karen back.
lol . . . sorry about that. But while I’m texting you, how is she today?
I wait for her response, which doesn’t take long.
She’s okay. She’s been through a lot and I know it’ll take time. But she’s the bravest girl I know, so I have complete faith in her.
I smile and text her back.
Yeah. She kind of reminds me of her mother.
She texts back a heart. I set my phone on the bed and sit down beside it. I pick it back up and scroll through it, finding my father’s number.
Hey, Dad. Miss you. I’m thinking about bringing my girlfriend to visit during Thanksgiving break. I want you to meet her. Tell Pamela I promise to stay off her couch.
I hit send, but I know the text wasn’t enough, so I text him one more time.
And I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.
I set the phone down and look across the room to the notebook still lying on the floor where I threw it. The one that contains the majority of my notes to Les.
I still don’t want to read it, but I feel like I owe it to her. I stand up and walk to it. I bend over and pick it up at the same time I lower myself to the floor. I lean against the wall and pull my knees up, then open the notebook and flip to the back of it.