“Aspen, are you hurt?” she cried.
“No, Mom. Dylan healed me. I told him to put me down, but he said no.”
Norma glanced at Dylan, and he gently dropped Aspen’s legs so she could stand on the ground. Even though she felt better, he kept his arm around her waist, and she tried to brush her skirt down as quickly as possible.
“Leeman said you’d heal her,” Norma said, her eyebrows drawn together in concern, “and told me to wait at the car so he could sort things out. I wanted to come in, but he wouldn’t let me.”
“I’m fine, Mom. The blood looks bad, but I don’t even have a scratch anymore.”
“Luckily the wound wasn’t too deep, otherwise my dream catcher wouldn’t heal you that quickly,” Dylan added.
“Get in the car, honey. Your uncle will be out in a second.”
As soon as the SUV’s door was open, Aspen climbed into the backseat. Once inside, Dylan followed her and closed the door behind him. He slipped his arm around her shoulder and drew her up against him.
Leeman returned from the school building and Norma got into the passenger seat. After checking on Aspen, he turned the ignition and the heavy car fired up instantly.
They were about to leave the parking lot when Stephan’s motorcycle roared past them. He raised his hand to stop them as he recognized Norma, and then made a turn in the road. With a brush of the throttle, he began to follow them.
Norma panicked. “Hurry, Leeman, don’t let him catch us.”
“Relax. You’ve got a restraining order. I’ll call the cops if he comes too close.”
Whatever Stephan wanted to say must have been serious, and he trailed them right up to the house. Once they’d stopped, he ripped off his helmet and flicked the bike stand down. He looked menacing in dark chinos and a black biker’s jacket.
“Norma!” he shouted.
Leeman got out of the car first. His long black hair flapped against his shirt as he strode toward Stephan.
“She’s got a restraining order against you, idiot. Now get out of here before I call the police.”
Although Leeman’s figure was imposing, Stephan ignored him and shouted out to Aspen’s mom again. “Norma, please. I just need to see that you’re okay.”
Both men glared at each other but when Stephan tried to walk forward, Leeman held up his hand and jolted Stephan with the raw energy surrounding him. Leeman was so powerful that he didn’t even need to make contact.
“No, don’t,” Norma called from the car. Opening the door, she climbed out.
“Mom, don’t go,” Aspen pleaded from the back.
“Shh, Aspen. Your uncle has this under control.” Dylan pressed her into the seat as she tried to get out of the car.
“Norma, I need you,” Stephan cried again.
Aspen’s mom tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and played with the dream catcher that hung from her neck. She walked toward the two men.
“Stephan, you need to go. I’m not coming back to you anymore.”
His face crumpled in dismay as she spoke. “I need you, Norma,” he repeated.
She frowned at him and said sadly, “Exactly, you don’t love me and you never have. You needed me to clean and cook for you, nothing else.”
Instantly, Stephan’s expression hardened. “That’s not true. I took you in when you had no one.”
“You’re right, and I repaid you over and over for that. When you met me, I told you that my daughter was a part of me. We’re a package deal. I’ve seen how you’ve treated Aspen, and it’s broken my heart.”
The moment she mentioned Aspen’s name, his mouth twisted in disgust. “That little runt has caused so much trouble. You left me because of her, and Miriam is in the principal’s office because she reported her. Don’t tell me that I should like her,” he said with a sneer.
“No, you’re wrong, I’ve wanted to leave forever, but you made sure that I had no money or possessions. You forced me to rely on you and only gave me what was necessary to survive, never to stand up to you. Well, I’m standing up to you now, and I’m telling you that you’re a snake and an evil man for treating me and my daughter the way you did. If I ever see you or Miriam anywhere near us, I’m going to call the cops to arrest you.”
Stephan’s cheeks flushed with anger.
Even though Aspen was tense, her heart swelled with emotion after her mother defended her and told Stephan how she’d truly felt. Her mother had wanted to leave after all. The fact that she’d been mistreated had not been ignored. There was truly nowhere else her mom could have gone.
Following the scene outside the car, Aspen relaxed her clenched fists and smiled. Dylan had scooted over to the far window to make sure that the situation was still under control. His collar stood up, blocking some of her view, but she could still see her stepfather if she looked over Dylan’s shoulder.
Her smile dropped as Stephan saw her in the car and glared at her.