I haven’t lived in Little Hollow for very long, but as we pull onto main street, I feel like I’m coming home. I’ve missed the sleepy little town. Seeing the salon is a different story though, the memories of that night all rush back and the panic starts bubbling its way through my body as I’m not ready for everything to come back to me so quickly.
“Kee?” Sam asks, looking behind her. She only has to look where my eyes are trained to know what’s wrong with me. “It’s alright, he’s gone, just breathe.”
She climbs into the back seat with me. “That’s right, in and out.” She mimics what she wants me to do and I copy her. “Connor, get Hunter.”
I hear the truck door slam and Hunter’s bike engine cuts out. The door beside me flings open and as his large hand slides into mine, and instantly I feel grounded.
“Steely, I’m right here. Take all the time you need.”
“I don’t need time,” I say breathlessly and push my lips to his. “I just need you.”
He pulls back to check I’m okay, seeing what he must need to, he scoops me up with a grunt. I can tell his shoulder is playing up and I make a mental note to play nurse to him when we’re alone.
We walk in after Sam and I ache seeing it so bare. There’s no floor laid down anymore and it smells of fresh paint.
We have to start all over again.
“Connor and Lewis have patched up most of it for now, but there wasn’t anything that could be saved. They’ve assured me it won’t be too much longer before we’re up and running again, but obviously you take your time to recover and come back whenever you want,” Sam says tentatively.
I shut my eyes and remember the flashback of the state the room was in before I fell unconscious. I only saw a glimpse, but what I did see was a wreck. I just nod weakly, not able to say anything.
“Don’t want to rush anybody but she ain’t the easiest to carry after I’ve just been shot,” Hunter states.
I gasp. “Oh my god! Put me down, I can walk now. I may be slow but I can walk.”
He nods, slides me down and rotates his shoulder, his jaw ticking as he grinds his teeth together. “So what is this place?”
I look around feeling sad. “It was our salon, mine and Sam’s.”
“You have your own salon?” He asks, sounding impressed.
“Did. It was destroyed the night I was taken,” I say, trying not to sound bitter. I’m not sure if it was Jacques or my Uncle, and frankly, I don’t think it matters right now.
“And it will be ours again once it’s finished,” Sam says cheerily.
I smile at her, Connor seems to be changing her outlook on things.
Hunter absently rubs my back. “I’ll help, it’ll get done faster that way.”
Connor nods. “Thanks, man. That’ll help a lot.”
“So shall we show Hunter up?” Sam chirps.
I nod and tell them all to walk ahead of me. Sam and Connor do but Hunter stays behind me. “I can climb some stairs, Hunter.”
“And I want to watch you climb these stairs. You may be hurt but I’m still a man.” He winks at me but I can see the playfulness in his eyes. I know that he just wants to make sure I’m okay more than anything.
I look to the top of the stairs and brace myself against the handrail, taking each step one at a time. My muscles ache and my knee screams at me, but I grit my teeth and bear it. Getting to the top, I hesitate before stepping over the threshold into the apartment, the place that I was taken from.
Hunter must see me tense up and threads his fingers through mine as he looks around. I don’t know what I’m expecting but everything looks the same apart from a few decorative bits that seem to be missing.
I smile at the colorful mess that is our home and I realize I don’t feel scared, I can do this.
“Me and Connor are going to stay at Miss Debbie’s for now, she’s travelling some more and staying with family so you can have this place to yourselves? Unless you wanted to stay at Miss Debbie’s?”
In the sudden haste to get back home and back to normality with one addition; Hunter, I’d forgotten to think about living arrangements and I don’t know what to reply.
“Erm, earth to Keeley?” Sam says giggling.
I look at Hunter, he’s assessing me, wondering what I’m thinking. “Yeah, I guess we need some space to catch up. Thanks, Sam.”
I don’t mention the future, wanting to concentrate on the here and now, and I can feel Hunters eyes burning into me.
“Okay, I think the cops still want to speak to you and the insurance company too, but that can wait. For now, me and Con will go to the grocery store and pick you up some essentials, anything in particular you want?” I shake my head with a grateful smile on my face. “Well alright then, we’ll be back soon.”
She pulls me into a tight hug. “Sorry if I’m hurting you, but I need this.”
I hug her back, I don’t care if it aches. “Love you, Sam,” I whisper.