Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 22751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
My father could easily pull strings and have me right back under his roof. Or, based on his threat, in a place far worse. Officer Niks told me to come to Farrow Haven and to lay low until she or the women who work here could think of a long-term plan. I'm not really sure what my options are. My father has a lot of power, so leaving the state might be the only solution, and even then I’m not sure that’s far enough.
When I open the door, I see Cora standing there. She runs Farrow Haven and lives here full-time. The house is a beautiful mansion that a woman decided to open to women needing an escape. It was once her childhood home, but now it’s a safe place for women in need. There are a handful of other girls here whom I saw at dinner last night.
"How are you feeling this morning?” Cora asks. She reminds me of an older eccentric aunt that was probably a hippie back in the day.
"Better," I lie. I'm still filled with anxiety, and I could hardly sleep last night. What else can I tell her, though?
“It will get better,” she says with a soft smile like she’s trying to reassure me. “But right now the doctor is in the house. Are you still okay with him checking on you?”
“Yes, it’s fine.” I didn't want to, but they have all been so kind and have respected my privacy. I could tell they really wanted me to be checked over. If it helps them feel more at ease with me being here, it's the least I can do.
"Didn't sleep well, did you?” she asks and motions for me to follow her.
"Do I look that terrible?" A small laugh leaves me.
"No, it's not that. It's a new place, and I'm sure there are a million things running through your mind."
"You’re right, I didn't sleep great," I admit.
"It gets easier, but remember that right now, there isn't a rush to do anything. No one knows you're here. When you settle in and get more comfortable, we'll go from there."
"Yeah, I'm just not sure how much time I'll have,” I say as we make our way down the stairs and through the kitchen. There are a few girls cooking together, and they all give me warm smiles as we pass.
"Why do you say that?" Cora asks.
"Sooner or later my face is going to be plastered everywhere."
"If you're reported missing, we can take care of that."
"It's not that easy,” I tell her as we pause outside of a room. I stand there for a moment as her eyes search my face.
"Let's have you checked over first, then we'll go from there." Cora opens the door to a bedroom that has been converted into an exam room.
Seated on a stool inside is a man in doctors’ scrubs. He lifts his head, and when his eyes meet mine, my stomach drops. I know him. I've seen him come to my home before. I remember his striking green eyes. He hadn't seen me, but I'm sure if he's close to my father, then he knows exactly who I am.
CHAPTER
TWO
WYNN
Fuck. I know her. The woman waiting to talk to me is Kate Walton. Of course I’ve never met her officially, but I’ve been to her house plenty. She’s in all the pictures, and she looks exactly like her mother. Her father used to call me when his wife had “accidents.”
“Dr. Lovell, this is Kate. Kate, this is Dr. Lovell,” Cora says, introducing us. Then she turns to Kate and lowers her voice. “I’ll be right outside this door if you need anything, but I’ll check back on you in about fifteen minutes. Okay?”
“Okay,” Kate says quietly to her before Cora leaves.
As soon as the door is closed, we lock eyes. Her eye is swollen, and her cheek is bruised. How many times had I found her mother in the same position? My stomach churns with the memories of it.
“Why don’t you have a seat,” I say and then stand from the chair. She keeps her eyes on me as she takes a seat on the exam table. The silence is broken by the sound of the paper crinkling, but we both ignore it. “Do you mind if I check your eye first?”
“Okay,” she says softly. It’s even softer than how she spoke to Cora. Is she afraid of me? If she knew the truth about me, she would be.
“Are you having any blurred vision?” My focus automatically shifts to her medical assessment, and I put thoughts of her and her family out of my mind. She’s my patient first and foremost.
“No.”
“Any dizziness?”
“Um, a little at first. But not now.”
I shine a light near her eye to check her pupils. “Did you hit your head after you were punched?”