back into the living room where Kayla nervously awaits.
“Hey,’’ Harlow says, ever the loving person.
“Hey,’’ Kayla replies, trying to smile, but she’s so nervous all we manage to get from her, is her bottom lip wobbling before she bursts into tears. Before I can walk over to her and wrap her in my arms Harlow is there pulling her into her arms on the sofa, whispering something into her hair. Movement near the door catches my attention and I turn to find Mason holding Myles back. My curious look matches Mason’s, but once Myles sees Harlow has her his shoulders slump and he walks back out of the room without catching Kayla and Harlow’s attention.
My attention turns back to Kayla and Harlow on the sofa. Both pull away, but Harlow keeps her hands holding Kayla’s and I think it has more to do with giving her strength that she obviously needs at the moment.
“Are you okay now?’’ Harlow asks softly, while I watch silently. I kneel in front of them, making sure I’m close enough to reach out and grab Kayla’s other hand. She flinches when I do, but then realises it’s only me and relaxes.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for what he.... what he did,’’ she chokes out.
“You have nothing to apologise for,’’ Harlow tells her sternly.
“I do. If I had stood up to my mother none of this would have happened. It happened because I’m too weak to stand up for myself.’’
“What you did was survive something unthinkable. Kayla, never and I mean never apologise for something he did. As for your mother, if she’s anything like Denny’s then you have every right to be wary.’’
“Huh?’’
“Long story,’’ I butt in, giving her a small smile.
“What I’m trying to say is, you were young. You trusted your mother to know what was best for you. For that you only have your mother to blame, no one else. She’s just as bad as him in my eyes.’’
“I knew what he did was wrong though, it’s why I kept all those clothes, why I held onto them and the nightmares for so long. Each night I went to bed and closed my eyes I could feel them, taunting me, laughing at me, but I knew I’d need them. I knew I made a mistake in not going taking action with the police, for listening to my mother, but I was just so scared. After he... after he...’’ she chokes out again, her tears falling from her eyes.
“Hey, it’s okay, slow down, breathe,’’ I encourage her, not wanting her to have a panic attack. She’s been through too much already and from Myles reaction to her crying, I’d say her having a panic attack would give him an aneurism.
“After he...raped me, I was in so much pain it killed me to have a shower or a bath. Then when I went to the hospital they did an internal examination which hurt just as much, I didn’t want to go through any more pain, I just wanted it to stop. I could have prevented him from harming other girls.’’
“He didn’t get that far,’’ Harlow says softly, her tears falling down her cheeks.
“You don’t know?’’
“Don’t know what?’’ Harlow asks her warily.
“After the sentencing more victims came forward. Our lawyer seems to think it’s because they knew he wouldn’t harm them. One girl was nine at the time and lived next door to them. Her mother had complained about the noise coming from their house, so one night he did it to punish her,’’ she tells us, her voice sounding regretful, and sickened.
“Oh my God,’’ Both Harlow and I gasp horrified.
“How old was he?’’ I ask, regretting the question as soon as it escapes my mouth.
“According to the girl I met, he was twelve.’’
“You met her?’’ Harlow asks.
“She asked for me, so when the lawyer asked for my permission I said yes, needing to see if it was my fault, but she was his first victim and was always too scared to tell her mom and when she did, her mother was so scared of the family she moved away.’’
“But still... she was a little girl,’’ I cry out, my eyes immediately wandering over to Hope, who is safely sleeping in her moses basket still.
“I know. She must have been terrified too.’’
“She was,’’ Kayla tells us sadly. “But it still doesn’t help the fact I gave him free reign to rape another three, nearly four girls,’’ she sobs out, her breath hitching.
“Oh my God,’’ Harlow