is. I freeze momentarily. She turns her head in my direction, I can see her composure crumble and she starts to cry.
Moving quickly towards her, she stands up to move towards me. Before I can think, she’s wrapped in my arms crying her heart out. I feel tears rolling down my face, mingling with Rona’s. I bring her face up to mine and place a tender kiss on her lips. “Hell love. Are you hurt anywhere other than your face? Daniel mentioned you were limping.” I shake, as I caress her face.
“My left hip, leg and head, he kept dragging me by the hair.”
“God!” I take in some deep breaths to try and calm down.
“Cade, will you help me upstairs? I need to put some dry clothes on.”
“I will.”
I pick her up in my arms and just hold her for a minute as she hugs me tight. Lifting her hand to my face, I lean down and put my lips to hers in a lingering possessive kiss, not caring who sees us. Taking a deep breath, I rest my forehead against hers, “I love you. I’ve never felt as helpless in my life as I did knowing that bastard had got to you. I never should have left.”
“I’m glad you weren’t here, he had a gun.” Rona starts to cry again.
Arriving at the bedroom, I can see the broken door and hesitate, “It’s okay Cade, let’s just get some clothes.”
With Rona in my arms, I don’t want to let her go, “What do you want to wear?”
“My jazz pants, in that drawer, some thick socks and one of your long sleeve t-shirts.”
Loving the fact she wants to wear a t-shirt of mine, I help her undress and there is a huge bruise from above her left hip going half way down her thigh.
“Jesus Rona.... let me get you something for the pain.”
“Yes, please.”
After she takes the tablets, she takes hold of my hand, “Will you just hold me.”
“Oh love, always.”
Sitting next to Rona on the bed, I take her in to my arms and cuddle her close. She feels so good. “I love you, so much.”
“I love you too.” She pulls away slightly, “I think we better go back downstairs, Daniel wants to talk to me.”
“You ready?” I pick her up again.
“Yes. I can walk, slowly, but I can still manage.”
“Humor me, I want you close.” I kiss her.
“Can we sit on one of the chairs? I want to stay with you.”
“That’s fine, I was planning on that.”
Arriving back downstairs, I can see Anna, Justin and Daniel talking in the kitchen to a guy I haven’t seen before. Ignoring them for now and the questions I can see on Anna’s face, I head to the lounge and sit down in the chair closest to the fire with Rona sitting in my lap.
“I’m so tired.” She looks at me sleepily. After kissing me she puts her head down and within seconds is asleep cuddled against my chest.
A few minutes later, Anna comes over to sit opposite me. “Are you okay, dad? You looked really shaken before.”
Looking at Anna, I can see her concern for me. “Now Rona’s in my arms I’m fine.” After a pause, “I’ve never been in love before.... until now.”
“I can see that dad. I should be mad with you because of her age. In fact if you had told me about you both, without the drama of today, I probably would be. After today and seeing your reaction and hers when she saw you, I can’t be mad. You deserve someone to love you as a man and not a father. Rona does, I can clearly see that.”
“Oh, honey you have no idea how much that means to me. What about Beth?”
“She knows. I rang her and told her what happened here and what I suspect between you and Rona. Justin rang Jake to tell him about Tom, so I think Jake probably got the third degree about you both. He’s taken Elise to Beth’s house until everything’s cleaned up here.”
“That’s probably for the best. Did he say how Elise is?”
“She’s upset that Rona got hurt, but okay about Tom, at least that’s what Jake said.”
“Thanks Anna.” I run my fingers through Rona’s hair.
What a day this has turned out to be. It started out amazing and has ended in near disaster.
“Hello Cade. How is she doing?” Daniel asks coming over, taking a seat.
“She’s hurting, but I guess it could have been a lot worse if you