Tabitha didn't move while her sister sat down on the floor and started crying.
Tabitha sat beside her and pulled her close.
"What a day," Amanda sobbed. "I saw my husband killed. Kassim... Tia and now Cherise."
"I know," Tabitha said. "I'm not so sure we're the ones who won this time around."
"No," Kyrian said as he joined them on the floor. "We're still here and they're not. To me, that's winning." He pulled his wife against his chest and kissed her on the head.
Tabitha turned to see Valerius heading for the door with Otto.
By the time she caught up, he and Otto were outside the house.
"What are you doing?" she asked him.
"We didn't want to intrude on a family moment," he said quietly. "Your sister needs you."
"And I need you."
Valerius was stunned as she walked into his arms.
She wrapped her arms around him and held him close while Otto turned off her car.
"I'll leave the keys in it and see you guys later." He got into his Jag and drove off.
"Thank you," Tabitha whispered as she tucked her head in below his chin. "I wouldn't have made it through tonight without you."
"I'm sorry I wasn't of more help and I'm so sorry about Tia."
He felt her tears scalding his chest through his shirt.
"Your mother said she wanted you home."
Tabitha nodded. "Yeah, I need to go see her. She draws her strength from us." She pulled away as Amanda came out onto the front porch. "I'm going to see Mom."
Amanda nodded. "Tell her I'll be there tomorrow morning. I don't want her to see me like this."
Tabitha looked at Amanda's bloodied gown.
"Yeah, that's the last thing she needs."
Then Amanda did the most amazing thing of all: She reached out and pulled Valerius close for a hug. "Thank you for coming, Valerius, and for keeping Tabitha safe. I really appreciate it." She kissed his cheek before she pulled away.
Valerius had never been more stunned in his life. In that moment, he felt a strange sense of almost belonging somewhere. It was such a foreign, odd sensation that he wasn't sure how to cope with it.
"My pleasure, Amanda."
She patted his arm, then went back into her house.
Valerius helped Tabitha into her battered car and for once he took the driver's seat. He didn't say a word as she gave him directions to her mother's house in Metairie.
Neither of them spoke the entire way. His heart ached for her. Taking her hand, he held it quietly in the darkness while she stared out the passenger side window.
When they reached her mother's house, he got out and opened the door for her.
Tabitha drew a ragged breath as she contemplated facing her mother. For once her courage was gone.
Valerius handed her the keys.