Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 154595 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 773(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154595 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 773(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
The murmur of voices came from the kitchen. She stepped inside to find them all huddled around a table. The smell of melted cheese filled the room and her tummy rumbled.
“Maeve?” Sampson jumped up with a frown, coming over to her side. “Are you all right? Should you be out of bed?”
“I’m fine. Eric just left. He said I’m fine. Just a bit bruised and battered. A good night’s sleep and some food is all I need.”
Sampson grunted.
“I’ll call him,” Jenner said.
“What? You don’t believe me? I’m so insulted.”
“We just know what you’re like,” Abe said.
Huh. Rude.
“Come sit down,” Immy said.
She sat carefully and Immy bustled around, serving her up some mac and cheese, which was made from scratch rather than out of the packet.
Her favorite.
“Juice?” Immy asked. “I’ve got apple and orange. Or milk? I’ve got the stuff that comes straight from the teat or banana, chocolate, and strawberry.”
“Ew, straight from the teat?” Maeve said with a grin.
“Pretty sure it’s not straight from the cow, Immy,” Abe told her.
“Almost. So?”
“She’ll have water,” Sampson bossed.
“I’ll have chocolate milk. Thanks, Immy.”
Immy glared at Sampson as she poured the chocolate milk. “You’re not in charge of what she eats and drinks.”
“She needs rehydrating.”
“I just talked to Eric,” Jenner said, coming into the room. “And Sampson is right. Maeve needs nutritious food and water.”
Maeve sighed, but took the water that Abe got her with a smile.
“You don’t have to do what they say, Maeve,” Immy said, glaring around at them. “They’re not our bosses.”
Maeve stared at Immy in surprise. Immy seemed to survive living with these Neanderthals by not rocking the boat too much. By giving them what they wanted.
“If you bully her, she’ll take off again,” Immy said. “I don’t want her going out there and getting hurt.”
Immy sniffled, making all of them shift around frantically, searching for a way to stop her from getting upset. Even Isaiah looked up from his laptop.
“Immy, don’t get upset,” Abe said gruffly. “We’re just looking after Maeve.”
“You all drove her off last time and now look what happened.”
“Immy,” she said gently. “None of this is their fault. I needed to leave, to find who I was again, to not feel like a burden.”
“You’ve never been a burden,” Immy said fiercely.
“I know. It’s my hang-up, nothing to do with you guys. I love all of you. And I’m really sorry I’m such a hassle.”
“Maeve,” Sampson said warningly.
“Eat, Maeve,” Immy urged.
And she did, because she’d be an idiot to waste Immy’s mac and cheese.
“What were you guys talking about when I came in?” There was silence and she glanced up, staring around at them all. “What is it?”
“We need to talk about your safety,” Sampson stated. “We have no idea who this guy is and whether he’ll come for you. Isaiah is wiping all trace of you coming here, but we don’t know if he’ll figure it out. Can you think of anyone who paid you special attention? Did you reject anyone’s advances?”
“No, I can’t think of anything like that,” she replied.
“I’m going to look into everyone who lived in the same building as you,” Isaiah said. “If you could make me a list of any names?”
She nodded.
“Would it be better if someone went out there?” Abe asked.
“Maybe,” Sampson said. “Then they could interview anyone with a red flag.”
Interview or interrogate?
“I could do that,” Isaiah said.
“Book a flight out tomorrow,” Sampson ordered.
“If Isaiah is going, though, who is staying here tomorrow with Maeve?” Abe asked.
“Why? What’s going on tomorrow?” she asked.
“I will,” Sampson said.
“I don’t need anyone to stay with me,” she stated. Even though the idea of being alone terrified her.
“But you’re part of the auction,” Immy said to Sampson.
“What auction?” she asked.
“I need to be here,” Sampson said. “Someone has to look after Maeve.”
“I’ve been looking after myself for a long time.” Sure, not always effectively, but still.
“Couldn’t we leave Andy here?” Jenner asked. “If you’re going to be at the auction, Sampson, then I won’t need him.”
“I don’t want to leave just Andy,” Sampson replied with a frown.
“I’ll stay,” Abe said. “I’m not needed at the auction.”
“Guys!” she said sharply, smacking her fist down on the table. Ouch that hurt. And it knocked her glass over, spilling chocolate milk everywhere. The glass rolled off the table, shattering on the tile floor.
Oh no! She was such an idiot!
“I’m so sorry, Jenner!” she said hastily, moving onto her knees to start picking up glass. A sharp shard pierced her finger, but she stifled her cry of pain.
“Maeve, what are you doing?” Jenner asked. He walked over and helped her up.
Immy rushed to get a brush and pan. Abe took it from Immy with a firm shake of his head as she tried to clean up the mess. Jenner carried Maeve to the island, setting her on it.