Page 77 of Commit

“You didn’t know, and it’s okay. I didn’t know her. It’s not the same as losing someone you’ve spent years loving.”

“I guess. I can’t imagine not having my mom, though.”

“I’m glad you have her. Can I ask you something?” She nods warily. “Did someone hurt you?” I ask quietly.

She looks like she’s two seconds away from bolting before she breaks down into tears. “My mom’s boyfriend, Daryl.”

I close my eyes and try to fight back my rage as I reach for her hands, the ice cream now forgotten. “Did you tell your mom?”

She shakes her head rapidly. “She loves him, and she deserves to be happy. She might not find anyone else, not when she has a teenage daughter.”

I grit my teeth. “Those sound like words that came from someone else.”

“She was alone for a long time after my dad died. She was always sad. Daryl makes her happy. If I just hold on until I’m eighteen, I can go away to college, and nobody will ever know.”

“What if she has kids with him?”

Kate freezes, like the thought never crossed her mind.

“What if, when you leave, he turns on her?”

Her mouth falls open, fear in her eyes.

“You’ve spent a long time protecting her, right?” She nods. “Maybe it’s time to let her protect you.”

“What if she doesn’t believe me? What if she chooses him?” she whispers, terror bleeding into her voice, revealing her biggest fear.

“Then she doesn’t deserve you or your protection.”

She squeezes my hand to the point of pain. “Will you—” she pauses, swallowing hard. “Will you stay with me while I tell her?”

I don’t know if that’s the right move, but if she needs me by her side, then that’s where I’ll be. “Yes.” She releases a relieved breath. “Can I call her?”

“Why? You won’t tell her, will you?”

“No. But I think we should see if she can leave work early before you change your mind.”

She hands me her phone after unlocking it and dialing her mom.

“Hey Kate, everything okay? How was counseling?” she asks without taking a breath.

“Hi, my name’s Starling. I’m a friend of Kate’s.”

“Is she okay?” I can hear the worry in her voice, and it settles something inside me. She cares. I have to believe they’ll both be okay and come out of this stronger.

“She had a bit of a breakthrough in group today. She really needs to talk?—”

“I’m on my way,” she interrupts.

“We’re at the ice cream shop around the corner from the center.”

“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.” She hangs up.

I slide Kate’s phone back to her. She stares at it for a moment before she looks at me with tears in her eyes.

“She’s on her way.”

“Did she seem mad?”