His Healing Touch novel · Chapter 11 of 24

Chapter 11: Door Open

I had my bag on the guest bed and my coat on before the sun went down.

Freddie was across the street at the retired nurse's for the night, so the house was empty and loud with my own thoughts.

It took four minutes to pack.

I had arrived with a grocery bag and a notebook, and four days of living in this house had given me almost nothing to carry.

I zipped the bag and turned around.

Stewart stood in the doorway with his arms folded and his jaw set.

"What are you doing?" he said.

"She has a judge who thinks I'm the woman in Bradley's affidavit."

"So?"

"So I'm the thing she can use against you." My voice cracked. "If I go, she has nothing to hold up."

"She has Freddie."

"She has a story. If I'm gone, it's a bad story."

"Hallie."

"He loves you, Stewart. I won't be the reason a judge takes him out of this house."

"Put the bag down."

"I can't."

He crossed the room.

I thought he was going to take the bag from my hand.

Instead he shut the bedroom door behind him, turned the lock, and set his palm flat against the wood beside my head.

"You think I let you in because you were useful," he said.

"I think"

"You think a man of thirty-seven fucked you on that desk because he was grateful."

My face went hot.

"I let you in because you looked at my son like he was a person," he said. "I fucked you because I've wanted to since the curb. Tell me again that I'll be better off if you walk out."

"You'll lose him."

"I'll lose my mind if you go."

"Stewart."

"Say you want to leave. Say it and look at me and I'll carry your bag to the car myself."

I looked at his mouth.

I looked at the pulse in his throat.

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