Chapter 28

I’m back again. I know, I know, it’s been a while. Six years, give or take. Sue me. I’ve been busy. It’s strange how much time I don’t seem to have anymore. After Harold died, it felt like the days were endless, like I could sleep for hours or weeks and mere minutes had passed.

Now, it seems I wake up and then, before I know it, it’s dinner time and the day is ending. Having a child in the house again will do that to you, I suppose. Well, two children, really.

Edna and I are on our toes with those two, though Bridget is a good child. I don’t worry about her as much as I worry about Cole. He’s got young women parading through here all the time, but he doesn’t fool me a bit. I’ve seen the way he looks at Bridget. There’s something there, even if they don’t see it yet. And god knows, I’ll be grateful if they don’t see it until they’re much, much older.

He’s a good boy, though. Protective. He’s saved me twice. I never thought I’d rely on a man again, but I have to admit, I’ll be sad when he’s gone. When they both are.

I don’t want to think about that just yet, so I’ll think about something happier. The nights he saved me.

Several years ago, we had a husband to take care of, and he arrived early, alone, and at the wrong house. Talk about a winner. Said the wife had taken a fall, and he’d be coming to the dinner party alone. I tried to get him to go to Jane’s like we’d planned, but he wasn’t listening. Things got heated, and Cole walked in on us in the middle of the fight. He went and got Edna, and we deescalated things, got him to Jane’s, and everything went as planned from there. If Cole hadn’t come in, if I’d been left in that room alone with him, I might’ve had to kill him there to save us all, something I’ve vowed to never do when the kids are home. I never want them to know anything about this or to put them in any danger if I can avoid it.

When the man looked at Cole, got a good look at his face, I knew I’d do anything if it meant he could never hurt him. I would kill for that child. Have killed for that child.

That was a long time ago. The second time he saved me was just last week, when another winner of a husband arrived and Cole heard him yelling at me. He’s older now, obviously, but still smaller than the man. That thought didn’t seem to cross his mind, though. He charged at the man like a bull and stood in front of me until he chased him off. He walked away like it was nothing, probably didn’t give it a second thought, but he saved me.

Saved Bridget, who was in the house too.

I’m not sure what we’d do without him.

It’s a nice reminder, having him here. Proof there are still good ones left.