Chapter 9 - Door

"Mama, why are we moving?"

Emptying the contents from the last box Melinda set it down on the kitchen floor and turned her attention to Thalia. How was she going to explain the move? She couldn't tell her that Deacon was bleeding her financially and she needed to downsize. She didn't want to tell Thalia that their house, situated in a remote area near the lake, was unsafe. There was no one close by and Melinda couldn't tell her it was dangerous for them to live so far removed from people; it would frighten her. She was able to quickly sell the Lake Street property and buy this house, not all that much smaller but more open and closer to people.


Melinda smiled reassuringly before answering, "We don't need such a big house Thallie. It will be fun to move, you can fix up your room any way you want."

"I liked that beach though."

"Our new house has a beach too."

"Will I have to go to a new school?"

"No, sweet baby, you can still go to your school."

Thalia was silent for several moments as she drew imaginary pictures on the gleaming countertop. Her legs dangled loosely the toes of her canvas Mary Janes causing a muffled thump as they met with the solid wood in front of her. Never taking her eyes from the pattern she traced with her small fingers she almost whispered, "Is Ryan going to be my daddy now?"

Melinda's head turned toward her daughter as she caught her breath. Ryan had been at the old house on Lake Street once or twice. He had been here briefly when she arranged for him to meet with Beth. His visits each of those times had been short and there was never anything between them, especially nothing that Thalia could interpret, that was remotely romantic or intimate. If anything they were both rather stiff with each other. Trying to sound casual Melinda moved closer to her and asked, "Why would you ask that Thalia? Ryan is just a friend."

Shrugging, Thalia slipped off the stool and peeked inside a cardboard box as if the answers to everything may have been hiding in it. "He was nice to me." Thalia straightened and looked up, wide-eyed, at her mother. "This house is upside down."

Melinda could only shake her head and smile as she watched her daughter descend the stairs to the bedrooms below. Once Thalia was out of sight, Melinda returned to the task of unpacking as her thoughts drifted back to her present situation.

"She's right, you know, this place is upside down."

Stifling a scream Melinda whipped around, quickly sliding a kitchen knife from its place in the block, and confronted the voice behind her. "Ryan! You scared the hell out of me! How did you get in here?"

"Easy with that knife sweetheart, you might get hurt." Ryan glanced at the knife as he continued toward her. "I came in off the beach. Your bedroom door was easy to pick. We'll have to fix that."

Calming her nerves she lowered the knife as he strode toward her. Examining his face Melinda could see that he seemed a bit more relaxed, his eyes were still weary but there was a hint of amusement behind them. Amusement and something else she could not quite place.

 "Hmm." Melinda's fingers relaxed on the lowered the knife as Ryan eased onto a stool one long leg remaining on the floor and the other hooked on the stool. "I guess if someone wants to get in, they'll get in. Would a different lock keep you out?"

"Probably not." Their eyes met and Ryan's held her gaze, as if searching, remembering a girl from another time. She wanted to turn away from it, slam the door before he found his way to her weaknesses and picked that lock as well. "Your eyes used to sparkle."

Melinda laughed derisively finally able to break the connection. "I haven't sparkled for a long time Ryan, not since I was a teenager."

Melinda slid the knife back in its slot as he stood and moved behind her. "You deserve some happiness Mel." Ryan brushed her cheek, drew his hand along the lines of her neck and lower until it dropped near her hip. His eyes had warmed, the heat caressing Melinda in a way that almost made her blush. "You deserved so much better than Damian."

"I don't dare hope anymore, not for happiness, not for the right guy. I'm not the girl that gets all that. I'm a whore remember?"

Melinda pulled away from him. The embers of his touch still warmed her face and she shivered until the feeling passed. It had been a very long time since anyone had touched her in a way that evoked need and she did not want to need, not in that way. "You're a fine one to talk about happiness and the right person. We are quite a pair aren't we?"

When she felt her control return Melinda allowed her gaze to lift and once more studied Ryan's face. She had learned to read a man's expression, know his thoughts, but what Mel saw in his confused her even more than his sudden interest in her happiness. The angular planes of his face were softened as his mouth curved into a wry smile. "Maybe we are."

Just as suddenly Ryan's expression hardened; his impassive bodyguard face returned slamming his own doors firmly shut. "Come on, let's get those locks changed."


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NEXT CHAPTER: Sessions Chapter 36