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Mother’s shriek stiffened my body, but Lloyd didn’t release his hold on me.
“I’m comforting our daughter,” he said quietly, and I kept my eyes clenched shut, thinking like a child that if I couldn’t see her, she couldn’t see me. “Unless you’d rather offer her your arms?”
No reply. Big surprise.
“Head on downstairs for your coffee, darling,” Lloyd said, his soothing tone easing my insides even though the words hadn’t been meant for me. “I’ll join you in a moment. Promise.”
Lloyd always kept his promises—and Mother knew it as well.
He let out a heavy exhale and pushed me to arm’s length, his thumbs ridding my cheeks of tears. “Did you sleep, sweetheart?”
“Hardly,” I croaked, finally opening my eyes.
Lloyd looked like he hadn’t slept much either, the lines around his eyes making him appear older—but no less handsome. Tenderness filled his gaze. “I’ll talk to her. Explain that she misunderstood what was happening here, okay?”
I went for an appreciative smile, but my lips wobbled. A nod worked just as well, but another tear fell.
“Addilyn…” Lloyd cupped my cheek in his warm palm, and I leaned into his touch, so damn desperate for comfort.
“I feel…lost without him,” I whispered, my voice as broken as my heart. “And I can’t figure out why. He’s been nothing but a pain in my ass, driving me nuts. Leaving dirty laundry everywhere, wet towels on the bathroom floor…” Sniffing, I wiped my face with Gideon’s sleeve covering my arm.
“I’m always here for you,” Lloyd said.
“I know,” I whispered, trying for another smile while tilting my head up.
He glanced down at my lips and smiled too. “While I can never replace my son, I hope you’ll be my friend through this trial ahead of us.”
“I would like that.”
Grasping my hand, he patted it between the two of his. “I think it would be best if we keep our friendship from your mother. She’s…unwell and is already jealous of your youth and beauty.”
Considering he married a matured version of myself, I expected he thought me beautiful too. Warmth trickled in, replacing some of the coldness in my chest.
“That’s probably a good idea,” I said with a small huff of laughter.
“You need anything—anything,” he said, his tone low, one hand lifting to cradle my cheek again, “I’m here for you.”
I nodded, tears once more wanting to roll over having him on my side.
Lloyd leaned in and kissed my forehead, his lips lingering.
“Definitely don’t let Mother see you kissing me like that.” Another quiet laugh accompanied my whispered words.
He pulled back, chuckling. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
Lloyd and Mother hired a lawyer who promised to call after the arraignment. I’d wanted to go, but Mother refused.
It was bad enough I’d rebelled outright for the first time. She wouldn’t have me exposed to a place full of miscreants and bad influences.
Guess she saw Gideon as one, even though he’d only been protecting me. Not that I opened my mouth to correct her. She buzzed from alcohol by the time the lawyer called.
Gideon had chosen to plead not guilty, and he was being tried as an adult for assault in the first degree. While I didn’t understand what that meant, it didn’t sound good. Mother hovered around Lloyd, not giving me a chance to get him alone to ask.
Finally, the day ended, and Lloyd caught up to me as I started toward the stairs. Mother was already in the parlor—probably pouring herself a drink.
“How are you, my friend?” he asked quietly, keeping his distance since the door to the parlor stood open.
“What’s going to happen to Gideon?” I asked rather than trying to explain the ache in my chest and the sourness in my stomach.
