His Place

Dana

"The kitchen is right over here. Help yourself to anything you want." He pointed to the various rooms as he gave me a tour of his large four-bedroom house. I couldn't help but wonder why he would have such a big place all to himself.

I dropped my bag off in one of the spare rooms and walked down the hall, stopping to look at all the pictures of him and Amanda. Several had an older woman in them as well, whom I assumed was his mother.

"There isn't much I wouldn't do to save her." He crossed his arms over his chest and pressed his shoulder against the wall. "I'd give up my house, my money, my nice car, my job that I've worked so damn hard for..."

"Your life?" I whispered and turned to walk toward him. I hated his pain, and yet I understood it all too well. Losing my father gave me far more experience with pain than I would have ever wanted.

"Absolutely." He reached for me, gripping my hip and pulling me flush against him. "Why are you here?"

"Because you said I wasn't safe in my ap