Read Online A Rescued Heart (Rescued Heart Romance) by Natalie Replogle - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Natalie Replogle
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words off and panic exploded in Kim’s eyes. “Tessa, baby,” she called toward the kitchen, “go upstairs and get ready for supper. Hurry, please.”
She turned back to Ava while Tessa darted up the stairs. “You need to go, Ava. Please.” She practically pushed Ava to the door.
“Okay, but please call me if you need anything …”
The back door opened and slammed shut. Kim jumped. “Kim, why didn’t you bring the garbage can in from the street and why isn’t dinner on the table? You’re about worthless!” A man’s voice yelled from the back of the house. It had to be Ray.
Ava wanted to run out the door because of the harshness of his voice. She couldn’t imagine how Kim felt with it being directed at her. Ray swore, followed by throwing something into the sink.
Kim cleared her throat. “Ray, we have a visitor.” Her voice quivered.
Ray strolled into the room with a smile pressed across his face. Ava expected to see the cutout mold the movies always portrayed of an abusive man. Beer belly, white tank top, and gruff sneer. Instead the opposite approached her. An attractive man, clean cut, with the confident look of a charmer.
“Ray, this is Tessa’s teacher, Miss Williams.”
He walked up to her and shook her hand. His closeness made Ava’s muscles tense. She wanted to step back but didn’t want to make the uneasy situation more awkward than it already was.
“It’s nice to finally meet you, Miss Williams. I’ve heard wonderful things about you. Tessa adores you.”
“Thank you. She is a very sweet girl and a joy in my classroom.”
“Your visit is unexpected. Is everything okay at school with Tessa?” His smile was deceptive but she was no fool.
Ava tucked her hair behind her ear and swallowed, trying to get the lump out of her throat. She wasn’t sure what to say or how to explain why she had come. The last thing she wanted to do was get Kim in more trouble. Ava didn’t want to lie, but she needed to sugarcoat the truth. She’d never been good at thinking fast on her feet.
“I, um, haven’t talked with Kim much lately and thought I would walk Tessa home after school to see how she was doing.”
“Hmm, aren’t you a dedicated teacher?” His words, while spoken through the semblance of a smile, dripped with sarcasm.
“I care very much about my students’ home lives and their happiness.”
He folded tanned, muscular arms across his chest and took a step toward Ava, shedding all pretenses. Shivers surged through her body from the way he studied her, his eyes tracing the full length of her body.
“Tell you what, Miss Williams. Your concern is noted, but not needed. I am in charge of this household now and we are just fine. Kim and Tessa are well taken care of and our home life is honestly none of your business. Thank you for bringing Tessa home. It won’t be needed again in the future.”
Helplessness washed over Ava. She wanted to protect Kim and Tessa but didn’t know what to do. She heard and clearly understood Ray’s underlying threat. Her continued presence would only cause further distress for Kim. She turned toward Kim, ignoring him. “Kim, it was good to see you again.”
“You too. Good-bye, Miss Williams.”
Ava’s legs strained to move as if lead had filled her shoes, while she walked back to the school. Her anger stifled her cry, but once she settled down the tears would come. She had no doubt that man was hurting Kim whether she admitted it or not. In the five minutes that Ava was in Ray’s presence she could see how controlling and vindictive he was.
In their last meeting for the abuse support group they discussed some of the warning signs of abuse but also covered the topic of why most women take the beatings silently. The few reasons they discussed were sad and heartbreaking. It was upsetting to hear the statistics at first and not fully understand why these women just didn’t run or stick up for themselves. People could easily judge
She turned back to Ava while Tessa darted up the stairs. “You need to go, Ava. Please.” She practically pushed Ava to the door.
“Okay, but please call me if you need anything …”
The back door opened and slammed shut. Kim jumped. “Kim, why didn’t you bring the garbage can in from the street and why isn’t dinner on the table? You’re about worthless!” A man’s voice yelled from the back of the house. It had to be Ray.
Ava wanted to run out the door because of the harshness of his voice. She couldn’t imagine how Kim felt with it being directed at her. Ray swore, followed by throwing something into the sink.
Kim cleared her throat. “Ray, we have a visitor.” Her voice quivered.
Ray strolled into the room with a smile pressed across his face. Ava expected to see the cutout mold the movies always portrayed of an abusive man. Beer belly, white tank top, and gruff sneer. Instead the opposite approached her. An attractive man, clean cut, with the confident look of a charmer.
“Ray, this is Tessa’s teacher, Miss Williams.”
He walked up to her and shook her hand. His closeness made Ava’s muscles tense. She wanted to step back but didn’t want to make the uneasy situation more awkward than it already was.
“It’s nice to finally meet you, Miss Williams. I’ve heard wonderful things about you. Tessa adores you.”
“Thank you. She is a very sweet girl and a joy in my classroom.”
“Your visit is unexpected. Is everything okay at school with Tessa?” His smile was deceptive but she was no fool.
Ava tucked her hair behind her ear and swallowed, trying to get the lump out of her throat. She wasn’t sure what to say or how to explain why she had come. The last thing she wanted to do was get Kim in more trouble. Ava didn’t want to lie, but she needed to sugarcoat the truth. She’d never been good at thinking fast on her feet.
“I, um, haven’t talked with Kim much lately and thought I would walk Tessa home after school to see how she was doing.”
“Hmm, aren’t you a dedicated teacher?” His words, while spoken through the semblance of a smile, dripped with sarcasm.
“I care very much about my students’ home lives and their happiness.”
He folded tanned, muscular arms across his chest and took a step toward Ava, shedding all pretenses. Shivers surged through her body from the way he studied her, his eyes tracing the full length of her body.
“Tell you what, Miss Williams. Your concern is noted, but not needed. I am in charge of this household now and we are just fine. Kim and Tessa are well taken care of and our home life is honestly none of your business. Thank you for bringing Tessa home. It won’t be needed again in the future.”
Helplessness washed over Ava. She wanted to protect Kim and Tessa but didn’t know what to do. She heard and clearly understood Ray’s underlying threat. Her continued presence would only cause further distress for Kim. She turned toward Kim, ignoring him. “Kim, it was good to see you again.”
“You too. Good-bye, Miss Williams.”
Ava’s legs strained to move as if lead had filled her shoes, while she walked back to the school. Her anger stifled her cry, but once she settled down the tears would come. She had no doubt that man was hurting Kim whether she admitted it or not. In the five minutes that Ava was in Ray’s presence she could see how controlling and vindictive he was.
In their last meeting for the abuse support group they discussed some of the warning signs of abuse but also covered the topic of why most women take the beatings silently. The few reasons they discussed were sad and heartbreaking. It was upsetting to hear the statistics at first and not fully understand why these women just didn’t run or stick up for themselves. People could easily judge
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