Read Online Precious Consequences by Tamsyn Bester - Free Book Online

down. “I’ll be right back,” I tell her. I walk to the guest bathroom that’s downstairs and open the medicine cabinet. When I find the first-aid kit, I make my way back to the living room and take a seat next to Taylor.  Without saying anything, I go about cleaning her face, tending to the small cut on her lip and then the one above her eye, which I missed earlier. She hisses but sits still until I’m done. I hear the girls giggling in the kitchen and the sound somehow helps both me and Taylor to relax.
    “You want to tell me what happened?” I ask gently. Taylor swallows hard, her eyes glazing over with tears. I slip my hand into hers and give it a reassuring squeeze.
    “You can tell me,” I reassure her.
    “I don’t even know where to begin,” she says. Her voice is soft and shaky. “It all happened so quickly.”
    I don’t say anything. I wait for her to gather her thoughts and piece herself back together.
    “I decided to pick up an extra shift,” Taylor continues. “And I got a sitter for Macy. I got in about an hour ago and Jace showed up soon after the sitter left. He was so drunk. When he started yelling I was worried that he’d wake Macy, but after he threw the first punch I didn’t care. He accused me of cheating on him when we were married and he said Macy isn’t his,” her chest moves with her sharp intake of breath and tears start sliding down her face. But she finds it in herself to continue, I see the resolve in her eyes. “It’s a good thing my daddy taught me how to defend myself before he died,” she laughs sadistically. “I just wasn’t expecting to have to defend myself against my soon-to-be ex husband. I knocked him out with a lamp and grabbed Macy, along with everything that could fit into those bags. And I’m sorry to just show up, but I had nowhere else to go, and I needed to get Macy away from him.”
    My arms wrap around Taylor’s shoulders and I feel her sobs. They travel from her body, into mine, and I feel her anguish and heartache as if it were my own. “I’m glad you came here,” I tell her. “You and Macy can take the guest bedroom downstairs and stay as long as you need to.”
    “Thank you so much, Hayley. I promise we won’t get in your way.”
    “You can make yourself at home and I’ll go check on the girls.”
    Taylor nods. “I think I’m going to shower and then Macy and I will get some sleep.”
    Taylor picks up her bags and I show her to the guest bedroom before heading to the kitchen. Macy and Ari are munching away on pancakes and I take the opportunity to pull my grandmother aside.
    “Is your friend alright, sweetheart?” my grandmother asks. Worry lines her face.
    “I’m not sure,” I reply honestly. “But I think she will be. Is it okay if she stays here for a little while?”
    “Of course, sweetheart. They are welcome anytime.”
    I smile, grateful for grandmother’s hospitality. I kiss her on the cheek and say, “Thank you.”
    After Taylor and Macy get a few hours of sleep, we sit outside by the swimming pool and enjoy the summer heat. I watch as Taylor plays with and Ari and Macy in the pool and let my thoughts wander back to the swim meet yesterday. More specifically, to Cameron. Hannah invited me to their party last night but after the week I had I wanted nothing more than to relax and spend an evening at home with Ari. A small part of me can’t help but admit that I was avoiding Cameron. As much as I wanted to see him again last night I decided against it. He’s trouble.
    Taylor’s voice breaks through my thoughts. “What you thinking about so hard over there?”
    “Nothing,” I say.
    Taylor helps Macy and Ari out of the pool and takes them inside. She reappears a few minutes later, two tall glasses of sweet tea in her hands. She takes a seat on the lounger next to mine and passes me a glass, all the while her eyes bore into my face.
    “What?” I ask. My lips meet the cool glass and the tasty liquid refreshes my mouth,