Page 4

4

Spencer

“ H e’s beautiful, Nicole. He looks just like you, curly hair and all.” The tiny sleeping baby in my arms has a sweet face and rosy cheeks. “How are you feeling?” Nicole came home from the hospital yesterday, and Justin has been flitting around like a butterfly on steroids.

In the past, I might have seen this behavior as worrisome, but this is who he has become as a father. He’s overly attentive in an annoyingly loving way, and he’s taken his role as a father and husband better than I could have ever expected. The man I met eight years ago, who was barely alive and overdosing in an attempt to take his own life, is a person of the past.

“She’s doing great for having a baby three days ago.” Justin comes into the room smiling with Hannah, their two year old daughter, hanging on his hip.

“Brudder!” Hannah’s arms jet out toward the baby in mine.

“Baby Miles.” Justin looks lovingly at his son.

“Baby My-ees.” Hannah’s eyes light up as she attempts to say his name.

“Hey, Spence, why don’t we take these two little ones to the other room and let Nicole rest?”

“Justin, I’m fine.”

He steps up to Nicole, who’s lying in bed and kisses her forehead.

“And so are they. Get some much-deserved rest, Pumpkin. We love you.” She smiles at him with love and admiration and nods.

“Love you, too. A nap does sound nice.”

Justin and I leave the bedroom with the little ones, and I take a seat on the living room couch while he steps into the kitchen to get Hannah a snack.

“So, I don’t think I ever asked if there was a reason you named him Miles. Does it have a special meaning to either of you like Hannah does?”

Justin chuckles nervously. “We haven’t told anyone.” He looks at me for a long moment, considering whether to tell me.

“I’d never judge your choice of names, and you don’t need to feel obligated to tell me. You know that, Justin.” Miles stirs in my arms, and I readjust my hold and pat his butt.

“I’m not worried about you judging; I’m just laughing.” I put on my mask, and my face goes blank.

“I’m ready.”

“Don’t do that. You can laugh. I can take it from you.” He finishes slicing the apple for Hannah and adds it to the plate with cheese and crackers. “So, you know my childhood was crappy. And you know it was my job to tend to the cows.” I nod because this is all knowledge I already possess. “I had…a favorite cow. After Ivy passed, the cow was all I had. Even though she was one of our milking cows, I had named her when I was too young to know the difference between a heifer and a bull calf. I was joking one night with Nicole when we were thinking of names, and she loved the significance of it and the humor behind it.”

I can’t imagine how much that meant to him that she liked the name. Ivy was Justin’s little sister. She died in an ATV accident when he was seven, and she was five. He was driving them, and it took a lifelong toll on him.

I feel the bubble of laughter that wants to rise in my chest, but I contain myself for his sake. “It’s a strong name.”

“Yeah, yeah. You can laugh. I named my son after a misgendered cow.”

“Don’t do that, Justin. Don’t deflect. It has meaning. Own it and appreciate the significance.”

He watches Hannah eat with reverence, and I know he’s thinking about her name. Hannah is named after his little sister Ivy’s favorite doll.

The silence sits comfortably between us in the room. The sound of Hannah humming, broken up by sleeping baby coos as we each care for them.

Justin’s phone buzzes on the counter, and his brows furrow when he looks at the caller ID.

“It’s Katy. Isn’t it the middle of a school day?”

“As far as I know.”

“Hey, Katy. What’s u—” He pauses, listening, and concerned lines burrow deeper on his face. He moves across the room out of Hannah’s earshot before speaking again. “Sweetheart. Calm down. I can’t understand you. Where are you?” Katy and Justin have a special relationship. The same day I met him was the day she saved his life. “Are you safe right now?”

“Justin?” I don’t like his last question.

“Are you hurt other than…fuck. Don’t move.” He looks at me with panicked eyes as they ping-pong between Hannah and Miles.

“I’m bringing him to Nicole.” He nods and rubs a hand over his shaved head.

“I’m going to stay on the phone with you, but I need to talk to Spencer, so I’m putting you on mute. But I’m here. Okay?”

I walk into their bedroom and Nicole is asleep, so I gently place Miles in the bassinet next to the bed. When I come back into the living room, Hannah is no longer at the kitchen table, but Justin looks even more frantic.

“Katy, Spencer is back. I’m still here, but give me a minute to talk to her.” He’s using his victim work voice, and the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Why is he using that tone with her?

“What’s going on?”

“Katy is in the alleyway between the gas station and the fast food place across from her high school.”

“Why isn’t she in school?”

“She walked across the street to get lunch, and…she was attacked.”

“Justin. Attacked as in…” His answer is a single nod. “Tell her I’m on the way, and don’t get off the phone with her until I get there.” I grab my keys from the bowl by the door and leave.

As soon as I pull out of Justin’s driveway, I turn on the Bluetooth in my car and listen to the ringing.

“Tails, are you making a booty c—”

“I don’t have time for your comedy right now. Are you busy? I need your help.” There’s a pregnant pause before he answers. All joking has left him.

“What and where? Anything you need.” I give him the location and the only other information Justin gave me, “A man attacked her.”

“Fuck, Spencer. Call the police.”

“Axel, she called Justin. She didn’t call 9-1-1. Let’s assess the situation first, please.”

He sighs heavily, but I can hear motion in the background and a car door shut. Despite his protest, he’s showing up for me.

“And this is Katy? Justin’s Katy?”

“Yes. We owe it to him to help her. He has enough on his plate right now.”

“I’m on my way, Spencer. You don’t ever have to ask twice. I’m there.”

Pulling up to the gas station, I have no idea what condition I’m going to find Katy in. I knew I was coming no matter what information Justin gave me, so I didn’t bother to ask. Axel pulls up next to me and grabs a bag from his trunk. I get out and do the same. I know we both keep medical supplies on hand at all times.

“Where is she? What do we know?”

“I don’t know any more than what I’ve already told you, and she should be right down there. Justin was staying on the phone until I arrive.” Axel’s attention drifts over my shoulder, and he nods. I turn to see who he’s acknowledging and quickly turn back.

“Did you call him?”

“Lincoln? Yeah. He’s a friend. I assumed, based on the location, that Katy goes to school across the street. Linc is the school resource officer there.”

“I said, no police.” My annoyance slips through, and knowing who’s about to walk up behind me, I put my mask in place. It will be easier for Katy if I’m in full work mode anyway.

“He knows Katy. It’s okay.” He attempts to reach for my shoulder, and I sidestep his arm.

“We’re wasting time.” I walk away with purposeful intention, not wanting to give him an opportunity to say anything.

The alleyway is dark, but there’s a sliver of light bouncing off the fast food restaurant’s wall from the afternoon sun.

“Katy?” I call her name quietly, not wanting to scare her more than I’m sure she already is.

“Spencer? Justin, she’s here.” I follow the sound of her voice on the phone and find her curled in a ball behind a dumpster. I crouch down next to her and hold out my hand.

“Can I talk to him?” Katy’s hand shakes as she extends the phone to me. “I’ve got her, Justin. I’ll keep you updated. Take care of your family. I’ve got her.” He hangs up after thanking me.

Movement scuffs at the front of the alley, and Katy jumps. I turn and hold up a hand for them to wait.

“It’s alright, Katy. I have friends with me. They are both men. One is a nurse from the emergency room. His name is Axel. The other, I believe you know, is Officer Reed, your resource officer. We are all here to help you. Is it okay if they come closer? If not, I’ll send them away.”

Katy’s eyes dart around, unsure of how to answer me.

In a weak, scared voice, I hear, “Okay.” I turn back to Axel and Lincoln and nod.