Beautifully Broken

“Annie.” He tips his hat. “Karen. How are you two this morning?” He sounds casual, but I’m not falling for it.

“As bright as a sunray, Jason.” She nods to the bags in his arms. “Are those mine?”

“Yeah. I think I got everything on the list. I’ll just put it in the kitchen.” When he comes back out, he takes his hat off and leans against the rail opposite us. He stretches his legs out before him.

His hazel eyes are sharp, and his light brown hair is kept in a neat style. He’s tall and lean, and the uniform makes him look threatening.

When his eyes land on me, I swallow hard and start to fidget.

“Out with it, boy.” Annie’s tone sharpens slightly.

“Karen, I couldn’t help but notice you have an accent. I did a search on your name, and it’s as clean as a whistle. What I want to know is how someone who was born in South Carolina ends up sounding like you?”

Once again, in the face of danger, I freeze, my mouth going bone dry and my muscles tightening.

“Now, you listen to me.” Annie raises herself to her mere five feet, and I quickly grab hold of her hand.

“No, Annie,” he cuts her off, “you’ve been my mother for the past twelve years, and I won’t stand by and watch you get used.” He straightens to his full height, and it makes me rise to my feet. “I’m no idiot, so don’t make me out to be one.” Then he turns a look of warning on me.

“Go on inside, Karen,” Annie says, her voice dipping low.

Shaking my head, I lift my chin, meeting his angry eyes. “Do you do checks on everyone you meet, Officer?” I take a step forward, and for a moment, my legs feel weak with fear.

I’ve survived that container. I can damn well survive this guy.

I return his glare. “I have an accent because my mother is from South Africa. My father is American. I was born here. Spent time traveling. Would you like to see my I.D., Officer?” I bite out.

I’ve built up the story, and he can now do with it what he wants. I don’t have to say another word.

“No,” he says, and I watch him swallow. “I’d like a moment alone with Annie.”

I stare at him for a moment longer, feeling brave that I didn’t back down. Giving Annie’s hand a squeeze, I head inside but stay in the hallway where I can hear them talk.

“How dare you disrespect Karen?” She launches into him. “She’s blood of my blood. You don’t come around here talking of her like that. We put my sister in the ground, and Karen is all I have now. We’ve been through enough to have you kicking up dust all around us.”

“Annie,” he breathes patiently, “I’m only looking out for you. Something about her just ain’t right. You take in lost puppies and kittens –” I hear Annie inhale sharply. “Let me finish,” he says quickly, “you don’t take in total strangers. You don’t know what kind of baggage she’s dragging behind her.”

“Jason Steward Williams!” Annie breathes his name with indignation. “How dare you!”

“Annie –”

“Don’t you Annie me,” she fumes.

“It’s my duty to look out for you,” he grumbles.

That’s about all the tension I can take. I stalk back outside.

“Would you both just stop,” I say, and I’m surprised at how calm I sound. I level Jason with a look. “You don’t know me. You have no right to judge me.” Then I glance at Annie. “He only cares. Now let’s all take a breather and have some of that awful flower tea.”

I walk back into the house to make some of the flower tea Annie likes to drink and coffee for me. Jason can have tea with Annie.

I’m busy arranging everything for the fourth time on the tray when I hear him come into the kitchen. They’ve been whispering a while, and I’ve taken my time preparing the beverages.

“She really cares about you,” Jason mentions.

“I really care about her,” I say as I pick up the tray. It’s not even nine in the morning, and I’m tired already.

“I don’t want to see her get hurt,” he keeps going. “So if there’s something, anything that might come to hurt her because she has a kind heart, I’d like to know so I can protect her.” I get he loves Annie and wants to keep her safe.

I start toward the door but pause when he asks, “Is there something I should be worried about?”

I don’t answer him because I don’t know. I was fine until he started digging. I don’t know if he triggered anything.

With a sinking feeling, I realize it might be time to run again. But I want to cling to Annie and this safe haven with both hands.