Only Her

Brett and Ramona returned to Skylar’s room. Ramona cleared her throat. Luka continued to hold Sky’s hand but he straightened his body and looked at his brother and Ramona.

“I got a call from Isaac,” Brett said.

“And?”

“Tag’s out. They District Attorney won’t charge him based upon Ava’s statement.”

Luka shook his head in irritation. He squeezed Skylar’s hand. “It might be better this way. Less Ava has to go through,” she said to him.

“I’ll be happy to put him in his place if he comes near you or Ava again,” Luka responded.

He glanced down at Skylar because she gripped his hand hard. “No Luka. I don’t want you to get into trouble and that is exactly what Tag would want.”

“She’s right,” Brett agreed. “He’ll be wanting to get you two into trouble now that you’ve made him look bad.”

“We’ll keep a low profile,” Skylar said.

Ramona laughed. “That won’t be difficult. Sky, you don’t go anywhere except to Ava’s soccer games and Friday night dances with Tag. I assume you won’t be dragging Luka to those now.”

“I won’t. I hated those damn events.”

Ava stretched. She had heard her father’s angry voice. “What’s going on?” She asked. Ava rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

“Nothing,” Luka told her.

Skylar scowled at him. She felt Ava needed to know the truth. “Ava, Tag is out of jail already. I feel like you need to know this so you are always aware and can be safe.”

“Why? He tried to hurt you.”

Skylar smiled at her daughter. “Sometimes people in high places get what they want and the truth doesn’t matter. The District Attorney won’t press charges.”

“I’m sorry Momma. Did I do something wrong?”

Cupping her daughter’s face in her hands, Skylar repeated, “Absolutely not.”

“Okay.”

“Hey, Little Mess, we are taking you back to the farm. Aunt Ramona has the night off tonight. Her Assistant Manager is running the bar.”

“Assistant Manager?” Skylar repeated.

“I hired her yesterday. She is great and can call me if she needs me. I won’t have to work so many nights.”

“That is wonderful,” Skylar told her sister.

Ava hugged her mother hard and let Brett pick her up. He leaned across the bed and kissed Skylar’s forehead. Then he stepped back to the door and waited on Ramona who said goodbye to Skylar next. “We’ll see you tomorrow,” Skylar told her.

“If they let you blow this popsicle stand,” Ramona said.

“They better,” Skylar insisted. She wasn’t staying a moment longer than necessary. Brett and Ramona took Ava home. Skylar watched the door close leaving her alone with Luka. She glanced at him rubbing his hand tiredly over his jaw.

“You’re stuck with me tonight Skylar. I’m staying.”

“Fine but if you start snoring you’re out of here,” she informed him.

He chuckled. “Just poke me in the belly and I’ll quit snoring.”

She snorted and turned on her side away from him. He rose over her and kissed her cheek. “Rest now Sky.”