“I will. You know you and Mace are the first I’ll phone if I need help,” I remind him.
“I know it’s hard right now and hate not being there with you. Remember, we love you. We’re here,” Falcon says, and it makes it so damn hard to hold back the tears.
I clear my throat, before I reply, “Love you too.”
I cut the call and shove the phone back in my pocket, and then I just hold Lee for a moment. Pressing a kiss to her hair, I whisper, “I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry.”
Her breaths keep hitching as if she can’t take a full one, and I wrap my arms tighter around her.
I’ll never let anything hurt you like this again.Chapter 15LakeOnce Lee is a bit calmer, I lean my head closer to her, and ask, “Can you get us to your house, or should we go to the hotel?”
She pulls slightly away from me, and with a look of uncertainty, she glances around us.
Thankfully the older woman who I think is Lee’s neighbor comes rushing across the street.
Not knowing what else to do, I bring up an app Lee showed me and speaking into the microphone, I say, “Take us home.”
It translates my words, and when the woman nods, I feel relief wash over me.
“Gomapsseumnida,” I thank her to which she inclines her head. I pick Lee up and follow the woman. When it looks like she plans to walk for a while, I try to remember what Lee called a cab. “Ah… Taxshi,” I try to pronounce it.
“Ne, taegsi,” she says with a smile, and I’m about to start thanking the heavens when she flags one down.
The lady opens the door for me so I can place Lee on the backseat. I gesture for her to sit in front while I jog around the back and get in. Placing an arm around Lee, I pull her to me. I take hold of her chin and lifting her face, I begin to worry when I see the blank expression. Even her breaths are slower than usual.
I press her head to my shoulder and place a kiss on her forehead. “I’ve got you. You’re not alone.” I try to think what else I can say to her to comfort her, but there’s nothing. All I can do is to assure her I’ll be with her every step of the way. “Take all the time you need to grieve. I’m not going anywhere, so just lean on me.”
When the cab stops, I really have no idea where we are. I get out and go to Lee’s side and opening the door, I begin to slide my arms under her when she says, “I’ll walk.”
I’m surprised to hear her voice but so damn thankful as well. I pull back and help her get out.
Lee’s neighbor quickly takes hold of Lee’s arm, and after we’ve been walking for quite some time and we turn down another narrow alley, I begin to wonder if we’re not going around in circles.
Damn, I lost count after the fifth or seventh alley.
We turn a corner, and then I mutter, “Of course there will be stairs.”
Not just ten. They’re narrow, and there are a lot.
Halfway up, I’m thinking I should really up my workout routine because I’m feeling the strain. I glance at Lee and her neighbor, and when they don’t look affected at all, I take a deep breath and suck it up. If they can do this, then so can I.
When it looks like we’ve reached a dead-end, the woman points up while saying something to Lee.
Lee bows her head and then she slips down the narrowest alley I’ve ever seen, but it’s only a short distance before it opens up into a broader path. Lee makes a sharp left and then we’re going up more steps. When we reach a rooftop, I tilt my head and frown.
Not saying anything, I follow Lee to a door, and when she kicks off her shoes, I do the same. She opens the door, which I notice wasn’t locked. I take one step inside, and then I stop because I’m struggling to believe what I’m seeing.
“This is home?” I ask.
Lee nods as she pours two glasses of water. She brings me one while she takes a couple of sips of her own. Taking the glass from her, I move deeper into the room. It only takes me four steps, and then I’m standing in the middle of what seems to be the only room.
There are so many questions I want to ask her, but they will all have to wait until she’s in a better frame of mind.
Lee opens a door, and I catch a glimpse of a tiny bathroom before she shuts the door behind her.
Park Je-ha is a wealthy man. How could he let his wife and daughter live in a place like this?