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ARVIN ENDED UP TAKING ADALINE TO THE POLICE STATION TO MAKE A STATEMENT—about her father, not about Preston—before taking her to his house where he and Emma helped Adaline get settled in until her Aunt Sally (actual Aunt Sally) would come to pick her up from Knockemstiff that next day.
Adaline was fine with sleeping on the couch in the living room, but Arvin offered up his bedroom instead and Emma agreed. There was, of course, Lenora's room but Adaline couldn't take that, and from the apparent sight that the door to the bedroom stayed close for most of the time, she didn't want to put either Emma or Arvin in that situation either.
Adaline acted as if she had never been in Arvin's room before when Emma showed her the freshly-made bed for which Adaline thanked her for once again.
Emma sympathetically smiled and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, "Or course, Adaline. And if you need anythin', I'm in the room across the hall." Emma nodded at Arvin, "And don't talk her ear off all night. Let the poor girl get some sleep. Sure she's exhausted."
Emma patted Arvin's shoulder in passing as he nodded back, "Alright, Grandma." Adaline walked further into the room and noticed that the pile of her bloodied clothes were still tucked underneath the bed, reminding her of the scabs already forming where the glass was pulled out.
"Do you need anythin'?"
Adaline looked up at Arvin and shook her head, "No, I'm fine. Thank you."
Arvin nodded, "Well..I'll be just out there if you need me. Goodnight."
Arvin went to leave but Adaline called out, "Wait." He froze, watching as she came over and silently shut the door behind him. She turned around to face Arvin and limited her voice to a whisper, "What are you gonna do?"
Arvin shook his head, playing coy, "I don't—"
"To Reverend." Arvin stopped. "What're you gonna do?" He contemplated whether or not to tell Adaline of the impulsive plan he had concocted while following the reverend's car out of the church parking lot, but Arvin trusted her. She already knew what lengths Arvin would go to in order to protect her and he figured that, since she hadn't run away or turned him into the authorities yet, she would do the same—or at the very least, be by his side throughout the whole thing.
Arvin turned around and opened his bedside drawer, taking out things until he reached into the far back and brought out a box that was vaguely familiar to Adaline. She walked over next to Arvin as he placed it on the table and opened it, revealing the Luger inside that he had gotten for his birthday.
Adaline's breath hitched before her voice lowered even more, "You're gonna...you're gonna kill him?"
Arvin's palms began to sweat at Adaline's apprehensiveness. Did he cross a line? Was she about to go run off to Sheriff Thompson right now? He glanced up at her face, worried of what emotions he was about to see, but only saw her staring at him with almost...no emotion. Adaline's face was blank.
