Protection

Chapter 14: Panic

Jen Pov:

After my day at work, we head home. Ainsley falls asleep in the car so I carry her inside. I place her on her bed and she wakes a little.

"Mommy" she says sleepily

"I'm just changing you so you can go to sleep okay"

She closes her eyes again and I change her into a t-shirt and pajama pants. I brush her hair, tuck her in, and kiss her forehead. Then I jump in the shower and get in my bed. Ava joins me under my covers and snuggles close to me. I grab my phone and click on Kyle's contact

"Hello Jen"

"Hey"

"Took you long enough to call"

"Oh don't be like that, I've been busy" I smile "thank you for the flowers, they're gorgeous"

"Well fitting for a beautiful lady like yourself"

I blush a little at his comment "nice line"

"So I'm guessing this call means you will go out with me"

"Yes"

I can practically here his smile through the phone "I can't wait, when are you free?"

"Well I have to see when I can find a sitter. Technically I don't start working at night until next week. Then I'm back to my crazy hours"

"So how about tomorrow then"

"Isn't that a bit soon?"

"No, we've delayed this long enough. I mean we've basically been having play dates with our children. We need some alone time"

I chuckle "okay that sounds good. I have off tomorrow actually"

"I'll pick you up at 6, see you then"

I fall asleep with a smile on my face.
I wake up again in the night hearing Ainsley scream. Her nightmares don't seem to be fading, even though she is talking to her therapist. Her therapist tells me that this is a normal response to trauma. I'm just lucky that Ainsley tells me things when I ask. The only time we talk about her old life is when she brings it up or has a nightmare. Recently she has been having this nightmare where Charlie, her captor, is cutting her legs with a razor. She tells me that he did that when he was angry. She has many hateful words carved into her legs, some are old and faded while others are still completely visible. She says her legs burn when she wakes up from the dream. I get a cool washcloth and pat her legs until she feels better. Some nights she is drenched in sweat and I give her a bath. Usually she ends up in bed with me which I'm not supposed to allow but I can't leave her when she is scared. After I calm Ainsley down from her nightmare we fall asleep in my bed. I wake up at 7 to Ava barking. I get up and take her outside and then feed her. Ainsley comes running down the stairs shortly after. She gets a glass from the cabinet and fills it with orange juice in the fridge. She is becoming very independent for her age. I make some pancakes and sit down to eat with her

"So are you okay with me going on a date with Kyle?" I ask Ainsley hesitantly

"What's a date?" She asks

"It's when two people who like each other go spend time together. We get to know each other"

"Will you kiss him again?"

I smile at her "probably"

"But how can you trust him, I don't understand?"