Where the Heart Is

Chapter 20

Eric grasped Sookie’s hand when it looked like another woman would come over to him, wanting to make it clear that he was taken.

She rolled her eyes. “Are you marking your territory?”

He scoffed. “Hardly, I’m just tired of being picked up at a fucking playground. People bring their kids here, it’s just disgusting.”

Sookie smiled now. “Oh, how things have changed. Is that why you wanted me to come with you?”

“I just wanted to spend time with you, but that might have had something to do with it. I never realized before how irritating it is to have random girls come up to me with their cheesy lines. I know I was just as bad in the past, but now it just makes me feel sleazy thinking about the way I’ve treated most of those women. Even though some had it coming, that doesn’t make it right.”

She pecked his cheek. “You’re all grown up, I’m so proud of you.”

Eric blushed at her teasing. “It took you and Jessica to help push me in the right direction. I can’t thank you enough for taking a chance on me; I don’t know where I would be right now if you didn’t.”

Sookie took that moment to glance back at Jessica, raising her eyebrows when the child was approached by another boy and wondering if that was the kid she’d been having problems with at school. Before she could say anything, he kissed Jessica on the cheek and the second the girl came out of shock, she slugged him in the stomach, leaving both Eric and Sookie stunned at what just happened.

* * * * *

“I guess we should have had this conversation sooner, but I didn’t think it was necessary. Sweetheart, why did you hit that boy? Violence is never the answer; I don’t want you to do that again.”

“But he’s icky, Daddy. I told Hoyt to leave me alone and he didn’t listen,” Jessica stated.

Eric couldn’t resist smiling at that, even though what she did was very wrong. “God, how I wish you would keep thinking that, but there will be a time when you won’t find boys to be icky anymore. I know you can’t understand that now, but hitting doesn’t solve anything. I want you to apologize to Hoyt tomorrow, okay? You’re a sweet girl, baby, I’d hate for you to get a bad reputation. You don’t want that, do you?”

She shook her head. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m glad for that, but you still have to say you’re sorry to him.”

Jessica pouted, but nodded her head in agreement.

Sookie smiled when she took off back to her room, shaking her head. “I guess my theory was right.”

Eric groaned. “I was praying it was just a bully, but now that she hit him, he should hopefully not try anything like that again. She’s only eight; I was hoping to not have to deal with this for at least another twenty years. When did you first start dating?”

“I think I was about fourteen.”

He rolled his eyes. “You’re not helping at all.”

Sookie sat down beside him on the couch. “This is something all parents have to go through, but at least you won’t have to alone. My poor Gran had to deal with me and Jason all by herself, it was definitely no picnic. Especially with the numerous women he tended to bring back to the house at all hours of the night, she did the best she could. I moved away with Bill for college when I was eighteen, and not a day goes by that I don’t regret leaving the way I did. I should have been there for her since Jason was already gone, not that he was ever really there to begin with. Everyone told me I was taking things too fast with Bill, but I was so blinded by love at the time that I didn’t listen. And when I finally did go back to visit Gran, it was too late. I’m just relieved I didn’t miss getting to say goodbye to her, that’s something Jason didn’t have.”

“I just want her to always be safe,” Eric commented.

“And she will, because there’s nothing you wouldn’t do to protect her. If some boy even thinks about breaking her heart, I know you’ll be right there to pick up the pieces. Jessica is the luckiest girl in the world; she gets to have you for a father. That’s more than most kids get.”

He teared up at that, kissing the top of her head. “You have so much faith in me; I don’t ever want to let you down. Either of you, I couldn’t bear it.”

“I don’t think you have to worry about that.”

Eric smiled. “I wish I could have met your Gran, she raised an amazing woman.”

Sookie blushed, kissing his chin since that was the only part she could reach. She sighed in contentment when he wrapped his strong arms around her, feeling safer than she ever had before.

* * * * *

She took a shortcut home after leaving the hospital, wanting nothing more than to take a nice hot bath. This day could not end soon enough. When Sookie turned down what was usually a deserted alley, she stopped at the sound of a commotion in the distance. She should have kept going, but was too curious and got out of her car to check the situation. If someone was hurt, she couldn’t just ignore them. The voices became clearer the further she walked.

“I’m not gonna tell you again, Compton. You think that last bullet was a bitch? That’s nothing compared to what else will happen to you if you don’t give me my money.”

“I just need a little more time; can’t we be reasonable about this?”

Sookie gulped when she recognized Bill’s voice, wondering what he got himself into, but now she really regretted leaving her car. She backed away, only to bump into another body. Gasping when two hands grabbed her in a tight grip, yanking her over to where the other men were arguing.

“Look what I found, a little spy. What should I do with her?”

Bill’s eyes widened at the sight of her there.

Sookie jerked out of his tight embrace, giving him a hard stare.

“Let her go, she has nothing to do with this,” Bill claimed.

The man in charge laughed. “Oh, she a little friend of yours? Well, that just made everything a lot more interesting.”

Sookie looked terrified now as he pulled out a gun, aiming it right at her.

“This is how it’s going to be, Compton. You either give me my money now, or your little girlfriend gets shot in the head. The choice is yours.”

“Please, I only need two more days,” Bill pleaded. “I promise you’ll get your money, just don’t hurt her.”

He put the gun away, nodding his head. “Fine, I’m a sensible man. You only have twenty-four hours to get what is owed to me, or I’ll come after everyone you care about.” This time he took out a knife, trailing the blade down Sookie’s cheek and loving the look of fear on her face. “Such a pretty thing, it would be a shame if something were to happen to her.” To prove his point, he made a shallow cut on her arm.

Sookie cried out at the pain, holding her bloody arm to her body as tears stung her eyes.

Bill wanted to go to her, but knew that wouldn’t be welcome at the moment. “Yes, twenty-four hours, I promise you will have your money by then.”

The man nodded, motioning to his friend that it was time to go. “Until next time, have a lovely evening.”

When they were gone, Sookie moved out of the way to avoid Bill’s touch, instead sending him a scathing glare. “What the hell have you done?”