True Colors (The Masks #1)(68)
Eric walked Indie and I out to my car shortly after Micah’s parents arrived. The police hadn’t shown up yet, but after Indie was checked out by a doctor and deemed fit for release, Libby and Micah sent us on our way, saying they’d send the police over to us if they wanted to talk.
We walked to the car in somber silence. This day was far from over.
Eric followed us back to my place, but didn’t stick around. Julia’s car was already in the drive when I pulled up in my Mini. Eric didn’t even get out of his car, he just put down the window and told me he’d give me a call later. I waved goodbye in stunted silence, fighting off tears as if my life depended on it.
Indie gave me a sympathetic smile. “Your boyfriend?”
“I’m not sure.” I shrugged, my eyes glistening. This just made her eyes well and soon both our lips were wobbling. I stepped around the car and drew her into my arms, careful not to squeeze her too tight. We spent the next few minutes softly crying into each other’s shoulders.
Seth pulled up and ushered us inside. He was soft and sweet with Indie, using his calm, gentle, fatherly voice. Julia, who is pure gold, hugged us both tightly, making Indie yelp. She took one peek down the back of Indie's dress and ordered her up to the bath. The anguished look she shot me was telling. She would care for Indie as if she were her own daughter; that much was obvious. She’d already set up a spare mattress on the floor in my room, assuming Indie would want the company throughout the night.
My nieces, Kimber and Serena, were on their best behavior, playing quietly in the sunken lounge and only sneaking curious peeks occasionally.
Julia’s bath thing worked; Indie sat down to dinner looking refreshed and just a touch less fragile. Neither of us could eat much, with the dreaded phone calls impending, plus our meal was interrupted by the police.
Seth held my hand and Julia wrapped her arm around Indie as we both cried our way through the details. Behind Indie’s mask was a plethora of emotions. I didn’t miss the guilt. A part of her still felt bound to Liam and she was ashamed to dob him in. That emotion kept bouncing off a deep relief, which then bounced off regret and beneath those layers, I saw the lost child that she was fighting not to be. I knew her mother left her when they were young and her father had always been a busy man. She and Maverick had been raised by nannies and housekeepers. It was hardly a stable environment and probably explained why she’d fallen for Liam’s charms and then found herself trapped within his dark snare.
I squeezed Seth’s hand, flooded with gratitude. In spite of being the young squirt and often feeling disconnected from them, I came from a family who loved me and would drop everything to help me.
Seth made me call Mom and Dad as soon as the police left. I chose to speak to Dad first. He always took this kind of thing better than Mom. It took a lot of convincing, and in the end it was Seth who insisted they not cut their trip short. I hung up feeling shattered and on the verge of collapse, but we still had Indie’s call to go.
“Just do it.” I sat on the bed beside her, taking her hand. “As soon as you’re done, we’ll call Micah and you can tell him everything. I know talking to him makes you feel better.”
I didn’t actually know it. I assumed it, because talking to Eric always made me feel a million times better. I bit my lip, wondering if I’d ever get to talk to him again. I collected my charging phone and checked the screen as Indie dialed her dad. It was blank. No texts. No calls.
“Hey Dad, it’s Indie.” Her voice was soft and fragile. I rubbed her back. “I know you don’t have long to talk, but I have to tell you something... No, actually, it’s about Liam.” Her voice disappeared, drowned by a waterfall of tears.
“Indie? What’s wrong, honey?” I could hear his muffled voice through the telephone. Indie covered her mouth with her hand, unable to say the words as her father continued to repeat her name, sounding more and more worried.
In the end, I gently took the phone from her grasp. “Hello, Mr. Swanson?”
“Who’s this?”
“It’s Caitlyn Davis, sir. I’m a friend of Indie’s, from school.”
“Okay, what the hell is going on, Caitlyn?” His voice was calm and firm. I looked to Indie, swallowed and began talking. I told him everything. It was the third time I’d done it that day so I was able to add in extra details where needed. It was probably my best retelling of the events yet. I knew it was brutal, but I didn’t skip a thing, even the stuff about Liam punishing her. Wanting to end with something positive, I finished with how Indie was in love with Micah and what a good guy he was. Man, if I’d been Indie, I would have been dying, but she was too busy crying to really notice.
“She’s safe, sir. The police are looking for Liam and Mason now. And she can stay with us as long as she needs.”
The movie producer’s voice was quaking when he replied, “Thank you, Caitlyn. Tell my daughter I’ll be home by Wednesday.”
“Okay.”
“Has Maverick been told?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
“Please leave it that way. He’s very protective of his sister and I want to be the one to tell him.”
I glanced at Indie; her tears were finally ebbing as she mopped at her face with a thick wad of Kleenex. I pointed to the phone and she shook her head, so I finished up the call for her.