Free Innocence by Holly J. Gill Page B

her.”
    “No, Ross, please, she just needs time.”
    “Why is she so important to you?”
    Calvin could not answer the question at all.
    “She just needs time, time to reflect.”
    “Time to take full advantage of you. Do you help all strays?”
    “No…no I bloody don’t,” he said in defence.
    “Then why her?”
    “Ross, please…give her a tiny break, if in a few days she’s still unpredictable, then yes, we can call someone,” Calvin suggested.
    “Okay, but, my friend, I’m more worried about you and I can see you as an easy target, now that you have kindly put her in a cottage.”
    Calvin agreed he had no idea what Kacey could be dragging him into and maybe already she was taking full advantage of him, but he still believed in chances.
    “Yes, but surely we all must be given a chance,” he said feeling sorrow in his heart.
    He had never been alone, but he could imagine how lonely it would be without friends or family to support or help you in your hour of need.
    “Yes, I agree. But you must remember you caught her in a desperate situation. I am sure she might have still jumped and taken her life regardless of your words, they wouldn’t have changed her actions, especially if she felt that low. We all hit rock bottom and some people manage to take their lives, but clearly something was preventing her from doing so.”
    “Yes, but I believe in helping someone when they are at their weakest and she is, not that I have put myself out in the past. If anything, I have stayed well out of any personal issues unless it affects the job,” he added staring at Ross. “And yes, there was a serious reason for her to stop her actions. And yes, I will admit I had to convince her jumping would not be the answer, but the poor girl was in clear distress, sobbing her heart out and all I could think was about her jumping and me having to jump in after her. I would have, of course. There was no way I would stand by and watch her take her life, and not just hers.” Calvin closed his eyes sensing her grief.
    “What do you mean? Not just hers!” Ross asked.
    Calvin turned back to look at him.
    “She is expecting.”
    He watched Ross widen his eyes in shock.
    “What?”
    “She is seven months pregnant. She has nothing, and there is no chance of her getting a job. I would agree with her no one would take her on in her condition.”
    “Bloody hell, Calvin, why the hell didn’t you mention this earlier? Here I’m thinking she is some sad bitch, full of self-pity and yet you are dealing with an emotional expectant mother. Did you say her parents lived in the village?”
    “I think so, she’s being vague,” he said, cocking his head to the side. “She denied it when I asked her in the pub, but after speaking to her it sounded certain they do live close by, I could be wrong, I was more concerned about her releasing her hands from the rail.”
    “And you assume that by?”
    “She mentioned she’d been to her parents’ house and they slammed the door in her face. I am not totally stupid. She tensed up and didn’t wish to answer all my questions which, in reflection was understandable. She’d been through so much I didn’t wish to argue with her, and I could see she was tired and had the weight of the world on her shoulders which wouldn’t be good for the baby. I want to try and get her to talk to her parents again. I feel it is my duty.” He peering at Ross, he could see him thinking hard about the news he had received.
    “And you’re certain her parents live close to the village?”
    “Yes, very close!”
    “Did she grow up here?”
    “I assume so.”
    “Do you recognise her?” Calvin tilted his head to the side when Ross continued to bombard him. “Do we know her parents?”
    “For God sake, Ross, stop with the twenty million questions. I didn’t wish to push her. All I cared about was getting her rested, somewhere safe to put her head, and think about a few things.”
    “Do you think she’s