Free The Guardians by Katie Ashley Page B

I’m so nosy—”
    I shook my head. “It’s okay.”
    Relief flooded her face. We sat in an uncomfortable silence for a few seconds. Finally, Abby spoke up. “I know how you feel. Gabriel’s probably told you that our mom was killed in May.”
    I know because I was there , I thought, but instead, I nodded.
    “It’s been so hard,” she began, but then her voice broke. “Daddy feels so guilty, like it’s his fault.”
    “Why does he feel that way?”
    “Mom was volunteering in this really bad neighborhood.” She shook her head. “They’d argued about it that morning. He told her not to do it anymore, but she just kept saying as a minister’s wife, it was her duty and all. Then as she and Hannah were on their way to the car…” Abby choked up, unable to continue.
    Almost instinctively, I reached out and grabbed her hand. She stared up at me in surprise. “You don’t have to talk about it,” I drew in a deep breath. “But if you want to, I’m here.”
    Tears welled in her eyes. “I haven’t been able to talk to anyone…”
    “I understand.”
    After sucking in a ragged breath, she rushed on, “It makes Daddy so sad, and Chaz refuses to talk to any of us about it. And Hannah…she doesn’t talk at all.”
    I shook my head. “I’m so sorry.”
    “Thanks,” she whispered, squeezing my hand. She smiled weakly. “You know for someone who never says anything, you sure know how to listen.”
    A tingle ran up my spine before my cheeks filled with warmth. To hide my embarrassment, I tucked my chin to my chest. “Thanks…I-I’m here for you if you need someone to listen.”
    “I appreciate that.”
    Before I could say anything else, the front door opened, and David stepped outside. “Abby?”
    She quickly dropped my hand. “Oh, sorry, Daddy. I was just talking with Elijah.”
    David smiled. “Oh, okay.” He looked over at me. “Looks like your family is gonna be a part of ours with Gabriel’s working at the church, and I just found out today that your sister, Sophie, is going to be Hannah’s homebound teacher.”
    Even though I already knew that, I smiled and nodded. “That’s nice.”
    “And now you and Abby seem to be new buds, as well.” He glanced back at Abby. “I just thought it was time you were getting ready for bed.”
    I quickly rose from my chair. David nodded. “Evening, Elijah.”
    “Yes, evening, sir.”
    As he closed the door behind him, I turned to Abby. “I guess I better be going.”
    She smiled. “Well thank you for walking me home.”
    “It was my pleasure,” I said as I returned her smile.
    I started off the porch, but Abby reached out and grabbed my arm. “And thanks for listening. I really appreciate it.”
    I nodded.
    “See you in school tomorrow,” she said.
    “All right then. Goodnight,” I said.
    “Goodnight.”
    Abby went inside the house, and I started off the porch. I didn’t care if Gabriel was still mad at me because I knew I was staying. And that made me very, very content.
     
     
     
    Chapter Seven: CASSIE
     
    I caught Zach’s gaze from across the cafeteria. When he smiled at me, I smiled back and waved.
    His smile widened as he gave a quick bob of his head.
    My attention switched to Elijah who appeared to be succumbing to a coughing fit. “Um, are you all right?”
    Once he recovered, he said, “I just don’t think you should be smiling at him like that.”
    I sighed. “What’s wrong now?”
    Elijah glanced at Rafe for reinforcement. “On the surface there’s nothing wrong, Cass. It’s just you have to be very careful the signals that you give to a guy. I mean, we’re just not sure exactly what the Dominion wants from your involvement yet, so you just need to be careful.”
    I narrowed my eyes at them. “Wow, by the way you guys believe in me it’s a wonder the Dominion bothered calling me out at all.”
    “That’s not what we’re saying,” Elijah said.
    “And just for the record, who made you an expert? You’re just as new