Free Blue Skies, Season 2, Episode 8 (Rising Storm) by Dee Davis Page A

swollen shut, and her cheek throbbed in agony. Her arm was in a splint and she could feel the pressure bandage around her ribs. She’d been lucky. Truly lucky. But her kids. Dear God, Marcus had almost been killed trying to rescue her. And Dakota…Dakota had seen it all. She’d watched as Hector died. She’d worshiped her father. Dear Lord, what had it cost her to witness his madness?
    She tried to swing her feet around to the edge of the bed. She needed to find her children. But the world swung in a crazy circle and she swallowed against the rush of pain.
    “Careful, Mom,” Marcus said, striding through the door and across the room to slide a protective arm around her waist as he eased her back down onto the bed. “You need to be resting.”
    “But I need to check on Mallory and…”
    “I’m right here, Momma.” Mallory stood in the doorway, looking so young and lost.
    “And Dakota?” Joanne lay back, looking to her oldest.
    “Patrick Murphy is looking for her. They’ve become friends, and I figured she’d be more likely to talk to him than to me. So don’t worry. He’ll find her. What’s important now is that you let us take care of you.”
    “I’m fine,” she said as Mallory came to perch on the chair beside the bed. Marcus leaned back against the windowsill, crossing his arms over his chest as he watched them both. “Just a little bit banged up.”
    “A little bit?” Marcus’s eyebrows rose. “You’ve got two broken ribs, a hairline fracture in your cheek, and your shoulder was dislocated. I’d say that qualifies as more than just a bit banged up.”
    “Marcus,” Mallory chastised, going from kid to adult in a split second. Joanne shuddered with remorse. What had she done to her children? “She doesn’t need your anger on top of everything else.”
    “I’m sorry.” Marcus nodded, clearly struggling with his emotions. “I didn’t mean to sound harsh. It’s just that you’re not okay. None of us are. We probably never will be completely. But the important thing here is that he’s gone. And he can never hurt any of us again.”
    “Marcus is right,” Mallory said in her too-adult voice. “We all survived. That’s what matters.”
    “At least you weren’t there,” Joanne said, reaching over to brush a strand of hair from Mallory’s face. “I’d have done anything to spare your brother and sister from what happened.”
    “But don’t you see, Mom?” Marcus said. “That’s partly why it was all so difficult. You never let us help you.”
    “How could I do that? I’m your mother. I’m supposed to protect you. I’m the fool who married Hector. I’m the fool who didn’t have the strength to walk away. I couldn’t let him hurt you, too.” She watched her son, praying that he’d understand. That he’d forgive her.
    “So you drove me away.”
    “No. But I let you go. Because I wanted you to live. I knew that if I let you stay, either Hector would kill you or you’d kill Hector. And neither of those options were acceptable. Either way you’d have to pay for my sins.”
    “But what about Dakota and Mallory?”
    “Mom protected me,” Mallory said, and Joanne felt a rush of love for her youngest. “Daddy never hit me. He never even tried. Mom never left us alone together. And he worshiped Dakota.” The last was said with derision.
    “You sister stood up to your father today,” Joanne said, remembering the horror on Dakota’s face when she’d realized what kind of man Hector truly was. “I’d have given anything to spare her seeing me like that, but she was there, and she tried to defend me. To stop your father. When it truly mattered, she chose me.”
    “I guess there’s always a first time,” Mallory sighed, her anger and bravado evaporating. “I’m just sorry I wasn’t there. I should have been.” She flushed, and Joanne recognized the signs of guilt.
    “Oh, baby, I’m so grateful you weren’t there. I’m so thankful that you were safe.”
    “But