When Fyona fainted, I caught her easily, swung her into my arms and took her inside. I headed for the living room, deposited her on the couch, closed the front door and fetched her a glass of water from the kitchen. When I returned to her side, she was stirring, trying to sit upright.
“Wait, Mrs. Washington. Don’t sit up too fast.” I leaned over her and my heart melted when her caramel brown eyes filled with tears.
“Mykal … “
“Mrs. Washington … “
“Don’t call me that.” She sat up, taking the glass of water that I offered. “I got rid of that name when I got rid of Ronnie. And besides, my name’s Fyona.”
“All right, Fyona.”
“Is Mykal safe?”
“Yes. He hasn’t harmed him. From what we’ve been able to piece together, Ronnie showed up at school and took him out.”
“Why didn’t they call me?”
“Because he’s Mykal’s father. They didn’t see any problem with it.”
“Mykal would have never gone anywhere with Ronnie.”
“He would if Ronnie threatened to hurt you again.” I watched as my words took hold and unshed tears glistened in her eyes again. “I remember Mykal. He would do anything to protect you.” As she battled her tears, I recalled his little voice telling me that he had stabbed his father, not her. He didn’t want his father to hurt her again. “Does Ronnie have any friends?”
“Drinking buddies mostly. Buddies when you’ve got drink. A few of them have shown up here from time to time, pretending to ask about Ronnie and beg for money.”
I bristled, thinking about the scum who would prey on this woman. “They cause you any problems?”