Author's Note: A big thank you to every one who continued to read my story. Please continue to read, comment and vote. I love reading your opinions on the story, and what you think about the characters. Don't be afraid to share anything

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It didn’t even bother me that Jimmy hadn’t told me what they were talking about at breakfast. If Jimmy hadn’t told me there must be good reason why he didn’t. I had to have faith in that.

Jimmy and Charles came in earlier than they normally do. I was still making dinner when I heard the door open. I looked up to see Jimmy and Charles coming into the kitchen.

“When your brother comes in tell him to start getting ready,” Charles told Jimmy.

“Will do,” Jimmy said.

Charles went up the stairs and Jimmy turned around and walked straight towards me. He grabbed my hips and turned me around so he could kiss me.

“Getting ready for what?” I asked. I bit my lip. I keep forgetting that I can’t ask questions.

“Dad and Tommy are going into town tonight,” he told me, “so it’ll just be the two of us.”

My lips lifted up into a smile. The last time the two of them went into town was when Jimmy let me go outside. I hoped he would do the same tonight. It’s been weeks since I’ve left the house. Maybe if we get the house down the street in the future, Jimmy will trust me enough to leave the doors unlocked.

“What about dinner? Are they going to eat first?” I asked looking back to my stove full of food.

“Leave it,” he said leaning in to kiss my cheek. “Put it in the fridge and we can have it tomorrow night.”

There was a loud creak as the door open and Tommy walked in. Jimmy no longer afraid to be seen close to me. He use to jump away from me whenever somebody could see us, like he was supposed to be nowhere near me. Now, he doesn’t do that, especially around Tommy. He had his hands on my hips and slid them around my back as he pulled me closer.

“Dad says to get ready right away,” Jimmy told him.

“Alright,” Tommy said as he ran up the stairs.

Jimmy let go of me when he could hear Tommy’s door slam shut upstairs. He went over to the sink and began washing his hands. After I finished cooking dinner, I wrapped it up and put it in the fridge. At least I wouldn’t have to cook tomorrow.

Charles came down the stairs pulling his arms through the sleeves of his jacket. Tommy soon followed zipping up his sweater. Tommy ran his eyes over my body before he walked out the front door without saying a word. In the corner of my eye I could see Jimmy scowling.

“Remember what I told you,” Charles told Jimmy.

“I will,” Jimmy said trying to sound confident. “Don’t worry.”

“We will be home in four to six hours,” Charles said. His voice was stern and it sounded like a warning.

“I know.”

They said their goodbyes and Charles left. I cleaned up the kitchen and Jimmy opened up the fridge. He pulled out a plate full of leftover meat I had fried up the other night. He placed it on the table and sat down in his spot.

“Julie, come sit down,” he told me.

I stopped wiping the counter and left the rag there. Jimmy had pushed out my usual seat and the end of the table. He was sitting at the edge of his chair and had turned it so he was facing mine. I sat down and he reached over to the plate of meat and took one of the strips. He tore into it with his teeth.

“Eat one,” he said looking over at the plate.

I reached over and took one of the cold strips of meat. I bit into it and struggled as I tried to tear a piece off with my teeth. Jimmy’s lips lifted into a faint smile.

“You know I love you, right?” he asked.

“Of course I do,” I told him.

“And you know that I only ever want to help you and I only do what’s best for you?” he asked.

“Yes,” I said.

“Tell me.”

“You only do what’s best for me.”

“Say it again.”

“You only do what’s best for me.”

Jimmy’s hand slid into mine and he laced his fingers through mine. He looked at me softly with those huge chocolate brown eyes of his. I couldn’t believe that cutting his hair off made them look even bigger. I couldn’t stop my lips from lifting up into a smile.

“You’re happy here, right?” he asked.

“Yes. I’m happy with you,” I said.

“But you love our family?” he asked me. “You realize that you’re part of our family now and we will always love you?”

“You’re my family and I love you,” I repeated.

“We’re always going to protect you, right?” he asked me.

I felt his grip tighten in my hand and it caused my heartbeat to grow faster. Jimmy was nervous about something and I didn’t know what. He looked a little scared and that made me worry more.

“I know you’ll always protect me here, Jimmy,” I said. I lifted my lips into a bigger smile so that I could reassure him with whatever was bothering him. “I’m safer here than in the outside world.”

“I’m really glad to hear you say that,” he said, his lifts curling into a smile. “Our family is a bit different, but we do what is the absolute best. I’m so proud of you for the way you have been settling in. A few things have been a bit difficult for you. But I think honesty is the most important thing, don’t you agree?”

“Y…yes,” I stumbled over my tongue.

Jimmy was making nervous and I could feel a lump form in my throat. I had to force the words out of my mouth.

“We have a family tradition I haven’t told you about yet,” he warned me.

“What’s that?” I asked him.

“That meat you’ve been cooking,” he started.

He looked over his shoulder and over to the plate with the meat on it. My one hand still held the strip of meat I hadn’t finished eating yet. My fingers involuntarily tightened around it.

“Yes?” I asked.

I couldn’t stand the silence as he never finished what he was saying. I kept reminding myself that he cares about me and does what he thinks is best for me. I had to have faith in him. I had to. He was the only person I could have ever relied on.

“Do you remember those three travelers a couple weeks ago? I’m not sure if you’ll remember that couple on your first night here either?” he asked me.

I nodded my head. My eyes and nose were burning as the tears threatened to erupt. I didn’t want to be crying in front of Jimmy right now. I was probably overreacting.

“That meat you have been cooking is them.”