When Family Became a Place I Couldn’t Return To novel Chapter 145

Jonah carried Nelly over to the edge of the road and set her down with as much care as he could manage. There was blood on her forehead, but it looked like nothing worse than a cut. He checked her again, gentle but thorough, and only when he was sure there were no serious injuries did he finally let out a breath of relief.

Carrie followed behind, shuffling along as she wiped her tears away. She crouched down close to Nelly, her eyes already getting shiny again. Her lips trembled and she looked up at Jonah, trying not to cry but barely holding it together.

“My mom is not going to die, right?”

“Don’t worry. Your mom is going to be okay.”

Jonah looked at her, and the sharp lines of his face softened a little. Carrie really did look like Nelly, the same pretty features and delicate shape to her face. Even with all the dirt on her, she was still a cute kid.

Jonah took out a tissue and held it out. Carrie walked over slowly and let him wipe her cheeks.

“Your name’s Carrie, isn’t it?” he asked, his voice gentle.

Carrie nodded, then hesitated. “Are you a policeman? Can you take me and my mom home?”

She was still scared. She just wanted to take her mom home, back to her dad, back somewhere safe where nothing bad could happen.

Jonah smiled. “Your dad and the police are on their way. They’ll take you home soon.”

He glanced at Nelly as he spoke. The sky was getting lighter, and the faint morning light fell across her face, making her features look peaceful and calm.

“Carrie, your mom needs you right now. Can you stay with her and help take care of her?”

As soon as Jonah finished talking, Carrie rushed back to Nelly’s side. She nodded hard, her little face full of worry. She looked up at Jonah again, voice cracking.

“My mom is really going to be okay, right?”

Her voice caught in a sob. She didn’t want to cry. Dad always said crying in front of other people was embarrassing. But she’d been crying for so long now. At first it was because she was scared of dying. Now, it was all for her mom.

The idea that her mom might die because of her hurt so much she thought she might die, too. She finally understood how much her mother loved her. Only her mom would always step forward for her, no matter what, even if it meant risking everything.

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