(Retired) Mayor Bougerious POV:

 I received a phone call from my almost granddaughter.

  I could tell she had been crying. I could sense she needed me.

   "Sarah, what is wrong?" I ask.

   "Grandpa, Dad said to call you. Mom started to have another bad memory, and she passed out.  She is asleep now," Sarah says.

       "Is she alright?" I ask worried for both my adult daughter and my grandchild.

       "I am not sure, but Dad, I mean, Nathaniel says he will stay with her," Sarah answers. 

    "Grandpa, please come pick me up," I hear her say next.

        "Okay, I will be right there," I tell her.

    I put my shoes back on and grabbed my wallet and keys. I shut the door, locked it, and headed to my car. I put the wallet in my back pants pocket,  put on my seatbelt, and started the car. I headed over to Chole's to pick up Sarah.

    I arrived there in fifteen minutes since there was not much traffic. I rang the doorbell and heard the patter of footprints. I saw Nathaniel and Sarah staring at me.

    "Hi, I am here to pick up Sarah. Is everything alright?" I say.

    "Ah, yes, I felt she needed to stay with you so I can keep my eye on Chole," Nathaniel says.

       "I am worried about her, she said something about letting him take her instead of me,"  Nathaniel adds. He frowns. 

      "I am too, but the counselors can't seem to find a way to help her," I say.

        "If anyone can get through to my daughter it is you, Nathaniel, "I add.

           "Mr. Bougerious, I will try my best. I am afraid somehow this is partially my fault, see I tried to discuss marriage and she was upset. I did not mean to make her stress out. I can see that she was not ready to discuss such matters,"  Nathaniel tells me.

         "Son, none of this is your fault, the monster ruined what was some of the best years of her life, and you are not to blame. You are the best person for her right now," I say.

        "I was there the day she went to his place and he attacked her. I felt so helpless, see I was there because he insisted I meet him, but I did not know she was coming over too. I swear, I would have helped her had I known." Nathaniel says.

         "I  got there before she did and I was trying to talk to him man to man. The trouble is he was not listening and he grew angry. He said something about my trying to take what was his. I tried to argue that Chole is a person, not an object to be owned. He was having none of that, and he punched me. He got me so hard, I passed out in the living room. When I came too, I was in my car with no recollection of how I had gotten there," Nathaniel says.

     "Did you tell anyone this?" I ask.

   "I tried to tell the police, but they would not do anything since Chole refused to press charges. Besides, it was my word against his, and I could not prove he had done anything to her. I did not see it, but I woke up in my car to hear her screams. I got out and yelled for him to come out and face me. I hoped it would distract him long enough for her to run." Nathaniel tells me.

    "That dead man was a bad person. He hurt Mom and she is still suffering because of him," Sarah says.

    "Yes, she is, and Nathaniel here will not leave her alone," I say.

    "Good, because she needs him even if she does not know it yet," Sarah adds.

     "That she does child, that she does, now let's go," I say. "Okay, coming, Grandpa," Sarah calls it to me. I see she has her overnight bag, her teddy, and her house keys.

        I did not see anyone taking my photo as I left the house with Sarah. If I had I would have been furious. I  drove safely to ensure we arrived safely at my place. I knew Chole would never forgive me if something should happen to Sarah while she was in my care. I also, knew I would not be able to face what happened if I was not careful.

  Once back at my place, I took Sarah inside and she held onto her teddy bear and small overnight bag. I shut the door, locked it, and set the alarm.

  I gave Sarah a snack. She ate it while I found a book to read to her for a bedtime story. After the story, she got ready for bed, climbed in, and I tucked her in with her bear. Then, read her another story, and sang to her.

     Nathaniel texted me to thank me for taking care of Sarah.

"Sure Son, it is fine, I will be glad to watch her anytime," I texted him.

    "You take care of my daughter for me," I texted him.

    "Yes, sir, I will,"  was Nathaniel's text response.

    "Sir, I will do all I can for her, " Nathaniel texted me.

    "I know you will, "I texted him.

     "I love her and Sarah," Nathaniel's next text message read.

      "Good for you, son, I love them too, and I know you are the right man for Chole." I texted him.

         I  checked in on Sarah and saw her staring at the ceiling. She held onto her teddy bear. I saw her yawn and smiled. I knew she was about to fall asleep. I stayed with her as she slept.

          I stayed and prayed for her, my daughter, and my future son-in-law's future. I left the room and closed the door. I made sure to leave a night light on too, because even though Sarah had not said anything about it, I could tell the dark bothered her.

    Find out more in Chapter 43

   Until then,

bye-bye,

little owlets!

Summer out!