Dunc was baffled by what was happening, and his heart began racing in panic. After a few minutes, Dunc realized that Amanda had fallen asleep. Now he was stuck with her and unsure what to do. He didn’t want to wake her up but, at the same time, wasn’t sure how happy she was going to be if she woke up like this. He decided to continue watching the movie and was glad the remote was close at hand. Dunc lowered the sound and enjoyed Amanda’s warmth against him.
This was nice. Dunc needed this as much as Amanda appeared to need sleep.
Chapter 4
A manda ran her hand over her pillow, snuggling into its warmth. She inhaled deeply, enjoying the comforting smell beneath her. Then she heard someone giggling. It sounded suspiciously like Sallie. What was her sister doing in her room? Amanda gripped her pillow with the intent to throw it at Sallie. Suddenly her entire bed was moving and yelling in pain.
“Ouch! Retract your claws!” Dunc grabbed Amanda’s wrist. She had sunk her fingernails into his chest, thinking it was her pillow. It took a moment for Amanda to relax and let him go. Then she blinked at him in confusion. She looked so tired.
“Amanda needs coffee in the morning to function properly.” Sallie plopped down next to Amanda and grinned at Dew, who was taking pictures with his phone.
“I want copies of everyone.” Dunc’s mother was standing in the doorway in a bathrobe with a smile that spread from ear to ear.
Dunc looked at Amanda groggily, then at Sallie, then on to Dew and his mother. “Oh, no.” Dunc groaned. “We just fell asleep on the couch. Don’t any of you start on us!”
“We got worried when you didn’t come home last night, Amanda.” Sallie leaned against her sister and patted her on the shoulder.
“Go away, Sallie.” Amanda batted at Sallie’s hand, trying to get her to leave her alone. “I’m trying to sleep.” Dunc gently scooted out from under Amanda. She fell on the couch and snuggled into the cushions.
“Out you two, out.” Dunc grabbed Sallie by the wrist and Dew by the shoulder. He wasn’t trying to be rough, but he was annoyed at them. He shot a dirty look at his mother, who had let them in. “Let her sleep if she wants to.” Dunc let them go and closed the door so no one could disturb Amanda.
Dunc took a deep breath. “Has Amanda been sleeping at all since the party? Did she tell you what happened?”
Dew and Sallie stared at Dunc. “What happened at the party?” Sallie looked worried.
“She didn’t tell you that Joseph showed up?” Dunc whispered and made a shooing motion with his hands.
“What?” Sallie squeaked in horror.
“I made him leave.” Dunc urged the three of them down the hall and into the dining room. “But she didn’t tell you?”
“No, she didn’t.” Dew frowned.
“I’ll make some coffee.” Dunc’s mother went on into the kitchen.
“No coffee for Amanda.” Dunc stated. Then he turned to Sallie and Dew and recounted what had happened when Joseph arrived. By the time he was done, the color had drained from both of their faces.
“This is bad.” Sallie whimpered.
“Amanda mentioned that you might all have to move.” Dunc ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “I, uh, I don’t want you to have to move.”
“What are we going to do?” Dew scooted his chair closer to Sallie and wrapped an arm around her to pull her closer to him.
“Well, first of all, you better delete all those photos you took.” Dunc glared at Dew. “Then, when Amanda has had enough sleep, we are going to have a discussion. I am fine with her staying here for now if you trust me.”
“Yeah, we do.” Sallie nodded. “I should call Daddy.”
“If he can help, do it.”
“Amanda’s not going to like that,” Dew warned Sallie. Then he turned to Dunc to explain. “Their father was upset when Amanda decided not to marry Joseph. He picked Joseph out as the perfect husband for Amanda. Their father had to fire him after Joseph sued Amanda for breaking his leg. He couldn’t believe that he was the type who would seriously try to uh... abuse his fiancée. He believed Joseph’s excuse that he was roofied.”
“That is why she was still mad at me when I told her what happened to me.” Dunc made a face, putting everything together. “I have an actual medical report.”
“So did he,” Sallie stated.
Dunc stared at the table for a moment, not sure if he wanted to ask. He was angry enough as it was. “Did he, did he hit her?” Sallie pulled out her phone and, after a moment, handed it to Dunc. He stared at the picture on the phone and slammed a fist into the table so hard it shook.
It was a photo of a furious Amanda glaring into the camera. Her hair was a mess and a little longer than it was now. The left side of her face was one substantial bruise that ran from her cheek to her forehead. Her eye was swollen shut. There were more bruises and cuts on the right side. Her lips were swollen, and her nose was red. She was holding up both hands, palms out. There were dark reddish-purple bruises on her wrists. Dunc could see the outlines where fingers had dug in. She had more purple marks up and down her
