Chapter 27-1

It terrified me when I lost the baby. I was alone with no help or support, but now it is different. My terror comes from something different, but at least now I have you to keep me safe. -Charlie Chapter 27 3 weeks later Charlotte looked down at her bare hand and watched as her fingers flexed for the first time in 3 weeks. She could still feel the phantom pain as her fingers twitched, but she knew there was none. Chase was talking with the doctor in the background as she flipped her hand over, expecting to see scars or bruises. Instead, she found her thin pale hand with no evidence of the trauma it had been through. "Can I still paint?" She whispered quietly for the first time since leaving the house this morning and looked up to the doctor who had removed her cast. Her face had healed and while there were still some minor bruises that were still fading, it was nothing make-up couldn't cover. Her ribs were still tender when she moved a certain way, but overall, the physical evidence had healed, but her heart and mind hadn't. It scared her to do anything and even more scared to leave the house. Even though Chase told her Landon was no longer in Australia, that didn't stop her from feeling a sense of dread every time the front door opened. The only reason Charlotte had left the house today was that her cast had to be removed, and she needed a check-up to see how her healing was progressing. Her anxiety was at an all-time high and every small sound made her heart race and her body sweat. Her anxiety had calmed down a little since entering the doctor's waiting room, but that still didn't stop her flinching when a small child banged two blocks together and started squealing in a high pitch voice. She flinched when she felt Chase place a hand on her knee and it was then she noticed her increased breathing and the leg Chase was now holding had been bouncing with stress. "I see no reason why not? You were lucky not to have any ligament damage or surgery on the hand. Just keep to light duties until your hand builds up its strength again." Charlotte nodded her head and looked back at her hand. She flexed it again and tried to imagine herself holding a paintbrush again. Her body craved to paint or draw something. It was ingrained into her body and soul, the need to create and express herself, but she wasn't sure what she wanted to paint. She wasn't sure if she could sit in front of a blank canvas and paint something when inside all she felt was despair and dread. She had so many ideas running through her head, but whenever she thought too hard, one face would always appear. It was a face that would never leave her. "Do you have questions, Charlotte?" She looked away from her hand and back to the doctor and shook her head, and they said their farewells before leaving. Chase gently placed a hand on her lower back and guided her towards the car parked outside. Her body tensed up when the fresh morning October air blew across her face and the sun beamed down with the promise of a warm spring day. Chase opened up her car door and Charlotte quickly slid in and strapped on her seat belt. Chase said nothing to her while he started to the car and drove away from the doctor's clinic. "I was wondering if you wanted to go to a café for brunch. I know you don't want to be outside, but I promise you will be safe." Charlotte looked up from her lap and turned her head towards Chase, who was focusing on the road. She bit her lip as she twisted her hands together tightly as her anxiety spiked at the thought of being outside. She knew eventually she needed to face the world again, but despite getting weekly updates from Nathan that Landon was still out of the country, it still terrified her. He had come through on his promise and they bought most of her stuff from the house over along with a shiny new debit card which she refused to touch. As they flew down the highway, Charlotte glanced at the passing cars and took a deep breath to calm her nerves. "Okay, but not for long please." She whispered and the bright wide smile that graced Chase's lips calmed her nerves and told her she had made the right choice. Over the last few weeks, he had been trying his best to make her comfortable and smile, but Charlotte wasn't even sure she could smile anymore. While her body had repaired itself, she still felt broken on the inside. To ease his mind often she would give him one of her well-practised fake smiles, but Charlotte knew he saw straight through it but never commented. Charlotte closed her eyes and leaned heavily into her seat and flexed her hand repeatedly. It felt weird to not have heaviness attached to her arm, but Charlotte was glad there was no existing damage. It wasn't long before Chase was parking the car and Charlotte realised she had dozed off for a little. Looking out the car window, Charlotte noticed and smile softly to herself that they were at the café Chase took her all those months ago. Taking a deep breath, Charlotte carefully opened the side of her car door and was instantly cooled with the soft spring breeze floating through the air. She tried not to panic when a black car went speeding past her. She tried to shake in fear when she heard a loud bang of something being dropped, but it was hard. What was even harder was not flinching when Chase gently placed a hand on her back to guide her away from the car and into the café. She failed miserably. Chase quickly guided her inside, but she paid no attention as she tried to stop herself from passing out from not breathing. Chase's friend greeted them and all Charlotte could do was simply nod as they were escorted to their seat at the back of the café tucked away in a safe little corner. Charlotte was so distracted she jumped and screamed a little when Chase put his hand on her knee. Her wide eyes faced him, and she could see the sad look in his hazel eyes. "I'm sorry." She looked down in her lap, disappointed in herself at her reaction to Chase. She couldn't help it. No matter how many times she told herself she was safe, it never helped. She felt like she was always going to be looking over her shoulder waiting for the day Landon returned to take her or kill her. "Charlie, look at me sweetheart," he gently grabbed her chin and tilted it up, so she could see his eyes. "You have nothing to be sorry for, okay. I'm so proud of you for even coming out. I promise I am here to protect you." Charlotte closed her eyes as Chase lent forward and softly pressed his lips to the top of her head. When she opened them again, he was giving her a soft comforting smile that made the corner of her mouth twitch upwards slightly. A waiter came over and took their order, and soon they were alone again. "How did it go with your mother the other day?" Chase asked her and Charlotte sighed. Since her mother had found out what Landon had done to her, she demanded to see Charlie. 3 days after the incident her mother came to Chase's and cried when she saw her. Since then, her mother had been trying to be a better mother. She visited once a week and called almost every day, and while she was glad her mother was finally making an effort, it frustrated Charlotte that it took her getting beaten for her mother to decide she wanted to repair their relationship.