Eight

Damien found her. Found them. Strangled Clementine with one hand while holding Haven, screaming at the top of her lungs, with his other. When her daughter lay dead on the ground, he came after her.

Haven sucked in a breath, soaked in a cold sweat, as she stifled a scream. Bolting up, the blankets and sheets tangled around her legs, she scrambled to get out of bed. Her hands were shaking, the familiar rush of impending danger flooding her mind. The type of danger she knew she couldn't avoid or run from.

She crushed her eyes shut and pressed her palms to her eyes, desperately trying to get his horrible face out of her mind. Out of her thoughts.

"Haven?" Sarah asked as she came out of the bathroom, concerned etched onto her face. "Hey, hey, you're okay. It was just a nightmare," she murmured, lightly rubbing Haven's arms.

Haven swallowed and she managed a nod. Her heart was pounding against the inside of her chest. "Wh-where is she?" she stammered, tears beginning to trickle down her face.

"She's right here," Sarah replied, smoothly dragging the cradle beside her.

Haven deftly rested her hand on Clementine's chest, making sure she was still breathing. She drew another shaky inhale, sinking down on the bed and burying her face in her hands.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Sarah asked softly, sitting beside her and wrapping an her arm around her.

Haven shook her head. For several minutes, she just sobbed into Sarah's shoulder; letting out the pent up fear and terror that constantly flooded her mind.

Sarah kept her arms around her, rubbing her back. "It was just a dream," she said softly. "He can't find you. Or hurt you. Either of you."

Haven didn't say anything, she just continued to cry.

Sarah firmly rubbed her back, kneading her thumbs into her shoulders in a gentle massage.

Haven forced another gulp of air into her lungs. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to interrupt your study."

"It's okay, I finished the first one."

Haven sniffed, nodding. "Can I… ask you something?"

"Yes of course." Sarah replied, almost laughing. She tucked a strand of Haven's hair behind her ear.

Haven drew her knees to her chest. "Why are you being so… nice to me? And… you know, going so far out of your way to…" she trailed off uncertainly.

Sarah smiled, almost sheepishly. "I… I've never had anyone in my life I ever really cared about. I used to have a daughter. Or, rather, I almost had a daughter. But… something was wrong with her, and she died before she was born. Her father—my husband—died six months later in a car accident. That was fourteen years ago. I was young at the time, both physically and spiritually, and it was an exercise of faith. Since you've come into my life and turned to me the way a—well, a daughter would, I've felt…" Sarah, smiling, shook her head. "I know this is presumptuous of me—but I feel like maybe I could get a second chance at having a daughter. Or at least, a daughter figure. Someone I can help and protect the way I had always hoped and prayed to be able to do for my own daughter."

Haven swallowed. Her eyes welled up and she tried to blink them clear. She hadn't ever had anyone in her life who loved her in that way. No one had ever be there to take care of her; make sure she was warm, had enough food, was comfortable… was safe. She'd only known Sarah a short time—barely four months—and already she was looking at her like a daughter?

Haven had been trying since she came to the inn to figure out what it was about Sarah that was so appealing to her. She hadn't ever felt such an instant connection with someone in such a secure way. The word mother was strange and foreign to her—someone who had given birth to her, but then what? Left her to Damien? Left her to the streets where Damien found her? Sold her?

"I hope that doesn't make you feel uncomfortable or awkward, I don't want you to think you owe me anything or I'm expecting—"

"It doesn't," Haven murmured. "I've never had a mother before, or anyone really who… who wanted me," she whispered, faintly smiling. Her mind was clouded with emotions; wanting Sarah's arms around her again. Wanting to feel that safety and security. That motherly love Sarah was more than willing to give her.

Sarah, smiling, enveloped her in an embrace.

"I'm sorry," Haven managed to get out. "F-for always c-crying."

Sarah laughed. "Don't be sorry at all. You can cry as much as you want."

Haven took a deep breath and let it out. Sniffing she turned her head up to Sarah and faintly smiled. "I'm not an annoyance or… problem? I don't want to be that to you."

"You're not," Sarah reassured her. "Here, drink some more tea."

Haven took another sip, letting the hot drink warm her throat.

Sarah exhaled slowly, glancing at her watch. "You gonna be okay, my silly girl?"

Haven nodded. She smiled. It felt good to be referred to as "my." She had never been anyone's "my" before.

"I need to run downstairs for a bit, take care of some stuff, are you good?"

Haven nodded again, drawing her knees to her chest. "Yeah, I'm fine," she murmured, smiling.

Sarah stood up and kissed the top of Haven's head.

After she had gone, Haven pulled Clementine closer to her bed and snuggled deeper beneath the thick quilt. She reached for the remote and turned the TV on, watching a program that was on for a while as she finished her tea and nibbled on the snacks Sarah had brought.

Clementine grunted, her mouth opening in a big yawn. Her eyes blinked open and she looked up at Haven.

Haven smiled at her, biting her lip. She said a silent prayer that Damien would never, ever find either one of them.

* * *

The rest of the month flew by. Haven obeyed Sarah's strict order and did a whole lot of nothing, mainly staying in her room and catching up on some much needed rest.

While she never ordered a meal brought up to her, Haven did go downstairs and eat in the dinning room occasionally—though always with Sarah. Most of the time, however, she brought dinner back up to her room to enjoy in the privacy and security of her room. She found that her physical strength began to return, much to her delight, and some color had risen to her cheeks. She also began to get a better feel for handling and feeding Clementine and the little one seemed to be doing well.

As soon as she was dressed and ready to go her first day back to work, at exactly five-thirty in the morning, Haven figured out a way to tie one of the larger, thinner blankets around her waist and shoulders in a way that securely held Clementine against her back. While there was a bit of a learning curve to moving with the added bulk and weight, Haven was able to keep Clementine with her while she did her work.

Being mindful of Clementine behind her, Haven started on the pancakes and waffles, getting them ready to be cooked, then cracked about three dozen eggs into a large bowl for the steak and eggs. Getting that finished sooner than she was expecting, she rolled out two trays of biscuits and began the gravy while the pancakes cooked over the stove.

Doing her best to move quickly and get everything ready as soon as possible, Haven found herself beginning to tire quicker than she normally would have. Still, she powered through. She skipped her break altogether, getting ahead for the lunch's, and skipped her lunch altogether since she was already taking several small breaks to feed Clementine throughout the day.

At three, when the evening shift started, Haven was relieved from her kitchen duties. One of the dining room attendants had called in sick, so Haven offered to take over her work. She cleared the tables, changed the table cloth's, re-set them, wiped down the buffet and got them ready for tomorrow morning, and made sure the rest of the room was clean and shinning.

By the time dinner was announced, Haven was too exhausted to stay and eat. She returned to her room and fed Clementine before putting her down to go back to sleep.

Sarah came up to her room about a half hour later with some food. "Do you want to go right to sleep?" Sarah asked as Haven had begun to drift off.

Haven reluctantly nodded. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. You worked hard today."

Haven couldn't help smiling. Sarah sounded pleased. And in a genuine way.

"All right, then I'll let you eat and go to sleep. I'm right across the hall if you need me, okay sweetheart?"

Haven swallowed, nodding. Sarah left, closing the door softly behind her, and Haven snuggled into bed. She sat frozen for several minutes, waiting for the panic at being alone to sink in. When it didn't come and she felt relatively comfortable in solitude, she slid the tray of food closer to her and started eating.