"We talked a lot." She nodded, propping herself up on her elbow. "Laura caught me out there, Derek explained, she told him to bring me to the house so here I am." She thought back to her talk with Derek - one that had gone surprisingly well, considering the history between their families.
"He apologised. Appreciated that I told him the truth. We... talked about her. About why he liked her, about what she was like." Allison wondered if it was almost cathartic for him to talk about it, but she didn't pretend to psychoanalyse him - she barely even knew him." She smiled faintly. "Said that he'll protect me for as long as I'm in the house."