Feeling flustered and the beginnings of panic curl through her stomach, Charlie forced herself to recall last night's conversation. "H-he... um, he said something about being a family friend. That he assisted your parents and they helped him in return. He didn't say what he wanted, only that he was looking for you and your sister."
Should she go on? Charlie bit her lip, forcing it to stop trembling. Royce looked both terrified and enraged, and for an alarming moment, Charlie realized that part of it was her fault. Why oh why couldn't she have kept her big mouth shut?
She knelt to the ground and gathered Abbey into her arms, refusing to meet Royce's eyes. "He... he said... I mean... I told him I worked with you. Here. At the clinic. He... made mention that... that you and your sister... well, he eluded that... that you... weren't welcome... at your home. That you came here because of it."
"And that's it, I swear," she told Abbey. "God, I'm... I'm so sorry, Royce. I didn't... mean to... cause you two so much trouble."