Chapter 27: Chapter 28

Sunshine beat down on my face as I dug my fingers into the dirt of the backyard garden bed. I swiped the sweat from my brow and squinted into the sunshine.

I couldn’t imagine life getting much better than this.

It had been a week since I’d scared myself silly, thinking Jared was somewhere lurking in the shadows. I didn’t have the heart to tell Abel my fears, since things with him seemed to be going so well. There was a lightness about him that I’d never seen before, and a tiny part of me hoped it came from me and the kids.

Since my mini freak-out, there had been no other signs—real or imaginary—that my ex was anywhere near Outtatowner. No one mentioned seeing him, and I hadn’t gotten the creepy-crawly feeling that had prickled the base of my skull since that day with the shower curtain.

So life went on.

When I wasn’t working, I spent my time discussing the farmhouse renovation and soaking in the simple, small-town life with my children. We lay on the beach, climbed impossibly high sand dunes, and ate way too much ice cream on the lighthouse pier. I always offered an out, but more often than not, Abel chose to join us. He’d even found a drive-in movie theater about twenty miles from Outtatowner, and neither Ben nor Tillie made it through the double feature. Abel held my hand the entire time.

Major swoon.

I sat back on my heels and exhaled. The ache in my shoulder was a welcome reminder of how good my body felt with a little physical labor. I smiled down at the happy little herbs and plants that swayed in the gentle breeze.

When my father was alive, all I knew was life in a bustling city. Parties and events and being seen. Abel made me feel seen in a completely different way. Sometimes he looked at me, and it seemed like whatever had blossomed between us was beautiful and exciting, and real.

The first stage of the farmhouse renovation was underway, and I had hired a lawyer to look over the proposal JP had sent us. Abel assured me that we could trust his brother, and we all wanted the paperwork signed before Russell King got wind that his children were investigating the disappearance of their mother.

I looked across the yard at Abel, who was fussing with the hops plants vining up a cattle panel.

My heart ached for all of them, but mostly for Abel. He had shared with me that he had been days away from his twelfth birthday when his mother disappeared. He knew her and loved her. Abel remembered her in a way the others didn’t, and I could tell by the pinch in his shoulders that he still carried her loss with him.

He’d endured so much, but it hadn’t hardened him. He didn’t allow enough people in for them to see he was so much more than his brooding, towering exterior.

I watched him carefully fuss with his plants and smiled. Little by little, he’d let me in.

My phone rang beside me, causing me to jump and laugh at myself. Outtatowner Public Library flashed across the screen, and I noted that there was still nearly a half hour before I was due to pick up Ben and Tillie from their camp.

I tapped my phone and pressed it to my ear. “Hello?”

“Sloane? This is Emily.” Her voice was a hushed whisper, and the hair on the back of my neck stood on end.

“Hey, Emily. Are the kids okay? I thought camp ended at three.” I stood, dusting my dirt-caked hands across my denim shorts.

“It does. They’re okay, but . . . a man tried to pick them up early, and I just had a bad feeling. Something was off and I⁠—”

“What? Who? Emily, who picked up my children?” My voice started to rise as panic gripped my chest.

“No. I’m sorry.” Emily’s voice was clear and calm, but it did nothing to settle my nerves. “I wouldn’t release the children to him. The man is claiming to be their father. He’s pretty mad that I wouldn’t let him take them. He’s making a scene.”

“I’m on my way!” I practically shouted into the phone as I ended the call and took off across the backyard.

By the time I’d found my purse in the house and flown out the front door, Abel was standing by the car. “What’s going on?”

My mind was spinning. “I don’t know. Emily called and said someone tried to pick up the kids. I think it’s him.” I yanked open the driver’s-side door without waiting for Abel to answer.

He leaned in close, gently holding my arm as he peered down at me. “I’m going with you. I’ll drive.”

My heart pounded as my mind tripped over the fact I knew that with Abel’s history, driving made him anxious. Still, I didn’t have time to argue with him, so I rounded the car and climbed into the passenger seat.

Abel threw the car into drive and headed into town. Thankfully, there was a parking space in the lot. The tires squealed as he slammed on the brakes, then threw the car into park. With anxious steps, I marched toward the library without bothering to see whether Abel was following behind me.

“Sloane. Slow down,” Abel called behind me, and I whipped to face him.

“I can handle this.” Couldn’t I?

He held up his hands in surrender. “I know. Just tell me what you need me to do.”

I scanned his body. What I wanted was to curl into him and trust that the kids and I were safe. I raised my chin. “I’m going to confront whoever was trying to take my children without my permission. If it’s Jared, he’s getting a piece of my mind. I’ll be fine.”

I didn’t look back as I stomped through the automatic sliding glass door. As soon as I entered the library, I followed the raised voices behind the circulation desk.

Jared immediately came into view, and my blood ran cold. His cheeks were ruddy, and he was pointing an angry finger at Bug King. She looked thoroughly unimpressed. Emily stood beside her with her chin raised and arms crossed.

I stormed toward them. “What the hell is going on?”

All three heads whipped in my direction. An oily smile spread across Jared’s face. “Hi, Lolo.”

I planted my hands on my hips despite the wobble in my knees. “Don’t call me that. What are you doing here, Jared?”

His hands spread as he feigned innocence. “I just wanted to see the kids”—he gestured toward the women—“but these two are keeping them under lock and key.”

“I have an order of protection. You’re not allowed to be here.” My words were sure, but the wobble in my voice betrayed me.

Jared scoffed and raised a finger. “Correction. You have a protective order in California. It’s valid in Michigan if and when you register it. But you didn’t, did you, Lolo?”

Blood drained from my face. Fuck.

I was under the impression that my order of protection was a federal document and would automatically protect us—it was what my lawyer in California had told me.

“Look at you, Lolo.” His hand flicked in my direction. “Covered in dirt and living in this shithole town. You need to be taken care of . . . you know that.”

My stomach soured. Jared always had a cunning way of cutting me down and making me feel weak. I swiped my dirt-stained hands down my jean shorts, struggling to find strength in my voice.

His sickening smile widened, knowing he was already breaking me down. “I think”—he stepped forward, crowding my face as his hand wrapped around my biceps—“maybe you didn’t register the protective order because, deep down, you knew I would find you, and after some time, we would work everything out. Just like last time.”

His stale breath floated across my face as I tugged to free myself from his grip.

“If you want to keep that arm, I suggest you get your hands off my fucking wife.” The boom of Abel’s voice behind me sent shivers crawling down my back.

All eyes turned his way, and I froze. I had never seen Abel look as dark and menacing as he did standing in the library, staring at my ex-husband. Barely contained fury radiated from his pores as his fists clenched and his shoulders bunched.

If looks could kill, Jared would be a dead man.

With an aggressive flick, Jared released my arm, and I took a step back, rubbing the spot his hand had gripped me too tightly.

“You stupid bitch.” Venom spewed from Jared’s mouth. “I heard the rumors and thought, ‘No. She wouldn’t ever be that dumb.’ Guess I was wrong.”

“I’m calling the police.” Emily already had the telephone to her ear and was dialing.

My eyes bounced between the men. Abel didn’t need any trouble, and if things escalated, he could be in a seriously sticky situation, given his past. “No, it’s okay.”

“Mama!” Tillie’s sunny voice broke through the tension as she and the rest of the campers bounded down the stairs. She ran forward but came up short when her attention landed on Jared. Her eyes went wide with fear.

Jared crouched in front of her. “Hi, Tillie.” He gestured toward himself. “Come say hi to your dad, baby.”

Tillie took a tentative step backward before tucking herself into Abel’s side. Rage built in Jared’s eyes as he stood and watched Abel’s protective hand rub down Tillie’s back.

Ben emerged from between the group of children Emily had herded away from the scene. I opened my arms. “Come here, Benny. It’s okay.”

With wooden steps and frightened eyes, Ben came to me.

“I have a right to see my children.” Jared’s teeth ground together as he pointed at me. “This isn’t over.”

Abel stepped forward, placing the twins and me behind him in one fluid movement. “Do you want to end it right now?”

I reached forward, gripping his rock-hard biceps. “Abel.” My voice was a harsh whisper.

A warning.

A plea.

His nostrils flared as he tensed with indecision. “You stay away from my wife and kids. If I so much as hear a whisper of your name in this town, you’re a fucking dead man.”

Through the doorway, Amy King and another police officer entered. “Outtatowner Police Department. What seems to be the trouble, cousin?” Amy’s sharp and assessing eyes took in the tense situation despite her casual tone.

Jared pointed a finger at Abel. “This man—a felon, mind you—just threatened my life. You heard it!” He gestured wildly around him. “You all heard it.”

Amy shrugged. “I didn’t hear a thing.” She looked past Jared to Bug. “Did you?”

“I think Abel was just giving the man directions out of town.” Bug smiled and lifted a shoulder. “At least, that’s what I heard.”

Amy’s lips pursed. “Makes perfect sense to me.” She gestured toward her partner, then looked at Jared. “If you’ll come with us, sir.”

Surrounded by Outtatowner residents, Jared must have known he was fucked. With fury in his eyes, he slinked forward as the other officer escorted him outside.

Amy patted Abel’s shoulder. “Keep your cool, cuz. We’ll take out the trash.”

Abel offered only a terse nod.

“Can we go home, Mama?” Tillie’s voice cracked as she looked up at me.

“Yeah.” My laugh was watery as I gestured toward my dirty hands and mud-streaked thigh. “Look at me. I’m a mess.”

My hands found my little boy’s face. “Are you okay, Benny? I know that was unexpected.”

My son’s shoulders straightened. “I’m okay. I’m not afraid when Abel can keep us safe.”

My heart rolled as I looked at my husband. “Okay. Let’s go home.”

Once we were back home, I encouraged the kids to play in the backyard so I could slip into the bedroom to have a private conversation with their therapist. She assured me that kids are resilient and, in the end, we kept them safe and reassured them. Still, the plan was to have additional sessions later in the week to ensure the kids were coping with the newest development with my ex-husband.

My second call was to the Remington County Courthouse to register my protective order in the state of Michigan. I was still beating myself up over the oversight. I had assumed that my protective order would stretch beyond state lines. A quick Google search assured me that it would be enforced—I only had to be sure the state was aware of it.

I walked through the rest of the afternoon like a wooden doll. I hugged the kids, smiled though I felt like crying, and did everything I could to create a calm and peaceful evening. When it came to bedtime tuck-ins, I inhaled sharply, pushing past the sting in my nose and hoping to make it through without crying.

I gently knocked on Tillie’s door before entering. She smiled up sweetly from beneath her covers. I returned the smile and sat next to her on the bed. When I reached my arm across her to give her a hug, I felt a hard object, hidden beneath her comforter.

“What’s this?” I asked, patting the hard lump.

Tillie smiled and whispered, “I was doodling.”

“Can I see?”

Tillie sat up, pulling her thick sketch pad out from under the covers. She tipped the page toward me. “It’s us.”

Tears filled my eyes. It was us. In the cartoon style she’d adopted lately, I could clearly make out Ben, Tillie, me, and Abel. Side by side we smiled up from her drawing—all except for Abel. She hadn’t drawn him smiling, but rather perfectly captured a tiny, reluctant smirk at the corner of his mouth.

I shook my head. “You amaze me. This is so cool.” My fingertips floated over the details she’d incorporated.

“Mama, are you and Abel married?”

I searched her face, but she didn’t look me in the eye. Rather, her gaze was fixed on the drawing.

I exhaled. She deserved the truth. “Yes, baby. Abel and I decided to get married to help each other out. It’s a little complicated . . . kind of adult things.”

She shrugged. “Okay.”

A small laugh bubbled in my chest. “Okay? That’s it?” I noted her tiny frown. “You don’t look too happy about it.”

Tillie’s brow furrowed. “Well . . . I just would have wanted to go too. I would have worn a party dress.”

My heart swelled, and I stroked a hand down her hair. “If it makes you feel any better, I didn’t wear a dress either.”

She looked at me in horrified disbelief. “Why not?”

“Remember when I said that friends help each other out? Well . . . our marriage was mostly to help each other.” I swallowed past the lump that expanded in my throat.

“But you love him.” Her words were so sure.

With a small laugh, I rearranged her covers. “Okay, chicken. Let’s get you to bed.”

Tillie scooted until she was lying back on her pillow with her covers tucked under her chin.

I kissed her nose and she smiled up at me. “He loves you, too, you know.”

The simple confidence of her statement gave me pause, and I studied her heavy eyes and sleepy smile as I stroked her hair. “What makes you think that?”

Tillie didn’t even hesitate. “He watches you. He watches you and he smiles.”

Heat bloomed across my chest. “Huh,” I choked out. “I guess I never noticed that.” I tried to breathe, and it was nearly impossible.

Tillie closed her sleepy eyes and cuddled deeper into her bedsheets. “I’m glad he’s our new dad. Benny is too. We already talked about it.”

I stared down at my sweet little girl as though she hadn’t just upended my entire universe. My hand gripped over my mouth to muffle the sob that threatened to escape.

Feeling brave, I leaned close to her ear. “Can you keep a secret?”

Her eyes widened as she nodded.

“I do love him,” I whispered. “I just haven’t told him yet.”

Tillie grinned. “I knew it.”

“Okay. Bedtime, baby.” I patted her back as she finally closed her eyes and cuddled into the warm bed. Her view of the world was so simple and pure. She was too innocent to know anything about fake marriages and complicated, not-so-fake feelings.

He watches you and smiles.

A lump formed in my throat as the threat of tears tingled my nose. I watched Tillie’s body relax as she drifted off to sleep, hoping that somewhere in her innocent view of love, there was a thread of truth, and he really did love me back.