Chapter One
Megan sat in the kitchen nursing a cup of steaming hot coffee, her other hand tickling the corners of the brochure that was laid out across the table in front of her, whilst she dreamed of another world.
She cast her eyes down to the beautiful images of the snow-capped mountains, the lush evergreens, and the crystal blue of the surrounding lakes. It was so vivid and enchanting, she could almost smell the pine.
She took a sip from her cup and sighed.
She was warm inside, but her skin was prickling with cold, and she could feel her anxiety bubbling to the surface.
She looked up at the clock on the wall and could see that it was almost five pm. It meant that her time alone to relax and feel carefree was limited.
He would be home soon.
She flicked another page in the brochure and stared down at another image of a beautiful winter forest and the little town that was nestled in its center. It looked so quaint and picturesque, and all she could think of was how she wished she was spending the holidays somewhere as festive as that, rather than being stuck at home with miserable Cody, and with all of the drama a man like him brought to the house.
When she had started to get to know him, he had been like no one she had ever met before. He had been charming and kind, and she had fallen hard and fast. It wasn’t until they had set up home together, and she had moved in with him, that she had realized just how controlling and malicious he could be.
He had gone from Prince Charming, to a complete nightmare almost overnight.
From loving, to cold and calculating.
From Hero to Zero.
She looked up at the clock again and felt the tension rise in her shoulders. She knew that she was going to be blasted the moment he walked through the door, and she was already trying to piece together in her mind what would be the best way to handle the situation.
Should she take it and wait it out?
Or should she fight back?
She had learned over the past six months, that when she talked back to Cody, he didn’t take it lightly. And so, every argument since, she had kept her mouth shut and agreed with him, even if she knew he was very clearly wrong.
She looked at the pot of stew that was warming on the stove. It had filled the whole house with the delicious scent of winter, but she had the distinct feeling that Cody was going to take exception to it in some way.
She just never seemed to be able to get anything right.
She could just see him bursting through the door, throwing down his work coat and kicking off his boots, slumping into a chair at the table and barking orders at her. He would demand his meal, and when she would present him with it… He would stare at it in disgust.
But I wanted burgers…
But I wanted steak…
He would want anything but this, she could guarantee it.
She chewed her bottom lip with anxiety and rose to her feet. She shuddered as she remembered the last time. He hadn’t just screamed at her, he had used his fists too.
Out on the driveway, she saw the shine of headlights and heard the roar of his truck approaching.
He was home.
She leaned back against the counter and took a deep breath.
“If he does something to belittle you this time Megan, then you’re walking the hell out of here and you’re never looking back.” She whispered to herself, as she heard the slam of his truck door, and the sound of his heavy boots making their way towards the house.
When his key went in the lock and he pushed open the door, she could already tell that he wasn’t in a good mood. He was huffing and puffing, his breathing fast and deep, and she felt her heart sink.
This was it.
“Evening,” she said, almost in a whisper as he stepped around the doorway and came into view.
Cody looked at her up and down, his face twisted into what she could only describe as a grimace, and then he slammed the door behind him.
Megan jumped slightly with the shock, but tried to hide it.
She turned to face the stove, lifting the lid from the top of the pot, and stirring the stew around and around, hoping he would realize that she had spent the day cooking for him, cleaning his home, washing and ironing his clothes, and basically putting on hold any dreams and ambitions she had ever had of her own.
She felt his heavy hands on her shoulders and his hot breath on her neck.
“What’s this?” he asked.
His tone was sharp and severe, and she knew already that she had gotten it wrong.
She took a deep breath and braced herself for the onslaught.
But this time, even Megan couldn’t have anticipated how far things would go…
It would be the last time that Cody raised his voice, or a hand, to her again.
This time, she already had 911 dialed into her cell phone…
This time, she was done…