Chapter 10
I’ve paced the floor so many times I’ve lost count. She’s thirty minutes late. I’ve chalked it up to her speaking with parents and leaving the school later than normal. It’s odd that I haven’t heard from her though. Fear and anxiety settled in me. I’m a nervous wreck and I’m unsure why. It’s not like I don’t want this. Not as though I haven’t been through it. Yet last time seemed so long ago and ended up being the wrong person. This will devastate me. Leave me with remorse and fear of being alone forever. There is no one else. She is everything. Except for Embry, I’ll live a life of solitude, alone.
“What’s taking her so long?”
I’ve straightened and rearranged the vases and candles so many times in the last hour. Finally stopping my pacing, I send her a text.
“Where are you? Is everything okay?”
It’s too soon. You’re an idiot! What were you thinking? She must know and is afraid to come over. Scared she’ll ruin you for life. Just like her to think of someone besides herself. That’s just one of the reasons why I love her so much.
“Sorry. Went home sick.”
Shit! Here I was thinking of myself.
“I’m sorry. Change of plans. I’ll bring over some soup and take care of you this weekend.”
Walking around holding my phone, I begin blowing out all the candles. I’ll take the vases of roses with me, stop by the store and get some soup – a variety – and pack a small bag. Orange juice! I need to get some of that too. What else should I get? I stop when my phone vibrates.
“Thank you, but please don’t. I don’t want you to get it. I’m sorry. I’ll be fine.”
Selfless. Worried about giving me what she has.
“I’ll be okay. I’ll be over in fifteen minutes. You just rest.”
Running around like a lunatic, I gather the things I want to take over, load my car, and stop at the store on the way. A sack full of food and juice, carrying a vase of the roses, and holding onto my small bag, I knock on her door. No movement to be heard. “Charleigh?” I knock again. I don’t know how long I stood here knocking and jiggling the doorknob. She still hasn’t answered and no sounds are coming from inside. I set everything down on the floor and pull out my phone.
“I’m calling 911 if you don’t answer.”
I wait, looking around as if something will give me answers. Suddenly, my phone vibrates.
“I’m sorry, Greer. I went away for a bit. Mrs. Jensen will take care of the school. Don’t try to contact me again. I won’t answer.”
What?
“What’s going on, Charleigh. Are you okay? Did I do something wrong? Whatever it is, give me a chance to right it.”
My heart is beating quickly as thoughts flood my head, trying to think what could have happened. I’d picked up Embry yesterday. Before we left the school, I confirmed our plans for the weekend. She seemed – fine. Smiling. Happy. Told me she was looking forward to spending the weekend with me. I went home, fixed dinner for myself and Embry, and Gianna picked her up at eight. Did some paperwork and went to bed. I even texted Charleigh before I went to bed and told her I was counting down the hours until we were together. She’d responded that she was as well. I’m so confused. Frustrated. Scared to death.
“Charleigh,” I yell, pounding on the door. Pressing my forehead against it and knock again, more gently. My voice quiet and wavering. “Please let me in so we can talk. Please. Don’t give up on us.”
Nothing. Not even a sound. I don’t know how long I stood here, every once in a while knocking, pleading. Giving up in defeat and not wanting to upset her further, I turn and walk out of the building. Numb as I get into my car. Oblivious to everything as I drive while thoughts swirled in my head as to what could have happened. By the time I pull into my driveway, I’m exhausted – mentally.
“Than what happened?”
Emily called while on her break at the hospital. I’m so proud of her for landing that job and she loves it. I’ve been nursing a Jack and Coke for over two hours now, sitting like a zombie on the couch. My head hurts from thinking so much. My heart – broken.
“I gave in and left. Emily? I’m not sure she was even there.” Sadness envelopes me.
“Oh, Greer. Give her a little time.” She gets quiet. “You know, I’m not so sure it’s a good idea the witch takes her to the school.” I’d grin at her pet name for Gianna, but I’m too concerned about the situation. “I mean, who knows what she could have said to Charleigh.” She has a point. Never occurred to me that Gianna would stoop so low. “I’m wondering if something happened when she picked her up.” Fuck! She has to be right. It would explain so much.
“I gotta go, Em. Thanks. I’ll let you know what happens.”
Grabbing my keys from the table, I set down my half-empty glass and head to the garage. Rage is building inside me, although I’m not even sure if it’s true. If she could truly do something to sabotage my relationship with Charleigh. All the way to her house, the one place I never wanted to see again, I’m wondering why. Why would she do anything? What would she gain from it?
Pulling into the driveway, cold chills run through me. Flashes of that horrible night enter my mind. I shiver as I open the door and get out, looking around in the darkness as I walk up the small path to the front porch. I don’t even know what time it is but know it’s not too late. I hope. The door opens and the one person I’d hoped it would be is standing before me with a sneer on her face.
“Greer.” She snarls. “Embry’s already in bed.” Her head swivels as if she’s in need of an exorcist, looking over her shoulder. “It’s nearly ten o’clock.” She spits, looking at me. “What would you need so urgently to come here at this time of night?” I open my mouth to speak but am stopped instantly. “Other than picking up or dropping off my granddaughter, which you never do – making Gianna do everything as usual….” Shaking my head, I let out a sigh. Of course Gianna would make her think that. “You have no reason to come here. This is not your home anymore.” Nor do I want it to be.
There’s so many things I want to say. So much I could say. Instead I take a deep breath and smile. “Hello, Sofia. Lovely to see you.” I look around behind her and see no movement. “Our arrangements, while dictated by your daughter, are really none of your business,” I say, sweetly yet nearly gritting my teeth. “Would your daughter be around so I may speak with her?”
“Who is it, Mama?”
Sofia opens her mouth to speak, but I don’t wait for her ugly words to come out. Stepping through the doorway, I gently push her aside – not slamming her against the door like I want to – and walk down the entryway and into the living room. “Gianna?”
“Greer.” Her voice almost sickening sweet filters through the air as she turns her head from the couch. “Please. Come sit.” Is she drunk? I walk around the couch with apprehension. She pats the cushion next to her so I sit down at the far end, away from her. “Oh, Greer. We’ve had so many wonderful years together and our Embry, there’s no need to be afraid of me.”
A laugh escapes me before I can stop it. “On the contrary. I’m anything but afraid of you.”
I watch in disgust as she slides over the middle cushion, her hand resting on my thigh and a strange look on her face. “I was wrong, Greer,” she whispers. What? “I should have never taken you for granted, done the terrible things I’ve done to you.” Okay, now I’m afraid. What is she up to? She reaches up with her free hand and cups my face. “Greer. We had so much together. We could have so much more. Can you ever forgive me?”
“You’re drunk.” It wasn’t a question but an accusation.
She laughs, softly – like she used to before…. “No, silly.” Her face falls, becoming serious. “I just know that I’ll do anything to get you back.” Maybe she’s on drugs now? She runs her long fingernail across my jaw. “I mean it, Greer. I’m sorry for what I did. We should be together. We have a daughter.”
I stand so quickly she almost falls off the couch. “Yes. We have a daughter, but that’s all we have.”
I begin to walk to the front door, nearly forgetting why I came here. I turn around to speak when she reminds me immediately.
“If I can’t have you, neither can she.” Her hand rests on her hip, her snarky attitude written all over her face. Anger sweeps through me.
“What have you done, Gianna?”
Shrugging, she lifts her free hand and looks at her long manicured nails then up at me. “I want you back, Greer. Nothing will stand in my way. I told her as much.” What? “I can make it difficult, thinking about the well-being of my daughter. She shouldn’t be around her daddy and his whore.”
Fists clenched at my side, I storm over, glaring down at her. “Are you fucking kidding me? After what you did? In our own house? In our bed? You think I don’t remember that? Where was Embry that day?” I cross my arms over my chest. “Oh, yeah. At your mother’s. As usual. You rarely have Embry with you or do anything a normal mother would do with their child. You don’t think I don’t have these things documented?” Her eyes widen, briefly. I begin to walk toward the door again, needing to find Charleigh in the worst way.
“Don’t underestimate me, Greer. I will have you back and your little girlfriend will be history.”
Stopping, my heart racing and anger raging, I look over my shoulder at her smug expression. “Don’t underestimate me, darling. I’m the best lawyer in the county and I know the best lawyers in the country. Your own sins will take you down. Go on with your life, Gianna. Leave me and my life the fuck alone.”
I thought what she did to me was the worst thing that could happen in my life. Nope. She’s topped that. I won’t let her ruin the best thing that’s ever entered my world. I won’t let her destroy the one thing good, besides Embry, that’s made my life worth living. Finally, I find the one person in the world that will make my life complete. Charleigh must be devastated. I can’t even imagine the conversation Gianna had with her. I must find her!