I was in my own happy daze. Lucca had eventually gone home, he had a restaurant to open and a house to buy and I had my own things to do. I liked that he wasn’t clingy, was content to give me space. We made no arrangements to meet up again, his goodbye on the porch of my house left me with no doubts I’d be seeing him soon enough. He kissed me stupid then wandered off down the road, looking like he didn’t have a care in the world. There was a promise to call and I was counting, after the one he’d made while kissing my scars, this made six. I was confident he’d never break a single one.

I moseyed around the local grocery store, happy to take my time to remember what was on my list for a change. With what little I wanted, I decided the shop in Beaufort would do fine instead of the supermarket. I’d shoved those uncomfortable thoughts of my last trip there to the back of my head, not wanting anything to spoil the mood I had going on. My phone beeped while I was reading the contents of a ready meal that looked far too appealing.

Taylor: Well?

I snorted and shoved the packet back onto the refrigerator shelf, my attention drawn to my phone. The store was quiet, it wouldn’t matter if I lingered.

Me: What?

She was after gossip. This was unfamiliar territory, we hadn’t talked this way before, certainly not when I had been dating Marc. Right there was a huge clue Marc had been all wrong from the get go. If I couldn’t gossip to my sister about a bloke I was head over heels for, what hope was there?

Taylor: He stayed?? Ryder said he stayed...

I chewed on my finger nail, standing in the narrow aisle, contemplating my reply. I wasn’t sure how much to spill. She already knew he hadn’t gone home, I couldn’t be annoyed at Ryder for spilling the beans, so to speak.

Me: Ryder has a big mouth

I grinned, feeling naughty.

Taylor: Yes, yes, he does - a sinful mouth. Now come on Laura, spill!

I felt normal, such a little thing but mighty huge at the same time. I was texting boy things with my sister, doing the whole ‘girl’ chat, and it was making me giddy. I took a quick peek around the aisle again making sure I was alone.

Me: He stayed. No freak outs.

She wasn’t getting the details. They were mine and I was keeping them, no way was I sharing.

Taylor: Naked?

Me: Yes

I’d give her that, nothing more.

Taylor: Oh Laura!!

I could imagine her excitement where-ever she was; jumping up and down. She knew the magnitude of the situation. I’d jumped a massive hurdle, it was worth getting animated over.

Taylor: Go girl! He’s a good guy.

He was, he really was, and it was worth trying to see where this went with Lucca. I owed it to myself and if I was being honest - I wanted what my sister had. My exuberance for life back. To be happy.  

Me: I like him a lot, it’s early days.

Taylor: We all got to start somewhere, baby girl.

Taylor: Antique lot Saturday?

We were suckers for antique markets and similar places, it was a given I was in. She hardly needed to ask. Ever since we were girls we’d found a beauty in the old, a love of by-gone antique and vintage things. Our dad was a collector of sorts, didn’t matter what, he had no preference. If it was old and he liked it, he’d buy it. He’d passed his love on to us and I was very much my father’s daughter, enjoyed restoring old furniture I came across too. Taylor loved the showrooms and the auction lots despite rarely buying anything. I often wondered if it was her detachment to life while we were running. She’d fallen in love with an Antique Bridge floor lamp at one auction a few years ago, and when I’d asked why she hadn’t bought it, she’d shrugged and said it wouldn’t fit in a box. The moment was bleak and resonated cruelly. Maybe now she could have those things?

Me: Sure x

Taylor: OK. C U Later xx

I shoved my phone in my pocket, my light-hearted mood picking up. Life felt great for a change, pleasant. I continued through the store, browsing and picking up things that interested me, occasionally dropping stuff into my basket. I was in no hurry. When I was happy I had what I wanted, with a few extras, I made my way to the counter where Daryl, the store owner, sat with his phone in his hand.

“Ah, Miss Laura. How are you today?”

Everyone knew everyone in Beaufort, there was no point in hiding in a place like this, I didn’t even bother to try. It had been this way since we’d arrived. People were pleasant and welcoming, not overly nosy, looked out for you. I enjoyed the sense of community, loved the sense of belonging.

“I’m good today, Daryl,” I replied. “How’s your lovely wife? Feeling any better?”

“Much better, thank you. Still resting up, nasty flu bug.” He started ringing up my groceries. “You find whatever you need today, Miss Laura?”

I bagged my stuff and reached for my purse, pulling out my card. “I did, Daryl. Thank you.”

Leaving the store with my head down while I put away my purse, I didn’t watch where I was going inadvertently bumping into someone. I was such a clutz.

“Oh, sorry...” I looked up and stopped in my tracks. Stella stood before me, a face like thunder.

“Watch it, bitch!”

“Oh, give over, it was an accident.”

I made to move around her, not wanting an inevitable screaming match in the middle of the street for all to see, she struck me the sort to thrive on negative attention.

“I see you’ve hooked my husband already?”

She blocked my path, getting right up in my personal space, her eyes flying to the faint purple mark under my jaw that Lucca had absentmindedly left amidst his orgasm that morning.

Score one for me...

I wasn’t intimidated by this woman at all, I saw her for the bully and wicked person she was. Lucca was worth any amount of tripe that came from her mouth, I stood my ground and gave as good as I got. I wasn’t cowering in front of her.

“He’s not your husband. Did you forget that, Stella?”

She huffed at me and tipped her chin up. “Don’t play games with me. Lucca will see you for the piece of trash you are soon enough.”

Staring at her a long while, I then laughed. “Sure. You’d know what trash looks like.” I moved again, barging into her shoulder so she wasn’t blocking me and took a few steps away from her, intent on leaving.

“He was right about you...”

I paused. No, I came to a standstill, spinning on my heel to face her. “What?”

“...said you were a whore, likes guys with money.” She walked the few short steps to me. “Pity Lucca won’t have any soon.”

I stood dumbfounded, piecing two and two together. That’s how she knew me. She knew him. “Where is he?” I tried to come across unaffected, knew it was too late, that she could see right through me.

“Ah, not so dumb after all, huh?”

The air around me stalled as I processed her words. She’d certainly managed to take me off guard imparting that information. I bit my lip, no longer sure how to play this conversation out. Did I confront her or walk away? How much did I want to know?

“I know all about you, Laura.” Stella sneered and moved in closer, lowering her voice. “What you don’t know is, he’s been on your heels a long time. Always known where you were.”

There was no surprise in my reaction, I hadn’t been a quivering, paranoid mess for years for no reason. It’s why Taylor and I ran. No matter what we said to convince ourselves he simply didn’t care, we were both aware he cared enough to find me and end what he started. Taylor and I took no chances.

“Said he liked fucking you that way. You like it too, huh, Laura?”

Her comment jarred me. The woman was vile, reprehensible. How on earth a lovely man like Lucca had ever been married to her I’d never understand. I had no words to describe the pitiful excuse standing in front of me.

“Took me a long time to get you out of his fucking head. He loved your sorry arse. And now, I see my husband looking at you with those same starry eyes? Not happening.”

He loved me?

He loved me? Like hell he did. I remembered the promises he’d made while slicing across my stomach. The vitriol he’d spat at me while he’d sunk the blade into my neck. All the names he’d called while he’d brutally taken a part of me I’d never get back, I’d never have in the future. I remembered every last detail and none of it came from a man who had loved me.

Memories swirled around the edges of my mind, I refused to succumb to them, refused to yield to Stella. She wanted a reaction, wanted to see me broken. She wasn’t getting it. Anger fused lightening quick, I wasn’t bowing down to anyone in fear ever again.

Turning tables...

“Seems more your style, Stella.” I hiked my bag across my shoulder and stood straighter. I would not be weak in front of this woman.

“Oh yeah, I like a bit of brutality. Ask Lucca. He’ll tell you all about the dirty little things I like.” She licked her lips, the glint in her eye making her look positively evil. I didn’t want to hear any more from her putrid mouth. “Just see where he ended up the last time.”

I studied her, watching as smug satisfaction washed across her face. She had me. I couldn’t find a coherent thought to retaliate with, my head going a hundred different ways at what she meant.

“Sleep with one eye open, I’m watching you!” she hissed.