Chapter Six

CONTENTMENT IS SOMETHING EVERLEIGH hasn’t let herself feel in a very long time. She and Brooks had lounged in her bed all day Sunday after her sister’s wedding, hiding away from the world and specifically the nosy neighbors in Carson. He had left for only a moment to check in on Charleston, who had found the fabric and yarn store and had been crocheting like a mad woman, and to return Everleigh’s car.

She can’t deny her feelings toward him any longer, they are powerful and strong, and her heart clinches every time she thinks of losing him.

This morning Brooks insists on driving her to work and bringing her home, claiming that he wants to spend as much time with her as possible since he needs to leave at the end of the week to film a few more segments for Charleston’s contract.

“I know we haven’t really talked about this, about us, but I want you to tell me what you’re thinking in that bright, beautiful head of yours.”

They sit in the small space of the car while parked in his space next to the clinic and she closes her eyes, letting his scent calm her nerves. She is about to take a leap, a giant jump towards something new and unfamiliar, and the fear of change begins to well in her chest.

“I want you. I want us, but I’m afraid that I don’t have much to give.”

“Everleigh, look at me.” When she follows his request and turns her gaze onto him she witnesses one of her favorite parts about Brooks, the way his eyes mirror exactly what’s in his heart and they’re filled with an overwhelming amount of love, and for the first time, that notion doesn’t frighten her. “I will take whatever you can give, sweetheart. I love every piece of you.”

Love.

She isn’t sure he realizes that he slipped and spoke the word, he gives nothing away. But the way his eyes shine has Everleigh questioning how strong her own feelings may be.

“Brooks, I…” she begins but she is quickly interrupted by the look of confusion on his face.

“Fucking, leeches,” he growls, his eyes pointing towards the few lingering photographers, hoping to still catch a glimpse of Cassidy and Harlan or their famous friends.

With her thought now forgotten, Everleigh reaches over and rests her hand on Brooks’ smooth cheek, letting it linger before turning his attention back towards her.

“I need to go open the store. Will I see you later?”

She holds her breath as she waits for his response.

“I plan on spending every night in your bed, sweetheart.”

Her body leans across the center console as she saucily brings her mouth within an inch of his. Her heart pounds in her chest as she lets a piece of her true self, the confident side, come through.

“Sleeping?” she asks as her tongue darts out and licks at his top lip.

Strong hands weave into her long strands of hair, gripping her skull in his grasp; not painfully, but one to control her movements, a feeling she had never imagined embracing again in her life, but with Brooks, it feels different, feels good.

He returns her lick with a nip of his teeth on her plump bottom lip. “Sleeping is the last thing on the list that I want to do with you in that bed.”

Taking her lips as prisoners, he captures them between his forceful mouth and kisses her with every ounce of desire pumping through his blood.

“I don’t want to let you go yet,” he murmurs against her mouth sounding as if he is implying more than just her going to work, before sealing them together once more. Lost in the feel of his kiss his taste and flavor have her craving his hands all over her body.

Some beeping sounds and Everleigh realizes that the alarm sounds on her phone. She jumps away from Brooks as she tries to find it in her bag. “Sorry. I need to go.”

Like a tornado she swirls out of the car, her bag dropping on the ground as she loses her footing and slams the car door, lodging her long skirt inside.

Brooks hurries over to her and rests a hand on her arm then works at tugging the material loose from the vehicle’s hold. Her body instantly relaxes to his touch, his calming presence settling her worked-up state. With the click of a button, he releases the automatic locks on the door and pulls on the handle, her skirt falling like a curtain around her legs.

“Thank you,” Everleigh expresses as she rights her clothing.

Her body stiffens as Brooks’ arm snakes around her waist, stepping into her space. His other hand twines in her hair and he kisses her passionately in the wide-open space of the parking lot for everyone walking by to see. And for the first time, she lets her fear and concern drift away. She doesn’t care what the passersby might say, she only cares that for this short period of time Brooks is hers.

As quickly as he melds their mouths together he just as swiftly takes a small step back and reaches down to grasp the straps of her bag, carelessly spilled on the asphalt. Brooks hefts the canvas into his hold and guides it around her arm, resting it on her shoulder as she looks at him stunned.

“Have a wonderful day, sweetheart.”

With a final peck on her nose, he swats her behind and sends her on her way with a little push.

Everleigh can’t help but think about what an odd morning she seems to be having, but she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Well, look at you,” Tamara says as Everleigh turns the corner heading towards the back side of the store. “You got laid.”

Heat instantly rises on her cheeks as she remembers the way Brooks feasted on her body the day before and long into the night.

“Oh my gosh, you totally did! I was joking, but oh my gosh, please tell me it was that tall drink of water next door. Please!”

In a moment of clarity, Everleigh turns her head to peek over her shoulder and winks at Tamara as she holds open the door. “Maybe.”

Her employee quickly rushes through the pharmacy and the front end of the store to unlock the door then she proceeds to frantically turn on all the light switches in the same amount of time it has taken Everleigh to drop her purse into her locker and shrug on her white smock.

“Sit. Spill,” Tamara barks as she gleefully claps her hands while rocking on the heels of her glitzed tennis shoes.

Everleigh calmly walks over to the stool in front of her station and sits down to face the computer.

“There isn’t anything to spill.”

“Yes, there is, boss lady,” the tall woman announces as she anchors her hands on her hips.

Everleigh narrows her eyes in false anger as she stares down her employee, “Don’t call me that.”

“I won’t stop until you tell me every juicy morsel.”

A heavy breath expels from Everleigh’s lungs as she peers around her monitor to make sure no customers can overhear. That is the last thing she needs, more fuel to the gossip fire.

“Dr. McCafferty took me home from the wedding and we spent all day and night together. That’s it.”

“So, are you an item? Is he your person?”

“I think so and I don’t know what that means,” she lies; she totally knows the Grey’s Anatomy reference.

“Damn,” Tamara utters as the chime over the door sounds and she goes to take her place at the register.

Everleigh’s chest compresses in a huge whoosh, her body relaxing after the small interrogation.

A few hours later, Everleigh wishes that she had been prepared for the larger questioning when her brother Austin walks in during lunch with questions of his own.   Her day has gone from good, to bad, to worse when it seems that the entire town of Carson seems to descend on her pharmacy wanting the scoop on her and Brooks and his mystery date to the wedding.

Through it all though she can’t help picturing Brooks waiting for her as she closes shop for the day, an image she never allowed herself to envision in the past. And she isn’t disappointed as she locks up the shop at 6:30 p.m. and finds him leaning against the rust-colored brick of the building.

“Brooks,” she sighs in relief, not sure if she should be surprised to find him waiting for her as he had promised. He has yet to be anything but sincere with her.

Stepping towards her, his hands reach out and frame her face, seeming so delicate in his palms, and seal his lips with hers. He pours himself into the kiss, letting her feel how much he thought of her through the day, and she mimics his movements, trying to have him feel the same.

“How was your day, beautiful?”

“Busy. Tiring. Everyone and their cousin came by to add to the gossip ring going around Carson.”

“Ah, that explains it. I saw about fourteen new patients today that had nothing wrong with them. It seems their parents were far more interested in my weekend plans than the possibility of their kids being sick.”

“Are you prepared for this? You’ve never felt the full force of the Carson gossip circle. It can be brutal,” she admits remembering how it had almost broken her as a teenager. That familiar ache closes in on her vision, but Brooks’ gentle stroke of his thumbs across her cheeks brings her back to herself.

Honesty and genuine love floats through his pledge and its meaning, and she can feel it caress her skin before seeping into her heart.

“I feel the same, Brooks.”

“Come on, let’s get out of here,” he adds as he glides his hand down her arm and tugs her hand.

Only then does she notice Tamara and a few members of the Lady Busy Bees peering around the corner watching them, their chirps of chatter drifting to her ears. And uniquely she doesn’t care what they’re saying about her or Brooks, a first.

 

LONESOMENESS BEGINS TO SET in. She has been without Brooks for about a week, he had returned to New York with Charleston to film a few live segments and she had overheard that a few entertainment shows requested interviews with Brooks. His celebrity is growing, but he speaks with her every night and explains that he isn’t looking to make a career change. He has been hoping his popularity would soon fizzle out and he can come home for good.

Charleston, someone that has become a good friend to Everleigh in the few days before they left, has assured her that the team is looking to move a crew to town so they can film at Brooks’ practice, but they are still working to convince the network execs. Thinking of the rumored relationship between Charleston and Brooks now seems laughable to Everleigh; the two are so different from each other and he treats her as if she is a little sister. Of course, it does ease her mind that Charlie swings for the other team.

Walking into Angie’s diner she hopes to satisfy her anticipation as she waits for Brooks to come home with some hearty comfort food. She has decided this morning that she is ready to tell him. To tell him all of her secrets; the ones she keeps buried so far inside that there is an inch of dust resting atop of them. And to tell him that she loves him. She can feel it with every fiber of her being, the way just thinking of him has her heart pounding, the way she can smell him on her sheets and it leaves her body yearning for his touch.

She may be inexperienced with relationships, but she isn’t naïve enough to not realize love when it is standing in front of her. She sees it in the way her parents still hold each other when they think no one is watching. Sees it in the way her brothers will move heaven and earth for their wives. And the way her sister’s eyes light up whenever their husbands enter the room. She has never imagined she would ever find a love like theirs, she believed that she had drawn the short end of the stick until Brooks cascaded into her life like he was rappelling down a wall.

The 50’s style diner has her smiling whenever she enters its space. Her family frequents Angie’s often, every Sunday to be exact, and has a standing reservation for the banquet room in the back where a modern addition to the building had been created a decade ago as the town expanded. But the nostalgic diner section has always been her favorite part. She likes to pretend as if she is transported back to a time where chivalry still exists and Elvis is king.

Finding a booth tucked in the back corner, Everleigh heads in that direction. In her peripheral vision, she notices as a few patrons lean into each other whispering wildly but she pays them no mind. Most of the town is busy predicting how long her truce with Brooks will last based on how often they had fought in the past, but since she let her walls down things have been pleasant between the two. Of course, the release of all the pent-up sexual tension has helped smooth things out as well.

She smirks remembering how he had taken her in the shower the day he was scheduled to leave. Brooks had snuck into her bathroom and pressed her against the cold tile, his chest to her back, and took her from behind. Their sudsy lovemaking had been quick and rough and had filled Everleigh with so much passion that she was left gasping for minutes afterward.

The heat begins to rise on her cheeks as the vision of his naked body play through in her mind and she quickly slides into the booth. Ethel, the diner’s main waitress, sidles up to the table and takes Everleigh’s order, the daily special, and then scurries off just as quickly, leaving Everleigh alone with her thoughts.

Fifteen minutes later, just as the meal is placed in front of her a commotion sounds at the front of the diner. Ethel looks at her wearily and asks, “Is there going to be a world war three?”

Confused, Everleigh peeks her head around the plump waitress and gasps when she finds Brooks standing just inside the diner. Their fights had always been notoriously epic, especially when they had stormed out of the diner months earlier and she had given him a black eye, so she understands Ethel’s claim. The problem is she isn’t sure why he is here in the first place; his plane isn’t set to arrive for another six hours.

His eyes search around the diner wildly, like an animal looking for an escape until his gaze lands on her. They instantly calm and then in a flash his protective instincts take over and he rushes towards her, practically knocking Ethel out of her orthopedic shoes, and yanks Everleigh from the table and into his arms.

“I’m so sorry, sweetheart. So fucking sorry.”

Taken aback she pulls herself away from his arms to find her siblings all rushing into the diner at the same time. As the other patrons begin looking at their phones and then glaring in her direction it doesn’t take long for the situation to dawn on her.

“I’m going to kill him, then you, and then go bury him so far in the ground they’ll never find his body,” her brother Austin bellows as he holds his wife in his arms as tears streak down her face.

“I don’t understand,” Everleigh murmurs, her hunger forgotten.

“Why don’t you explain it, Dr. McCafferty. Since you’re the reason my sister is being dragged through the mud.”

“Come sit down, sweetheart.”

She robotically takes a seat in the booth and Brooks takes the seat across from her, never releasing the clasp of her hand. Her family circles around the cubicle, forming a screen around them.

“I guess someone had taken pictures of us during the wedding. There are some of me entering with Charleston, but leaving with you. And to make it worse there are pictures of you and me kissing outside of my office and then of me boarding the plane with Charleston. Pretty much we’re a saucy love triangle that people seem to be interested in. But today, an article came out. Your ex sold you out for fifteen minutes of fame.”

She takes a shaking breath, her vision blurring before her eyes. Her hand slowly pulls out of Brook’s grasp.

“I want to read it,” her hollow voice asks.

“I don’t think…”

“I said I want to read the fucking article,” she seethes.

Her sister Sydney hands her a phone with the article pulled up and she begins to skim the piece, but not before she notices the look in everyone’s eyes, a look she had never hoped to see in Brooks’ - pity.

The editorial paints Rich as the flawless quarterback boyfriend, completely in love with his girlfriend Everleigh. But then she became obsessed with him and tricked him into a pregnancy - a pregnancy that she threatened to abort every chance she could. He had thought he loved her until she tried to take her baby from him. He fell in love with a sweet girl at the school and tried to break things off with Everleigh. To retaliate she threw herself down the steps of his house, purposely catching her stomach on the stairs, killing their baby in an instant.

He decorated himself as a town hero and her as a manipulative tramp. The man that had forced her virginity from her, had restrained her against her will numerous times and left so many bruises on her body that she had to quit cheering. Her family had thought she wanted to focus on her schooling, knowing she planned to go into medicine, but the truth was kept hidden under long sleeves and jeans.

Tears spill down her cheeks at the realization that her secrets were just made for the world to see, and all for the wrong reasons. The exposé was so far from the truth that her heart throbs with a mix of fury, resentment, and pain. So much pain.

How could the man that not only a week ago professed in front of her family that he wanted her back weave this falseness about her? Is this his way of saying he still loves her or is this his way of showing her he still has control over her?

Her throat begins to tighten as if being held in a vice-like grip, the sobs ascending through her body ready to explode.

“I don’t understand,” she murmurs as she bites at her lower lip, hoping to keep her tears at bay long enough to make her way home where she can freely succumb to her grief.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Austin asks just as Sydney says, “Cassidy is going to be so upset when she gets back from her honeymoon.”

Pounding his fists on the table, Austin leans into her space, rage and agony evident on his face. “How could you keep this from us, E? We’re your family!”

In a flicker, her fury takes over and she pushes from the table, the crowd moving back as she yanks her bag onto her shoulder. “You think that this is the truth?” she questions as she jabs a finger into his chest.

Everleigh takes a moment to look at everyone and instantly realizes that each person claiming to love her and care for her believes every word written by the man set out to destroy every piece of her. Finally, she takes a look at Brooks and something outside of sympathy pours from him, something similar to compassion, but her anger boils too hot to tamp down.

“And you. Do you believe it?” her voice low as she questions the man she loves.

“No, but I…” he starts, but Everleigh doesn’t give him the chance to continue.

She shuts down and crawls back to the deep dark space her emotions use to reside. The only place she ever felt safe.

A place where love doesn’t exist.

 

***

 

IT DIDN’T TAKE BROOKS long to figure out what had caused Everleigh to storm out of the diner. He had told her he believed her, knew with every fiber of his being that she isn’t the person described in the article, and he had tried to explain to her that not everyone knew her well enough to see the printed lies. But before he could finish his explanation her body had completely walled itself up when the stupid word slithered through his lips. She asked if he believed the article and he had said, “No.” Of course, he had to slide in the word “but” and she immediately believed he was going to retract his statement.

Didn’t she know he would always believe her? That his love for her is too strong to not believe her? She could tell him that every night she rode around on a flying pink unicorn that shit glitter rainbows across the sky and he would believe her.  He loves her that much. Unfortunately, it seems as if she doesn’t trust him enough to believe in him as well, and knowing this sends a piercing ache through his heart.

But what almost hurts him as much as her storming off with the belief that he doesn’t have faith in her is the fact that her family accepts the article as the truth. He can’t imagine the pain she must be feeling, knowing that the family she has stood by and risked her life for, is so willing to believe an article produced by an ex that transformed her into a shy and withdrawn shell of herself.

Fury builds in his stomach, fury at her family, fury at her asshole of an ex, and fury at the world for putting her in this position. No one should have their private life smeared by entertainment magazines.

As if breaking them free from their spell, Brooks stands from the table and practically tosses the phones from their hands as he smacks his hand harshly against the table, a loud bang instantly silencing the room.

“I can’t believe you all - her family, her friends. The people that should be standing by her side in a united front, instead you looked and condemned her as if she wore a scarlet letter. Does the woman in that article sound anything like the woman you know? Has she ever come across to you as a manipulative female? I can tell you from knowing a slew of them that the woman who just stormed out of here is not a damn thing like the one described. And furthermore, how well do you know the guy that is quoted in the article. If you ask me he was making her very uncomfortable at Cassidy’s wedding and was not pleased when she didn’t want anything to do with him. Don’t you think there is a reason?”

Austin looks at his siblings first, the lot of them still trying to wrap their heads around the scenario, all except Ryker, the man who just arrived typing away wildly on his phone.

“You don’t know what Everleigh was like as a teenager, she was wild. Always trying to get into some sort of trouble. Then she started dating Rich and calmed down. She became more subdued and it seemed like he was a good influence on her.”

“You don’t think she was acting out to get someone’s attention. She’s a middle child of six; believe me, it’s a pretty common trait. Not to mention she has known of the affair your father had for most of her life and blamed herself, and tried to keep it a secret from all of you. If anything, I’m surprised she didn’t’ get into more trouble than this. I would have expected her to end up in jail knowing the way most people act out in those scenarios. So, think about it, Austin. You’re a smart man.”

His face pales and normally Brooks would feel remorseful for the way he is speaking to his friend, but his heart will always side with Everleigh, and today she needs someone to stand up for her, even if that means to her family.

“So, what are you trying to say? You think he did things to her?”

“I don’t think, I know. Her reactions and what you just described are typical behaviors for those in an abusive relationship. And really, how well do you know this guy, Rich?”

“I mean, he’s grown up here. We know him as well as we know everyone else.”

“Well, it seems we all have secrets, don’t we?” Brooks emphasizes as he points towards the phone Sydney clutches in her hand.

“Fuck, he hurt her? I’m gonna kill ‘em,” Austin roars just as Sydney whispers with tears spilling down her cheeks, “I’m a terrible sister, I should have been there for her.”

“You’re going to have to get in line, Austin, I plan on letting Everleigh have at him first.”

“Dylan said he just showed up at The Grill. He can keep him there if you want. Oh, and he adds by any means necessary. He couldn’t come with us so I had speakered him in, I hope that’s ok?” Sydney explains.

Jameson finally peeks up from the laptop he had carried in when he arrived with Ryker. “Apparently, a new car has been purchased by Richard Hoffstead as of 9 a.m. this morning. Hm, this is interesting, he cited a bank account on the purchase that is attached to a Calliope Williams in Raleigh. She died in a homicide four years ago.”

“You don’t think…” Ryker begins and their eyes widen just as Jameson curses under his breath and packs up his laptop.

“I need to head to my office, I’ll be able to do some more secure research. There may be a lot more to the Rich we all know. I’ll keep you up to date. Oh, and Sydney, I’m going to need to speak with Dylan. Send him my way if he gets a break.”

“Sure,” Sydney adds slightly stunned at the comings of the morning.

“What the hell is going on in this town?” Ryker adds as he shakes his head. “Look, I need someone to go make sure my sister is ok and I don’t think she wants to see any of us.”

“There isn’t anything you all can do to stop me from going over there. I will see if she wants to say anything to Rich.”

“See how she feels about releasing a statement of her own if what you say is true, and I don’t doubt it is. She may be able to help someone else.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” Brooks vows as he moves to exit the diner.

A hand reaches out and grabs his forearm, halting his movements with its strong hold. “Tell her that I’m sorry. Please. Tell her that we are all sorry, for everything,” Austin pleads as he lessens his grip.

With a nod of his head, Brooks acknowledges his friend’s prayer but knows that Everleigh may not ever forgive her family or him. A thought he isn’t ready to admit as of yet.

The house is cold and barren as he enters through the front door. He almost worries that Everleigh has gone somewhere else, but he hears the clink of glass against a hard surface and he heads for the kitchen. With her back towards him, hunched over in defeat, his love faces away from him with an open bottle of red wine resting beside her arm. A shaking hand reaches out for the glass and she brings it to her lips and his chest hurts for her.

“It’s a little early to be drinking alone don’t you think?” he jokes in an attempt to burn off some of the sorrow filling the room.

Her shoulders don’t even stiffen at his outburst, almost as if she expected him to arrive at any moment.

“It’s never too early for a glass of wine. My mom has been drinking mimosas with breakfast ever since I can remember,” she claims as she takes another swig of her wine, downing most of it in one gulp. “Look, now it’s all gone. No more worry.”

“Everleigh,” he murmurs as he steps over to her and rests a hand on her shoulder. Her body shakes beneath his touch before he turns her in his arms where she collapses into a fitful of cries. Heartbreaking wails of grief, dejection, and misery.

“I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I’m so sorry for everything you have gone through.”

Her silky hair falls through his fingers as he continues to stroke his hand over her head and back, soothing her and offering his comfort.

“You know that I believe you, right? I will always believe you, Everleigh.”

He wants to tell her that he loves her, that his heart beats only for her, but he can’t bring himself to say the words.

It takes a while for her to calm down enough for Brooks to escort her to her favorite spot on the third floor.

“Do you want me to tell you everything?” she asks defensively as her sunken eyes stare out the upper window.

“I only want you to tell me what you would like to tell me, even if that means nothing at all. I’ll never feel differently about you, sweetheart.”

A sarcastic puff of air expels between her parted lips just as she says, “You will.”

“Your brother thought it may be a good idea to issue a statement of your own, about your side of the story. And if your past is what I think it is, you may be able to help others in that situation.”

“Sounds like Ryker. Too bad I was too dumb and naïve to help myself when I was a teenager.”

Brooks moves from in front of the bookshelves and crosses to kneel before Everleigh, taking the hand resting on her knee and placing it between his two larger ones.

“I think giving a statement will be beneficial. And you can wait to tell us all at one time if you want. I can even have Charleston send someone today to get a press release issued.”

She nods but says nothing more, her practically lifeless body curling into itself as her gaze stays locked on the view beyond her window.

“I don’t want to put you through anything more, Brooks. I’m sorry that you’re getting dragged through the mud with my bad choices. I’m going to leave tonight to go away for a while as this all blows over.”

“I’ll come with you,” he interjects with desperation clawing through him.

But she ignores him and carries on, “When I get back I don’t want to see you anymore. I think we can take this as a sign that we aren’t meant to be together.”

A sharp knife twists through his heart at the thought of her not being in his life. Brooks knows she is only lashing out due to the article, but it doesn’t hurt any less. He can feel her love for him in every touch, in every kiss. Stupid lies made by an imbecile won’t erase that love. It can’t. What they have is strong, impenetrable; she just needs to accept it.

“You don’t mean that, Everleigh.”

Surprising him, her eyes flick over to his, determination flaring in the golden swirls of her irises.

“I meant every word.”

Brooks bobs his head once and steps back.

“I’ll call your family and Charleston to set up the interview. I’m sure they all want to see you.”

The venom shoots from his throat too easily, far too easily and it terrifies him. He doesn’t’ want to be angry at her for pushing him away, he understands how her life feels out of control at the moment, but his broken heart steers his emotions instead of his head.

Brooks closes his mouth quickly and stomps towards the stairwell leading him to the entrance of the house, but not before he turns his head to see her once more. To see the beautiful woman crying silently in the corner in an oversized armchair, the only bit of comfort she’ll allow herself. He hesitates at the top of the stairs and listens to his pounding heart for a moment, hearing it’s cry of attention.

His feet move before he realizes what he’s doing and he comes to stand beside her once more. As much as her words eagerly push him away her eyes trail up to him with only a sliver of hope peeking through the darkness.

Leaning down he places a gentle kiss on the top of her head, his hands cradling her face.

“I’ll be back, sweetheart.”

An hour later, Brooks arrives back at Everleigh’s house with her family in tow, her parents clinging to each other in worry for their daughter as they all crowd into the living room. Behind her family, a young man stands with a voice recorder and pen and pad in hand on a directive from Charleston. He is the top reporter from Asheville and will be sending Charleston the article tonight with her intention of spreading it to all major networks. She feels terrible for Everleigh and promises him that she will right this wrong.

Everyone piles into the living room, every open space taken up by siblings, significant others, and babies. The group is standing as a cohesive face for the daughter that gives more than she ever asks for in return.

“Let me go see if I can find her. Please help yourself to any drinks or food. I’ll make sure to restock later,” Brooks commands, but the people in the room look at him blankly, their eyes barely blinking.

Quickly taking the steps two at a time, Brooks makes his way back up to the library to find Everleigh still coiled in the chair, her body in the same position he left her in. She turns her gaze towards him as he steps into the room and he holds back his gasp at her puffy red eyes, the dried tears crusted on her cheeks, and the glistening under her nose. To most, she may look alarming, dreadful even, but to Brooks, she still looks like the beautiful woman he fell in love with. And he swears to himself that he will make this better for her. He will avenge his sweet wife that has only ever wanted to feel loved.

They don’t speak, their eyes giving enough away without the need for words. He leans over her body, tucking his arms around her back and under her legs, and then he stands swiftly. At first, he expects that she’ll swing her legs down to walk on her own, hoping that the feisty woman she had once been will come barreling through. Instead, she rests her head against his chest and closes her eyes, looking so much more like a lost child at that moment than the resilient twenty-six-year-old that she is.

Brooks carries her down the steps slowly, trying his best not to jostle her too much, and stops just outside the living room.

“Are you sure you want to do this? I can take you back upstairs and ask them all to leave.”

The only response he receives is a slow nod of her head. He hasn’t been worried until this moment; he now fears that he may not be able to handle what she is going to tell them all. But he knows he needs to be strong for her. Because whatever she is going to say, he needs to make sure she understands that no matter what, he loves her.

Carrying her into the room everyone’s eyes widen at the sight of Everleigh tucked into his arms. Her father quickly moves from his position on the couch, opening up a spot for Brooks to sit with Everleigh in his lap. He had no plans to let her sit by herself. If she is going to confess her deepest secrets then she is going to do it while in his arms. If not for herself, for him, because he isn’t sure he’s ready to hear what lies resting deep in her soul.

The room remains quiet for a few minutes, the heavy breaths ejecting from everyone’s chest the only noise resonating in the large room.

Something sounding like a whisper hums in his ear and he looks down to find Everleigh’s lips moving. He focuses on her mouth, her words, and his heart pounds with each sentence.

“He hit me the first time after I had told him that I couldn’t go to a party with him after the homecoming game. We had only been together for a week, but I was stupid and thought I was in love. He apologized and said he didn’t mean it and I believed him. Things were good for a while until he decided that he didn’t like me wearing my cheerleading uniform. We were supposed to be studying after I got done with practice, but when I went to go to my car he pulled up with a shovel in his hand and hit my arm and leg with it, breaking them both.”

Most of the room gasps, but the noise of agony sounds beside him as her mother whispers, “They said you fell from a stunt. Why would they lie to me?”

“No one was around and that is the lie he told the hospital. No one even questioned me. I tried to break up with him after that, but I was so scared. He began threatening my family and friends so I kept to myself and began to focus on school.”

“That’s when you began wearing pants and long sleeves all the time,” Sydney admits beside Dylan. “I just believed you when you said that the library was cold. He was always so nice when he would come to dinner.”

“I hated those dinners. He despised coming to the house. Those beatings at school the next day were the worst. He’d force me into one of the bathrooms and leave me black and blue. But all the teachers suspected we were just being stupid teenagers sneaking off to the bathrooms to do what teenagers do.”

From the corner of his eyes, he watches as her father’s fists clench tight enough that his knuckles were whiter than the paint on the mantle.

Off on the side of the room, Ryker growls as he inquires, “What about the other part of the article?”

And they all understand what part he is referring to - the baby.

Only at that moment does Everleigh acknowledge his strength as she eyes him with fear.

“It’s ok, sweetheart.”

Her lower lip begins to tremble and Brooks feels its shivers all the way down his spine. He can feel her pain and suffering.

 “On my eighteenth birthday Rich claimed that he was giving me the ultimate birthday gift,” she shutters as she takes a deep breath. “He…he had his friends take me from the library and tied me up in his basement. Eight weeks later when I told him I was pregnant he kicked me down his basement stairs and left me there bleeding.

I had to wait until he and his family went to sleep then I crawled out of his basement window and ran to Dr. Fields’ house. Dr. Fields called the police but Sheriff Fitzgerald was on vacation. No one believed me even though the doctor had documented bruises and completed the exam. Rich was the town superstar and at that point, everyone believed the lies he spread about me. They only offered a restraining order so I took it knowing that it wouldn’t keep him away from me. It still doesn’t.”

“Is that why you left for college right after graduation? There wasn’t a summer program was there?” Austin asks.

“No, there wasn’t a program. I got as far away from Carson as I could until I knew I could come back.”

“But Rich still lives here, right?” Logan questions beside a tearful Avery.

“He does, but I’m old enough now to turn the other way.”

“And that’s why you never want to be near him. I knew your reaction at the wedding wasn’t normal.” Brooks shakes his head admonishing himself for not seeing it all before.

Her eyes close as she rests back against his chest and he rubs his eyes as he thinks about the young woman that had her innocence stolen from the disgusting man that the town seems to praise.

The room around them begins to empty, each person carrying with them a weight that has shifted from Everleigh to them. They now have the knowledge of what state their blind eye has left her in. Dylan and Austin stand by the front door and nod their heads at him, beckoning him to join them.

“I’ll stay with her,” Avery says from her position in front of him where her eyes take in the sister that needs all the love Avery is willing to give.

“We’ll stay too,” her parents say from beside him and he shifts her into her father’s arms. A father that clearly wishes he had done more to protect his daughter as his painful gaze takes in her form.

“I’ll be back, sweetheart. You’re so strong. I love you so much,” he sighs into her hair as he strokes her head. He is sure she doesn’t hear his last confession as she snores lightly in her father’s arm, all of her energy expelled with her secrets, but the truth still remains.

Outside the house, her brothers, Logan, and Dylan wait patiently for him, each knowing what is about to be unleashed.

“Do we know where he’s at?” Brooks inquires as they all pile into Dylan’s SUV.

Jameson just texted that he is under surveillance at the market.

Perfect.

They head in that direction, hoping to wait for him in the parking lot and hit the jackpot as they pull in behind a cherry red convertible where Rich stands loading a few bags into the trunk.

Dylan stops the vehicle but not before he addresses them all in a voice he is sure is used for interrogations, but it does little to deter his motives.

“All I ask is that you keep him alive. If Jameson’s hunches are correct, then we may be able to help a lot more people than just Everleigh, ok?”

“Are you serious right now?” Austin bellows from his seat, slamming his fist on the dashboard.

“I didn’t say coherent, just alive. Let’s have some fun boys.”

Rich turns around when he notices the SUV pull up and the men all scurry from the running vehicle. Austin gets to him first, slamming his fist into the side of Rich’s face, which twirls him around in surprise.

Brooks can’t help but wonder why the man didn’t expect her family to stick up for her, or is he too disillusioned and egotistical that he thought the town’s favoritism would weigh towards his side.

The rest of the group stand in a circle around the puny excuse of a man while he darts his eyes around wildly, looking for an escape. He’ll find none. Brooks’ knuckles crack as he twists his fist in one of his hands while allowing each man to have his turn at pummeling Rich. A few hits to the face, a few to the stomach, but the man stands stoically. Brooks would be impressed if the hate building inside him isn’t about to boil over.

His chance for retaliation on behalf of Everleigh comes and he doesn’t hesitate. Toe to toe Brooks steps into Rich’s confident bubble. He grips the collar of the pink polo shirt and tightens the material in his fist, bringing it closer to his face. At six foot five, he easily lifts the man off the ground, snarling into the now terrified expression of Rich.

“I hope it was all worth it, asshole. You stole something from my wife that she can’t ever have back,” he growls into the man’s face, watching as he pales. “For as long as I live I will make sure that you spend yours looking over your shoulder in fear. I wasn’t around to protect her then, but you can guaran-fucking-ty that I am going to protect her now.” Without a second glance, Brooks reaches down between Rich’s legs, not even noticing that the guy had wet himself through his pressed khakis earlier, and grabs his prized possession. He twists with every ounce of hate and anguish in his body before dropping the man to the ground where he is unable to catch himself. Rich’s head thunks firmly on the ground as he holds his hands between his legs.

“Shit,” they hear from behind them as Preston, the town’s new Sheriff walks over with cuffs in hand.

In all of the excitement none of them heard the police car’s sirens in the distance, but now the sound pulses violently in Brooks’ head.

“I’m sorry, Dr. McCafferty, I am going to have to arrest you for assault.”

The men around him begin to argue, but Brooks shrugs his shoulders.

“How much did you see?”

As the metal clips around his wrist and then connects to the other Preston explains that he only witnessed Brooks’ attack.

“You can’t arrest him, Preston,” Dylan tries to reason, hoping that his FBI undercover partner would help them keep this under wraps.

“I have to. One of the other shoppers called it in. It’s on record. I’m sorry. At least tell me that it was worth it,” he asks Brooks as he walks him over to the cruiser.

“It was worth it, but it won’t ever be enough.”

Preston seems appeased by his answer, a solemn look on his face as he looks back at his old friend. Brooks had heard that their friendship came to pass over a false relationship Preston had with Sydney when they were younger. A relationship that caused her to get hurt. He doesn’t know much, but he knows enough that Dylan and Sydney were just now beginning to let their old friend back into their lives.

The cruiser leaves just as the small ambulance transport arrives to load Rich and take him to the Asheville Hospital. Dylan loads into the vehicle with the poor excuse of a man and Brooks turns his attention back to the cuffs on his wrist, nicely placed in the front so he is comfortable and can easily escape.

But he has no intentions of running away from his actions. He plans on fighting for Everleigh for the rest of his life, and if those actions land him in jail so be it. She is worth it.