CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Sadie

Dollywood was everything magical and more. We had so much fun, and Garret even got me on a few rides. We watched a jamboree show, and he slow danced with me.

Magical, I’m tellin’ ya.

And Garret? That man is something all right. I told him months ago that he was like a book boyfriend come to life, and I wasn’t lying. He really is. I didn’t think men like him existed, and every day, he gives me something new to fall in love with.

Mitchell called me this morning and let me know that everything was going well, and that it wouldn’t be much longer till I was a free woman. I’m happier than I’ve ever been, and I don’t want anything to ruin it.

Wiping the table down with a rag, I look up when Lindsey shouts my name. She’s standing in front of the bar with her arms full of plates. I drop the rag and hurry over to help her, taking a few plates from her.

“Thanks, girl.” We carry them all out back to the kitchen, and she leans back on the counter. “I’m telling you, Brody needs to hire some new employees. I’m beat.”

“How’s the hospital?” I ask, setting the plates in the sink.

“It’s good. They’re having to remodel a wing of the ER, so my shifts have been cut in half. It’s why I’ve been here so much this summer and fall, but I’m exhausted. I need to stick to one job, because my ass is done with this.”

Laughing, I gesture at the apron I’m wearing. “You’re preaching to the choir, Linds. I’m almost thirty. I need to start looking into saving some damn money and start putting my degree to use. It’s time, I think.”

“What do you want to do?” she asks. We stroll back out to the bar, the silence of a closing shift so much different than when the bar is hustling all evening.

“Well, when I got my degree, I wanted to open a trendy clothing shop, but it’s not what I really want anymore. I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately, and I know what I’m gonna do.”

“Drum roll, please,” Lindsey jokes, and we both start laughing.

“I want to open a kid’s store. Clothes, toys, furniture. I think it would be really cool, and there aren’t any shops like that unless you go into the city.”

“Girl, that’s an amazing idea!” Lindsey cheers, and I give her a hug.

“I haven’t told Garret yet, but I really want to do this.”

“And you should. He’ll support you completely, but you already know that.”

“Yeah, I do. We won the lottery with those Walker brothers.”

I can see the love in her eyes, and I'm sure mine mirror it. We’re the luckiest women in the world to have those men as our own.

Silently, we finish getting the tables cleaned and then I’m off, heading home. Because it’s a weekday, the bar was only open until ten, and we were able to start cleaning early, so it’s only twenty after.

I wish I was going to Garret’s, but he agreed to work a night shift tonight, he and Jace needing the overtime.

When I pull into my driveway, I head inside and lock the door behind me. Slinging my purse onto the couch, I walk into my kitchen to grab a water. Stopping in my bedroom to change into a pair of leggings and one of Garret’s PD shirts, I flip the television on to a rerun of Supernatural and get comfy on the couch. Halfway through, I head back into the kitchen to snag a piece of the cheesecake I bought at the store on Monday.

Settling back down, I check the clock on my phone and see it’s almost eleven. I’m tired, but I want to wait a little longer so I can call Garret before bed. Hitting Play, I focus on the show once more. Dean Winchester is the hottest character on TV. And anyone who says otherwise is lying.

There’s a pounding on my door a minute later, and I pause the show, pushing the blanket on my lap off to the side. Walking to the peephole, I look out but don’t see anything. Undoing the locks, I pull the door open and still don’t see anybody.

Then I look left.

“Well, what do you know? Hello, Sadie. Good to see you, darling wife.”

Graham Ward stands on the side of my porch, arms crossed over his chest. He looks strangely calm, a sick smile on his face.

“What… what are you doing here? How did you—"

“How did I find you? You served me with papers, dumbass. It had your address on them.”

My address? I thought they left that out? I knew I should have filed the restraining order first. Fuck.

“You need to leave, Graham. You and I have been done since I left. And you’re violating the restraining order, I’m calling the cops.” I turn to go back inside when he grabs my arm, twisting it behind my back and causing me to cry out in pain.

“You will not do that. You're going inside, you’re packing your shit, and you’re coming with me. You do not get to decide when we’re over, I do, and your tantrum was sufficient. And when we get home, you’re gonna fucking pay for what you’ve done. Got it?”

“No. I’m not the same person I was when I left you. And you’re hurting me. Let go.”

“Oh, sweetheart, you haven’t even felt pain yet. Trust me.” Graham is in my face, but when he’s least expecting it, I bring my knee up and ram him in the balls. He releases my arm, which gives me just enough time to run inside and lock the door.

Tears running down my cheeks, I grab my phone from the couch and dial.

“911, what is your emergency?”

“My husband just showed up at my house. There's a restraining order on him, and I’m scared. Please, help me.”

“Ma’am, it’s going to be okay. Can I have your address, please?”

“42 Birch Falls Road.”

“Okay, we've alerted authorities. Are you inside your home?”

“Yes. He was hurting me, so I kicked him and ran inside. My doors are locked.”

The operator begins trying to soothe me, but the loud crash of my front door shaking on its hinges has me screaming.

“He’s breaking the door down! Please, tell them to hurry.”

“Ma’am, they’re only a few minutes away. You’re going to be okay.”

The banging on my front door stops, and I’m standing alone in eerie silence.

“I think he’s gone,” I say to the operator. “I can’t hear him anymore.”

“Officers are only five minutes out. They’ll be there shortly, ma’am.”

“Thank you.”

But my relief is short-lived. My back door smashes open, Graham standing there with a look of plain rage on his face.

“No!” I scream.

“Ma’am, what’s going on?”

Graham is on me before I get a chance to react, and he punches me hard, my body dropping to the floor. A ringing fills my ears, and I taste blood.

“What do I have to do to show you who is in fucking charge?”

“Graham, no. Please.”

“Shut the fuck up, Sadie.” He takes another shot at my face, bright lights flashing across my vision. He grabs me by the throat and hauls me to my feet, the pain in my head intensifying.

“No.”

I fight him with all my might, just needing to hang on until the cops get here. My phone is still connected to the emergency operator, stuffed in my back pocket when he came through the door. Graham spins us so my back is against the kitchen counter and he chokes me harder, my vision starting to dim. He thinks he has the upper hand, but my groping hand finds a glass. With every last ounce of my strength, I smash it over his head, his body dropping to the floor.

Stumbling to my bedroom, I slam the door shut and lock it, then shove the small dresser as close to the door as I can before dropping behind my bed. My whole face is throbbing, and tears are splashing down my cheeks.

The police aren’t here. And I know Graham isn’t dead.

He’s going to get in here. He’s going to finish this, and then Garret will find my dead body.

Garret. No.

With shaky and fumbling hands, I get my phone from my back pocket and see that not only did the call disconnect, but I have a dozen texts from Garret.

Garret: What’s happened? We’re on our way.

Garret: Are you okay?

Garret: Baby, please, this isn’t funny. Answer me.

Garret: Sadie, please tell me you’re okay.

Garret: Fuck, baby, I need to know you’re okay.

Sobbing quietly, I force my fingers to type out a message, my heart breaking with each word I write. Hitting Send, I slump down against the bed, my body growing more tired. My head is fuzzy, and it's hard to stay awake.

Please, Garret. Please get here.

Sadie: I’m so sorry, Garret. He found me. I love you so much. Thank you for loving me.