Chapter Three

        Finally discharged from the hospital, Emma Jean let the nurse wheel her outside to Tally’s waiting vehicle, the same nurse who had finally broken down and admitted to calling in an anonymous tip about a young woman showing up in the emergency department with suspicious injuries. Emma Jean couldn’t find it in herself to be angry about it, though. The nurse’s heart was in the right place, and aside from her friends, that nurse was the only one who dared to speak up. Because of that, Emma Jean felt that she ought to be grateful that there were those who refused to turn a blind eye to the atrocity of a man laying his hands on a woman in violence.

Tugging the ends of her scarf so it sat snuggly around her neck, she looked around for Tally’s sky blue truck or Luke’s green Jeep but didn’t see either vehicle.

Maybe they forgot about me.

“Hey, Emmie.”

She startled at the sound of Noah’s voice. “Oh, hey, Noah. Did you draw the short straw in having to come get me?”

Noah smiled. “Not at all, sunshine.” He gently tugged on a lock of her golden blonde hair. “I volunteered.”

“Why would you do that? You must have better things to do with your time.” Her hand floated up to her black eye. She was embarrassed that he had seen her at her worst already. She wasn’t sure why he’d subject himself to seeing what a wreck she still was.

“No better way to spend my time than with you. Besides, I figured my car would be easier for you to get into in your current condition. Tally’s truck and Luke’s Jeep both sit kind of high off the ground.”

Oh. He was just being practical. Well, that made sense then.

“You ready to go? It’s freezing out here.” He bent down flipping the brakes off on the wheelchair before pushing her over to his car, the dark red Dodge Durango idling at the curb.

“You think this will be easier for me to get into?” She looked up at him dubiously.

He chuckled. “Well, easier than Tally’s truck, anyway. I’ll help you.”

It was a struggle to get into the vehicle without aggravating her injuries, but Noah was as gentle and patient as a saint. Settled in and buckled up, she breathed a sigh of relief that she wasn’t being forced to return home. She wasn’t expecting just how freeing it felt to know that she would no longer be forced to cohabitate with her husband, vile man that he was. The relief was so immense she was almost giddy with it. And she had the Hawkins family to thank. “Thank you, Noah,” she said softly.

“Anytime, Emmie.” Noah shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

“I just don’t want to be an inconvenience or burden to anyone.”

Noah frowned. “Nonsense. You’ve always been an honorary member of the Hawkins clan. So what if you spent some time away from us? We take care of our own.”

“I’ve missed you guys,” she admitted quietly.

“We’ve missed you too, sunshine. So, let’s get you home.”

Home.  Hawkins Stables. Not Cody’s house. With people who protected her. Not people who raised their fists. Emma Jean felt a knot loosen in her chest as she gingerly laid her head back against her seat. She was more than ready for a new start.

***

“I’m so glad you’re here,” Tally whispered in her ear as she wrapped her in a hug, careful not to jar her ribs.

“Me too. Thanks for taking pity on me.”

Tally scoffed. “It’s not pity. You’re my best friend, even if we haven’t seen much of each other over the past few years. You’re family. I’d do anything for you.”

Emma Jean felt the tears well up at Tally’s words, which so beautifully echoed Noah’s earlier sentiment. She so badly wanted somewhere to belong. She had her parents, of course, and they were wonderful, but they had never truly approved of Cody and hadn’t wanted them to get married so young. Or, at all, for that matter. But, as always, they were supportive of Emma Jean, so if marrying Cody was what she wanted, then the Barkers would rally. She simultaneously loved them for it and wished they’d tried harder to talk her out of it.

“Hi!” The high pitched greeting came from the little imp wrapped around Luke’s leg.

Emma Jean brought herself down to the imp’s eye level. “Hi, Tucker. Do you remember me? I’m Emma Jean.” She smiled at his vigorous nod. She had only met Tally’s small son once before, at the Medicine Wheel Town Fair over the summer.

“Hi, Em’ Jean!”

“I’m going to be staying here for a while. Is that okay?”

Tucker nodded again, always happy to make a new friend.

Emma Jean smiled, grateful for the easy acceptance.

“Come on, buddy, let’s go get dinner started while your mama gets Emma Jean settled in.” Luke, with Tucker still wrapped around one leg, strode through the living room in what Emma Jean knew was the direction of the kitchen. It may have been years since she’d been there, but growing up, she’d spent just as much time with the Hawkins family as she did with her own. She knew the layout of the house like the back of her hand.

“I have the guest room all made up for you. You should have everything you need. Come on, I’ll show you,” Tally said.

“Wait. Give me your phone,” Noah said from directly behind her causing her to flinch.

“Sorry,” she blurted, immediately feeling guilty for a reaction she couldn’t control.

“For what?”

“Flinching like that.”

Noah eyed her for a moment. “Didn’t notice.” He smiled. “Phone,” he demanded and she handed it over. He punched in his number and sent a text to himself. “You need anything at all, call or text me, and I’ll be right there. Promise.”

Emma Jean saw the steely determination in his eyes and knew he meant what he said. “Thank you,” she whispered, taking her phone back and shoving it in the back pocket of her jeans.

Upstairs, the guest bedroom was ready just like Tally said. It was decorated in a similar fashion to Tally’s room, but the walls were a soothing sage green rather than the light blue of Tally’s room. The curtains and bedding were white and the furniture had that distressed shabby chic look.

“The bathroom is at the end of the hall. Nobody else really uses it except Tuck, so feel free to spread your stuff around. Luke and I have our own, so you won’t have to fight to get in there.” Tally furrowed her brow. “Actually, now that I think about it, there’s no reason why Tuck can’t take his baths in our bathroom-”

“No! No, please. I don’t want to be more of a bother than I already am. Don’t change Tuck’s routine on my account,” Emma Jean waved her off.

“Oh, please. That kid would be tickled pink to get to play in my soaking tub. It’s practically a pool to him.”

“If you’re sure…”

“Totally. I’m totally sure.”

“Okay, then.”
        “I’ll let you get settled in while I go downstairs and make sure Luke’s not destroying my kitchen.” Tally grabbed Emma Jean’s hand. “Please make yourself at home. And holler if you need anything, okay?”

“I promise,” she smiled.

“Good. Oh, and one more thing. I’m going to get real sick of saying this real fast , so please don’t make me repeat myself. You are not a bother, a burden, an inconvenience, or whatever other derogatory remark you think to call yourself. So, I don’t want to hear you saying any of those things ever again. We clear?”

“Yes, ma’am!” Emma Jean saluted with a cheeky grin, she couldn’t quite get behind.

Tally winked before going downstairs to check the state of her kitchen.