Page 67 of The Breakdown

June kept her smile.

“But I’m so weak. Messed up.”

“You’re wonderful,” June said. “Bright, funny, heart of gold. You’ve got so much going for you, Natalie. And I’m not the only one that sees that.”

“I wish I could see it.”

“Once you get past your fear, you will.”

“My fear. Ha.”

“Have you heard from your ex? Has something happened there that I don’t know about?”

“No.”

“Then why the fear? He hasn’t found you so far.”

“Because I dread the moment he does. And he will.”

“What makes you so sure?”

“Because Allen doesn’t give up. He always gets what he wants. And what he wants, ultimately, is me.”

Her hands shook and she gripped them tightly together as if to stop them. June rested her hand over them to help calm her.

“Maybe you should go to the police again. Tell them your fears. Tell them you are terrified and why.”

“I have told them. I even spelled it out for them. So, I can’t. Not again. He’ll…hurt me.”

“That’s exactly why you should go. I’ll even go with you and you can continue to stay here, where you’re safe, while the justice system does something about him.”

But Natalie shook her head. “June, I could never do that. I could never put you and Vaughn in danger.”

“But you’re staying here. Isn’t that the same thing?”

“The second he finds out I’m here, I’m gone. He’ll follow me, his interest in you two will leave with me.”

“Child,” June whispered. “You must do something.”

“All I can do is hide.”

“You can’t hide forever.”

Natalie stared off into the distance. “I’ve thought about it. Thought a lot about it. Maybe I can hide forever. Just start over new somewhere now that he can’t find me.”

“You really want to do that?”

“It’s the best thing I can come up with.”

June opened the bottle of tea and handed it to her. “Here, drink some more.”

Natalie took the bottle and sipped.

June continued. “I think you should go to the police and face him. But that’s just my humble opinion. The decision, of course, is yours. And I’ll stand by you either way.”

Natalie played with the label on the bottle. “Thanks.”

“Just think about it,” June said. “That’s all I ask.”

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