Page 86 of Fire in My Heart

I didn’t have a home or a job. The guy I thought I was in love with didn’t love me anymore. And I couldn’t blame him. I should have told him sooner. But I knew what would have happened. He wouldn’t have understood. He would have broken up with me that much more quickly. Maybe it would have hurt less? But I didn’t think so.

I delayed the inevitable, and I wasn’t sure I felt badly about that. I wanted as much time as I could get with Teddy.

I got up, showered, and dressed, feeling slightly more human. A soft knock sounded on my door.

When I opened it, Fiona came inside with a tray of food. “I made pancakes.”

“You didn’t need to cook for me.” I wasn’t sure I could eat.

“Try and eat something. For me?”

I sighed and sat on the bed. Fiona placed the tray over my lap, and I poured syrup over the pancakes. “Chocolate chip?”

“You need something sweet when you’re upset.”

“Thank you.”

“Stop thanking me. This is what friends do.” She sat by my feet, watching me cut the pancakes into bite-sized pieces.

“How do you feel?”

I shrugged. “A little sore from?—”

Fiona winced. “I can get you some pain meds.”

She disappeared into the bathroom and returned with a bottle. “I should have told you this was here last night.” She sat down again, watching me eat the first bite.

It was sweet. “These are good.”

Fiona beamed, probably pleased she’d gotten me to eat. “Are you up for getting that peace order?”

I chewed and swallowed before answering. “I’m tired of living this way. He found me even though I was careful.”

“I hate that for you. You should feel safe in your home, and you shouldn’t have to avoid town because of this guy.”

“Just because I get a judge to grant an order doesn’t mean he won’t show up again.” The idea of running into Rick again had the pancakes settling like rocks in my gut.

Fiona sighed. “I know. But I think you have to do something. You can’t keep moving every time he finds you. At least this way, you’re establishing a pattern of behavior. A record, if you will.”

I finished eating, feeling better than I had when I woke up. “That was good. Thank you.”

Fiona smiled. “Let me clean up. Then we can head to the courthouse. Aiden said you have to fill out paperwork and file it with the clerk. The judge will review it and grant it based on the petition. That order is good for seven days. Then you’ll have another hearing to extend it for a year.”

I let out a breath. “What if the judge doesn’t believe me?”

“You have a bruise on your wrist and your chin. Didn’t the police take pictures?”

I was in such a fog last night I barely remembered the details. “They did.”

“You’re going to get through this, and we’ll be by your side every step of the way.”

I wished Teddy was by my side. But if I wanted him in my life, I should have been honest.

We headed to the courthouse, filled out the paperwork, and filed it with the clerk’s office. Now we had to wait for the judge to review it.

I didn’t need to be on the farm. But I’d purchased things yesterday that I wanted to hang in the barn. So I headed to the Calloways by myself.

At least at the farm, I was surrounded by people who were happy about Christmas. It lifted my spirits slightly as I hung the new ribbon and wreaths.

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