Page 62 of Nate

Chapter Nine

By the last week of June, Markie was stressed out. She had to go to her mother’s birthday party this weekend. She put her hands over her face, just dreading the thought of it.

“Are you okay?”

Markie put her hands down and stared at Tess, standing in the doorway, and shook her head.

“I am just sick about this weekend.” She had told Tess all about Jarrett and the party coming up.

“I know you are, but what can you do?”

“Nothing. I have to go. At least Nate is going with me.”

“I’m sure Jarrett won’t bother you with Nate around, unless he’s bigger.”

Markie shook her head. “He’s tall but not as tall as Nate and he’s not built like him either. I’ll feel better with Nate there, but he can’t be around me twenty-four seven, and anytime I’m alone, Jarrett will be around. I can guarantee it.”

“I hate men like him. My first husband was that way, and he also hit me.”

“I didn’t know you were married before Sam.”

Tess walked to the chair across from her desk and sat down.

“When I came here, I was still married and I won’t even say his name, but I was hiding from him. I was afraid if I filed for divorce, he’d find me. Eventually he did and by then, I was seeing Sam.” Tess sighed. “You talk about pissed; Sam was livid because I didn’t tell him I was still married. He broke it off with me and I was sure I’d lost the one man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.”

“What happened?”

“My ex tried to kidnap me. There was a party one night at the town hall for Betty Lou Harper’s birthday and I had operated on a dog earlier so I wanted to check on him. I told Sam and he had Brody come with me. Sam didn’t want anything to do with me. When we got here, I checked on the dog, and my ex was in here, waiting for me. He shot Brody—”

“Oh, my God! Obviously, Brody survived but what happened to your ex?”

“Sam shot and killed him. He came looking for me and Brody when we didn’t return to the party. He stood out there in the middle of the street and shot through the glass, killing him instantly. He saw my ex standing over Brody getting ready to shoot him again. Sam couldn’t let that happen.” Tess shrugged.

“I’m glad you and Sam worked it out. He’s a great guy.”

Tess smiled. “He is. It took a while because he was so hurt by me lying to him, but we got through it. I love that man.”

“I know you do, and he loves you. I can see it every time he looks at you.”

“I know he does. I’m sorry you have to go to your mother’s party, but she’s your mother, and you can’t disappoint her.”

“I know. Trust me, I’ve thought of a ton of ways to get out of going, but I can’t lie to her. She’d be devastated if I didn’t show up.”

“Does she know you’re bringing Nate?”

Markie grinned. “Nope. I didn’t want her to tell Jarrett. I want to surprise him.”

Tess laughed. “That’s a good idea.” She stood. “I’d better get back to work. We’re busy today. Lots of appointments.”

“Let’s get busy then. Maybe it will take my mind off this weekend.”

Saturday afternoon, Markie sat silently in the passenger seat as Nate drove along the street leading to her mother’s house. She was dreading this.

“It’ll be fine,” Nate said.

“You can tell me that all you want, but I guarantee you will not like him either.”

“I probably won’t but let me meet him first.”

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