Page 61 of He Doesn't Deserve You

Once they were in the car, Agnes started the engine and turned to Gabriel. “I almost forgot—you received a couple of phone calls from a woman named Lily. She said it was urgent and asked you to call her back.”

“Okay, thanks,” Gabriel said, trying to sound casual.

Agnes pulled up to the police station and asked, “Should I wait for you?”

“No, my car’s here. Thanks for the ride.” Gabriel opened the door but paused before stepping out. “And thanks for watching Ava last night. Take the rest of the day off,” he added, giving her a grateful smile.

“Okay, thanks,” Agnes said before driving off.

Gabriel walked inside and approached the front desk, patiently waiting for the officer to look up. “I just posted bail,” he said. “I’m here to retrieve my belongings and get my car out of impound.”

“Name?”

“Gabriel Anderson.”

“Wait here,” the officer instructed before leaving the reception desk. When he returned, he handed Gabriel a plastic bag containing his belongings. “Sign here,” he said, extending a clipboard to Gabriel.

After signing, Gabriel opened the bag and retrieved his phone and wallet. Sliding the wallet into his pocket, he checked his phone for missed calls and messages. There were several from Agnes, which he ignored, but the one from Lily was impossible to dismiss. It unsettled him deeply: “Now we can be together.”

“Sir?”

Gabriel snapped back to the present. “What?”

“I asked if there’s anything else you need.”

“Oh, right. Sorry. Yes, I need to get my car out of impound and speak to my wife, Emily Anderson.”

Gabriel paid the impound fee and followed the officer to an interrogation room. “I’ll take you to speak to your wife,” the officer said. “When you’re done, your car will be parked out front. Come see me, and I’ll give you your keys.”

“Thank you,” Gabriel said, stepping into the room.

Uneasiness churned in Gabriel’s stomach as he paced the room, wringing his hands. The disturbing text message lingered in his mind. “What have I done?” he wondered.

When the door finally opened, Gabriel flung his arms around Emily, who couldn’t push him away since her hands were in cuffs. Hugging her tightly, he said, “Oh my God, are you okay?”

Emily stood frozen and said nothing.

Gabriel pulled back briefly, then pressed his lips to hers. She didn’t turn away but didn’t return his kiss.

Finally, he released her, and they took their seats.

“I’m sorry, Em. I never meant for any of this to happen,” Gabriel said, unable to meet her gaze.

“It doesn’t matter now. Right now, I want to make bail and go home to Ava.”

Gabriel nodded, “Yes, we need to get you home.”

“I called Freedom Bail Bonds. We’ll need to put the house up as collateral. They’re preparing the paperwork now. Ask for Ted—he’s handling my release and will need your signature.”

“Okay,” Gabriel said, placing a hand on her cuffed hands resting on the table. “I’ll go straight there.” He smiled thinly. “We’ll get through this, Em. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Emily stood, “Sign the papers.”

Gabriel got to his feet and said, “Okay, baby.”

True to his word, Gabriel went straight to the bail bondsman, signed the papers, and brought them to the jail for Emily to sign. After returning the documents, it took three hours before Emily was finally released, and they drove home in exhausted silence.

Gabriel unlocked the front door and held it open for Emily. As he followed her inside, his eyes were immediately drawn to her luggage by the staircase, unaware she was planning to leave him.

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