Page 73 of Shelter from the Storm

“I was standing in line to buy a ticket when a siren sounded right outside the station. I turned around to see Briggs dressed in his police uniform, striding over to me. I tried to run, but two guys stepped in front of me, stopped me from escaping. Briggs loudly assured the handful of people in the station that they weren’t in danger, that I was only a danger to myself. I realized that I probably looked that way, standing there in disheveled clothing, bruised face and arms, my hair a mess, no coat, crying. Briggs handcuffed me and read me my rights, while I kept begging someone to call 9-1-1, shouting that I wasn’t crazy.”

Edith stepped closer to her, reaching out to take her hand, as Theo claimed her opposite side, his arm wrapped around her waist.

“Do you know the most surefire way to sound crazy, Sheriff Anderson?” Gretchen asked.

The sheriff shook his head.

“Tell people you aren’t crazy. Briggs put me in the back of the squad car, drove me home, and beat me so badly, I couldn’t get out of bed for two days. I had to crawl to the bathroom, unable to walk.”

Sheriff Anderson frowned, his bushy brows furrowed in anger over her story.

“You didn’t tell that man she was here, did you, Jacob?” Edith asked.

“No,” the sheriff said. “I told him I’d look into it. Now that I have, I’m going to call him back and tell him there’s no Gretchen Parker in Gracemont. Because there isn’t.”

Gretchen stepped forward, reaching out to take the sheriff’s hand. “Thank you, Sheriff.”

Sheriff Anderson shook it, then offered her one short nod. “If Briggs Howard shows up here, I want you to call me immediately. He’s not laying a goddamn finger on you in my town.”

“I will,” she whispered, overwhelmed by his support.

The sheriff said goodbye, while she, Edith, and Theo talked a little bit longer.

Gretchen, who was becoming a regular crybaby, teared up when Edith gave her one of those nice, tight hugs and made her promise to come back home soon.

Theo took her bag in one hand, wrapping his other arm around her shoulders as they walked to his truck.

“You okay?” he asked when they pulled out of the driveway.

“Yes,” she said, realizing that despite all the crap going on, she really was.

Because she was no longer alone.

Gretchen had finished lighting the candle in the center of the table when Theo entered their cabin. A week had passed since the two of them had essentially moved in together. True to his word, Theo gave her the bigger bedroom, moving into the one on the opposite side of the great room.

With each passing night, the separate bedrooms felt more like a punishment than a good idea. Probably because after dinner, they plopped down together on the couch, watched TV, and made out like the plane was going down.

“What’s this?” Theo closed the front door behind him. The main area of the cabin consisted of one large living space that contained the kitchen with a small dining table, both separated from the living room by an island. Off each side of the living room were the doors to their private bedrooms and bathrooms.

“You’ve been feeding me all week,” Gretchen said. “Tonight, I wanted to make a special dinner for you.”

Theo came over, taking his seat at the table, his eyes growing wide at the meal she’d prepared each of them. Gretchen had been delighted to finally be able to put some of Edith’s cooking lessons to good use. Tonight, she’d prepared chicken cordon bleu, twice-baked potatoes, and fresh green beans sauteed in garlic and butter.

“Holy shit, this smells fantastic.”

She smiled at his compliment, joining him at the table.

“But I’m not sure I can claim the credit for feeding you all week, kitten, considering we ate at least three of those meals with my brothers and they did the cooking.”

“Semantics,” she said, waving her hand. “I wanted to find a way to tell you how much I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. And not just this week, when you uprooted your life to keep me safe here. But for everything that came before, too. The job. The driving lessons. All the fun nights out.”

She stood briefly, pouring them both a glass of Chardonnay before resuming her seat. Theo lifted his glass to tap against hers.

“You look beautiful tonight.”

Gretchen laughed. “You say that every night.”

Theo shrugged. “Because it’s always true.”

---