Page 23 of Come Back for Me
My stomach drops. Six months of him living next door. That’s a long time of trying to keep my mind from wandering, and six months of Hadley trying to become friends with him.
Six months of attempting to keep Kevin from seeing him.
I want to throw my hands in the air and scream in frustration.
If I have any hope of the last happening, I need to keep Hadley away from Connor. Not because of Kevin but because, if she forms an attachment to him, it will only hurt her when we have to run.
“Wow, that seems like a lot of work to do in six months and”—I look to my daughter—“you have a lot of homework and chores to do.”
“But . . .” Her lip quivers. “I like helping, and I promise I won’t be any trouble.”
“What the hell is going on out here?” Kevin’s deep voice booms as the front door flies open.
Dread fills me so fast I don’t have time to temper it. I turn quickly. “Baby, you’re awake?”
He looks at me, Hadley, and then to the man standing beside her. “Who are you?”
Hadley rushes forward. “This is Connor, Daddy. He lives next door.”
I close my eyes for a second and try to think. I need to get Connor to go before Kevin’s anger grows and I really pay for it. It’s too late to avoid his ire entirely, so minimizing it is my only chance.
Kevin’s eyes lift from Hadley back to Connor. “You’re one of the Arrowood brothers.”
“I am.” Connor’s voice is deeper than Kevin’s, and I swear the testosterone in the air is enough to make me choke. “I take it you’re Hadley’s father? It’s nice to meet you.”
“How do you know my daughter?”
I step toward him, my hand on his chest and a soft smile on my lips. “Hadley wandered a bit too far, and Connor was nice enough to make sure she found her way home.”
Kevin takes another step down so he’s off the steps. His hand snakes around my back and grips my shoulder. “Well, that was very nice of him. Hadley, go on out back for a minute. And then you can check on the horses.”
She looks to me, and I give her the smile I’ve perfected.
“Okay, Daddy.”
“Thanks, my sweet girl. And don’t wander off this time.”
Hadley turns, the fear in her eyes is there, but she smiles up at him. “I won’t.”
“That’s my good girl.”
My husband is great at illusions. To anyone watching, he’s being loving and attentive. He’s always been this way. He would never give anyone room to gossip. When we do go out in public, he dotes on me. He touches my face with tenderness. His hand holds mine, and he smiles as he watches me.
It’s so easy to believe the lies.
I can even get swept up in them. And I know better.
Still, I wish he would love me that way all the time. I want to remember how his hands touched me in love and not anger. My heart aches for the kind man who offered to help me and didn’t cut me down.
It’s stupid, and I know it. He won’t ever be that man, and that’s why I’m leaving.
His hand moves down my back, gripping my hip. There’s a fresh bruise on that side, and I pray he doesn’t remember or he’ll find a way to use it. “It seems welcome home is in order. I’m Kevin and this is mywife, Ellie.”
Connor’s eyes narrow slightly, but he steps forward, hand extended. Kevin has no choice but to release me. They shake hands, and I can hear the thunder echo in the background.
“It’s great to meet you both.” Connor’s hand moves to me.
I take it, shaking as briefly as I can, and retreat back to my husband. I move toward him, trying to force myself into his embrace. Kevin wraps his arm back around me, and I smile up at him.
