Page 44 of Coming Unraveled
“You don’t think she was acting out to get someone’s attention. She’s a middle child of six; believe me, it’s a pretty common trait. Not to mention she has known of the affair your father had for most of her life and blamed herself, and tried to keep it a secret from all of you. If anything, I’m surprised she didn’t’ get into more trouble than this. I would have expected her to end up in jail knowing the way most people act out in those scenarios. So, think about it, Austin. You’re a smart man.”
His face pales and normally Brooks would feel remorseful for the way he is speaking to his friend, but his heart will always side with Everleigh, and today she needs someone to stand up for her, even if that means to her family.
“So, what are you trying to say? You think he did things to her?”
“I don’t think, I know. Her reactions and what you just described are typical behaviors for those in an abusive relationship. And really, how well do you know this guy, Rich?”
“I mean, he’s grown up here. We know him as well as we know everyone else.”
“Well, it seems we all have secrets, don’t we?” Brooks emphasizes as he points towards the phone Sydney clutches in her hand.
“Fuck, he hurt her? I’m gonna kill ‘em,” Austin roars just as Sydney whispers with tears spilling down her cheeks, “I’m a terrible sister, I should have been there for her.”
“You’re going to have to get in line, Austin, I plan on letting Everleigh have at him first.”
“Dylan said he just showed up at The Grill. He can keep him there if you want. Oh, and he adds by any means necessary. He couldn’t come with us so I had speakered him in, I hope that’s ok?” Sydney explains.
Jameson finally peeks up from the laptop he had carried in when he arrived with Ryker. “Apparently, a new car has been purchased by Richard Hoffstead as of 9 a.m. this morning. Hm, this is interesting, he cited a bank account on the purchase that is attached to a Calliope Williams in Raleigh. She died in a homicide four years ago.”
“You don’t think…” Ryker begins and their eyes widen just as Jameson curses under his breath and packs up his laptop.
“I need to head to my office, I’ll be able to do some more secure research. There may be a lot more to the Rich we all know. I’ll keep you up to date. Oh, and Sydney, I’m going to need to speak with Dylan. Send him my way if he gets a break.”
“Sure,” Sydney adds slightly stunned at the comings of the morning.
“What the hell is going on in this town?” Ryker adds as he shakes his head. “Look, I need someone to go make sure my sister is ok and I don’t think she wants to see any of us.”
“There isn’t anything you all can do to stop me from going over there. I will see if she wants to say anything to Rich.”
“See how she feels about releasing a statement of her own if what you say is true, and I don’t doubt it is. She may be able to help someone else.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” Brooks vows as he moves to exit the diner.
A hand reaches out and grabs his forearm, halting his movements with its strong hold. “Tell her that I’m sorry. Please. Tell her that we are all sorry, for everything,” Austin pleads as he lessens his grip.
With a nod of his head, Brooks acknowledges his friend’s prayer but knows that Everleigh may not ever forgive her family or him. A thought he isn’t ready to admit as of yet.
The house is cold and barren as he enters through the front door. He almost worries that Everleigh has gone somewhere else, but he hears the clink of glass against a hard surface and he heads for the kitchen. With her back towards him, hunched over in defeat, his love faces away from him with an open bottle of red wine resting beside her arm. A shaking hand reaches out for the glass and she brings it to her lips and his chest hurts for her.
“It’s a little early to be drinking alone don’t you think?” he jokes in an attempt to burn off some of the sorrow filling the room.
Her shoulders don’t even stiffen at his outburst, almost as if she expected him to arrive at any moment.
“It’s never too early for a glass of wine. My mom has been drinking mimosas with breakfast ever since I can remember,” she claims as she takes another swig of her wine, downing most of it in one gulp. “Look, now it’s all gone. No more worry.”
“Everleigh,” he murmurs as he steps over to her and rests a hand on her shoulder. Her body shakes beneath his touch before he turns her in his arms where she collapses into a fitful of cries. Heartbreaking wails of grief, dejection, and misery.
“I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I’m so sorry for everything you have gone through.”
Her silky hair falls through his fingers as he continues to stroke his hand over her head and back, soothing her and offering his comfort.
“You know that I believe you, right? I will always believe you, Everleigh.”
He wants to tell her that he loves her, that his heart beats only for her, but he can’t bring himself to say the words.
It takes a while for her to calm down enough for Brooks to escort her to her favorite spot on the third floor.
“Do you want me to tell you everything?” she asks defensively as her sunken eyes stare out the upper window.
