Page 84 of Sawyer
“Then he came back after my first baseball game and had dinner.After that was when the tire got slashed.”I hold my breath.I didn’t see any of it.
“When you came for dinner the second time, that was when I hit my head in the shed,” I say, putting some pieces together now.
“After you stayed over the field was all shredded,” Kevin adds, and I look at my boy, wondering how he got so smart.
“Then you stayed at my place on the weekend, and you were poisoned,” Sawyer grits out.The room tenses, the motivation for all this unknown, but new dots connecting.
“This has all happened because of me.”Sawyer looks at the sheriff, who nods.His jaw is tight, and he won’t look at me as a mix of guilt and deep remorse settles in his expression.
“No…” I shake my head.It’s my farm, it’s my problem.He can’t take this on as his issue.He drops my hand quickly, like it now burns him, and I curl my hands together, clutching the sheets, my palms now sweating.
“No, that’s not it.It's just a coincidence.”I’m panicking.It isn’t his fault, and he can’t take this on.But I see that he is.The warm, caring man I’ve come to know now feels a little distant as he takes this all on his shoulders, bearing all responsibility.
“There’s a connection, that much is obvious.Sawyer, why don’t you come down to the station, and we can talk in more detail.If this is a connection to you, I’ll need to investigate all possible leads, see if there’s anything here trying to harm Annabelle and the kids because of your history or past,” the sheriff says, and I see the murderous look on Sawyer’s face, all aimed at himself.
“Sawyer…” I go to grab his hand.
“It’s fine.I’ll go.”Sawyer still doesn’t look at me.My heart breaks.
“This isn’t your fault.”I implore him to understand.
“Can you think of anyone in your life, Annabelle, who would be keen to bring harm to you and your boys?”the sheriff asks, and I stutter.I think, I really do.
“What about Stanley?I heard he was an issue at the bar the other night?”Hudson says, and all I can do is shrug.
“I’ve got no idea, but maybe…?”I look at the sheriff, wondering what his thoughts are.I haven’t seen Stanley in years until the other night, and we’ve lived in the same town without him doing anything like this.
“I’ll interview him as well.See if he has an alibi,” he says, writing down another note.
“He would have weed killer,” I add quickly.
“Most people around here do,” the sheriff mentions, and I deflate, knowing there’s no evidence to link anyone to this at all.
“I’ll meet you out front,” the sheriff says to Sawyer before he leaves, Hudson following him.
“Sawyer?”I’m desperate for him to look at me, and he finally does.
“I don’t think I have any enemies who would hate me enough to follow me to Whispers and bring harm to you and the boys, but if I do, I will never forgive myself.”There’s indescribable pain in his eyes, and mine start to water.
He leans forward, kissing my forehead before scuffing Kevin's hair.
“You did good, Kev.Real good.Now look after your ma for me, okay?I might be a while.”
Kevin nods, and we both watch the man we love walk out the door, wondering if we’ll see him again soon, having no idea what can of worms we just opened.
38
Sawyer
Iknew this would happen.The minute I let my guard down, the minute I found someone who makes me a very happy man, he would return.
“So you're saying this guy you locked away over a decade ago could be responsible?”the sheriff asks me as we sit in his office, cold coffee in my mug.
I’ve been awake for what feels like days, and I’m running on pure adrenaline at this point.But my gut is churning that I put Annabelle and the kids in danger.I did that.Again.I should’ve stayed away, I should’ve never moved here.
“It’s a possibility.A strong possibility.”I hate myself.I’ve hated myself for a long time now.When I proposed to my former girlfriend, Mandy, I thought it was love.We were both young, carefree, I was building my career.The engagement ended up being longer than she wanted, but I was on my first real criminal case at a new firm a few years after I graduated.They were my prime years.Those years are what make or break you in the legal world.They are the ones where you work twenty-hour days, take on any and every client, proving your worth to the partners and owners of the firm who sit in the fancy corner offices and drink coffee all day.
“I was engaged previously, when I was much younger, to a girl named Mandy.At the same time, I was leading my first criminal case, almost fresh out of college.”I huff a laugh at the memory.“I was a kid.Had no idea what I was getting myself into.”I shake my head at my naivety back then.
