Page 61 of Finding Forgiveness
I decided to get an Uber back to my apartment, despite Mason’s offer to come and get me. I’m irritable and drained, and I just need some time to myself. My sister will find out soon enough that I’m back. I’m not interested in any updates. I hope Cassie’s safe, but that’s about all. I may be physically done with her, but I wish her no ill intent.
Thankfully, I manage to slip into the building unnoticed, and head straight upstairs, locking the front door behind me … which is kind of pointless since my sister still has her key.
Bradford’s call is still weighing heavily on my mind. None of this makes sense, and my lawyer brain is desperate to piece it all together, but the wounded part of me is hesitant to know the truth. Cassie’s father is right; there is definitely something off here.
I head straight for my room, purposely ignoring the dining room table, and the letter that’s sitting on top of it, as I pass. I’m presuming Cassie hasn’t returned. When and if she does, she’s going to need to find somewhere else to live. I’d never kick her out on the street, but I can no longer live under the same roof as her. Seeing her will only be a constant reminder.
I drop my bag onto the bed and strip out of my clothes. I need a shower, a bottle of scotch, maybe a pizza, and some mind-numbing TV. Anything that will stop my brain from constantly ticking over.
Once I’m showered and dressed in a pair of sweats, my bare feet pad out to the main room, and I get a shock when I find I have company waiting. “The fuck.”
“Welcome back.”
“How did you get in here?” I already know the answer to that, but I ask anyway.
He smirks like a motherfucker as he twirls the key around his finger. “Your sister thought you might need some company.” My best friend is balancing a pizza box in his other hand, and I spy a bottle of Jack Daniels tucked under the same arm. “The game starts soon.”
Did he read my mind?
“How did you know I was here?”
“Your mum called to see if you got home safely. She tried calling you, but said your phone must be off.”
It is. I turned it off after my call with Cassandra’s father.
“Hmm,” I hum.
“I see you’re on your period again.”
“If you’re going to be a dick, you can leave.”
“Nah, I’m good,” he says, chuckling as he takes a seat on my sofa and places his feet on the coffee table.
“Are you right there?”
“Just peachy, thanks. You wanna grab some glasses?”
I mumble a few profanities under my breath as I turn and stalk into the kitchen, but in truth, I’m glad he’s here. I’d never admit that to him though.
Chapter19
Cassie
“Morning, Chris,” I say as I place my pink-booted foot on the bottom rung of the wooden fence to elevate myself higher. Once I’m in position, I lean over and tip the mixture of grain and food scraps from the bucket I’m holding into the trough.
He gives me a quick appreciative snort before tucking straight into his breakfast. Chris is short for Chris P. Bacon and he is one of two, 350-kilo pigs that live here on Martha’s property.
After stepping down off the fence, I place the bucket on the ground next to the other one and glance into the pen next door for Porkchop … Chris’s girlfriend, and she’s nowhere to be seen.
“Porkchop,” I call out as I move towards the enclosure where she sleeps. “Porkchop.”
Martha recently had to separate the pigs because Porkchop is expecting. I hope I’m around to see the piglets when they’re born, because if they’re anything like the baby goats, I know I’m going to fall head over heels in love with them.
I’ll admit the first time I hand-fed one of the kids I got all emotional. It’s silly, I know, but it brought my past trauma to the surface and reminded me of everything that had been taken from me.
When I reach the gate to her enclosure I get up on the tip of my toes and peer inside her stall. My heart drops as soon as I see her. She’s lying on her side half buried in the fresh hey we lined her enclosure with yesterday afternoon, and her back is to me.
“Porkchop!” She doesn’t move when I call her name, and I’m already thinking the worst, but that doesn’t stop me from unhooking the latch on the gate and rushing inside. I come to a stop beside her and drop to my knees. My eyes are clouded with unshed tears as I place my hand on her. She’s still warm, but her breathing is laboured.
