Page 66 of Second Chance at Love (Chance At Love Duet 1)

“You trickster,” I teased. “Although, I have to admit, you look sexy in your suits.”

He laughed hard, and said through the laughter, “Then how come you’re able to keep your hands off of me?”

“It is a really good self-restraint exercise,” I said through a chuckle, and then added, “Can I ask you a question?”

“Ask away, beautiful,” he answered and I could hear a smile in his voice.

“What has been bothering you all week?” I asked hesitantly, not sure whether I should be bringing it up. “Was it just this company buying stuff?”

I don’t know why I asked the latter, as if trying to give him an excuse. He handled everything with the acquisitions like a pro, without breaking a sweat. The line went quiet and I thought I shouldn’t have asked. I waited a bit and then started, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry.”

“That’s ok. We can talk about it tomorrow,” he answered, his tone cold again. “You better go to sleep. You sound tired. Good night, beautiful!” And the line went dead.

I clicked the television off, leaving me in the dark. How appropriate, I thought to myself, since I felt like he left me in the dark. My gut feeling was telling me something was wrong, but I just couldn’t figure out what. When I got a feeling like this, I was usually right. It saved me numerous times from Jack.

I remained still in the dark, staring at my bedroom ceiling. The utter silence in my room made voices in my head even louder. My memories screamed back. Memories I have worked so hard to forget, flooded back, haunting me. My hands shook as I tried to wipe a tear running down my face. That last night Jack and I were together flashed through my mind. The way he'd been angry, thinking someone was in the house, thinking I had been cheating on him. Then in the flash of a moment he came after me... trying to take me against my will.

I never learned what triggered Jack that day but I knew he was too far gone when he pushed me against the bed and forced my legs apart. Even as I begged him to stop, I knew it was to his deaf ears. The memory flooded back to me, like a movie playing in my mind.

I gathered the last ounce of strength I could find and kicked him hard in the shaft. Luckily, I aimed well, and he curled over grabbing his groin. I pushed him hard away from me and ran like hell out the door. I heard him screaming my name in anger, but I never stopped to look. I jumped into my car, and with shaking hands barely got my key into the ignition.

As I drove off, I could barely see with tears running down my face. I decided right there and then I was never going back. I showed up at Betty and Rick’s that day with a bruised face and arm that hung down my side.

Betty cried. I wasn’t sure if it was in shock at my appearance or sadness. Oddly enough, I stopped crying when I got there. I just felt empty.

Rick and Betty hurriedly came up with the plan to ensure the girls didn’t see me like that and to keep us all away from Jack. I didn’t even bother telling them that he never laid a hand on any of the girls. Because really, what was the point? I couldn’t leave them to ensure my safety.

I remembered staring at Rick arranging it all, from hotel booking, getting an ice pack to lay on my face to getting a doctor. I didn’t even flinch. I just stared at him wondering why life dealt me such a shitty hand.

Betty left to pick up the girls from the school and her boys and took them to Wolf’s Lodge for the night. Rick sat next to me, and we just stared at each other in silence. Jack was his cousin and I could see Rick’s fury and anger.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered and wet my lips nervously, feeling a sharp pang. I must have had a cut.

“Don’t you apologize,” his voice was raspy, searing with anger. “You did nothing wrong! I should kill that fucking bastard.”

“No, you shouldn’t,” I told him matter of fact. “He’s not worth it.”

The door rang at that moment and he rushed to it, peeking through the window first. Relieved, he opened the door and an elderly guy with a black doctor’s bag came in.

“This is my sister in law,” he told the guy. “Could you check out her arm? And maybe help her with bruising?”

Thank God for Rick! He had a doctor friend who was willing to come and check out my arm.

“I’m Dr. Johnson,” he announced as he kneeled in front of me, putting his bag next to him on the floor. “Is it ok if I take your arm?”

I just nodded and winced at the pain as he moved it. He mumbled something under his breath and before I could ask him what he said, he made a sudden move snapping it back into socket.

“I’m sorry,” he apologized. “It’s not broken. I figured it would be faster if I caught you by surprise to snap it back in. And it would hurt less.”

“Thank you,” I answered. He reached into his bag and applied some ointment on my face. I could still remember the smell of witch hazel as he applied it and the soothing feel of it on my cheek.

Dr. Johnson departed shortly after, leaving Rick and me alone again.

“Rick,” I started hesitantly. “Could I take a shower please?”

His face expression was full of horror. “That motherfucker,” he cursed. “Did he… did he,” he couldn’t bring himself to say it outloud.

“No,” I murmured quietly. “I kicked him and got away.”

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