The View from Alameda Island - Robyn Carr Page 0,48
think it’s going to be that simple.”
“Maybe not, but in the end it’s going to be better. You can’t have a person like that stalking you. We’ll work out some details tomorrow...”
She sighed softly, relaxing into his hands. The same hands that dug in the ground, drew designs of beautiful gardens, remodeled his fixer-upper house, raised his stepsons—those hands, gently caressing her shoulders and neck. She began to doze off, then jerked in her sleep.
“Shhh,” he said. “You’re okay.”
“You don’t have to stay,” she said. “I’ll lock the door. I’m safe.”
He eased down behind her, spooning her, one arm sliding lightly over her waist. “I’m not leaving you, Lauren. I’m right here if you need someone, if you’re afraid, or if your head hurts, if you need a fresh ice pack.”
“I shouldn’t let you stay...”
“It’s okay if you want me to,” he whispered. “And I want to. Don’t worry. No lines will be crossed.”
“With my lip like this, I’ll probably snore...”
“It should be a regular symphony with my snoring.”
“Some people would call this an affair...”
He laughed sharply. “And what would they call what happened to your face? A love tap gone too far? Just relax and feel safe. If that’s an affair, you should have had more of them.”
“Yeah,” she said. “I should have. I never did.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Beau had his assistant, Cheryl, move his morning appointment. There was only one and it was to review a plan. He pled a personal matter that wasn’t too complicated, just had to be taken care of today. He was not the secretive sort so when he offered no further explanation, Cheryl didn’t ask any questions.
He heard Lauren call her supervisor, heard her say she’d fallen and had a black eye and split lip and needed a couple of days for the swelling to go down. She explained she was released from the hospital after getting some stitches but was still in pain. He fixed a soft breakfast for her and they had to make do with some frozen corn while he refroze the peas.
She was feeling a little bit better but looked worse. Her lip was still grossly swollen and the bruising around her cheek and eye were intensified, which was what happened with bruises. They started out bad and only got worse for a couple of days. It was horrific. He insisted she take a picture of her face.
“The police already did,” she said.
“Have one of your own,” he said. “You might need it. Email it to your lawyer. You should think about an order of protection.”
“And what? Wave a paper at him while he’s coming at me?”
“No, I’ve got a better idea,” he said. “I’ll be right back.” He went to his truck and came back with a baseball bat. “Be glad I don’t clean out the truck bed too often. This has been in the storage box since last spring. If he comes here and somehow gets past the locked door, call the police first and start swinging second.”
“I hope the police have their A-game on,” she said. “I can barely lift the bat.”
“Well, if all that transpires, tell him goodbye because it will be hard not to kill him. And really, I’d hate to kill even a bad man. I’m not a fighter. I’ll be back after I get some groceries for you—soup, eggs, yogurt, ice cream, that sort of thing. I checked your fridge—you need some soft foods.”
“You’re really going above and beyond...”
“I’m glad I happened along,” he said. “You have to talk to your family right away. Both daughters. Show them what happened to you when you defied your husband. If you have to explain, which you shouldn’t have to, this is not normal behavior. And they should beware of him. If he’ll hurt you...”
“I know. I know. Listen... I can order groceries. The market delivers.”
“If you don’t want me around, just say so. But wouldn’t you rather not show the delivery boy your face today?”
She looked down.
He lifted her chin with a finger. “Lauren, it’s not your fault. But you need ice packs and privacy, not a lot of panic and questions.”
“Of course you’re right,” she said.
“Those cards the doctor gave you, you might want to check in with some of those people. I’m afraid you might be downplaying this. You’ve gotten so good at keeping the peace, it could leave you unprepared for the kind of violence he’s capable of.”
“I will call someone, but I’m not unprepared. You might want to run for your life.