Chapter 14
David moved through the crowd like he owned the place. People stepped aside without thinking, responding to the smug confidence he wore like armor.
Lili couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. Her body numbed.
“Lili.” Miles’s voice cut through the panic. “Who is that?”
“My ex-husband.” The words came out flat.
Miles’s whole countenance changed. She felt it. The way he shifted, putting himself in front of her. “The one with the restraining order?”
“Yes.”
“Why is he here?”
“He’s not supposed to be out of jail. He had six more months on his sentence.”
David was halfway across the barn now, the leering smile that didn’t reach his eyes, the expensive haircut, the tailored coat that probably cost more than most people’s monthly rent.
He looked well. Healthy. Like he spent the last half of a year pumping iron. The music kept playing, but people were noticing now. Conversations dying. Heads turning to track this stranger cutting through the crowd.
“I’m right here.” Miles put a hand on her elbow. “You’re safe with me.”
David stopped ten feet away. His dismissive gaze swept over Miles, locking on Lili.
“Hello, Lil.”
Her stomach lurched at the nickname, the one he used when he was being charming—before things got bad.
“You need to leave.” Miles glowered.
David finally glanced at him. “I’m sorry, who are you?”
“Dr. Miles Ellis. And you’re trespassing.”
“Am I?” David’s smile widened. “I got invited. Christmas party, open to the whole town. That’s what the woman at the gas station told me.”
“You’re not from here.”
“Neither is my wife. Ex-wife.” He corrected himself with exaggerated precision. David took a step closer.
Miles moved with him, keeping himself between them. “Stop right there.”
“Or what?” David’s tone was pleasant, conversational, like they were discussing the weather. “You’ll call the police? Go ahead. I haven’t done anything wrong. I’m just here to talk to my wife.”
“Ex.” Miles clenched his jaw. “Who has a restraining order against you.”
“I hear she’s moving to Colorado. The restraining order doesn’t follow her there.”
“Why are you out of jail?” Lili's knees wobbled. He was correct. She thought by moving to Colorado she could hide from him, but she was out running the restraining order as well.
“Early release. Good behavior.” David shrugged. “The system works in mysterious ways.”
Scott appeared at Miles’s shoulder. Then Ryan. Tom moved to Lili’s other side. Then Gee. And Tyler. Without a word, without any signal she could see, the men formed a wall.
David noticed. His smile tightened. “Quite the welcome committee.”
“Time for you to go,” Scott said.
“I just want to talk to my wife.”
“She’s not your wife anymore.” Miles’s voice was hard as stone. “And she doesn’t want to talk to you.”
“Did she tell you that? Or are you speaking for her?” David’s gaze shifted back to Lili. “You always did like men making decisions for you, saving you from having to think.”
The words punched. All those years of David telling her she was too emotional, too reactive, couldn’t be trusted with important choices.
“That’s enough.” Jenny pushed through the men, her face fierce. “Get out of my barn.”
“Your barn?” David stared at her with amused contempt. “And you are?”
“Jenny Finley. This is our property. You’re not welcome here.”
More people were gathering now: Marie from the hospital, Brenda and Earl, Nina, Rose, Becca. The crowd pressed closer, defending her.
David flashed a mouthful of white teeth—veneers. “Lili, can we please talk? Alone?”
“No.” Lili shook her head. “Not now. Not ever.”
“Five minutes. That’s all I’m asking.”
“No.”
“I drove all the way from Dallas—”
“I said no.” Her voice cracked. “I don’t want to talk to you. I don’t want to see you. I want you to leave.”
“After everything we’ve been through? After two years together?” David’s voice went soft, wounded—the tone he used when he wanted people to think he was the victim. “I deserve at least a conversation.”
“You deserve nothing.” Rose took Lili’s hand. “You heard her. Leave.”
“Hello, Rose.” He shifted his smile to her sister.
Lili lifted her chin. “If you don’t walk out of here in the next thirty seconds, I’m calling the sheriff. I’m sure you don’t want to head back to jail to finish out that sentence.”
David’s pleasant mask slipped. Lili saw the flash of anger underneath. The real David. The one who threw things and broke phones and cursed at her.
Then the mask was back. “Fine. I’ll go.” He glared at Lili. “But we need to talk. Soon. There are things we need to settle.”
“No,” Miles’s voice was steel. “Leave. Now.”
En masse, all the men stepped forward, arms folded over their chests. A physical statement that David had run out of time.
Something shifted inside Lili. All these people, standing with her. For her. People who barely knew her but were willing to face down her ex-husband without hesitation. She wasn’t alone. She stepped forward, past Miles’s protective stance. She needed to do this herself.
“There’s nothing to settle.” Her voice didn’t shake, and she was proud of that. “I’m not afraid of you anymore.”
David’s smile faltered. “Lil—”
“Don’t call me that.” She moved closer, fist raised.
He took a step back.
“You have no power over me. Not anymore. These people know what you are. Law enforcement knows. My lawyer knows. You have nothing.”
“I just came to—”
“To intimidate me? Make me feel small?” She gestured at the crowd around her. “Look at them, David. Really look. You’re outnumbered. You’re unwelcome. And you’re done.”
David’s gaze swept the room. Scott and Ryan flanked him. Tom and Miles stood ready. Jenny had her phone out, recording everything. The entire barn full of people stared at him with expressions ranging from disgust to fury.
“You mess with her, you mess with us all,” Jenny said.
His pleasant mask cracked. For the first time, Lili witnessed something she’d never seen before. Uncertainty. Fear, even.
“Fine.” His voice was tight. “You want to wallow around with hayseed hicks, have at it. I wash my hands of you.”
He turned and stalked toward the exit. Scott and Ryan followed him, making sure he left.
For a moment, nobody moved. Then the silence broke.
“Are you okay?” Rose was at her side.
“I—yes.” Lili’s knees shook. “I think so.”
Jenny lowered her phone. “Got the whole thing recorded. If he tries anything else, we have proof he violated the restraining order.”
“Thank you.”
“Did you mean that? That you’re not afraid of him anymore?”
Lili locked eyes with Miles. At all the people still gathered around her, Brenda and Marie, Tyler and Becca, Nina and Ryan, Audra and Kevin, Tom holding Emma, who started crying. Her entire community, standing ready to defend her.
“Yes. I meant it.”
Rose squeezed her hand. “I’m so proud of you.”
“I should—” Lili’s voice wavered. “I should probably go. Let everyone get back to the party.”
“Party’s over anyway,” Jenny said. “People are heading out. It’s late.”
She was right. Families were gathering coats, collecting children. The band packed up. The festive atmosphere evaporated.
“I’m sorry,” Lili said. “I ruined your party.”
“You didn’t ruin anything.” Scott appeared, panting. “We made sure he drove away. Ryan is following him to the county line just to be safe.”
“You didn’t have to.”
“Yes, we did.” Scott smiled at her. “That’s what neighbors do.”
Mrs. Dalton appeared with Lili’s coat. “You’re trembling, dear. Let’s get you warm.”
Someone pressed a cup of hot cider into her hands. Someone else offered her a chair. Everyone seemed to be moving at once, taking care of her, making sure she was okay.
It was overwhelming. Beautiful. Terrifying.
“I need some air,” Lili said.
“I’ll come with you,” Rose said.
“Actually.” Miles stepped forward. “I’d like to go with her, if I may.”
Rose looked between them, then nodded. “I’ll be inside if you need me.”
Miles guided Lili toward a side door, away from the remaining crowd. They stepped onto a deck off the back of the barn. Christmas lights strung overhead cast a soft glow. A propane heater glowed in the corner.
Lili set down the cider and gripped the deck railing. Her whole body wired, not from fear but from adrenaline.
“That was incredibly brave,” Miles said.
“I didn’t feel brave. I was furious.”
“Sometimes they’re the same thing.” He stood beside her, close but not touching. “Are you really okay?”
“I don’t know.” She laughed, but it came out rough. “I’ve spent months being terrified of him, running from him. And tonight, I just… I couldn’t let him make me small anymore. Not in front of you.”
Miles was quiet for a moment. “Are you still going to Denver?”
“No.”
He grinned ear to ear. “When did you decide?”
“On the dance floor. After you told me you had feelings for me. I was going to tell you then, but David showed up before I could. All these good people standing up for me just proved I was making the right choice.”
“You were going to say yes? Before all that?”
“I was going to say I wanted to stay. That I wanted to see where this could go. That I have feelings for you too.” She stepped closer, her gaze searching his face.
“You do?”
“Yes.” She managed a shaky laugh. “I’ve been falling for you since you threw barbecue sauce on me. What do you want?”
“I want you to stay. I want to see where this goes. I want Sunday dinners and cocoa at the Kringle Kafe and flag football— all of it. I want to fall asleep thinking about you and wake up knowing I get to see you. I want— I want you, Lili. In my practice and in my arms.”
“Miles…”
“I know it’s fast. I know it’s crazy. But watching you stand up to him in there, watching you be that strong…” He cupped her cheek. “I can’t let you walk away without fighting for you, even if I’m making a complete fool of myself.”
Tears blurred her vision. “You’re not making a fool of yourself.”
“Then what am I doing?”
“You’re giving me even more reasons to stay.” Her voice broke. “You’re giving me everything I’ve been too scared to ask for.”
She looked up at him. At this man who gave her a job when she needed one, who made her laugh, who stood between her and danger without hesitation, who told her the truth even when it was hard.
Who wanted her, not who she used to be. Not who she might become. Her. Now. Messy and scared and strong and free.
“I’m staying.”
He kissed her. Soft at first, tentative, like he was afraid she might change her mind. Then deeper, more certain, his arms pulling her close.
She kissed him back and felt everything else fall away. Denver. David. Fear. All of it gone.
Just this. Just him. Just now.
When they finally pulled apart, she was crying and laughing at the same time.
“I need to email Denver,” she said.
“Right now?”
She pulled out her phone and wrote a draft.
Thank you for the opportunity, but I’ve decided to remain where I am. I appreciate your understanding.
“Short and sweet,” he said.
“I’ll write something more professional tomorrow. But I needed to do this now. Make it official at least in my head.”
“It’s real.” He pulled her close again, pressed his forehead to hers. “You’re staying.”
The door opened. Rose stuck her head out. “Everything okay?”
“Everything’s perfect,” Lili said.
Rose’s face broke into a huge smile. “You’re staying.”
“How did you—”
“I know my sister.” Rose stepped onto the deck and hugged them both. “Welcome home, Lili.”