Chapter 21 #2
After a quick pitstop, she walked back out, stretching in the sun. Tanner was standing by the Jeep, hands in his shorts pockets. He looked over and smiled.
Flutters spread through her insides. Part of her still thought she must be dreaming. She and Tanner were on a trip together. And they were…if not truly together, they were at least heading that way.
He wants me. She smiled at the simple pleasure of that knowledge.
Then her phone rang, and she came crashing back to the real world.
It was Jon.
Shit. After days of silence, he had to pick now?
She thought about not answering. But maybe he’d tell her he was on his way out of California. If she could be so lucky.
“Jon, I only have a minute.”
“Hey. I’m sorry.”
Apologizing already. That wasn’t a good sign.
“Are you sick?” she asked. His nose sounded stuffy.
“Can you switch to video?”
Faith rounded the side of the gas station building, then leaned back against the stucco wall. She pushed the button for video. Jon’s face appeared.
She covered her mouth to hide a gasp.
He had two black eyes. A bandage covered his nose, and scabs dotted his eyebrows and cheeks.
“Oh my god. What happened?”
His voice wavered. “I tried to tell them I’d set up a different arrangement. But they wouldn’t listen.”
“Who? Was it Kyle?”
“It’s better not to ask.”
With an eerie chill, she remembered the way Kyle had pushed his way into the townhouse. “It was. Why is he in West Oaks, Jon? What is going on?”
“This has gotten really messed up. It wasn’t supposed to go down like this, I swear to you.” Snot ran down to his lip. “I have to ask for your help again. With another package.”
“Jon, no.” She rested her forehead in her hand.
“I have no choice. They won’t let me change the plan. It was Kyle’s idea to use your place, and I should never have agreed. I know I wasn’t thinking it through, but it’s too late now.”
He kept saying “they.” Who else was involved in this? More people like Kyle? “How could you do this? These people know where I live now. Where my friends live.”
“You just have to hold onto a few more deliveries, starting next week. That’s it. That’s all they want.”
“I won’t be a part of anything illegal.”
“It’s not.” Lying through his teeth. Unbelievable. But at least he wasn’t going on about “antiques” anymore. She didn’t understand why that first box had been full of dishes and knickknacks, and really? She didn’t want to know.
“Just do what I’m asking Faith, please. If you do, I swear I’ll sign the divorce papers with any terms you want. I’ll go back to Texas. I’m begging here.”
She looked around, relieved to see Tanner hadn’t followed her. But soon, he probably would. He’d wonder where she’d gone.
“I know I’ve let you down so many times,” Jon said. “It’s my fault I lost you. But after this, I’ll never ask you for anything again.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
They’d had almost identical conversations countless times in the past. The repetition had worn grooves into her heart. She felt the stress piling on her like a physical burden. No matter how much she fought it, she always seemed to end up in the same place with Jon.
“I don’t want those people near my house,” she said. “Especially not Kyle. I told the police about him, and I sent them the video from the doorbell camera.”
“It won’t be Kyle. I already made sure. I swear on our daughter’s grave.”
She felt like he’d ripped out her lungs and shown them to her. Tears welled up. She wiped them quickly away.
“I’m done with this conversation. I need to go.”
“Wait. The next package will be ready late next week. I’ll call you to arrange the drop-off.”
“Jon, I said no. You’re not listening.”
He kept talking. “But there’s one more thing. They said if you call the police again…” Jon’s throat worked as he swallowed. “They’ll do a lot worse to us both. Okay? So don’t.”
Faith ended the call, feeling like she’d be sick.
She went back inside to the bathroom. The cold water splashed into her eyes, washing away the tears. She forced herself to take deep breaths, overcoming the urge to hyperventilate.
“You need anything, sweetie?” an older woman asked.
Faith smiled. “I’m fine, thanks.”
When she came out, she ran into Tanner near the register. He was buying bottles of water. “Grab something if you want it.”
“I’m all right. I’ll meet you outside.”
She waited by the car, shifting her feet on the asphalt as the sun beat down. Tanner returned, and they both got in.
He set the waters in the cup holders. “Is everything okay? You disappeared there.”
“I just had a phone call. From…my mom.” Inwardly, she cringed at the lie. But she didn’t want to explain it to Tanner and ruin their day.
Jon had created this mess. She should just let him deal with the consequences.
But seeing him beaten up, hardly able to breathe, had pulled at something deep inside her—the part of her that felt guilty for leaving him. For not being able to help him during their marriage, even though she’d tried.
She hadn’t been able to escape that guilt yet, and she never would unless Jon left her in peace.
But how could she make him stop when nothing she said made a difference?