Chapter Thirty-Five
My leg hasn't stopped shaking since Wyatt left. I can't stop wondering if they found James and that's why he hasn't called me yet. Or worse, if something happened to him.
“Honey, are you sure I can't get you anything to eat?” Anna worries over me, her hands resting on my leg.
“No, thank you I'm really okay.” I give her a weak smile. “I'll wait for Wyatt to come home.”
My phone vibrates in my hand and I show Anna the screen. “Speak of the devil.”
Answering, I put Wyatt on speakerphone. “Hey, Officer. You got anything?” I ask, my voice cracking with worry.
“He got arrested for the stolen car on the highway. I'm going to get him now from the holding cell in Winter Haven so he can come back and pay for all his crimes in Balsam Cliffs. Chief pulled a favor with his trooper friend. Normally, we would let the State Troopers handle it.”
I sit, stunned into silence. Unable to form words.
“You arrested him? Oh, how wonderful. I'm so glad he's going to have to answer for his crimes and terror.” Anna is joined by Nathan.
“I'm free?” These are the only two words my brain can muster.
“Sure are, Goddess. I'll be back late tonight though. I don't want to rush anything. I want to make sure we have everything accounted for,” he explains.
“Okay. Well, be safe, please. I still don't trust him even if he's in handcuffs.” I shudder at the thought of what he’d do if he got out and got to Wyatt—or me.
“I will be. I love you.” He makes kissing noises through the phone.
“I love you, too.” As I hang up, I see Anna's face, her eyes glistening at our confessions of love.
Hanging up, I tuck my phone under my leg. “Sounds like you guys can be relieved of your babysitting duties for the night.”
Nathan clears his throat before answering. “I don't know about that. I still think we should stay until Wyatt comes home.”
“No, no. You guys go out to dinner and then go home to your own bed. Really. I'm okay. I have Athena and the alarm system. Seriously.”
Now that I know James is in custody, my freedom is within reach, and I don't want to waste anymore of this family's time.
“I think she wants us to go, love,” Anna says, hugging Nathan's arm.
“What if we compromise? We’ll go to Rebels, but you will call us the second you hear even the smallest noise in this house. Promise me?” Nathan offers.
“Promise. I'll even check in every hour until we go to bed,” I add, because as much as I want them to enjoy their night, I'm putting a lot of trust into a dog who sleeps on her back between my legs as she snores louder than a chainsaw.
Nathan sticks his hand out for me to shake. “You've got yourself a deal, little lady.”
I let out a sigh of relief when they leave, and I flop back onto the couch, Athena joining me and snuggling into my side.
For the first time in years, I feel like I can finally take a full breath.
Me: Hour two check-in.
Anna: Thank you. We are about to get dessert. Emma and Olivia came to join us, do you want Nathan to come get you? >
Me: No, you guys enjoy your night with your girls. I've intruded on enough family time over the last few weeks.
Anna: You are family, honey. You're always included in family time.
Me: >
My alarm goes off, letting me know that my time is up for a check-in. Reluctantly, I step out of the tub.
Athena runs around my legs and then to the door, only to come back again.
“You need to go out, pretty girl?” I ask her.
She whines in response and increases her pacing. “Okay, okay. Just let me put on some clothes.”
Digging through my drawers, I find a pair of clean shorts and a tank top to throw on, then go down with Athena. Opening the back slider to let her out to roam, I turn to go back in to get my tea ready so I can read in bed.
“Hello, darling daughter.” My father's voice comes from the darkened living room just as I pull my mug from the shelf. My blood runs cold as the ceramic shatters around my bare feet. The shards dig in and cut the bottoms of my feet as I scurry back to the slider to call for Athena.
“Sorry, darling. I can't let you do that.”
A sharp pain tears through the front of my head, and I reach up to touch the spot. It feels warm and sticky, but before I can figure out what happened, the world goes black.