Chapter Nineteen – Haven
Chapter Nineteen
HAVEN
I was moving in with Nate.
I still couldn’t believe it. I had been planning on going month to month on my lease, figuring that eventually, I would move in with him, but I hadn’t thought it would be this soon. Nate was right, though; it felt right. I hardly ever stayed at my apartment anymore. As a matter of fact, I hadn’t even been there since before the community party for the dog park.
“Excited?” Nate asked as he held my hand while we pulled into the apartment complex’s parking lot.
“I am excited. There has been so much change the last few months, and it’s all good, but life feels like it’s just flying by, and I need to take a break and enjoy it some.”
“I can see that. Do you ever take a vacation?”
“A vacation? No, I’ve never taken any time off. My dog owners rely on me to walk their pups.”
Nate chuckled. “You don’t think they would understand if you decided to take a week off and do something for yourself?”
I shrugged. “I’m sure they would; I just could never financially afford to take time off. And now, with the dog park and the loan, I can’t see myself taking any time off because I need all the money now.”
“What if you didn’t have to pay for any of it?”
“No, that’s not how we’re going to do this, Nate. As a matter of fact, we should talk about the living arrangement before we pack up my apartment. I want to pay my share of the bills.”
He stared at me like I had lost my mind. “Haven, you just said money was tight, and you needed all you could get, and you want to pay half of my house bills?”
“Yes, what’s wrong with that?”
“How much was your electric bill in your apartment?”
“It depends on the time of year, but on average, around a hundred and twenty-five, give or take.”
“Okay, mine is higher since I have a full house compared to your smaller apartment. I’m not going to ask you to pay half of that when I can easily afford it.”
I twisted my hands in my lap. “I’m not living for free, Nate.”
“That’s fair. How about you pay me what you paid here at the apartment?”
“Even my rent?”
“Can we negotiate that one?”
I thought for a moment. “Okay, if you won’t let me pay toward your mortgage, then we have to figure something else out.”
He drew in a breath and slowly let it out. “Princess, I don’t have a mortgage.”
My eyes went wide. “Oh, well, okay. Then how about I buy the food for us, and you let me pay you toward the electricity and gas?”
“Not half of it, but what you paid here at the apartment.”
I reached my hand out, and he took it. Instead of shaking it, he brought it to his mouth and kissed itsoftly.
“Has anyone told you you’re romantic?”
Nate laughed. “I have never been told that in my life.”
Smiling, I replied, “Then I guess you’ve saved it for me.”
He winked. “I guess so.”
We stared at one another for a momentbefore Nate broke the trance. “I’ll grab the boxes and meet you in your apartment.”
I leaned over and kissed him. “Sounds good.”
Nate went to the back of his truck to get the boxes we had bought at Home Depot as I made my way up the steps to my apartment. I unlocked it and felt a rush of cold air when I stepped in.
“Shit,” I mumbled as I quickly went to the thermostat. It was set at 68 and chilly in the apartment. I turned it up to 71, then went to the kitchen. Setting down my purse, I surveyed my small place. Where should I start? I opened a few cabinets and let out a soft laugh. I honestly didn’t have very many things to pack up. Taking out the bowls, I set them on the counter. A sound coming from my bedroom caused me to stop and glance over my shoulder. Had Nate come in, and I had not heard him?
“Nate?” I called out as I made my way toward my bedroom. When I stepped in, no one was in there. I headed to my bathroom and froze when I felt a strange sensation wash over me. Slowly turning, I let out a small scream.
“Merry almost Christmas. Surprised to see me, Haven?”
Fear clogged my throat as I tried to find words to speak.
“So surprised you can’t speak?”
My father sat on the floor, his back against the wall with a gun pointed directly at me.
“What are you doing here, and how did you get in?”
He let out a laugh that made my skin crawl.
“I picked the lock. What? Aren’t you happy to see your old man?”
“I can’t say that I am.”
His smile faded. “Where is your mother?”
I slowly shook my head. “My mother?”
“Yes, Haven, your fucking mother. She hasn’t been home in two days.”
A feeling of dread washed over me. “What did you do to her?” I cried out.
He looked surprised. “I haven’t done shit to her. Like I said, she hasn’t been home, so where is she?”
My mind raced as I wondered if my mother had told me she was leaving town. I had just spoken to her last night and she was fine, but hadn’t told me she wasn’t home. Maybe she was with Doug. “I…I don’t know where she is.”
“You mean to tell me you haven’t spoken to her in two days?”
“What are you doing here?”
He slowly stood. “I saw you in the paper. Looks like you’re doing good for yourself. Building some stupid dog park, throwing parties for the community. Is your boyfriend paying for it all?”
I turned to look at the bedroom door. Nate would be walking into the apartment any moment and would be caught off guard by my father—my father who was holding a gun.
“What do you want?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
“Not to me it isn’t.”
“I want my family back.”
A humorless laugh slipped out as I stared at him in disbelief. “Your family? You don’t have a family anymore.”
He snarled. “That’s your fault,” he said as he walked across the room. I stood perfectly still, afraid that if I made one wrong move, he would shoot me.
I saw Nate walk into the bedroom from over my father’s shoulder. I didn’t dare draw attention to him at all. I could feel my breathing increase, and I felt for my phone in my pocket. It wasn’t there, and I wanted to let out a frustrated cry.
“If you so much as lay a finger on me, I swear I will kill you.”
He stopped walking. “You’ll kill me? If you haven’t noticed, I’m the one holding the gun, Haven.”
I could see Nate slowly making his way toward my father. He had something in his hand, but I couldn’t see what it was.
Focusing in on my father, I took a step to the side. “If you’re looking for money, you’ve come to the wrong place. Everything I have is tied up in the dog park.”
“I’m sure you can get some from your rich boyfriend.”
I shook my head. “He wouldn’t give you the shirt off his back.”
My father laughed. “You think he’s with you because he loves you? You’re a piece of ass for him, Haven, that’s all.”
Smiling, I replied, “How wrong you are. It’s really rather sad that you had to come crawling back to your ex-wife and daughter asking for money. What’s wrong, Dad? Couldn’t find a new family to take advantage of?”
My father stood there and stared at me. He lifted the gun and pointed it directly at my chest. “I’m going to enjoy watching you die, Haven.”
Before I could say a word, Nate lifted what was in his hands and hit my father over the head, causing him to instantly fall to the floor.
“Get out of here, Haven!” Nate called as he kicked the gun away and pulled my father’s hands behind his back.
“No! I’m not leaving. You need something to tie up his hands.”
Turning to run out of the room, I nearly ran into the police officer who was rushing into the room. I stumbled back, and he reached out to steady me. Two other officers were behind him.
“We’ve got him, sir,” the one said to Nate as he pulled out handcuffs and put them on my father.
Nate looked like he didn’t want to let go, but he eventually stood and took a few steps back. He turned, and when our eyes met, he quickly made his way over to me. Drawing me in, he held me close to him.
“Are you okay?”
I held onto him tighter. “Yes, I’m okay. I’m fine.”
He gently pushed me back some and studied me from head to toe.
“I’m okay, Nate. Just a little rattled.”
“Thank God you didn’t come here alone. When I heard you scream, I nearly killed myself getting up here. Then I heard your father talking.”
“Did you call 911?”
He nodded. “I did. The second I heard him, I called.”
Closing my eyes, I let out a shaky breath. “That could have gone a completely different way.”
Nate framed my face with his hands. “But it didn’t. You’re safe, and I swear to God, he will never hurt you or get near you again. I’ll make sure of that.”
“I need to call my mother and make sure she’s okay. It sounds like he was looking for one of us between our places.”
Frowning, Nate asked, “You don’t know where she is?”
I shrugged. “I don’t. I assumed she was home, but I panicked when he said she hadn’t been home for two days.”
“You give her a call and check on her, and I’ll talk to the police.”
“Okay.”
The police had pulled my father up into a standing position and were walking him out of the apartment. Nate followed as I headed to the kitchen to get my phone. Pulling up my mother’s name, I hit call.
“Merry Christmas Eve!” she singsonged.
“Mom, where are you?”
“What do you mean, where am I?”
“Have you not been home for two days?”
The line went silent. “How did you know that?”
“Just answer me this: are you okay? Safe?”
She let out a nervous laugh. “Of course I am, Haven. What is wrong?”
With a breath, I walked over to my sofa and sat down. “Something happened.”
“Are you okay? Is Nate okay?”
“Everyone is okay, for the most part. Nate asked me earlier this morning to move in with him.”
She let out a little squeak of happiness. “Haven! That is wonderful. Did you say yes?”
“I did say yes. We stopped at Home Depot before they closed for the holiday, picked up some boxes, and then headed to my apartment to pack some things. Nate wanted to do it as soon as possible.”
Mom laughed.
I closed my eyes. I had no idea how to say what I needed to say, so I just decided to be blunt.
“I came up to the apartment first while Nate was getting the boxes out of his truck. Dad was in my apartment waiting for me.”
I was met with silence on the other end of the line. “Mom?”
“What did you say?”
“Dad was in my apartment waiting for me. I’m okay, he didn’t do anything, but he did have a gun.”
She gasped, and I heard what sounded like a chair slide across the floor. “Oh my God,” she said.
“When I saw him, I screamed, and Nate heard me. He ran into the apartment and heard Dad talking, so he called 911. He was able to approach Dad without him knowing, and he hit him over the head. The police arrived within seconds of Nate knocking him out.”
“Oh, Haven, I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I’m so glad you’re okay.”
“I am. He mentioned you hadn’t been home for two days, and I got worried because you didn’t mention you would be out of town. Thank God you were, Mom. I’m not sure what he would have done if he had found you home alone.”
She let out an exhale. “I’m at Doug’s.”
I drew back in surprise. “Doug’s? Like…as in staying with Doug?”
“Yes, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. It’s just so new for me, and Doug and I are enjoying our company together, and well…”
Her voice trailed off. “Mom, you’re a grown woman and can spend your time however you would like. I’m thrilled you and Doug have hit it off as well as you had. I knew you had gone out a few times, but I had no idea it was that serious.”
“I should have told you I was staying with him. I planned on telling you tomorrow.”
“Mom, you don’t owe me any explanations.”
“What is going to happen with your father now?”
I looked at the front door. “I’m not sure. Nate is down there talking to the police now. I’m sure they’ll need me to make a statement.”
“Haven, you need to tell them what he did to you. He needs to be held accountable for his actions andbe kept away from you.”
“From both of us, Mom.”
The door opened, and Nate walked in. “They need to talk to you, Haven.”
“I need to go, Mom. I’ll call you later and give you an update. I’m glad you’re safe and happy, Mom.”
“You as well, sweetheart. Call me when you can.”
I stood. “I will. Bye.”
Hitting End, I slipped my phone into my back pocket and grabbed my coat as I headed down to the police with Nate holding my hand. Seeing my father sitting in the back seat of a police car should have been a relief, but it wasn’t. What if he got away with this and was let go? Then what would we do?
“Ms. Larson?” the female officer asked as she approached me and Nate.
“Yes, Haven Larson,” I replied, holding my hand out to shake hers.
“Officer Miller. If you’re up to it, I need to ask you a few questions.”
I nodded. “Yes, of course.”
“Can we go to the police station and speak?” Nate asked. “It’s getting colder.”
Officer Miller nodded. “Of course. We can meet you there.”
Nate nodded. “Thank you. We’ll go lock up her apartment and then head straight over.”
She smiled at Nate and then looked at me. Her smile softened, and she nodded. “See you in a bit, Ms. Larson.”
Nate faced me. “I’ll go get your purse and lock up the apartment. Go to the truck and start it up; I’ll be right back.”
I felt numb, and it had nothing to do with how cold it was. It was knowing that my father was only a few feet away from me. Yes, he was sitting in the back of a police car, but knowing how close I had come to him hurting me again, my entire body shivered in fear.
“Haven?”
Nate’s voice pulled my gaze away from my father. “Yes, I’m sorry. I’ll go wait in the truck.”
He leaned down and kissed me on the cheek. “I’ll be two seconds.”
I took the keys from him and quickly made my way to his truck. Climbing into the driver’s side, I started it and turned up the heat before crawling into the passenger side and sitting down. I stared through the window and watched the three police cars slowly pull out of the apartment parking lot.