Chapter 41 Heather #2
“Holy fuck.” I can hear Margo moving around on her end, probably pacing. “I can’t believe he actually showed up there. What the hell was he thinking?”
“I don’t know. He called me this morning, and I hung up on him, and then—” My voice breaks slightly. “Then he went to her school. Margo, he knows where we are. He knows about Grant. He’s not going to stop.”
There’s a pause, and when Margo speaks again, her voice is gentler. “Where are you right now?”
“I’m at Grant’s house.”
“Good. That’s good. Are you—” She hesitates. “Please tell me you’re not planning to leave on your own.”
I glance up at Grant. He’s standing a few feet away and watching me with those steady blue eyes that make me feel like everything might actually be okay.
“I was going to,” I admit quietly. “I was packing when Grant got home from the game. I was going to take April and just… disappear. Go somewhere Steven couldn’t find us.”
“Heather—”
“But Grant convinced me to stay.” The words come easier now. “He wants to help. He says we’re going to deal with this together.”
The silence on the other end of the line stretches out for a long moment, and then Margo lets out a sound that’s half-laugh, half-sob.
“Thank god for Grant Parker,” she says, and I can hear the emotion thick in her voice. “I knew he was good for you. And I know you think you have to handle everything by yourself, but you don’t. Not anymore.”
Damn, is everyone conspiring to make me cry tonight? I hold the tears in this time, but just barely. “I’ve been looking over my shoulder for so long, terrified of when the other shoe is going to drop. It’s hard to break that habit, when my first and only instinct is to protect my daughter.”
“I know, sweetie. I know.” Her voice is pure sister comfort now. “But you’re not alone in this. You’ve got Grant. You’ve got me. You’ve got Noah. Mom and Dad are going to lose their minds when they find out, and you know the boys are going to want blood.”
I laugh even though it’s the honest truth. Our brothers have always been protective to the point of being ridiculous. The idea of them finding out Steven showed up at April’s school makes me shudder all over again.
“Please don’t tell them yet,” I say quickly. “I need to figure out what we’re doing before everyone gets involved.”
“I’ll let you decide when and how, but we’re definitely going to tell them. You need all the support you can get right now, and that means family. All of us. We’ve got your back, Heather. Every single one of us.”
Between her and Grant, I can almost breathe again. Their assurances—and reassurances—mean the world to me, and they both seem to know exactly what I need to hear right now.
“Margo, I need you to promise me something.”
“Anything.”
“Promise me you won’t put yourself at risk. You’re pregnant, and I can’t—” My voice breaks. “I can’t have you in danger because of Steven.”
“Can I plead the fifth? I don’t want to make promises I can’t keep.”
“I’m serious. Please. Just be careful. Don’t do anything crazy without at least telling Noah. Or me. Preferably both of us.”
“Hey.” There’s no hint of joking in her tone now. “I’m not going to do anything stupid. But I’m also not going to sit on the sidelines while my sister is dealing with this. That’s not how we work, and you know it.”
“I agree, but some of the rules have to change when you’re pregnant.”
“The baby is fine. I’m fine. And I’m going to help you however I can, because that’s what sisters do.” She pauses. “I love you, Heather. You and April are my family. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”
“I love you, too,” I whisper as another wave of emotions does its best to overwhelm me.
“We’re going to get through this,” she says with absolute certainty. “I mean it. This will pass and you’re going to come out better than ever on the other side, okay?”
“Okay. You’re right. I know it.”
“Good. Now go take care of April. Give her extra hugs from Aunt Margo. And sis?”
“Yeah?”
“Grant is a good man. Let him help you. Let him in. You deserve that.”
“I’m trying.” I glance over at Grant, who has moved to sit on the arm of the couch. He’s close enough to offer support but far enough to give me privacy for the call.
“I know you are. That’s all any of us can do.” I can hear her smiling through the phone. “Call me tomorrow, okay? We’ll figure out the next steps.”
“I will. And thank you.”
“Always. I love you.”
“Love you too.”
I end the call and set the phone down, suddenly exhausted. The adrenaline that’s been keeping me upright is finally fading, leaving me feeling empty and shaky.
Grant immediately moves to sit beside me and pulls me into his side. I go willingly, tucking myself against him and letting my head rest on his shoulder.
“She said our whole family has my back.” I let out a shaky breath. “I forget sometimes that I’m not really alone.”
“You’re definitely not alone.” He presses a kiss to the top of my head. “You have your family. And you have me. And we’re going to make sure Steven never gets the chance to hurt you or April again.”