Chapter 6 #4
“Maybe Briggs will give up when he keeps hitting brick walls.” Even as Gretchen made the comment, she knew how unlikely that scenario was.
Briggs wasn’t the type to take getting dumped, lightly.
He wouldn’t forgive and forget, which meant there was going to be a day of reckoning for her at some point.
She’d known that when she left, but she hoped it would be way down the road, and that she was stronger and in a safe place when that happened.
As she glanced around the yard at all the people still eating and chatting, she sent up a silent prayer that perhaps she’d found that place.
She laughed to herself. Apparently, Gretchen Banks—unlike Gretchen Parker—was an optimist. Who knew she had it in her?
“I hope he will, but I’m afraid he’s nowhere near finished looking right now. He came by the office this morning, wanting to look at your computer. I told him to get a court order,” Brenda confessed.
“Brenda! You didn’t have to do that. I didn’t leave anything on my computer to give away my location.”
“Doesn’t matter. My brother might be the forgive and forget type, but I’m not.
Figured it was time to throw my cards on the table.
Tired of him walking around town like the goddamned injured party.
I have to admit, he’s smooth. Even though his frustration is off the charts, he didn’t lose his cool when I called him every name in the book.
I think I should let you know…” Brenda paused.
“What?”
“He’s working an angle.”
Gretchen already knew which angle because it was one he’d used countless times in the past. So she wasn’t surprised when Brenda continued.
“He mentioned to me that he was concerned you’d had some sort of mental break because of childhood trauma and a bunch of bullshit like that.
I think he’s using that to get his buddies on the force to help him look for you.
Told me he handled things poorly, but it was because he didn’t know how to help you.
He keeps saying you’re a danger to yourself. ”
Gretchen blew out a long, slow breath. It wasn’t the first time he’d attempted to gaslight her—and others—by saying she was crazy, that she overreacted, that she blew things out of proportion.
Briggs was as good at emotional abuse as he was physical.
And for a while there, she’d started to genuinely believe she might be losing her mind.
But not now. “I’ve never been more mentally sound.”
Brenda sighed in relief. “I can tell. You sound so much better already, and it’s only been a couple of weeks. Listen, I won’t keep you. I wanted to touch base to make sure you were okay.”
“I’m great. And thanks again, Brenda. For everything.”
“If you need anything…”
“I’ll call. I promise.” The two of them said their goodbyes.
Gretchen hung up but made no move to return to the cookout, her thoughts whirling over Briggs and his comments about her mental instability, as a new fear crept in.
What if he traced her here?
What if he told the Storms and Edith the same lies?
Would they believe him the same way all the others had?
Briggs had convinced Destiny and Darryl that she was prone to outbursts and violence, and that the bruises they saw on her were the result of him trying to restrain her, to keep her from hurting him .
He always managed to paint himself as some savior, as the only one who could control her and keep her safe from her psycho self.
The idea of him turning the Storms against her weighed heavy on her mind, and her lungs constricted.
“Hey, Gretchen,” Remi called out. “You better come grab a slice of this apple pie before the heathens eat it all.”
She forced a smile, drawing in a shivery breath. She’d felt so relaxed prior to Brenda’s call. Unfortunately, she couldn’t shake the tension in her shoulders, all the old fears and anxieties bubbling to the surface.
Somehow, she kept her fake smile in place and managed to hold the coming panic attack at bay all through dessert, and while it was clear the party was going to carry on for a few more hours, she was grateful when Edith offered her a chance to leave.
“I’m going to head home, my dear,” Edith said. “Theo said he’d drive you home later.”
“Oh no,” Gretchen said. “That’s not necessary. I’m kind of tired. I think I’ll go with you if that’s okay.”
Edith tilted her head curiously. “Of course it is. Are you sure you wouldn’t rather hang out with the young ones? Kick up your heels a bit?”
Gretchen shook her head. “No. I’d rather call it a night. I’m looking forward to diving back into our book.”
She and Edith had fallen into a routine ever since Gretchen moved in.
After dinner, the two of them would hang out in the living room, chilling on the cozy couches as they watched a movie.
So far, they’d taken turns picking the flicks.
While Gretchen was a huge fan of rom coms, Edith’s taste—hilariously—ran toward disaster films.
A few days ago, they’d decided to start their own book club of two, each of them buying copies of the same book. They’d read the first three chapters last night, curled under their own fleece blankets, then they stopped to chat about what they’d read.
“If you’re sure.” It was clear Edith couldn’t believe Gretchen would choose reading a book over hanging around the firepit with the Storms.
“I am.”
Gretchen and Edith said their goodbyes, though it took a little while, given the way Theo, Nora, and Remi were working overtime to convince Gretchen to stay.
They weren’t pressuring her, just genuinely sorry to see her leave, which was sweet, but she’d spent the last hour with her hands tucked in her pockets, trying to hide the fact she was trembling.
She couldn’t dismiss Briggs from her mind, and she had suffered enough panic attacks in the past to know that one was looming. If—when—it became full blown, she preferred to be back at Edith’s, where she could retreat to the privacy of her own room and ride it out alone.
Once they were in the car, Gretchen turned her face to the passenger window, though she wasn’t seeing the same beautiful view she’d been admiring on the ride to the farm this morning.
She was so distracted by her thoughts she was surprised when Edith pulled into the driveway. They’d made the entire trip back in silence.
As they walked into the house, Edith stopped just over the threshold.
“I know we haven’t known each other for long, sweetheart, but I want you to know that if anything is bothering you, you can talk to me.
I’ve got a few years on me, and while I don’t pretend to know all the answers, maybe I’ll have something in my arsenal of experience that will help. ”
Gretchen was tempted to lie once more, to insist nothing was wrong, but she was so tired of being alone. The pressure on her chest was unbearable and her strength was all but gone.
Edith must have sensed her wavering. “Maybe you could start by telling me about those bruises on your neck that you showed up here with last week.”
Gretchen blinked rapidly, trying to stem the tears, but that was impossible when Edith reached out and pulled her into an embrace that was remarkably strong, given her tiny size.
“It’s okay, sweetheart. You’re safe. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
Jesus.
Gretchen had waited a lifetime for her mother to offer her that kind of support, those comforting words. She never had. Not once.
The fight left her as Gretchen clung to Edith, crying out a lifetime of fears and sadness. And then she opened up…and told the dear woman everything.
Everything.