Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Joe froze, every instinct in him snapping to high alert in an instant. The sound of Ted’s voice had cut through the festive background music like a blade.
The man stepped slowly into the glow of the Christmas lights that were strung from tree to tree. His face was red from either the cold or maybe from the booze that Joe could smell from even several feet away.
“Get away from my wife!” Ted shouted again, his eyes wild and glassy.
He noticed that the man hadn’t even glanced at Charlotte, who stood a few feet away, frozen in fear beside Olaf. Her little gloved hands were clutching the dog’s leash like a lifeline. The small dog’s low growl rumbled like thunder and his hackles raised. He stood between Charlotte and her father.
Joe instinctively moved in front of Ally, and his arm stretched back protectively.
“Ted, that’s enough,” he said evenly, keeping his voice calm and controlled. “You don’t want to do this here.” He motioned to the other families that were enjoying the festive lights.
“Oh, I think I do.” Ted laughed, a harsh and ugly sound, as he took a step forward, pointing an unsteady finger at him.
“You think I don’t see what’s going on? You took the job just to get close to her, didn’t you?
You couldn’t wait to slide in and take what’s mine.
” He moved closer, and Joe could feel Ally tense behind him.
He felt his own pulse start to hammer. He could see that the man was unraveling.
“That’s not what happened,” Joe said firmly as he widened his stance slightly. He wasn’t about to let this guy get another inch closer to Ally or Charlotte. “You need to calm down before you make this any worse for yourself.”
“Don’t you tell me what to do!” Ted’s voice cracked with rage across the snow-covered grass.
“You think you’re the hero? She ruined my life!
” He jabbed a finger in Ally’s direction, his words slurring.
“She’s a manipulative narcissist. She abused me.
Physically, verbally, financially, and even”—he took a step closer—“sexually.” The man sneered, and Joe felt his stomach roll at the lengths the man would go to hurt her.
“That’s enough!” he barked, taking a step closer to her ex-husband. He knew that his tone had the edge of command, the kind that stopped most men in their tracks. “Not another word,” he warned. “Your daughter is watching.”
Ted faltered, blinking in surprise at the steel in Joe’s voice. Around them, the crowd had started to take notice and gather. The soft sound of music faded as a few townspeople stepped in closer.
“Is everything okay here?” Nate’s voice came from behind Ted. Joe could tell that he’d seen it all, and the way he positioned himself with his hands loose at his sides told him that he was already assessing the threat.
Faye appeared a moment later by Charlotte’s side, quietly ushering her a few steps back toward the Brew-Ha-Ha.
She kept a protective hand on the girl’s shoulder and took the dog’s leash in her own hands. Olaf didn’t move an inch and was still growling at Ted.
“Come on, Ted,” Nate said firmly. “Before you end up spending another night in a cell.”
Ted’s jaw worked. “You all think you can gang up on me? You’ll see. You’ll all see! You’ll all be hearing from my lawyers.” He laughed.
A few more locals had stepped out of the diner, murmuring about calling the sheriff. Just then, headlights swept across the snow-dusted street, and a patrol car turned the corner.
The sight of it must have spooked Ted because he cursed under his breath and stumbled backward a step.
Then, still glaring at Joe, he turned and staggered toward the dark alley at the edge of the square.
“He’s drunk,” he warned Nate, who nodded and then went to go talk to Tom, who was stepping out of the patrol car to see what was going on.
Once the man was gone, he exhaled, the tension leaving his body in one hard rush. Then he turned and gathered Ally, who was very pale, in his arms. He motioned toward Charlotte, who rushed over and hugged her mother’s leg.
“You’re okay,” he said softly into Ally’s hair. “He’s gone.”
She let out a small burst of laughter against his chest, but then gathered Charlotte up and held onto her daughter as she whispered. “He’s getting worse.”
His jaw tightened. “Yeah,” he agreed, glancing toward the patrol car as Tom got back in and circled around to the alley. “I’m not letting him get near you again.”
Ally looked up at him. “Thanks.”
He pulled them close as cold air rushed over his face. “You’re safe. I swear it.”
“What do you say we head back inside for hot chocolate and cookies?” Faye cheered. She walked over and took Charlotte from Ally’s arms. “My treat,” she said, bouncing Charlotte, who giggled and cheered.
Joe followed them inside the warmth of the coffee shop, the door shutting out the bite of the winter wind, which seemed to have picked up. The rich scent of cocoa and baked sugar wrapped around him like a glove, and the tension that had clung to him outside began to ease a little.
Faye was already at the counter, making enough hot chocolate to drown a small army, if the size of the pot was any indication.
Charlotte was perched on a stool, and Olaf sat at her feet, his tail sweeping slowly across the wood floor.
The dog’s eyes never left her, which meant his loyalty had already been given to the child.
Joe slid into the booth beside Ally and wrapped his arm around her. “Are you okay?” he asked softly.
“As long as she is.” Her hands trembled slightly as she unzipped her coat, removed it, and smoothed her hair back. “He didn’t even look at her,” she murmured.
He nodded. “Yeah, I doubt he’s thinking clearly anymore. I think your move here has broken something in him. Which makes him more dangerous.”
She met his gaze, and he could see in her eyes that she was full of fear and exhaustion. “What am I going to do if he doesn’t stop?”
“We,” he corrected her, covering her hand with his.
“We keep doing what we’re doing—staying smart, staying alert, and protecting Charlotte at all cost. I think Olaf proved his worth earlier.
He’d already do anything to protect her.
” He motioned toward the pair. Olaf was still patiently waiting for Charlotte to drop a piece of cookie as he watched over her.
Ally’s shoulders dropped a fraction, and he could see the gratitude flicker in her expression before Faye came over with a tray loaded with steaming mugs and a mountain of Christmas cookies. Charlotte rushed over and climbed into the booth across from them. The dog curled up at her feet.
“Here we go,” Faye announced cheerfully as she set everything down on the table.
“Extra marshmallows for Charlotte, and peppermint hot chocolate for the grownups. Eat, drink, and pretend that fool doesn’t exist for a little while,” Faye added before turning around and helping a family that had walked in.
Charlotte giggled as whipped cream stuck to her upper lip.
“This is the best day ever,” she said through a mouthful of cookie, and the sound was enough to break the heaviness lingering in Joe’s chest. “Isn’t it, Olaf?
” she asked, giving the dog one of the dog treats Faye had given Charlotte to give to him.
They sipped cocoa and listened to the carolers who stood outside the frosted window, serenading the patrons. For a moment, everything felt normal. Right.
The bell over the door jingled a while later and Tom stepped in. As he brushed snow off his hat, he glanced around for them.
“Hey,” he said walking over to their booth. “I didn’t find Ted. He must’ve driven off before I could catch him.” His gaze shifted to Ally. “We’ll keep an eye out for him on the roads and watch the house tonight as well. I’ve already got two cars doing extra rounds near the bluff.”
Ally exhaled shakily. “Thank you.”
He nodded. “And just so you know, it’s all clear back at the house, so you can head home when you’re ready.”
Joe gave him a short nod and shook his hand. “Thanks, we appreciate it.”
After Tom left, the quiet settled again. When he noticed Charlotte’s head drooping, he asked, “Are you ready to go?”
She hesitated, looking at Charlotte, who was fighting to keep her eyes open over her half-finished cocoa. “Yeah,” she said softly. “Let’s go.”
By the time they left, the snow had slowed to a light dusting. Charlotte was half-asleep in Ally’s arms and Olaf was tucked securely in Joe’s coat, with only his small black nose poking out.
“If it’s okay, I want to stop at the store to get him some basics,” he said as he opened the car door for Ally.
“That sounds good. They have pet supplies at the grocery store.”
He smiled, then rubbed Olaf’s soft ears.
The grocery store’s windows were lined with twinkle lights and chalk drawings of reindeer and Santa.
Charlotte perked up the second they stepped through the door. “Can I pick his toys?” she asked sleepily, rubbing her eyes.
“Sure,” Joe said, setting Olaf down carefully on the floor and handing her his leash. The puppy immediately started sniffing the air and wagging his tail like he owned the place.
Ally followed beside him. She was still being quiet, but at least she looked steadier now and there was color back in her cheeks.
“What are you going to get him?”
“Well, since he’s our security system now,” he joked, “he deserves the works.”
She let out a small laugh, one that warmed him straight through.
They filled the cart quickly with two plush gray dog beds, one for downstairs and one for the bedroom, a large bag of puppy chow, a few squeaky toys that Charlotte picked out, and a bright blue leash that was better than the rope one the vet had given him.
Ally grabbed small food and water bowls shaped like bones. “These are cute.”
Charlotte giggled as Olaf tugged on a stuffed reindeer twice his size. “I think he likes this one, Mommy.”
Joe crouched down, ruffling the pup’s fur. “Good choice, little man.”
At the counter, the older cashier gave Charlotte a candy cane while she checked them out. “He’s a handsome pup. I bet he’s gonna be a big help keeping the critters, and trouble, away.” She winked at Ally.
Ally’s smile faltered for a split second, but Joe quickly slipped an arm around her shoulders. “That’s the plan,” he said evenly.
“You folks be safe out there. I heard we’re going to get a lot of snow in the next few days.”
Joe gave her a polite nod. “Thanks, have a good night.”
Outside, the cold air bit at their faces as the snow started falling again, but the town felt different now, quieter, peaceful. Most of the townspeople had returned home or had gone inside after sunset.
Charlotte skipped ahead to the car with Olaf trotting happily beside her on his new leash.
After they loaded Charlotte, Olaf, and their purchases into the car, Ally leaned against the door and looked over at him. “I can’t thank you enough for today.”
He arched a brow. “You don’t have to. I didn’t do anything special.”
“You made all of this feel… normal. After everything last night, then Ted.” Her voice softened. “You make her feel safe.” She wrapped her arms around him. “You make me feel safe.”
He looked inside to Charlotte, who was laughing as Olaf licked her face as she sat in the car. “That’s all that matters,” he said simply.
She smiled at him, that soft kind of look that hit deeper than he was ready for. “Let’s go before it gets too slick to drive.”
As they headed out of town and back toward the lighthouse, the car’s headlights cut through the snow. The puppy snuggled in Charlotte’s lap while she hummed Christmas carols.
He parked next to his car and carried the packages inside and then built a fire.
Ally and Charlotte had gone upstairs to get into pajamas, and Olaf was curled up in his new bed by the fire.
He figured he’d make something warm and comforting for dinner after the fire was going and headed into the kitchen to make grilled cheese sandwiches and a pot of chicken noodle soup.
When they came back downstairs, Ally wrapped her arms around him as he flipped the last sandwich onto a plate.
“I figured something simple,” he said and turned to wrap his arms around her.
She smiled. “It’s perfect. I’m not sure I can forget what happened below our feet, but for now, I can push it aside as long as you’re here with us.”
He kissed the top of her head.
They ate together in the living room, watching Christmas cartoons as the storm outside softened to a whisper against the windows.
When Charlotte fell asleep, he carried her up to bed. After letting Olaf out once more, he crawled into bed beside Ally as the dog jumped up and settled at their feet.
“One night only, buddy,” he said, knowing it wasn’t true.
“Don’t lie.” Ally snuggled against his chest. “He is never going to sleep in that bed in here.”
He chuckled. “Maybe when we’re using this bed for something other than sleep.” He kissed her forehead. “Tonight, however, I think we’re both too tired.”
She nodded and he watched the light from the lighthouse flood the room on its rotation, counting each time it swept across the ceiling until he drifted off.