Chapter 12 #2
She stiffened beside him, and he continued quietly.
“Tracked her location on his phone, and flipped out if she was somewhere he didn’t approve of.
Controlled what she ate, what she wore. All kinds of crazy shit.
My parents and I would slip her money, try to help her leave, but nothing ever stuck.
Melissa would swear she was done, but then a week or two later he’d say just the right words to reel her back in.
Only for the cycle to start all over again. ”
“The cycle of abuse,” Everly said quietly. She combed her fingers through his hair, the motion soothing his jagged nerves, and maybe hers too.
“Yes. But she finally decided she was really done. She used the money my parents had given her to open a checking account. Landed a job and signed a lease for her own apartment. We were all so hopeful for her,” he said, swallowing past the tightness in his throat.
“I wanted to take leave and help her move out, but she insisted that she could do it herself, because he was leaving for a few days. That phone call was the last time I ever spoke to her.”
Everly’s fingers froze in his hair. “Oh, Grant,” she breathed.
“Turned out he wasn’t gone. He’d lied to her, to catch her in the act. And that’s exactly what happened.” He paused to draw a deep breath, to steel himself to voice the words he hadn’t spoken for years. “He found her packing. Lost it and strangled her.”
Everly wrapped her arms around him, and he leaned against her, her presence steadying him.
“The trial was cut and dried, and he’s in prison now.
But it doesn’t bring her back, you know?
It’s cold comfort.” He shook his head, the pattern on the rug blurring as unshed tears filled his eyes.
“Sometimes I think she’d still be alive if I had just taken leave to help her pack.
I’ve replayed that day so many times in my mind. ”
She reared back to look at him, tears welling in her eyes. “Do the guys know? Does anyone know?” She swiped at her face with a trembling hand. “Jeremy never said a word.”
“They know,” he said quietly. “I took leave for the trial. And saw a psychiatrist for awhile after that. Lockhart tracked those appointments, made sure I went.” He cast her a sidelong glance.
“It was helpful. But I think I’ll always carry part of that guilt with me, that I should’ve been there.
I’ve just learned to keep it from consuming me. Most of the time.”
“I never noticed…” Everly swallowed. “You always seemed so calm.”
“I kept it together well enough, most days. But inside, I was just…shredded. That’s how I ended up here,” he said, sweeping his hand to indicate the cabin and the mountains beyond.
“I started camping up here, just to get away from the city. I was in the bar one night, trying to numb it all, and Abel sat down beside me. Started talking like he’d known me forever. ”
Everly huffed a soft laugh. “That sounds like him.”
“Yeah.” Grant stifled a yawn, the weight of the day pressing on him. “He said he had a place for sale, that he’d been saving it for the right buyer. And the rest is history.”
“Sounds like you needed this place as much as it needed you.” Everly watched the dying fire. “I love it here,” she added quietly.
Before Grant could respond, Posie strutted in on silent feet, then flopped down near the hearth and promptly started snoring. Everly snorted. “As you can see, she loves it too.”
“I’m glad you’re both here with me now.” Grant pulled Everly onto his lap, then leaned in and brushed his lips over hers. “Thanks for listening.”
“Anytime. It’s the least I can do.” She snuggled into the crook of his neck and wrapped her arms around him, the fire’s soft snapping and Posie’s quiet snores settling around them. He settled against her, holding her close, and the ache in his chest eased.
This felt so…normal. Like she hadn’t been framed for treason.
Like he hadn’t just told her things he’d never discussed with anyone else.
It was so easy to imagine a future with her, weekend excursions to the cabin, curled up on the couch, a fire in the fireplace.
And maybe later…their children asleep down the hall.
The magnitude of his feelings scared and thrilled him all at once. He’d always kept them under lock and key, and now they threatened to burst out all on their own. But he wasn’t ready to face it yet, much less face her with what he felt yet.
He stretched out on the couch, hooking an arm around Everly’s waist and bringing her with him.
There was a blanket draped over the back, and he pulled it over the both of them.
They fit together like two puzzle pieces, and as she nestled back against him with a deep sigh, he savored the scent and warmth of her and for the first time since Evan’s phone call, felt himself relax a little.
STAG could do this. They would do this. Everly’s name would be cleared, and maybe when the dust had settled and this was over, there would be a future for them. It was a secret dream that he’d spent years trying to silence; but for the first time, it felt within reach.
He buried his nose in her hair and fell asleep.