Chapter 6
Magnolia
I hate being here. What once was my home has turned into a place that just makes my stomach queasy.
Looking out the window, my gaze lands on the big house.
The one I was able to purchase once my business really started taking off.
I can remember clearly, Cody and I searching the ones for sale online, favoriting the ones that we wanted to look at.
It had been fun. We’d had so much to look forward to.
Then life turned on itself, and now I can’t stand looking at that house.
My phone buzzes, and I know it can’t be Levi. He’s been at work, and now he’s probably asleep. Groaning slightly, I reach over and pick it up. It’s Molly.
MO: Hey, how is everything going? I heard through the grapevine you were dancing on tables?
MA: Ughhh, I bet it’s gotten around town. What else did you hear?
MO: A fish and wildlife officer that I might know well came in and got you down? How’d that go?
MA: Luckily I’ve known that fish and wildlife officer most of my life. He was nice enough to get me down, and take me out of there. Had it been someone else, they probably would’ve arrested me.
MO: More than likely, but then you could’ve told them about the hell you’ve been through the last year and a half, Mags. I think they’d understand.
MA: Somehow I doubt that. Even when I called my parents to let them know what was going on, they didn’t understand. In their minds divorce isn’t a thing. Apparently I should be willing to put up with anything.
God it hurts the same as it did when I first went to them and let them know that my marriage was imploding.
My mom told me I wasn’t doing my wifely duties, obviously.
That’s why my husband and I weren’t getting along any more, why we hadn’t had sex in almost a year.
Then when I called her and told her that he was contesting the divorce, she said good.
That meant that he didn’t want it to happen, and it was his way of fighting for me.
Which is a fucking lie.
MO: Your parents are old-school. They believe that you should stay married forever to the people you chose to marry in your early twenties. Maybe some people can do that, Mags, but you shouldn’t be forced to stay with Cody. Not after what he did to you.
She’s the only person. The only one who knows how bad it actually got, and what it cost me to really leave him. She’s the only one who knows how terrified I actually am. The fact that I’ve spent time at a gun range so that I know how to protect myself.
MA: They’re never going to understand, I don’t even know why I tried to explain.
MO: Because you desperately want people to understand that you didn’t give up on your marriage.
Tears silently fall down my cheeks. I didn’t.
I wanted to make things work, but they just couldn’t, not after what happened that one night.
I’d laid on the floor of my living room, with glass shattered around me, blood pouring from a wound on my forehead.
I have a scar, but it’s in my hairline, and I don’t let anyone get close enough to see it.
MA: I just have to realize that I don’t owe them an explanation and no one knows what the hell I’ve been through.
MO: You’re exactly right. Do you want me to come over and stay with you? Is there a reason you’re awake at this hour?
Blowing out a breath, I run a hand through my hair.
MA: No, you don’t need to come over, I’m just finishing up some orders. I’m fine.
MO: You say that all the time, but I know you aren’t.
I know I’m not either, but I don’t want people to know. There’s been too much already in my life of people knowing my business when I didn’t want them to.
MA: Love you.
MO: Love you, too. If you need me, just call me.
I put the phone down on the table, next to the last of the order I’m making.
All I need to do is grab these trays and put them in the freezer so the chocolate can set, but I can’t even make myself get up and do that.
If I’m not careful, depression will set in, and it’ll be as bad as it was this summer.
Absolutely no one knows how bad that was, and as long as I can keep it at bay they won’t.
Sighing heavily, I get up and grab my cookie sheet, taking it over to the freezer. Once I put it inside, I close the door and then head over to the bed.
These are the times I wish there were someone here to talk to. But I remind myself that I chose this. Grabbing my phone again, I start scrolling through social media. For a moment, I think I’m going to get taken in by a rage bait post, but then a picture of Molly and Levi pops up.
She’s made it her profile picture in celebration of sibling day. Which is probably made up, but it causes me to click on his profile, and that’s when I realize at some point I unfollowed him.
Probably when I was feeling bad about myself and didn’t want to see him living it up, or maybe when I didn’t want to admit that I had a crush on him. Judging by the amount of posts I haven’t seen, I unfollowed him a while ago.
But damn, as I look at a picture of him and his friend, Dakota, I can’t help but think of how hot he is, and what I wouldn’t give if he’d hold me the way he did last night.
Which is what I end up falling asleep thinking.
The next morning, I wake up to someone pounding on the door of my studio.
“Open the goddamn door, Magnolia. I was served this morning.”
Oh my God, I had meant to be out of here by the time Cody got served, but I was up most of the night. Getting up, I walk over to the door, opening it a crack. “If you want to talk to me, then you can go through my attorney, as the paperwork says. I’m sick of fucking around with you, Cody.”
He presses into the door, holding it open as I try to close it. “Don’t think you’re going to shut me out of this, you bitch.”
Closing my eyes, I count to ten. “Either you let me shut the door, or I’m going to call the police.”
“I live here,” he reminds me. “It’s not as if they’re going to make me leave.”
I know he’s right. This is what we’ve argued about the entire time, and why I haven’t been able to get out from underneath his suffocation. “They may not make you leave, but they will tell you that you aren’t allowed in the studio. That’s what you were served about. Please leave.”
I’m doing my best to keep my heart rate normal, to not allow the anxiety to show through in my voice, but it’s hard. Especially since that night right before I filed for divorce.
He growls. “This won’t stand, Magnolia.”
“My attorney says it will. Please don’t make me call the police,” I beg him.
I don’t want anyone else to know what’s happening, and if I have to call the cops, there’s no doubt it’ll get around town.
I’ll never get out from underneath the gossip, and it might affect my business, which is the last thing I want.
This is the only thing keeping me afloat right now.
“Go ahead, call them.”
“Don’t make me, Cody. Please?”
“Go ahead,” he pushes. “You didn’t call them that night, I don’t believe you’ll call them now.” He slaps his hand against the door, pushing harder.
He’s right, last time I didn’t take him seriously and that was my fault. I promised myself when I was on that damn floor, I wouldn’t do that to myself again. “I’m giving you one more chance, Cody, and then I’m calling the police.”
“You’re not going to do it. Weak ass bitch.”
That’s it. I’ve had it with him. I had it a long time ago, but I wasn’t strong enough to fight back.
I am now. He’s threatening everything I hold dear, the one thing that gets me out of the situation I’m in with him.
My business, my livelihood, what I’m actually living for at this point. Grabbing my phone, I dial 9-1-1.
“Laurel Springs 9-1-1, what’s your emergency?”
“My name is Magnolia Stafford, I live at 457 Southern States Road, and I need a police officer. My husband was served with some paperwork regarding our impending divorce and he’s here, not letting me close my front door.”
He’s yelling at me, and I’m doing my best to listen to the dispatcher. Eventually she tells me that she’s sending an officer over, and within moments I hear a siren. “They’re arriving, thank you.”
Now that there’s a cop close, and he backs up, ready to pretend like he’s the best man in the world. He always does this, any time he’s about to get into trouble, he turns into everyone’s best friend. It’s how he’s manipulated me from the start.
“Hey Caleb,” he says and I’m ready to fucking sink into a hole.
The responding officer would be my best friend’s dad. I’m looking out the window, and even though Caleb appears to be comfortable and casual, I do notice the way his hand rests next to his gun.
“Hey, Cody. What’s going on here today? Mind if I go in there and talk to Magnolia?”
Cody doesn’t give him permission, but he starts talking immediately. “You know how things are, we’re just having a bit of a disagreement. Women, right?”
“I’ve been married for a long time, Cody. I don’t ever count women out. If you don’t mind, I’d like to hear that from her,” he points behind him as he speaks. “There’s another officer here to talk to you.”
My heart stops pounding so hard, and I’m beginning to calm down slightly. When he steps on the porch, I open the door. “Hey, you want me to come out there, or do you want to come inside?”
“Choice is yours. Whatever you prefer.”
“C’mon in, please.” That way Cody can’t hear what I’m saying to him. He can’t try to speak over me, and make me doubt what I’m saying, although I know that I’m being truthful.
He closes the door behind him, and then looks at me closely, eyes worried. “What’s going on here, Magnolia?”
Running a hand through my hair, I pull my bottom lip in between my teeth. “We’re getting divorced, and I had him served with some paperwork this morning. I expected to be out here before they dropped it off, but I fell asleep.”
“What does that paperwork say?”
I go over to my desk and pull out a copy of what he was given today. “It says that he isn’t allowed to come back here. That he’s supposed to stay away, and not block in my car, which is what he’s done previously.”
His brows furrow. “Is he that much of an asshole?”
“You have no idea.” My bottom lip quivers. “I’m really just trying to protect my interests. I’m not trying to be difficult.”
He reaches forward, putting a hand on my shoulder. “If the judge signed off on this, then they believe it to be true. So we’ll enforce it. I’ll let him know he isn’t allowed to be back here. Do you have cameras?”
“I do, I was advised to get them.”
“Good, make sure they’re running, and if you have any more questions, don’t hesitate to ask.”
As he leaves, I take a deep breath. For the first time I’m hopeful that things are going to turn around.