CHAPTER NINE
Misty headed to Jake’s, excited for the opportunity to be with friends. It was such a lovely evening she decided to walk, certain she could get someone to drive her home.
The town was crowded with visitors, but Misty easily wended her way through the sightseers. When she arrived at Jake’s, most of the gang was there. Some had already eaten, and others were placing orders. She waited until they were through and ordered a small glass of wine.
As she sat down, David arrived and sat beside her.
JoEllen was telling everyone about the hunky man she saw in the next town when she spent an evening there. “I asked him to stop by. His name is Vince something. You should see his muscles. He makes a lot of guys look like weaklings.”
Vince? Misty felt her entire body go numb. Dizzy, she cupped her face in her hands. When she could get her breath, she looked up and found Crystal’s worried gaze on her.
Crystal stood. “I’d better go, and I’m taking Misty with me. If that man should appear and ask about either of us, please say nothing. That could be dangerous to us.”
David got to his feet. “I’ll go with you.”
Misty could barely walk away from the table because her knees were wobbly.
Crystal stopped and turned back. “I’m serious about this, JoEllen. Not a word. Understand? If you do, you’ll live to regret it.”
“Why is everyone always picking on me?” JoEllen whined.
“Got it?” said Crystal, scowling at JoEllen.
“Okay,” said JoEllen. “Guess he’s the guy who beat up Misty, huh?”
Crystal didn’t bother to answer. She grabbed Misty’s arm, and the three of them walked out of the bar.
“Where do you want to go?” David asked, glancing around.
“She can’t stay with me,” said Crystal. “It won’t be safe. He knows I’m her sister. He might try to find her through me.” She turned to Misty. “Why don’t you go home with David until we’re sure the man is not Vince Tucci? I’m on my way to tell Nick about it.”
“Maybe it’s another Vince. I don’t want to bother anyone,” said Misty, though her body had grown cold at the thought of seeing him.
“Most likely, it’s a different person, but we can’t take that chance,” Crystal said grimly.
David was quiet during the exchange but now took Misty’s arm. “You’ll be safe at my cabin. Whoever this guy is, he won’t know about it.”
“You’re right. This may seem silly to you, but as Crystal says, I can’t take the chance it could be the Vince I know. My ex, Vince Tucci, has threatened to kill me.” Misty choked on her last words.
David’s eyes widened. “C’mon, let’s get into my truck and get out of here.”
“I’ll let you know what Nick has to say,” said Crystal. “He can talk to JoEllen about the man she met and get a better description.”
Misty and David hurried to his truck parked in back of Jake’s and took off for his cabin.
###
As he drove, David’s expression was grim. Misty knew how upset he was and noticed that, after they left town, he relaxed his grip on the steering wheel.
He finally spoke. “I’d heard some things about your past when you first returned to Lilac Lake, but I had no idea things were that bad. My God! He threatened to kill you? No wonder Crystal and you are reacting this way. He’s a monster.”
“She’s still trying to keep me safe, like the big sister she’s always been,” said Misty, shaken by what was happening.
“Rightly so,” said David. “Earlier, you told me you had a bad experience in the past. If this is what it was about, it’s much more than a bad experience. No matter what went on, I’ll help you.”
“Thank you,” she said, touched to the core.
“Want to talk about it?” David asked in a gentle voice.
“Yes, but I might need a glass of wine to do it,” she said, unable to fight off images of Vince’s face when he became angry. It was grotesque.
“I teach the kids in my karate class to fight. But it’s all done with respect for others until they’re forced to defend. It’s a fine line between anger and violence, and it’s hard for some people to hold back. But once they give in to those impulses, it takes a lot to change them.”
David pulled into his driveway and helped her out of his truck. “It’s a pleasant night. We can either stay outside on the porch or go inside.”
“If you don’t mind, I’d feel more comfortable inside,” said Misty. Common sense told her she was safe sitting on his porch, but her vivid memories made it seem more secure inside.
Once inside, Misty sat on the couch in the living area.
“What would you like? Red or white wine?” asked David.
“I’d like a glass of red, thank you.” Misty hoped it would warm her up. Whenever she thought of Vince being near her, she felt like she were in an old-fashioned nor’easter storm.
David opened a bottle of red wine and brought a glass to her. “I’ll grab a beer and be right back.”
Misty accepted the wine he offered her and sat back on the couch.
He sat beside her and, giving her a questioning look, took hold of her hand. “Whenever you’re ready.”
Misty liked the feel of his strong fingers gently placed around her hand.
She drew a breath and began. “Vince comes from a wealthy family. They seemed normal at first. Then I began to see how his father dominated everyone and how cruel he could be, and I realized he and Vince had some of the same behaviors. They were never wrong about anything. They had to control all interactions. Everything was on their terms.”
“You said Vince’s father was domineering. Did you ever see him hit anyone?” asked David.
“No, but he was quick to anger and had an icy stare that could slice you open like a sharp knife,” she said, feeling a shudder.
“Vince didn’t like it when I turned him down to attend family events.
But after I realized his father didn’t like me, I couldn’t stand the pressure of being with him.
Then, the belittling remarks began. They were delivered in a joking matter at first. Things you wouldn’t notice right away. Harmless.”
“Like what?” David asked.
“When I put on a new dress for a special party, he asked me if that’s what I was going to wear, that the color didn’t suit me.
He told me he’d wait until I changed it.
Or sometimes he’d tell me I didn’t have time to change clothes to suit him, that I’d have to leave wearing something he said looked awful on me.
Then, he started to put down my teaching career, calling me a babysitter.
Said I wasn’t bright enough to teach high school kids like one of his cousins. ”
“Typical of some emotional abusers,” said David.
Misty took a sip of wine. “I can’t tell you some of the other things he said. Thinking of them now makes me sick to my stomach.”
David gave her hand a gentle squeeze of encouragement.
“Things got worse when Vince asked me to move in with him. I woke up to what was happening and remembered how my mother was taken in by men who promised her a decent life and how it ruined her and hurt Crystal and me. I knew then there was no way I could live with him. It would’ve been a nightmare.
I knew that all too well from my mother’s experiences. ”
“Did the hitting start then?” asked David.
Misty nodded. “It began with a playful push or a so-called light slap to my back. When Vince smacked me in the face, I told him I wouldn’t see him again. He cried and said it would never happen again.”
“And it happened again,” said David, shaking his head.
“That time, I fought him off, and he went crazy. He’d been drinking all evening, and I knew I was in trouble when he attacked for real.
I managed to kick him in his groin, and when I threatened to call the police, he left.
Before he could attack again, I grabbed a few things from my apartment, got in the car, and came here. ”
“So, he knows where you live?” David asked.
“Not exactly. When people asked, I always said I came from the Boston area, not New Hampshire. It sounded a little more glamorous. I didn’t realize until after I left how important that might become.”
“We’ll see what Nick can find out from JoEllen and go from there. Until then, why don’t you get comfortable? Would you like to watch a movie?” David’s look of concern was endearing. “How about a comedy?
As Misty leaned back, David set up the movie on his TV and took a seat on the couch beside her, leaving plenty of room between them. Something Misty appreciated.
Misty had no idea when she fell asleep, but her eyes fluttered open when David rose and placed a blanket over her. Emotionally spent, she retreated into sleep until memories took over. Then she tossed and turned.
###
The next morning, she got up and padded to the bathroom.
She returned to the couch, wrapped the blanket around her, and went to the front porch to watch the sunrise.
It was another hot summer day, and Misty loved observing the early morning activities of the birds and small woodland creatures as they began their day.
She studied the rows of growing trees and bushes and realized how much work David had put into the business. She liked the idea of him growing things. He was such a loving person, and it showed in his work.
At the sound of someone behind her, she turned to see David smiling at her. “It’s a nice time of day to sit on the porch. How did you sleep?”
Misty let out a long, worried breath. “After crashing during the movie, I spent a restless night. I just need to know if the man JoEllen saw was Vince Tucci.”
“We’ll call Nick as soon as we can. For now, how about a cup of coffee?” asked David.
“That would be delightful. Thanks. I take mine with just a touch of milk.”
“That’s easy. I’ll be right back with it.”
Misty didn’t have to wait long. David quickly returned with coffee for them both and sat in a chair next to hers.
“I’ve been considering your situation and have two strong suggestions for you,” said David. “I think you should enroll in my karate class and learn some valuable defense techniques. I also think you should get a dog. They are a huge protection from someone prowling around.”