22. Thayer
Chapter Twenty-Two
Thayer
November.
Five months post-Hardy.
The days are still long, and nights are even colder. Two weeks ago, I sat on the side of the road begging a shadow to come back and love me. I’m not sure why, but I know he was there. It made me see that no matter what was said, he wasn’t coming back.
Our family readies for Thanksgiving. This year, thanks to Lea and One, our family has grown to almost quadruple its original size. We love it, so we’re planning a huge dinner with my mom and dad. Walker and I will split time between our parents’ homes.
Three weeks out, and my mother has practically bought four groceries stores out. Nothing pleases my mother more than to cook for her grandchildren.
Walker and I amp up our time together. We still haven’t slept together, but we’ve messed around. It keeps him at arm’s length, no pun intended. He’s satisfied, and I’m still learning to open up more. Trust will always be an issue, but I’m safe with Walker.
Late one afternoon, I get a call from Lea. She’s on her way to my office and asks me to clear my afternoon. I think about the only reason she would be being so ‘cloak and dagger,’ I begin to panic. Turns out I don’t have to wait long.
Ellis Kipton walks through my office door with One clearing his way. I get weak in the knees, losing my balance. In a split second, one is by my side as Lea comes barreling through the door, straight to my side.
“Are you okay, baby?” I’m wrapped in Lea’s arms as quick as one of her children would be. I love her so much.
“I’m good. What’s going on?” One helps us to our feet then he directs me to sit. Before anyone can answer me, my parents and Chord walk through the door.
“Alright, Ellis. We’re all here; tell us what you’ve got.” One starts before our parents are even sitting.
“Thayer, after speaking to you and Lea a few weeks ago, I put two of my best men on your case. We branched out into Charleston after a week. This file contains everything we have on Hardy. We left no stone unturned until we hit a wall in Charleston.” One reaches for the file and begins combing through it.
“Just tell me, Ellis.” My leg trots in place as I rub my hands together. I may or may not have chewed a hole in my lip at this point.
“Some of this I feel terribly disturbed sharing with you. It’s personal. I know it’s what I’m paid for, but this, this is pretty bad.” Ellis looks around the room to gauge the reaction.
“I know most of it, Ellis. It’s only his last few years I’m not sure about.” Speaking slowly, I’m hoping to calm myself.
“Hardy ran away from foster care at fifteen. His then foster family was later convicted of child molestation and abuse. Not only the girls in their care. Hardy couldn’t be found to corroborate the story.
So no charges were filed on his behalf. There should have been, Thayer.
Hardy was later tracked to Charleston, South Carolina, where he became a known drug addict.
His drug use was not limited to pills; he also used intravenous drugs. ” Ellis pauses.
“We knew this much, Ellis. When One and I found Hardy, we set him up in rehabilitation. We were privy to his predilection. I’m not sure how much he had shared with my daughter, though.” Dad looks at me sympathetically.
“He was honest with me. Certain details were spared, but nonetheless, he protected me.” It’s really no one’s business what we did, but Hardy continued to get screened every month. He didn’t need to after all of this time but chose to for us.
“While in Charleston, Hardy met Erica Murphy. Erica was two years and ten months older than Hardy. Her arrest record is extensive, also included in the file. She had been in and out of rehab for years before meeting Hardy. Erica was a twin to Eric, the Murphys’ only children.
Eric has an arrest record with numerous drug convictions.
Recently, he sold a Mustang given to him by Hardy.
The money went to his parents, along with a continued payment from Hard, he paid the Murphys’ a thousand dollars a month.
Hardy also paid all of Erica’s hospital bills and funeral costs.
A payment he had made since he was eighteen, he was in rehab when he started them.
I’m assuming by the allowance Cal gave him each month.
” My body trembles from the restraint I’m trying to keep. My tears fall continuously.
“I knew it. Honorable. He’s a good man. Please go on.”
“Hardy married Erica knowing she was pregnant. Her medical records and blood tests for the marriage show it aligned. No one knew the baby’s gender until after she passed.
It’s apparent, Erica was the influence on Hardy.
He didn’t get her hooked. Erica had been an addict for years before Hardy.
Now, the trail goes cold. We would have no clue if Hardy knew at the time Erica had overdosed.
He sends flowers every week to make sure she and the baby have some.
They were buried together. Hardy was never charged in her death.
Now, here’s where things get odd. My contact at the police department told me Hardy was never in question about having caused her death, and there was no proof the baby was even his.
But he’s listed as the father and her husband.
” Playing with the delicate flower around my neck, I wipe away tears.
“Where is he?” My voice breaks with every word.
“No clue. He’s apparently living on the streets again because there’s no trace of him.
Now, with that said, his truck is in storage in Wilmington, and there’s a beige-colored, nineteen seventy Chevy C10 registered in his name.
It’s been spotted on traffic cameras in Charleston and here.
Hardy’s been here, at least a few times as far as we can tell.
And for the record, Hardy’s mother was a teacher at Thayer’s pre-school.
Hardy may have seen her. He may have remembered Thayer, but there is no evidence he stalked her.
Unless you count the weeks before she moved home.
He watched her every weekend.” Ellis Kipton glances around the room, taking in our family.
“I’ll give you this; he’s a damn fool. I’ll tell him myself if I ever run into him.
Any person loved as much as he is, needs his ass kicked.
I’m going to keep looking, and when I find him, I’m going to tell him to come home. ”
Lea sits with me as the family digs through all of the paperwork looking for clues. I knew it. I felt him the minute he arrived. But that in itself is enough to make me want to move on. I can’t hang on to someone who doesn’t want to be here. Always watching over me but never believing in me.
By the end of the night, I make a decision that will seal my fate. Walker texted me late, telling me he was coming over. Not wanting to be alone, I agreed. Besides, it’s time to move on. I need to give Walker a chance he deserves. I’ve said it a hundred times but have yet to follow through.
Waiting at the door for him, I write on the screen door window.
It’s a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving, and the window is fogged.
I used to blow my breath on them and write all the time.
Mindlessly, I drag my finger through the condensation.
Lights flash against the glass, signaling Walker’s arrival.
He’s wearing my favorite three-piece navy blue suit, he makes it look good, and I smile for the first time today. Walker did that; he made me smile. His smile widens when he sees me in the porch light. He begins to jog up the sidewalk.
“Hey, gorgeous.” His only words as he grabs my robe and pulls me into a kiss.
His lips are soft and firm. Never demanding. He’s the sweetest man I know. What the fuck is my problem? I should be thrilled he wants me. Thankful for his faithfulness. If I’ve learned anything today, I’ve learned if someone wants you, they’ll come to get you.
“I’m so happy you’d see me. I have something vital to ask you.
Thayer, I know you’re working through things.
I’m not asking you to love me more; just love me.
Let me in; I’ll love you forever.” He then makes my heart skip a beat.
I’m just not sure it’s for the right reason.
Nevertheless, it does when he drops to his knee.
“Marry me. Next week, the week after. Now. Marry me. I love you, and I’ll be as considerate as possible, but I just can’t wait another minute to make you mine.
I can’t risk it.” Staring into my eyes, he waits, ever patient.
“Okay. Let’s do it.” He sits stunned for a minute until he stands and removes a ring from his pocket. Placing it on my finger, I wiggle them in the porch light. It sparkles, even in this indirect lighting.
A four-carat French-Set Halo Diamond band engagement ring. It’s beautiful, it’s also too much ring. Plastering a smile across my face, I squeal with excitement. Walker has picked out a gorgeous ring; I’m thrilled it’s on my hand. I’m moving on.