by Natalie Dean
“You heard right. That was my ex, the one who put me here the last time.”
“Ah. And we also heard he fled the scene with blood on his face.”
“Did he? Wow, that’s so sad.”
“And your hand was injured at the mall.”
“I know, that’s crazy, right?”
Bradley wasn’t sure what to think of Sophia’s borderline flippant attitude. It was better than the shaking, upset, and desperate dismissal she had yelled at them before, but it was still pretty… cheeky. And city cops weren’t like the amiable chaps down in town.
“Ma’am, we looked it up and saw that you have three different restraining orders against one Travis Wilcox, as well as plenty of evidence as to why those restraining orders were filed. So, if he was there, he was in gross violation of all three of them.”
“Yeah, it was definitely a gross violation. But it’s taken care of now. I used some good old fashioned self-defense to show him the door.”
“That’s… that’s good ma’am. We’re glad you were able to de-escalate the situation.”
Bradley was surprised when one of the cops sat down opposite him on the other side of the bed. “But if he violated the terms of your restraining order, that means he broke the law. It’s our jurisdiction, and my partner and I have a feeling that maybe, if we dug a little, we’d find a whole lot more that he might have done.”
“Oh, that’s a good idea,” Sophia said brightly. “Because I want to press charges.”
It took a while for Sophia to tell her whole story and answer all the cops’ questions. The nurses then put a wrist brace on her. She did apparently fracture one of her metacarpals and would have to baby it for a couple weeks, which meant no commissions, but Bradley was fine with that. He was going to swaddle her with blankets and comforts and spoil her so rotten that she forgot what it was like to ever want for anything.
Or at least something like that.
When she was signing the last of her forms with her left hand, Bradley went and got the truck from the parking garage so that he could pick her up at the ER doors. That same feeling of excitement, of all those possibilities, bubbled up inside of him as he waited for her to come outside.
When she eventually did, he all but vaulted from his truck, going around to open her door and help her in. This time, she didn’t have to ask him to buckle her seatbelt for her, and then he was closing her door and going back around.
When he got in, he didn’t want to drive away immediately. There was too much on his mind, too many things threatening to boil over into a bubbling mess.
“Something wrong?” Sophia asked, looking over him curiously as he idled in front of the ER entrance.
“No, I just. I…” Turning to her, he took her good hand in one of his, his other reaching out to stroke the side of her face. She was so soft. So warm. He didn’t think he would ever tire of the contact and how it made so much rush through him. “I was just wondering if maybe, you’d like to date for real.”
“Oh, Bradley,” she murmured, smiling brightly at him even as her eyes started to water. “I think we’ve been dating for a while and were just trying to deny it because that was a little bit scary.”
His eyes widened at that. “You mean it was real to you too?”
She nodded. “Ever since you took me out of that jail, yeah.”
Bradley had to breathe for just a moment, the ramifications of everything she was saying rushing through him. Sophia felt the same as he did. And the way she was looking at him made him want to dance, throw something really far, and write out a brand-new math equation all at once.
He didn’t think it was possible, but she was right in front of him, saying that he wasn’t crazy. That he wasn’t taking advantage.
“I think I love you, Miss Sophia Hernandez.”
“Well, that’s good,” she said with the slightest of chuckles. “Considering we’re engaged and all.”
He couldn’t stand being apart from her for another breath. He closed in, pressing his lips to her, tentatively at first, but growing in pressure.
Once more she melted to him, her small form pushing against his as her arms wrapped around his shoulders. He had no idea what he had done to deserve such an amazing, strong, and brilliant woman in his life, but he was done second-guessing.
It made him dizzy to think that she wanted to be with him too, and that made him press her to him all the more. It was overwhelming and amazing, and everything he wanted all at once.
HONK!
They both jumped and quickly pulled apart. Oh, right. They were in the middle of the drive leading away from the ER entrance. They should probably get a move on.
“We’re being a little inconsiderate,” Sophia said with a chuckle.
“Yeah,” he agreed, turning the car on. “But this isn’t over. We have a lot to talk about when we get home.”
“Why do I get the feeling that’s not all we’ll be doing?”
“Probably because I’m going to kiss you, and not stop until we can’t breathe anymore.”
“Huh, that could be fun, I think.”
“I’m up for it.”
“Promises, promises.”
“Hey, the way I figure it, we have lost time to make up for.”
“Bradley, my life’s been nothing but lost time since I was seventeen. I fully intend to spend the rest of it living to the fullest. After all, I’m only twenty-two.”
“Especially if I have anything to say about it,” Bradley agreed.
“Stick around and you definitely will.”
“Trust me, I’m not going anywhere.”
Once more her hand reached out to rest on his. “And you know what? I believe that. I really do.”
He wanted to lean over and kiss her again, but that wouldn’t exactly be prudent considering he was at the wheel. So instead, he put on the CD from the musical he had taken her to. It didn’t take long for her to start singing. And it was hand in hand that they finally drove back home.
To their home.
For real.
Epilogue
Sophia
Sophia filed into the court rows with the rest of the Millers in front and behind her. They made up quite the clan, but even they weren’t the only ones on her side of the seating.
True to their word, the cops had done some digging after they’d talked to her, and in the months that passed afterward, they uncovered quite a lot.
First of all, Travis hadn’t always been Travis. Before her, he’d been Deacon. Before that, John. Apparently, he changed his name whenever he changed states, and he changed states those two times because he had outstanding warrants for assaults in each of them.
His father had tried his best to cover them up, using all of his connections, but the cops had been determined. They had found the loose ends, and those loose ends lead them to two other women who each had experience with Deacon and John.
With Travis.
Apparently, he targeted younger girls. The first had been just sixteen when he’d whisked her off on a whirlwind romance. She ended up running away from home, and he carted her over several counties. It took her two years to get free, and only because her parents were able to file a kidnapping charge, so he had to run.
With the next girl, he had learned. He told her to keep their relationship a secret. They were together for three whole years before she got away. And she’d made her escape only because she’d had an ‘accident’ severe enough that she was stuck in the hospital for a month, and the cops were investigating even without her pressing charges.
Their names were Michelle and Kim, and the two of them sat right behind her as she returned to her spot at the plaintiff’s table. He liked to go after young girls of color. Her attorney said it was because they were the least likely to get help or be taken seriously, and the most likely to already be disadvantaged in some way. She wasn’t sure what to think of that. She had always thought that she just had the bad luck of running into the wrong man at the wrong ti
me, but finding out that he was specifically looking for a girl like her, poor, from a large family, on the edge of graduating high school. She’d been targeted and then stalked.
They all had.
In her opinion, the man needed to rot in prison for all eternity, but her lawyers explained that was unlikely to happen. Laws were funny that way. Although he had done terrible, terrible things to each of them, the statute of limitations had long since passed for the two of them in both of their states, so all of it was on Sophia.
Despite that, the women had agreed to testify to show a history of abuse. Of a dangerous pattern that had to be stopped. And after three weeks of grueling trials, maybe it actually was going to.
She looked over her shoulder, her eyes scanning for Bradley in the crowd. Of course, he was there, right next to Michelle and Kim, shaking with barely withheld rage.
But when their eyes melt, she watched his anger melt away. There was only love in his eyes for her. And a sort of admiration she didn’t think she deserved. But Bradley was also like that, giving her more than she could ever ask for then acting like it was never enough.
She never would have gotten through the two-year process of everything coming together without him. Sure, there had been bright points, like Dani and Benji’s wedding, and even Keiko finding someone, but there had been a whole lot of stress too.
And finally, finally, she would learn if all of that was worth it.
After everyone settled, the jurors all filed in, somber and silent. When they were fully seated, the bailiff entered, the judge, and finally Travis.
He was dressed in a suit, but she thought he would have looked better in an orange jumpsuit. It was best she not get ahead of herself though. The DA had made it quite clear to her that domestic violence trials could often be terribly messy and involve a hung jury at the end—and that apparently wasn’t a term that meant they were all dead.
And the defense hadn’t exactly made it easy. They’d blocked a lot of evidence and really tried to sell Travis’ character, painting him as a good guy and her as some manipulating gold digger who purposefully triggered him, set him up, then ran off when she found a richer target. She hadn’t wanted him to, but her attorney had called Bradley to the stand to testify about their relationship, and how they had met, and she hoped that was enough to counteract any of the jury that might have been swayed by their sob story.
“Jury, have you reached a verdict?”
“Yes, we have,” one of the jurors in the corner of their pen stood up, a piece of paper in her hands.
“In the case of the state of Montana versus John T. Wilcox, we came to a unanimous decision on the following charges:
“On the charge of stalking in violation of a protection order, we find John T. Wilcox guilty.”
A ripple went right through Sophia’s soul. Guilty. Guilty. She wanted to get up and shout, to do a cartwheel. Any victory was a victory, after all, but the juror was still talking.
“On the charge of illegal surveillance, we find John T. Wilcox guilty.”
She could feel the energy of the women behind her and wished she could turn and hold their hands. Two wins. And with each one, she could see Travis wilt that much more.
Good. For once he couldn’t run away from his punishment. He’d lived his whole life getting away with using and abusing others. Now he was going to be locked up until he learned how to not be a monster.
The juror continued, though, “And in the case of his third offense, assault on a partner, due to John T. Wilcox’s history and multiple orders of protection with two other young women, and his connections that have allowed him to evade the law so far, we consider him guilty. We suggest the full penalty under the law.”
“Thank you, jury. You are dismissed.”
And there it was.
They won.
This time Sophia did let out a cry, jumping to her feet. The attorney stood and went to shake the defense’s hand, but Sophia had no desire to do that. She looked to Travis, who was just standing there, looking shocked.
Everything was a blur for a moment, with hugs and tears and claps and congratulations. Michelle and Kim especially clung to her, thanking her over and over again for doing what they couldn’t.
But Sophia didn’t feel like she deserved that much credit. They were basically all on their own when they escaped, and younger than her. She had the entire Miller clan on her side. And that was certainly a force to be reckoned with.
Eventually, however, they were asked to go out in the hall. But as soon as they were there, Bradley swept her up, swinging her around in a circle and pressing a kiss to both of her cheeks and finally her mouth.
She kissed him back with just as much relief. She couldn’t believe it. Her nightmare was over. She’d lived through actual hell, walked through the fire, and she had come out the other side.
Thank the Lord.
“Hey, you can’t hog her all to yourself!” Ma said, tapping Bradley on the shoulder. The two of them laughed, and he put her down just in time for more hugs from more people.
By the time it slowed down, she was pretty sure that she’d at least embraced everyone twice, even Pa, and she was beginning to feel a little worn, thirsty, and rough around the edges.
“So,” Dani said, grabbing her hand. “Now that this is all finally out of the way, are you finally gonna think about your wedding colors, or are you still gonna foist that off on Bradley?”
“Pink and gray,” she said without hesitation.
Missy laughed from beside their shorter friend. “Wow, it sounds like you might have been thinking about this stuff after all.”
“Maybe from time to time. How could I not? But it’s not like I have a binder of clippings or anything.”
“No,” Bradley said, slinging his arm over her shoulders. “She wrote it down in this little silver notebook, actually.”
Sophia looked at him, a smile on her face. “Bradley has some terrific ideas too. He’s very good at making wedding decisions.”
Truthfully, she wasn’t interested in spending a lot of money on a wedding or having a big, frilly white dress or a group of girls to stand beside her in overly expensive dresses. To her, the most important part was the reception, where everyone got together and danced and ate and gave silly speeches. Now that seemed like the real magic to her. The kind of thing that made her heart warm, fuzzy, and full.
“Oh well. To be honest, after the stress of this, I’m not sure I’ll ever have enough energy to deal with that whole ceremony and the pomp and circumstance. I wish we could bypass that part and vault to the reception and honeymoon.”
“Is that so?” Bradley said.
Something was off about his tone, so she twisted to look up at his face. But his eyes weren’t on her at all, but rather on a sign behind her.
“What are you looking at?”
“A possibility,” he said, pulling her closer to it.
When she was close enough to finally see, she understood exactly what he meant.
“Really? You’d want to do that here, and now?”
“Why not?”
“Ma is gonna be furious.”
“Nah, I have a plan for her. So what do you say?”
Sophia looked at the sign in front of them, the one that had two simple words and an arrow.
Marriage Licenses.
“I guess I say I do.”
“I think that part’s for later.” He leaned down and gave her a peck on the cheek. “Stay right here. I have to go break the news to Ma and herd the rest of them out of here. Who do you want as your witness?”
“Uh, Missy, I guess. You don’t think that’ll hurt anyone’s feelings, will it?”
“Nah. They’ve got plenty to do. Here,” he guided her over to a bench. “Just sit tight.”
There was something strange about the way he was carrying himself, but she guessed it was probably excitement. Or maybe even relief. Bradley didn’t seem into all the finery and complications of a massive wedding ei
ther.
They really were a perfect match.
But she didn’t get time by herself to muse over it for long, because soon Missy joined her. Sophia understood that a huge thing had just happened, but the woman seemed chattier than usual, asking all sorts of questions about everything from her plans on what to do next, if Michelle and Kim were going to stay for a while, and if she ever thought about getting a dog or some other pet. In fact, she managed to pretty much keep a constant stream of dialogue going, which Sophia answered dutifully.
She was so busy answering question after question, that she didn’t realize how much time had passed until Bradley came jogging back to them.
“Where were you?” she asked. “That was about twenty minutes?”
“Sorry, people love to chitchat. You know how it is.”
“I suppose.” But her irritation faded as he offered her his arm.
“Are you ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
He grinned, and together they headed in the direction the arrow pointed them to, Missy right behind them.
But it turned out that it didn’t matter if she was ready or not, because once they reached the right floor, they had to stand in line for a half hour. And that was just to get the papers that they needed to sign. Apparently, people were supposed to schedule these sorts of things ahead of time, but they lucked out that there were a few evening slots that had been canceled, so they might have just enough time to fill out the papers and stand in the other line to turn them in.
“We’re not going to get out of here until after seven,” Sophia groaned.
“Huh, well that’s perfect.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Bradley shrugged, his classic move, and it was Missy who answered.
“Because that means we’ll miss rush hour. I don’t know about you, but the three of us in a truck, stuck in traffic doesn’t sound like a great way to spend part of your wedding night.”
“Ah, that makes sense.” Sophia thought for a moment. “You know, maybe we shouldn’t go straight home. Maybe we should, like, get tacos or something.”