“How long have I been out?”
“Four hours. That’s not bad considering the trauma you’ve been through. Other than the head injury you’re fine. But because of it, we’re going to keep you here for observation for the night, just to be on the safe side.” She glanced at me, my mom, and Pamela. “Do you have any questions?”
I shook my head.
“I’m sure if you do, your mother could answer them for you.” With a quick nod, she left us.
Pamela smiled at me. “I’m so glad you’re okay, Abby.” She moved to my side and leaned down to give me a kiss on the forehead, the scent of lavender whirling around me. “I’ll leave you alone with your mom, and I’ll go share the good news.” She left the room, leaving me with more questions.
Once she was gone I stared at my mom. “How... did you get here?” The words hurt my throat but I had so many questions.
“I got a call from Sylvia, telling me that Larry and Pamela were on their way to come and get me. Our kids were hurt and they needed us. That’s all I knew, but I was waiting when they pulled up along the curb. Larry drove like a mad man to get here and we made it in three and a half hours. I was told it usually takes five.”
I nodded, knowing that was how long it took me.
“Apparently, they received a call from Noah’s friend Sam. He let them know that Nick had found you, shot Noah, and you ran from him. While you were gone, Noah managed to call Sam, and Sam called the ambulance. That’s all we knew until we arrived here at the hospital. After Noah made the call, he found you in his workshop, with Nick strangling you. He grabbed a two-by-four and clocked him over the head with it. After that Nick didn’t give him much trouble. Sam found all three of you passed out on the barn floor. Noah’s in surgery, but he is going to be fine.”
It was a lot to take in. But I was disappointed to hear that Nick was alive, because I knew that that was the only way he’d ever give up on me.
“Noah...passed out?” I breathed heavily, the effort to speak was difficult.
“He lost a lot of blood.” A wash of anxiety flooded through me, but was interrupted when Kathy and Sam rushed in.
“I’m so glad you’re all right,” Kathy mumbled into my shoulder. She was sprawled over me, holding me tightly. Her bright red hair fell onto my face. It smelled like strawberries. Sam stood in the doorway grinning at his wife.
“Um...My throat’s a bit sore,” I managed to squeak out.
She released me instantly. “Oh, I’m so sorry.” She smiled shyly.
I glanced at my mom and held my aching throat.
“You must be Kathy. Abby has told me about you in her letters. I’m her mother, Laura.”
“It’s great to meet you. Anna, I mean, Abby, has spoken very highly of you.” Kathy was rubbing my hand as she spoke to my mom.
Sam cleared his throat. “Um...Abby.”
I glanced his way and the grin I saw earlier disappeared. “Nick wants to talk to you before he’s transferred. You don’t have to, but if you do, I’ll be there.”
My mother gasped and Kathy swore, and then apologized to my mother.
I ignored them and focused on Sam. “Is he…cuffed?”
“Yes.”
I nodded. It was all I could manage. My throat was burning.
“Abby, no. He’s has hurt you enough. I don’t want you near him.” My mother’s expression was unyielding.
I glared at her in attempt to let her know she couldn’t stop me.
It worked. She pursed her lips and eyed me thoughtfully. “Is there any way I can talk you out of this?” she asked. I shook my head. “Fine, I’ll help you up.”
My limbs ached as I stood. I leaned on Sam as he led me down the hall and into a private room. A policeman standing guard at the door. Nick was lying in a pale green hospital gown, just like my own. Gauze was wrapped around the top of his head; spikes of dark hair shot through the top. He glanced at us as we entered the room. His dark brown eyes burned with rage when he saw me. No doubt disappointed to see me alive.
I turned to Sam, who was wearing his police uniform. He must have been at work when Noah called him. “Alone?” was all I said, trying not to speak.
Sam crossed his arms in front of him leaning against the door. “No.”
“What am I going to do?” Nick asked, lifting up his arm that was cuffed to the bed.
Sam only glared at Nick, disgust shining in his eyes.
I reached out and laid a hand on Sam’s arm. “I’m okay.”
He sighed heavily, his face hard. “I’ll be right outside.”
I watched him walk out, standing by the door, leaving it open. “What do you want?” I tried to speak clearly, not wanting to show my pain. I didn’t want him to know he hurt me.
Fury simmered in his eyes. “I wanted to see you so I could let you know that I will get out. And when I do, I’m going right for your man to finish what I started. It won’t be long. I already have my family’s lawyer working on it. It’s not our first domestic abuse problem.”
“You shot someone in front of a witness. They won’t let you out.” I wanted to say so much more, but even the little I was saying, was making my throat burn as if someone had stuck a hot poker down my throat.
“Oh, I’ll get out, and I’ll have you back, you’ll see.” He smiled, knowing he had gotten under my skin. “It’s not over.” His words opened a wound that Noah had healed, reminding me that my life in Shimmer Lake had been a fantasy. He would never leave me alone. This man in front of me was unfortunately my reality, but he didn’t have to be Noah’s. I could feel the hate coming from him as he glared at me, a wicked smile tainting his lips. He was even more of monster since I had seen him last. I couldn’t be near him any longer.
I stumbled out of the room, still feeling weak as he laughed behind me. Damn it, I let him get to me.
My room was more crowded when Sam and I returned. Larry and Pamela were sitting on the empty bed, talking to Kathy and my mom. “Noah?” I asked his mother.
“The operation was a success and he’s in recovery. We expect he’ll be fine.”
Relief washed over me as I crawled back into bed, holding the awkward gown closed. “It’s my fault,” I whispered. I didn’t mean to say that out loud. It was in my mind and I couldn’t get it out. Everyone turned to me, wearing the same expression—pity and annoyance.
“Don’t be stupid, Abby.” It was Kathy who spoke first.
I glared at her. “Nick wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for me,” I whispered. My throat didn’t hurt as much when I spoke softly. I glanced around, glaring at everyone. “Nick is a monster, and he won’t stop. Even bars can’t hold him. And I unleashed him onto the man I love. Whose fault would that be?” Despite my whispered words, they all heard me. Anger coursed through my veins. It wasn’t them I was mad at. I was frustrated that I couldn’t just have a normal life with the man I love. What made a person think they owned another? That they had control over another human being. I didn’t understand it and I realized that there was no way to understand what went though Nicks head. It wouldn’t change anything. He still wouldn’t let me go, and he was still a threat to Noah.
I closed my eyes, feeling embarrassed. My throat was sore from straining it and my head ache was returning.
“Could I have a minute alone with my daughter?” I heard my mother ask.
I opened my eyes just as they exited my room. Kathy was the last to leave. She winked before she headed out into the hall.
Once we were alone, she sat on the edge of the bed. “Honey, you have every right to be upset. But you also have every right to fall in love again.” She leaned over and brushed hair out of my face. “Nobody blames you, so please don’t blame yourself. This is on Nick, not you.” She leaned in and kissed my forehead as Pamela had done earlier, but my mother smelled of lilac, as she had since I was a kid. “Get some rest, I think you need it.”
She was right, I was exhausted. But I wanted to see Noah when he got out of recovery. Maybe I�
��d just close my eyes for a moment.
I fell asleep and the sounds of hushed voices woke me. I opened my eyes and looked around. The room was full again, with one extra person—Noah. He was lying in the bed next to me, talking to his father.
“Feeling better?” Kathy asked when she noticed my eyes open.
I blushed, feeling guilty for the way I had talked to them. “Yes. I’m sorry, everyone,” I croaked.
“Don’t be. You have every right to be frustrated. But just so you know, we don’t blame you,” Pamela said, from her chair between the beds.
“Can I talk to Abby alone, guys?” Noah asked everyone.
Once they all shuffled out, Noah grinned at me. He was wearing a hospital gown that was loose at the top. I could see the white gauze on his wound. “Hey,” he said sleepily. He looked exhausted.
“Hi.” My voice was still raspy.
“How are you?” he asked.
I shook my head, baffled that he was worried about me. He was the one that had a bullet in his body. “I’m fine, you idiot. What were you thinking, taking that bullet for me?” I whispered my words, since it hurt less to do so.
He reached his hand out across the space between us, taking my hand in his. “I was thinking I needed to save the women I love.”
I said nothing, looking toward the door.
“You’re not blaming yourself, are you?”
“No,” I lied. I knew there was no sense, he’d just argue, just like everyone else had. “It’s Nick’s fault, I know that.” The words “It’s not over” repeated inside my head.
“Do you know when we can get out of here?”
“I can leave tomorrow, I don’t know about you. Your injuries are worse than mine.” I swallowed the lump in my throat.
“Yes, but you were closer to death than I was. If I was a few minutes later, you’d be gone.” His voice turned hard as he spoke the last words. “This is just a shoulder wound. I’ll be fine.”
I got out of bed and leaned over him, being careful not to touch his shoulder. I hugged him, sobbing onto his chest, no longer able to stay away. “I love you, I’m so sorry.”
He rubbed my back. “It’s okay, babe, I’m fine.”
A nurse came into the room to check Noah over. I crawled back in bed and watched. “You should get some rest,” she said to Noah, glancing at me.
He turned to me when she left the room, his eyes drooping. A slow smile spread on his handsome face.
“Go to sleep, Noah.” I told him, and surprisingly, he did just that. He closed his eyes, and after a few minutes, he started to snore. I smiled to myself. He wasn’t much of a snorer.
Shortly after, they brought us dinner. I didn’t wake him up, he needed his rest.
Around seven o’clock, Sam and Kathy left. Jamie and Jeremy were at the sitters and needed to be picked up. I told our parents there was no point in staying either. I was tired, my throat ached from my poor attempts to speak, and Noah was still sleeping. They left, promising to come back in the morning. They were staying at the cottage.
Noah was still sleeping when I got my walking papers first thing in the morning. I dressed and was ready to go when his parents stepped into the room. “Where’s my mom?” I asked them, looking around. My throat was a little better so I managed to talk softly.
“She’s on her way. She’s bringing your car. She thought you might want to go home and shower once you were able to,” Larry answered, as Pamela went to sit beside Noah.
“Perfect, I’ll go wait outside for her.” I gazed at Noah looking peaceful, his lips open breathing heavy. “Can you tell him?” I asked Larry.
He nodded. “Of course. I’ll tell him you’ll be back.”
I didn’t answer, just smiled as I left the room, wearing my writing clothes, jogging shorts, tank top and flip-flops. I hoped it wasn’t chilly this morning.
As I stood waiting for my mother inside the hospital doors, I kept thinking back to Nick’s comments: It’s not over. I will get out and finish what I started.
I couldn’t believe after everything, he still wanted to control me, he wanted to own me. Even if he went to jail for five years, ten years, I believed he’d still want me back or try to kill me for leaving him. But I knew he meant what he said about finishing the job and killing Noah. That’s why I had to leave. I had made the decision right after my talk with Nick. I saw in his face, his resolve—he would kill Noah and I had to make sure that didn’t happen.
When my mom pulled up, she was surprised to see me waiting. All I told her was that I needed to get home so I could shower and change my clothes. The morning air was crisp and my skin was covered in goose bumps. She apologized for not thinking to bring me a change of clothes, but she was in a rush to get to the hospital.
Since the hospital we were in was in Martin, it took an hour to get back, and as soon as we stepped inside Noah’s house I began to pack, throwing my belongings in my five suitcases. I had to use a few garbage bags for the excess. I had accumulated quite a bit more since I had arrived here a year ago. I blamed Kathy for that.
My mother helped me quietly. She didn’t agree with my decision and was giving me the silent treatment, but she admitted it was just that—my decision.
When Noah’s house was packed I moved to the cottage to get my work stuff. I added that to the car with the rest and then wrote Noah a note:
Noah, now that Nick is in jail, I’m going home. I miss my family and don’t love you enough to stay here. Don’t come after me, I won’t change my mind. I’m sorry for all the trouble I caused. Abby
It was the hardest thing I ever did, writing that note and leaving. I loved it here; the cottage, his house felt like home to me. Horseback riding on Sundays. Lunch with Kathy at the diner. Waking up with Noah’s arms wrapped protectively around me. These were all memories that I would treasure. But even though this town had come to mean so much to me, Noah meant more. I had to protect him, and that meant I had to make him hate me. And I was sure after he read the note, he would.
Chapter Forty-One
Coming Home
When we arrived at Renwood, I felt a tingle of excitement. I was finally back to where I grew up, where everything was familiar. As we passed my old apartment, the tingle turned to dread. But thankfully, we weren’t headed there. We drove right to Brenda’s.
The front door of her house swung open before we even got out of the car.
There was hugging, squealing, and lots of kisses from Justin and Haley. My face hurt from smiling so much. It was just so good to seem them all. It had been a year, and they had changed so much. Haley’s hair was longer, her face a little thinner. Justin had grown like a weed, and was missing teeth.
As soon as the kids let me go, I was wrapped in a bear hug by my sister. I breathed in her scent of roses, and the tears started to flow again. It was just so strange that I had missed a whole year of my sister’s life. After my father died, my mother withdrew from us for a few months. It was Brenda who had gotten me through Dad’s death. My mother woke up eventually, when she saw Brenda making my lunch, acting like the mother. That night my mother made us sloppy joes—our favorite. From then on it was the three of us.
The kids pulled me into the house and we sat around the living room as they filled me in on what I had missed.
“Abby, you can’t let that asshole ruin what you have with Noah,” Brenda snapped, once the kids went outside and my mother told her what I had done.
“I made my decision and I won’t change my mind.” My voice was still soft, not quite a whisper, but not my normal tone. My face was a mask, unrelenting. It was true; I knew what I had done was the best for everyone. I loved Noah so much, I needed to protect him.
“She’s right, Abby. You have to call Noah and apologize. You found love, real love. You can’t let it go because you’re afraid.” My mother leaned over and placed her hand on my leg.
“I know he’ll get out and I know he will come after Noah as long as I’m with him. I can’t let that ha
ppen. And I don’t want to talk about it any more.” Knowing they wouldn’t let it go, I stood up and went outside to watch the kids play. I was still a little stiff so I lay back on the lounge chair. I felt relaxed watching them run around the yard; their only worry was who got to ride down the small slide first.
Mom and I stayed for dinner. I couldn’t take my hands off of the kids. But after they went to bed Mom moved home, and I went with her. I wasn’t ever going back to my apartment so I’d live in my old room until I figured something else out.
A week later, I got a call from Kathy. “Abby, how could you do that to Noah? He’s devastated. The man took a bullet for you and you just take off leaving some bullshit note about not loving him enough. Abby, I know you.”
I stared at my computer screen; a blank page glared back at me. I couldn’t work here. I needed my cottage, my lake, my Noah. “If you know me, you must know I’m doing what’s best for everyone.” My voice was back to normal, and thankfully the headaches had stopped.
She scoffed on the other end of the line. “Did something happen that you’re not telling me? You were acting weird after you spoke to Nick. I know you blame yourself, Abby, but this is ridiculous.”
“Leave it alone, Kathy.”
“I can’t do that, you know how I feel about you two. You belong together.” I tapped the wooden desk with my finger impatiently as she spoke.
“Kathy, I really have to go, tell the boys I miss them, and you can finally tell them who I am. Maybe sometime you can come visit me.”
“Abby—”
“Got to go, bye.” I hung up, getting out of my office chair and falling onto my bed, flicking the TV on. I couldn’t write, so I might as well give up—for now.
“Abby, who was that?” my mother asked poking her head into my room.
“Wrong number.”
“Is this all your going to do, sit around and mope?”
“Yep.”
“Debbie called again.”
“Okay, thanks.”
Finding Abigail Page 30