Wrecked Palace

by Catherine Cowles

  I took a moment to stretch my back. The minutes seemed to slow as we got closer to four o’clock. Just ten more ticks on the clock, and I was home-free.

  A throat cleared, and I turned towards the sound. “I’m sorry, we’re closed for the day—” My words cut off as I recognized the man in front of me. He was the one who had come into the store all those weeks ago and had practically run Shay over. But he looked…less disheveled. His hair was no longer greasy, and his clothes were clean.

  The man twisted the ballcap in his hands. “I’m not here for a sandwich, ma’am. I, uh, I’m Dave Herbert.”

  I froze at the name. How had I not recognized him when he first came in? I’d spent hours staring across a courtroom at his face. The man who had broken into our family home and terrorized my siblings all those years ago. And he was standing in front of me now. My hand slowly reached into my back pocket for the pepper spray I’d put there this morning.

  “I’m takin’ it by the look on your face you remember me.”

  “It would be impossible to forget the man who tried to attack my brother and sisters. Who left scars on them they’ll never be rid of.” Dumb, dumb, dumb. The last thing I needed to do was threaten someone who had a proven track record of violence. I should’ve been screaming for help. But I couldn’t resist the urge to try and make this man understand all the ways he’d hurt my family.

  Instead of anger flashing across his face, I saw pain. At least I thought that’s what it was. Dave twisted his hat into a tighter spiral. “I wouldn’t have hurt them.” He sighed, continuing on, almost as if he were talking to himself. “At least, I don’t think I would’ve. But who knows when I’m messed up on that stuff?” His head came up so he could meet my gaze. “I know there’s nothing I can say to erase the pain I’ve caused, but I need you to know I’m sorry. More sorry than you’ll ever know. I’m on parole now. And I’m getting help.”

  I searched his face, trying to ferret out the truth. Or the lie. “You were high when you came in here before.”

  Dave winced. “I had a slip. Thinking of coming here, facing you, apologizing… I didn’t handle it well.”

  Guilt swirled in my belly. My mother’s face flashed in my mind. The final harsh words I’d hurled her way. She had been fighting for her sobriety, but that hadn’t been enough for me. Tears stung the backs of my eyes. “I can’t forget what you did.” I wouldn’t lie to him. The terror he’d wrought on my family had molded us all into who we were now. “But I appreciate you coming here to apologize.”

  Dave swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “I want to make things right. Maybe I could do some work around your house. Or bring you groceries. Whatever you need.”

  “If you want to make things right, you’ll stay sober. You’ll work your program, and you won’t be the person who hurt my family ever again.” A little of my anger lashed out, the rage that had built over the seven years I’d been soothing nightmares and reassuring fears. I swallowed it back. “That’s what you can do.”

  Dave nodded. “I will. Promise. I got a good sponsor, and he’s helping me. Please believe me. I don’t want to hurt anyone the way I did those kids.”

  “What did you just say?” a voice growled. I turned to see Griffin stalking towards us. “Who the hell are you?”

  Oh, no. This was not going to be good.

  39

  Griffin

  I took another step towards the man. The rage pumping through my veins was a living, breathing thing. I couldn’t have heard him right. This wasn’t the man who had terrorized Will, Ava, and Mia. He wouldn’t have the audacity to show his face here. “I asked you a question. Who are you?”

  “Griffin—” Caelyn began. My head snapped in her direction, and she immediately stopped speaking at the look on my face.

  “I—I’m Dave Herbert. I’m not here to start any trouble. I just came to apologize.”

  “And what are you apologizing for?” I punctuated each word as if it were its own sentence.

  The man’s jaw went hard, and he lost a little of the fear in his expression. “That’s between me and Ms. O’Connor.”

  “Oh, really, now? Well, Ms. O’Connor is my business, so I beg to differ.”

  His eyes widened in understanding. “I really did just come to apologize. I swear.”

  A hand encircled my arm, the touch firm, but the skin delicate. “He’s telling the truth, Griffin. Dial it back a notch.”

  I glanced down at Caelyn. She looked beyond exhausted. Not the kind of tired that meant a lack of sleep, but the kind that spoke of a fatigued soul. My jaw worked. It was my own fault. I’d let my pride and fear get the best of me. When she’d refused to let go of the lease on her house, I couldn’t help but take it personally. All the old doubts about letting people into my life took root in my brain. And the thought of her and the kids going back there…it turned my anxiety up to one hundred. Who would look out for them if they were alone? I knew Caelyn could handle just about anything, but I didn’t want her to have to take it all on her shoulders. And there was always that one thing you wouldn’t be ready for. I knew that better than anyone.

  I tried to lessen the ferocity of my expression because it was by no means directed at her. That’s what had messed things up between us in the first place—me acting like a grumpy asshole. But Caelyn needed a wakeup call. She always saw the best in people. No matter what. And she needed to be on alert now.

  I squeezed the back of her neck. “You don’t know him. He could be mixed up in all of this stuff.”

  “He came to apologize.”

  Caelyn’s mind always looked for the positive, never considering the darker implications of someone’s actions. Normally, I loved that about her. But right now, I needed her to be a little more suspicious. I turned my gaze towards the man I knew was Dave Herbert. “Where have you been the past few weeks?”

  A brief flash of defiance glinted in his eyes. “You’re not my parole officer.”

  My hands fisted and flexed instinctively. “No. But I can guarantee you that Sheriff Raines will be paying you a visit in the near future. And I’m guessing if you’re on parole, you’ll have to answer those questions. He might even piss-test you. That test going to be clean?”

  The defiance in Dave’s gaze turned hotter. “I’ve been here. I got a job working construction.”

  “You go by Caelyn’s house at all since you’ve been out?”

  “What? No. I wouldn’t do that,” Dave said.

  I couldn’t get a bead on him. It was as if he were two different people. One who truly was trying to get his life together, and another who was ruled by anger and something darker. Wherever the truth lay, whatever the shade of gray, I wasn’t going to figure it out now. “You’ve said your piece. Now stay away from Caelyn. And don’t even think about going near one of the kids.”

  He held up both hands, slowly backing away. His gaze went from me to Caelyn. “Thank you for listening. I mean it.”

  She nodded but her grip on my arm tightened, and she didn’t say a word. When Dave disappeared from sight, I pulled her into my arms. “Stop taking years off my life.” Caelyn was silent, her hands fisting in my shirt—the silent tell that her emotions were running wild. I pressed my lips to her hair. “I’m sorry.”

  She tipped her head back so that she could see my face. “For what?”

  “Being an asshole. You needed support, and I was a selfish prick.”

  Caelyn searched my face, looking for something. “I don’t handle it well when people run.”

  My brows pulled together. “I didn’t run. I was right there.”

  “You might as well have been a million miles away.”

  My chest constricted when her voice hitched. I brushed the hair away from her face, cupping her cheeks. “I’m sorry. It’s instinct. A self-protection thing. I’ll try to be better about it, but I can’t promise it won’t pop up now and again.”

  Her grip on my t-shirt tightened. “Protection? From me?”

  “N
o one has more power to hurt me than you do.”

  Caelyn sucked in a sharp breath. “And you think I’m going to? That I want to cause you pain?”

  “No. Not after I’ve had some distance from it. But in the moment, all I could think about was that I’d handed you everything you would need to destroy me. I know it doesn’t make sense, but you holding so tightly to your house…it felt like you were one step from running out of my life.”

  “Griffin…” Caelyn placed a hand on my chest, over my heart. “I’m not running away. I’m just being smart, practical.”

  I understood it. We’d barely started dating. But I couldn’t imagine the farmhouse without the life Caelyn and the kids brought to it. “I’ll miss you when you leave. All of you.”

  Her face softened. “Do you honestly think you’ll keep us away for more than twenty-four hours at a time?” She rolled her eyes heavenward. “I can already hear the whining. I want to go to the pond. I want to play soccer with Griffin. I want to work on the farmhouse. I’m never going to hear the end of it. And you know I’m a pushover.”

  I grinned and tugged Caelyn closer to me, our bodies flush. “And what about you? Will you miss me? Will you whine?”

  She stretched up onto her tiptoes and brushed her lips against mine. “I’ll miss your mouth.” Her fingers wove with mine. “Your hands.” Her gaze locked with mine. “How safe you make me feel.”

  My heart gave a thundering stutter in my chest. “You have it all. And you’re not going to lose it being two miles away.” Hell, I’d spend every night on that blasted back-killing couch of hers if I had to. Anything so she never felt alone again.

  40

  Caelyn

  “Hey, Molls,” I greeted as she entered the store for her afternoon shift.

  She made her way to the back of the store, eyeing me carefully. “Are you okay? You tore out of here with that mountain of a man yesterday before I had a chance to talk to you.”

  “Sorry. Things have been a bit extreme lately. I really appreciate you and Max closing.” The explanation sounded lame even to my ears, but there wasn’t a lot I could share with her. Parker was trying to keep a lid on my mom’s murder until he had more information. And that meant I hadn’t told the kids yet.

  Guilt gnawed at me. Will deserved to know. He knew something was up. But I thought he’d reasoned it away as me being tweaked about someone trying to take Ava and Mia. And he wasn’t wrong about that. I called the school at least five times a day to check on them. But what had happened to our mother… That terrified me to my bones.

  “What’s going on?” Molly asked. “Did someone leave you another note?”

  I shook my head. I had to give her something. “Someone tried to take the girls from school the other day.”

  “What? Are they okay?”

  I nodded. “They’re fine. Sue didn’t let him get past the office. But I’m freaked, to say the least.”

  Molly rounded the counter and gave me a quick hug. “Of course, you are. That’s insane. Is there anything I can do?”

  “I wish there was. Parker’s trying to figure out who’s behind all of this but so far, not a lot of luck.”

  “I can’t imagine. Just let me know if you think of anything I can do to help. Whatever you need, okay?”

  I smiled, and it wasn’t even forced. Some things about living in such a small community were hard, but so many more were wonderful. Like how so many folks had your back, no matter what. “Thank you. It means a lot.”

  My phone buzzed in my back pocket. Pulling it out, I froze as the high school’s number flashed across my screen. This wasn’t happening. Not again. I hurried to answer. “Hello? This is Caelyn. Is something wrong? Is Will okay?”

  “He’s fine, Caelyn,” the school’s secretary soothed. “But I’m afraid he’s gotten himself into some trouble. I need you to come down here.”

  “He what?” Never. Not once in the past six years had I been called to school because Will was in trouble. It simply wasn’t in his nature.

  “He’s in the principal’s office. And Mr. Henry wants to talk to you.”

  “Okay. Tell him I’m on my way. Thank you for calling.” I hit end, my fingers trembling just a bit.

  Molly looked back at me with a worried expression. “Is everything okay?”

  “I have to go to the school. Will’s in the principal’s office.”

  “Will?” Molly asked.

  I almost laughed. It wouldn’t be unheard of for me to be called to the elementary school because Mia was in trouble. She had a fiery temper and zero tolerance for bullies. She’d put someone in their place by any means necessary. But Will or Ava? Never. “There has to be some mistake. I need to go. Do you think you can convince Max to stay on a little longer?”

  I didn’t think he’d object. Molly straightened. “You go. I’ll get him to stay.”

  I grabbed my purse and squeezed Molly’s shoulder as I passed. “Thank you.”

  “Anytime. If you need to take the rest of the day, just text me. I can handle things here.”

  “You’re a lifesaver.” I hurried out of the store and towards my SUV but paused for a moment halfway there, staring down at my phone. I didn’t want to do this alone. I knew I could. I’d faced a million and one minor and major catastrophes myself. But now, I didn’t want to. Instead of letting that freak me out, I hit Griffin’s name in my contacts. He answered on the first ring.

  “Are you okay?”

  My lips curved just a bit at the genuine worry in his voice, the care. “I’m fine, but I’m wondering if you can meet me at the high school. It’s okay if you’re too busy and can’t make it. It’s not that important.”

  “Caelyn,” he growled. “I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

  “You will?”

  “Yes,” he said.

  “You didn’t even ask why.”

  “I don’t need to know why. You asked me to come, so I’ll be there.”

  Emotion, swift and fierce, clogged my throat. I swallowed it down so I could get out two words. “Thank you.”

  “Always. Wait for me in the parking lot.”

  “Okay.” It was on the tip of my tongue to tell Griffin that I loved him. It was absolutely insane and would probably send him running for the hills, so I swallowed that down, too. But I held it inside me, the knowledge of that truth, the light of it. I’d hold it there for as long as I needed.

  “I’ll see you soon.”

  “Soon,” I echoed.

  The line went dead, and I shook myself from my stupor. Heading for my SUV, I beeped the locks and climbed inside. As soon as the high school came into view, all thoughts of Griffin fled, my mind turning to Will and an endless stream of questions.

  I pulled into a parking place where I’d be easy to spot. And as I waited, I drummed an anxious beat on my steering wheel. I wished for magical psychic powers that would allow me to reach through the walls and read the principal’s mind—and Will’s. To know what was awaiting me so I wasn’t ambushed when I got inside.

  My heart clenched. What if Will was freaking out right now? Scared, or worse? I shut off my engine and hopped out of my SUV. I started towards the building just as Griffin’s truck pulled in next to me. He quickly climbed out, scowling. “I thought I told you to wait for me.”

  “Don’t turn that scowl on me. I started to worry, and I needed to get inside.” I headed for the school.

  Griffin jogged to catch up, his hand snagging my elbow but not bringing me to a stop. “What happened?”

  “Will got into trouble. He’s in the principal’s office.”

  “Will?”

  I glanced up at Griffin as I continued walking. “I know. There has to be some mix-up.”

  He wrapped an arm around my shoulders as he pulled open the door with his free hand. “We’ll figure it out.”

  A pleasant warmth spread through me at his words. “Thank you.”

  He pressed his lips to my temple. “Don’t stress.”

  “Ea
sy for you to say. This kid hasn’t been in trouble a day in his life. Something’s wrong.” Possibilities swam in my head. Each one worse than the one before until I’d come up with all sorts of ridiculous scenarios. But I simply couldn’t stop.

  Griffin’s jaw hardened. “We’ll fix it.”

  “Even if he’s expelled?” God, what if his whole future had been ruined today?

  Griffin came to a stop outside the office, framing my face with his hands. The feel of his rough calluses against my skin was oddly comforting. He locked his gaze with mine. “Will isn’t going to be expelled. I promise.”

  Something about the ferocity of his tone had me believing every word. I reached up and pressed my lips to his stubbled jaw. Just like the calluses, they were somehow soothing. A reminder that this man had the toughest exterior but the gentlest of spirits beneath. Those three little words yearned to get out yet again. I settled back on my heels. “Let’s do this.”

  Griffin pulled the office door towards him and held it open for me. I searched the space, finding the secretary behind her desk. “Hi, Nicole.”

  “Hey, Caelyn. Sorry about all of this.”

  “It’s not your fault. Can you tell me what happened?” I’d take any hint she’d give me.

  Her eyes widened as Griffin appeared behind me. “I, uh, don’t know much, but Will punched another student in the cafeteria.”

  “What?!” I shrieked.

  Griffin gripped my shoulders. “Cool it. You blowing your lid isn’t going to help.”

  I felt as if I were in some weird alternate dimension. Will, my Will, punching someone? “Can we go in?”

  “Sure.” Nicole stood, leading us towards Mr. Henry’s office. She knocked twice, and he beckoned us in. Nicole gave me a sympathetic smile and left.

  My eyes went instantly to Will. He sat slumped in a chair, an ice pack across his knuckles. I hurried over, sitting next to him and wrapping an arm around his shoulders. “What happened?”

  He wouldn’t meet my gaze. “I’m sorry.”