“You have to?” He rammed fingers through his blond hair. “What if you don’t want to?”
Mia shrugged, her eyes stinging. “I don’t want to. But Uncle Matt says it’s better to go voluntarily than have DCF jumping down his throat.”
“But doesn’t he have custody of you?”
“Yeah. But”—She scratched her arm—“my mom could contest it if she got mad. It’s just better this way, I guess. It sucks.”
“Sorry.” He sighed and turned the music down a bit. “Maybe it won’t be so bad.”
“Maybe.” But it would be. There was no maybe about it.
“Looks like we’re going in here.” Chris hit the turn signal and took a slow right down a long dirt road. Brown fields stretched out on either side of them. In a far off pasture, brown and white cows grazed. Leftover corn stalks waved in the breeze, and a few more flakes of snow dusted the windshield. “Do you know this place?”
“Rusty’s farm.” Mia grinned. “He’s one of my uncle’s buddies. We came here once when we first moved over. His wife made the best blueberry pie ever. If you like pie.”
Chris’s brows shot skyward. “Oh man. I hope there’s pie. I love pie.”
Mia laughed and zipped up her jacket as he parked and cut the engine. “I think you just like food in general.”
“Well, that’s true.”
They trudged over to where Uncle Matt and Liz waited. Rusty approached from around the barn with a big wave.
“What’s up, pilgrims?” He was a big dude with a red beard that took over half his face. Mia figured the red hair was why he was called Rusty, but she’d never ask. “Whoa, now!” He leaned over and looked her up and down. “Weren’t you just five last time you were here?”
She shook her head and tried not to smile, but he made it impossible. “I was fifteen. Same age as I am now.”
“Well, I reckon so then, but I hear you have a birthday coming up.”
Mia glanced at Uncle Matt. He was grinning like an idiot. And Liz looked a little too happy. Chris appeared to be the only normal one in this crew. “It’s next Saturday.”
“Yep. That’s what I hear.” Rusty stuck his thumbs under the straps of his denim overalls and tipped his head toward the barn. “Come on over here. Got something you might like.”
“Um . . .” Mia scrunched her nose. “I’m not much into cows. Or horses.”
His belly laugh carried on the wind behind him. Uncle Matt prodded her shoulder. “Go on.”
“This is the dumbest day.” She looked over her shoulder at Chris. He shrugged and followed her into the barn. At least it was warm inside. And it didn’t stink too bad. They walked past a row of stalls until Rusty reached a door at the far side of the structure.
“My office.” He opened the door with a gentle click and motioned for Mia to go in.
She heard the whimpering first. Tiny yips and yaps filled the warm room.
“Puppies,” she whispered, staring at the large wood enclosure against the wall. A golden retriever lay inside it, six puppies crawling all around her. “Oh my gosh.”
Uncle Matt put a hand on her shoulder. “Cute, huh?”
Rusty beckoned her over. “They’re six weeks today. Come get a closer look.”
“They’re adorable.” Mia leaned over and smiled at the big dog eyeing her carefully. “Hey, mama. I’m just saying hi to your babies. I won’t hurt you.”
“Oh, Blossom knows that. She’s a sweetheart. Did a good job with these little fellas. Four girls and two boys. You see the ribbons?”
“Yeah.” Each pup had a thin blue or red ribbon around its neck. Mia crouched and put a hand into the box. The pups immediately crowded around, checking her out.
“So which one do you want?” Rusty asked.
“All of them.” Mia giggled and patted the little girl closest to her hand.
Uncle Matt crouched beside her and patted one of the boys. “I definitely don’t want six dogs,” he said quietly. “But I think one would be great.”
Mia turned and saw his smile. “Are you serious?” Her heart gave a little kick.
He arched a brow. “If you are. This would be your dog. Your responsibility.”
She blinked hard, trying to comprehend what was happening. “I can have a puppy?”
He shrugged and picked up one of the pups. “I couldn’t figure out what to get you. Then I ran into Rusty at the hardware store. It seemed like a good idea.” The pup licked his nose and he chuckled, put it back with the others, and met her gaze. “What do you think?”
Don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry.
Mia nodded, rubbed a hand across her nose, and rested her head against his shoulder. Uncle Matt leaned his head against hers and they sat quiet for a long moment. “I don’t know anything about puppies.” Her voice came out all muffled.
“I bought a few books.” Uncle Matt’s nose was a little red, but she could tell he was happy. They stood, and Liz and Chris came closer.
“It was more like ten. I was there. It was a bit embarrassing, actually.” Liz laughed.
Mia grinned at her uncle, her heart about to burst out of her chest. “That’s Uncle Matt. OTT all the way.”
“Go big or go home,” he quipped.
“Puppies are just like kids,” Rusty put in, his big face beaming. “Feed and water ‘em, give ‘em a whole lot of love and a bit of discipline and you’re good to go.”
Mia studied the puppies again. “I don’t know how to choose.”
“Ah. Well, you just get on in there,” Rusty took her hand, helped her step over the side of the box, and she sat cross-legged, surrounded by puppies. “Now you wait and see which one you click with.”
Mia let the puppies crawl over her, ran her hands over their soft fur, smiled at Chris, and knew this was the best day of her life.
“We’ll leave you to pick.” Uncle Matt took Liz’s hand. “We have another appointment in the back field.”
Mia smiled. He was such a goof, but right then she didn’t care. “Thanks, Uncle Matt.”
He nodded, his eyes about to spill over any second. “Happy Birthday, kid.”
thirty-one
“That was the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen.” Liz scanned the photos on her iPhone as they left the barn.
“Did you see her face when she finally realized what was happening?” Matthew hopped a little as he walked, his face glowing. If she wasn’t already in love with him, she might be now.
“I got video too. I think she was a bit overwhelmed.”
“Well, they won’t be ready to leave for another few weeks. Which is pretty good timing, with Christmas break coming up. We’ll have to figure something out during the day once school starts back up.”
“Maybe your parents will move in with you forever.” Liz shot him a playful grin and he scowled.
“Please, no. But they’ve agreed to help while they’re here. Funny, but I think I’m going to miss them when they do leave. I think they’re learning to relax.”
“See. Things are looking up all around, aren’t they?”
Matthew’s smile seemed a little shaky. “Well. Look over there.” He brightened, led her toward a white wooden fence, and pointed. Liz let out a little shriek.
“Goats?” There were about seven of them, some black, some white, frolicking in the field, butting heads, and making weird noises. “You weren’t kidding.”
“I never kid. Pun intended.” He pulled himself up onto the fence and flashed a grin. “Watch.”
One goat started it. Like someone flipped a switch, he jumped high into the air. Landed, bounced up and down, and leaped again. And then another joined in. And then another. Frolicking around the field in an almost choreographed display.
Dancing goats.
It was the silliest, most amazing thing Liz had ever seen.
“They really are dancing.” She snapped a few photos and found him watching her with a satisfied smile.
“You should see your face right now.” He hopped
off the fence and stood beside her.
Liz rolled her eyes and smothered a groan. “Okay, whatever They’re cute.”
“They are.” He trailed his fingers over her forehead. “I think you’re pretty cute too.”
“Matthew . . .” She leaned into him. Let him pull her closer and allowed herself the luxury of being held. When she met his eyes, he wore that serious expression again. Liz let him go and stepped back. “Are you going to tell me what’s wrong, or do you want me to continue to think up a thousand worst-case scenarios, none of which make the slightest bit of sense.”
He scratched his jaw, pulled at the zip of his jacket, and sighed. “I think your ex is on the island.”
He might as well have poured a bucket of ice water over her head. Of all the things he could have said, she hadn’t expected this. She wound her gloved hands together and studied his face for any clues that might help her form an appropriate response. But there were none. “What makes you say that?”
“I . . . do you have a picture of him?”
Liz flipped through the photos on her phone, her hands shaking so badly she thought she’d drop it. “Here.” She held the screen toward Matthew and watched him lose a little color.
“Yeah. That’s him.”
She took steadying breaths, half tempted to scan the area to make sure Laurence wasn’t lurking in the distance. “Where did you see him?”
“Outside the gallery the other day. And then this morning . . .” He looked away and she grabbed his hand.
“This morning, what? Matthew, you have to tell me!”
He faced her with an anguished expression. “He was outside our house. Mia saw him when she got off the bus. He asked if she knew where you lived.”
“Oh no.” Liz let out a long breath and blinked tears. “She didn’t tell him?”
“No. She didn’t. Said he creeped her out.” He wrapped his arms around her, and somehow gave her the calm she needed. “Can you get a restraining order?”
“He hasn’t done anything. He’s got every right to be here. Until he actually hurts me . . .”
“That won’t happen.” Matthew pulled back and shook his head. “Not on my watch.”
Oh, how she wanted to believe that. But Laurence wanted something from her. She didn’t know what yet, but it had to be big or he wouldn’t be here. Well, she wanted something from him too. So maybe . . .
“I won’t hide from him.” She shoved her hands in the pockets of her coat and set her jaw. “I won’t be afraid of him. Not anymore.”
“Elizabeth, you need to be careful. Guys like that . . . if anything happened to you . . .”
“I’ll be fine. I’ll call him and see what he wants. I’ll meet him in a public place.” And get those pictures back somehow. Whatever it took.
Matthew shook his head, not convinced.
Fear found its way in again, said she’d never be free of the past. Not really. And here she was trying so hard to move on.
___________
Matthew insisted she stay for dinner at their place. Liz didn’t argue. She enjoyed Phyllis’s company and steered clear of Harrison. Later, while Mia and Matthew were showing them pictures of the puppies, she sat in the living room and fired up her laptop. It was time to put some things to rest.
She’d check Facebook first. She barely used it—didn’t like posting her business for the world to see, and people kept adding her to groups. But she remembered a while back she’d popped into a group created by some girls from her old school. She scanned her list, found it, and clicked over. Still in use, filled with photos from days gone by along with weddings, babies, boyfriends . . . yeah, no thanks. She gaped at the old photos. They all looked so young. Innocent. She looked almost happy. Of course. It had been taken in the art studio. Before she’d made the biggest mistake of her life.
Her fingers paused over the keys. Nausea burned. Could she do this?
‘Hey all! Anyone know where Howarth ended up? Just curious.’
She typed the words quickly, before she lost her nerve. Left the page and opened her messages. Nothing unusual. Except . . . one new one from a girl she didn’t recognize. She squinted at the name. Alannah Grimes. Something made her click on the message.
‘Dear Elizabeth, you don’t know me, and I’m sorry to reach out through Facebook of all places. But you have an unlisted number and I’m not sure where you live now. I’m writing because we have something in common. For the past year and a half, I’ve been involved with Laurence Broadhurst. Yes, before you broke up. (Sorry). He told me he was single. I found out about you through a friend. I was with him the day you came to the apartment to get your things. Threre weeks ago I called 911. He broke my arm, shattered my jaw, and attempted to rape me. I managed to get away and get to my phone. He was released on bail. From what I’ve heard, you’ve seen that side of him too. My lawyer has your name, and I’m sure you’ll be hearing from her soon. We’re hoping you’ll testify at the trial. If Laurence tries to contact you and convince you not to, please stay strong. We need men like him behind bars. Personally, I’d like to see him dead, but I’ll take a jail sentence. Here’s my number. Please call me.’
“Elizabeth?” Matthew stood a few feet away, concern in his eyes.
She was so stunned she could barely speak. “Read this.”
He sat beside her and she waited while he read the message.
Matthew let out a low whistle and took her shaking hand. “Wow. That’s something.”
“Now we know why he’s here.” A shuddering sigh escaped. “I’m sure he wants to convince me not to testify.”
“Which you absolutely have to do,” Matthew said firmly. “You know that, right?”
Did she?
She leaned against the cushions of the couch and closed her eyes. “I used to think about it all the time. Taking him on in court. Watching him try to lie his way out of it. I never actually believed it would happen. And I’m still not sure. He has a lot of friends in high places.”
“But now there’s a police report. Evidence.” He rubbed the top of her hand in gentle circular motions.
“I’m so scared,” she whispered. “I don’t know if I can do this.”
“What if this is the closure you need? So you can finally get on with your life? Don’t you think you deserve that?”
“I don’t know what I deserve.” She stared at him through wet eyes.
“Oh, Elizabeth.” His smile was sad as he leaned in and kissed her softly. “You deserve every good thing. And I can’t wait for the moment you finally begin to believe that.”
They joined Mia and his parents, played a few rounds of Scrabble, then Matthew walked her home, made sure she put her alarm on. He’d tried to convince her to stay the night with them, but she’d refused. She couldn’t give in to fear.
A few minutes later he was back. Insisted on sleeping on her couch. Said his parents were okay with it, they’d call if Mia woke up. So there she was, curled up under the covers, her personal security guard in the next room. But she couldn’t calm her pounding heart. If she testified, there was no telling what Laurence would do with those photographs. And if she didn’t testify . . . could she really live with herself?
And how could she explain that decision to Matthew or her siblings? Of course, she could just tell the truth—if she weren’t so utterly petrified of what they would all think.
Just as she was starting to doze off, her phone buzzed. She grabbed it off her bedside table and scanned the screen. A Facebook notification from her school group.
‘Hey, Liz. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but Howarth died two years ago. Cancer.’
She shut her phone off and took deep, calming breaths.
He was gone. Perhaps she should be sad, but she wasn’t. All she felt was relief.
One demon down. One to go.
Maybe exorcizing the past was possible after all.
If she were brave enough.
thirty-two
None of them wanted
her to meet with Laurence. David was vehemently opposed. Matthew didn’t have to say a word. But Liz couldn’t bear the thought of Laurence approaching Mia again. Or Lynette. Or Evy. Eventually she convinced them that this was something she had to do, but she agreed to do it on their terms. So she made the call, and he agreed to come back to the island on Saturday.
Liz hadn’t really slept all week. She arranged to meet him in a coffee shop. David sat in a booth on the other side of the room, out of sight. Matthew sat in his Jeep in the parking lot. Liz ordered coffee and stirred her spoon around the dark liquid so vigorously it splashed over the side.
Eventually, Laurence appeared, slid into the seat opposite her, and actually smiled. Not a hair out of place, nothing on his face to indicate the trouble he was in. “Hello, Lizzie.”
“Laurence.” She took a sip of the hot beverage and summoned every ounce of calm.
“You’re looking very lovely. Island life suits you.”
“I know why you’re here.” She put her cup down and met his eyes. She’d almost expected to be sucked in again. To be drawn by that magnetic force that had attracted her to him in the first place. But all she felt was contempt.
“Ridiculous business.” He waved a hand, his thin smile showing a smidge of uncertainty.
“Laurence. You put that girl in the hospital.”
“So she claims. You weren’t there, Elizabeth. You don’t know what actually happened.”
“Oh, I can guess.” She clenched her fists and blinked, tears too close. “She fell. Tripped. Water on the floor. Heel broke. I can think up a thousand excuses. I’ve used them all.”
“Let’s just cut to the chase, shall we?” He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out an envelope. Placed it on the table in front of him, his eyes cold. “You won’t testify.”
Her chest rose and fell while she measured his words and her response. “I don’t want you harassing that girl. I know you’re not allowed near her. If you do anything stupid, they’ll lock you up for sure.”
He leaned back, two fingers pressing down on the envelope. “Your concern for me is touching, Lizzie.”
Something shifted in his eyes. She had to be careful. “I’m afraid the case won’t amount to much anyway.” She smiled. “You’ll work your magic and make it all go away. Won’t you?”
As the Light Fades (ARC) Page 27