by Lisa Bilbrey
“It’s okay,” she said, smiling. “Just be glad I have excellent control of my reflexes, or I might have swung to my right.”
“But I’m standing at your right,” he said, frowning.
Elle smirked. “Exactly.”
Derek’s mouth flopped open, causing her to laugh. “You wouldn’t hurt me, beautiful. You love me too much.”
“Yeah?” she asked.
“Yep,” he said, being the one who smirked. “And I can prove it.”
Elle laughed. “How?”
But rather than say anything, Derek encased her in his arms and crushed his lips down onto hers. Elle moaned, letting the knife fall onto the counter with a loud bang. Her hands slid up his arms to the base of his neck, grabbing onto his hair. Derek pushed his tongue into her mouth, teasing her with shallow strokes.
“Oh, shit, um …” At the sound of Lucia’s soft voice, the two of them tore themselves apart and looked to the doorway of the kitchen, where the young woman was standing with a red and white cooler in her hands. “Callum asked me to bring this in here. Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“Don’t be sorry. He gets a little carried away at times. Just put it on the table,” Elle told her.
“Okay,” she mumbled, setting it on top of the dark wooden table. “I’ll, um, I’ll just …” Lucia’s words hung in the air as she turned and rushed out of the room.
A week had passed since she’d shown up on their doorstep with bruises covering her body, which had begun to fade, and she hadn’t spent more than two minutes in the same room as anyone other than Elle and Derek. Mostly with Elle, though.
“Will she ever get better?” Derek asked, causing Elle to look back at him.
Lucia had told him everything the morning after she showed up, and it had taken a great deal of persuasion by her and Sadie to stop him from going to Los Angeles and beating that loser’s ass. Elle wasn’t sure they should have stopped him, either. Granted, Derek would have gotten arrested, but she admired the fact that he was willing to stand up for his sister.
“Eventually,” Elle said. “But she has to want it, Derek.”
“I know,” he groused. “I just want my sister back. The spunky, carefree girl, who asked us if we had any available friends when she found out about our relationship.”
Elle smiled at the memory. Two days before Christmas, Derek’s parents, Carlos and Felicia, arrived on their doorstep with Lucia. It was the first time Elle and Sadie had met them. After the disastrous way her parents and Sadie’s parents had reacted to their relationship, Derek had been petrified about how his mother and father would take the news. However, all they cared about was that they were happy, and gave them their blessing. They embraced the foursome.
“I want her back, too. We just have to show her that no matter what, we love her,” Elle said. “She’s stronger than she seems right now, lover.”
“I hope so,” he mused. “I really hope so.”
Derek grabbed the cooler and carried it through the sliding glass door. With a sigh, Elle turned back to her watermelon and picked up the knife.
Two hours later, their backyard was filled with their family. Sadie had insisted that they invite everyone over and announce that they were having a daughter, but when Lucia arrived, Elle wondered if it would have been better to cancel, or at least wait a couple weeks. However, Sadie refused, saying that the worst thing they could do was make Lucia feel like her arrival had ruined their plans, that the guilt would have been too much.
Elle knew she was right, of course. Numerous times after Leo attacked her, she felt like she had held Sadie back, and she had in a way. She’d been too needy, too reliant on her, but she couldn’t do anything to change the past, and she would do everything she could to keep Lucia from feeling the way she had.
“Dad, leave me alone, and let me cook the steaks,” Callum grumbled, and when Elle looked over at him, she saw him and his father standing next to the grill, both of them clutching the handle on the lid. “I’m perfectly capable of grilling out.”
“Sure you are,” Samuel snickered. “But I’m better. Now, be a good boy and leave me be.”
“Dad,” Callum quipped.
“Cal, just let the man cook,” Lydia laughed. “You know he’s going to win, and this way, you won’t be the last one to eat.”
“Hmm, good thinking, Mom.” Callum released the lid to the grill. “Have fun, old man.”
“Don’t call me old man, or I’ll bend you over my knee and whoop your ass,” Samuel jibed.
“You couldn’t take me, old man.” Callum winked at Elle before he headed over to the pool and sat down on the end of the lounger where Sadie was laying, soaking up as much sun as she could.
“Anyone here?” Elle turned toward the side gate as her sister Ivy and brother-in-law Nick, peered over the top. “Oh, there you are. We rang the front bell, but nobody answered. Thought we’d been tricked.”
“Oh, sorry,” Elle laughed, waving them in.
Ivy had her arms full of plastic bags, but managed to unclasp the latch and walked inside. Thin with short, dark brown hair and large brown eyes, Ivy was three years older than Elle. She and Nick, a tall, dark haired man with huge mocha-brown eyes, married last August. Ivy and Nick had been hugely supportive of her relationship with Sadie, Derek, and Callum, even after they all but ruined their wedding.
“I’m so sorry we’re late. Nick was being slow this morning,” Ivy rambled, dropping her shopping bags in the large, plastic table Elle had set up.
“Babe, really? I wasn’t the one who took an hour to decide which dress to wear, only to have to run back into the house and pick the first one you’d pulled out of the closet,” Nick defended himself with a scoff.
“I would hope not. You’d look ridiculous in a dress,” Elle laughed.
“Hairy legs, armpit hair,” Ivy snickered, bumping Elle with her shoulder.
However, she hadn’t been prepared for it and began to stumble, barely managing to grab the edge of the table before falling to the ground.
“Oh, my God, Elle!” Ivy reached for her, but Elle shrugged her hands away. “I am so sorry.”
“I’m fine,” she whimpered, shifting her eyes over to Callum and Sadie, both of whom had stood up and were on their way to her.
However, they stopped when she shook her head. Placing both palms on the ground, she managed to get her right foot under her, and then she grabbed the table, using it to pull herself up. Picking up her cane, she turned and limped into the house without a word, trying very hard not to let her emotions get the best of her. She’d already been humiliated enough for one day; the last she needed was for them to see her cry.
“You okay?” Elle looked over at the kitchen table, unsurprised to find Lucia sitting there.
“Not really,” she admitted. “You?”
“No, not really,” Lucia echoed.
Elle nodded as she opened a small cabinet next to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of over-the-counter pain relievers. Popping the lid off, she poured four into the palm of her hand and grabbed a glass from the dish drain, filled it with water, and chugged it, taking the meds with it.
“Need some?” Elle asked, holding the bottle out to her.
“I’d much rather have something stronger,” Lucia said. “Some tequila. Maybe vodka. Got anything like that?”
Elle shook her head. “Sorry.”
She waved her off as she pulled her legs up in front of her. “Don’t be. I’m only half-serious, anyway.”
“You know it’s okay to go outside. Nobody here is going to hurt you,” Elle suggested.
“I know,” she murmured. “I just needed a moment alone. It’s all a bit too much, you know? Is that okay?”
“Of course it is,” Elle said, walking over and sitting across from her. “It’s scary, isn’t it?”
Lucia nodded. “I just … Why did I stay, Elle? Why did I let him hurt me time after time? I knew it was wrong. I’m not stupid. I’ve seen the commercials, r
ead the books, heard the stories of women who were abused and stayed. I always thought they were idiots to put up with that shit. And what did I do when Dex hit me? I stayed. I’m a fucking idiot, aren’t I?”
“No,” she said. “It’s easy to justify why they do what they do. I look back at my time with Leo and I see the signs. He was controlling and manipulating, tried to change who I was, and for a long time, I let him. He wasn’t the love of my life, but he was there, you know? And if Sadie hadn’t been there when he hit me, if she hadn’t loved me, I might have stayed with him.”
“Too bad I don’t have a Sadie,” Lucia mumbled. “I just feel so … alone, I guess.”
“You’re not, though,” Elle said, standing up. “I’m here. Sadie and Callum are here, but most of all Derek is here. If you let him, Lucia, he’ll help you. Come out when you’re ready, okay?”
“I just need a few more minutes,” she whimpered, trying to wipe the tears off her cheeks discretely.
When Elle hobbled through the sliding door, Derek, Callum, and Sadie were immediately by her side, each finding a way to touch her. Concern filled their eyes, and Elle felt guilty for pulling away and not letting them help her, but like Lucia, she’d needed a moment to collect herself. She was tired of being the weakest link in their relationship.
“I’m okay,” she assured them.
“Did you take something? Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Advil?” Derek asked.
“Yes,” she said, smiling. “I’m a good girl.”
“Yeah, you are.” Callum snickered under his breath. “Now sit your ass down and let us take care of you.”
“Yes, sir,” she laughed, sliding her hand in with Sadie’s and dragging her toward the pool. “You heard them, lover. They’re our slave-boys.”
Sadie cackled as they settled in a couple of loungers, and watched as Callum and Derek reassured everyone that Elle was okay. Her family had been so supportive of her after she got shot. Samuel and Lydia had been at the hospital around the clock for the first several days, and even in the weeks that followed, there was rarely a day that passed that she didn’t see at least one of them.
Same with Ivy and Nick. When Elle awoke in the Intensive Care Unit, Ivy and Nick had been there, waiting with Derek, Callum, and Sadie, supporting them. And then there were her parents and Sadie’s parents, and Derek’s mom and dad, Thomas, and Leigh, and Tyson, and it was all so overwhelming, yet at the same time, Elle felt so lost and angry.
Even now, she struggled with the attention being on her, which was why she had needed a moment to collect herself after she fell. She was tired of always being the girl with the bum leg.
“Hey,” Ivy murmured, sitting on the end of her lounger. “I’m so sorry, sis. I wasn’t thinking and —”
“I’m fine, Ivy,” Elle insisted, and when her sister huffed, she laughed. “Seriously! I am fine.”
“If you say so,” she muttered.
Elle could tell that she wasn’t going to stop worrying, so instead of continuing to reassure her sister that she wasn’t hurt, she decided to change the subject. “Talk to Mom lately?”
Ivy rolled her eyes. “She called this morning, actually. Said she felt compelled to pray for me.”
“Okay,” Elle laughed. “Why?”
“I don’t know.” Ivy shrugged her shoulders. “Said she’d had a dream where I was in danger, and when she woke up, she felt like God was telling her to pray.”
“Wow,” Sadie scoffed. “She’s a bit crazy.”
“No kidding,” Ivy laughed.
But Elle couldn’t help wonder if Helina’s dream hadn’t been a premonition. After all, Trixie was still on the loose, and she hadn’t hidden the fact that she would go to great lengths to end her life. Would she go after her family?
“Elle,” Ivy called.
Shaking her head, she looked at her sister. “What?”
“I asked if you wanted some water,” Ivy said, slowly. “You sure you’re okay?”
Elle bit her lip. “Yeah, I’m fine, and no, thanks on the water, but I would love a glass of ice tea.”
Ivy smiled. “Tea it is.”
Scrambling to her feet, she rushed over to get Elle some tea. While she and Ivy had been chatting, Lucia had ventured outside, and was now sitting next to Derek, who had am arm on the back of her chair, almost like he was trying to protect her. And Elle knew he was.
“You’re not a good liar, sweetie,” Sadie stated, causing her to look over at her.
“Never claimed to be.”
Frowning, Sadie turned and laid on her side. “You’ve got to stop worrying about everyone. You’re going to make yourself sick if you don’t.”
Elle exhaled a sharp breath. “Please tell me how. I just … I don’t know how to let go of this fear. Trixie’s out there somewhere, biding her time until she decides to come after me again. After us.”
“Yeah, I know.” Sadie dropped her hand down to her belly.
“Oy,” Derek hollered, drawing their attention back to him. “Get your asses over here. It’s time to eat, and they won’t let us fill our plates until you get yours.”
Sadie laughed as she shifted and stood up, reaching her hand out toward Elle. “Come on, baby.”
Elle smiled as she slipped her hand into Sadie’s and stood up, following her over to where their families were waiting for them. Callum wrapped his arm around her waist and pressed his lips against her cheek.
“Are you hungry?” he asked.
“Famished,” she admitted.
Callum smiled. “Good. You want a little of everything?”
“Um.” Elle paused and looked at all the food filling the table. Bowls of salad, sliced fruits, platters of baked potatoes, rolls, and pitchers of tea. “Yes, please.”
“Okay.” Callum gestured to the chair next to where Derek had directed Sadie. “You sit. I’ll get your plate.”
“I can fix my own plate,” she argued.
“I know, but I like doing it for you. Don’t make me pout. Dad will give me crap, and I really don’t want to beat the old man in front of everyone,” Callum laughed.
“I’m not old,” Samuel grumbled from behind them, causing everyone to laugh.
“Of course you’re not,” Callum automatically responded, winking at Elle. “Now sit.”
“Fine,” she huffed. “But I’m doing so under protest.”
“Wouldn’t have it any other way,” he snickered, giving her a tight squeeze before releasing her.
Reluctantly, Elle settled in the chair next to Sadie. She understood that he and Derek liked to take care of them, but she hated feeling so helpless. She couldn’t keep relying on them to do things for her. It was time she started taking control of her life, but that was a discussion to have at another time. For now, she’d just enjoy having their families around them.
Once everyone had their plates and were seated around the table, Callum picked up his beer bottle and held it up in front of him.
“Before we eat, we’d like to thank each of you for being here with us. The last few months haven’t been the easiest, but knowing that when we need you, you’re here has … Well, it’s made it just a little easier.”
“Of course we’re here, darling,” Lydia gushed, placing her hand on her chest. “We love you.”
“We love you, too,” Sadie whimpered, and Elle reached over and held her hand. “There’s no smooth way of saying this, so I’m just going to say it. We, um, went to the doctor this week, and had an ultrasound.”
“Is everything okay?” Samuel asked, frowning.
“Yeah. It was just routine,” Sadie assured him. “But, um, we found out that we are having a baby girl.”
Ivy and Lydia gasped, while Nick, Samuel, and Lucia smiled — the first smile the battered woman had expressed since she’d shown up on their doorstep.
“A girl?” Lydia gushed.
“A healthy, beautiful girl, just like her mothers,” Callum said.
“Oh, my God!” Lydia squealed, scrambling to her feet a
nd rushing around the table.
In an instant, Elle and Sadie found themselves wrapped in the arms of their families, words of congratulations, happiness, and joy echoing, and though she tried, Elle couldn’t keep the tears from falling. Even though her mother drove her nuts at times, Elle couldn’t help but wish Helina was there to celebrate with them.
Seven
“It’s stupid for me to go with you,” Lucia grumbled, and for at least the tenth time in the last two hours, Elle sighed. “This is your job, Elle!”
“I know, and I really need some help. I’m so behind. You’d be doing me a favor,” Elle said.
Lucia scoffed.
“No, seriously,” she insisted, tossing her black flats onto the floor next to the bed and sliding her feet into them. “I have piles of invoices and receipts that I need scanned into the system and filed accordingly.” Pausing, she looked over at Lucia. “Samuel gave the green-light for you to come work with us. At least on a temporary basis.”
“I know,” she mumbled.
“Then what’s the problem?” Elle asked, grabbing her cane and standing up.
“What if people stare at me?” Lucia spoke so softly that Elle barely heard her. “I mean, what if they can tell that I’ve been … you know?”
“Well, your bruises are almost completely faded, so they’ll only know that you were hit if they are really staring at you. But I don’t think they will, honey.”
“Why?”
Elle smiled. “Because they’re not going to care. I don’t mean that the way it came out. I just mean, you’re not on their radar. Hell, I’m barely on their radar anymore.”
Lucia smiled softly. “Yeah, right. You, Sadie, Callum, and my brother draw attention wherever you go.”
“But not at the office. Not anymore. They’ve long since gotten bored with our torrid affair. Now, I won’t force you to come to work with me, but you can’t keep hiding here, either.”
Lucia frowned, fidgeting with the bottom of her shirt. “I don’t want to be in the way.”