Failure To Stop

by Terry Towers

  “You damned kids better not be fucking in my barn.”

  Chapter 9

  One week later

  What in the hell would be so urgent? Violet mused as she drove back to her mother’s place. Her mother had sent her an SOS text telling her to get back home ASAP and refusing to give her any indication of what the problem was and she was adamant that she wanted Violet to come alone. Rather melodramatic if you asked her, but then again her mother had a tendency towards the dramatic, especially since her father’s death, so it wasn’t the most shocking thing in the world. Besides, Devon was at work anyhow, she’d wanted to surprise him with supper, but maybe she could still make it back to his place before he got home.

  Pulling into the driveway of her mother’s home she stopped the car and then stared at the convertible in the driveway. A flashy car. Did her mother have a boyfriend she wasn’t aware of and this was her way of introducing her to him? Her mother hadn’t talked about a new man, in fact, she’d asked numerous times and had always been told she was crazy.

  Curious, she got out of the car and hustled her way to the house. It would be nice to see her mother happy. And she had to say she was eager to see her mother’s new man. A part of her wished her mother would move to New York and start over. While there were countless happy memories in this house, there was also pain. Her mother had barely changed anything since her father’s death and it sort of felt like a shrine to him; it couldn’t be healthy.

  “Hey Mom, what’s the –” She stopped dead in her tracks as her gaze locked with Logan’s.

  “Hello, Violet.”

  She looked from Logan to her mother who was sitting next to him on the sofa and then back again.

  “Your boyfriend came down to see you. He said you had a fight and…” Her mother glanced back and forth between her and Logan, her expression worried. She hadn’t discussed her newfound relationship with Devon with her mother, despite spending virtually every minute at his place, although she was sure her mother suspected what was going on.

  “No, we didn’t have a fight, Mom. Logan’s married and fired me.”

  “Oh." Her mother glanced over at Violet, worried. “You didn’t tell me you’d been fired, honey.”

  Violet ignored her mother’s question. “So what he’s doing here is beyond me.” She focused her glare onto Logan, waiting for an explanation. To her surprise, as she looked at him there wasn’t a single affectionate feeling towards him. Before she’d learned the truth she’d thought his refinement and slightly cocky attitude was attractive and admittedly there was a slight rush to having an office affair, but now that she knew him for what he was, all she could see him as was a pompous asshole.

  “So why are you here, Logan?”

  Logan looked over at her mother and then stood. “Can we talk in private, Violet?”

  “I thought we’d left things pretty clear over a week ago. You’re a lying piece of cheating shit and I never want to see you again. Besides, don’t you have a wife to worm your way back into the life of?”

  Looking over his shoulder, he gave her mother a sheepish look before grabbing her elbow gently, urging her away from the living room and towards the door. “Please, ten minutes. Give me ten minutes and I’ll leave with or without you. I came all this way, it’s the least you can do.”

  The least she could do! How dare he! But, with a sigh, she gave in. If hearing him out meant he’d leave then so be it. “We can talk out back. Come on.” Yanking her elbow from his grip she led him out the front door and around the back to the gazebo, which housed a couple of benches.

  Sitting down, she waited until he was seated beside her and glared at him. “So… Talk. What was so important that you had to follow me here?”

  “We broke up.” When she didn’t respond, only stared at him, he added, “Rebecca and I are done for good now.”

  So? Was she supposed to be happy about it? Eager to pick up where they left off? As if!

  ~*~*~*~*~

  Off a couple of hours early. He couldn’t complain about that. It was even more quiet than normal, it was as if crime was on a holiday and he was certainly fine with that, the quicker he was back with Violet the better. A part of him felt he had to make up for those stolen seven years all at once – he knew it was irrational, but he couldn’t help the feeling. There was so much to relearn about her.

  He was about to pass by her mother’s place like he always did on his way home, her mother’s place was on the way, when he noticed Violet’s car in the driveway. Slowing, he pulled into the driveway behind her car. His eyes settled on the convertible parked next to her, a rental car with Alabama plates. He immediately got a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.

  Getting out of his car, he made his way to the front door when he heard the faint sound of people chatting coming from around back. He couldn’t make out what was being said, but he knew one of the voices belonged to Violet. His curiosity piquing, he made his way around to the back of the house, the voices becoming more clear with every step. As he rounded the corner of the house he could make them out clearly and saw them both – or at least the backs of their heads – sitting in the gazebo with their backs to him.

  “So, you’re coming home then,” the man Devon assumed to be her cheating ex stated.

  He was at odds; part of him wanted to break it up and demand to know what in the fuck was going on, but at the same time he was curious to know what was going on between them. They looked cosy together in the gazebo, apparently so engrossed in their conversation they hadn’t even heard his footsteps.

  “Look, Logan…”

  Devon smiled. That’s my girl, give him shit.

  “What’s there to consider, Violet? Your whole life is in New York. I’m offering you everything you’ve ever wanted. We can get past the stupid thing I did. Come home. I promise you, the world on a silver platter. You just have to say yes.”

  Her shoulders slumped and she nodded. “All right. You’re right. I get that.”

  Was that the same woman he knew? It couldn’t be, his Violet wouldn’t allow herself to be persuaded by a piece of shit like that. But she seemed to be… Their voices lowered, like two conspirators and he couldn’t hear another word said and certainly didn’t want to. Turning, Devon made his way back towards the front of the house and to his car before he did something stupid like pound the living shit out of that asshole she’d come here to get away from in the first place! Beating the other man until the anger was drained from his body was something that he’d not think twice about when he was a hotheaded teenager, but he wasn’t a kid anymore. He had a career and reputation to protect and getting into a fight as if he were some adolescent would just make him look like a fool and prove to everyone in town that he hadn’t changed. He was going to keep his anger in check, be a man and walk away.

  Fucking stupid, that’s what I’ve been, fucking stupid to think that she’d be happy with life here after spending over half a decade in a city like New York. Fine. If she wants that cheating piece of shit and her life there, I’ll be damned if I’m going to stop her.

  “Devon?”

  Just a few feet from the car, Devon spun to face her mother. “Mrs. Phillips.”

  She hesitated a moment and stepped out of the doorway and onto the porch. “What are you doing here?”

  “Not a damned thing, Mrs. Phillips. Tell your daughter it’s been good seeing her again.” Not waiting for a reply, he didn’t dare since he was fighting with the urge to go back to confront Violet and that piece of shit she was with, he got into his car and forced himself to drive away. It was one of the hardest things he’d had to do in his life.

  ~*~*~*~

  Her job back and a raise. Violet was hardly stupid, she knew Logan’s agenda. He wanted her back and since she wasn’t interested in his appeal on a personal level, he was offering her her job back with a nice bonus in hopes of enticing her. Once there he’d do everything in his power to get her back into his bed. She wasn’t buying his pitch th
at she was the best and he needed her.

  But it was enticing, especially considering she had bills to pay and still hadn’t figured out how to pay them aside from giving up her apartment and moving home to her mother’s. But moving back for good meant she’d also have Devon.

  Hearing movement behind them, Violet turned to look over her shoulder towards the sound, but didn’t see a thing. Must have been an animal. It was such a different life here. Hearing rustling at night on the streets of New York was cause for alarm; here it was easily dismissed as an animal or something equally as non-menacing. Somewhere along the line she’d forgotten how calm and relaxing it could be here.

  “So.” Logan look her hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze. “What do you say? I missed you Violet, you’re irreplaceable at work and I dread going into the office each day knowing you’re no longer there.”

  It sounded good, but everything coming from Logan’s lips sounded good, and then the reality hit you square in the face. She snatched her hand from his grasp. “No, Logan. The answer is no.” Logan opened his mouth to protest and slowly closed it again; it must have been the look of determination in her eyes that made him reconsider.

  “Violet, could I speak with you a moment please?”

  Violet looked over her shoulder at her mother rounding the corner of the house, grateful for the interruption.

  “I think we’re done here anyhow,” Logan stated standing, with Violet following suit. He made an attempt to hug her, but Violet stepped back and out of his embrace. She never wanted him to touch her, never again, he’d lost that right when he lied to her, humiliated her, made her into the other woman unbeknownst to her.

  He let out a loud huff. “All right then. I refuse to grovel. You’re losing out on what would have been a good thing, Violet.” He brushed past her and to her mother. “It was nice meeting you, Fran.” He took her hand and kissed the back of it. Her mother grinned widely and giggled like a schoolgirl. Groaning inwardly, Violet rolled her eyes; her mother could have him as far as she was concerned.

  It wasn’t until the sound of Logan’s car starting and backing out of the driveway that she approached her mother, a brow arched. “What’s going on, Mom?”

  “Huh?” Fran’s head turned and she gave Violet a confused look.

  “For the love of god, Mom! The reason you needed to talk to me… What’s so important?”

  “Oh!” Her mother’s blue eyes widened and her pink lips formed a giant “O” shape. “Oh, shit, yes. Devon.”

  “What about him?”

  “He was here. I think he saw you with Logan ’cause he took off in a hurry. Told me to tell you it was nice seeing you again.” She paused, tapping her front teeth with her index fingernail. “Or something like that.”

  Chapter 10

  You have got to be kidding me! Violet slammed her palms down on the steering wheel of her Mercedes at the sight of the flashing red and blue lights behind her. “What in the hell did I do this time?” Even as she asked herself the question, unlike the last time, she knew. She’d been speeding like a maniac on her way to Devon’s house.

  Damn Logan, damn him to hell! She silently cursed her ex as she rolled down her window and waited for the officer to approach her car.

  “Well, well, well, look at who we have here.”

  She didn’t even have to look up to know who it was who stopped her – Will Daigle. She forced a smile onto her face as she looked up at Will. They’d never gotten along as teenagers and upon looking up at the smug smile on his face she doubted that was going to change. Surprisingly in the past week this was the first time she’d run into him.

  “Will. Wow. So you’re a cop too.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  She nodded, rummaged into her purse and pulled out the information she knew he’d ask for and attempted to pass it to him, but he waved a dismissive hand at her. “No need, I didn’t stop you for speeding, although you were in excess and I should be giving you a ticket. I’m stopping you so we could have a little talk about Devon a moment.”

  A frown creased her brow as she looked at him. “I don’t follow. What about Devon?”

  Will hooked his thumbs into his belt, drawing her eyes to the gun at his hip. It’s not like he’d ever dream of hurting her, but she got what he was trying to do, trying to make himself the big man. Well, to hell with him. She didn’t back down to his bullying all those years ago and she sure as hell wasn’t about to now.

  “Look, he had a rough time when you left the first time. So how about you do him a favour and just go back to New York now? I was here with him while he nearly drank himself to death and got in so many fights it’s a damned good thing he’s tough or he’d have been killed. I was there at the academy as we trained to be cops, pushing him to get you out of his head and move on with his life.”

  “You know what, Will? It’s none of your damned business. So either give me my ticket or get away from the car because I’m in a hurry.” She narrowed her eyes at him, challenging him to make his move. “What’ll it be?”

  Their gazes locked and he nodded, turning away from her and taking a step back from the car. “Have a good night, Miss Phillips. But keep in mind what I’ve said. Consider him this time, not just yourself. Maybe in New York the world revolves around Violet Phillips, but it’s not like that here – not anymore.” He tipped his hat at her. “And be sure to watch that speed, wouldn’t want you getting a ticket.”

  Violet sat seething behind the wheel as she watched him in the rear-view mirror saunter back to the car and drive off. The bastard even had the nerve to give a friendly honk as he drove past her. But did he have a point? Was she being selfish by starting things again? She sank back into her seat and sighed, tears filling her eyes.

  ~*~*~*~*~

  He paced and paced and paced some more along his bedroom floor, swirling the tiny engagement ring – the ring he’d bought for her when they were teenagers – around his pinky finger. Violet – she wouldn’t leave his mind. It had only been a little over a week and he was right back where he was before, when they were eighteen. While he told himself it was for the best, that walking away and letting her go back to her old life was for the best, he knew it wasn’t. Every part of him knew he needed her in his life, he couldn’t let her go again. But what was he supposed to do, force her to stay in Alabama, lock her in his basement?

  “Fuck,” he groaned, closing his eyes, lacing his hands behind his neck and letting his head fall back. “I have to talk to her.” He opened his eyes, letting his hands drop to his sides to the sound of a car driving up his driveway and towards his house.

  By the time he made it through the house to the kitchen, flinging open the door to see who it was, she was already standing on the porch, her hand poised to knock. She caught her lower lip between her teeth and lifted her blue eyes up to meet his grey ones.

  “V.” By the look on her face he wasn’t sure what to expect from her, it didn’t seem good. Was this it? She was about to tell him she was going back to that fucking douchebag.

  “Devon. Can I come in?”

  He stepped back, giving her room to enter and motioned to the kitchen. Just keep cool, man, he coached himself. “Yeah, of course. What’s up?”

  “I know you were at Mom’s house when Logan was there.”

  “Ahhh. And, you’re going back to New York.”

  She paused, dropping her gaze to the floor between their feet and shifting uncomfortably from one foot to the other before him. “I haven’t decided that yet.”

  I have to stay strong here, even if it means being brutal. “By all means, don’t stay here on my account.”

  Violet visibly cringed. “You don’t want me to stay?” Her eyes were so damned sad, it made him ache inside because it was his words that hurt her.

  “Don’t stay here on my account. We both knew you were going back eventually.”

  “I – that wasn’t for sure.”

  “You have a great career, an apartment, friends.
You have everything you want back there. Why stay here?” He laughed, but he could hear the hollowness in his laugh. “You want to waste your education and stay here to what? Be a housewife? Work at the local Walmart? It’s not like you’ll be able to get some fancy job here, we both know you have to be there.”

  “I don’t have to be there. I could commute to Birmingham. I could work online. Hell, I could open a little ad agency of my own.” She looked up into his eyes. “I know it’s not perfect, but it’s not like I have no options. Besides, this career wasn’t my dream.”

  Dammit, his resolve fading fast, being angry with her seemed like an exercise in futility. Looking down at his finger, he noticed the tiny diamond sparkling on his pinky finger. It had cost him three months’ pay at the local service station to save for it. He’d been so damned excited at the thought of seeing her eyes light up when she saw it, but never got to see the look of surprise. Never got to hear her utter that one word that would have made his life complete – “yes.”

  Her eyes followed his to the ring. “What’s that?”

  “It’s ummm…” He could feel the heat rushing to his face as he quickly pulled the ring from his finger and was in the process of pocketing it when she grabbed the hand he had it clutched in and pried his fingers from around it.

  “Is that my ring? I mean…” She looked up into his eyes, searching for an answer. “What you’d bought me at prom. The ring?”

  Loosening his grip around the ring, he allowed her to take it, cursing himself for being stupid enough to have even dug it out after all this time. It would be pretty damned hard to pretend he didn’t care what she did when he was holding the evidence that his words were a lie. He was tempted to act like a kid and snatch it back, denying she’d ever seen it or make up some stupid excuse, but he didn’t. He simply watched her as she wordlessly examined the ring.