by Lane Hart
When my mom breaks down crying, I realize that she really means it. They missed me and hadn't been avoiding me like I thought…or was led to believe.
“Mom, I’m sorry. I never said those things. Hunter never told me you called,” I assure her, feeling thankful when Ben offers me a tissue to mop up my face.
“But why would he do that?” she asks, sniffling even more.
“I don’t know. He’s not who I thought he was,” I tell her. “Tonight, he held Adalyn and Grant at gunpoint.”
“Oh my God. Are they okay?” she asks.
“Yes, but we’re at the police station now, giving our statements. I can’t lose Grant again,” I tell her before I start sobbing.
“Where are you, honey? Tell me where to find you, and I’ll be there as soon as I can,” my mom says.
I tell her the Raleigh police station; but when I try to give her the address of our apartment, I get too choked up. Ben gently takes the phone from me and gives her the information, along with his number to call back.
“Sam? We love you, and we’ll see you soon!” my mom says when he hands back the phone.
“I love you too,” I tell her before hanging up. “Thank you,” I say when I offer Ben his phone.
“Just a guess, but it sounds like he may have blocked their numbers in your phone,” he offers when he places the box of tissues in front of me.
“I think you may be right,” I agree as I try and clean myself up.
“Be sure and tell the officers that too. Everything you can think of they’ll need to know to build a strong case against him.”
“Okay,” I agree, hoping they have enough to charge Hunter and keep him locked up for a long time. If not, I don’t think I’ll ever feel safe again.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Grant
Every tick of the wall clock adds to my concern for Sam as I wait in the lobby of the precinct. At least my pacing is keeping Adalyn asleep through this whole ordeal.
I gave my statement over two hours ago. It was short and sweet, and I think the officer actually believed I was telling the truth. Now I’m wondering what’s taking so long with Sam.
She had a longer story to tell, of course. One that makes me almost wish I had pulled the trigger and blown a hole through that asshole’s head while I had the chance. But then, I knew I would’ve been arrested, and I would miss out on a life with my daughter and Sam. He just wasn’t worth it. Besides, the fucker will suffer so much more when they throw his ass in jail with all the other criminal deviants. He should fit in just fine.
Months ago, when Sam and he were in high school together, I realized the boy was a little possessive and crazy about her, but I had no idea what he was capable of. How could he hurt the person he claimed to love so badly?
It can’t be easy for Sam to have to retell what happened to her, especially in front of strangers. I’ve always thought she was incredibly brave and strong, but even I underestimated her. She’s a fighter, more courageous than I will ever be. If I could go back and take her place, I would. I would do anything to keep her safe.
Finally, the lobby door opens, and Sam walks out with Ben, both of their faces looking tired yet relieved.
“You’re both free to go,” Ben says, giving me a small smile while clasping my shoulder.
“Really?” I ask in surprise. I had been expecting them to slap the handcuffs back on me and haul me away. Thank God that’s not the case.
“Yes. They’re going to detain Hunter on the sexual assault after he’s released from the hospital and they’ll ask the Attorney General to take his case from Rockford County since his dad is the mayor up there,” Ben informs me. “He’s also being charged with assault by pointing a gun and communicating threats here in Wake County, and the gun was definitely registered in his name, so you’re clear on that. Although, you’ll probably be getting a call from your probation officer tomorrow since he’ll receive a copy of the police report.”
“I can handle him,” I say before turning my attention to Sam. “Are you okay? Do you need anything?” I ask her, wanting to touch her; but now that I know what happened, I’m afraid to do anything that may make her uncomfortable.
“Just hold me,” she says, thankfully stepping into my body and resting her face on my chest next to Adalyn. Sam gives our sleeping daughter a kiss on her forehead, and I’ve never known such a feeling of contentment existed before now, knowing my two girls are safe in my arms.
“Ready to go home?” I ask Sam, and she nods. “Thanks for everything,” I tell Ben. “I know it wouldn’t have been this easy without you here.”
“No problem,” he says. “I’m glad I could help. Now get them home and get some rest.”
“I will,” I assure him.
With an arm around Sam’s shoulders, I steer her toward the dark parking lot. As soon as we walk out the door, I hear Sam’s name being yelled. Both of us turn to our left and find who I assume are her mom, dad and sister rushing towards us.
Sam meets them halfway and is swallowed up in the center of their group hug.
I know she told me that they were angry and disappointed that she got pregnant and still went off to college, but these people don’t look like a family that’s shunned her.
“He kept them from her,” Ben whispers from beside me. “The bastard must have blocked their numbers in her phone. They had been calling Hunter since they couldn’t get a hold of her, and he didn’t give Sam any of the messages.”
“Wow,” I mutter in shock at how fucked up Hunter must be if he could hurt Sam in so many awful ways. “So, all this time, Sam thought they were giving her the cold shoulder…”
“And he was manipulating them all,” Ben finishes. “The psycho probably wanted her to be completely alone, to isolate her so that she would have no one in her life but him.”
“He did the same damn thing to her when they were in school. I should’ve realized the asshole was insane and overly possessive of her…”
“There was no way for you to know what he was doing if she didn’t after being close to him for years,” Ben assures me, even though I refuse to agree with him. If only I had noticed, maybe none of this would’ve happened after prom.
“Mom, Dad, Stacy, I want you to all finally meet Grant and our daughter Adalyn,” Sam says tearfully when she brings the group over to us.
“Oh, she’s just beautiful!” her mom exclaims, just as emotional as Sam, if not more so, when she sees the baby. “Can I hold her?” she asks me.
“Of course,” I say, placing Adalyn in her waiting arms.
“It’s nice to finally meet you all. I should’ve introduced myself to you sooner, but…” I start.
“We understand,” her father cuts me off. “I would’ve threatened to shoot anyone who knocked up my teenage daughter. But now I realize that she’s not a little girl anymore; and if she cares about you, then I trust her judgment,” he says, holding out his palm for me to shake.
“Thank you, sir. I love her deeply and never meant for any of this to happen to her.”
“That’s in the past now,” he says, releasing my hand. “We all have quite a bit of time to make up for, so why don’t we get out of here and go someplace where we can catch up?” he suggests.
“You can follow us back to our apartment if you want?” Sam offers.
“Of course we want to see your place!” Stacy says excitedly. “I still can’t believe my big sis is all grown up, going to college, living on her own, and has a new baby!”
“And a soon-to-be husband,” I tell them as I put my arm around Sam’s shoulders, unable to keep our news a secret any longer. “That is, if she’ll still have me,” I add, looking down into Samantha’s eyes.
“Always,” she says, pressing herself to me and wrapping her arms around my waist.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Sam
“You know I’m not trying to rush you into anything, right?” Grant asks me as we cuddle on the sofa after my family leaves to get a
hotel room, and Adalyn’s down for the night. “We can wait and plan a small wedding in a few weeks or months.”
“I know,” I assure him, snuggling down deeper into the warmth of his chest. The close contact is comforting, not intrusive since both of us are fully clothed, and I know that nothing more intimate will occur. A part of me is also sad that I can’t just forget the past and move on with Grant. It’s not fair to him, which is the only reason I’m a little hesitant about getting married.
“But if we wait, you can’t stay here, and we’ve been apart long enough as it is,” I tell him. “Before we do this, though, I want to be honest with you about something.”
“Don’t even bring it up, baby,” Grant replies with a brush of his lips over my temple. “I told you that I could wait however long it takes for you to be ready for us to sleep together again.”
“I know, and I appreciate that you’re willing to be patient with me.” Sighing, I finally say what’s been on my mind. “The thing is, when we first started seeing each other, you talked about all the various…kinks you’re into. And well, after what happened, I know that I’ll never be able to handle being restrained again.”
“Sam, I don’t care about any of that. Do you think I would ever want to do that to you after what happened the last time?” he asks, turning to face me. “Because I couldn’t.”
“You may say that now, but what if, later on, in a few months or years you get bored…”
“I will never get bored with you!” he exclaims.
“You don’t know that. Everything was so new before, and now…”
“I do know that. I know without a single doubt that you’re all I want. You, in whatever way you let me have you, for the rest of our lives.”
“But you wanted the other things before,” I remind him. “How can you just all of a sudden say it doesn’t matter?”
“That was different,” he replies on a heavy exhale. Running his fingers through his hair, he tells me, “With other women, the bondage, the spankings and everything else was what I needed, because otherwise, it was just boring, meaningless sex. I didn’t care about those girls, but I care about you. What we have without sex is worth so much more than that.”
“You’re sure you can give those things up?” I ask him one last time.
“I’m certain I can because to me it’s not giving anything up; it’s getting you, baby.”
Grant leans forward and lightly brushes his lips over mine. And while it feels amazing, it’s just going to take some time before I’m able to take things further.
“I do want you. How could I not,” I tell him when I reach up to grab the side of his sexy, scruffy, unshaven face. “Just promise me that you won’t give up on me.”
“I could never give up on you,” Grant says, his blue eyes soft and sincere. “When I tried to, it was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to suffer through, more painful than even prison. I love you, baby, and there’s nothing you can do to change that.”
…
Grant
“By the powers invested in me by the state of North Carolina, I now pronounce you, husband and wife,” the old, graying magistrate says to us with a smile. “You may kiss your bride.”
I can kiss my bride.
With a few simple words, I’ve become a married man, something I never thought I would want. And then I met Sam, and she showed me everything that I was missing in my life. I need her and can’t imagine going another day of my life without seeing her.
Although, I do wish our wedding ceremony could’ve been more elegant than this plain, dusty courtroom. But it’s not the place where we say our vows that matters. The most important thing is that I’m binding myself to the amazing woman standing beside me for eternity.
Today, Sam’s gorgeous in her simple, short, sky blue dress. Combine her natural beauty with the fact that she’s holding our daughter in her arms, and she looks like a goddess. Her fern-colored eyes are looking up at me with all these expectations that tighten my chest. Like I’m her savior and can do no wrong. I hate seeing the hesitancy and fear on her face that was never there before. There’s nothing I can do to erase the past, but I was telling her the truth when I promised I would love her forever, for better and for worse.
Reaching for her jaw since kissing her seems to be within her comfort zone, I finally lower my lips to hers. And, as I kiss my wife for the very first time, both of our families cheer and applaud in the background.
I’ve actually been pleasantly surprised by how supportive Sam’s parents are for us. Apparently, they were never big fans of Hunter, so as long as she’s not with him anymore, they seem happy. Oh, and now that they’re just as in love with Adalyn as Sam and I are, I get bonus points for helping to bring her into the world.
“Am I dreaming, or are we really married?” Sam asks with the biggest smile I’ve seen on her face since probably before I was arrested.
“You’re mine forever now,” I tell her. “My only regret is that I couldn’t even afford to buy you a diamond engagement ring,” I say when I lift her hand and kiss her knuckle right above her white gold wedding band.
“This is all I need,” she says, raising my hand so that she can spin the slightly thicker ring around my finger that matches hers. “Proving you’re mine.”
Giving her another quick kiss before we have to move along for other couples to say their vows here in the courthouse, I take Sam’s hand and lead her over to our family, my parents and hers, Stacy, Ben and his wife Donna. Everyone exchanges hugs and congratulates us all while Adalyn sleeps in Sam’s arms.
“She doesn’t seem very impressed,” I tell Sam while trying to smooth down Adalyn’s cowlick that she unfortunately inherited from me.
“Well, that’s because my breast is about the only thing that she cares about right now,” Sam teases. “And I hate to leave you on our wedding day, but I have to get to class.”
“Here, hand her over, and I’ll take her home so you can go,” I tell Sam, sad that we can’t just spend the day together, but proud of her for being so dedicated to her education. “We’ll see you tonight,” I say with a kiss. And then after she tells everyone goodbye, Sam leaves.
It’s a shame that I wasn’t able to give Sam a fancy wedding or plan a romantic honeymoon. Until I find a job doing who knows what, the fact is I don’t have much to offer her.
Sam was well aware of my current circumstances when she agreed to marry me, so I have to hope that just being around is enough for her for now. My wife and daughter deserve the world. I want to be able to provide for them, to give them everything they could ever want or need.
I could easily blame Hunter or the law, but really the only person I have to blame is myself. I knew the risks and the consequences of being with Samantha, and I did it anyway.
Although it may take me some time, one day I will make it up to Sam and Adalyn.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Grant
Over the next few weeks, I don’t see much of my wife because of classes and studying for final exams.
When Sam is home, she’s always working thoughtfully on her laptop, so I try not to bother her.
I’ve become a stay-at-home dad, applying to countless jobs without a single call back. And while I love spending time with my daughter, I hate that I’m not contributing financially. We’re living off of a loan from my parents and Samantha’s financial aid. Each day the lack of accomplishment or productivity stresses me out a little more. In fact, I’m starting to think that the silence I’m getting from Sam is because she’s expecting more from me too.
Thankfully, in May, I get a phone call that alleviates most of those concerns.
“So, I just got off of the phone with Ben,” I tell Sam when I cross my arms and lean against the doorframe of her bedroom. It’s a boundary that I’ve had for weeks now and one I’ve humbly accepted. While I’ll continue to sleep on the sofa as long as it takes for Sam to invite me into her bed, that doesn’t mean that I don’t yearn to just be i
n here and holding her every night.
“Oh? How are Ben and Donna doing?” Sam asks without looking up as she continues to sort and fold the laundry.
“They’re good, and he had some news for me.”
“Good news or bad?” Sam looks up and asks, pausing with one of Adalyn’s pink gowns in her hands.
“Apparently, the Motion for Appropriate Relief you drafted on my behalf was impressive enough that it caught the attention of the state’s Attorney General’s office. We have a meeting with the AG himself next Monday.”
“You’re kidding!” she gasps. “Seriously?”
“Seriously. Now I think I should get to see this amazing motion that I filed.”
“Sorry,” she says with a cringe. “Ben helped me edit and file it. We only kept it quiet because we didn’t want you to get your hopes up, you know, in case nothing happened and it went right in the trash.”
“Well, it didn’t go into the trash,” I assure her. “What the heck did you put in there?” I ask her, causing her face to redden even more.
“Just the facts of the case, and, um, everything that happened after your arrest. There was some case law I found too about marriage, and then we attached my affidavit stating that I was a consenting adult and I would’ve married you if that had been offered back then. A similar case was thrown out because of marriage, but the defendant was a female teacher with a male student, which is so freaking sexist…”
“Sam, baby?” I say to stop her rambling. “You’re amazing; you know that? I can’t believe you were able to do this all on your own.”
“I didn’t. There were MAR templates on the internet, and Ben helped.”
“That’s not what he said. He told me he only changed a word here or there and suggested a few additions, but that you were the mastermind. I think his words were that you’re better at legal research and motion writing than he was the third year of law school.”