Slowly, I climbed up the tree, holding my breath that the hatch wouldn’t be locked when I reached the top. Mom made Dad install it after I failed my first science test in fifth grade. I was so upset thinking I’d disappointed them that I left a note telling them I was running away.
Dad was the one to find me. When his head poked through the floor of the treehouse, I could see the relief on his face. My body tensed, waiting for the lecture to come, but it never did. Instead, he signaled for one of the ranch hands to let my mom know I was safe before climbing inside. I couldn’t remember how long we stayed like that. All I knew was by the time we’d come down, the sky was pitch black and both my sisters were sound asleep.
“Here goes nothing,” I whispered, pulling on the handle. It gave way, and I said a silent prayer before pulling myself up.
Except for a much-needed paint touch-up, the space looked the same. I took out my phone, turning on the flashlight andscanning the room. The toy box Dad had built was sitting in the corner next to a small bookshelf. He’d made sure I had my own little reading nook, complete with a window that looked out over the pen below.
I ran my fingers through the thick layer of dust along the top of the chest. As I grew up, I used it less for storage and more for hiding the things I knew I shouldn’t have. I cleaned it out before I’d gone away for college, but I knew my sisters had used it after I did. There was no telling what they’d hidden in there and forgotten.
Reaching for the rusty bolt, I tugged it free and peered inside. I laughed as I saw a dusty bottle. There was a small, yellowed notecard attached to the neck with twine. I recognized the handwriting, smiling to myself.
For emergency use only – Dad
Dad used to drink like a fish, but he’d slowed down on the harder stuff over the past year. The man was notorious for hiding bottles of whiskey in random spots around the ranch. Sometimes when I came home from college on break, Bishop and I would see who could find the most—which wasn’t always fair, since he had the upper hand by working with Dad every day.
Old habits, it seemed, died hard.
Carefully pulling out the bottle, I twisted the cap. The sharp tang of cheap whiskey filled the space, and I scrunched my nose. I wasn’t sure how people enjoyed it, but I’d never been much of a drinker. When I did, though, I leaned toward the clear stuff.
I slid to the floor, letting my back rest against the chipped paint, and took a sip. My phone lie next to me, and I stared at the lit-up screen. The picture was of my sisters and me a few years ago at Christmas. Mom was adamant about making surewe took family pictures in front of the tree every single year. She went all out, buying us a new set of matching pajamas that were always ridiculously corny.
That year, right before the flash went off, Lennox had snuck up behind me and jumped on my back. Josie was beside me, head thrown back in laughter. It was still one of my favorite pictures, even though it brought back memories I wanted to leave behind. I seemed to have a lot of those. The image was cropped to focus on the three of us, but I could still see a hand resting on the floor next to my leg. My stomach churned as I zeroed in on the simple gold band on their ring finger.
No one had seen the fading bruises beneath my shirt, or the way I’d nearly curled into a ball at my sister’s sudden touch. They hadn’t noticed the thick layers of color-correcting concealer I’d applied around my right eye and down to my jawline. Not that I blamed them. By that point in Thomas and I’s relationship, I’d perfected the art of pretending everything was fine.
It was just another day.
As soon as my screen went dark, it lit up again. Only this time, I didn’t see a photo or a name I recognized. If it hadn’t been for the goddamn Nashville area code, I wouldn’t have known who it was.
But those three digits were a dead giveaway.
I wasn’t sure how Grady had my number. I’d gotten rid of the one I had from high school when I filed for a restraining order against Thomas. My lawyer had suggested it would be a good idea, and Laura had agreed. Any conversations that needed to be had regarding the divorce could be done through our representation.
I was okay with that. I needed it, actually. When Thomas and I first separated, he would get wasted off his ass and call me over and over. Most nights, I was forced to turn the damn thingoff to get a reprieve. I never knew what I’d find when I woke up, though.
Sometimes it would just be missed notifications. Others would be long, screaming voicemails and berating text messages. It didn’t bother me at first because it made my lawyer’s job easier. The case against him was practically building itself. But after so long, the threats and constant promise of danger wear you down. For my sanity, I had to put a stop to it.
The buzzing ceased, but the silence left behind felt heavier. I took another pull from the bottle and winced as the sharp liquor hit my tongue. “Oh my god, that’s horrible,” I muttered, tightening the cap and placing it beside me.
Yeah, I’ll stick to my tequila, thank you very much.
I felt a single vibration and looked down. Out of the sea of missed calls from Josie and Lennox, there was one notification that stood out among the rest.
The Nashville number had left a voicemail.
I stared at it, unable to stop myself from reaching for the device with shaky hands. I should’ve answered the call, but I couldn’t bring myself to face him so soon. All I needed to do was hide out here until he was off the property. It wasn’t like he was going to come searching for me.
Did I even want him to, knowing his wife and child were with him? His wife, who seemed wonderful and lovely if the tabloids were to be believed. Did I trust myself not to do something stupid or reckless or desperate if he knocked on that stupid floor hatch and let himself up?
A steady rhythm shook the floorboards, signaling the start of the show. I could hear the faint shouts of the crowd as the intensity grew, and then everything went silent right before the rest of the band joined in. When Grady’s voice joined the fray, I fought back a sob and hung my head in my hands.
God, I was such a mess. His music had once brought me solace, but now all I felt was pain.
I wasn’t sure if I could do this. If he was serious about moving here, how was I supposed to put my emotions aside? And was everyone coming with him? Surely, they were. It would make no sense for him to come alone.
My dad used to watch those old western shows that ended up in a showdown–two men standing alone in the dust, fingers twitching at the trigger. They always muttered something dramatic about how the town wasn’t big enough for the two of them before shots rang out, leaving only one standing.
That was how I felt right now. Ashwood’s population was barely above six thousand. There was no way I could avoid Gradyandhis family. It was impossible. Every county fair and rodeo and round-up would have me looking over my shoulder, waiting for the moment I’d catch him pulling her close for a kiss or hear her laugh at one of his jokes.
