“Exactly. So itismy fault. I didn’t protect you from her psycho bullshit. I should have been more firm with her the other day and I wasn’t. I’m so sorry.” Agony plays across his face and I can’t stand it.
Gripping his forearms I say, “Her being batshit crazy and jealous is not your fault! Do not put this on yourself, please. You had no way of knowing she would do something like this. You handled things at the cafe like an adult, because you are one.”
“She’s right,” Eli chimes in. “You told me everything that happened, and I know the full history. Cora has always been a bit strange, but this is unhinged, man. We need to report this. Call Danny. He’s our buddy that we graduated with,” Eli explains to me. “He’s a Fox Grove cop.”
Remington nods and steps into the kitchen to make the call. Eli puts a reassuring arm around my shoulders while we wait, and I have never been more grateful for the people I have in my life right now.
When Danny McEntire showed up with his partner, Megan Grove, they introduced themselves and got to work. Of course there were no prints, but they still needed to check. They took lots of photos, but the most damning thing for Cora was the video footage from Remington’s securitycameras around his house. She didn’t even try and cover her face or hide the fact that it was her doing the damage to my car. She had come after Remington had left for the fire station. The entire time she was working she mumbled to herself incoherently. It was really creepy to watch and left us all feeling uneasy.
Danny told us that he strongly suggested we file charges and each file a restraining order against her. We have no idea what the hell is going on with her or what she has been up to since graduation. She had her business planning weddings and events, but she never came back to Fox Grove to run it. Remington has not had any contact with her; he cut all ties the night he kicked her out of his apartment and broke up with her. Cora being back here now and demanding that Remington fulfill some stupid marriage pact from when they were little kids made us all uncomfortable and not in a “haha” way anymore.
Cora just went from an annoyance to a real threat. And nobody knows where she is.
27
Remington
The only thing that made me able to walk away from Lainey and go back to my shift at the fire station was my parents showing up to the house. I texted my dad to let him know what happened and they dropped everything and knocked on my door twenty minutes later. My mom had Lainey all mothered up on the couch with blankets, snacks, water, and was camped out right next to her. She told me they were not leaving “their girl” alone for one second and promised to take good care of her for me. After the horrible dinner with her own mother less than a day ago, this was exactly whatmy womanneeded. To be shown love, care, and affection not only by me but the other people that are in her life now, too. She needs to know she is not alone anymore.
Danny promised he would get all the paperwork going to file a restraining order against Cora on behalf of both myself and Lainey. Never in a million years would I think we’d have to take this step when Cora knocked on my door. I wanted her to stay the fuck away from both of us, to protect Lainey, but it was hard to believe a couple pieces of paper would be helpful at all. Not knowing where she was also made it kind of hard toenforce it or even press charges for the vandalism to Lainey’s car. Just thinking about those disgusting red, dripping letters spelling out Cora’s clear hatred and jealousy made the fury I felt when I first saw it rage through my blood all over again.
“Hey.” Eli clapped me on the shoulder. “Do you wanna hit the gym?” He could probably feel my mounting wrath and knew I could use a few rounds with my gloves on and some punishing miles on the treadmill.
“Yeah, I do, but I think first I am going to give Rodger Tyler a call.” I look at Eli, who rightfully looks shocked.
“Seriously? You have not talked to him in years,” Eli replies.
“I know, but he might have some information, and I don’t like feeling like we’re in the dark on this. I need to know what the hell is going on. Trust me, I don’t want to make this call, but I will do anything to keep Lainey safe,” I say honestly to my best friend, and he nods in understanding.
“Do you want me to sit here with you while you call him?” he offers.
“I appreciate it, but no, man. I got this.” His willingness to do anything for me, because he is my brother through and through, makes my throat feel thick. He had no hesitation to jump into action today for me, to be there to help comfort Lainey, and I know he wants to help protect her, too.
Eli gives a mock salute, his way of trying to lighten the mood, and heads off toward the kitchen. I pull out my phone and bring up Rodger’s number, hoping he will actually answer the damn phone.
It rings and rings several times before connecting. “Rem?” A voice graveled by decades of cigarette use crackles over the line.
“Yeah, hey, Mr. Tyler. It’s been a long time, thanks for picking up,” I say.
“What’s going on?” he says with a cough.
“It’s about Cora.” I cut right to the chase. I am not about to play years of catch-up. I need information, not chitchat.
A deep, exhausted sigh leaves Rodger before he says, “What did my daughter do now?”
“She showed up here demanding I marry her, based on a pact we made as children. I told her I wanted nothing to do with her a couple times. Made it clear that I’m a happily taken man and in a committed relationship.” He grunts in response, and I continue. “Then this morning my girlfriend went to get in her car and found the word ‘whore’ spray painted in red along the whole side of the car.”
There is a long beat of silence, and I look to be sure our call is still connected.
“You sure it was her?” Rodger asks.
“We have her on my goddamn security cameras, Rodger!” I exclaim, feeling my temper rising.
“I am so sorry, Rem. Cora is not the same girl that ya knew back in the day. She has been hurtin’ a lot of people for a long time, including me and her mother. Now it seems she’s swingin’ back ’round hurtin’ ya even more.” The pain and exhaustion in Rodger’s rough voice is palpable.
“What happened?” I push.
“Jared happened.”
