Prologue
Rae Whitaker
Moonlight streakedacross the floor of the living room, casting an eerie glow around me as I carefully walked across the room. I made sure to avoid the spots that creaked so I didn't wake him up. I had successfully snuck out of our room before without waking him, and I could do it again this time. However, this time, I did not plan on walking back into this house. I took a few steps and then stopped and listened to his breathing. He was still snoring.
The nightmares, the constant fear of “what if,” led me to this choice, and there is no way in hell I would change my mind this time. I took a few more steps and my breath caught when I did not hear him snoring. I stopped. My heart beat so hard, I was sure the sound of it could almost wake him. Thirty seconds or so passed and he started snoring again. I let out a quiet breath of relief and continued moving to the front door.
I passed by the wall of photos I had hung up, good memories, even great ones, with people who I love, and someone I thought loved me. I shook my head as if that would help erase the thought from my brain and continued to tiptoe to the front door.
I had stashed a duffel bag under the kitchen sink after work, with only a few things in it that I had bought at the store and a few essentials that I figured he would not notice were missing. I then called my mom and asked her if I could come stay with her and dad for a few weeks. She said they were out of town, but I was welcome to stay as long as I needed to. She sounded concerned even though I attempted to sound as cheerful as possible. I did not want to ruin their vacation, or make them come home early, so I figured I would tell them only what was necessary later. No sense in them worrying since I was leaving anyway. I quietly removed the bag from its hiding place and moved swiftly to the front door.
I paused at the door, wondering if I was making the right choice by leaving. It’s not been all bad. Some days were better than others. I turned from the front door to look back towards the living room and kitchen, and memories started to flood my head. The first time we walked in the house, when my best friend brought her kids over for the first time and they took their first steps in the hallway. But just like the good memories, the bad ones came flooding in as well. I shook my head to try and clear the bad memories, then rolled my eyes as I realized how stupid that thought was. I crept back over to grab the photo of my best friend and I, along with one of me and my parents.
I paused again by the front door to quickly put the photos in my duffel bag and turned to open it, but then I froze when I heard movement coming from the direction of the bedroom. Movement followed by him quietly calling out “Rae? You in the kitchen?” I froze, forcing myself to breathe through the fear that welled up inside. At that moment I decided this was the only chance I had, and I flung open the front door and ran out, not caring about any noise I made in the process.
I ran to my car, opened the door, threw my bag in, and hopped in as swiftly as possible. Before I could shut the car door, I heard him calling my name and yelling something indecipherable. Shutting the car door at least muffled his voice. As I went to start the car, a light came on inside the house. My hands were shaking so badly but somehow, I managed to turn the key and bring the engine to life. I quickly backed out of the driveway and as I pulled onto the street he stood on the front porch staring at the car as I drove away. For now at least, I could breathe and was safe.
Chapter 1
Caleb Walker
“I'll be right back, Duke. I'm just running to the store to get more apples for the horses.” I patted the soft, fuzzy block-like head of my new best friend. He looked up at me with the saddest puppy dog eyes, begging me to take him with me, like I had been doing most days since I brought him home. However, the weather would probably warm up, and I did not want to leave him in the truck while I went into the grocery store.
“Okay, how about a treat to make it up to you?” I dug into the treat jar by the front door and tossed one to him. Duke walked forward, watching the treat midair. However, he walked a little too far, and it landed on his back, startling him and making him dart across the room to find a place to hide. I laughed as I bent down to pick up the treat and walked it over to Duke, who was now shaking under the kitchen table. As I offered the treat, by hand this time, he investigated it to make sure it would not try and get him again.
“Don’t worry, boy. It won’t get you. I’ll try and remember you aren’t great at fetch yet, too.” I scratched under his chin after he took the treat. I made a mental note to myself to pick up a couple more toys at the store to help him learn to catch, something we had been working on since I brought him home.
The shelter had only given me limited information: “approximately 10 months old, American Staffordshire Terrier. Male.” Knowing staffies were among the list of breeds most people avoided adopting, and after seeing that this pup was the only staffie there, I had chosen the little underweight pup and named him Duke. Over the last few weeks, Duke had put on weight, come out of his shell, and had shown me he was the silliest, happiest, most loyal pup ever. Unlike what many people thought about the breed, Duke was the most loving and snuggly dog, and also a scaredy-cat.
Before I stood up, I scratched behind Duke’s ears again and gave him a gentle hug, then walked to the front door, reassuring him I would be back soon.
The air outside felt warm but thankfully not sweltering like it would be during the summer months. Stepping off the porch, I saw my neighbor Jenny as she passed by with one of the horses. I had hired Jenny for part-time help around the farm after her home caught fire a few months ago. She needed the extra cash for the home repairs, and I needed the help once my brother had moved. It was the best decision I had made in a long time considering not only that it helped a dear friend, but I did not have to admit to someone I barely knew I was struggling to do everything by myself while working full-time at the sheriff’s office. Jenny had been my neighbor since we were in grade school together, and unlike most of our friends, she went to a local college.
As I raised my hand to wave at Jenny to say good morning, Luke walked out of the barn with another horse. Just like always, Jenny’s focus shifted the moment Luke appeared. I laughed to myself as I hopped in my truck, wondering when either of them would realize they were in love with each other and not just best friends. I started the engine of my truck and began driving away from the house, looking in the rear-view mirror and seeing Luke help Jenny into the saddle. He had been helping rebuild her house for only the cost of materials and came over to spend time with her any day she worked on the farm. Seeing them together, despite them not admitting they loved each other, reminded me of...
No. I can’t think of that right now.
