“I’m going to walk to get the mail. Would you like to join me?”
She hesitated but nodded and stood, walking to the door.
The sun was warm and Rae stood on the porch for a few moments as she breathed in the fresh air and soaked up the warmth of the sunshine.
“Want to spend a little time on the porch? Get some sunshine?” I asked as we walked to the end of the road leading to the farm to get the mail.
She nodded. “Only if you're there, though.”
I took the stack of mail out of the mailbox and smiled at her. “I'll go anywhere with you.”
I sorted through the mail as we walked back towards the house. Duke was running up ahead of us, chasing a butterfly. The butterfly landed on Duke’s head and back, then flew away, to only return moments later. The sight of it made Rae giggle.
I pulled an envelope from the stack that had my name on it, but nothing else. I carefully opened it and looked inside. What I saw made me stop in my tracks.
“Rae, get inside now.” My voice was tense. I hated my tone, but I didn’t know where Ethan was at the moment. I didn’t know what his plans were, either, but it wasn’t worth taking a chance and finding out the hard way if he was still around.
“What? What's wrong?”
“I’ll explain inside the house. Now. Inside.”
Rae rushed inside the house and I followed closely behind. As soon as the door was locked, I closed all the curtains in the front of the house. This was probably overkill, but Ethan had been escalating, and I wouldn't put it past him to be watching from somewhere with binoculars or a long-range lens so he could watch her spiral.
I reached for my phone as I passed her the envelope. “I don't even want you to see this, but you're going to hear about it when I call the department, so...just please don't worry.”
I kept my arm around her as she opened the envelope. “I promise, everything will be okay,” I said before I called my squad sergeant. I watched her closely, keeping a firm hold around her waist. She pulled out a note that read “I miss you” and two printed photos. The sudden realization showed on her face. Her hands began to shake.
The photos were of her and I in the bedroom, last night, before Duke started growling.
“Sarge, I can’t talk, but he struck again. My house. Now.”
Rae dropped the note and photos before she ran to the spare bathroom. I heard the toilet lid opening and as I walked in the doorway, she threw herself on the ground in front of it.
I walked up behind her and held her hair as she threw up. “Caleb,” she sobbed as nausea took over her entire body and caused her to shake more.
“I know, baby. I know. My squad is on the way here.”
“I don't want them to see the photos,” she cried.
“I know, but they have to take them into evidence so they have more to pin on him. I'll have Santana be the one to take them, if that would make you more comfortable.”
She nodded but threw up again while I rubbed her back.
Rae leaned against the wall as soon as she was done. We sat there for a few minutes while she caught her breath. She continued to sob as I rubbed her back and wished that I could make everything better.
“Can I help you stand up so you can wash your face? That may help you feel better.”
She nodded, so I helped her up and to the sink. She was shaky, so as soon as she was done washing her face, I picked her up and carried her to the front room, settling her on the couch under a blanket.
When my squad arrived moments later, she sat on the couch, staring at the wall.
My heart broke for her. I had seen tears in her eyes threatening to fall while I told them everything, but they didn’t until I had to give the photos to Santana. I hated that Ethan made her feel this way. I knew she was embarrassed, and it broke my heart.
Santana walked over to Rae and sat on the couch next to her. Rae looked at her but didn’t say a word. “I will make sure that I am the only one that processes these, along with the girls in Evidence.” Rae gave Santana a strained half smile and nodded.
As her fragile smile faded, I knew the road ahead would be a long one, but something else I knew for sure: she wouldn’t be facing it alone.
