Page 35 of Love At Peace

If he was moving on to Nevaeh, what did that mean for me?

If he was content to find a new woman to control, could it really mean that I was free?

No. I doubt it.

When I arrived, Janelle greeted me warmly. She hadn’t changed her opinion of me despite the data being compromised on my laptop, and that mattered.

“I’m glad Eric’s all right at home.” She smiled after I caught her up. “And if you need to take a break and want to check on him, that’s no issue, Heather. Family first.” She smiled.

Family.

It was the first time I could accept hearing that word and not want to cringe. Being back in Burton threatened to make me relive the memories of my parents, but the longer I stayed, I was forming new memories to replace the old bad ones. Like rekindling, or kindling, a relationship with my cousin when he was hurt.

“Thanks, Janelle.”

“Before you head to your office, I want to remind you that the job is still an option.” She smiled softly. “It won’t be too soon. The transfer wouldn’t be until months from now. So I’m sure Eric would be recovered by then, but don’t forget about that position in Wisconsin Dells.”

I nodded, not sure what to say other than a mild thanks. I hadn’t forgotten about the job. Since I bluffed and told Roarke that I was taking this job, I neglected to think about it any further. Then with the news about Eric being missing, then hurt, I didn’t give it any consideration.

Now, though, with it on my mind, I had to wonder if I should go or stay. Eric wouldn’t “need” me here by then.

But would it even make sense to go?

One of the biggest reasons I would consider taking that job was to get away from David. He’d followed me to Burton all the way from Chicago, and it wouldn’t be a challenge for him to chase me down in Wisconsin Dells, either. A deep thread of fear would always reside in me that I would never be far enough away from him to be safe. That no location would ever be a safe haven where you couldn’t reach me or hunt me down.

Now that David would be connected to Nevaeh, would he care to expend all his energy on trying to control me? It was clear that he was getting in her head already. He had already convinced her that he could do no wrong. She defended him to Marty, claiming that her “boyfriend” wasn’t a bad guy.

There was no way to know what I should do. Nance and Fergus weren’t too helpful with advice either, and we talked about this job transfer when I went to her house for that raincheck of a movie night.

Much to her dismay, the internet stopped and we couldn’t continue streaming the movie. I felt lost though, so I didn’t mind. Fergus was vested though, wanting to complete the rewatch of the second Star Wars installment, which he believed was the best of the series.

“I hate this,” Nance said, giving up on getting the streaming service to work. “I miss the dial-up cable.”

“Eh, we’ll pick up on finishing it another day,” Fergus said. “Oh, we could have a movie marathon. Winter is perfect for those.”

“Yeah, don’t they usually have a marathon of these movies over Christmas?” I said.

Nance shrugged, frowning. “All this talk about you taking that job in Wisconsin has me thinking you won’t stay for long.”

“Janelle said the position wouldn’t actually be filled for months from now,” Fergus reminded her.

“But I don’t want you to go at all,” Nance said, imploring me with a sad face.

“I haven’t made my mind up,” I told them both as Fergus and I got our coats on to go. He’d walk me out so I wouldn’t be alone. Nance grabbed her coat too, to see us to our cars.

We walked out as a group, but even with them at my side, I tensed when a man walked up quickly and got in my face.

David ended his spell of hiding. He strode up to me, looking me directly in the eye. Fergus cut in front of me, and Nance tugged me back and kept me close. They both were aware of what David looked like, but even if they hadn’t he’d stalked up so quickly, cornering us near Nance’s garage, his approach would be threatening and predatory no matter who he was.

“Get back,” Fergus warned.

“What the hell do you want?” Nance demanded.

I stiffened, holding my breath at the sight of my controlling ex, but I fought not to be paralyzed in fear. I wasn’t alone. He couldn’t grab me and drag me away. His words couldn’t cut into me and make me think that he was right and that I had to do as he said. Nance and Fergus were right here with me. They’d hang on to my arms and keep me back. They’d call the cops. Nance was liable to call her gruff husband outside and scare David away. Fergus might be cocky and try to punch him.

“Oh, look at you,” he sneered, not flustered with my two new friends. “Acting like you got people who care about you here. Like you can ever be worthy of someone.”

“Shut up.” Nance stepped forward. “You shut the hell up right now, mister.”