Page 89 of Together Is Where We Belong

I turned to Leo, the nightlight beside Luke’s bed illuminated his face, and he stared down at me as realization hit me. The Mitchell that Luke had mentioned was a nurse I’d worked with at the hospital in South Carolina. The very Mitchell who knew about my son’s allergy and had used it to hurt my son. Leo stilled as he stared down at me, and his eyes searched my scared ones.

“What is it?” Leo asked, his voice full of concern.

“There’s only one person I know named Mitchell,” I whispered as I swallowed hard.

“Who is he?” Leo asked as he reached over and took my hand within his own.

“A nurse I used to work with,” I confessed and looked down at our linked hands.

It was a hard pill to swallow knowing that a person I barely knew was obsessed with me, and he’d tried to hurt the person I loved most in the world to get to me.

twenty-two

Carolina

The urge to run after hearing Mitchell’s name last night was strong. I thought for sure we’d be safe here at the ranch, but we no longer were. Not at the ranch. Not at my home. Not in Haven Valley. I’d avoided Leo’s concerned gaze all day as we both hovered over Luke who’d woken up energetic albeit a little tired in his eyes.

Leo and I’d both called out of work so we could keep a watchful eye on Luke. Leo called the sheriff and gave him the name of the nurse that we suspected had given Luke the cookie the night before, and he promised to look into his whereabouts.

After he’d settled down for the night and we’d tucked him in, I’d made a cup of tea and sat outside on the porch swing. I stared off into the distance and followed the lights as they illuminated from the lightning bugs that flew about.

The smell of rain was in the air; no stars lit up the now black night sky.

Every fiber of my being urged me to pack up and run. To pack the meager belongings that I’d brought with us to Texas and just get in the car with Luke and leave.

My foot shook from the anxiety that rolled through me as I tried to figure out where to go from here. How I’d keep Luke and I safe from the deranged stalker who was closer to us than ever.

Thunder sounded off in the distance as raindrops started to fall. The sound of raindrops hitting the porch didn’t soothe my anxiety like it usually did. That sound amplified my anxiety and kicked it into high gear. Just the thought of someone so close yet so far away that had every intention of finding me made me want to jump up from my spot on the porch swing and escape into the night while I still could.

The screen door creaked as it opened, and I turned my head to the sound. Leo walked out the door and let it go as he walked over to me; the door hit the wooden frame as he stalked toward me. The look in his eyes told me all I needed to know. Frustration radiated off him as she sat on the swing beside me.

“You’re not leaving,” he said, and I could feel his eyes on me as I sat there unmoving, the warmth from the teacup now gone as I held it in my hands.

I snapped my head toward his, ready to fight him on it.

“How can I stay here? How can we stay here knowing that man got close enough to harm my son?” I bit back as I stood and stepped away from the porch swing. I couldn’t be near him as we had this conversation. One touch from him and I’d falter.

“First of all, he’s our son,” he started as he stood and stomped toward me. I could feel him behind me, but I couldn’t make myself turn to face him. I didn’t want Luke to lose his father, but I couldn’t see any other option other than leaving Haven Valley.

“And I need to keep him safe,” I bit back as I clenched my fist. My nails bit into my palm, and I welcomed the pain as it kept me grounded for the fight I was about to have.

“We need to keep him safe,” he countered.

I turned quickly to face him, pointing my finger at him before I continued.

“You tried that. This crazy psycho found a way around the protection of this ranch and harmed our son,” I threw at him, hating that I used his protection against him. It wasn't his fault, but I needed him to understand.

“This ranch is safe. We’re tryin’ to figure out how he managed to get into the clubhouse without access,” he explained with pain laced in his voice.

I couldn’t take the closeness of him, so I turned and stalked off the porch out into the now pouring rain. I held out my arms and closed my eyes. I let the rain soak me in an attempt to wash away every ounce of frustration within me.

The squishing sounds of Leo’s footsteps as they approached barely registered as I let out my first sob, as the feeling of defeat hit me like a ton of bricks.

“You’re not takin’ Luke away from me,” he said from behind me. The tone of his voice told me just how serious his demand was.

“Do you think I want to take him away from you?” I yelled as I dropped my arms and turned to face him.

I looked up into his eyes, the light from the porch allowed me to barely see the shadow of the man who stood just a few feet away from me.