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HOPE
It’s early in the day and the bakery is quiet after the morning rush. I look out the window and think about my new life. It’s been almost a month since I married Zach.
Ray is over the moon. Warmth floods through my body every time I see how my boy is slowly growing out from his shy shell and turning into a vibrant kid. His dad and he can’t get enough of each other. Every minute that Zach is not working, we spend as a family. Every Sunday we have brunch with Mom at her care facility and yesterday we even took her out to a restaurant. She still isn’t able to walk much without support, but her spirits are high like never before.
To top all this happiness, Zach has spent all his nights in our bedroom and not in that ominous room on the fifth floor. Sometimes, I even wake up in the middle of the night to check that he’s still on his bed. I know it might be stupid of me to take this as a victory, but I can’t help it.
The shivers that my husband sends my way have only increased with each passing day. He is cocky, arrogant, but extremely caring. He is all deliciousness wrapped in one package but unfortunately not for me.
“You’re not paid to dream.”
I cringe hearing Hank’s voice as he creeps up to where I’m standing. In the past few weeks, his behavior has become more errant and aggressive.
“Sorry.” I’m about to walk past him when he snags my arms. “How the hell did you manage to fool child protective services?”
I’m frozen in place, and it takes me a second to get my bearings. I try to get away, but he clutches my forearms tight, his fingers digging into my flesh. When he pulls me closer, I smell alcohol on his breath.
I look around, but since it’s lunch break, everyone is in the back. “You are wasted,” I whisper as unbridled fear hits my chest.
Hank takes a whiff of my hair. “And you smell nice. What’s up with you these days? You dress nice, you smell nice, and who’s that posh lady who comes to meet you? You even drive an expensive car. You fucking that old guy?” His nostrils flare and my heartbeat races in my chest.
I’m about to jerk away when all of a sudden Hank’s grip on me loosens. It takes less than a second before he’s sprawled on the floor with a bleeding nose and a cut on his lip.
Zach towers over him with a murderous expression on his face. He pulls Hank from the ground and throws another punch at him.
I’m mesmerized by my husband’s clenched jaw and tight fists, until I realize he’ll murder Hank.
“Zach!” I rush to him and try to pull him away, but he is unmovable.
Possibly hearing the commotion, some of the staff walks to the front but no one interferes. An empty feeling forms in the pit of my stomach when Zach’s hold around Hank’s throat tightens.
God, please don’t let Zach get into any trouble because of me.
I grab my phone from my pocket and speed-dial Keith. Where the hell is his security? Aren’t they supposed to protect Zach?
“Keith, Zach is in a fight. I can’t budge him. Please send someone to the bakery.”
“My men are coming,” Keith says and swiftly ends the call. It doesn’t take more than a minute before two men dressed in black leather jackets and jeans storm inside.
Relief like I have never experienced hits me when they pull Zach away from Hank, who is now crying on the floor.
“You touched my wife, you asshole. I’ll kill you for all that shit you said to her.”
“Zach!” I throw my arms around his waist as he tries to break free.
“I didn’t know she was married,” Hank sputters, and I wince at the sight of his bloody face.
“You didn’t see the giant ring.” Zach holds my hand up, closer to his face. “Where the hell is your ring?” His wild eyes stare at me as he pushes the men holding him and pulls me closer.
“I-I took it off.”
“Why the hell would you do that?”
I squirm under his serious gaze boring into me. “It’s expensive,” I murmur as my co-workers continue to be mute spectators even when the lunch break is over.
“For God’s sake, Hope, put the damn ring on.”
For a moment, I’m entranced by his face full of emotions. But I come back to my senses fast as I feel his pounding heart under my hand. I take the ring from my pocket and put it on.
