“You’re not sick in the head, Jimmy. You’re human. Grace will never go away. She will always be a part of you. But you have to realize that her leaving doesn’t mean your happiness goes with her. She will always have a special place in your heart, but a new one needs to take centre stage now. Tara’s a nice girl, Jimmy. You’re good for one another. The fact that you did what you did for her tonight shows that you truly care. If it also got you to see how you truly felt for her, then why not? Sometimes good things can come out of a bad situation. Don’t think of it as a sign of being sick in the head. Think of it as a wake-up call. You’ve been dreaming all these years with Grace in mind. Now it’s time to wake up, Jimmy. It’s time to open your eyes.”
I laughed a little at his analogy. “Are you seriously doing this deep shit with me, Dean?”
Dean laughed. “Nah, you’re too much of a tosser for that.”
I reared my head back. “If I’m a tosser, that makes you a fucking twat.”
“Wanker.”
“Shitbag.”
“Toad licker.”
“Sheep shagger.”
Dean pulled his head back and laughed. “I could fucking beat the living shit out of you for that, but that was way too funny.”
“Baaaaa.” I couldn’t help the laugh.
He looked at me with a raised eyebrow and shook his head. “Does Tara know the shit that comes out of your mouth?”
I raised my eyebrow and feigned disbelief. “Does Tyler?”
Dean shook his head with a laugh. “Touché, you little fucker.”
He pulled into a driveway by a little diner. “I love the little pet names you have for me. It truly makes me feel wanted.”
Dean laughed and got out of the car. I followed suit and we slammed our doors shut. “Don’t fucking push it, Jimmy.” Dean shook his head again as I followed him into the diner.
An hour later, we were back on the road. It was getting close to three o’clock, so we knew we had to move fast. Daylight was only a few hours away.
When we got back to the warehouse, he was already dead and the rats were about halfway inside his chest. The smell was fucking awful, but I was used to it by now. I embraced it, considering Tara never had to worry again.
We got to work getting the rats out and burning the wood that had soaked up his blood. We wrapped sheeting around his body and cleaned away everything as if we hadn’t been there at all. Dean put the rats back with full bellies and we loaded the car up with the rest of scumbag.
We travelled about a mile down the road to the pig farm. Luckily for us, the house was nowhere near the pen, so we were able to tip the body in for the pigs undetected. I didn’t feel anything when I dropped him in. If I felt anything, it was relief. Relief at the knowledge that scumbag will never be able to hurt Tara again.
Both Dean and I were tired and our clothes were stained with blood, but we knew we had conquered something tonight that would make a world of difference in one woman’s life. A woman I just happened to be hopelessly in love with.
The journey home was quiet, but I think we both welcomed the peace. I was just dying to get home to see how Tara was. I wanted to make sure she was okay and that she still welcomed me after knowing I killed her ex-husband. A part of me worried, but the other part of me didn’t care. No matter what she thought of me, she will never have to look over her shoulder again. That’s a piece of knowledge I will gladly live with.
Once we pulled into the driveway, we got out of the car and walked up the front walkway. Dean opened the door and quickly switched the alarm on. He shook his head and whispered, “Dammit. Tyler didn’t put the fucking alarm on.” He shook his head in disbelief and marched over to the laundry room. “Give me your clothes and I’ll get them washed. I know you must be dying to get to Tara.” He smiled at me cheekily.
I did as instructed and stripped down to my boxers, handing the clothes to Dean and hesitated. He saw me hesitate and smiled.
“Go. Now.” He tutted and shook his head, but I didn’t waste any more time. I rushed up the stairs as fast as my legs could carry me and got to her door. I took a deep breath and opened it up to find Tara’s silhouette. I thought she was sleeping until she spoke.
“Jimmy, are you okay?”
I shook my head with a grin and shut the door behind me. “You’re suffering, but you ask me if I’m okay? Tara, it scared the shit out of me tonight.”
I heard her sigh as I searched for her through the darkness. I pulled the sheets back and slipped into bed. I gently put my arm behind her and held her softly. That was all I wanted to do all night. It was all I wanted to do every night from now on.