Rescue Me(59)

I sit and stare at that black box, desperately wanting to open it. I know my mom would be so happy for me right now. She always put both Shayne and me before herself her entire life. So much has happened in the few short months since she has been gone. At last I pick it up and an inspiring feeling spreads through me as I open it and stare at the dark blue sapphire ring my mother wore all the time. It is the ring my grandfather gave to my grandmother on their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.

Taking it out of the box and holding it between my fingers, I imagine what it would look like on Erin’s finger. Erin and I are nowhere near the point in our relationship for me to ask her to marry me, but then again, I do know she is the one for me. Just like Shayne said, I will know when the time is right. Placing the ring back into the box, I open the top drawer of my desk and tuck it safely in the back. Yes, when the time is right I know just where and how I am going to ask the love of my life to marry me.

A few hours later I make my way into the living room; the sight that greets me is Erin, Shayne, Shelby, and Jen all crying.

“What the hell, ladies? You’re supposed to be cheering my woman up here, not making her cry.”

Four sets of red eyes turn and look at me.

“We’re fine, Mr. Bossy Pants,” Shelby bellows. “It’s this damn movie. Now go do your shit and leave us because it’s about to get to the good part.”

“Yes ma’am.”

There’s not a word from anyone else as all four simultaneously turn their heads back to the television. I take that as my cue to leave, so I grab my keys and head for the door. I’ll be damned if not a single one of them says goodbye.

Trevor is on me the minute I step out of my truck at the job site.

“I take it they haven’t found Joel or Tonya yet?”

“No. And fuck, man. I feel like shit about the way I treated her when she stopped by here. That fucker is crazy and I have no clue how the two of them met. I have tried calling Tonya’s phone three times already this morning. I’ll feel like shit if he does something to her. Even though she says not to, I still blame myself for what happened to Erin.”

“Don’t be an ass. You can’t blame yourself for that. From what you’ve told us, this guy is all kinds of fucked up. Besides, the cops will find her. It’s got to be a coincidence. Knowing Tonya, she met him in a bar or some shit. Don’t blame yourself for this and besides, you don’t know if he has hurt her or not, so be reasonable man.”

I know Trevor is only trying to help, but he didn’t see what that motherfucker did to Erin. I would hate to see that happen to Tonya, too. Or any woman, for that matter.

“I know, but it still doesn’t make me feel better. This asshole beat the shit out of his wife for years, and then he comes back and does it again. I mean, if he can do what he did to Erin who is the mother of his child, can you imagine what kind of damage he could do to someone he doesn’t even fucking know?”

I feel so damn helpless right now knowing I have to keep Erin safe, but fuck, this is killing me.

“I just want that piece of shit caught and thrown back in prison where he belongs,” I say. “By the way, thanks for listening to me the other night when I called you from the hospital. I really appreciate it.”

“Hey, I got your back here and so do the rest of these guys.” Trevor jerks his head towards the crew who is heading our way.

“What’s up? How’s Erin doing?” Dan and the rest of the crew all ask when they reach us.

“She’s pretty banged up right now but she’s doing better than even I thought she would,” I say proudly.

“Well, tell her we miss her and if we can do anything to help, just let us know.”

“Will do, Dan. Thanks,” I sincerely reply. “I came by to let you know I am not coming back to the site until they catch this fucker. I called the Watkinses and explained to them I had an emergency and that I trusted all of you to do the job right. If they have any questions I told them to give me a call. I really appreciate you guys’ support. Now get your asses back to work,” I say jokingly.

Trevor and I stand and talk for a few more minutes before I hand him everyone’s paychecks. As I climb back into my truck I get a deep seated feeling that things are going to get a hell of a lot worse before they begin to get better.



************



All day long I have been trying to soothe this weird sensation that has been nagging away at me. I kept myself barricaded in my office knowing that if either Erin or Shayne saw me they would know something was wrong. I can’t seem to put my finger on it. I need to shovel these thoughts aside. I look at the time and realize Luke will be dropping Sierra off from school any minute now. Jen left about an hour ago, but Shayne is still here and she and Shelby are bantering back and forth about who can make a better pizza.