He brings my hand up to his face and kisses the inside of my wrist.
“I need to ask you something.”
When he looks up into my eyes they are full of tears and remorse.
“Adam. What is it? You’re scaring me.”
“Before the cops get here and start their line of questioning, I...” he looks away for a few moments and then looks back into my eyes. “I need to know. Joel. He didn’t...? Fuck! He didn’t...”
My eyes get wide as I think I realize what he is trying to ask. I place our joined hands over my heart as I choose my words carefully.
“No. He didn’t touch me. He threatened over and over to kill me. All he did was hurt me physically, Adam. He never did anything else. He tried, but I fought him. I fought him hard this time.”
A sign of relief washes over his face and his expression softens.
“When I felt like I couldn’t go on any longer, all I thought about was how much I wanted to get back home to you and Sierra. The love the three of us have for each other is what kept me going. Not once did I give up and not once did I lie there and take his abuse without fighting back.” I lower my face and stare at our adjoined hands which now rest on my stomach.
“I was so scared and felt so damn helpless not knowing where you were, Erin.”
Releasing his hands, I hoist my body up and off of the bed and settle myself on his lap.
“I can only imagine what you felt like. And thank you for looking after our baby girl and putting her first before anything else to make sure she was safe.”
I lay my head onto his chest and he cradles me in his arms.
“I will always put the two of you first,” he says in a low voice and for the first time in years I feel completely safe as I close my eyes.
“I love you, Adam Payne. Thank you for rescuing me.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Erin
Two Weeks Later
The first week home had such a psychological impact on all of us, especially on Sierra. When I first arrived back home and she saw how bruised and swollen my face was, she didn’t want to leave my side. Her teacher was understanding and compassionate about the events that took place when I called to tell her Sierra would be missing a week of school. Sierra and I spent the week catching up on all of her homework and watching movies and spending some much-needed time together. I did everything to reassure my daughter I was fine. The hardest part was having to lie to her again about why I looked the way I did. It’s a good thing she is so young and resilient and believed us when we told her I had been in a minor car accident. As for Muppet? He followed us around everywhere we went.
Joel’s death was ruled an act of self-defense and no charges were brought against Shelby, which had worried me more than anything. She seems to be handling things better than I thought; either that or she is putting up a very good front for all of us. I still worry about the effect this will have on her as time goes by.
The hardest part of this whole thing was having to talk to Joel’s family. Both of Joel’s parents cried on the phone when I finally got the nerve to call them a few days after getting home. They blamed themselves for all of their son’s actions. I tried to convince them that none of this was their fault, but guilt will eat away at people no matter what they are told. My heart still breaks for them knowing they lost their son. Joel’s brother, on the other hand, won’t have anything to do with me at all. I can only hope that in time he learns to forgive. He blames me for his brother’s actions and he blames Shelby for his death.
After everything Joel has done to me, I still have nightmares. I wake up reliving that day over and over. His death was hard on everyone. For my daughter’s sake, I wish things could have been different and that he could have been the father she deserves. If she ever asks about her real father, and I know that day will come, strength and courage will help all of us, but the most important thing is, and always will be, love.
Shayne and Jen have gone above and beyond the friendship code to make sure that we’re all doing okay. They have been a constant in my life for the past few weeks and I couldn’t ask for two better friends.
Yesterday Luke and Shayne found out they are having a boy, and seeing the look of pride on Luke’s face when they told us made my heart overflow with happiness for the two of them and for the fact that Luke will be able to witness the birth of his son.
Antonio and Shelby have been spending more and more time together, which worries me as she is preparing to go home to Texas tomorrow. She says they are just friends, but I know my sister and I see the way she looks at him, and the way he looks at her. We have all tried to convince her to stay here and open up her own restaurant, but she says her heart is in Texas and that is where she needs to be. I, of course, don’t believe a word she is saying and I can only hope she misses being surrounded by people who truly care for her and decides this is where she needs to be. Time will tell.