Saving Us(32)

I want a divorce. I don't even know you. How many wives have you had?



Why are you asking me that? You been taking to someone?



No!



You have, haven't you? I knew that little bitch was going to run right to you. Tell me where she is, Amy.



I don't know and I don't care. I haven't talked to anyone. I found out everything on my own. I hired someone to look into your past. I know all about your ex-wife and how you changed your name, Rick Martin.



You don't know shit. Meet me somewhere and we can talk about it.



I wouldn't meet you if you were the last person on earth.



Where are you, bitch?



None of your damn business. You lost the right to ask me for anything the moment you started lying to me, which was obviously our whole marriage.



If you know what's good for you, you'll watch what you say to me. You ruined everything, you little bitch. Now you will pay.



I have spent our entire marriage being afraid of you. I'm done with your bullshit. If you ever cared anything about me, you will leave me alone, Rick. I will not spend my life looking behind my back. I called the police today. They are watching the farm and the salon. If you try to do anything to anyone in my life, they will drag your ass to jail.



You think you can threaten me?



Conner walked into the bedroom and heard my last sentence. He grabbed the phone from me before I could even argue.



You call this number again and I .......hello? "Shit!" He kneeled down beside the bed. "What the hell did he say to you?"

After I gave him a replay of what we discussed, he seemed pretty impressed that I had taken up for myself. He pulled me into his arms and I started to cry again. I knew he could feel my body trembling. I was petrified.

"I won't let nothin’ happen to you, Amy. I hope you know that."

"I do. It's what scares me the most. I'm afraid of what you might be willing to do to protect me. Conner, I can't have you out there trying to be a hero. I want you here with me."

When the phone rang again, Conner reached over to answer it.



Hello? Yeah hang on.

He handed me the phone.

Hello?



Ma'am this is Ron from the alarm company. We just wanted you to be aware that a break in was detected at your business location. The police are in route. Can we let them know that you or one of your representatives will be out there to meet them?



I was in shock. Had Rick been sitting outside of the shop the whole time we were on the phone?



Yes, I'll be right there.



I hung up the phone and turned to Conner. "We need to get to the salon. I have to call my father." I started to walk out of the room, but Conner grabbed the back of my shirt.

"You need to get dressed first."

I looked down and noticed that I was wearing his boxers and t-shirt. "Oh, sorry."

"Get dressed and I will warm up my truck. I'll meet you out there. Take your time, Amy. There ain't nothin' that a few minutes are goin' to change."

"That's easy for you to say. It isn't your salon." I don't know what made me snap at him. Instead of saying something back, he just shook his head and walked away.

It only took me a matter of seconds to throw on some warm clothes. I grabbed my shoes and a jacket and ran out the door. Conner was in his truck playing with the thermostat. He said nothing as I climbed in and shut the door. Even as he pulled away, he kept quiet.

I closed my eyes and tried not to get upset. "I'm sorry for what I said."

"Nah, it's cool. I get it."

I reached over and tried to grab his hand, but he put it up on the steering wheel. I looked over and saw his jaw clenching. He was trying to keep his cool, except I could see that it had really gotten to him. I stayed quiet for the whole ride and it was awful. I'd never been so close to him but felt so far away from him. I hated it.

Two police cars were pulled in front of the salon. Conner pulled into a spot and we headed in together. Right before I got to the door, he ran ahead and opened it for me. Once inside I couldn't believe my eyes. My salon stations had been ripped out of the wall. The seats were ripped out of the floor and laid on their sides. One had been tossed clear across the room. The mirrors were all shattered.



An officer approached me. "Excuse me, Ma'am, is your name Amy?"

I didn't want to hear my last name so I cut in. "Yes, yes that's me. I'm the owner. Please tell me you caught the person who did this."

"I'm afraid we were hoping you could give us a lead. This kind of thing doesn't exactly happen in our small town. Can you think of anyone that would want to do this? Is anyone holding a grudge against you? Did you make someone's hair fall out?" He started laughing until Conner jumped in his shit.

"Do we have a problem here? This woman's business has been vandalized and you're makin' hair jokes? What kind of pussy ass cop are you?"