Saving Us(42)

I smiled and started spreading the butter and syrup on them. “Oh, I will. Who doesn’t love pancakes?”

They let me take a couple bites of heaven before they started talking about our problems.

“So, Conner told me all about what was going on. How are you dealing with things?”

I shrugged and swallowed my food before answering. “I don’t even know. Conner’s being great.” I looked over at him and smiled. “It’s just that I hate how I’ve dragged him into this mess. All I wanted to do was get out of my marriage and now I am being hunted down by some crazy person that I lived with for years. How could I have not known that he was like that?”

She reached her hand across the table and grabbed mine. “Here’s the thing. We never know when someone is going to lose their mind. After what Conner told me, that man has had a screw loose for a long time. No one blames you for wanting to leave a man that enjoys hurting women. I can’t imagine how petrified you were, Amy.”

I hated thinking about it anymore. The details were still so familiar. I remember the way he smelled, the way his hands felt when they touched me and the way he looked at me like I was a piece of property. “If he wasn’t in control, he wasn’t happy. There were times when I feared for my life, but I never thought that he would ever try to hunt me down and intentionally commit murder. I think he’s capable of it. I know it sounds horrible, but I really do.”

She squeezed my hand again. “Conner did the right thing bringing you here. Not only does the main house have an excellent security system, but this house is tucked back behind everything else. A stranger would never be able to find this place. Even Conner’s friends could never find it on their own. That man won’t find you here.”

I smiled, but felt horrible. What kind of parent wants their only son hooked up with someone with this much baggage? “I’m so sorry about all of this.”

“Amy, I don’t blame you one bit. Listen, if it makes you feel any better, John and I are spending more time at his house. He keeps begging me to move in with him anyway. If I did that, then you two could stay here and have the house all to yourselves. I don’t know how long you are planning on staying, but feel free to make Miranda’s old room a nursery for the baby. I’d love to help you do it.”

Conner had a big smile on face when I looked over at him. “Is this what you talked about while I was asleep?”

“Maybe.”

I looked back at his mother. “I would never want you to leave your home for us.”

“Are you kidding. John is going to be so happy. Hell, he will probably do anything that you ask him. That man has been begging me for this for too long.”

Conner stood up from the table and cleared their two plates. He knew not to touch mine since I was devouring the pancakes. “I was thinkin’ that when you were done eatin’ we could take the golf cart over to Colt’s and let him know we’re back. He’s goin’ to have to rearrange some duties for me to be able to work full time here again. Van would probably enjoy seein’ you.”

“Sounds like a plan. I’m just warning you, I maybe a while. I’m thinking of getting seconds.”

He leaned over and kissed the side of my head. “You go on with your bad yourself. My boy needs to eat. I want his Momma to be fat and happy.”

I ended up eating five pancakes with extra butter and syrup. They tasted so delicious. Conner’s mother left shortly after breakfast, but not before hugging me and letting me know that she was glad Conner and I were there.

After getting cleaned up, we hopped on the golf cart and made our ways to Colt and Van’s place. Noah was outside playing with the dog. He ran toward us as we approached. “Hey. What are you guys doin’ here?”

I climbed off and gave him a hug. “Didn’t you miss us?”

He shrugged. “Is Bella here, too?”

Conner leaned down and slapped the little guy five. “Not this time. Where’s your parents, bud? I need to talk to your dad.”

“They are in the house.”

After having to explain the whole situation again to Colt, we sat there waiting for his response. “So you think this guy is goin’ to come here?”

“No. Even if he does come looking, he won’t find this place. He would search for Conner’s last name, not yours. Besides, he is in a lot of trouble. Rick isn’t an idiot. He will lay low for a while. The last thing he wants is to get caught.”

Colt looked over to Van. I could tell he wasn’t happy. “Here is the thing. A couple years back we doubted what someone was capable of. Savanna and I lost a child because of it. Now I know you’re pregnant and that you need to be safe. I’d never turn my back on my family, but I can’t have my wife and kids in any kind of danger.”