Page 2 of Guarding Over You
“I’m sorry. You did everything right. He’d already lost too much blood before he got to us. You gave him a chance no one else could have.”
He nodded once, his jaw tight, his eyes fixed on the wall in front of him. “Doesn’t make it feel any better.”
Nor did it later when he overheard other staff commenting on the woman who came in with the victim, covered in blood, her hands held up and screaming, then passing out when she’d found out he hadn’t made it.
1
ODDLY COMFORTING
Three Years Later
“Arden.”
She turned her head, not believing what she was seeing. Not even one full week in her new place and her ex shows up unannouncedandunwanted.
“What are you doing here, Billy?” she asked, her hands on her hips. She looked toward the front door, saw it was shut and could see her daughter Gracie sitting in the living room with the TV on while she unloaded the groceries.
One minute earlier and Gracie would have been out here with her.Not good.
“We need to talk.”
“That is what a phone is for,” she said, crossing her arms, her foot tapping, her clenched fist hidden from view. She refused to let him know she was nervous. The shiver up her back when her name was called. He’d only prey on that. “A text. A call. Maybe even an email. But you arenotallowed to drop in like this. How did you even find out where I lived?”
“You’re not that hard to find,” Billy said, holding her stare. She wouldn’t back down. Hadn’t once in their marriage and never would. Even if the thought that he’d found her so quickly frightened her. “And I followed you.”
She couldn’t believe he’d admitted that to her. But he’d never been the brightest bulb on the tree. She had to stay focused.
“Do I need to let my attorney know about this?”
He held his hands up, like he always did when he wanted to disarm her. He’d learned that from her. When he was in one of his drunken rages and was losing his shit. It was like a sign for him to know he’d crossed a very thin, delicate line.
Until he broke it one too many times.
She’d stay strong like she had for so long. She’d show no signs of weakness to him.
“I don’t want trouble,” Billy said.
“Could have fooled me.” Her head turned when she heard a car door three townhouses over. A big man got out, turned and watched the circus that her marriage and then divorce had become.
Just what she needed. A great first impression with her neighbors.
“I want to see Gracie tomorrow.”
“No,” she snapped, her voice carrying the sharp sound of glass breaking. “You know the rules and why they are in place.”
“I didn’t mean it,” Billy said. “I lost my temper. You know how that happens.”
All too well. “I don’t care. There are supervised visitations in place for a reason. You have a long road to go before it’s lifted. And this isn’t your weekend.”
“I know,” Billy said, his impatience wearing. Join the club, dude. “But Tina wants to meet Gracie.”
“Tina who?” This was news to her.
“My girlfriend.”
“Oh, no.” Her head was shaking side to side enough to send her hair flying all over her face. She whipped it back behind her ears. “Not happening. You’re not allowed around Gracie unsupervised and there is no way in hell I’m letting some woman I don’t know in her life.”
“You can meet her first,” Billy said.
