Dear Hubby, Bro & BFF. You All Watched Me Break? Now Watch Me Leave Chapter 07
By my second month in the South, I thought I had cut off every connection to my old life.
Somehow, Derek managed to get my landlady’s phone number.
I was drawing in the yard that day when Mrs. Parker walked over, looking hesitant.
“Natalie, a man called and said he was your brother. He asked me to give you a message.”
She studied my face before continuing.
“He said you needed to stop acting out and go home. He said you weren’t well, and if something happened to you out here, no one would be around to take care of you.”
“There was something else—”
Mrs. Parker lowered her voice.
“He said your husband hadn’t done anything wrong. He was only trying to help you get better, but you refused to see it. He said it was time to stop all this and go home.”
I gave her a small smile.
“If he calls again, just hang up. I have nothing to do with him anymore.”
Mrs. Parker nodded and walked away without asking any questions.
—
I lowered my head and continued drawing, every stroke perfectly steady.
In Derek’s eyes, I hadn’t left because they hurt me. I had run away to throw a tantrum.
Fine. He could keep believing that.
Three months later, I had settled into the small town. I rented an old cottage and worked remotely as a freelance illustrator.
I could sleep with the door almost closed now, though I still left it slightly ajar.
One afternoon, I left my therapist’s office and picked up a slice of orange blossom cake at the end of the lane.
“Natalie.”
A hoarse voice came from behind me.
My body stiffened.
Colin stood about ten feet away. He was gaunt, almost unrecognizable, with dark stubble covering his face.
“How did you find me?”
“You accepted a children’s book commission last week.”
His voice trembled.
“The publisher is owned by a friend of mine. I got the mailing address
—
from your contract.”
My fingers tightened around the paper bag.
“Natalie, I’m not here to bother you.”
He stepped forward, and I stepped back.
“I signed the papers from your attorney and agreed to all your terms.
But there was something I needed to say to you in person.”
“Then say it.”
He swallowed.
“I’m sorry.”
Then he dropped to his knees.
Right there in the lane, in front of everyone passing by, Colin knelt before me.
“I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I need you to know this. I was the one who did this to you. Not Paige. Me. I was the one who put those locks back.”
I looked down at him.
Three years ago, he had knelt the same way while removing those locks for me.
“I know,” I said. “So what?”
He froze.
—
Just then, the sharp click of heels grew closer behind him.
“Colin! Why did you take off like that?”
Paige’s voice cut off abruptly.
She had seen Colin kneeling and me standing in front of him.
After a stunned second, alarm flashed across her face. She rushed forward and grabbed his arm.
“Colin, get up! The ground’s cold!”
Then she turned to me, her eyes red.
“Natalie, I know you hate me. I’ve spent the past three months thinking about what happened, and I admit I handled it the wrong way.”
“But I really was trying to help you. Just look at Colin. He’s lost so much weight. Can’t you at least—”
“Shut up.”
“Did you come here with her?”
I looked at Colin. His face went pale.
“She insisted on coming. I couldn’t stop her.”
“You couldn’t stop her.”
I gave a quiet laugh.
—
“Couldn’t you?”
I adjusted my grip on the paper bag and turned toward the other end of the lane.
“Don’t come back.”
“If either of you shows up here again, I’ll file for a restraining order.”
Colin shouted after me while Paige began to cry.
Orange blossoms were in bloom along the lane. I took a deep breath and kept walking.