“He actually told me that that was what men of his standing did, and I had better get used to it because it was not going to change after we got married,” she told him, shaking her head.
“That was the last straw for me, and I broke it off right then and there. I threw the ring at him and the next day packed up everything he had given me and sent it back to him. I wanted nothing more to do with him or his family. Things were quiet for a couple weeks. I think his mother made him give me some time to think about what I was doing. Then he started calling me and coming to my apartment. At first it wasn’t bad. He would call or come by and want to talk. He was polite and respectful and kind of sweet. I thought about what I had done and said and almost changed my mind.” Tasha stood and walked to the window, looking out over the skyline, to tell the rest of her story.
“Then one day when we were talking, I asked him, if he was still seeing other women. He answered, ‘Of course, why would I stop?’ I knew then
that he would never change. I moved, changed my phone number, quit my job, and got another one. Still he kept finding me. So I moved farther away. I didn’t want to go too far. My mom is very ill, and I wanted to stay close, but he wouldn’t leave me alone. I’ve been running for over two years now,” she finished with a shuddering breath, wringing her hands.
Turning, she looked at Tim with tears in her eyes. “Now he’s found me again, and I have to leave. I don’t know how crazy he’ll get, but he’s threatened to hurt my family, and when we found my mom’s cat dead, I knew he was serious. I don’t know what he’s capable of.”
Tim stood and walked over to her, pulling her into his arms. He held her for the longest time before tipping her face up to his so he could look into her eyes. “How long do you think you can run?”
She looked at him and answered, “What else can I do?”
“Stay. Confront him. Call his bluff. I’ll be with you, and if we need it, I have friends who will also support you. You can’t run for the rest of your life. It’s no way to live. Did you ever report him as a stalker?”
“No, I didn’t think it would do any good while I was still in Ohio, and since then, whenever he finds me, I just pack up and move on.”
“Starting today we are gong to report everything he does. I don’t want you to be alone either. You can either stay at my house or I’ll stay here. You are not going to be alone,” Tim told her, holding her tight.
She looked up at Tim with tears in her eyes. “You would do that for me? I don’t know what he’s capable of. He could hurt you or one of your friends.”
Tim cupped her face with both hands and kissed away the tears. “It’s time to stop running and stop being scared,” he told her just before he brushed her lips with his.
Tasha felt relief for the first time in years. Maybe her nightmare would finally be over. Jason wouldn’t want to face criminal charges, and if the police were involved, maybe that would scare him enough to leave her alone. She was sure his father didn’t have any influence in Colorado, and she would not face the same battles. Not that it would be easy, but there was hope.
“Do you think we can really get rid of him ? I would so love to go and see my mother.” She looked hopefully at Tim.
Taking her by the hand, he pulled her to the couch, grabbing her laptop. He helped her find a flight at a good price, and then they booked two tickets. Tim would go with her, no ifs, ands, or buts about it.
Tasha was excited to go home and see her family. It had been hard for her being away. Maybe she could figure out who kept telling Jason where she was, not that it would matter. Tim was going to help her get rid of him.
Since it was Sunday, the police wouldn’t take a nonemergency report until Monday. They decided to stay at Tasha’s place. Since Jason already knew where she lived, Tim felt that any more moves he made would happen either at her apartment or at the club.
Chapter Nine
Tim took Tasha to the police station on Monday, and a report was made. They couldn’t do anything. He had just sent her flowers, but the card was incriminating. All it said was, “You’re mine, bitch.” Not exactly a love poem. The police took a thorough history and promised to do everything they could.
The flowers continued to come every day, but nothing more. Tasha carefully kept every card, and the messages became more and more threatening, but nothing more happened for several days.
Tim arranged the schedule at the club so that they were on the same shifts, and before Tasha knew it, the weekend she was to fly home was upon them. She was very excited.
Kyle drove them to the airport and promised to check on Tasha’s apartment and pick them up. It was only going to be a short weekend trip, but Tim had promised that after Theresa had the baby and was able to come back to work, they would take a longer one. They were only going for the three days the club was closed. If things were quiet the owners often closed the club Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Tasha was tired getting off the plane, but it felt good to be home. She was excited to show Tim her hometown and introduce him to her family. As they walked through the airport, she heard her name called. It didn’t sound like any of her family, and she had been very careful not to tell anyone else.
Turning to see who had called her, she spotted Jason’s mother and father standing with their son. She gripped Tim’s hand tighter and told him what was going on. Since they had planned only a short trip, they didn’t have anything except carry-on bags and continued quickly through the terminal. Hoping to avoid a scene, she kept walking, head down.
“Tasha, stop right this minute,” Jason commanded.
Realizing that Jason was going to make a scene if she didn’t stop, she turned, still gripping Tim’s hand tightly.
Jason stormed up to her and gave Tim a scathing look. “I don’t know who you are, and I don’t care. This doesn’t concern you. This is between me and my fiancée,” he stated roughly, puffing his chest out and standing as tall as he could.
At six feet, he was an inch or so taller than Tim, but Tim was bulkier, and you could see he had more muscle than Jason. Tim also was not going to be intimidated by Jason.
Tim looked Jason right in the eye and said, “I’m sorry, who did you say you were?”
Puffing out even more, Jason answered, “I’m Tasha’s fiancé. Isn’t that right?”