For You (Coming Home To The Grove 5)

“You’re right; we need to talk about Katie. The rest has already been decided in the divorce paperwork that you’ve already signed.”

David looks to me when the bill arrives, and I pay for our dinner. “Let’s go talk somewhere a little more private.”

For the first time I feel nervous and a little afraid of David. He’s never acted so aggressively with me before.

I leave with him, telling myself that I’m overreacting, it’s all that stuff Carrie said earlier that has me nervous.

When we get in his truck, he starts the engine and pulls away from the restaurant. We’re both quiet, which is fine with me. “You are not going to take full custody of Katie. If you try, you’ll pay.”

I lean back in my seat, shocked. The paperwork is done. We have joint custody, and at no time had I thought about seeking full custody. At least not until tonight.

I sit up straighter in my seat and clutch my purse. “Don’t threaten me.”

His hands are gripping the steering wheel, and he glances over at me. The mean look in his eyes lets me know it’s no idle threat. I cross my arms over my chest and turn away, looking out the window. I live across town, and it takes a while to get there. The whole way I’m berating myself for getting into this. I’ll figure out what’s going on with Katie. I’ll make sure that she never misses her dad. I glance a look over at David, and he’s still grimacing. I just shake my head. Katie and I are definitely better off without him.

He pulls into my driveway. My car is not in its usual spot, and I remember that I left it at Get Fit. Oh well, I’m definitely not asking him to take me to get it. I’ll figure it out later. As soon as his truck stops, I open the door. He pulls me back into the truck by my hair when I start to get out.

He leans in close, his face only inches from mine. “What happens in your life has nothing to do with what you want; your life belongs to me.” His voice is hard and lethal as he enunciates every word.

Furious and scared, I jerk away from him and am about to give him the what-for when I see Katie coming out of the house. She must have heard his truck pull in.

I get out of the truck and run around to catch her before she reaches her father’s side of the truck.

“Hey, pumpkin,” he says as he sits in his truck. “Dad’s got to go, but I’ll be seeing you—both of you—soon.”

Katie watches and waves as he pulls out and drives down the road.

I can’t let him have visitation. Not if this is how he’s behaving.

4

Bart

Since I stopped by the local police department yesterday before I went to see my sister to let them know I am going to be looking into someone who crosses in and out of their jurisdiction, I shouldn’t be surprised when they called me up first thing this morning at the bed and breakfast.

They asked if I’d come along on a call that might need some detective work. I dressed quickly when I heard the call was about an incident that took place in the parking lot that was shared by Patty Cakes and the gym, Get Fit. Being in such proximity to Aunt Patty’s, Carrie’s, and Carrie’s friend Chrissy’s places of business, I rush, not bothering to do more than gargle mouthwash and run a hand through my hair.

My tie is still untied, hanging at my neck when I pull into the parking lot. I am relieved to see that it isn’t anyone from my family or Carrie’s friend Chrissy.

There’s already a police officer parked in the lot as I pull in. It’s not someone I recognize. I park my truck and show the other officer my I.D. and badge as I approach.

“I was told you might could use some help?” I say to the other officer.

“Yeah, I’m coming off the night shift. If you got this, I’ll just leave it to you,” the officer says. “I’ve got the statement for my records. Thanks, Detective.”

I clear my throat, trying to conceal some of my surprise at how quickly the officer took the chance to get out of there. It must have been a long night shift.

“I’m Detective Baker,” I say looking at the guy who was making the statement a bit closer. “You’re not Logan Marrow, are you?” I ask, recognizing Logan as one of the new kids in town when I was in my senior year of high school.

“That’s right, and you’re Carrie’s big brother, aren’t you? I thought you were a big city detective. What are you doing here?”

I don’t want to share my reasons for returning and get people nervous, and the sheriff said he’d keep my reasons to myself. “Trying to see the folks more, but I told your sheriff I’d be happy to lend a hand while I’m in town.”