Chapter 21

CHAPTER 21

CHARLOTTE

T eddy was here, but he was a million miles away. There was distance between us that hadn’t been there before, and I had no one to blame but myself.

When I’d come home, all I could think about was getting into the tub and Teddy joining me. I’d been shocked when someone had grabbed me.

Rick was in the back of my mind when I was in town. But here at the cottage, I’d felt safe.

He’d thrown me up against the house and held my chin tightly while he yelled about me leaving him.

Thankfully, Teddy showed up when he did. I didn’t know what Rick had planned. “I intended to tell you.”

Teddy wouldn’t even look at me. He stood, arms crossed, poised to leave at any second.

“You should have.”

“My only excuse was that I was ashamed. That I was hoping it would all go away. It was obviously childish and stupid.” What was I going to do? Would Rick ever leave me alone? “What’s going to happen?”

Teddy slipped into police mode. “He’ll be arrested for trespassing and assault. But you’ll need to testify in court. If you don’t, the charges will be dropped.”

“Won’t that make him angrier?”

Teddy’s face was stone. “If you don’t, you and possibly my family will be at risk.”

I was so cold. No matter how deep I snuggled in the blanket, I couldn’t get warm. “I don’t want anything to happen to your family.”

“Then you’ll do what needs to be done.”

“I’ll testify. Your family means a lot to me.”

Teddy shook his head. “Obviously not enough or you would have warned us about this.”

“I told your father.”

“If I’d known the details, I wouldn’t have let you live on the property.”

“Even though it was safer?” I asked, my world crumbling around me. Teddy was pissed, and I didn’t see him changing his opinion of me anytime soon.

“I need to protect my family.”

“I can understand that, but what about us?” I shouldn’t have broached this topic, not when he was so upset.

“You put my family in danger.” Teddy’s voice was so cold and detached.

“You can’t forget that or forgive me?” I asked, already knowing the answer. Teddy saw things in black-and-white, and my choice was wrong. There was no coming back from this. I hated that our relationship was ending. I felt like the bottom had dropped out.

“You didn’t trust me to protect you.”

That’s all Teddy had to say. Trust was a big deal for him, and I’d blown that. “I’m sorry, Teddy. I do love you. I was going to tell you about Rick. I was waiting until after the holidays.”

“Sometimes love isn’t enough.” He fell silent for a few seconds, and then he said, “I’ll follow you to Fiona’s if that’s where you want to go.”

“Yeah, okay.” It was a goodbye. My heart was breaking.

I quickly packed my things and stuffed them into my car. I called Fiona on the way to the inn, and she said I could stay with her at her house. The inn was booked solid for the holidays.

Fiona met me when I parked at her house. “Are you okay?”

Teddy immediately backed out and left. Everything hurt and not just the bruises. It was a bone-deep ache.

“I will be.”

She placed an arm over my shoulders and led me to the porch and into the house. Aiden grabbed my things and followed us inside.

“I have you set up in the guest room, so you’ll have privacy. Do you need anything to eat?”

“I’m fine.” I couldn’t eat.

Aiden left my suitcases by the end of the bed and slipped out. I was always troubling my employers with my problems. “Are you sure it’s okay for me to stay here. What if Rick shows up? I’d never forgive myself.”

“First of all, Aiden can handle him. Bullies like that are weak.”

I shivered. “It didn’t feel like it.” When he jumped out of the bushes, my heart had stopped. I froze.

“We’ll help you get that peace order tomorrow. We’ll be with you every step of the way.”

Tears stung my eyes. Teddy should have been here for me.

“I’m assuming Teddy’s pissed you didn’t tell him sooner?”

“He was so upset.” My eyes filled with tears. “He’s not going to forgive me.”

Fiona rubbed my back. “It’s too soon to worry about that. We have to keep you safe and take care of Rick Solomon. Then we’ll worry about Teddy. ”

“You didn’t see him. He was so angry.”

“I can see where he’s coming from. He feels betrayed. And trust is important to him.”

“He’ll never forgive me.” He didn’t seem to understand where I was coming from.

“You should have told him. You should have let him deal with it sooner. Instead, you blindsided him. He’s upset. You’re going to have to give him some time.”

“Yeah, okay.” Suddenly, I was exhausted. I slipped under the covers and lay down. I didn’t have the energy to change.

“I’ll get you some water. Then you can go to sleep.”

“Thank you for letting me stay here. I couldn’t be at the cottage.” It hurt that Teddy left. If he wanted to protect me, I could understand that. But I had a feeling he needed to get away from me, and that was another thing entirely.

“Of course not. Rick violated your safe place.”

Tears threatened again as she squeezed my hand, then left the room.

I was so grateful for Aiden and Fiona. That they were there for me. Because Teddy wasn’t. He’d said he loved me, but I didn’t think that mattered now.

We were over. I’d have to get used to that. But right now, it hurt.

I kept telling myself I was safe so that I could relax and drift off. But each time I startled awake, I remembered that Teddy was gone and wasn’t coming back. It was a long night.

W hen I woke, my eyes were crusty and swollen from crying. My limbs ached probably from the struggle with Rick. I felt hopeless.

It was almost Christmas, and I should have been preparing for the holidays with the Calloways and Cole. Instead, I was alone, and heart broken.

I didn’t have a home or a job. The guy I thought I was in love with didn’t love me anymore. And I couldn’t blame him. I should have told him sooner. But I knew what would have happened. He wouldn’t have understood. He would have broken up with me that much more quickly. Maybe it would have hurt less? But I didn’t think so.

I delayed the inevitable, and I wasn’t sure I felt badly about that. I wanted as much time as I could get with Teddy.

I got up, showered, and dressed, feeling slightly more human. A soft knock sounded on my door.

When I opened it, Fiona came inside with a tray of food. “I made pancakes.”

“You didn’t need to cook for me.” I wasn’t sure I could eat.

“Try and eat something. For me?”

I sighed and sat on the bed. Fiona placed the tray over my lap, and I poured syrup over the pancakes. “Chocolate chip?”

“You need something sweet when you’re upset.”

“Thank you.”

“Stop thanking me. This is what friends do.” She sat by my feet, watching me cut the pancakes into bite-sized pieces.

“How do you feel?”

I shrugged. “A little sore from?—”

Fiona winced. “I can get you some pain meds.”

She disappeared into the bathroom and returned with a bottle. “I should have told you this was here last night.” She sat down again, watching me eat the first bite.

It was sweet. “These are good.”

Fiona beamed, probably pleased she’d gotten me to eat. “Are you up for getting that peace order?”

I chewed and swallowed before answering. “I’m tired of living this way. He found me even though I was careful. ”

“I hate that for you. You should feel safe in your home, and you shouldn’t have to avoid town because of this guy.”

“Just because I get a judge to grant an order doesn’t mean he won’t show up again.” The idea of running into Rick again had the pancakes settling like rocks in my gut.

Fiona sighed. “I know. But I think you have to do something. You can’t keep moving every time he finds you. At least this way, you’re establishing a pattern of behavior. A record, if you will.”

I finished eating, feeling better than I had when I woke up. “That was good. Thank you.”

Fiona smiled. “Let me clean up. Then we can head to the courthouse. Aiden said you have to fill out paperwork and file it with the clerk. The judge will review it and grant it based on the petition. That order is good for seven days. Then you’ll have another hearing to extend it for a year.”

I let out a breath. “What if the judge doesn’t believe me?”

“You have a bruise on your wrist and your chin. Didn’t the police take pictures?”

I was in such a fog last night I barely remembered the details. “They did.”

“You’re going to get through this, and we’ll be by your side every step of the way.”

I wished Teddy was by my side. But if I wanted him in my life, I should have been honest.

We headed to the courthouse, filled out the paperwork, and filed it with the clerk’s office. Now we had to wait for the judge to review it.

I didn’t need to be on the farm. But I’d purchased things yesterday that I wanted to hang in the barn. So I headed to the Calloways by myself.

At least at the farm, I was surrounded by people who were happy about Christmas. It lifted my spirits slightly as I hung the new ribbon and wreaths .

When I was done, Wes appeared at my side. “We heard what happened. Are you okay?”

I’d covered my arms with a sweater so no one could see the mark on my wrist. I hadn’t bothered covering the one on my chin with makeup. “I will be.”

Wes nodded. “Teddy moved back to his house.”

“He said it would be ready soon.” But this was days earlier than he said he’d go back. He really wanted to get away from me.

“He told me you two were together.”

“We were.”

“He’s stubborn.”

“I wasn’t honest with him, and he values honesty above all else. I should have known this would happen.”

Wes rocked back on his heels. “I didn’t say we agreed with his position.”

“I assume he needs some time and space.” Even if it broke my heart to stay away from him and not beg for his forgiveness.

“Once he sets his mind to something, it can be tough to change it.”

I sighed. “I filed a petition with the court for protection. I need to cover myself in this situation. I’d love to have him by my side. But I understand why it’s difficult for him.” I had resigned myself to this being my new norm. I would be alone from now on.

Wes nodded. “For what it’s worth, I liked you for him.”

I smiled, but it felt forced. “Teddy makes up his own mind about things.”

Wes nodded and took a step back. “Let us know if you need anything. Dad was worried about you too. You might want to stop in and tell him you’re okay.”

“I can do that.” I’d grown fond of him over the last year.

“Take care of yourself.” Wes walked away, and my heart broke all over again because Teddy wasn’t here. It was his brothers who were offering support.

I headed to the main house and knocked on the door. When Al opened it, I attempted to smile. It must have fallen short of soothing his worries, because he ushered me inside. “Would you like some tea or coffee?”

“Coffee would be great.” I was mentally exhausted after everything. I sat at the table while he poured me a glass from his carafe.

Al raised a brow. “Milk?”

“Black is fine.” I’d had enough sweet with breakfast.

Al poured a second mug and brought both over to the table. He sat, then slid mine toward me. Steam poured from the mug.

“I was sorry to hear what happened last night. I know you came here to hide from whoever was bothering you.”

“I shouldn’t have come here and put you in that position.”

He cradled the mug in his hands. “Oh, I think my kids can take care of themselves. I’m more worried about you.”

“I thought it would be good to hide out here. That my ex wouldn’t find me. But as soon as I spent time in town, he followed me. I can’t keep hiding from him. I went to court this morning and filed for a peace order.”

Al nodded. “That’s good. I’m glad you did that. So many women don’t.”

“This is the third time he’s assaulted me.” The word felt foreign in my mouth, but it was the one that the officers and Teddy used last night to describe what I experienced. It still felt like those things happened to other people. “So it’s not like I acted swiftly.”

Al covered my hand with his. “I’m proud of you for doing it.”

I let out a breath, my eyes stinging with tears. “I have to be honest with you. I’m in love with your son, and I didn’t tell him about the trouble with my ex. He’s not happy. ”

Al sat back in his chair, considering me. “Teddy. I hoped something would happen between you two.”

“We planned to tell you on Christmas.”

Al blew out a breath. “I assume Teddy is upset about you keeping him in the dark.”

I nodded miserably. “The only way it would have been acceptable was if I’d told him before anything happened between us. But it was kind of quick, and then I didn’t want to ruin what we had. I suspected he wouldn’t be okay with it.”

“You mean he’d want to protect you,” Al said, shifting in his chair.

I blew over the coffee, desperately needing the caffeine. “I knew he’d be upset that I’d kept it from him.”

“Maybe at first. But I suspect he’s kicking himself for not seeing the signs sooner so that he could keep you safe.”

My brow furrowed. “Are you sure about that? I figured he’d be upset that I got myself into that situation in the first place.”

“Teddy is motivated to protect the people he loves. If he’s in love with you, I assume he’s torn about not being there for you.”

“Because I didn’t tell him the truth.”

“I expect he’ll come around. Just give him some time.”

“I hope you’re right.” I smiled as much as I could before taking a small sip of coffee.

“I hope you know you’re welcome to come to Christmas dinner.”

“Thank you, but I couldn’t.” That was the meal when we were supposed to come out as a couple. “I wouldn’t want to make Teddy uncomfortable.”

“Just think about it. We’d love to have you. You’ve become a fixture around here, and we couldn’t have done any of this without you.” He set his mug down and reached for a manilla file folder. “Speaking of, I wanted to ask if you’d stay on in a consulting position. I’d love it if you could maintain the social media pages and consult with us on things we can do to increase revenue.”

I opened the folder and saw the offer at the bottom of the page. “This is more than generous.”

“You’ve been so helpful, and you really got to know us as a family. We can’t continue to host these events and keep up with the social media stuff without you.”

“Are you sure Teddy will be okay with this?” I asked him, knowing that was the only thing holding me back.

“Let me worry about Teddy,” Al said gruffly.

My forehead wrinkled. “If he has a problem with it?—”

“That didn’t stop you last time.”

I smiled, the first genuine one I’d managed today. “That’s true. Okay. I accept.”

“That’s my girl.”

I leaned over and hugged Al. He was like the father figure I never had. Just the thought of that sparked more tears. “I love working here. Thank you for the opportunity.”

Al got up and followed me to the door. “If I don’t see you at Christmas, have a good one.”

“Thank you again. For everything.”

“Things will work out. You’ll see.”

Instead of responding, I waved as I headed to my car. I wasn’t so sure of anything anymore. But I was pleased that my work was appreciated, that I had a steady marketing job. It wasn’t full-time, so I’d need to add a few more. But I wouldn’t need to go back to a firm. The Calloways had ensured that.