Chapter 28

Twenty-Eight

Isla

That night, Damon’s mom had a special family dinner for me, to celebrate that I had stood up for myself at the parole hearing. Even Willow and Wendy attended, and I was so grateful for everyone’s support.

Nora held me against her and said, “You are one of us now. I’m glad you’re finally really going to be one of us too.” She winked.

I grinned at her. “Damon told you?”

She pulled back her hands and clapped. “He did. And I can barely keep it to myself. Can we tell everyone?”

I shrugged and laughed. “I’m fine with that if Damon is.”

She squeezed me and then pushed around the kitchen to find Damon.

It wasn’t two minutes later that he was back next to me and giving me a pointed look. “I guess we’re telling everyone tonight?”

I shrugged, feeling happy. “If you want to.”

He sighed, and then he tapped his fork against his glass. “Everyone. Quiet down. I have an announcement.”

Everyone was talking, but they quieted and suddenly their attention was riveted on us.

I met McCrae’s look with a smile, and I could tell that he knew. I searched everyone’s faces—Kayla and Ella and all of the others that were there—and I could tell that they knew. The only one missing was Dylan.

Damon glanced at me, then his family. “It probably won’t be a shock to most of you, but I asked this woman to marry me. I will let her tell you what she said.” A big grin filled his face.

I laughed and turned to all of them. “I said yes.”

The whole group cheered, and then Trent ran to me. “Does this mean you’re going to be my mom?”

Tears fell down my face as I picked him up. “It does. Is that okay?”

He held me tightly even after I put him down. “I was hoping you would be.”

Jason walked up and stuck his hand out. “Welcome to being my mom.”

Everyone laughed, and I bent and hugged him, too. “Thanks. I’ll try my best.”

Later that night, as Damon searched my house and then walked out and hugged me, he said, “I can’t wait until you are living in my house.”

I smiled. “Me too.”

He hesitated and then said, “Since I’m just doing everything out of order, I guess I will ask you this now.”

I was hesitant, not knowing what else he could ask. “Okay.”

“If you want to, I want to build a house with you. Noah told me I could build it down from his. We can buy some property from him. But only if you want to. I’m fine with living in town as well.”

My heart beat rapidly, and I nodded. “I would like that.” Once again, tears filled my eyes.

He pulled me into another hug. “Why are you crying again?”

I sniffed. “Because I’m happy. I’m so happy.”

He kissed me, and I kissed him back, feeling like I was flying, floating, no longer tethered to the earth.

He pulled back and grinned. “I have to go. But if you need anything, feel free to call me. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

He gave me one more hug and then got into his SUV. I watched him go and then felt a chill somehow. It was strange, because it wasn’t cold out.

I went inside and locked the door. I changed, said my prayers, and then got into bed.

As was our custom, Damon would call me when he got into bed.

I didn’t have to wait long until my phone buzzed. “Hello,” I said.

“Hello. How are you?”

I turned onto my side and smiled. “Well, I just kissed this guy who’s really hot.”

He laughed. “Oh yeah.”

“Dad!” Trent called out.

“Do you have to go?”

“Yeah. I’ll call you back in just a sec.”

“Okay.”

I put my phone down on the charger and closed my eyes. Then I heard something. It was just a light tapping, but I shot up. What was that? It literally sounded like someone was knocking on the far side of the house.

I got out of bed and crept toward the hallway. Another knocking sound came, but it wasn’t at the main door; it was at the side of the house. I was confused, and I wondered if there was a tree or something that was hitting the house. Deep down, I knew there wasn’t. Plus, there was no wind.

I hesitated and then went back to get the gun. I pulled it out of the nightstand where I had put it. The metal felt heavy in my hands.

Another knock sounded. This time it sounded like it was closer to the sliding back door. My breath hitched inside of me, and I walked toward the kitchen.

I looked at the gun and pulled the safety off. Could I really kill someone? Could I kill Kyle? Deep inside, I felt like I could. If he had found me and was here to hurt me, I could.

Determination washed through me. I got to the sliding glass door and unlocked it. I pushed it back and yelled out, “Hello?” My heart hammered hard in my chest.

I was tired of being the victim. I wasn’t going to be the victim anymore.

“Hello? Come out! Who’s there?”

Nothing. I strained to listen, but no one answered.

My phone rang. I almost dropped the gun.

I came back inside, shut the door, and locked it. Then I ran down the hallway, listening to my phone ring. I put the gun down and then answered the phone, thinking it would be Damon.

Silence.

I looked at the phone. It said the number was blocked, so I quickly hung up. My whole body was shaking. I reached for the gun again. Was he here? Was someone here?

The phone rang again, and I saw that it was Damon. I answered it. “Hello?”

“What’s wrong?”

I realized that my voice was shaky. “Someone was here. Or they called. I don’t know. There was knocking.”

“What? Are you okay? I’m coming.”

I tried to settle myself. I wasn’t the victim. “I’m fine. I’m fine. I’m fine.”

Damon growled into the phone. “Is this one of those times you’re just saying that and you want me to come? Because I’m seriously out the door.”

I didn’t want him to have to leave his kids, and I didn’t want to be the victim. I crawled into bed. “I’m fine. Just stay on the phone with me.” I grabbed the gun and put it beneath my pillow.

“I can text Kayla right now.”

“Talk to me.” I closed my eyes and tried to imagine that I hadn’t heard anything before.

“I’m checking the cameras, and I can’t see anyone.” He huffed out a breath. “I can call Noah and ask if he can rewind it.”

“Just tell me something. Something good. Something like puppies licking your face.”

He was quiet for a minute, and then he said, “What are you talking about?”

I couldn’t help but let out a light laugh. “I watched a YouTube video one time. It was about how we can change our feelings by what we’re thinking about. So I like to imagine puppies are licking my face. I don’t know if I told you this, but when I was in Texas, I would volunteer at a dog shelter sometimes and I loved it when they would lick me.”

“You like dogs?”

“I love dogs. How do you not know this?”

“I don’t know. I mean, I guess you were always kissing Chancey and tickling him and petting him when we had him. Of course, you must have guessed that he passed away about two years ago.”

“I did look for him, and I didn’t want to ask.” I took a deep breath and felt calmer. “I have a favor.”

“Name it.”

“Will you pray for me right now while I’m on the phone?”

“I would love to.”

“And one other thing.”

“Yes?”

“Can we get married soon?”

He laughed. “How does next week sound?”

“Perfect.”