25

The next week passed slowly, mostly because Gia had to fight herself on contacting Cormac every day. She’d never been in this situation, where she missed a man and longed to hear from him. It was especially annoying that she’d gotten hung up on Mr. Hart’s son. But she supposed she was struggling because this was the first time someone had walked away from her.

“I just want what I can’t have,” she kept telling herself. “And I’m getting bored because I can’t work at anything more mentally challenging than cooking and cleaning.” She didn’t mind helping her folks and was glad it had set Margot free. But the fact that she wasn’t always busy, like she was at home, made it so much more difficult to cope with wanting someone who seemed to have turned his back on her. Cormac came to his window almost every night and looked down into her folks’ yard, but she’d quit going to the hot tub. She didn’t want him to think she was hoping he’d come out again—even though, deep down, she knew she would be. She also didn’t want to put herself in the position of wanting him to come out and having him not do so.

Besides wrestling with herself over Cormac and trying to put the two nights she’d shared with him behind her, she continued to hope that Margot would check in. Ida kept asking her if she’d heard anything. But there were no more beach pictures or calls from blocked numbers. The only person who kept trying to reach them was Sheldon. Several things had come to light that he hadn’t expected—namely, the reaction of the police. They’d told him that since there was no divorce pending, Margot could leave the state and take the boys with her, and they weren’t even going to look for her. An attorney confirmed their response. He’d said that until there was a court-ordered plan, Margot could do whatever she wanted, which had sent Sheldon off the deep end. He’d gotten so nasty that she and her parents had stopped answering their phones. He behaved even worse when he was drinking.

It got to the point that Gia finally blocked him from contacting her parents. They needed a break from the constant upset. She would’ve blocked him from contacting her, too, except she felt it might be important to hear his rambling, angry messages. Then if Margot checked in, she might be able to tell her what to watch out for.

While Gia was sitting on her bed, surfing through Instagram, she noticed that the lights had gone on at Cormac’s. Unable to stop herself, she got up and went to the window. She was standing to one side of it, hoping to catch a glimpse of him when her phone lit up—once again—with her brother-in-law’s name and number.

She almost answered. The phone was already in her hand. But she decided not to. She had nothing more to tell Sheldon. Why continue to take his abuse?

Once the call transferred to voicemail, she could see that he’d left a message, so she played it back.

Where the hell is she? You and your parents have to know something. You’d better tell me where my kids are and make her return my fucking money. If you don’t and you’re playing some sort of game with me, you’re going to be sorry, you bitch!

He’d screamed the last two words before ending the call.

“He’s losing it,” Gia muttered. At this point, she was afraid Margot would decide to come back, and he’d show them all why she’d felt she was in sufficient danger to run away in the first place.

Just the thought of him scaring Margot to such a degree made Gia call her brother-in-law back.

“It’s about time!” he snapped when he answered.

She didn’t respond to that comment. She had a short and sweet message to deliver, and that’s what she did. “You’d better not ever do anything to hurt me, my sister or my parents, or you’ll be the one who’s sorry,” she said and hung up.

Still seething, she began to pace. Obviously, he’d never dreamed Margot would get the best of him, which was why Gia couldn’t help applauding her sister’s well-executed escape. She’d left him before he could get any type of court order to stop her, and according to what Gia had been reading on the internet, if she stayed gone long enough, Greydon and Matthew would be considered under the jurisdiction of their new state, which would only complicate matters and make it more difficult for Sheldon to gain custody and bring them back. Margot had completely hamstrung him, and he never saw it coming, which was why he was flying into a blind rage. “You’re getting exactly what you deserve,” she grumbled, remembering the cocky grin he’d given her while eating out with Cece.

Her phone dinged with a text message. She thought for sure it would be Sheldon responding to her call, but it was Cormac.

She peered out her window to find that he was standing at his own window and had probably seen her marching back and forth across the room.

Should she tell him?

No. He was the one who’d cut her off. Why put herself in a position where he could do it again?

It’s nothing, she wrote and lowered the blind.

He’d blown it. Instead of pushing Gia away, Cormac should’ve been spending time with her while he could. The more days that passed, the more he regretted his decision.

But she obviously wasn’t open to giving him a second chance.

He frowned as he stared at her drawn blind. He’d gotten spooked, plain and simple, and now he was paying the price.

He was just contemplating whether he should try to call her and formally apologize, whether that would change anything even if she answered, when his father texted him.

Closing his eyes, Cormac shook his head in disgust. He was getting along better with his sisters, but he doubted he’d ever be able to have a relationship with his father.

After he typed that, his thumb hovered over the send button. Could he really cut Evan off? He’d been trying to maintain a relationship with him for so long it’d become a habit to justify and excuse his many shortfalls. And they lived in the same small town, which meant they’d run into each other here and there—at a restaurant, the gas station, the pharmacy. If they weren’t speaking, it would be awkward. But would Evan ever change if Cormac didn’t demand it?

*You* ruined our family, he added to what he’d written before and sent it before blocking him.

Halloween was hard on Ida. She cried because, after spending every Halloween with her grandkids since they’d been born, she couldn’t even see them this year, let alone get the traditional picture of them in their costumes.

Gia tried to cheer her up by making the caramel apples she’d given out since Gia could remember, and stationed her at the front door so she could be the one to greet the trick-or-treaters. They had plenty of them in this neighborhood—a steady stream, unlike the condominium complex where Gia lived in Coeur d’Alene.

“How are you holding up?” Gia asked after about an hour and a half, when traffic began to wane. “Are you getting tired?”

With a nod, Ida allowed Gia to help her from the chair by the door to the couch, and Leo handled the last of the cowboys, superheroes, doctors, Disney princesses and dinosaurs.

Once the apples were gone, Gia turned off the porch light to signal that they were done for the night and sat down with her parents to rest for a few minutes, too. “That was fun, wasn’t it?” she said in an effort to keep their spirits up.

“It wasn’t the same,” her mother replied. “I can’t believe we haven’t heard from Margot.”

Gia had also thought they would’ve received something else by now. Margot had been gone for two weeks. But she was probably afraid that any type of contact could get her caught. “She must realize that this would be the worst time to take any risks.”

“Why?” her mother asked.

“Because Sheldon’s finally realized she’s gone for good, unless he can find her, and he can’t find her. He’s reached maximum frustration and fury and has been getting increasingly threatening and aggressive.”

“He has?” Leo asked.

Gia hadn’t been showing them the stuff Sheldon had been sending her, but today he’d texted her a Halloween gif featuring the Grim Reaper cutting off someone’s head. “He is,” she confirmed. He certainly hadn’t sent that to her as a joke.

Ida’s eyes filled with concern. “Should we go to the police? Get a restraining order against him?”

“We might have to,” Gia said. “I haven’t done that so far because I want to hear what he has to say just in case some small piece of it turns out to be meaningful—something I can pass on to Margot, if I ever get the opportunity.”

“Did you hear Sandra Richey tonight, when she came with her kids?” her mother asked.

Sandra was Ida’s hairdresser and had been in business for so long she had quite a long list of clientele. “No,” Gia replied. “What’d she say?”

“His folks are hiring a private investigator.”

Shit. “That makes me nervous,” she admitted. “See? Margot is smart not to leave a trail for Sheldon—or anyone he hires—to follow.”

“It’s probably for the best,” Leo concurred.

Fresh tears slipped down her mother’s cheeks, but she nodded. “I’m exhausted. I’d better get to bed.”

Gia cleaned while Leo helped Ida up the stairs. She’d just finished and was about to go to bed herself when a vehicle turned into the drive. She couldn’t see the make or model or who was driving it—the headlights were glaring through the kitchen window, blinding her—but it was easy to guess when the lights flashed brighter and the vehicle just sat there.

Gia picked up her phone and punched in 9-1-1 in case she had to call for help. And she almost pressed Send when Sheldon revved his engine, then popped the transmission into Drive and the truck lurched forward as if he’d smash right through the wall.

He slammed on his brakes at the last second only to back onto the grass and spin out, leaving deep ruts through their front lawn.

Determined to get a video that showed his license plate number so she could use it to get a restraining order, Gia ran outside. But the only thing she captured was his red taillights as he rocketed away. “You bastard!” Gia yelled. “No wonder she left you!”

Since it was Edith’s birthday, Cormac had agreed to meet his sisters and their husbands for a drink at Vivian’s, a local restaurant, while Sharon watched the kids. Cormac was tired. He’d been up late last night at a Halloween party with Tyler Jenkins and some of his other buddies, and he had to work in the morning. So he wasn’t really excited about going out again. But this was the first time they’d all be together since they’d realized that their father had indeed molested Gia, and he felt they could use the chance to smooth over some of the cracks that’d developed in their relationships.

So far, most of the conversation had revolved around his niece and two nephews. Cormac ordered a beer and simply listened until Dan started telling him he thought their Corkie was getting another cyst. Cormac told him to bring the dog to the clinic so he could take a look, then slid over to make room at the table when Ruth showed up. No one had told him she’d been invited to join them, but it was Edith’s birthday—she certainly had the prerogative to invite who she wanted—and he considered Ruth a welcome addition when she brought up Gia almost straightaway. He was far more interested in a conversation that involved her than any other topic.

“Have you heard the latest with Gia?” Ruth asked.

Louisa sent her a baleful look. “Whatever it is, please tell us it has nothing to do with our dad...”

“No, nothing to do with him,” Ruth said.

“Then what’s the latest?” Edith asked.

Ruth lowered her voice. “She’s trying to get a restraining order against her brother-in-law.”

Cormac hid his surprise. He knew better than to say anything about Gia—or show much concern in front of his sisters.

Fortunately, Louisa responded the way he wanted to respond himself. “Why would she need a restraining order? What’s he been doing?”

Ruth sent Cormac a tentative smile. He could tell she was trying to read how he felt about this information, probably because she’d heard from Edith that he’d been sleeping with Gia. Over the past couple of years, Ruth had made it obvious that she was attracted to him—so obvious it sometimes made him uncomfortable—so he conjured what he hoped was a neutral smile, trying to walk the thin line between being nice and giving her false hope.

“I guess he’s furious about Margot running off and won’t believe they don’t know where she is,” she replied as she returned her gaze to Louisa. “So he keeps harassing them.”

At this point, Cormac couldn’t resist speaking up. “In what way?”

“Damaging their lawn. Texting threatening messages. Shooting up their garbage can—”

“He shot up their garbage can?” Victor broke in.

“Well, no one actually saw him do it,” she said. “But Sammie told me Gia’s convinced it was him. She saw him peel out on their lawn last night.”

Dan put down his soda. “Why doesn’t he just focus on finding his wife instead of making trouble with his in-laws?”

The waitress arrived to check on them, and Ruth ordered a blended margarita before answering. “From what I’ve heard, his parents have hired a private detective, but he isn’t turning up many clues. Not yet, anyway. It’s as if she just dropped off the face of the earth.”

A horrified expression descended on Louisa’s face. “I’d be frantic without my kids. Can she do that? Legally, I mean? Just...take the boys?”

Ruth shrugged. “I guess she can. I work with a teacher whose husband is on the police force. She told me he says there’s really nothing they can do, since there’s no court order to prevent her from leaving.”

Edith clapped a hand over her mouth. “That’s unbelievable! Taking your kids and disappearing into another state without the permission of your spouse—isn’t that kidnapping?”

“Apparently not,” Ruth said. “But if he can find her and file for divorce, he could change that eventually. He might have a much better chance of gaining full custody after what she’s done, too. But my friend’s husband said it’s important he find her fast. If she moved to a different state, the longer she’s there, the harder and stickier it’ll be.”

Edith tucked her hair behind her ears. “Why’s that?”

“Something about jurisdiction,” Ruth said. “And, of course, the judge would have to consider what’s best for the boys. If they’ve settled into their new place and are thriving, he or she might be hesitant to uproot them. Not only that, but if it goes on for another five years or so, the boys will be old enough to speak for themselves and say where they’d most like to live, which could have significant influence.”

Louisa shook her head. “The way he’s acting, if he finds her, he might not wait for help from the courts.”

“That’s just it,” Ruth said. “I wouldn’t want to be her.”

Edith toyed with the condensation from her water glass. “Margot’s brave. I’ll give her that.”

Cormac was equally impressed. He never would’ve expected her to do something so gutsy. Gia was the spunky one. She’d always lived her life unapologetically.

“Why do you think she ran away?” Victor asked the table at large.

“Her husband was cheating on her, and everyone knew it—even you,” Louisa said. “I’m the one who told you.”

He scowled at her. “I know, but a lot of people have affairs without their spouse taking the kids and running off.”

“Well, if you’re going to cheat, that’s a risk you take, so let that be a lesson to you,” she joked.

Everyone chuckled. Then Edith grumbled, “And we thought we had drama in our family...”

“Hopefully, the business with your father and Gia is finally over and done with,” Dan said.

“Whoa!” Victor pointed at the entrance. “Speak of the devil.”

They all turned to see that Gia had walked in. She was standing at the hostess station, waiting to be seated, looking down at her phone, so she didn’t notice them. Otherwise, Cormac believed she would’ve walked out. And he wouldn’t have blamed her. Why would she stick around when she was outnumbered by his family—not to mention Ruth, who’d defected from her side and joined theirs.

“Unless she’s meeting someone who’s late, it looks like she’s here alone,” Dan said.

“That doesn’t surprise me,” Ruth said. “I don’t think she’s getting out much, what with taking care of her mom and then this thing with Sheldon. She certainly hasn’t called me.”

The hostess approached and Gia exchanged a few words with her before being taken to a table not far from where they were sitting. She’d already sat down and stowed her purse in the empty chair next to her by the time she saw them all staring at her.

She blinked as though she couldn’t quite believe her eyes. Then she reached for her purse as if she’d get up again—probably to head right back out to her car. But the waitress stood over her already asking for her drink order. Either Gia felt penned in, or she decided she wouldn’t let anyone chase her away, because she let go of her purse once again and ordered a drink. Then, acting as if they weren’t even there, she went right back to doing what she’d been doing on her phone.

“I wonder how her mother’s feeling,” Edith whispered.

“I don’t know.” Ruth kept her voice down, too. “Like I said, she hasn’t called me since...since before the Banned Books Club meeting.”

Cormac didn’t find that to be even slightly surprising, given that Ruth had been more supportive of Edith. But he didn’t say anything.

Louisa looked over at him. “Do you know?”

He shook his head. “I haven’t talked to her, either. That was part of our peace agreement, remember?”

Louisa had the good grace to look slightly abashed before getting to her feet.

“Where are you going?” her husband asked, but she didn’t answer. She just started over to where Gia was sitting.

“Louisa, it wasn’t just you!” Cormac hissed, feeling as though he’d put whatever was about to happen in motion because of his last dig. It was easier to blame her and Edith than himself for cutting off his relationship with Gia. But he shouldn’t have done it. He didn’t want either one of them to bother her ever again. “Come back here!” he added.

He knew she’d heard him because she glanced at him—but kept on going.

Gia was going through the photos on her phone, selecting images that would be good to put on social media to promote Backcountry Adventures, when a shadow fell across her table. Sammie had originally agreed to come with her tonight, but something had come up at the last minute and Gia had decided to get out of the house, anyway. Wouldn’t you know she’d have to face Cormac and his sisters when she was completely alone and looked friendless and rather pathetic?

Bracing for what could be an emotional encounter—she’d known almost nothing except emotional encounters when it came to Mr. Hart and his kids—she looked up to find that it was Louisa who’d walked over.

“Can I...help you?” she asked uncertainly when Louisa didn’t speak right away.

Cormac’s sister began to dig at her cuticles. “I just wanted to say—” She cleared her throat. “I wanted to say that I’m sorry. I misjudged you and...and I know you were going through a difficult time as it was. When I put myself in your shoes and try to imagine what it must’ve been like, I feel terrible. I hope you can forgive me.”

Gia had never expected an apology. They’d been enemies for so long she figured at some point that sort of thing just became set in stone, because even if they finally believed her, they could still wonder, deep down, if she’d done something to entice their father. It had to be hard to completely give up on the idea and not simply look for different reasoning.

“I appreciate that,” Gia said. “Of course I forgive you. You weren’t in a good position to determine the truth, not with everything your father has said to discredit me.”

Louisa blinked, seemingly surprised that her apology had been accepted so readily. But Gia didn’t see any point in holding grudges. She was just glad the truth had finally come out, and she knew Cormac was responsible for that, so she couldn’t be too hard on those he had to cross to make it happen. “Thanks.” Louisa smiled. “I appreciate it.”

Gia smiled, too. “No problem.”

Louisa started to go back to the other table but turned almost immediately. “Hey, is there any chance you’d like to join us?” she asked. “We’re celebrating Edith’s birthday.”

Looking over at all the faces that were turned in her direction, Gia swallowed hard. “Um...that’s okay. I wouldn’t want to intrude. But I hope she has a wonderful birthday and...and thanks for coming over.” She thought that would be the end of it. She couldn’t believe Louisa really wanted her to join the party. But then Edith got up and came over, too.

“I also owe you an apology. I’m sorry—on behalf of me and my father,” she said. “I hope you’ll come have a drink with us and that we can...start over.”

Gia assured her she harbored no hard feelings, then tried to decline again. But Victor and Dan joined their wives and pressed her to accept.

“Come on over, really,” Victor said.

“We’d love to have you,” Dan added, and the next thing she knew, Gia found herself sitting by Ruth at one end of the table, with Cormac on the other end and his sisters and brothers-in-law in between.

“I never dreamed this would happen,” Gia joked as they signaled the waitress that she’d moved.

Cormac caught her eye and smiled. She could tell he was looking for some type of forgiveness, too. But the way she felt when she looked at him, she knew that would only lead her right back to his bed.