“Ex-husband.” The finality in Chance’s voice shook Tina. While she’d known Chance had looked into her past, he almost sounded angry at the thought she’d been married before.
“I’m sorry, what?” They’d gathered around the kitchen table after Tina disconnected the call, and Ms. Patti poured them all coffee. Wrapping her hands around the cup, she felt the warmth seep into her palms. Maybe if she held it long enough, it might permeate her whole body, because the icy chill encasing her froze her to the core.
“I said he’s your ex-husband. At least, that’s what my records show.”
“You’re right. Jared is my ex-husband. I divorced him a long time ago. He’s having trouble letting go.”
A bit of an understatement, but she didn’t want them to know about her past. It was sordid and ugly, and she’d walked away from that part of her life without ever looking back. At least, she’d tried to. Too bad Jared wouldn’t let her go. Now, she had no choice but to leave Shiloh Springs. She’d have to get out of Portland too, because if he’d found out where she worked, chances were good he also knew where she lived.
“I’d say there’s a bit more to the story, otherwise you wouldn’t have passed out when Gertie mentioned him.” Douglas took a sip of his coffee, and smiled at Ms. Patti over the rim of the mug. “We’re good listeners. Maybe we can help.”
“You don’t seem surprised Chance had me investigated.”
“I’m not.” Ms. Patti moved around to stand behind Douglas and placed her hands on his shoulders. “First off, and don’t be offended, but we didn’t know anything about you except you were friends with Renee and helped her when she was in trouble. While that was a point in your favor, it didn’t tell us much about you. Secondly, our family looks out for each other. If Chance hadn’t had you checked out, I guarantee one of the other boys would have. Probably Ridge, since he’s got the best computer expert.” She smiled dotingly at Chance, and he nodded, confirming her guess.
“I’d already contacted an old army buddy, had him looking into your background.” Douglas reached up, placing his hand on his wife’s resting on his shoulder.”
“You did?” Surprise colored Chance’s voice.
Douglas nodded. “Gizmo owed me a favor, so I had him do a little digging.”
“So, you already knew about Tina’s ex?”
“I’m sure Destiny’s report was a lot more comprehensive than Gizmo’s, but yes, I had the facts.”
“Of course, it was obvious from the start we had nothing to worry about once we met you.” Ms. Patti’s eyes met Tina’s across the table, a wealth of understanding written in their depths. The warmth in her small smile filled Tina with hope that everything might be alright.
Tina sighed, realizing she owed them the truth. They’d been nothing but kind to her from the moment she’d met them. How could she blame them for doing something she’d have done herself if she had the time and the wherewithal to pay for it? Honestly, she kind of envied the Boudreaus, because they were unlike anybody she’d ever met. Ms. Patti and Douglas welcomed her into their home and for the first time in years, she’d gotten a taste of what a true family looked like. As hard as her aunt and uncle tried, they’d been older, and had problems of their own. Taking on a young woman loaded down with baggage hadn’t helped.
“I got married when I was young.” She almost choked on the words. “Young and stupid. Jared and I didn’t have an amicable divorce. Truth is, he didn’t want the divorce at all. As far as he is concerned, marriage is for life. Funny, I always believed that, too. I took my vows seriously, meant every word. I was head over heels in love with Jared, adored him from the day we met.”
She glanced at Chance through half-lowered lids, noted his scowling face, the way his jaw clenched. Anger radiated off him, and she wasn’t sure if it was directed at her or her absent ex. It wasn’t like she’d hidden the truth from him. Her lousy marriage and its turmoil really wasn’t his business. They’d been having such fun on the drive toward Dallas up until the accident, joking and laughing. He’d been friendly and jovial, and she’d gradually loosened up under his gentle teasing. Now, that smiling, pleasant man was gone, like he never existed, leaving in his wake this stoic, somber stranger.
“Jared Webster. He’s a doctor. A surgeon, if I recall.”
Voice frozen in her throat, all she could do was nod. Talking about Jared brought all the horrible memories rushing forward, things she’d fought long and hard to quash. Forget. When her eyes met Ms. Patti’s, their earlier conversation replayed through her mind. She’d found a kindred spirit in the wonderful woman, who’d intimated she’d endured some of the same experiences Tina had, and she’d come through it healthy and whole and loving.
Wonder if I’ll ever be able to put my past behind me, and have a happy, healthy relationship? A life filled with people I love and who love me? Who am I kidding, that’s a pipe dream that’ll never happen.
“Jared is an excellent surgeon. I’ve seen him do some amazing work.”
“Funny, from what I read, he didn’t have great grades in medical school. He was on the fast track to failing out when he suddenly turned things around. Right about the time he met a premed student who aced all her courses—you.” Chance’s steely-eyed gaze bored into her, and her stomach clenched. Guess he wasn’t going to let things slide. She doubted he’d pull his punches, either. The lawyer part of him, the prosecutor, would go straight for the jugular. Hadn’t she bled enough covering for her ex?
“Jared had the skills to be one of the finest surgeons in the country. But he had trouble taking tests. Studying, retaining classroom-style lessons and facts didn’t come easy. I—helped him, taught him some tricks for retaining information. Studied with him, tutored him in some instances, and he turned things around.”
“And lost your own scholarship in the process, right, Tina? Saving Jared’s chances to be a doctor caused you to lose your own shot.”
“It was my choice.” Her voice was barely above a whisper, remembering how devastated she’d been when she’d found out she couldn’t continue her studies to become a doctor. Practicing medicine had been her dream, almost her entire life focused on becoming a neurosurgeon.
“We were crazy about each other, and it only made sense to get married. Once Jared got his practice established, we’d planned for me to go back to school and make up my classes.” It was hard disguising the bitterness in her words. Even now, she felt like an idiot for believing his promises. It hadn’t taken long to realize Jared had no intention of letting her go back to school. In Jared’s eyes, his wife needed to be at home, creating the perfect family, being the perfect physician’s wife.
“Did you? Go back?” Ms. Patti’s softly voiced question didn’t surprise her.
She shook her head, biting her bottom lip to keep from screaming. Talking about this was hard—harder than she’d imagined. There were few people who knew the truth of her failed marriage, and she wanted to keep it that way. Shame flooded through her, not for the first time, at how young and gullible she’d been. Never again, she swore.
“Were you happy?” Chance’s casual question surprised her, especially given his previous veiled hostility.
“In the beginning. I guess it was part of the honeymoon phase, where everything is champagne and roses. We didn’t care, because Jared’s practice was thriving. I worked part time and managed our home. Jared comes from a wealthy family and was used to the finer things. It was an…adjustment for me. While my family wasn’t dirt poor, there wasn’t a lot left over for luxuries. Scholarships meant I could attend college; otherwise, I’d have gone straight from high school into the work force.”
Tina stopped talking when her phone’s text alert sounded, startling her into silence. She’d almost forgotten she’d laid it on the table when she picked up her coffee cup. Hand shaking, she slid her finger across the screen and looked at the message. The words seemed to blur together, and she felt her breathing speed up until she couldn’t catch her breath.
Within seconds, she felt a hand on her back, forcing her forward.
“Take a deep breath, honey. That’s good. Let it out slowly. Alright, do it again. Breathe in. Now let it out. Good girl.” Ms. Patti’s hand rubbed small circles between her shoulder blades, and while she still felt lightheaded, the wave of panic receded.
Chance eased the phone from her shaking hand, and she let him, feeling numb. She’d finally felt like she had her life together, that Jared had gotten the message she wasn’t coming back. None of the reasons she left had changed, yet he refused to allow her to be free.
“Son of a—”
“Chance Elliott Boudreau, watch your language in this house.”
Tina watched the flush spread across Chance’s cheeks at his mother’s rebuke. His expression reminded her of a little boy with his hand in the cookie jar who’d been caught red-handed.
“Sorry, Momma. Tina, who’s Gustavo Herrera?”
“My landlord.” She was proud of the fact her voice didn’t break on the words, because inside she was trembling, jittery as an aspen in the wind.
Chance handed the phone to his father, and she watched his eyes widen slightly at the message. A muscle in his jaw tightened, but that was the only outward change she noted in the big man.
“You’re not going back.”
Tina’s eyes widened at the almost monotone statement from the Boudreau patriarch. His voice contained no anger, no censure about bringing trouble to his front door. But his eyes—there was a fire burning in their depths she was glad wasn’t directed at her. If it had been, she’d have found the deepest, darkest hole, climbed in and pulled the dirt over herself, to save him the trouble.
“What does it say, Douglas?”
“Her landlord texted her apartment was ransacked. The police determined it was not a random break-in, since there was a message written on the wall.” He turned his gaze to Tina. “Though he didn’t sign it, we can assume it’s from your ex.” It wasn’t a question.
She pulled in another deep breath and felt Ms. Patti’s hands tighten on her shoulders. How had things deteriorated so quickly? More importantly, why had Jared tracked her down again? She’d gone back to using her maiden name after the divorce, which infuriated him. When she’d moved from place to place, she’d decided changing her last name only made sense, since the whole point was to avoid him at all costs. Of course, he always found her, faster than she counted on most of the time.
“Jared has an issue with anger management. Douglas, I must go back. You read the message. The police have questions…”
“Call them. Answer their questions on the phone. You can Skype or Zoom if they need a face-to-face confirmation. I’ll be with you, act as counsel to protect your rights.” Chance reached across the table and grabbed her hand, squeezing it gently. “The police need to know the extent of harassment by your ex, and that it’s escalating. That it’s a situation of habitual and continual abuse.”
She winced at his words because she didn’t want to admit her weakness. Abuse was an ugly word and an even uglier act. Shame flooded her, remembering how long she’d lied to herself about Jared’s actions, to the point where she believed she deserved his punishments.
“Honey, Chance is right. If you go back, you’ll have to see him. Which is exactly what he wants, to draw you out, make you come to him. My guess is he’s done this before, hasn’t he?
Tina nodded again, beginning to feel like one of those bobblehead dolls. When Ms. Patti squatted down beside her chair, she placed her hand beneath Tina’s chin and lifted her head up until they locked eyes. Ms. Patti’s gaze was firm and direct, filled with compassion and a wealth of understanding only another survivor would comprehend.
“Let us help.” The other woman’s eyes darted over at Chance and Douglas before meeting Tina’s again. “Even if it’s simply holding your hand and helping you deal with the police questions, you’re not alone.
“I thought he’d finally given up.” Her words were barely above a whisper. “I felt like I finally got the fresh start I wanted in Portland. Now it’s all falling apart.”
“We’ll fix this, Tina. I promise.”
With his words ringing like an oath, Chance stood and walked out of the kitchen, his hand reaching into his pocket for his cell phone. Tina watched him stride into the living room and felt a wash of abandonment flood her, which was ridiculous. She had no right to expect Chance to stand by her side, holding her hand. He’d help her because it was his job as a protector. It made total sense, since he worked as a prosecutor, helping victims and punishing those who preyed on them. Viewing it as anything personal, because he cared about her, would be courting disaster. Even if deep down she wished she were more than another helpless woman, waiting for a white knight to ride to the rescue. And Chance Boudreau definitely filled the role of crusader to a T.
Ms. Patti refilled her coffee mug, and then slid onto the chair Chance had evacuated moments earlier. Douglas sat silently, but Tina knew he followed every word, every movement, and probably could repeat verbatim every word she’d spoken since they’d entered the kitchen.
Chance strode back through the opening, his expression grim. Stopping beside her chair, he squatted beside her, one hand on the back of her chair, and the other he placed gently atop hers.
“I need to go into town for a little while. You’ll be safe here. Momma and Dad are here, and Dane’s going to keep an eye on things, make sure nobody gets onto the property without his knowing about it. Okay?”
“Of course. Go do whatever you need. I need to call Gertie back, and let her know what’s going on. I’ll get online, contact the airline and get my ticket handled.”
“Don’t worry, son, we’ll take care of Tina.” Douglas stood and walked over to where Chance was and placed his large hand on his shoulder. “Lemme know whatever you need, and I’ll make it happen.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
When he stood and released her hand, Tina felt bereft. Her whole world turned topsy-turvy, yet somehow it felt different this time. Probably because she was used to dealing with Jared’s threats alone, his none-too-subtle attacks, but she’d come to expect them. Prepared herself for him finding her and having to pick up and run, but this time enough time had passed he’d blindsided her.
“Walk me out?” Chance extended his hand, and Tina stared at it, trying not to read more into the simple gesture than what it was—an offer of support and friendship. With a tentative smile, she slid her hand into his and stood, following him out the front door and onto the oversized front porch.
“I’ve called Ridge and he’s going to figure out exactly where your ex is, so we can get eyes on him. I’m not going to let him get anywhere near you.” When he ran his fingers through her hair, she found herself leaning into his touch. “Do you have a restraining order against him?”
“I did, but I agreed to drop it if he’d sign the divorce papers.”
“Well, we’re going to make sure another one gets put into place ASAP. Might take some work, since he resides in California and you live in Oregon, but if he’s causing problems in Portland, we’ll need to get it in place in their jurisdiction.”
Tina’s shoulders slumped, and she felt like a balloon slowly deflating. Kind of the story of her life the last couple of years. Things would finally start feeling right, and then like a slow leak, her world would begin closing in until Jared forced her to leave everything behind, all because he couldn’t accept she didn’t love him anymore.
“If you want to know where Jared is, tell Ridge all he has to do is check with his mother. Jared rarely makes a move that Mommy dearest doesn’t know about, and most times instigates. While Jared makes a decent amount from his career, his mother holds the purse strings, and she’s uses them to control him.”
“Interesting. I’ll let him know.”
Leaning forward, he placed his forehead against hers, and she closed her eyes, simply letting the moment be. Chance made her feel things she hadn’t felt in…forever. Like somebody cared about her for more than what she could do for them. First, it had been her family, riding her coattails when she got into Stanford, with scholarships and student loans. Then Jared using her to help him pass his classes and get his residency off the ground. Somebody always wanted something from her. Everyone except Chance.
“I have to go. I shouldn’t be long, but you’ll be fine. Momma and Dad will be close by if you need anything. You’ve got my number. We’ll figure out our next step when I get back.”
“Our?”
The corner of his mouth ticked up, and the sparkle in his eyes should have warned her. With a finger beneath her chin, he tilted it up until her eyes met his.
“Definitely ours.”
With that, he swooped in, capturing her lips with his in a searing kiss. She hadn’t expected it, and the touch of his mouth on hers was an unexpected delight. Instinctively, her arms slid around his neck and she moved closer, lips parting beneath his. He took her silent invitation, deepening the kiss, and Tina allowed herself to get lost in the sensations rocketing through her. All clear thought disappeared after that, and she responded, allowing Chance to lead the delicate dance of lips and tongues.
Far too soon, he drew back, the breath soughing in and out of his chest like he’d run a marathon. She wasn’t in any better shape, and she raised her fingers to her lips, still feeling an echo of Chance’s mouth against hers. Wow, the man could kiss.
He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, his fingertips skimming across her cheek, and she felt a subtle hum everywhere he touched.
This man is dangerous. If I’m not careful, I could find myself falling hard.
“I’ve gotta go. Behave while I’m gone.”
She chuckled. “Now why’d you want to go and spoil things, counselor?”
With a swift move, he leaned in and brushed his lips against hers again, and then sighed. Without another word, he took the porch steps two at a time, and headed for his father’s truck. She stayed on the porch until he’d disappeared from sight.
“I’m in so much trouble.”