Rex makes a small huff causing me to tear my eyes from the black silk covering her back and look his way. He’s got a narrow-eyed look on his face as he tracks some guy in a fancy suit that’s walking this way. We know everybody in this town and county and this guy doesn’t fit. His expensive suit and fancy haircut scream “city” and the way he’s headed right for Rain tells me this is the guy who put the gaudy ring on her finger and the even uglier bruises on her wrist. I haven’t seen either yet but I heard all about it from the grapevine. I study the man she chose over us with a scowl and mark the moment Rain’s back goes board straight as her shoulders tighten right up when he steps next to her. I see her shake her head and move to step away and when the guy grabs her wrist, the three of us, as one move closer.
“…burying my father! You need to leave.”
I hear Rain hiss at the guy and that’s about all I need to hear to intervene but Chase throws his arm in front of both me and Rex, anchoring us in place. The guy’s voice is pitched low right next to her ear so I only manage to pick up a few words of his reply.
“…dramatic…belong…a scene.”
This fucker doesn’t understand what a scene is but he’ll find out damn quick if he doesn’t let her go in the next five seconds.
“Take it! I should have left it in the condo for you. It’s over, Jason. I swear to God if you don’t let me go right now, I’ll start screaming for everyone to hear.”
The guy scowls and glances over her shoulder at us and then drops her arm and takes a step back.
“This isn’t over, Rain. You’re upset and grieving. I’ll give you some space to process all of this but you will be coming home and we will be getting married this fall. I’ll go for now, but if you’re not home in a few weeks I’ll be coming back for you.”
Rain’s back is still turned to us but I see her shove something in the suit’s breast pocket before she says, “I’m done. Don’t come back here again or you won’t like what happens!”
She turns on her heel to storm away but jerks back when she sees the three of us standing right behind her and then groans as her face pales before ducking her head and practically running from the cemetery. Rex and I push Chase’s arm away and step forward putting ourselves between where Rain ran and the guy staring after her.
Rex growls a warning low in his throat before speaking.
“You best listen to the lady. We have a special punishment reserved for men who like to leave their mark on a woman. You won’t enjoy it. That’s a promise.”
This slick fucker smirks, looks us over with disdain-filled eyes, and then turns on one of his polished dress shoes and strides away. Once he’s far enough away that he won’t hear us, I turn on Chase with a glare.
“What the hell? Why’d you stop us? You saw the way that guy grabbed her.”
Chase rubs a hand over his mouth and shakes his head at the two of us.
“In case you both forgot, Rain chose that guy, not us. She’s not our business anymore. Don’t go forgetting that. I won’t lose you both again and that’s exactly what would happen when she leaves if you let her back in.”
He hits us with another hard look and then walks away.
Rain
Of course, of fucking course they would be standing right there to witness that. I straighten the fake smile on my lips as another couple tells me how sorry they are for my loss but I barely hear their words over the blood pounding in my ears. How dare Jason come here and make demands like that? To do that at my father’s funeral is just one more way that shows me he’s not the man I thought he was. I feel heat stain my cheeks remembering the looks on their faces when I turned and saw that they had seen and possibly overheard the things he said to me. I need to avoid them at all costs going forward as I’m sure they will add a heap of questions about Jason on top of all the other answers they want from me.
I lean forward and accept a brief kiss on my cheek as the couple moves away and scan the room hoping to find a quiet corner to disappear into for a few moments of peace.
I’m so grateful for all the people who came out to the reception to show their love and support for my father. It’s beautiful to see and hear how he was a true part of this community but right now, I just need two minutes to myself. I thread through the crowd, smiling and nodding, and tuck into an area with no one nearby. With my back to the room, I stare unseeingly at a notice board full of 4H information and let the noise of the crowd behind me blur to a background buzz.
How did I let this happen? How did I tie myself to a man who would not only betray me so effortlessly but also think so low of me that he assumed I would just take it and continue on? The fact that he came here to make demands during my dad’s funeral and told me I was being dramatic and causing a scene confirms that he’s a complete narcissist. I truly never meant anything to that man and if I let myself look back on some of the things he did and said to me…
“Rain, you okay, hun?”
My eyes crash closed for a brief moment before I rearrange my expression and turn.
“I’m good, Mags. Just needed a minute to myself.”
She studies my face for a few seconds and then nods curtly and thrusts a plate at me.
“You never could lie to me, girl. Here, you need to eat something. Don’t shake your head at me. I know you haven’t eaten today and you’re looking a little pale. Just force a few bites down to fill the tank to keep you going, babe.”
I sigh and make a face but I know she’s right and take the plate from her. I have zero appetite but I do feel a little shaky so I force myself to take a bite of the soft roll filled with what looks like barbeque pulled pork and shock myself with a small moan of pleasure at how good it tastes. A smirk fills Maggie’s face.
“Yup, nothing can’t be made better by Hett’s smoked meat.” She huffs a laugh. “Wait until you try my potato salad. You’ll demand I feed you every day!”
She shoots me a wink and just like that I feel centered and more settled. It makes me realize how alone and isolated I’ve let Jason make me. All the girlfriends I had made since I moved to the city had one by one disappeared in the last three years since we started dating. I didn’t realize just how badly I need a friend in my corner. I set the plate aside and pull Maggie into a hug and feel my muscles start to relax when she squeezes back just as tightly. I might not have anywhere to live right now but here in my childhood best friend’s arms, it feels like home.
