"You're glowing," Mrs. Henderson observed, setting down her books. "Even more than usual. Something happened."
"Mac asked me to move in with him. I said yes."
Mrs. Henderson's face lit up. "Oh, that's wonderful, dear! When?"
"This weekend. We're making it official."
"I'm so happy for you." Mrs. Henderson paused, her expression turning more serious. "And don’t let that unpleasant man at the wedding. He won’t win."
Rachel's happiness deflated.
"I hope you're right."
"I'm always right." Mrs. Henderson patted her hand.
Rachel tried.
But her phone buzzed during her break.
Unknown:Rachel, this is Derek. I understand you're happy right now. I understand that this Mac-person can be very charming when he wants something. I hope you know what happened with his last relationship.
Rachel's gut clenched. What relationship? How did Derek know about it? Mac hadn’t had one. Had he?
Unknown:I have her number if you'd like to hear her side. Not trying to interfere, just thought you deserved the full picture before you get in too deep. She left town after Mac was done with her. I'm at the Riverside Inn if you want to talk.
Rachel stared at the texts, her hands shaking.
This was how it had started with Brad. Derek showing up with "concerns" and "evidence."
But what if there really was a previous woman? What if Macdidhave a pattern he hadn't told her about? She was moving in with a man she barely knew after all. Had she made a mistake agreeing to it so soon?
No. She knew Mac. She knew the way he looked at her, how careful he'd been with her boundaries.
But Derek's words kept echoing:She left town after Mac was done with her.
Rachel deleted the texts.
But she didn't block the number.
And when she got to her car after closing up the library, her hands were still shaking.
Sophie had texted asking Rachel to come by the café after work. When Rachel arrived, Sophie had their usual table ready, but no food. That was the first sign something was wrong.
"What happened?" Rachel asked, sliding into the booth.
"Matthews filed a formal complaint against Ellie with the Vermont Hockey League. She told us at the emergency meeting." Sophie's hands curled at her sides. "Ellie's devastated."
Rachel felt ice in her stomach. "And now Ellie. He won't stop until he's destroyed everyone."
"What do you mean?"
"This is how he destroyed my relationship with Brad. Not allat once. Slowly. Systematically." Rachel's hands were shaking again.
"Rachel, breathe." Sophie reached across the table.
"You can't stop him. Nobody can stop him."
"Rachel." Sophie said it like it was fact. "This is not your old town. This is Evergreen Cove."
