Paige came to visit at my request the weekend after Callan told me everything. He was at the cottage with me when we told Paige the truth about Tonya’s death, apologizing for keeping it from her when she tore him a new asshole for concealing it. She was understandably hurt and angry with him initially, but it didn’t take her long to forgive him. We all hurt because of Gwen, and Paige quickly channeled her anger in her direction.
We spent days discussing it and potential options. Ever since, Paige has been on a mission to find a way we can take that bitch to court and lock her away for life.
“Hey. I’m outside with Callan, and you’re on speaker.”
“Surprised you lovebirds could tear yourselves away from the bedroom.” I had messaged her last night to tell her we were back together.
“If I’d had my way, we wouldn’t.” Callan winds his arm around my back, and I snuggle into his side.
“I’m happy for you. No couple has ever been more perfect for one another than you two.”
“Thanks, Paige.”
“I won’t keep you long. I just wanted to tell you I’ve found a lawyer in the UK who has experience in cross-country cases like ours, and he seems open to working with us.”
Callan and I trade hopeful looks.
Our best approach is for Callan to press rape charges in London. The video evidence is damning, and there’s no way Gwen won’t be convicted. Paige explained that rape victims have lifelong anonymity in the UK. No person or media outlet canreport the identities of rape victims unless they waive their right to anonymity.
As an extra precaution, Paige thinks we have enough to request a private trial, which is not the norm, as most trials are public. Worst-case scenario, a screen can be requested to block Callan from sight at the trial, and we can ask the judge to clear the gallery while the video evidence is being played.
After we get a conviction in the UK, we should have enough to convince local law enforcement in Vermont to at least relook at Mara’s and Tonya’s cases. There is a risk that Gwen has someone on the outside who will release the evidence against me for Tonya’s murder, but Paige has contacts in the FBI, and she’s confident the other evidence we have proves Gwen’s hatred of me—enough to make the setup believable. I also have grounds to press charges against Gwen for hacking, harassment, and stalking, and Paige thinks everything combined is enough to stop a murder charge being brought against me.
Callan is hesitant. He doesn’t want me to do anything that might jeopardize my freedom, but I want to do this. Ineedto do it. To reclaim my identity and safety so I’m not looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life. Gwen did her best to ruin my life, but I’m fighting back. For me, and for Callan. He fought for me, and now it’s my turn to fight for him. I still feel huge guilt. For enabling Gwen to trap him. For giving up when I knew deep down he would never have cheated on me with her. I walked away. Cut him out of my life and never looked back. We both made mistakes that cost us years, and I won’t make the same mistakes again. Gwen needs to pay for her crimes, and if that means I have to take a risk, so be it.
Anyway, we’re a long way away from there, so we can have that argument later.
“That’s great, Paige.”
“It’s a step in the right direction, but I’ll caution you both again, this is going to take time. We’re talking about multi-jurisdictional laws, extradition, and a ton of other complications.”
“We’ve got time, and we need to do this right. We’ll only get one shot at it,” I say.
“I also have an update on the other thing we discussed, but I’ll tell you that in person.”
Paige is looking to find someone who can get to Gwen in jail. An inmate who needs a favor or owes a favor. Someone she can do a deal with in exchange for her getting a confession from Gwen on the murders. If this plan works, we can accelerate the US charges.
“You’ve been busy,” Callan says.
“I want justice for my soulmate. That’s all the incentive needed to work around the clock to bring that murdering bitch down. I’m only sorry capital punishment is outlawed in Vermont, and we can’t bring federal charges because I want that cunt dead, but I’ll settle for life in prison instead.”
75
ASTRID
Autumn arrives, and Callan and I find a new rhythm. Things are strictly platonic when Darcy is around, but I sneak into Callan’s bed every night, tiptoeing out of the house and back to the cottage before she wakes. Our friends and family know we’re together, and they’re delighted for us, but in public, it’s strictly hands off because we don’t want to notify the town gossips and have anything reaching Darcy’s ears.
Christmas comes and goes, as does Callan’s twenty-ninth birthday, closely followed by Darcy’s ninth birthday and my twenty-ninth in February. Callan and I celebrate our six-month anniversary next week, and I wish I could give him the thing he craves most. Confirmation that I love his daughter like my own and I’m ready to move in with them and be a family, but I’m still struggling.
Not as much as I was. It’s impossible to remain immune to Darcy’s sweet charm when my refrigerator is plastered in drawings she made me, and my cabinets are full of cupcakes and barmbrack she regularly bakes for me with her nanny. For my birthday, she made me a bracelet with my name on it and gave me a jar of her favorite insects from the woods. When hersmall hand curls around mine as we walk and she babbles away about her schoolfriends, her cousin, her grandparents, and her precious daddy, it’s impossible for my heart not to melt.
However, I still have times when I look at her and see Gwen. And bam, I’m reminded all over again of the things her mother did, and my heart rips right down the middle.
Why can’t I get over it to love a little girl who deserves it so much? It’s the only thing holding us back, and I hate that I’m hurting Callan. We discuss it in therapy, and he’s understanding and patient, but it feels like I’m failing them both. In every other regard, life is amazing, and our relationship is perfect.
I’m happier than I’ve ever been, something which Seán could see when he showed up here the week before Christmas, offering apologies and begging for another chance. But he didn’t push hard because even a blind man can see how desperately I’m in love with Callan Hunt.
It’s all playing on my mind as I close my office early to head to the school to pick Darcy up. I collect her every Wednesday, and we have one-on-one girl time together. I’ve been doing it since January in the hope it will help.
