The street was vacant, and it didn’t appear that there were lights on in any of the older houses onthe other side.
Okay. She could handle this. A sound came from the basement. She paused, not moving. Her ears strained for any more sounds. Nothing. She forced herself to breathe easily so she didn’t hyperventilate.
Thunder grumbled above, sounding as if the storm might be moving away.
She moved back to the bed table and removed the gun from the top drawer, setting it on top. She glanced guiltily at the small, fragile form of her daughter. It probably wasn’t safe to have a loaded gun so close to innocence.
But it was more dangerous for Gemma to let down her guard. She needed that gun. She couldn’t get back into bed and relax. So she took the gun and sat on the love seat, watching the storm outside. Watching shadows that didn’t move and weren’t a threat to her. If anything moved besides the tree branches, she’d see.
For hours, she watched the storm, her eyelids growing heavy. She rested her head back on a row of books and lether body relax.
It was the end of the best summer of her life. She was in love and had never felt so strong. So solid. But she knew what was coming. Monty was going to Seaville, Oregon, to join his brother’s medical practice, and she was headed to Yale to earn her doctorate. She sat across from him in the restaurant, her hand safe in his, her heart already breaking at the thought of their being apart.
He paid the check, as he always did, and sighed. Then he took her other hand, his touch gentle. “I can’t live without you.” His normalsmile was gone.
“I know. Me too.” She would not cry. Well, she’d try not to cry. They’d pretty much been living together for the last two months, and the idea of not having him around was killing her. He made her feel as if she was the most important person in the entire world. The only personin the world.
“Come with me.” He tightened his hold. “You’re everything to me. I need you.”
She wanted to go with him, she really did. But she needed to get her doctorate. “We canmake it work.”
“No.” He released her hands. “I can’t do it, Gemma. My mother left us all—she deserted us. I feel the same way right now and I can’t take it. I can’t do this.” He moved to the side of the table and dropped to one knee. “Let’s do all of this together. You and me. I know it’s fast, but I know that we’re perfect together.” A ring box appeared in his hand and he flipped it open. “Marry me.”
She gasped.Marry? “Monty.”
“Do you love me?” he asked, looking both strongand vulnerable.
“Yes,” she whispered, reaching out to touch the sparkling diamond. Was this what real love felt like? Was this what family felt like?
He slipped the ring on her finger. “Come to Oregon. You’re so young. We can get my practice established and then we’ll figure out how you can get your doctorate. Make a house for us. Make a family for us. You’re the only one who can.” He leaned back. “Unless you don’t want a future with me?”
“I do want that,” she hastened to say, touching his face. The hurt there was too much for her. “I say yes.”
“Yes.” His smile lit his entire face. He picked her up and twirled her around, oblivious to the many tables around them. He paused, looking at everyone.“She said yes.”
The diners erupted in applause.
Thunder ripped her from the past into the present, and she looked outside, still seeing only darkness and shadows. The electricity hadn’t turned back on in her house, but the porch light on the house right across the street was now glowing. She gulped. Maybe hers would come on soon. She looked over to make sure Trudy was still sleeping and then forced herbody to relax.
Her electricity would return any minute. She waited nearly an hour and let her head rest against the books again, allowing the memories in.
It was the first day in their new house, the one way outside of town in the woods. The only one Monty said he could afford and had purchased withoutconsulting her.
“What do you think?” he asked.
Peeling wallpaper from the seventies covered all four walls in the tiny living room. They’d turned in her leased car before driving across the country in his truck, and he’d brought her right here, saying he had a surprise. They hadn’t even looked at the town yet. “I’m not sure,” she murmured. “Why didn’t you ask me before buying it?”
“Because I’m in charge of finances, considering I’m the only one bringing in money.” His expression changed to one she hadn’t seen before. “This isn’t good enough for you?”
“Of course it is,” she murmured. But it was way outside of town and she didn’t have a car. “Ijust expected—”
“What? A fucking palace right off the bat?” he exploded. “You’re as badas my mother.”
What? “No, Monty,” she hurried to say. “I’m not—”
The back of his hand to her face took her by surprise and knocked her down. Shock smashed through her before she even registered the pain. She looked up at him, her mouth opened in surprise. “Monty.”
“What is wrong with you?” he yelled.
