Seeing my life put under a microscope made me feel sick. I was self-aware enough to know that Mr. Woods probably did this in some misguided attempt to protect his family, but there was still a part of me disgusted by his actions. I had shown nothing but kindness and gratitude to this family.
I wiped my eyes and took a deep breath before I began. If Parker and I were going to have any chance at a future, I had to tell him what really happened that day.
“Celeste and I knew of Charles’ feelings for her, but we always thought it was a childhood crush and that over time it would go away. Even our mothers saw it. Our mothers had created their own village. They occasionally called themselves, ‘The Single Mom Crew.’ We considered each other family. When Rico disappeared, Celeste was a wreck. After a month of sulking, Charles decided to make his move. He confessed his feelings,and they argued. This fight caused a huge rift in our relationship. It was months before Charles reached out to make amends.”
I couldn’t help the vibration of fear that was rippling through my body as I spoke. Every word that crossed my lips was inching me back to that dark corner of my mind where these memories lived.
Parker reached for my hands, and this time I let him hold them, needing to feel grounded in the present.
“I talked Celeste into meeting up with him to talk. We had too many years between us to just throw it all away without another try. Celeste had just gotten the keys to her new salon on 241 Street and White Plains Road. She wanted to do a grand reveal and had suggested we all meet there for a tour. That afternoon, I had been running late because someone had gotten sick on the two train. When I got to the shop, they were both there.”
Breathe, Evelyn. Breathe.
Dr. Beck was the only person other than the police who knew everything about that day. Each session, he encouraged me to speak my truth, and I silently cursed him.
The torture, the way his knife felt on my skin, the things he had done to Celeste, what he almost did to me. I told him everything.
I felt exhausted by the time I was done, and the look Parker had on his face made me want to disappear into my room and never come out.
“It was all my fault. I gave him hope, and he murdered my sister.”
“Evelyn, that isn’t true.”
I stood up and began to pace, the reality of my situation barreling back into me.
I had gotten so comfortable that I had allowed myself to feel safe.
Charles was still out there, and he was coming for me. If he found me here, the Woods would be in danger,
Mr. Woods was right.
I was spiraling out of control, and I knew it.
Parker pulled me into him, taking me by surprise. I breathed in his earthy scent. I allowed my mind to hold on to the rhythmic thumping of his heart to calm me down.
“You’re here with me. He’s never going to touch you ever again,” he stated calmly.
His eyes told a different story as they burned with anger. I wasn’t seeing pity or sadness anymore. It was rage, pure rage.
He closed his eyes and brought his forehead to mine, expelling a low and steady breath.
“I know you, Ev. I know your heart. I didn’t doubt you for a second. There’s nothing he can say or do that will turn me away from you, away from this.”
I believed him. I knew he would go against his father again. The tension had been building too long between them. This file lit the match to the powder keg that was their relationship. Dinner had been a complete shit show, full of reveals of secrets and lies. Their family was obviously hurting. Mr. Woods had no reason to trust me. After all, I was here, hiding from a unhinged man.
Feeling overwhelmed, I stepped away from Parker. I was fraying at the edges. Tonight had been intense.
“I need to be alone.”
This was all too much. Parker was doing nothing to hide the hurt in his eyes. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt him, but I needed to think.
He nodded his head and didn’t protest. As I walked down the hall, I couldn’t help but acknowledge the voice in my head telling me to run, fast and far away.
I guess old habits die hard.
Chapter 34
Parker
