“But the trial could drag on foryears.”
My God, doesn’t he realize what he’s asking?
He nods. “I know that, and I can’t force your hand. But I’m here asking as a friend. You need to understand, this isn’t going away without a fight. Not unlessyoudo.”
The words don’t hit all at once. They sink in slowly, like stones dropping one by one into deep water.
This won’t go away unless I do.
Unless I walk away.
Unless I make myself smaller, quieter, easier to discard.
Unless I give up the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
I feel my throat closing around the rising anguish, the tears pricking my eyes. “I didn’t do anything. How long will I have to pay for someone else’s crimes?”
Mr. Howard’s face softens as he steps closer and gives my shoulder a gentle pat. “I never said it was fair, and you can do what you want, but I’m hoping this might nip things in the bud and save everyone a whole lot of heartache.”
The thing is, he means what he says. Mr. Howard didn’t come here to humiliate me. He came out of respect.
I nod, swiping away a stray tear. “I appreciate that.”
He peers out the window at the falling darkness. “Well, I’d better be going. Not that good at driving at night anymore, and it’s dark as soot up here.”
“Please be careful.”
The second his taillights disappear from view, I sink onto the couch, a heaviness settling over me so thick it feels impossible to breathe through it.
Maybe I should grab Gus and a suitcase, get in my car, and drive until Sparkwood disappears in the rearview, because I’m never going to be welcome here.
Turns out Eddie was wrong. I do ruin everything I touch.
I spend the next twenty minutes pacing my cabin, turning the mess over in my head, looking for some version that doesn’t end with someone gutted. Mainly me.
I have to wonder, if Drake is somehow freed, would the town welcome him back? Would they then consider me forgivable, or would I still be their scapegoat?
What if he’s sent away for good and I’m proven innocent of all wrongdoing? Would it matter, or would the stain cling to me forever?
Is Deirdre bluffing to scare me off, or wouldshe drag Eddie and Theo through an ugly custody battle simply to ensure I got the message?
Anyone with eyes can see that Eddie is a fantastic father. He loves Theo with everything he has, and the idea of his little boy being used as a pawn in some miserable war makes me physically sick.
I stop pacing long enough to stare at the dingy ceiling in my cabin.Universe, please give me a sign. I don’t want to lose Eddie, but I sure as hell don’t want to hurt him or Theo either.
As if the universe was waiting for me to ask, my phone lights up on the table.
Eddie.
For one stupid second, I consider not answering, because if I hear his voice, I might crack and tell him everything. I might beg him to come over and hold me and promise me it’ll all work out, even though we both know promises don’t mean much in a town like this.
But I answer anyway.
“Hey.” It’s only one syllable, but he sounds off. Tired, frayed around the edges.
Never a good sign.
“Hi. Are you okay?”
