Page 63 of Sudden Summer

He nodded. “Yeah, it was tough. I see families like the Fords, and it makes me wonder how different life would have been growing up with that steady sort of love. The love you knew would keep you safe. I mean, I know Danny was stern, but it was out of love. My dad hit me to keep me in line, but the line always moved. I never knew what safety was around him.”

My heart broke for my friend. “No child should have to go through that.”

“You’re right, they shouldn’t. But my mom had no resources. She had no support. My father had financially isolated her. He pushed her friends out of her life, one by one. Even my aunts, and my grandparents. All just…gone from our lives. My dad…” His eyes dropped to my neck, and he swallowed. I couldn’t keep my fingers from dusting over the tender bruises I knew had bloomed to a horrific color all over my skin.

“Anyway, it doesn’t matter. We got away. For a while.”

The way he said that sent chills down my spine. “What happened?”

“There aren’t many places for women with kids to go when they are fleeing an abuser in this county. We ended up at a shelter while my mom tried to get her feet under her. I found out later that he watched us. Waited. Planned.”

“Oh, God.”

Nate nodded. “Two deputies came to school one day. They were kind, didn’t say anything when I cried. They came to her funeral, shook my hand. Told me they knew I’d make her proud one day.”

“You have. I know you have.”

His eyes finally met mine, and my heart broke seeing them filled with the tears I could hear in his voice. “When I joined the Sheriff’s Department, the very first shift I worked was with one of those deputies. He’s always treated me the same as everyone else. Never brought up my history. Never mentioned the way we were connected to each other before I wore the badge. He’s only ever pulled me aside once, Birdie. That was this morning, when he asked me to join him in coming to take your statement.”

“Colt? He was one of the deputies?”

He nodded. “We’ve run domestics before. And I’ve always kept my cool. But Colt and everyone else in that house…and out here on the porch…feel like family to me now. He knew hearing what you went through, seeing what that asshole did to you, it was going to trigger something in me. And it did. I know it’s not the same, a faceless man versus a monster you know. But that almost feels worse to me. Because I know you’ll question every person you see now. Beau will keep you safe. I mean, Jesus, the way I had to pretend I didn’t hear him say he was going to kill the guy eighty times when we were here this morning.” I smiled at that. I was almost certain I’d talked Beau off that ledge, but it was good to know Nate had his back, too. “But those marks…what your attacker did…” Nate cleared his throat. “No matter what, no matter what time of day or night it is…if you feel like you’re in danger, you stick with Beau or get somewhere safe, and call me. Even if it’s just something in your gut, Birdie. My mom didn’t listen to hers. I want you to listen to yours. No matter what, I’ll come walk down the ranch. I’ll come make sure you’re safe.”

I pushed off the swing, my arms wrapping around Nate so quickly I knocked the wind out of myself, pulling my muscles in a way they weren’t ready for. But I didn’t care.

“Thank you,” I whispered as I felt his chest shake against mine. “Your mom would be so proud of you. What an incredible friend you are. What you did for Colt and Vi, what you’re willing to do for me…you’ll always have a place at my table, okay?”

He sniffed, rubbing his eyes as the sound of the screen door opening hit my ears.

“Everything okay?” Beau’s voice carried over my shoulder. I gave Nate another squeeze before turning and wrapping my arms around Beau’s waist.

“Everything’s fine.”

“Nate?”

I heard his throat clear. “Yeah, man. I’m good. Give me one sec and I’ll be back inside.”

“Okay. Supper’s ready. So whenever, man. Just come on in.”

Beau’s hand slipped around my hips, cradling me to him as we walked back into the house.

“Want to tell me what that was about?” he asked.

“Nate was just letting me know that I can call him if I ever feel like something is wrong out here. I think I just made him nervous when I mentioned feeling like someone was watching me.”

“And the tears in his eyes?” Beau’s voice dropped so low I could barely hear the words he’d said, even though his mouth was right next to my ear.

“It’s not my story to share. Come on, let’s go have dinner.”

Birdie

Iturned the phone over in my hand, the breeze already warm for the early morning spring day. I’d been home—at the ranch—for the last week. No news from work. No news from Colt. Beau was doing his best to take as much time to be with the two of us as possible, but guilt was eating away at me knowing he was staying close to make sure I felt safe.

While Beau gave Juniper her morning bottle, I slipped out of the house and found myself a cozy spot on the porch swing. It was good for the two of them to have time together; he’d grown into his role as her father so seamlessly. I knew he could do it, but damn. Seeing him hug her to his chest at three in the morning, his sleep shorts riding low across his hips and his hair falling all over the place disheveled…it was doing a number on my ovaries.

I've been feeling more and more restless. This itch under my skin since that man…Ugh. Beau was doing the most amazing job of taking care of me, but the texts from my mother were not stopping, and there was still the little girl inside of me that wanted her mom’s comfort. I just needed her to tell me everything was going to be okay.

Is now an okay time to call?