Total pages in book: 225
Estimated words: 218500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1093(@200wpm)___ 874(@250wpm)___ 728(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 218500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1093(@200wpm)___ 874(@250wpm)___ 728(@300wpm)
I guess if it didn’t, I would have my answer about whether or not my access has been disabled.
I got a text message the day before yesterday from Grace, asking me if I knew Derek had been discharged. I didn’t.
I laid awake all night expecting him to show up.
He didn’t.
I thought maybe he’d show up or call last night. He didn’t. His SUV is still parked in the garage where he left it. I don’t know if he has other vehicles or if any of his other siblings are currently staying here, but five of the eight parking spaces in front of the building where Grace and Derek would typically park are full. But she said she’s still staying with her father so I’m not sure if one of them is her car or not.
I haven’t talked to him in two months and two days. Not a word has been exchanged between us, verbally or in written form.
I’ve stayed in the house. I’ve been keeping busy. I’ve been back to work for almost six weeks. I felt a little claustrophobic so I rented a little office in Columbus because I felt like I needed to snap my brain out of a funk and thought it might be good for the company to have a physical location. And I needed to get out of that house. Away from the ghost of my so-called marriage.
So, I hired two local people and brought in the rest of the team for a team meeting two weeks ago. The company name has been changed to Amplified Marketing and Frank and I run it together. I’ve made him a partner.
Getting into a routine has helped, but I’ve still spent a whole lot of time pondering my situation. Thankfully, I’ve been busy, I’ve had people I care about around me, and I’ve been working on healing. From a lot of things. I’ve been in weekly counseling appointments and I’m sure that helped me face Adam last week without getting angry.
I was out with Coraline and Alannah. He was about to be seated at a table next to us. He was with an attractive woman. He looked at me with panic and requested to be moved.
It didn’t even ruin my evening.
I’ve spent countless hours considering all that’s happened. With Adam and me. With Derek and me. With Derek and everyone.
I saw Carson again the night he took Derek to the hospital. He came by while I was with my friends and packed a bag for Derek, telling me that Derek wanted him to tell me to please stay in our house, ensuring I’m safe. Please use my bank cards linked to his accounts for anything I need, and he wanted me to know the household bills are being taken care of by his accountant. Carson told me to let him know if there’s anything I need. To please continue to be vigilant about my safety and let Kenny continue to watch over me.
I told Carson I wanted someone else to watch over me. Having “Kenny” point a gun at me more than once, having him carry me kicking and screaming to Derek? I wasn’t in the mood to set eyes on him again. Carson didn’t ask why I didn’t want it to be Ken, just said he’d take care of it. Security for the house and for me is now generally handled on rotation between two guys, Chuck (during the day) and Fen (in the evening). I occasionally see Ken’s blue SUV out there at night, so he’s obviously still involved, but he hasn’t bothered me.
I was paid a surprise visit by Derek’s father and Grace about a week after Derek left. We had coffee. Michael tried to get a beat on where I’m at. I didn’t give him much. He reminded me that Steeles don’t divorce. I told him I knew that. I told him Derek needed help, that I hoped he would get well. I reminded him that I made this clear the first time I met them.
Michael reminded me that it’s important that I not speak to the press. Grace got annoyed with him and defended me, telling him I’d never do something like that. He looked me over with scrutiny and, if I’m not mistaken, a little bit of a threatening manner, but let it drop.
A few weeks later, Michael phoned me and told me that the security issues for the family have been dealt with.
“Do I want to know what that means?” I asked.
“You don’t,” he replied. “Just know that the people who attacked us are no longer threats. That doesn’t mean there are no threats, just not those ones.”
“How reassuring,” I muttered sarcastically.
He went on, “My son might not be prepared to cancel your security until he’s back in his regular life, but I want you to feel more at ease about your safety.”