Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
“Mom, what are you doing here?”
She stepped in and stomped her feet to get the snow off. I glanced past her and said, “We just got home a bit ago, and it was barely coming down.”
Smiling, she took off her coat and hung it up, then stuffed her hat and gloves in the pocket.
“I’m here because we’ve been trying to call you since we hadn’t heard from you or Haven about dinner since you texted you would be late. I got worried, so I told your father I was coming over here to make sure you both were okay.”
I closed my eyes and cursed. “I’m so sorry, Mom. Things got a bit crazy, and I completely forgot to let you know we weren’t going to be able to make it.”
Her smile faded, and she studied me. “What’s going on, Nate?”
“Why do you think something is going on?”
“You look…tired.”
I laughed. “I am tired, Mom. Follow me while I make some dinner for me and Haven.”
“Do you not want to come over? We have plenty of leftovers.”
Pulling out a stock pot, I turned to her. “Haven’s had a pretty rough day. I don’t think she would be up for visiting,” I said.
“What happened?”
“Well, the day started amazing when I asked her to move in with me, and she agreed.”
Another smile broke out across her face. “That’s a wonderful thing!”
“It is,” I agreed with a grin. “We decided to head over today to pack up some things since her lease renews in January. We stopped at Home Depot to pick up some boxes before they closed and then headed to her apartment.”
She sat down on the stool.
“Wine?”
“No, thank you, but I will take some water.”
“Haven made lemonade if you’d like that. It’s homemade.”
“Yes! I’ll take that.”
I poured her a glass, and she waited patiently for me to go on.
“While I was getting the boxes, Haven went on up. Turns out her good-for-nothing father had been waiting for her in her apartment…with a gun.”
My mother gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. “What? Is Grace okay?”
I nodded. “She’s fine. He had also been waiting for her, but she had been staying with Doug for the last couple of days. I think he was going between Grace’s house and Haven’s apartment.”
My mother’s eyes went wide. “She is!”
I chuckled. “Yeah, Haven was surprised as well. Happy, but surprised.”
“I am as well. She deserves someone good like Doug. But anyway, what happened?”
“When I was heading up the steps to Haven’s apartment, I heard her scream. When I stepped into her apartment, I heard her father talking. I quietly stepped back out and called 911. Then, I made my way back in and waited for the right time to overtake him. He was pointing the gun at Haven, and I can’t even begin to tell you how scared I was.”
She slowly shook her head. “I’m sure you were. I’m so glad neither of you were hurt. Haven is okay, right?”
“Yeah, yeah, she’s fine. Just shook up.”
“How did you overtake him?”
“Hit him over the head and knocked him out. The police arrived seconds after it happened. Haven had to go to the police station and file a report. She also filed for a restraining order against the bastard.”
“What in the world made him come back to Hamilton now of all times?” she asked.
“I guess he saw a news article about Haven and the dog park. He was looking for money.”
She sipped her drink and watched as I opened a can of corn and diced tomatoes and added it to the water heating up in the stock pot. I pulled out some chicken and added it, then a packet of spices for chicken tortilla soup.
“That poor girl. Like her father hasn’t done enough in that girl’s life, now he has to show up and try to take money from her and threaten her with a gun. Did anyone tell Grace?”
“Haven did. What do you mean about what her father did to her?” I asked.
My mother shrugged and glanced behind her.
“She’s taking a hot bath.”
Focusing back on me, my mother lowered her voice. “I don’t have any proof, and to be honest, I never thought it was my business to ask Grace, but I always suspected that David was abusive to both Haven and her mother.”
I felt the blood drain from my face. My mother tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. “Was he?”
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I said, “It’s not really my story to tell.”
She gave a single head nod. “I never liked that man. I hope he rots in jail.”
“So do I. I do know that he will never get near Haven again.”
Smiling, she asked, “Does she need to speak to anyone?”
“She has a therapist.”
“That’s good. Do you need any help making the soup?”
“Nah, I’ve got it.”