Protect Me: Oakville Series:Book Three (9 page)

“Now you’re gonna start back talking me? Listen, bitch, you do what I tell you. You owe me. No one else wanted you. Your own mother threw you away. I rescued you. I give you a beautiful home, take you to nice places, and give you purpose,” he rants. My stomach rolls with every word passing through his lips. He truly believes the shit spewing from his mouth. At one point, I suppose I did, too. Not anymore, though. My mother’s choice to put me up for adoption had nothing to do with me. I was an infant. I don’t care if he lavishes me with jewels, he doesn’t have the right to lay his hands on me.

“Of course, it won’t look good if I send my wife to get an abortion. So, this is something I’m going to have to take care of myself. I was going to do it quickly, but since you hid from me and opened your mouth, I’ve decided to make it hurt like hell,” he sneers. He walks away and I hear the closet door open. In this moment, something inside me changes. No longer do I want to curl into a ball and hide. I want to stand up and fight back. Show him I won’t allow this to happen any longer. I need to protect my baby.

Slowly, I pick myself up off the floor. The room feels as if it’s spinning and it takes a minute to steady myself. Once I have my balance, I turn to face Ray. Honestly, I shouldn’t be surprised that he’s graduated from his fists to the wooden bat gripped tightly in his hands. A slight snicker escapes me. Not because I think this is funny, this is just the way my luck works. I finally find the courage I need to stand up to him and it’s too late. Tears begin to slide down my face and I let them. My poor baby never stood a chance. “I’m so sorry, my sweet baby. I wish I could protect you. I love you,” I whisper as I rub my belly where I imagine him to be. ‘I’m sorry’ keeps repeating in my head, over and over.
Why couldn’t I be stronger?
That’s the last thought that crosses my mind before I feel the hard wood of the bat slam into the side of my head with a loud crack.

T
HIS TIME
when I come to in a hospital bed, it’s not my doting husband by my side. It’s a police officer. Who called the cops? I was in no shape to call them and the neighbors have never called them over the years. When Tanya walks into the room, I have my answer. I met her a year or so ago when I went back to volunteering at Worthington House. Ray had become a pro at beating me without leaving marks on my face and I was getting much better at hiding them. Tanya is a social worker at Worthington House and we became friends quickly. Just by looking at me, she knew what my story was. Normally I would’ve tried to deny it, but there was something about her that made me trust her completely. I soon found out she too had gone through the same hell I lived every day.

She helped me create an escape plan, but I should’ve used it sooner. He killed my baby because I was too scared to leave him. I actually thought becoming a father could change him. How stupid of me to think that was even possible. Well, not anymore.

Since Ray is not the kind of man to let me go if I just up and disappear one day, Tanya came up with a plan that gave me leverage against him. Something to allow me to walk away without worry. I’ll never be able to walk away and not spend every second looking over my shoulder wondering if this is the day he comes for me, but it’s better than wondering when I’ll be beat next.

“Damn, girl, you look like you went a few rounds with Tyson,” Tanya jokes as she squeezes my hand. The poor policeman looks appalled by her remark. He doesn’t realize it’s the only way I can deal with the things Ray has done to me. I give him a reassuring smile to let him know it’s okay.

“I’ll be right outside the door if you ladies need anything,” he says before walking out of the room.

I wait until he closes the door behind him. “How did I get here? Why is there a policeman keeping watch over me?” She holds up her hand, putting a stop to my questions.

“Ray called the police after setting up the house to look like someone broke in. He told them he came home and found you beaten and unconscious on the bedroom floor. Joe out there was my idea. I didn’t want Ray anywhere near you. He’s helped me in situations like this before,” she explains. It sounds like something Ray would do in order to cover his ass.

“So? Did you meet with Ray?” I ask Tanya. I need this to work the way we hoped it would. I have to get away from him. When I try to sit up a little straighter, I let out a yelp from the sharp pain that radiates through my abdomen. Just another reminder of how much I’ve lost.

“Yes, I did. He was more than furious to know you’ve been recording every beating for the last year. He was really pissed when I showed him the photos of all the bruises with date and time stamps,” she explains as she takes a seat next to me. She smiles brightly at me and hands me a big manila envelope. “He was more than happy to find out what it was we wanted in order to make sure none of this got out. I think he’s more worried about his daddy finding out than the cops. So, on my way back here I stopped by the courthouse and saw a friend of mine who happens to be a judge. You, my dear, are officially a free woman.” Slowly, I open the envelope and pull out the papers. When I read the words “Divorce Decree”, tears spill from my eyes, but for the first time in a very long time, they’re happy tears. I forgot what being happy felt like. Reality hits me, wiping away the happiness as quickly as it came.

“But…I have no way to get out of here. No money. No car. I’m sorry this was all for nothing.” I lower my head, trying to hide the tears from Tanya. The butterflies dancing in my stomach just seconds ago have turned into painful twisting knots. Now, this is a feeling I know all too well.

Laughing, Tanya sits next to me on the bed. “Give me a little credit. Do you really think I’d get you this far to leave you hanging?” When I look up, she’s just staring at me. “I’ve made sure you have enough money to get you by for a while, until you can find a job. I’ve also managed to get you a car — a piece of shit car, mind you — but it should get you far away from here.” And once again, those butterflies are back.

“I’ll pay you back. I promise. As soon as I can,” I swear to her.

“No, you won’t. First of all, it’s too dangerous to send me anything that’ll give away where you are. And second, someone did this for me once and made me promise that if I ever found someone who needed the same help, I would pay it forward,” she says. With tears in her eyes, she tells me she’ll be back tomorrow with clothes and everything I’ll need to leave. She assures me the police will be guarding my room at all times. As I drift off to sleep, I try to think of where I’d like to call home. The last thing I remember is a vision of beaches and palm trees.

The next morning, Tanya is here bright and early. True to her word, she has a suitcase full of new clothes and a bag with toiletries. She also has a pre-paid cell phone and a new driver’s license for me. Holly Anders is my new name. She says keeping the same first name makes it a lot easier for me to keep straight. I have no idea how she thought of all this or how she was able to get a new license for me, but I’m so grateful. Once I’m dressed and all checked out, the policeman walks with us out to the parking lot. For some reason, he’s not in uniform today. Maybe it’s his day off and he’s just doing Tanya a favor. She seems to know everyone. As soon as I step out into the open, my throat tightens and my heart begins to beat at such a rapid pace, I think it might explode. My eyes are scanning every inch of the huge parking lot. Joe, the police officer, grabs my hand.

“Holly, calm down. You’re safe. I promise. We do this for women like you all the time.” He looks down at me to make sure I comprehend what he’s telling me. “There will be three of us following you until you reach the place you decide is right for you. We’ll make sure you’re safe, okay?”

“It’s time to go. Take care of yourself, Holly. Please, try to be happy. I know it doesn’t always come easy for you, but you deserve it.” My cheeks heat from her words. “I wouldn’t lie to you. You’re a smart, beautiful, and strong woman. Make a great life for yourself,” she demands as she hugs me so tight, I’m finding it hard to breathe. She holds me for a few more minutes. I thank her and get into my car. She definitely wasn’t kidding. The car is a piece of shit, but I’m still smiling bigger than ever before. For once, it’s my piece of shit — the first thing I’ve ever been able to call mine.

The Florida Keys is the destination I keep picturing over and over, so that’s where I’m heading. We stop in this tiny little town called Oakville, somewhere around the Everglades, for gas and something about this place catches my attention. It’s small, quiet, and everyone seems to know everyone else. This is the type of place you read about in books and magazines. I walk over to Joe and the others.

“This is it, Joe. I’m staying here,” I tell him, and I can’t help the smile that creeps across my face. “This is my new home.”
That sounds really good.

“I don’t blame you. This is a beautiful little town. A perfect choice. Good luck, Holly. I hope you find happiness here,” he says as he puts his hand out waiting for me to shake it. Taking him totally by surprise, I reach up and hug him. This man basically saved me and made me feel safe and protected for days, I’m not shaking his hand.

“Thank you so much. You have no idea how much this means to me. Thank you for everything you’ve done, I’ll never forget you,” I sob. After a few moments, I take a deep breath and center myself. No more being weak. No more crying over my past. This is my new start and no one will ever make the mistake of thinking I’m a weak woman who can be pushed around again. Joe breaks our hug, looks into my eyes, and grins.

“There it is. The fire I knew you’ve been hiding. You’re a lot tougher than you think. Don’t you let anybody push you around” He kisses the top of my head. “Now, go start your new life.” I wave bye to the others as I get into my car. Taking one last look at the three of them, I say goodbye to Ray, my past, and most of all, the old Holly. “Hello, Holly Anders! Welcome to Oakville,” I shout as I drive in search of a hotel.