Page 62 of No Mercy

She didn’t have to remind me. I’d stayed in the hospital for almost two weeks, and then Rock had insisted on more rest when I’d returned home. I was sore, but when he wasn’t around I moved as much as I could, per the doctor’s orders, as long as I didn’t overdo it. It had been hell at first because of all the restrictions, but my last checkup had revealed that everything was fine, including the baby.

I was almost four months along now.

My hand automatically went to my tiny baby bump when I closed the door behind Michelle. Thinking about her confronting the people at the nursing home kept a smile on my face. She was a tough little cookie, even as small as she was. Her spiky hair and tattooed arms were intimidating to anyone who stereotyped people who looked like her. In reality she was more like an angel, and as far from being a bad-ass biker bitch as you could get.

I made sure the door was locked. There were two prospects in front of the house, but they didn’t make me feel any safer. I didn’t blame Cooper for what happened. How could he have known that the woman he’d let into the house would try to kill me? But their presence only reminded me of that afternoon, and I knew it would take time before I could trust again.

I could blame Rock, too, but I didn’t. I knew there’d been other women in the seven years we’d been apart. That’s what club women were there for. The fact that he’d obviously favored Marnie left a hole in my heart. It felt like he’d found someone to replace me. It didn’t matter that she hadn’t meant anything to him, because Marnie had obviously thought he’d felt much more. And in my mind there had to have been something about her that made him single her out.

He should have known better. But he was a man and they often thought with their dicks.

He’d called to say he’d be home today. After being gone for two days, I hoped he would get home early. Sam had been invited to spend the night at Robin’s and wouldn’t be home until the next afternoon. The twins were having a sleep-over, and they’d each been allowed to invite five of their friends. I let him go reluctantly, and with a little pressure from Rock. Deep down I knew he’d be safe, and I didn’t want my fears relayed to him.

As I headed toward the kitchen for a second cup of decaf the phone rang. The caller ID revealed that it was Tom. The smile fell from my face, and I contemplated not answering it. I hadn’t heard from him in a long while, and he’d been angry when we’d last said goodbye. The last time I’d spoken with Jenny she’d said that she’d noticed him around town with another woman. At the third ring I decided it wasn’t fair to ignore him, he’d been good to me and Sam.

“Hi, Tom.” I forced a light heartedness into my tone to get across that I was glad to hear from him.

“Hi, doll,” he responded cheerfully, and I could hear the smile in his voice. “How are you and Sam making out there in Solon? Still enjoying small-town living?”

I laughed softly at that, silently happy that he seemed like his old self. “Cedar Key wasn’t all that big,” I reminded him. “And yes, we love it here. Sam’s made a lot of new friends, and so have I.”

There was no hesitation in his response, which told me that he was being genuine. “I’m glad to hear that. Wasn’t too happy with you leaving Cedar Key, you know.”

“I know that, Tom,” I said softly, praying that he wasn’t leading up to something. “I never meant to hurt you.”

“Bah! I know that, Allie. At the time I was hurt, angry, and I acted like a child, but it always works out. My mom used to say things happen for a reason.”

Relief swept through me. “So my leaving worked out, huh? Does she have a name?” I teased.

“I guess Jenny mentioned seeing me with someone else?” he laughed.

“She might have,” I admitted. “She called to tell me they’d caught the kids who’d burned down the cottage Sam and I were living in−”

“Yeah, those little hoodlums caused a lot of damage before someone turned them in.” I was nodding, even though he couldn’t see me. “They burned down an old church, a restaurant, and a garage. Thank goodness they were all abandoned buildings and no one was hurt.”

“Yes, thank God.” Jenny had told me the three kids involved were twelve and thirteen year olds. Their explanation to the authorities? That they’d been bored. I wondered how bored they were going to be in juvy. “So, what is her name?” I insisted lightly.

His laughter made me feel good inside, for both of us. “Victoria. I met her on a deep sea fishing trip last month. She’s a nurse from Georgia. Pretty, smart, a little younger than me.”

“A true southern peach, huh?” I joked, smiling.

“Yep! Her southern accent--,” he hesitated before releasing a satisfied sigh, “does something to me every time she speaks.”

Now I was the one laughing. “I bet.” I was so happy for him. “You said she’s from Georgia, is it serious?”

“Yeah. It hit us both fast and hard, right from the start. She’s already put in for a transfer here.”

Their relationship must be serious if she was already moving to Cedar Key. I decided to voice my earlier thought. “I’m so happy for you, Tom. Really.”

“Thanks, doll.” There was the hesitation that I dreaded. “Things might have been different if you’d stayed−”

“Don’t say it,” I quickly interrupted, not giving him a chance to go down that road. “Things happen for a reason.” I repeated his earlier comment.

There was a long pause before he replied, “Yeah, I know. So, are things working out there for you?”

I knew what he was asking. “Yes,” I said without faltering. No reason to go into the ‘incident.’ I hadn’t even told Jenny. “It’s always been Rock, Tom. I never stopped loving him. In time I might have moved on to someone else, but it wouldn’t have lasted, and it wouldn’t have been fair.” I needed him to at least know and understand that.

“I suppose, doll. If friendship is all I can have with you, I’ll take it. Listen, I just wanted to touch base with you. We’re still friends, right?”

---