Page 64 of Harmony Island Gazette
“I’m not lying, Kevin.” My heart was pounding so hard, I feared it would break free from my chest. The only way I knew I was going to get out of this was to stand my ground. I’d come here tonight to prove to myself that I had the strength to walk away, and that was what I was going to do.
I planted my feet on the ground in front of the couch. I wasn’t going to let Kevin push me around. I was going to say my piece and leave. I was going to be the strong mother this baby deserved.
I moved to stand, but Kevin must have anticipated it. He crossed the space between us so that, when I straightened, he was towering over me.
“Where are you going?” he asked, his breath hot on my face.
I did everything I could to stand my ground. Even though the heat and the smell of his breath made my stomach heave. I wasn’t going to show weakness. I was going to be strong.
“I’m leaving,” I said, turning my gaze up to his so he knew that I was serious.
“No, you’re not.” He stepped closer, and we were almost touching.
“Kevin, I’m leaving,” I repeated, my voice stern. I wasn’t going to listen to what he had to say anymore. I’d done what I’d come here to do. I’d told him about the baby and that I was leaving him.
This was a chapter of my life that I was ready to turn the page on and move forward.
His hand wrapped around my upper arm. “I said no,” he said as his fingers dug into my skin.
I winced but forced my voice to remain calm. “Let go of me.” I reached up to push away his hand.
Suddenly, he threw me down onto the couch, the force taking the breath from my lungs. Fear surrounded me as I watched him lift his hand.
“You’re not leaving!” he bellowed as he brought his hand down. I saw stars before I realized what had happened. My ears were ringing from the impact of his hand on my face.
He hit me.Again.
When my mind finally cleared, I curled my body to the side to protect myself from another blow. “Kevin!” I screamed, but that was muted by the sound of the front door slamming open.
I turned to see Boone barrel into the room. He glanced at me, cowering on the couch, and crossed the space between us. He shoved Kevin to the side before he knelt down in front of me. My purse appeared as he shoved it into my hands.
“Go,” he said, his gaze desperate as he studied me. “Get in your car and drive home. Right. Now.”
Suddenly, Kevin’s hands were on Boone’s shoulder, and Boone was thrown to the side. I scrambled to stand, wanting to help him, but Boone had stabilized himself and confronted Kevin before I could think.
The sound of a fist hitting skull made bile rise up in my throat. I turned, desperate to make sure it hadn’t been Boone who had been hit.
It wasn’t. He was shaking his hand, and Kevin was pitched forward, cupping his face.
“Go, Juniper,” Boone said as he positioned his body between me and Kevin.
Not wanting to distract him, I nodded, shoved my purse strap up onto my shoulder, and hurried out the front door and down the stairs. I didn’t stop until I pulled into my parents’ driveway. I closed my eyes as my breath turned ragged. I could still see the way Kevin stalked toward Boone as I shoved my car into reverse and backed out of the driveway at Kevin’s rental.
I couldn’t shake the worry that Kevin had hurt Boone. I needed to know that he was okay.
A knock on the driver’s window had me screaming and clutching my heart. I pinched my lips shut when I saw Mom peering in at me.
“Juniper?” Mom asked. Her gaze raked over my face, and I watched as her expression fell. Suddenly, the door was being yanked open, and Mom leaned in so she could get a better look at me. “Dear lord,” she whispered as she reached forward and touched my swollen cheek. She tipped my chin so she could get a better look at my busted lip.
“Get out,” she demanded as she stepped to the side.
My entire body was shaking now. “Someone needs to go back,” I murmured as Mom wrapped her arm around my waist and pressed me to her side. I let her walk me away from my car for a moment before I stopped. “Mom! Are you listening to me? I have to go back. Boone needs me.” I moved to push her hand away so I could break free.
“Juniper, you need to go to the hospital.” She kept her arm wrapped around me as she started to lead me to her car.
“No. No, Mom.” Tears were flowing now. Boone had done so much to protect me this last week. I couldn’t walk away from him now.
“You can’t go back there. I’ll call the sheriff on the way to the hospital. I’ll tell them what happened. But you need to get checked out.” We were standing next to the passenger door of her car. Mom’s fingers were wrapped around the door handle.
