Page 50 of The Atonement
First, she’d tried to kill me. Then, when that hadn’t worked, she’d tried to turn me in. She wanted me to go to prison. To pay for what I’d done—whatwe’ddone, someone should remind her. If I hadn’t had the foresight to move the bodies—what was left of them, anyway—I might never see my children again.
Ainsley had believed she’d won.
It sickened me…realizing that was why she wanted to meet me. She was keeping me occupied. Keeping me out of the way. Then, she let me drive us straight into the trap without a single care. How could anyone be so heartless? So cruel?
Luckily for me, once again, I’d outsmarted her.
I was getting good at that.
Now though, I was home without a car and a chunk of skin missing from my wrist. I doused it in cool water, patting it with a gauze pad.
What an animal she was…
Before I wrapped the wound, I picked up my phone to snap pictures. If she was going to try to take me down, I would do the same. No judge could see pictures of this abuse and think she could be a fit parent.
I didn’t want it to come to that, but if it had to, it was better to be safe than sorry. Ainsley had already proven she’d stop at nothing to win. I’m not sure why I expected anything different.
I positioned the phone’s camera over my wrist and took two pictures, one from farther away and one up close. You could make out the teeth marks plainly, and the way the skin around the wound had already begun to bruise.
My phone buzzed, interrupting my thoughts, and I looked down.
Well, well, well…
I didn’t really have time to answer, but I couldn’t resist. After all, why would Gina be calling me? Ever since our unfortunate encounter with Mallory during my arrangement with Ainsley, things had been awkward between us at best and cool at worst. Today’s conversation in the office hadn’t exactly left me expecting to hear from her again.
“Hello?” I kept my voice calm, cool, and casual.
“Hey, is this a bad time?”
“No. Not at all.” I braced the phone between my shoulder and ear as I carefully wrapped my wrist, wincing from the pain. “What’s up?”
“It’s none of my business, but I couldn’t helpoverhearing your conversation with Beckman today. About the divorce.”
“Oh, right, yeah.” I tore a piece of medical tape with my teeth and used it to press the final piece of gauze down.
“I’m sorry if I was rude to you today. I had no idea you were going through so much.”
Suddenly able to focus my entire attention on the conversation, I sighed. “Oh, well, thanks. I’m…you know, I’m okay. It’s been a long time coming. Ainsley and I…we’re just in different places.”
“I get it. I know things have been weird between us…” She didn’t bother to elaborate when things had shifted. We both knew. “But if you ever need anything, I’m here. I truly wished things would get better for you guys.”
“Thanks, Gina.” Suddenly, I had the answer to my problems. Or…at least my biggest one at the moment. I needed a car. “You know, the hardest part is that she’s taken my kids away from me.”
“What do you mean?”
“She took them. Moved them out while I was at work. And now…” I paused for dramatic effect, allowing my voice to crack slightly. Still a manly cry, but a cry nonetheless. “Now, I have no idea where they are. She even stole my SUV today when she came over to talk. I…I shouldn’t be saying this. I don’t want to speak badly about her, but…I’m worried she’s going to do something to hurt them. Or herself. Or me.” I let the words hang in the air between us, before adding. “But I’ll be okay. Somehow.”
“Peter, if you really believe your wife is dangerous, you should call the police.”
“Oh, I did. But there’s no proof. You know they always side with the mother on these sorts of things.”
“Well, I’m really sorry it’s come to that. Is there…is there anything I can do?”
“Actually, there is.” I gathered the medical supplies and shoved them back into the first aid kit, not bothering to put anything back in its place. Ainsley would hate it. “Could you give me a ride somewhere?”
“Oh, I don’t know, Peter… I really don’t want to get involved. I just wanted to apologize because it’s been bothering me—”
“It’s nothing crazy. I just need to get our car from downtown. I had Ainsley meet me for coffee and we rode back here together, but, like I said, she took my SUV. Her car is downtown, so I just need to pick it up.”
