Loves Second Chance

Chapter Twelve

"Em, I have to get to work. I promised Hank I'd be in early today so he's already gonna be pissed because I'm late." Parker said putting his hand on the front door.

"He won't be surprised. He knows damn well the only way you'd ever be early to work is if you spent the night on the garage floor." Ed said from the couch where he was feeding Wyatt a bottle.

"Thanks for sitting with Em and Wyatt today, dad." Parker said. Emily had not wanted to be alone and truth be told Parker had not really wanted to leave her and Wyatt alone so Ed had agreed to come sit with them until Emily had to go into work at noon.

"Are you kidding me? Hanging out with a beautiful woman and my wonderful grandson? I can't think of a better way to spend a day." Ed replied.

"Be careful, Parker." Emily said hugging him tight. Parker smiled and kissed her hair.

"Don't worry about me, beautiful. I promise you that I can take care of myself." he said. "I'll come over to the diner around one and visit with you." Emily nodded and pulled away from him.

"I love you." she said. Parker smiled and kissed her gently.

"I'll see you this afternoon." he replied and walked out. Emily watched him drive away before shutting and locking the door.

888

Emily carried Wyatt back to his nursery several hours later and laid him sound asleep in his crib. She walked back out to the living room.

"I'm going to get ready for work." she told Ed who was watching a car show on the TV. He nodded distractedly and she smiled and walked back to her room.

She was just finishing getting dressed when she heard the front door crash open.

"What the hell!" She heard Ed yell. She heard a crashing noise and then there was silence. Emily felt fear trying to overwhelm her but she pushed it down and peeked out into the living room.

John was standing there over Ed's body. Emily gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. Ed's head was bleeding and John was holding the living room lamp in his hand as he stood over him. John looked different than when Emily had last seen him.

His usually meticulously well groomed face was covered in stubble. His eyes were red rimmed and tired. His suit was wrinkled and his shirt untucked. He looked up and saw her and her blood froze at the sight of the cold smile on his face.

She turned and ran back into her room grabbing the phone off the bedside table.

"Put the phone down, Emily." John said from the doorway. Emily clutched the phone to her chest as she turned to face him.

"What do you want, John?" she demanded. She pushed talk on the phone and started to dial the garages phone. Before she could finish the number John reached out and grabbed the phone from her hands. She let out a scream as he threw it against the wall and it shattered apart.

"You obviously need to be taught how to listen again." John growled and backhanded her hard across the face. Emily brought her hands up to cover herself and cowered against the wall.

"What do you want?" she asked again though this time her voice was more quiet. She didn't want to anger him any more than he already was.

"To teach you and that stupid redneck you've been playing whore for a lesson." John replied. "You and I are going for a ride."

"I'm not going anywhere with you." Emily replied and John laughed coldly. He grabbed her by the arm and pulled her away from the wall. Emily screamed and punched his chest and arms with all her might. He growled angrily and squeezed her arm so tightly that she cried out in pain and nearly fell to the ground.