It's Not That Easy

Chapter 31 - Marking it Off

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.―Meg Cabot

Chapter 31 - Marking it Off

Edward's POV:

The sound of glass breaking and screams rip through the house, and I'm at Addyson's door before it stops. Dammit, she's locked herself in. I grab for the tool above the doorframe, and prepare mentally for what I may find. Joel is beside me, waiting for the door to open.

She's standing in the middle of the bedroom making a god awful animalistic noise, as she holds a card in her hand. The room is littered with the remnants of at least three picture frames that have either been dropped or were thrown to the ground. I grab for her wrist. Joel tries to stop me, "Don't," but it was too late. Addyson punches me dead-on in the jaw and spins, kicking me at the knees knocking me to the ground.

She hovers over me with a crazed, wild look in her eyes. I watch her blink and look over my face, like she just now notices that I'm the one in front of her. "Edward?" She falls into my arms, burying her face in my neck. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." She cries and I rock her telling her it's ok.

I feel Joel behind me, taking the paper from Addyson's hands. He hands me the card; his face full of anger. He steps in the hallway, and he immediately makes a phone call. "Holden is on his way." He stops at the door. "I'll be right back."

Scanning the card, I understand where Joel's anger is coming from. I'm glad that you're ok. I'll see you real soon, Connor

The card falls from my hand, and I pull Addyson closer to me, using words and kisses to sooth her. She cups my jaw and continues to apologize for hitting me.

"Don't. It's my fault. I shouldn't have grabbed you. I was just worried. I needed you in my arms. I needed you to know you were ok." I keep my voice soft and calm, stroking her back as she begins to relax.

Joel returns with a broom and waste pan and a first aid kit. "Addy, I'm needing you to move for just a minute. We need to get Edward cleaned up." She pulls away from me with a confusion, and then begins apologizing all over again.

There are small cuts on my palms and forearms where I have fallen onto the shattered glass. Nothing too serious, but it doesn't stop Addyson from freaking out on me. "Hey, look at me." I tell Addyson. "You fought back. You felt threatened and you reacted. There is nothing to apologize for. I'm just sorry I scared you."

Holden arrives just as I finish wrapping a bandage on my arm. Addyson sits beside me not speaking. It's almost like she is in shock, but I'm not sure from what. I can't tell if it's the letters from Connor or the fact that she hurt me, but I am letting her have her moment while we sort through this mess.

"Hi, I'm Detective Garza," Holden's partner introduces himself, and takes a moment to get each of our names.

Holden shows no emotion as he reads the card that Joel hands him. "Are there any more?" Holden asks, and Addyson points to the box on her bed. Before he touches the box he slips on a pair of gloves and begins examining the contents.

"There's not a lot we can do right now, but the good thing is that he is sending these to your old address. That means he doesn't know where you are." Holden lets me see the last envelop postmarked November 18, from Boston.

"There's not a prison in Boston." I glare at Holden, and he agrees.

"I need to make a few phone calls to check on Connor and make sure the detective in Boston knows what's going on."

I kneel down in front of Addyson to check if she's back with us or not. Her hand rests on top of mine, and she gives me a half smile. Then her eyes focus on the bruise that is forming on my jaw, and in a flash she was up. I watch her transform before my eyes, from the scared little girl that I found when I opened the door, to the woman that stands up to her fear. She quickly gives me a kiss on the lips and another for my jaw.