Shattered

•Eighteen•

NOW

I had to leave Jack.  It wasn't fair to him, to be with him when I was in love with someone else.  Maybe once upon a time, yes, I was in love with Jack.  But that clearly wasn't the case anymore. 

Tom needed to be back at Curly's by noon and left in the morning.  I already had a driver lined up to take me back but that wasn't until 2.  I didn't want to prolong the inevitable.  I was anxious to head back home, to talk to Jack and hopefully amicably split.  If he was still in love with Grace, this whole disaster could be a blessing in disguise. 

Less hopeful than I, Tom warned me to stay on my guard.  He made me nervous, the way he worried.  Jack hadn't laid a hand on me since the accident, so it was hard to believe that he ever was rough with me.  Even so, if he was, perhaps he turned over a new leaf.  Maybe my accident flipped a switch in him; another blessing in disguise.

After spending the morning on the beach, soaking up the sun and reading more of Wuthering Heights, I ate lunch at Cubby's before packing everything up.  I was ready to go before the driver showed up. 

Returning the book to the small library, Diane asked if I had finished it already.  I told her that I hadn't and she insisted that I keep it.  I thanked Diane for everything and promised to leave a glowing review for the Lazy Cloud on Yelp. 

Before Tom had left, I had walked him to his car.  He leaned against the door of the car and pulled me by my waist to him, planting a kiss on my lips.  "Keep your phone on you."

"I will.  I promise.  But I'm sure it'll be fine."

Tom had frowned, "Even so... keep your phone on you.  Call me.  And if you can't --"

"And if I can't, I'll text SOS so you know I need you."  I thought he was being silly, a little overprotective.  But it was sweet.

Tom shook his head and hugged me tighter.  "I really should be there.  At least waiting outside."

"No, that could make it worse.  It'll be okay, I promise.  We'll talk, I'll pack a few things, and come to your house."

"If you could remember, Christine," he'd sighed, stopping himself before he said the wrong thing.

"If I could remember what?"

He pushed off the car and cleared his throat, rubbing his hands up and down my arms.  "He's a liar.  And a very good one.  I would have never known he hurt you if I'd never seen you naked, Christine.  Those bruises were not accidental."

I had moved away, out of his reach.  "Don't.  Don't fill my head with your own memories."

He held up his hands and apologized.  "You're right.  I'm sorry.  But please, be careful."

I spent the car ride home finishing Wuthering Heights, appreciating Diane's kind gesture.  Losing myself in Brontë's words meant I didn't have to second guess myself or what I had planned to do once I returned home.

As the landscapes became familiar, a sense of dread began to build up in my chest.  But I was ready.  I had a second chance at life and I didn't want to waste it anymore than I already had.

•••

Carrying my bag into the kitchen through the laundry room, a vase of flowers on the counter caught my eye.  They were pink peonies and they were gorgeous.  I knew they were from Jack and I frowned.  This was going to be harder than I thought. 

Jack came bounding down the stairs, beaming.  "Hey gorgeous.  How was your weekend?"  He crossed the kitchen floor and embraced me.

I placed a hand on his chest and turned my head so that his lips landed on my cheek.