“Hear, hear,” said Caleb as he raised his glass.
They all toasted to that, even Seth. Although at the mention of love, his stomach lurched. Was this love? Or the beginnings of it? God, he didn’t know. He knew he needed to protect Rose; he knew he wanted to hold her, kiss her, make her his. He wanted to know all her secrets, and God willing, she would know his.
He winced inwardly at that. He’d told her about Max, but sometimes he wasn’t sure he was capable of love anymore. It was like war had deadened that part of his soul completely.
He could make love to a woman; he could protect her. But love? Love was something else entirely.
The conversation turned, thankfully, and Seth listened to Caleb talk about Megan and how she kept wanting to redecorate their new house; how Mark’s prized mare had just given birth to another foal last week; how Harrison and Sara couldn’t agree on any baby names yet.
“She likes old names, like Edith,” Harrison said with a laugh. “I asked her if we were having a baby or a grandma, and she refused to speak to me the rest of the afternoon.”
“She’s the one having the thing. Let her choose the name,” said Caleb.
“It’s his kid, too.” This from Mark. “You’ll land on something. If all else fails, name it Sara Jr.”
They laughed, even Seth, although his mind was far away. It was still strange to see his siblings get married and have kids. When had they turned into such mature, responsible adults? Seth almost missed the days when their biggest worry had been whether or not they’d gotten a new Xbox for Christmas.
“You know who you should name the baby after?” said Seth suddenly.
Harrison raised an eyebrow.
“Mom. She’d love you forever if you did.”
That made them all groan, Harrison shaking his head with a laugh. They all loved their mother, Lisa, but they also knew very well that she loved to be involved in her children’s lives.
“I’m surprised she hasn’t suggested it herself,” said Caleb.
“She has,” Harrison deadpanned.
Seth drank his beer. He’d heard all about how Lisa had tried to break up Harrison and Sara when they’d been dating. He hadn’t been surprised, but he had been surprised to see Lisa become somewhat subdued when Seth had returned from abroad.
When the brothers said goodbye, Seth looked for Rose, but according to one of the waitresses, she’d already headed home.
Of course she had. Hummingbirds were difficult creatures to catch.
Chapter Thirteen
Rose had never hated not having a car more than when Heath called her to tell her his place had been broken into. He’d told her she didn’t need to come over, but of course she would. He was her brother, for God’s sake.
The bus system in Fair Haven was mediocre at best. Deciding to pay for an Uber even though she really couldn’t spare the cash, Rose arrived about fifteen minutes later at Heath’s small bungalow on the south side of town. One of the few benefits of living in a small town was that you didn’t get stuck in traffic just driving a handful of miles away.
There was a Fair Haven police car outside Heath’s house, and she approached to see Caleb Thornton talking with Heath.
“Rose! I told you didn’t need to come,” Heath admonished, but he didn’t look upset.
She hugged him hard, and he laughed.
“I’m fine. I wasn’t even here, and they didn’t take anything that I can find. Just messed up the place.”
That only made her feel worse. When she started shaking, Heath made her look him in the eye.
She knew this had to have been Johnny. She had no idea what he’d been looking for, but he knew he could hurt her through Heath. He’d always known it. Her heart pounded, adrenaline making her jittery.
“We’ll keep an eye out for any suspicious activity,” Caleb said, “but it’s strange that nothing was taken.”
Heath nodded. “Thanks. I’ll let you know.”
Caleb glanced at Rose and frowned. “Are you okay, ma’am? You look pale.”
She tried a tremulous smile, but she probably looked so ghastly that it was rather terrifying. Heath took her arm and led her inside. “Call me if you need anything else,” he called to Caleb over his shoulder.
Heath had Rose sit down on the couch before pressing a glass of water into her hand.
“Were you done talking to Caleb? You shouldn’t have sent him away,” she said.
“He got what he needed. Now, why did you come here when I told you not to?”
She drank the water to figure out how to answer that question. She needed to tell Heath what was going on with Johnny. That morning, she’d tallied up her latest paycheck from The Fainting Goat and had almost sobbed with relief: she had enough to pay back Johnny. This would all be over soon.
She finished her water, mostly to still her trembling. Taking Heath’s hand, she squeezed it.
“I’ve been meaning to talk to you for a while now. I just haven’t had the courage to say the words,” she began.
“What is this all about?”
How to explain? How to tell him without upsetting him? She took a deep breath.
“Johnny has been…contacting me. Lately.”
It was like a bomb went off in the living room. Heath pulled his hand away and stared at her.
“How long?” he rasped.
“Since mid-June. He found me here.”
“Tell me you went to the police. Tell me you didn’t talk to that creep. Tell me, please.”
Rose smiled sadly. “That same creep who saved you from going to jail and ruining your life?”
That made Heath stand up, and as he began to pace, Rose could sense the barely leashed tension inside him.
“Tell me the truth for once. I knew you hid from me what really happened with that bastard.” His voice was modulated, but rage teased at the edges. The calm and collected teacher had disappeared.
“Only if you don’t stand in front of me, glaring at me. Sit down. It’s hard enough telling you this without you looking like you’d enjoy strangling me.”
“Don’t give me ideas.”
When the words came, they came haltingly. She tried to downplay what Johnny had done at first, as she’d always done. Heath didn’t say a word. He stared at a spot on the couch and listened.
“When you were arrested, he told me he could help you. So I said yes to whatever he wanted.”
Heath dropped his face into his hands, and Rose wondered if he hated her now. He didn’t make a sound for a long moment, until finally, he groaned like a wounded animal.
When he looked up, she saw, to her shock, that he had tears in his eyes.
“Don’t try to spare me. Tell me what he did. Tell me.”
She swallowed. Then: “He raped me. Is that what you wanted to hear? I didn’t realize that was what it was at the time, but I do now.”
Heath swore. He seemed to collapse in on himself right then and there, and Rose realized for the first time what her sacrifice would do to him. She had never wanted him to shoulder a burden that had been her choice.
Choice? She almost laughed. Johnny hadn’t allowed that. He’d used her fears and her love for her brother for his own twisted mind games.