Right Where We Belong

by Brenda Novak

  Her eyes filled with tears, so he walked over to pull her into his arms. “Are you going to be okay?” he asked, resting his chin on her head as she clung to him.

  “Doesn’t feel like it right now,” she replied, her voice muffled by his shirt.

  “Haven’t they given you any painkillers?”

  “They’ve given me some. The whole thing has just been such an upsetting ordeal.”

  “I bet.” He stepped back as soon as he felt it would seem too obvious that he hadn’t wanted to hold her in the first place. “But they’re releasing you now? Is that what I heard? You can go home?”

  She picked up an ice pack and held it to her face. “Yeah.”

  Thank God he’d finally looked at his phone. Her last text had said that she needed a ride. Her parents lived in the area, but he knew she’d be reluctant to call them with this problem. They were already upset about the unplanned pregnancy. “What happened with Scott? Why would you ever give him the opportunity to do something like this by going to his house?”

  “I had to get my things!” she said, instantly defensive. “And you said you had to work late tonight, so it wasn’t as if I could ask you to go with me.”

  He heard the blame in those words. She could’ve waited until he was available or asked a friend to go over with her, but he didn’t point that out. Why get into an argument? She’d been through enough. “And? He wouldn’t let you?”

  “He kept trying to talk to me, kept telling me that you don’t love me, so I’d get back with him. When I refused, he...he got super angry.”

  “Angry is one thing. But violent? How did it go that far? He’s never hit you before, has he?”

  “No, but...” Although she sighed to indicate she really didn’t care to go into the details, he lifted his eyebrows to communicate the fact that he expected an answer. This was serious. He was going to meet up with Scott and make sure nothing like this ever happened again.

  “When he started yelling, I decided to leave, even without my stuff. But he wouldn’t let me go, and...and everything sort of escalated from there.”

  The thought of any man striking a woman made Gavin clench his jaw. But a pregnant woman? That was even worse. “Did he hit you with his fist?”

  “I don’t even remember.”

  “Bastard!”

  Obviously mollified by his interest and concern, she sniffed. “He is a bastard. I can’t believe I was ever with him.”

  Gavin couldn’t wait to hold Scott responsible. “How many times did he hit you?”

  “I don’t remember that, either. I just remember the police coming and helping me get up off the floor.”

  The keys Gavin had pulled from his pocket cut into the palm of his hand, making him realize he was squeezing them too tight. “Did the doctor check to see if the baby’s okay?” he asked, easing his grip.

  “He didn’t do an ultrasound, if that’s what you mean. He told me I should get one in the next few weeks, when I go back to my ob-gyn. He checked the baby’s heartbeat, though. Scott didn’t hit me in the stomach or anywhere close. So the doctor doesn’t think we have any reason to worry.”

  We. She was talking as though they were already together, already concerned parents.

  “The baby’s so tiny right now it’s well protected,” she added.

  It was easier to focus on Scott and the anger Scott’s actions provoked than to sift through the mixed feelings he had about having a child with Heather, so that was what he did. “I’m going to have to have a talk with Scott. I’ve tried not to let this situation turn into some kind of feud, but he has to understand that there are consequences to what he’s done, has to know I won’t tolerate anything like this ever happening again.”

  “Gavin, no,” she said. “I don’t want you to get involved. Please stay away from him. He’s been arrested, so the police will take care of any consequences. I plan on pressing charges.”

  How much time would Scott get if she was going to be okay? Chances were it’d go on his rap sheet, and he’d have to pay Heather’s medical bills and perform some community service.

  That wasn’t enough, not in Gavin’s opinion. But Scott was in jail, at least for the time being, so Gavin couldn’t do anything tonight. He needed to calm down.

  “Where were you earlier?” she asked as they reached the automatic doors, which whooshed open to disgorge them into a quiet, moonless night. “Why didn’t you answer my earlier calls and texts?”

  He didn’t see any reason to make her night worse by telling her he hadn’t wanted to hear from her so he’d been ignoring her attempts to reach him, or that he’d been spending every minute he wasn’t engaged in something that required his full concentration thinking of someone else. So he kept his answer vague. “I was so exhausted by the time I got home from work, I went to bed. I wouldn’t have seen your last text, either, if someone hadn’t run into my truck while it was parked in my drive. The crash is what woke me, right before you tried to call.”

  Her eyes widened. “Someone hit your truck? You just bought that last year!”

  He shrugged. “Shit happens, I guess.”

  “But how’d something like that happen all the way out where you live?”

  “I have a neighbor now.”

  “Savanna.”

  He didn’t ask how she knew Savanna’s name. He already knew they’d met. “Yeah. Her mother-in-law wrecked into it and then took off.”

  “You’re kidding! A hit-and-run? But...Savanna will give you her contact information, won’t she?”

  “Of course. She feels terrible.”

  “Was her mother-in-law drunk or something?”

  “Savanna doesn’t know what got into her.” Gavin used Savanna’s key fob to unlock the doors of the car and opened the passenger side for Heather.

  Heather blinked at the Fusion as though she was only now seeing it. Apparently, she’d been too intent on the conversation and letting him guide her through the lot to pay any attention to the vehicle they were approaching. “Whose car is this?”

  “Savanna’s.”

  “She let you take it?”

  “You were in trouble. And my pickup wasn’t drivable.”

  “It’s that badly damaged?”

  “I’m not sure. I might be able to pull the metal away from the back tire. This was just easier, since I was in a hurry.”

  “How nice of her to step up,” she said, but Gavin heard the caution and displeasure in her voice. She didn’t like Savanna, simply because she feared he might.

  He wished he could tell her that she was silly to feel threatened. But he couldn’t bring himself to play her that false, not when what’d happened outside less than an hour ago was so fresh in his mind. If he closed his eyes, he could still smell Savanna, still feel her smooth skin and taste her soft lips.

  * * *

  Savanna told herself to go to sleep. She needed the rest. She had kids, couldn’t sleep late in the morning. But she couldn’t seem to nod off. She kept thinking about the strange way Dorothy had acted on the porch, from the second she’d mentioned Emma Ventnor’s name, what’d happened afterward at Gavin’s truck, how quickly a few words between them had turned into so much more and whether Gavin was spending the rest of the night with Heather in the hospital.

  Would he bring her home with him in the morning?

  Savanna hated the thought that she might bump into Heather on a routine basis. She lived so close to Gavin, and they were so isolated, that it would feel as if she had a front row seat to Heather’s advancing pregnancy. That she cringed whenever she imagined Heather’s baby really did belong to Gavin wasn’t fair, and she would be the first to admit it. She didn’t have any claim on him. Maybe it would actually be easier once they moved to Nashville...

  Fluffing her pillow, she rolled over and agai
n tried to quiet her mind. But after spending another ten minutes tossing and turning, she leaned up on her elbow and grabbed her phone. She hadn’t heard an alert but hoped maybe she’d missed that telltale ping. She’d tried to reach Dorothy at least ten times. Had Gordon’s mother finally responded? She’d hit Gavin’s truck, for crying out loud. Surely, she’d have to explain her behavior—and be held accountable for it—at some point.

  Nothing. No calls or texts from anyone.

  Where had Dorothy gone? And was she gone for good? Judging by the hastiness of her retreat, Savanna could only assume that she wouldn’t be coming back. But the question was...why? She’d been so intent on forcing Savanna to give Gordon some money that she’d driven a whole day to reach Silver Springs...

  Savanna replayed the scene in her mind yet again. Dorothy had recognized Emma’s name, she decided. That had to be it. Nothing else that’d been said could’ve triggered such an abrupt reversal. So what did that mean? Had Dorothy simply freaked out to think her son might now be accused of murder on top of rape? Or had Gordon made some offhanded comment that led her to believe, for the first time, he might truly be the monster the police claimed? Had he mentioned Emma’s name to her?

  Savanna was about to set her phone down when a text came in from Gavin. She hadn’t expected to hear from him again tonight, so she couldn’t help feeling a strange sort of relief that he’d be in touch so soon.

  We’re back. Heather’s going to be fine. From what I can tell, he only slapped her a couple of times. That’s bad enough, of course, but you know what I mean. Is everything okay with you?

  She was tempted to feign sleep. This late, he’d think nothing of it if she didn’t respond, and she felt that would be easier than trying to step into her new role so quickly. After the passion they’d shared, what he’d revealed about Heather and his future plans had given her emotional whiplash. She hated the idea that he had this other woman with him, that Heather might be looking over his shoulder, reading his texts right now.

  “You were the one who told him it was only sex!” She spoke aloud in an attempt to give her words greater efficacy. “It’s not fair for you to get jealous!”

  Problem was, she couldn’t help what she felt. So she simply promised herself she’d never let her jealousy show. She’d back away from him with some grace and dignity, understand that he was in a difficult position and help him do what he felt he must.

  Drawing a deep breath, she tamped down those negative emotions and tried to replace them with the friendship she’d offered him. I’m glad she’s okay. That must’ve been frightening—and painful. I have an ice pack here. Unpacked it only yesterday, so I can find it quickly, if she needs it.

  Thanks, but the doctor sent her home with one. She’s all set.

  Of course. Well, if there’s anything I can do, let me know. I’m not leaving the house tomorrow, so you can keep the car if you need it to get to work. The contractor you recommended is starting on the bridge first thing, and I’m hoping to have him give me a bid on dealing with some dry rot around my windows and foundation. There’s also a section of siding under Branson’s window that needs to be replaced.

  Don’t have him do the dry rot repair. I can do that sort of thing and save you a lot of money.

  Question was...should he? She was the one who’d asked if they could at least maintain a friendship, but she was afraid she’d always want to touch him in ways that were decidedly more than friendly. And she could easily guess how difficult it would be to spend any time with Gavin if he was seeing Heather. When they’d been talking, and she’d been trying to absorb the shock of his news, she’d been thinking of Branson and Alia and how badly she didn’t want to lose him entirely.

  You have enough to do with your work and your music. “And now your pregnant girlfriend,” she muttered a little less generously, since she had the privacy to allow it. I’ve got this.

  Just hold off. I’ll take a look at it when I can.

  Are you sure?

  I’m sure. Any more word from Dorothy?

  No. But I have her contact information for your insurance.

  I’ll get that from you tomorrow.

  I can text it to you.

  When he didn’t respond, she resisted the urge to add anything else—although there was a lot she felt she could say. “God, tonight was good,” or “I can’t get you out of my mind,” or “Is she staying over with you?” just for starters.

  “He’s a friend,” she said, and set her phone aside.

  * * *

  Gavin let Heather stay over. She didn’t want to be alone, and he felt too guilty about what’d happened to her not to oblige. If he hadn’t been so busy avoiding her calls, maybe she wouldn’t have gone to Scott’s to get her things...

  She wasn’t planning to teach in the morning. She said she’d call in a sub. But they stopped by her place so she could grab a few things. Sadly, she was on painkillers, couldn’t drive, so they’d have only one car between them, for the time being, and his was damaged.

  He’d texted Savanna while Heather was in the bedroom. It was much easier to deal with Savanna when Heather wasn’t questioning every move he made. He hated feeling as though he had to communicate with Savanna on the down low. But it was his own fault, he told himself, for crossing lines he shouldn’t have crossed.

  “All set?” He put his phone back in his pocket as Heather appeared with bags that looked heavy enough to support an extended stay.

  “Yeah.”

  He took what she carried. “Let’s go. I’m tired.”

  She slid into the middle of the seat and rested her head on his shoulder as he drove, but once they got home, and he carried in her bags and helped her get comfortable, he didn’t go to bed with her. Preferring to wait until she was asleep, he picked up his guitar, went out on the porch and tinkered with a few of his songs. After such a terrible night, he expected her to go straight to sleep. But it was only a few minutes later that she came out to find him.

  “I thought you were tired,” she said.

  He shrugged. “I’ll be in soon. I’m just taking a few minutes to unwind.”

  She listened to him work on the song he’d started a few days ago. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard that one before.”

  He changed chords to see if he liked that sound better. “It’s new.”

  “I like it. It’s...heartfelt, tender.”

  “Thanks,” he mumbled, but he kept his attention on his guitar, since he’d been thinking about Savanna when he wrote it.

  Heather listened a little longer. “Is something wrong?” she finally asked, breaking in again.

  “With me? No.”

  “You seem...remote.”

  “I told you. I’m willing to start over, but I want to take it slow. It’s not going to be like it was, maybe not for several months.” If ever. Try as he might, he still wasn’t sure he could force his heart...

  “I understand. I’m willing to give you time. But still. I don’t know. You seem more than remote, I guess. You seem troubled.”

  “Hearing about Scott got my adrenaline going.” That was true at least. He was angry with Scott and planned to do something about it. But he was more upset by the fact that he had to let Savanna go. He wished, at a minimum, he could wait until the last possible moment, but he knew if he continued to see his neighbor he’d only undermine his ability to do right by his child.

  Heather walked over and, resting her hands on his shoulders, dropped a kiss on his head. “I love you.”

  He wished he could say the same.

  * * *

  “She knows something.” Savanna had called Detective Sullivan as soon as she’d fed Branson and Alia breakfast. While her kids were happily engaged in cleaning out an old kiddie pool they’d found in the detached garage, she looked on so they wouldn’t get hurt
but stood far enough away that they also wouldn’t be privy to her conversation.

  “That’d be good news if there was any way she’d talk to us,” he said.

  After explaining her encounter with Dorothy the night before, Savanna had expected a much more enthusiastic response. “Can’t you make her talk?”

  “Getting her to talk is one thing. Getting her to tell the truth is another.”

  “I understand. But I didn’t believe you, either, not at first. Maybe you can convince her.”

  “If what we’ve found so far hasn’t convinced her, I’m not sure it’s possible. That’s the problem. She knows about the items in the duffel bag, the DNA, all of it.”

  Savanna waved as Alia yelled for her to watch and squirted Branson with the hose. He squealed and began to chase her to get hold of the water so he could return the favor. “I’m telling you, hearing Emma Ventnor’s name instantly changed her whole demeanor! She nearly stumbled off my porch. Then she crashed into my neighbor’s truck and took off without even bothering to leave her insurance information.”

  After a long silence, he said, “Okay. I’ll stop over to see her, try again.”

  “That’s it?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You need to do more!”

  “Like what?”

  “Get a search warrant and go through her place the way you did mine. She lives in Salt Lake. Gordon stayed over there on occasion, if he was too tired to finish the drive home or had to be at a mine that was closer to her place than ours the next morning. They were very close at the end.” Closer than he’d been to his own wife—as Savanna had come to realize.

  “It’s not as easy as you might think to get a search warrant. Warrants have to be very specific. I have to name the part of the house I plan to search and what I’m looking for. I can’t violate his mother’s privacy by going on some kind of fishing expedition.”

  “I just told you—he stayed with her on occasion.”

  “I know. And she started acting strange when you mentioned Emma’s name last night. I heard you. I’m saying that might not be enough.”