Safer With You Read online

  SAFER WITH YOU

  By

  Trisha Madley

  Copyright 2015. Trisha Madley

  ISBN: 978-0-9966809-1-2

  Cover Designers: Ebook Formatting Fairies

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. To obtain permission to excerpt portions of the text, please contact the author at trishamadley.com

  All characters in this book are fiction and figments of the author’s imagination.

  For Madison and Hayley

  You Are My Sunshine

  Chapter One

  Nora

  While chopping potatoes for beef stew, my cell phone chirps indicating a new message.

  Be home late, don’t wait up.

  “Damn him!” I shout to no one in particular.

  I receive this text from my boyfriend, Luke, every day.

  My hand bangs on the kitchen counter, “Stupid, stupid naïve Nora.”

  I foolishly think that most people are like me…honest, thoughtful, and try to see the good in everyone, but I finally realize this simply is not true. I gave up my life to move here to Miami…and for what? So I could be his slave? Not anymore.

  He doesn’t care about the rest of the house, or anything else, for that matter. Luke wants me to clean, cook, and do exactly what he says.

  Luke comes from a traditional Italian family and has old world beliefs. The woman stays home and takes care of the man. I’ve put up with this mentality because I love him and want to marry him, but I’m tired of being alone and not appreciated.

  I thought it was my job to support him in his career, and then he would see my dedication to him. Then we could get married. But the longer we are together, the less time we spend together…with no hint of a ring.

  I walk out of the kitchen where I do my wifely duties of making a lovely meal. Of course, I’m not really his wife. This is my fault, why would he need to marry me when I’m already acting like a wife?

  Luke told me he had to work late. I’ve believed this crap for a year now, and I’m at the end of my rope; I can’t take it anymore. Everything in his life is a big secret. I’m not allowed in his office because he has OCD and doesn’t want me to misplace something.

  He usually arrives home around midnight, so I have at least a few hours before he should be home. I am convinced Luke’s a lying cheating bastard; it’s time to spy on his ass.

  Trudging up the carpeted steps of the home I have grown to love, I enter the bedroom and start in the hamper; I dive into the pile of clothes and rummage through the pockets of every single item of clothing. Nothing. I move onto the dresser drawers and scour through every nook and cranny. Nothing.

  No receipts, no strange papers, or weird stains on his clothes, and nothing on the stupid iPad he kept on charge. It has absolutely nothing on it.

  Feeling frustrated, I make my way back downstairs to the one room that holds all of his secrets. His office. I stole the key the last time I cleaned it. I am only allowed to clean it when he is in the room. Again, he says it’s an “OCD issue.”

  My heart hammers in my chest, and it feels like I’m going to pass out. Why does he have this effect on me? I’m not really scared of him; he has never given me a reason to be. Maybe it’s that I don’t want to end up alone? But I guess that has already happened.

  Sliding the key into the lock, I twist open the door that reveals the same sight as always. A desk that holds a computer, phone, and a framed picture of us from when we first met at one of my parents’ rental properties. We look like a young couple in love. I place the photo back on the desk with a thud.

  I continue scouring through the drawers. The top drawer holds pens, paperclips, staples, etc. The contents are a mess. A person with OCD would surely have his desk arranged neater.

  As I move to the side drawer, I come across an old shoe box of mine that I remember throwing away. He gave me a fancy new pair of shoes for his Christmas event last year. Weird. As I pick up the box, I notice it’s empty.

  Underneath, a black case reveals itself. Gently, I tug it from its snug fit; it’s heavier than I expect, and I place it on top of the desk with a thump.

  Surprisingly, the case opens without a key. I gingerly run my finger over the Ruger .45 semi-automatic pistol. I only know the gun because my dad has one exactly like it. I know why he had one, since he was a police officer for twenty-five years. Luke has absolutely no reason to have a gun. He has never mentioned an interest in guns.

  My hands are shaking, my stomach rolling, and a sweat breaks out across my forehead. What the hell does he have a gun for?

  Next, I pull from the case a cell phone, which sat on top of a large stack of one hundred dollar bills. I can’t stop my hands from trembling. Pushing aside the money, I notice a blurry picture of a woman. I can’t make out all the details, but she looks disheveled and scared. What the fuck is he doing with these?

  Gasping and placing my hand over my mouth, I slouch back into my chair. Who is this girl? Why does Luke have this picture? What is he involved in?

  Not wanting to think anymore, I remove everything from the case. The very last item contains a small bag filled with a white powdery substance.

  “Holy shit!” I think I’m going to faint.

  What do I do next? Who the hell is he? He’s a real estate agent, for God’s sake. He comes from a good family and his uncle is a senator. I once heard that his other uncle had been in jail, but Luke told me that is a lie.

  Completely in shock, I place everything back, just as I found it. I don’t want him to know I’m snooping. I need to think of a way to confront him without him feeling attacked.

  “What are you doing in here?”

  My stomach drops at the sound of his voice. I take my gaze from the box and look into Luke’s cold eyes. “Um…dusting. How are you? I thought you would be gone longer?”

  How had I managed that? I almost want to pat myself on the back for keeping it together until I hear his voice again.

  “How did you get in here?” he asks, eerily calm.

  I don’t have a chance to answer because he fires another question at me. “Did you find what you’re looking for?” His voice is deep and stern as he walks closer to me. He’s wearing his trademark dark suit, his dark blond hair is neatly styled, and his green eyes stare straight into mine. I feel a tear well up.

  Never have I seen that look on his face before…his eyes narrow and glaring, his jaw clenched tight. For the first time since I met him, I am scared of him.

  I say the first thing that comes to mind. “I…I thought I’d wash the curtains too.” I instantly want to zip my lips shut.

  “How did you get in here? I keep this room locked.”

  I lie, “You must have left it open…the door was open.”

  Luke moves closer, grasping my chin and tugging it so that I come eye to eye with him.

  “Did you find anything in my desk? No lies, Nora, what did you see?”

  My throat is dry and my mouth doesn’t want to respond. I shake my head.

  His hands wrap tightly around my upper arms. “What the fuck does that mean? Tell me the truth.”

  Luke’s voice gets louder and his tone harsher than I have ever heard.

  Finally, my mind starts functioning, explaining to my mouth it better open before things get worse. I reply, “Okay…Yes, yes, I opened your drawer.”

  He squeezes my arms tighter.

  “How did
you find the key? What did you see?” He continues with more questions, but I’m not paying attention. All I can feel are the tips of his fingers digging into my skin. I need to calm him down.

  “Answer me now!” he spits at me.

  “I…I saw a gun and money. Please let go of me; you’re hurting me,” I plead.

  “Did you see anything else?”

  Shake my head again. “No…nothing else.”

  Finally, he lets go, but he turns and walks away, hurrying up the stairs. Relieved, I need a minute, maybe an hour. I almost digest what he had just done to me when I hear a thud come from upstairs.

  I leave his office, petrified at what I might find. I clumsily run up the steps, almost losing my balance. Finally reaching our bedroom, I throw the door open to see my suitcase open and my clothes thrown in it. Luke isn’t in the room. I tangle my hands in my hair, holding my head still. “What is going on?”

  He appears from the bathroom. “What’s going on is, I’m done!” He throws some toiletries on top of my clothes. “You are leaving; I don’t care where you go. Go home to Mommy, I don’t care. Right now, I can’t deal with you.”

  It all feels like a dream. My mind and my mouth won’t sync. I want to cry and scream, but nothing is working. Luke zips up my bag and grabs my coat, throwing it at me, but it drops to the ground. I am in no condition to react.

  “You obviously don’t trust me, since you’re going through my things. I told you, I’m very private.”

  “Why are you reacting like this? Why are you blaming me when you’re the one having an affair?” My voice grows calmer, but louder.

  “An affair? Are you crazy? Do you think that’s what I’ve been doing while I’ve been working my ass off for you?” He runs his hands in frustration through his hair, causing the perfect strands to dangle in his eyes.

  “Why wouldn’t I think that? You’re never here. And now you’re acting like a crazy person. If you’re not cheating, what are you doing with that case in your office?”

  “Damn it, Nora! Take your clothes and car and get the hell out. Leave now before I call the cops and have you escorted off my property.”

  He turns from me and walks out of the room, but not before his fist meets the wall, causing me to jump.

  I slide down onto the bed. “What just happened?” I say to the ceiling.

  Tears finally make their presence known, streaking down my face. I don’t even have the strength to brush them away. Besides, I don’t think they are going to stop. I have no idea what he’s gotten himself into, but I know the man that stood before me a few minutes ago was not my Luke.

  I don’t want to leave. This is my house too. I don’t pay the mortgage, but it’s as much mine as his. I get up, ready to fight my case, when I see the picture of us on our nightstand. It was taken a few months ago at the Christmas Gala. We smile for the camera, but I felt anything but happy.

  We were both miserable that night. Luke spent most of his time with Zack and other clients, while I sat by myself and felt completely uncomfortable. He got drunk by the night’s end, and I had to take care of him all night.

  As I stare at the picture from the Christmas gala, wiping tears from my face, I realize that maybe this isn’t the life I want after all. In that moment, all of my fond memories of him are replaced by this new version of Luke.

  Not wanting to be yelled at again, I stand up and take my luggage off the bed. I retreat down the stairs, but stop in the entryway.

  Luke’s there, staring at a picture of us, taken when we first started dating. He looks somber and not the immaculate, put together man I know, or the angry man I’d just seen. His head turns to me.

  “I remember what this felt like, who we were. We were so good together, but at this moment, we are far from these two people in this picture. I hope you don’t mention to anyone what you saw in that case. If the wrong person finds out…” Luke drops the picture frame and it shatters into pieces. Without a glance back, he walks into his office and slowly closes the door.

  I want to scream at him and call him an asshole. But something is off. Why would he act so mean and tell me to leave, then be so sad? He isn’t making any sense.

  Feeling tired and not wanting to fight anymore, I decide to head home to my parents. My sister Jenny’s wedding is a few weeks away. I decide to crash there until I figure things out.

  I walk out of my home and amble down the stairs to the driveway to my little red car. Placing my suitcase in the back seat, I realize I don’t own anything but some clothes. This is all Luke’s. Everything. House, jewelry, furniture…it was all bought with his money.

  I was so busy worrying about making him happy that I forgot how to make myself happy and how to make it on my own. I’m not sure how running back home is going to help, but at least I know my family loves and wants me.

  Chapter Two

  Nora

  The streets have changed since my visit last year. Within the last few years, my little home town has turned into a tourist attraction. The street that I grew up on has turned common beach houses into extravagant ones.

  I loved living on the beach as a child…the ocean literally at the front door.

  My parents own three beach houses to earn extra income. Each summer held a menagerie of people coming and going. Meeting new people made my summers so wonderful. I met Luke this way.

  As the road narrows and the extravagant homes disappear, three small homes come into view…along with anxiety and nausea. I left Crescent Valley to begin my life with Luke against my parents’ wishes. I can see the “I told you so” speech in my future.

  Pulling next to my mom’s car, I see her tidying up the front porch, wearing her signature jean capris and her favorite yellow T-shirt. She’s probably waiting for me after my distraught phone call. Debating whether to bring my bag with me, I decide to leave it, hoping she’ll let me stay at one of the apartments they rent.

  “Here we go,” I whisper, then release the breath I had been holding.

  “Hi, Mom!” I muster up a smile.

  Mom turns around with a glorious smile. It calms my nausea to see the love on her face. I feel my feet moving fast because my mom’s loving arms are only a few feet away.

  “Oh, honey, don’t cry. Everything is going to be alright,” she says, while embracing me.

  Warm tears stream down my face. She hugs me tighter, hushing me.

  “Nora, darling, I’m so glad you’re home. Tell me what’s going on. I know you said you left Luke, but why?” She relaxes her hold on me, but doesn’t let go completely.

  “He asked me to leave, to get out. I snooped on him. Oh, Mom, I don’t recognize the person he has become.” I sink down onto the steps and she follows me.

  “Oh, honey. I like Luke, but if he’s not treating you right, then you deserve better. I don’t care who he is or how long you’ve been together—you come first.”

  I want to tell her more, but Jenny’s BMW rolls into view. Her blond ponytail and tan long legs bounce out of the vehicle. “Nora! What are you doing here so early? You’re not supposed to be here for another three weeks.” Jenny’s white teeth gleam in the sunlight.

  Jenny, my sister, is the complete opposite to my short stature, brown hair and brown eyes. Our personalities are completely different as well. She’s very outgoing and personable, while I’m a little more timid.

  Before I can react, Jenny’s arms circle me. “Why are you crying? Did that no good bastard do something to you?”

  “He kicked me out of our home, my home.”

  “What? Okay, spill it all and don’t give me a line of bullshit. I know how you like to paint everyone as a saint.” That’s why I love her. She doesn’t put up with anything.

  I reluctantly proceed to tell Mom and Jenny of my horrible night, the boring drive home, and what I intend to do next.

  “I always knew he was up to something. Are you worried about what you saw?” Mom asks, concern etched on her face.

  “Honestly, I was looking
for something confirming he has been cheating; I didn’t expect to find what I found.”

  I bury my head in my hands, not wanting to talk about him anymore. Of course I’m concerned about what I found—I have no idea what the hell he has gotten himself into. Hopefully, there’s a logical explanation. Right now, though, nothing makes sense.

  Mom interrupts my thoughts. “Do you think he hurt that girl in the picture?”

  “No, he’s not like that. I think maybe the photo belongs to someone in his family. You know the rumors about them and how important they think they are.” But, as I say the words, I’m not totally convinced.

  “I don’t understand why you continued to date him after you heard the rumors?” Jenny asks. She looks down at me, waiting for some kind of explanation.

  I give her the only explanation I have. “I love him, Jenny.”

  “Well, you’re home, and the sooner you get over him the better.” Again, Jenny doesn’t sugar coat anything, not even for her heartbroken sister.

  Mom hugs me and brushes my hair from my tear-stained face. “Well, get your things and we’ll make up a bed for you.”

  “No, she can stay with me and Max. I’ll be able to help her get over the asshole.”

  I didn’t want to stay with either of them. I love them, but I need time to myself, to figure out what to do next, and frankly, staying with a couple that’s going to be married in a few weeks is not my idea of fun.

  “Mom, I was thinking. Can I stay in one of the apartments?” I asked, hoping no one would object.

  My father, a police officer for Crescent Valley and my mom, who worked at the local grocery store, bought a small apartment complex a few years back. The apartments were furnished, one-bedroom apartments, and the perfect solution for me right now.

  “I don’t see why not. I think we have one available or you can stay at one of the houses.”

  “I think I’ll be better at apartment.”

  Mom nods and smiles, “I’ll call your father and let him know. He’ll bring the keys over.”