Part 40 (1/2)

I could only grunt as I felt the tears. No. I didn't want to cry.

I covered my head with the pillow, one I couldn't stand the light at the time, and two, I didn't want Drew to see me cry.

Dawson Bade, Lauren, Starlight, the coffee shop, my house, Misty Bay, my trip to Vegas, my wreck. I remembered it all. I was going to marry Dawson. We were to get married two months ago. I never fell asleep. I would probably never sleep again. I felt the love that I had for Dawson as soon as I saw him. It was real, and I knew that he loved me. Wait. He knew. He knew all about Drew. He knew what a monster he was. Why did he wait five months to come for me? How did he find me?

I let everything flood through my mind, everything but the one that was going to rip my heart out. I saved that for my last memory or memories. There were so many of them. Not one was good. Drew hit me. He called me names, humiliated me, and he did treat me like a piece of meat. Why Drew? Why did you buy me for cash if you never wanted me? How could you do those things to me? I hated him. I hated him with everything in me. What should I do? Should I just run away with Dawson? What if he didn't want me anymore?

I lay with my head covered for almost three hours while thoughts and memories flooded my mind. I finally sat up around four to see if my head felt better. It wasn't gone, but it did feel better. I guessed it was just overloaded and needed time to funnel all of the abrupt information.

”Feel better?” Marta asked as I walked into the kitchen.

”Yes, thank you. Could you make me a sandwich or something before I head out,” I asked, sitting at the table.

”Yes, but I'm not sure you should go to that game.

You had a pretty bad spell this afternoon.”

”It was just the heat. I'm fine now,” I lied. I wasn't fine. I had no idea what to do.

”Maybe I should come with you.”

”Marta,” I warned with a look. ”I'm fine. I just need something to eat.”

I didn't shower, change, do my hair or put on makeup. I wasn't trying to impress anyone at the time. I wore the same jean shorts and red tank top. I had been looking forward to this game for three days, and now I knew I wouldn't even see it.

I saw him standing at the concession stand. My heart ached for him. He smiled a warm smile as I neared.

”Do you want something to drink?”

”Lemonade, please,” I replied.

We didn't walk to the bleachers around the crowd of people. He followed me to a picnic table under a shade tree. He sat right beside me rather than across from me like I wanted him to. I hoped he would start. I didn't have a clue what to say. He didn't either.

”How did you find me?” I asked.

”You didn't make it easy. You lied about everything.”

”No. I didn't. I only lied about things that would lead you to Drew which would lead him to me.”

”I don't understand, Riley.”

I snorted. That wasn't my name. ”How did you find me?” I asked again.

”I tried everything to find you with Starlight and Lauren's help. I was lying in bed the other night and I just remembered you telling me about Drew coming to your high school and donating money. I went there and pretended to be investigating a fraud case. They told me that the money that was donated that year was from Callaway Jewels. You told me he was a software developer from Indiana. Did you leave me, Ry? because you could have just told me.”

”Daw,” I quietly said. How was I supposed to explain this? ”I didn't leave you. I didn't know you.”

”What do you mean?”

I took his hand and ran his finger over the L shaped scar down the whole right side of my head. ”I was in a car accident before I got out of Vegas. I didn't remember anything until I saw you in that shop this afternoon. I remembered my whole life today, right at that moment. I have spent the last five months of my life not knowing who I was.”

”But you were on the plane. The airline told me that you had departed and landed in Chicago.”

”I did not get on the plane. I left the airport because Derik saw me. He chased me. I ran underneath the front of a bus. I was in induced coma for five weeks.”

”You are at his house?”

”Yes,” I answered and then had to answer my phone.

s.h.i.+t...

”I didn't think you would go to the game. How do you feel?” Drew asked ”I'm better. I told you I just had a headache.”

”But, I worry about you when I'm not there.”

”You shouldn't.” I didn't want to say much.

Dawson Bade was sitting right beside me, and my lying abusive husband was worried about me.

”Well, I do, and there is nothing you can do about it,” he tried teasing. I wasn't in the mood.

”I'll call you when I get home, Drew. The game is getting ready to start.”

”Okay. I love you.”

I shook my head in disbelief. ”love you too,” I replied, hanging up.

”Did he hurt you?”

”No. Dawson, he hasn't hurt me. He has been very good to me.”

Dawson looked down at my wedding rings. ”Are you staying with him, Ry?”

”No. I don't know what I am doing yet. There are too many things that I have to have answers to.”

”Leave with me now. I can't leave you here, knowing what he is capable of.”

”I'm not afraid of Drew.”

”What do you mean you're not afraid of him?

You're terrified of him.”

”I was terrified before. I haven't been afraid of him since I didn't know who he or I was. I'm fine. I can't leave yet.”

”Can I call you?”