Page 64 of Sweet Dreams

I’m not even sure what time it is when I walk up the pathway to Mom and Dad’s without my phone I’m clueless. I take the backway and go through the yard; if they are up, they’ll be outside having morning coffee on the deck. I round the corner and hear them chatting away.

“Teagan? What are you doing here so early?” Mom stands, coming to the steps.

“I need to talk to Dad, it’s important.” Mom pulls me up the stairs, rubbing my arm as she pulls me in for a side hug.

“Of course, did you want a tea?”

“No, that’s okay.”

“Morning, Small fry. What brings you to the old folks home?” Dad smiles, setting his tablet on the patio table.

“Nancy, tell me everything now.” I stand there watching Dad. He looks at Mom and then back at me.

“I should’ve told you from the start. That’s my fault. I used to work for Nancy’s dad, and if you’re asking, you already know what he did. I’m not proudof my past, but I also wanted out of that life, so I went to the cops. Nancy found out and has been trying to bring me down ever since. Her dad went to jail for years, and after he was released, he fell ill mysteriously. I believe Nancy tried to kill him, but it’s hard to say. Now that Jordan runs that world, Nancy controls the town. That’s why she’s always going after you; she wants revenge on me but can’t.”

I’m shocked. I stand there speechless. “Why didn’t you tell me all of this before I started my beef with the bitch? She ruined my business.”

“I didn’t think she would go this far.”

I throw my hands in the air, getting frustrated. “Serious. The record store owner dies randomly. The boutique is getting evicted, and mysteriously, the fire hydrant goes rampant, and that’s not good enough; my shop gets destroyed on opening day. Why does she want that side of the street?”

“What’s behind your shop?”

“The bar?”

Dad shrugs like he expects me to figure out what the answer is.

“She wants to run the drugs through that street,” Mom cuts in.

Well, shit. No wonder why Taylor is so far up her asshole. He’s in on all of this. I’m too deep in this; how the fuck do I get out of it. Dad touches mywrist, and I jerk away. He grasps my arm, and I try to pull away, but he pulls me closer and slides up the hoodie sleeve. Mom gasps, tugging my other arm and sliding the sleeve back.

“Who did this?” Dad barks.

I look between them. Mom has tears streaming down her face, and the muscles in Dad’s jaw clenched and his nostrils flared.

“Mr. Montgomery and Blaine.”

“Fucking Jordan, I’ll kill that prick. Leave him to me; I know the cops in the city. Where’s Blaine?”

I’m not sure how to answer that one. Then they’ll ask more questions, and I won’t be able to answer them. “He’s tied up at the moment.”

“Good, keep him that way. Let me make a phone call and I’ll get the Jordan situation under control. Where’s Nancy?”

I shrug. “No clue, I’m guessing wherever her husband is.”

Leave it to Dad to finish this whole shitshow that he started. But in the end, I know what I need to do. Holden isn’t the place for me anymore. I can’t remain here, knowing everything I try to do will forever be tainted. The people in this town will start to hear the rumour soon about what happened and won’t support me again; I’ll never be able to reopen my shop. It’s permanently closed after what happened. IfNancy doesn’t get busted, I’m done no matter what.

The reality of what happened is slowly creeping in. I need to escape; I slowly back away without a word and leave the yard. I can’t stay here anymore, and it might be rash to think of it so soon after last night's ordeal, but I don’t care.

My house comes into view, and my heart races, only sealing the deal more for me. If I don’t feel safe coming home, it’s not going to work. I’ll forever be watching my back when I enter this house. The dominos are falling, and I can’t stand them back up fast enough.

I step slowly through the front door, and my body stiffens. The rag that was used on me lays on the floor in the living room, and all I can picture is the two guys standing over me. I make my way to my bedroom and pack a bag.

THE END

One Year Later

The fall weather whips around me as I walk to my bookstore. It’s cooler this year, and I think the snow will fall earlier. I won’t complain; the first snowfall is beautiful, but I’ll still take the fall weather over anything.