Page 114 of The Write Track
“I wouldn’t say that,” I countered, determined to keep the rift that was so tentatively mended between us from fraying. It was too soon for that. “I’ve never been happier to see anybody in my life.” I thought about it a moment. “Well, maybe this guy.” I jerked my thumb toward Preston II, which caused Dad to laugh.
“Yes, this is a welcome turn of events,” Dad agreed.
I stepped forward and put my hand on Bella’s shoulders. Preston II didn’t look like he was going to attack her, but I was still determined to be her shield. “May we ask what you’re doing here?”
“He’s fulfilling his end of a bargain,” Taffy replied, stepping forward. “In exchange for reeling in his son—for good—I won’t make the letter Preston sent me four years ago public.”
Bella snapped her eyes toward her mother. “What letter?”
Taffy shifted from one foot to the other, showing her discomfort for the first time since entering the cabin. “Preston threatened that if I didn’t respect boundaries and keep my distance from you that he was going to make sure you never got another job again. He was quite graphic in his descriptions.”
Bella’s mouth fell open as rage I’d believed sated roiled through me. This guy was a complete and total jerk, an even bigger one than any of us had realized.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Bella demanded, fury replacing shock on her beautiful face.
“Because I knew that this was a situation you had to handle yourself,” Taffy replied evenly. “I couldn’t make you leave Preston. You had to want to do it yourself. It took you longer than I thought it would to fulfill that promise for yourself. I was proud when you did, though.”
Bella looked so bewildered that I wanted to wrap my arms around her, cocoon her from hurt. But it was too late for that.
“You still should have told me,” she said after a beat. “I spent a full year trying to figure out a way out of that relationship. I kept telling myself things would get better, but I knew they wouldn’t. If you’d told me?—”
“Then you would have left because of me,” Taffy replied. “I needed you to leave because of you. And you did.” She brightened. “Those first few weeks were rough, but you’ve found yourself now.” Her gaze moved to me. “You’ve found where you’re supposed to be.”
“But… he threatened you,” Bella sputtered, clearly furious. “This nutless piece of shit threatened you… and you let him.”
“Language,” Hayley snapped from the back door. She’d taken up a position that blocked Heather from leaving.
“Not now,” Bree hissed, glaring at our friend. “We’re just getting to the good stuff.”
“Wearegetting to the good stuff,” Dad agreed. “I’m assuming you’re going to take it from here,” he said to Preston II. “I mean, you don’t want this story getting out or anything.”
There was a threat there, a warning, but it was mild.
“No, I do not,” Preston II agreed, his glare pinned firmly on his son. “I believe there are some apologies in order.”
“You tell them, Father,” Preston sniffed. He’d turned into a mealy-mouthed baby out of nowhere.
“You’re the one issuing the apologies,” the elder Preston said to his son. “Not only are you apologizing—to Bella and Taffy, mostly—but you’re also going to promise to never go anywhere near their lives again.”
Outrage lit Preston’s features. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me.” Preston II wasn’t taking it. “Apologize. You’re lucky they’re not pressing charges because this would be a slippery slope for stalking.”
“I was careful,” Preston whined at his father. “I made sure they didn’t have anything actionable.”
“Which only goes to prove that you knew what you were doing.” Preston II looked disgusted. He turned his eyes to Bella. “I understand there are still some reader event dates that need to be fulfilled.”
Bella nodded.
“I don’t suppose you would be willing to take charge of them, would you?” he continued.
She looked thrown. “Um…”
“We’ll do it as a group,” I interjected quickly. “We know what to do. It’s just the weekend here with readers and then a few bar events. I know somebody who can help.” My mind immediately went to Rose.
His nod was stiff. “I’ll make sure you have all the funds to do it. I apologize for whatever strife this will cause. I believe it’s best for my son to leave with me this evening, however.”
“Oh, I couldn’t agree more,” I said. I was willing to host each event myself if it meant never seeing Preston again.
