Page 40 of The Maverick

“Why don’t you go to Bailey’s room and work on that? We’ll call you in time for dinner.”

Jake shrugged and hopped down from the stool. “Okay. Can we swim after dinner?”

“We’ll see. If you finish all your homework and eat your dinner, then yes, we can go swimming. Homework first.”

Jake hugged her. “I love you, Mommy.”

“I love you, too, Jakie.” Rachel was so relieved. She would never again have to worry about Greg’s impact on their lives or their safety.

Bailey hugged Nick. “I love you, Daddy.”

He bent his long frame over and hugged her back. “I love you, too. What’s up with you two?” He stood but left a hand on Bailey’s back. “You’re awfully lovey-dovey this afternoon.”

Jake and Bailey looked at each other and nodded.

He spoke first. “One of the kids in our class was absent today. The teacher said her father had passed away, and she wouldn’t be in class for a while. The teacher said we should let our parents know how much we loved them. Bailey and I just want you to know how lucky we feel and that we love you.”

Nick smiled at his daughter. “I’m sorry for that little girl. But your teacher is right. We should always tell those we love that we do. Never take anything for granted. Remember that.”

“I will, Daddy.” Bailey squeezed him again and then turned and headed toward her bedroom.

Jake hugged Rachel and then followed Bailey.

When they were sure both kids were gone, Rachel and Nick took the kid’s stools at the island.

“Well, tell me what happened?” Sarah had cleared the dishes away and wiped down the counter.

“Let’s just say that Greg Bennett will not be a problem any longer,” said Nick.

Rachel still wasn’t sure how she felt about Greg’s death. She was happy because he couldn’t kill her now, but what would she tell Jake? How would he take it? “I need to tell Jake his father is dead. I don’t know how.” She rested her head in her hands for a moment, then sat straight again. “How do you tell someone his father is dead? That he won’t be a problem any longer?”

Nick wrapped an arm around her shoulders and eased her closer. “How did your mom tell you? With Jake, you just have to be honest. He saw at least some things that Greg did to you. He’ll be happy the man can’t hurt you anymore. I’ve seen how protective he is of you. This news will allow him to go back to being just a little boy, instead of someone who believes he should protect his mother.”

She let out a deep breath. “It’s different with me. Larry and I were there when Daddy died. I remember it as if it were yesterday. We were coming home from visiting Uncle Keet. Daddy didn’t feel well, so Mom drove home. He sat in the middle, and I was next to the passenger door. Larry was curled on the floorboard. It was before seat belts were required, and he loved to curl up down there because it was so warm.

She looked into her lap, not really seeing what she was doing as she pulled at her skirt. “Daddy was feeling terrible. I got his medicine from the glove compartment so he could take some. I know now that it was nitroglycerin, but it didn’t help. Mom stopped at a little restaurant and bar that was close to the house. We knew the owners. A few of the men brought Daddy in from the car and laid him on two tables they had shoved together.

“The owner of the bar, Mrs. Feeback had Larry and I sit at the bar and gave us Cokes and candy to keep us busy from looking at what was happening. Finally, she took us downstairs to their apartment. After a while Mom came down and took us home. She said Daddy wasn’t coming home. That he’d passed away and was in Heaven now. That’s all I remember until the graveside service. I couldn’t see, so Mom’s brother, Uncle Frank, put me on his shoulders so I could see them bury Daddy.”

She looked up at Nick and brushed the tears from her cheeks. “As for Jake, I thought I was the only one who saw how protective he is of me. I never wanted him to be the one to protect me. Everything I did, I did for him...to protect him. He’s my baby, Nick.” Hot tears resumed rolling down her cheeks. “How could I have waited so long to leave? What was the matter with me?”

“Ah, Rach, it’s not your fault. Greg played you like a piano, and he was the only one with the music. You were vulnerable, and he took advantage of that. He was a predator. You’re not the only one he terrorized. He preyed on others before you and during your marriage. I know you probably won’t like it but I had a file worked up on Greg the moment you returned. I found things that you would probably rather not know, but that I think you need to. You weren’t the only woman he was terrorizing. At least two others suffered, and both were grad students assigned to him. He used them for his pleasure and then threatened them with physical injury if they ever said anything about it.”

“At my first thought, I’m not surprised. I’m sorry for those women, but I don’t know what I could have done for them had I known.”

“Nothing you could have done. He didn’t physically harm them to my knowledge, or if he did they never reported it.”

“Trust me, he harmed them. He enjoyed it. I found that out too late, too. I was so dumb. I should have known better.” The last words were a sob.

Nick pulled her against him. “Don’t, Rach. None of this was your fault. Nothing you did could have prevented this outcome. He was destined for this end, whether it was you or another woman. We’re lucky he didn’t kill someone before now.”

She fought to get the words out from her tight throat. “If I’d been smarter?—”

“No, Rach, no. Don’t even think that. It’s not true. You have your life back. You can live it without fear. Jake is safe, and he won’t turn into someone like Greg. Not with you as his mother. You’re strong. You stayed strong for him.”

“I know. He saved me. Jake was the one who gave me the strength to leave. I couldn’t bear the thought Greg would have anything to do with raising him. He never wanted him, so he didn’t even try for joint custody. Greg was happy to be rid of him, but not of me.”

“Come on. Dry your tears and let’s see what we can help the kids with. Then we’ll have dinner and go swimming. It’s a family night, and nothing will stop us from having our family time together.” He lifted a brow. “Right?”