Page 66 of Until Joy

“He left you there, even though he finally believed there was a stalker after you? Are you fucking kidding me?” I roared. I couldn’t remember being so pissed.

Joy nodded against my chest, her fingers digging deep into my shirt.

“The worst part was he didn’t say he was sorry.” She lifted her head and stared at me. “Graham, he didn’t even look at me. I could see he was still unsure whether or not to believe the detective. I still think he thought I did it all, even though my fingerprints weren’t on the paint can.”

God, tears were filling her eyes, and it was killing me.

“I didn’t even get to hug Lionel and Susie good-bye.”

After everything that happened, Joy still hurt at leaving the children. She had such a big heart.

I cupped her cheek and she nuzzled against my palm. “I’m so sorry, baby. That must have killed.”

She nodded and took in a deep breath. “It did.”

“Then what happened?” I asked quietly.

“I’d been at the station from early in the morning ‘til late afternoon. I was hungry, but I didn’t want to do room service. I didn’t want to stay in that nice room paid for by him. You know?” She looked at me with those big blue eyes awash with tears.

I nodded. “I know.”

“I decided to go out. There was a fish and chips place I liked on St. Anne’s, close to the park where I took the kids. I took the tube. That’s their word for the subway.”

I couldn’t believe she’d gone that close to when she’d been stalked. “No. Say it’s not true.”

She bit her lip, then gave a small nod.

“Jesus, why?” I groaned.

“Don’t you think I’ve asked myself that question a thousand times?” The question burst out of her. “I think it’s because I knew I was going home, and I thought the whole thing was over. That’s the only reason I can think of for being so damned stupid.”

I sucked in a deep breath. “Okay, so you took the subway. Then what happened?”

“I got my fish and chips and decided to eat it in the park. I know, I know. Stupid, stupid, stupid. But in my defense, it wasn’t dark.”

“Yippee.” I couldn’t keep the sarcasm out of my voice.

She looked up at me, hurt.

“I’m sorry, baby. That was out of line.” I picked up her hand and placed it against my heart. Needing the connection.

“No, you’re right.”

“No. The last thing you need is someone Monday morning quarterbacking you. Tell me what happened, baby.”

Her bottom lip trembled, but she nodded. “It was when I was going to throw my finished dinner in the trash bin that I saw somebody coming up behind me. He wasn’t big. Not like you or my brothers. But he was still bigger than me. He jammed me against the trash bin, his face against mine. He said he knew I’d betrayed him.” Her lip quivered. “He was crazy, Graham. Just plain crazy.”

She was telling me that like I wouldn’t believe her.

“I believe you, Joy. I know he was crazy.” I brushed a strand of hair away from her wet cheek. “How did you get away?”

“He kept saying crazy things like, I was supposed to be his wife. And that wives never testified against their husbands. Apparently, he’d seen me at the police station.” Joy shivered. “He must have been following me for months, Graham… Months.”

Joy shuddered, and I pulled her against me, as close as I could. If I could cut myself open so that she could burrow into my warmth, I would have. “How did you get away? How did he manage to cut you?”

“He said he’d made a mistake in choosing me. He said I wasn’t worthy.” Joy wasn’t looking at me. She was caught up in the past.

“My brothers had taught me self-defense, and Seth made me take a refresher course before I went to London. I knew I had to break free of his hold and hopefully incapacitate him. He was holding on tight to me, so I went limp, and he lost his grip. I fell to the ground. When he bent to pick me up, I shoved both of my feet into his balls. He fell over, howling. I got to my feet and started running. The only place I could think of was the Smythes’ house.”