Page 131 of Tattered (Lark Cove 1)

“Will do. What else?”

“Ruin him,” I growled.

“Same drill as last time?”

The last time being when I’d discovered Emmeline had a stalker. Sean had arranged for someone to scare him off. This time around, a few punches to the face weren’t good enough. I wanted Ronny Berkowitz destroyed.

“No. I want him broke. Zero out his bank account. Max his credit cards. Have his car impounded. Get him fired from his job. Expose him as a stalker to the local media. Whatever you can think of. I want Lark Cove to be the last place on earth this guy wants to stay. Can you do that?”

Sean chuckled. “And then some. Now that I’m into his network, I can bring it all down.”

“Do it.” I hung up the phone and immediately dialed Thea.

When she didn’t answer, I tried her again. And again.

“Answer the phone, Thea.”

She didn’t. By my fourth attempt, I was doing twice the speed limit down the highway.

Because my gut was screaming that we’d found Ronny too late.

With my phone resting on my lap, I stared across the yard toward the lake. The water was glassy tonight, much like my eyes.

Logan had called, but I’d ignored it. After the ringing stopped, I put it on mute.

We’d already spoken once tonight, and as of now, I was going

to start cutting down on phone calls. I lived to hear his voice, but after each one, I felt miserable. It hurt too much.

He’d been busy these last two weeks, per his usual schedule. Maybe he was using work to hide from the pain of our split. Maybe he just wanted to return to his regular routine. Either way, he always seemed to be in the middle of something when we talked. But, to his credit, once he answered, we had his full attention. In the two weeks since we’d left, he hadn’t missed a single call to wish Charlie sweet dreams.

Tonight, though, he’d sounded different. Still just as busy, but almost in a hurry to end our call. A quick hello. A faster good-bye.

Would this become the new normal?

I’d worked hard the last two weeks, catching up at the bar. Charlie had gone right back to days with Hazel at the camp, and for the most part, I was glad for the routine. Except for nights like this, when I wasn’t working. Free time was my new enemy.

I was an emotional wreck when left alone with my thoughts, which was probably why I hadn’t set foot in my workshop. I knew once I got in there and pictured Logan in his spot by the cabinet, I’d completely lose it, something I had yet to do.

One of these nights I’d go in there and have an ugly cry. Until then, I was toughing out the blurry tears and stinging nose.

Footsteps sounded behind me in the kitchen and I blinked fast to clear my vision. I didn’t want Hazel to know I’d been on the verge of crying. So as the screen door creaked, I forced a smile when she stepped onto the porch.

“Figured I’d find you here.”

I nodded. “I thought I’d better enjoy the evening before it gets too cold.”

As soon as the snow fell, Hazel and I traded our porch visits for living room campouts. Each winter, we’d pick a new show to binge after Charlie was asleep. Though Hazel would still brave the cold to smoke.

She slid a cigarette from its box and pulled out a lighter from her jeans pocket. After a heavy drag, she took her spot on the railing, blowing the smoke as far away from me as she could. “I think Charlie’s more nervous about first grade than she was kindergarten.”

I sighed. “I think you’re right.” Charlie was struggling because one of her friends from kindergarten had moved away and because Logan wasn’t here.

As expected, Charlie had been withdrawn these past two weeks. She was definitely happy to be home, but she missed her dad.

Just like me, she was torn.

“How are you doing?” Hazel asked.