“You’d better hope he is never unhappy with you, Randy. Because once you feel his foot drive into your ribs over and over again, or know how it feels when his fist slams into your skin so hard that the bruises show up before he has finished hitting you, it’s going to be hard to remember that he’s a good man.” Her breath shuddered out roughly. “Because I know how that feels, how that hurts. I’m not only talking physically.”
I watched Randy stiffen and his hand loosen in Brian’s grip. Brian looked down, tightening his hold as his stance became uncomfortable and he turned to Randy, shaking his head.
“No, I won’t. I swear.”
But it was obvious Rabbit’s soft words had resonated with Randy. His hand withdrew from Brian’s tight grip and he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the vehicle away from Brian. I could see Brian panicking at his physical extraction.
But my attention was immediately back on Rabbit. As quickly as her anger had flared, it disappeared, and beside me, I felt her sag. I scooped her up, her head falling against my chest and I felt her tears soaking into my shirt.
I looked up at Brian, eyeing him steadily. “If you have caused her or my children harm, I will hunt you down. It doesn’t matter where you run, I will find you. I promise you that.”
Brian’s face registered surprise at my words. He shook his head. “It wasn’t my intention to bring her any further harm. I swear.”
I shook my head. “You don’t get it, do you? Coming here was selfish. You wanted to make yourself feel better. It wasn’t for her. It was for you … it’s always about you. You should have practiced your speech better, James. You’re pathetic. You didn’t come here to apologize, you came here for absolution. Well, you’re not getting it. You’re not getting your forgiveness so that you can run away and live happily ever after. The only one getting a happily ever after is her.” I tightened my arms. “She will be loved and safe for the rest of her life. I hope the two of you are fucking miserable. It’s exactly what you deserve.” I looked down at Rabbit’s pale, tear-streaked face, frowning. “You have two minutes to get in the car and go. Leave the country. Don’t ever come back here.”
Brian’s shoulders drooped. He looked over at Randy, who shook his head and opened the door.
I watched them leave, and turning, I strode into the house, carrying Rabbit. I watched the car go through the gate from the security camera and immediately switched the gates to lock and carried her to our room.
After I laid Rabbit on the bed, I grabbed my ringing phone and spoke with Adam, telling him what happened. He hung up, cursing amidst the promises to call back soon. I went to the kitchen on the pretext of getting Rabbit some juice and called Daniel, begging him to come see her. Dr. Sue was out of town and I was desperate for reassurance. Although he assured me she was probably fine, he agreed to come out. I grabbed the juice and went back to Rabbit. She was still lying curled into a ball and I quickly pulled off her shoes and sat her up to remove her jacket. I helped her sip some juice and laid her back down. Immediately, I lay down beside her and pulled her into my arms. She was still shaking and I pulled a blanket up around us. Slowly, I rocked her, one arm wrapped around her as the other hand rubbed soft circles on her gently rounded stomach, which always soothed her. I murmured soft, loving words into her ear and held her as her trembling began to ease off.
“It wasn’t me,” she whispered.
“Never, Rabbit. You know this,” I insisted quietly.
“I always thought maybe I should have done something different, tried harder … something,” she admitted, looking up at me.
I moved my hand up to her face, cupping her cheek. “No, Rabbit. You were perfect. Nothing you did would have been right. You heard him.”
“It was all him.”
I nodded.
“He is selfish. He used me to cover up the fact that he was gay. He was willing to destroy me totally, just to hide from his father what he was. I was just a good photo op and a cover.”
I nodded, sadly.
“It wasn’t me.”
I shook my head. “You are so much more than a photo op, Rabbit.” My voice was gentle, my hand stroking her cheek. “You are everything to me. You are my entire world. He is just a self-centered, selfish asshole who isn’t even worthy of your time.”
“And, today was all about him, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, it was. It will always be about him, Rabbit.”
She looked at me. “He’s gone. And he’s not coming back, right?” Her voice was shaky and I could see she needed reassurance.
“Never, Rabbit. He will never come near you again. I won’t let him touch you. I promise.”
She burrowed her head in my chest and we stayed silent for a minute.
“I love you, Rabbit.”
Her arms tightened around me. I stroked her back softly, keeping her close, letting her feel that I was right there with her and for her.
After a while, her shaking finally ceased. She looked up at me shyly. I caressed her cheek, wondering why she was looking at me so timidly. “I’m divorced now,” she whispered.
“Yes, you are.”