Right Where We Belong (Silver Springs #4)(88)

“I believe he raped those women, Gavin. I believe he’ll hurt others, if he can. Since I didn’t stick by his side, he might even hurt me.”

Gavin tossed the letter on the coffee table and sat back down. “You’ll have to use everything you know about him, exploit his tiniest weakness. You realize that? It won’t be easy. What happens if doubts creep in?”

“And what if I do my best and it still doesn’t work?” That was what really frightened her. “What if he gets out in a few weeks? He’ll come here. I know he will. He might even try to take the kids.”

Gavin rubbed his face with both hands. “Shit.”

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I told you I’m not in a good situation.”

He got up and walked over so he could pull her into his arms. It felt wonderful just to be that close to him again. She’d been so upset all evening, so scared of what might happen. She’d escaped Nephi, thought she’d escaped the whole situation—for the most part. Now everything had been turned on its head. How could all the evidence that’d been so compelling be too weak to get the job done?

Would Gordon show up at her door in a few short weeks?

He would if he had the chance. And what would that do to Branson and Alia?

“Don’t worry.” Gavin gave her a soft kiss on the neck. “We’ve got seven days. We’ll figure it out.”

She pulled back to look him in the face. “Are you sure you don’t want to run for the hills? I wouldn’t blame you.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

She rested her cheek against his chest. “Please tell me they won’t let him out.”

“Somehow, we’ll make sure of it,” he said, but she knew he was only trying to comfort her. He had no way of keeping that promise.

It was all on her.





25

Heather wrung her hands as she paced back and forth in her living room. After what Gavin had said yesterday, she’d barely made it through school today. She hadn’t felt like teaching, had almost called in sick again, or left after lunch. She would have, except the principal and other teachers were beginning to complain about her lack of commitment. She feared she’d put her job in jeopardy if she didn’t stay until the usual time, and she couldn’t allow any more of her life to fall apart. The people she worked with didn’t understand that she had serious problems. Her whole future stood in the balance. She’d thought Gavin might reconsider what he’d said yesterday and call or text, ask her not to go back to Scott, as she’d threatened. But she hadn’t heard from him. Why? She knew what kind of father he hoped to be. They’d talked about it before. And, as far as he was concerned, she was carrying his child.

Her pregnancy should’ve made all the difference, should’ve brought them together again.

So why hadn’t he called? Was he spending time with his new neighbor? Did he like Savanna that much?

He had to, or he wouldn’t be letting things stand as they were...

That thought caused the worst kind of panic Heather had ever experienced. How could it be that just when she’d decided to quit messing around and make him step up and commit, Savanna Whoever She Was moved into town? And not just into town, right next to Gavin?

“It’s sheer bad luck, bad timing...a bad joke.” How was she going to gain control of the situation again?

Her phone dinged, indicating she had an incoming text.

Please let it be Gavin, she prayed. But it wasn’t Gavin; it was Scott. She’d been texting him, telling him that she was sorry for everything she’d put him through, acting as sweet as she possibly could. She hadn’t indicated she wanted to get back together. She’d stopped short of that for two reasons. If she came off too desperate, Scott would hold all the power, which wouldn’t bode well in the end. And she didn’t really want to get back with him, not if there was any chance Gavin would reconsider. Still, she had to extinguish Scott’s anger, in case she needed him later. She was beginning to fear she’d wind up a single mother, and that fear only grew worse when she read Scott’s text. Fuck off.

The panic churning in her gut burned until she thought she might scream. Don’t do it. Don’t freak out. Everything will be okay. She didn’t need Scott. Who did he think he was? Somehow, Gavin would come around. He’d said he wasn’t ruling her out. He was just hoping to explore the attraction he felt to his neighbor, and why not? He deserved to have a little fun before they settled down. Gavin hadn’t been with anyone since she got with Scott. Chances were it wouldn’t go anywhere. He was meant to be with her; she’d known it for years.

She still had his baby, which was a powerful bargaining chip.

If it really was his baby...

“God, help me.” The child had to be Gavin’s. If it was Scott’s, her life would be far worse. Scott could be so vengeful. Unless she forced the issue, he wouldn’t even pay her child support.

Her phone went off again; her mother was calling.

She silenced the ringtone. She couldn’t deal with her parents, not on top of everything else. Ever since they learned she was pregnant, they’d been hounding her about what she was going to do.

Another text came in. No surprise—it was from her mother. Apparently, Vickie refused to be denied.