Jack is much more confident driving in inclement weather than I am. He navigates the road without a worry, unlike me with white knuckles an hour ago.

Ahead of us, flashes of blue light are refracted by the fog that has moved in off the cold ocean. Sirens are coming our way.

Jack flashes his headlights and slows down as the police near. Two of the cruisers make U-turns and pull in behind us while another two continue to out to Prout's Neck.

An officer gets out of his car and approaches , hand ready on his weapon not knowing who we are.

"We left him up there, on the turn off.  He beat her up pretty bad, I'm taking her to the hospital to get checked out."

I squinted as the officer's flashlight revealed my cuts and bruises.

"I want you to follow me there." The officer waved. "I will need a statement from both of you. We can talk when we get there."

Once he pulled out and continued on up the road, we followed out escort into Portland, the second cruiser following safely behind.

​​​​​​***


"Thank you, Dr. Grillo." Jack said and shook her hand.

"Isa, you take care. Everything looks great." She put her hand on my good knee. "You will be sore, and you need some rest. But." She squeezed making me jump. "You will be good as new."

"And my baby?" I asked, no one really told me anything.

"She is doing great! Exactly where I would expect her to be."

She? I'm having a girl?

I haven't even thought about weather I am having a girl or a boy, and then I notice on Dr. Grillo's clipboard, The paperwork has pink highlighter at the top.

"What?" I questioned her as Jack was hugging me.

"Yes, The sonogram tech didn't tell you?" Dr. Grillo flipped through the paperwork. "Oh, yes. Definitely a girl."

"Wow!" This makes it so much more real.

"Congratulations. And, nice meeting you both." Dr. Grillo closed her metal clipboard and left the exam room.

Kissing my forehead carefully and tucking my wet, matted hair behind my ear, Jack looks into my eyes, "I never should have let you leave. I'm so sorry."

"Jack, Why are you here?" I reach for my necklace. I want to twirl the starfish. But it's gone.

"I couldn't spend another day on the island without you. What are you doing?" And he leans in and hugs me and it feels like he isn't going to let go, and I don't want him to.

"The necklace you gave me, It's gone. Ben tore it off me." I put my hands down by my sides. I love that necklace, it really means a lot to me, but that's Ben, always destroying what I care about.

Someone knocks at the door and pushes it open. The Officer who we followed to the hospital pokes his head into the room.  "May I come in?"

"Yes." I want to get this over with so I can go home. "We will talk later," I whisper to Jack.

"Miss Cushing. How are you feeling? I'm Officer Anderson with the SPD."

"Better, thank you." I shift my weight on the exam table and pull a sheet up a little higher to cover my chest. "Did you get him?"

"Your ex-husband?" he says, like there's another person who tried to kill me. "Oh yes, we got him. He won't be seeing the outside of a jail for a while."

"Good." Jack chimed in. "He shouldn't after what he did to Isa."

"She is damn lucky you were here. No telling what could have happened to her."

"He's in jail now?" I just want to make sure.

"Well, he was here, he had to get checked out. Mr. Kendall here did quite a number on him.  Broke his arm in a few places, knocked out a few teeth. They have him over at the Cumberland County Jail right now."

"He's a piece of shit" Jack added, I leaned into his reassuring squeeze.

As the officer asked questions, I recalled everything that happened, then Jack did the same.

"I'm glad you were able to get a call out to 9-1-1. They were able to pinpoint your location and we were able to respond."

"He broke my phone."

"We were able to lock on before it went dead."

"Thank goodness." Jack said. "Is there anything more you need from us?"

"No, not tonight. You get some rest." Officer Anderson
steps out into the hallway. I can see him speaking with a woman dressed in a blue blazer with matching skirt. She keeps looking in at mee and Jack. Probably some reporter wanting a story for the 6'oclock news, and now it's even juicer that Jack is involved.

The woman knocks on the door jam. "Hi, Isa? May I come in?"

Jack must sense my uneasiness. "I would rather you respect her privacy. She isn't ready to speak to the press." He thinks she is a reported too, he should know, he deals with a lot of them.

"I'm Anne Bennett. I'm a social worker with Maine OCFS. I would like to speak to you about Cole and Luke." She steps closer. "How are you feeling?"

"I. I. I'm doing okay."  Jack sits on the bed with me and holds my hand.

"I would like to speak with you more about what happened. Officer Anderson will be sending over his report about what happened tonight for the file."

"I was called in because your ex-husband has been arrested, again." I watch her lips move, I didn't think that anyone real actually worked at OCFS, yet here she is. "I heard you were here and I wanted to come in person to speak with you." She smiles a kind smile. "You didn't pick up your phone but now I understand why."

"I have to get a new phone." She needs to get the point. "Where are my boys? Are they with his mother?"

"We have them, they are safe and sleeping." She continues smiling. "Officer Anderson said you are going to be headed home tonight. First thing in the morning, I would like to bring the boys to you. I will be asking the court grant emergency custody order giving you full custody of the boys. Considering what Mr. Cushing did tonight and his previous arrest, the judge will grant you custody. With our recommendation of course."

"What?" Sitting up. "I have my boys back?" I look at Jack and I start to cry. He hugs me carefully so he doesn't hurt me.

"Isa.. You have your boys back." Jack holds me. This has turned out to be a great night after all.

"Of course, there will be a hearing in the next week or so to make this a permanent order. I will testify on your behalf and give my recommendations in person." She

"Thank you." Tears are rolling down my face. Not the tears of pain from earlier, happy tears. Very happy tears. "Thank you. When will you bring them?"

"I bring them out right after they eat their breakfast." Mrs. Bennett says. "Someone in my office is already going to be at the courthouse, I'll head there after I drop the boys off with you."

"Thank you, again!"

Jack stood up and shook her hand. "Thank you."

"I hope you feel better, hopefully this news helps."

"Oh it does! I'll see you in the morning"

I'm overjoyed, first Ken is back and now the boys.


***
​​​​​

Once discharged, Jack drives me back to the carriage house.  Suzanne came running out when we pulled up the driveway.

"Isa! Oh my God! Are you Alright?"  Suzanne's trademark tears running down her face. "Let me look at you!" She takes my hands in hers and keeps me arm's length to get a good look at the trauma. "I heard it was Ben? And, he has been stalking you for a while?"

"Who told you that?" Jack asked, neither of us told her what happened.

"Remember Darin Walker? He works at the jail and he called me to let me know what happened and, Wow! Ben is in A lot of trouble!" Suzanne almost sings "trou-ble" breaking it into two long syllables.

"You can't even get beat up by your ex-husband without the whole town knowing."

"More like the whole State because you-know-who saved you" Suzanne repeatedly points at Jack with one finger then the other with every syllable.

"Wonderful." I drawl as I start toward the carriage house. "Luke and Cole will be here in the morning."

"What?" Suzanne starts bouncing up and down and then stops. "What are you doing here?" she looks at Jack.

"Hi Suzanne, Good to see you too." Jack smiles and doesn't let go of me. "I couldn't stay away any longer."

"When you called me earlier, I was in shock but you sure did decide to show up at the right time."

I change the subject back to the boys, we will have plenty of time to discuss why Ken showed up when he did. And Suzanne doesn't need to know everything. "A social worker came to the hospital to tell me she is bringing them over in the morning. She's headed to the court right after ask them grant me full custody." Jack hugs me from behind as I tell Suzanne the news.

"Isa, this is exactly what you want"

"I know!" Suzanne is as excited as I am. "I going upstairs and shower and I doubt I'll get any sleep tonight."

The next few hours will feel like years. I'm so excited to see them and how much they changed. Jack hugged me all night. I'm happy he is here.

"I really want to take a shower."

"Do you want me to help?"

"Yes." I looked at him with a new understanding, our situation, although very, very different, are controlled by selfish people and we both were able to find the courage to call it quits.

Jack helped me up and into the bathroom. My muscles are starting to stiffen up and a hot shower will feel so good.

Jack unbuttons my blouse and slides it off revealing more black and blues than  I originally thought. The bruises will fade over time.

Jack ran the shower to the perfect temperature and got undressed. He helped me get under the water held me.  At first the water felt like needles stabbing my skin, but eventually, I became relaxed and melted into Jack's arms. He gently washed my hair.

When I was ready to get out, Jack jumped out and dried quickly and pulled on his boxers on so he could help me. He gently pated me dry and helped me get into a big sweatshirt that was long enough to be worn as a dress and dried my hair with my hair drier.

He walked me over to bed and tucked me into my flannel sheets.

"You look exhausted" Jack shut the lights off. "I'll be on your couch."

"No." I sleepily protested. "I want you here with me."

"Are you sure?"

I nodded and smiled and Jack climbed in between my flannel sheets and held me, carefully avoiding areas he knew were extra painful, especially Ben's Bite.



"Thank you." I whisper as we listen to the warning blasts from the lighthouse.

"I've missed you so much, I should have come sooner." Jack's voice is soft and his breath is warm on the nape of my neck. He feels so nice.

"You're here now. That's all that matters." I snuggle into him to try to get even closer.

"I love you, Isa." I feel several kisses on my neck that send chills throughout my body.

"I love you too." I whisper and squeeze his hand.


#


I didn't think I would get any sleep, but Jack's arms made me feel so peaceful and calm, that we did get a few hours in.

"Good morning, Sunshine." Jack continues kissing my neck, picking up where he left off last night. "Can I make you some coffee and breakfast?"

"Coffee yes, I usually eat with Suzanne at her house. I really don't have a lor of food here."

Jack jumps up, "Coffee it is!" I hear him in the kitchen trying to find coffee.

I sit up very slowly and Grunt as I stand. I'm so stiff, I feel like I was hit by a truck. Maybe because I was. I laugh when I make the real life connection to the cliché.

I head into the bathroom and  get a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I look like hell! I get cleaned up pat a little makeup on some of my bruises. Thank goodness my face doesn't look like my chest, all covered with black and blue. I get dressed and go out to see Jack.

"Hi handsome. The boys will be here soon."

"Hi beautiful. I can't wait to meet them." Walking into Jack's open arms, this is how it is supposed to be.



#

Suzanne, Jack and I wait on her front porch. I wish my phone wasn't broken. What if they are trying to call me and tell me it was a mistake and the judge refused to grant me custody?

Then, a car slowly drives by the house and turns up the driveway. I can see two little blonde boys sitting in the back seat. I wonder if she told the boys that they were coming to see me.

"I hope they still like me." I start shaking. I'm so nervous. "It's been almost seven months since I've seen them."

Jack takes my hand and the three of us stand up and walk down to the car.

The boys see us. The boys see me. "Momma! Momma!" They are screaming "Momma!" I don't know what to do. I don't know If I'm supposed to go to them?

Mrs. Bennett gets out of the car. "Would you like to get Luke out? I'll get Cole."

I run up to the car and open the door, tears coming down my face. "Luke!" My fingers tremble as I  undo the buckle on his booster seat.

Luke throws his arms around me "Momma! Where have you been? I've been looking all over for you."

"Luke! I love you!" I hold him in my arms. The pain from the previous night is gone, overshadowed by the joy I am feeling right now.

Cole runs into me and grabs my leg. "Momma!"

I set Luke down and kneel so I am the level to them. I hug both of them together, one in each arm. "I love you guys so much!"

I pull back and inspect them. "Let me look at you! You're both all grown up."

"Momma! Where have you been?" I have no idea what the Cushing's told them if they told them anything.

"I've had to take care of a few things. I've missed you  something terrible"

Cole uses his fingers and wipe my tears away.  "Don't cry Momma!" He hugs me again and pats my back the way I used to calm him down when he cried. "Don't cry. Everything will be okay."

"I want you two to meet some very special friends. This is Suzanne and this is Jack."

Cole screams, "Hi Suzanne! Hi Jack!" I smile. Cole has always been the loud one.

"Hi!" Luke waves at Suzanne and Jack from my arms. He's not as enthusiastic as Cole.

Jack comes over and helps me stand up. Holding onto Luke and Cole's hands, we walk over to Mrs. Bennett.

"Thank you so much for everything you have done to help us."

"You're welcome." Mrs. Bennett hands me a folder. "You have two very charming little boys. I'll be in touch." She gets in her car and backs out of the driveway.

The boys are attached to me. One on each side. No one will ever take them from me again. Ever.



#




"Granted!" The judge signs off on the paperwork in front of him.  "Good luck Ms. Cushing, to you and your boys."

"Thank you Your Honor." It's done! It's over! Ben didn't even show up. His parents didn't even show up. Just me and Jack.

I hope that someday Ben will love himself and his family enough to be part of their lives again. I know he has hurt all of us, we all have a lot of healing to do. But people can change. I hope for all our sake he does.

Our ride back to Prout's neck seems longer than usual. I don't let go of Jack's hand the whole drive. "Thank you for being here. I don't think I could have been this strong without your support."

"Isa, You're a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for." He smiles at me and rubs my fingers with his. We don't say another word to each other the rest of the ride.

Suzanne is waiting for us as we pull in to the driveway.

"How did it go?" Suzanne is bouncing,

"As planned. All done." Ken says, following Suzanne up and down.

"Ben didn't show up."

"Well that's a relief. The judge probably would have asked him, 'Why are you such a piece of shit?'" Suzanne is always so dramatic. "That would have sent him into a rage and he would have been thrown back in jail for contempt."

I laugh even though it's sad that their father has put us through all this pain. I really hopes he figures his life out.

"Where are the boys?" I look around and don't see them, I start to panic.

"They're taking a nap upstairs in the main house." Suzanne reassures me. "Do you want me to wake them?"

"No. No. Let them sleep." I press the code to unlock the door and step in. "Thank you, Suzanne! Your'e the best!"

Suzanne smiles. Her bubbles are back. "I'll take care of the little cherubs. You guys get some rest. Have a little alone time while they nap."

She turns and runs into her house.

"Henry is away again." I tell Jack. "She really like having all of us here."

Jack and I go upstairs to the apartment over the carriage house and sits me down on the sofa. "Thank you for going with me today and thank you for coming back to me and saving me"

"I came to ask your forgiveness, not ride in on a white horse."

"Well, I'm glad you were there. And, I do forgive you. I shouldn't have been mad over some pictures. I should have talked to you about it and listened to what you had to say." I think about the magazine layout that printed pictures of Jack and his producer.

"Isa, there is nothing between me and Lila." He looks down. "She is rude and obnoxious and is only looking out for herself." My heart clenches as he stumbles over his words. "When she caught wind that I might be retiring, she saw that as a hit to her financial future."

Jack leaned back on the couch and I leaned back with him exhausted. "Continue."

"She told me my retiring didn't fit in with her financial planning and she knew I wanted a future with you and I think she saw it in her best interest to have you removed, out of my future."

"So, she posed in pictures with you knowing they would be published?" I finished his sentence.

"She knows all the photographers. I'm sure she probably made some sort of deal with person who take the ones you saw.

"That makes sense."

I know how it feels when you have no control over your life and no matter how hard you try people take everything away. I'm now realizing, Jack is around the same kind of people. People who are only out for themselves and will take and take and control your life. I think we have both had it.

I now understand why he wants to quit his business. It's not that he missed out on love and having a family. It's because he was controlled so much by other people. They may let him think he was in control, but they would find a way to get what they wanted from him.  People would sabotage Jack's life he had too much control, like how he decided to scale back. They saw that as a threat. They saw their jobs in jeopardy if Jack decided not to tour anymore and settle down and have a family. They saw me as a threat.

If they got rid of me, they may have a chance of keeping their jobs and their lifestyles.  Lila saw me as a threat. She doesn't care about Jack, she only cares about money and herself. I should have seen that right away, but I was too naïve. If this is any indication of how his staff acts anytime, he wants to do anything for himself, he should walk away. No, he should run.

"I swear to you, I don't have anything going on with Lila or with anyone else for that matter. The only person I want something going on with is you."


"Sounds like you should write a song about that."

"Maybe, someday."