I managed to catch my breath as I wandered over to Mel's. Annabeth was true to her word and got to me in a matter of minutes. When I climb into her car, I see she looks as bad as I do.

"What happened?" I ask her and then she suddenly starts sobbing in the driver's seat.

"Gus called off the wedding," she cries out, and then she hits her gear shifter into park.

"What? Why?" I ask and she shakes her head, "Because of stupid Margot!" She wipes her face with the back of her sleeve and from looking at her swollen eyes, I can tell she's been crying for a while.

"Margot?" I ask in confusion.

"Yes, stupid Margot had to go to Paris for her stupid wedding and last night I casually mentioned doing a destination wedding to Gus and he flipped out!" She sobs. She and I are a wreck, sitting in her car in the parking lot of Mel's and I hope if anyone walks out of the bar, they can't hear or see us.

"He flipped out?" I ask, and I am trying to ask short easy questions one at a time because now I wish I had called Gus. I would have preferred to hear this from him first so I could help explain his point of view to her.

"Yes, he said the marriage didn't matter to me, only the wedding does and he isn't paying thousands of dollars for a sham," she cries. "I told him I did want to marry him and he asked me to elope with him last night and I said no. I wanted my family there. I had a dress ordered. I want a wedding. So because I said no, that apparently means I don't want the marriage." I exhale out a long breath. Listening to her recount her drama is at least calming me down. 

I shake my head, "Maybe he just needs to cool off. Maybe he didn't mean to call off the wedding completely."

"Yes, he did. Feeley called me this morning to tell me Gus had canceled her contract," she says and I'm floored. Gus went through the effort of calling one of the most obnoxious women alive and said he'd no longer be paying her. He must mean business.

"Have you talked to him today?" I ask her and she shakes her head, "No, I stayed at my parent's and after I heard from Feeley, I was so upset I couldn't even face calling him. I can't put too much stress on myself, it could hurt the baby. I just need to focus on having a healthy baby right now and let all of this with Gus work itself out." I know she's repeating what her momma told her. That sounds exactly like something Mrs. Matthews would say. And whether Gus wants to marry Annabeth or not, he is still the father of her baby. They are going to have to work this money issue out at least for the sake of co-parenting.

"You're right. He just needs to cool down and you need to focus on your baby. Space might do y'all some good," I tell her but she doesn't look convinced. She snaps her gaze over to me while dabbing her nose with a fast-food napkin and asks, "And why are you cryin'?"

I look away from her as I ask, "Did you hear about what happened last night? Around midnight?" She blows her nose as she shakes her head no. I take in a deep breath and then fill her in on everything that's happened from the last few weeks to twenty minutes ago. I leave out the blackmail bit but otherwise, I tell her everything, including my link to Rory and she's dumbfounded.

"You've been playin' secret agent this past month and you are just now tellin' me?" She asks incredulously.

"I wasn't allowed to tell anyone, but I can't keep all this pent up inside me anymore," I confess. "Ryan and I are done. I can't face it yet, but it's the only way. Unless he quits his job, which I don't want and neither does he."

"You really don't want him to quit?" She asks as she eyes me. I look over to her as I say, "No, it would only lead to resentment. This has been a possibility since we first got together and we knew it could happen with any given case. That and if he quit, what the hell else would he do here in Hollis?" She slumps back into her seat and we both stare out the windshield. It's a grey sky day with rain teasing Hollis and it matches my mood. I want it to downpour.

Annabeth finally looks back over to me with her head still resting against the seat and says, "I can't believe we were both dumped on New Year's Eve. What a shit way to start the year."

I roll my head to her and say, "But you're pregnant. Gus will have to come back to you and I know he'll wanna work things out. Ryan and I are a lost cause. We have been since the start." She doesn't have anything to say back to me and I don't blame her. We sit for a few more quiet moments and then I ask, "Can you take me to the police station? I need to file a report on what happened last night. They might ease up on Ryan a bit when they finally hear my side." She hesitates so I ask, "What?"

She bites her lip and then says, "I worked at the courthouse for a long time Sawyer. I know the Cunningham's lawyer and I can tell you he's ruthless. I wouldn't be surprised if Rory goes after Ryan for attacking him."

"Well let me go tell them why that would be a very bad idea then. The police have yet to hear from me and what I am about to say is going to make Rory look like he deserved to get punched," I tell her sternly. I feel the fire rising inside of me and it helps take some pain away. It motivates me to control what I can and that's making sure Rory does not go unpunished.

She starts the car up again and wipes her face down one more time before she shifts into drive.

When we get to the station, she grabs my hand before I get out of the car and says, "Good luck. I'll wait for you out here." I attempt a smile and then after I close the door with my palm, I wander up to the entrance.

*******

Recounting everything to Ryan's boss was much harder than I expected. Remembering every detail and reliving the traumatic night over again had me crying in the Sheriff's office. He wouldn't discuss Ryan with me but he did say he'd take my account into consideration when rethinking how long his suspension should last.

As I left, he reminded me that both the Sweeneys and the Cunninghams are two very powerful and influential families in Hollis and it was best not to slander each other all over town. Confused, I told him Rory was in the wrong but he said Rory could easily tell everyone he and I were doing drugs in the office of the new winery. My business could be shut down and my entire family's reputation could be ruined. He said not to fight fire with fire and let the police do their job in figuring this out. I understood he wanted me to keep my mouth shut and I agreed as I left his office.

Annabeth was still waiting for me right where I left her and after I climb inside, she looks at me and asks, "Where now?" I lean my head against the seat in utter exhaustion and think about my options. There is no room at Annabeth's parent's house for me and I don't want to go to my own parent's house either. I can't ask Annabeth to drop me off at Gus's and Jackson lives too far from town. I don't want the pity from Margot if I call Austin, so I know it only leaves me with one spot even though I'd rather be anywhere else.

"Just take me to my parent's house." She nods and we start back toward town.