two months later

I fixed the silky shawl around my neck and breathed in the crisp air. I couldn’t deny the fact that I had missed the farmhouse, but I reminded myself once more that my weekend getaway was over. I hadn’t gotten used to it yet. Neither had I gotten used to the fact that I was divorced and was now a free woman.

     After Anne sent me the photos, I called Tom and told him about the new evidence I’d be presenting to the court. To prevent a scandal, he agreed to sign the divorce papers. Last I heard, he was seeing a therapist for his violent nature. I was happy that he’d finally decided to see a shrink, as he’d called them.

     I walked across the city sidewalk, my hands tucked into my overcoat pockets, heading toward the coffee shop a short distance away from me. I passed by a group of tourists taking pictures of the landscape. Stopping in my tracks, I neared the homeless man by the restaurant and dropped some coins into his bowl. He murmured a thank you as I began to continue my journey on foot.

     Gentle winds blew toward me, flicking my hair that hung loosely on my shoulders. I tucked a handful behind my ears and slid my hands back into the pockets. When I opened the door to the coffee shop, an eager waitress neared me with a big smile.

     “Table for one?” she asked, bringing out a notepad and a pen.

     I shook my head. “No. I’m meeting someone,” I said, smiling.

     “All right.”

     As I scanned the room for a sign of him, a familiar voice called out my name, “Elodie! Over here!”

     I glanced up and walked toward his booth. He wore a bottom-down with black leather jeans, and an overcoat lay on the arm of the sofa. Sliding into the booth, I sat across from him and smiled.

     “It’s nice to see you again, Alec.”

      He sipped from the mug, and then placed it across from him. “It’s nice to see you too.”

     I went for the menu and skimmed through it. “You seem to be enjoying the city,” I said, the smile lingering on my face.

     “Yeah. I love the scenery. It’s beautiful.”

     I decided I would have espresso and beckoned the waitress, then placed my order. Returning to Alec, I said, “Manhattan is always like that.”

     I rested my hands on the tabletop and studied his face. His dark hair was cut down to size, his stubble gone. He was tan too, and I noticed his biceps had become larger. He looked good. Very good in contrast to months ago.

      “How are you holding up?”

     After he recovered, he told me about Marie. She had been his secretary. It was easy to start a romantic relationship with her. Marie was beautiful. Alec had shown me pictures of her. At some point, he wanted to marry her, but when he brought her to see his Mom, she didn’t like Marie and didn’t approve of their relationship. He listened to his mother like an obedient child and broke up with her. After his Dad abused his Mom several times, he didn’t want anything to put a rift between them. He gave up the love of his life for his Mom’s sake. Funnily enough, his Mom approved of her relationship with Rachael Woods, Marie’s half-sister.

     “Amy... I mean, Rachael, her trial is in a couple of weeks, and I’m prepping. I guess I’m not fine emotionally. I still can’t believe what happened.”

     Amy was transferred to the state prison in New Hampshire after her incarceration by the Shelburne police. She was charged with attempted murder among other crimes. In addition to her diary, the police had her confession. I secretly recorded our conversation on my phone at the hospital. She tricked me, and I gave her a taste of her medicine.

     “It’s going to be fine,” I assured.

     The waitress returned with my order. I took the mug from the tray and thanked her as she skittered away. I sipped, then placed it on the table.

     “You saved my life, Elodie. If you hadn’t been there...” His voice trailed away.

     “Anyone in my shoes would’ve done what I did. I’m sorry I didn’t see you as a victim of deceit.”

     “It’s not your fault. Amy tricked us. Sometimes I wonder how I could’ve missed the connection.”

     “Don’t worry yourself. She was good, I will give her that. Like you said, she played us both.” I reached across the table for his hand. “But now you’re free from her.”

     He patted my hand. “I know. I thought I was going to have a family with her.” He scoffed. “Not knowing she didn’t even exist.”

     There was pain in his eyes I hadn’t seen yet. It had been two months and he still hadn’t recovered. Then I reminded myself it would take some time for him to fully heal from Amy’s deception. And very soon he’d be seeing her in court too. When I met the Bergers I had thought they were perfect, but now I knew they weren’t. Perfection is a facade, created to cover up our true selves and hide our flaws and insecurities. Amy played her card well and because I wanted to believe what wasn’t there due to my terrible experience, I fell for her trap. She’d have gotten away with the perfect crime if I hadn’t seen the locket on her neck.

     “I’m sorry,” I cooed.

     “I know you are.” He smiled warmly at me.

     I took another sip, then said, “I’m divorced.” I told Alec about my abuse after I disclosed to him the real reason I came to the farmhouse. He empathized with me and told me to leave Tom. And that abusive men were capable of anything. I believed him because he had been a witness to it before. It was easy to feel my pain. His Mom had been in a similar situation some years back.

     He grinned. “That’s good news.”

     “It is.”

     “We should celebrate. Tonight. I’ll choose the time and place. You can invite James. He seems like a nice guy,” he said.

     He’d met James at the farmhouse when he visited me after I told him about what happened. They’d vibed very well.

     “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

      He raised the mug to his lips and sipped. Setting it aside, he asked, “Why?”

     “Because he’s married. His wife isn’t understanding, and I don’t want him to come here to celebrate my divorce. I will have to visit him. You can come along if you want.”

     “All right. It’ll be the two of us then.”

     “Sounds like a plan.”

     He fell silent and just stared at my face.

     I giggled. “What?”

     He smirked, shaking his head. “Has anyone ever told you you’re an amazing woman?”

     I blushed. “I’m flattered... and I think you’re the first person to tell me that.”

     “Tom is a jerk for hitting you.”

     “Agreed. He definitely is.”

     “Just so you know, I consider you a friend,” he purred.

     I grinned. “I consider you a friend too.”

     “I think you should have this.” He went into his pocket and brought the gold locket. “I bought it for Amy. The old woman at the jewelry shop told me the person I love is going to like it, and I think you’re that person.”

     “No, Alec. I can’t accept that.”

     “You can. Consider it a gift from a best friend. It’s the least I can do for you after what you did.”

     He sounded convincing, but I didn’t want to accept a locket he intended for his wife. His wife never existed, I reminded myself. There was no harm in taking it. Besides, he’d have no one to give it to and we were best friends now.

     “All right. You win.”

     “Let me help you put it on.”

     “Sure.”

     He stood and walked over to my seat. I pulled my hair away from my shoulder and sighed as he placed it around my neck, and then clasped it. All done, he went back to his seat and reclaimed it.

     “It looks nice on you.”

     “Thanks.”

     I was wrong about Alec. Not all people who witnessed an abuse turned into abusers. It was all a choice. Alec witnessed his Dad abuse his Mom, but he didn’t turn into one himself. When I met him at the convenience store, I thought he was a nice guy and he was. For the first time, I wasn’t wrong about a man. It was a good sign—a sign that my next relationship would be better than the previous ones. But I wouldn’t jump into one yet. For now, I would just enjoy the time I had with Alec while he was still in New York. I had made a new friend, and I didn’t want to lose him yet.

     I looked at him and smiled. He smiled back as usual. He always smiled and every one of them was genuine.

     “I’m glad I met you, Alec.”

     “I’m glad I met you too.”