Amanda
I woke up feeling drained, the painting had consumed all of my feelings and energy. I needed my coffee, I was licking my lip for Mable’s coffee shop across the street. I think that it’s really cute that Dale named his coffee shop Mable’s.
I looked at the clock, it was still too early in the morning. So I decided to wait for a couple of more hours until he was gone to drop off Mable for school.
Meanwhile, I decided to make myself a cup of coffee, and that was when I saw the note. My hands were shaking when I saw his handwriting. Fuck!
Grabbing my phone, I ran to the bedroom and lock myself inside. My voice was shaky when I called Angelica.
“He was here… how did he know where I am?” My voice was shaky, I shivered as my body felt cold.
“Who Dale?”
“Troy.” I croaked my voice.
“Fuck! I’m out of the country on a business trip. Let me call Ivan, lock yourself inside, and wait for my call. Shit!” Angelica ended the call in a hurry.
I was hugging myself, I could hear the drum of my heart as it beats faster while my tears were slipping away.
My heart skips a beat when I felt my phone buzzed. It was Angelica.
“Amanda, Ivan is on a mission I couldn’t get in touch with him. I couldn’t reach Dale, maybe he’s driving but I’ve sent Tom to the apartment he should be there in minutes. I’ll stay with you on the line until he reached your place.
She told me to get dress, I did just that and it was minutes later when Tom arrived. He was surprised seeing my state of being. I hang up with Angelica, and she said that she would call me again in a couple more hours.
“Shit, what happen Amanda? Angie called me but she didn’t mention anything, just said to come to pick you up…” Tom was looking at me with a worried look on his face.
“Can we please just go? I’m not feeling safe here. Can you drop me off at my parents? I’m safe there. I don’t want to get anyone else in danger.”
“Look let’s get you back to Mable’s and wait for Dale, he should be on his way back right now. I’m guessing that he went to the gym. I’ve texted him already, he should be home soon.”
Dale… god, I really don’t want him to get into trouble.
I was gripping my purse, the note was still in there. I need to call our family lawyer and give it to him to be processed. I didn’t even want to know what was written inside, so I nodded to Tom, and let him ushered me back to the coffee shop. I just really need to get out of the apartment right away.
Getting to Mable’s, I kept on looking around trying to find him but everything looked normal.
Tom seated me in the area near the register where he was currently on duty. He was looking my way as I called our family lawyer, Aiden said that he would be right over after I shared him my location.
“Hey, everything will be okay…” Tom gave me a cup of coffee then he sits beside me, and take my hand to his. And that was when I breakdown and cry, all the pent up feelings from yesterday finally catch up to me. I was sobbing, my body shook to the feeling of uneasiness. Tom hold me tight in his embrace until I heard him.
“Tom? Amanda? What’s going on?” His deep manly voice immediately made me tensed. Tom slowly let go of me and get up, Dale quickly replaces him and took me into his arms. I felt safe right away, he kissed my hair and rubbed my back, his familiar cologne relaxes me instantly.
I didn’t know how long he holds me, but it was not until I had stopped crying then I heard Aiden call my name. I could feel Dale wrapped my body a little bit closer to his chest.
But I looked up at Aiden and tugged the end of my lip a bit, I was still to upset to conjure up a smile to my face.
“Aiden…”
It was the familiarity, the warmth in his eyes that made me get up and fall into his embrace. He had been with me through all of my struggles with Troy. The first time that I met him and his wife Lisa, it was her that warned me about Troy. And it wasn’t until months later when he first lay his hands on me that I believed her. Aiden said she could see things, and she had a very bad feeling about Troy.
“Hey, Amanda… everything will be okay….” he hugged me back until I felt Dale’s arm taking me back to his side.
“Eh… yeah sorry, Dale this is our family lawyer Aiden Monroe, Aiden this is Dale, he owns this coffee shop.” That was it, the explanation that I said for his introduction.
I still didn’t know where we stand, with the text message that was still hovering in my head. Dale look disappointed as he took his hand back to his side, and told Aiden and me to take a seat.
“… so why did you move out of your parents? At least you’re safe there… look, where is it? I’m going to get it processed.” Aiden asked after he greeted Dale by shaking his hand.
Aiden opens his fancy backpack and pulled out a brown envelope and a pair of rubber gloves. Dale and I hadn’t talked about the situation, he was still waiting for my explanation when Aiden came. Then Aiden took the note from me and open it, his face was unreadable until I heard him curse. So I peeked at the note.
My wife,
We will be together again. You will be mine again. You are still mine. You’re stupid if you think you could get away from me.
T.
My legs suddenly gave up on me as I sit back to the chair, Dale looked at the note from behind me and suddenly look very upset.
“Shit! I went to your place last night, but… but I got back when I saw him slipping a note under the door. He said that he’s your husband, he showed me his ring finger and all. God! He was that close!”
Aiden was a bit startled by Dale’s words but he was taking notes and asked about the time that he sees Troy, he also asked Dale’s phone number for the police.
But I didn’t hear the rest as I looked at Dale.
He was at my place? Why?
Maybe because you didn’t reply to his message?
Maybe he actually likes you?
But the text from Natalie?
“Amanda? Did you hear me? Look I must go, I need to settle this quickly your parents are going abroad again this weekend for business, and I’m scheduled to go with them for the company’s corporate legal issues. So, I need to get the police to make an arrest before that time…” he was packing the note to his leather backpack.
“… come on we should get you back to your parents.” He got up and rest the backpack handle the one side of his shoulder.
I was still not sure about everything when I forced my legs and pulled my body up hearing his words. But then suddenly stop, when Dale reached out his hand.
“She will stay here, she will be safe…”
“Thank you for your kind offer Dale, but I think she would be safer at her parents. Troy had set her house on fire the evidence are all in, the cops still couldn’t find him. He’s using his money to stay underground which will run out in the near future, but we can’t wait that long.” Aiden offered his hand to me.
“I’ve seen your name on documents, assuming that you’re the same Aiden Monroe from Bradley and Monroe, I suggest that you check in with William and look me up as Dale Griffin Richardson. I’m sure my family name will put your mind at ease. I will make sure that she’s safe, at any cost.” He said with certainty in his voice. His hand was on my waist pulling me close to his body, his warmth engulfed me instantly.