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Chapter 12
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2021-10-23 01:37:01Liam
I watched as Lorna walked out the door. She looked so much better now and up so close. I cant believe she just walked in here looking for a job. I had just put a help wanted sign out this morning, because Beatrice had asked I got some more help. She worked for free and it was getting to much for her to handle herself. Its usally just her and myself everyday the store is open.
I hear chuckling from behind me I turn slowly to see Beatrice bent over chuckling.
"What's so funny?"
She tries to stop laughing as she wipes tears from her eyes.
She starts to mock me "Here mrs Frances, let me take that application." In a mock robot voice.
"What are you talking about?" she slowed her laughing down and looked up to me.
"Liam, I love you but you were awkward and robotic through that whole encounter, what is your problem? She seemed like a nice girl and you basically hired her so why were you so stiff? I have seen you talk to women before that was not the same thing I just witnessed."
"I-"
"Do you know her?"
"No, well yes but its complicated."
"Complicated? Is she in trouble?"
"I hope not Beatrice, but if she is I guess we will have to help her and bring her into out family wont we?"
Beatrice smiled "Yes my dear we might just have to."
I kept my face straight but inside I was excited and smiling to myself just at the thought of getting to know Lorna. She has peaked our intrest a while ago but watching her from the sidelines will never compare to being in her presence. With our short encounter I witnessed with Beatrice she was kind and somewhat shy.
Anger ran through my vans at the reason why she may be shy, Her abusive husband was probably the cause for that. If he was like most abusive husbands he isolated her to a point she didnt know how to interact with others.
Then why was she looking for a job? A small voice whispered in my head.
Was she running from him? Was she safe? The guys and I had all seen what that man was capable of. She still had some bruising on her face from his last incident of rage.
I had to call the guys and figure out a way to get her started maybe Ryan can figure out a way to work around the background check at the moment or possibly expidite it.
I looked around my store, It was my comfort place my second home. It was decorated in a fashion to resemble a space someone put in their home. Along the storefront windows were literally reading nooks, each filled with cream and blue pillows. The shelves were in the middle of the store but instead of industrial looking bookshelves the shelves were made of dark wood and the shelves ranged from 3ft tall to 6 ft tall. It made the space more welcoming. There were comfortable sofas all throughout the store and lounge chairs matching the cream and blue theme. It was one of 50 stores in America and I was extremly happy that my goal was accomplished. We had become known for our wide selection of books our kid friendly and welcoming atmosphere.
We kept the amount of employes low as to give everyone that comes to our store familarity. Seeing as I was the owner, I needed even less employees but having Lorna here would be nice.
Snapping out of my thoughts I decided to call Ryan. I pulled out my phone clicked on my favorites and clicked on Ryans picture.
*Ring ring he finally picked up on the third ring.
"Hey Li whats up?" I smirk at the nickname the guys adoringly call me.
"Hey man I need a favor and I think your going to enjoy it just as much as me."
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Ryan"What kind of favor would I be intersted in Li?"Liam hesitated a bit before answering."Look, I dont know how to go about this, legally or if this is even an issue but can we bypass the background check?""Why would you want to bypass a background check? Its there to protect us all and the company.""I know man, its just a special circumstance.""Such as? Come on Li just spit it out." I was starting to get frustrated, I was the one in our group that didnt put up with much bullshit."Its Lorna.""Lorna? Lorna who?"" The woman from 201 Pine, the one with the dickhead piece of shit husband, she came in today and saw my help wanted sign, she applied for a job. Now from what I have observed over the years means she is trying to get out of her relationship or shes out. Those situations can get sticky and i just want to make sure that we keep an eye out for her. If shes working with me I can at least know tha
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LornaThere are a couple more things that I needed to get done before I walked home and before it gets to dark out. The stores in the shopping center usually close at 6 O'clock at night. They stay open later on Friday and Saturday in order to allow shopping for people who cant get their during the week. The only thing that is open 24/7 around here was the gas stations and the one Mcdonalds thats about 10 minutes away from the shopping center.I walked into the hardware store, smiling at the cashier he looked me over and nodded and looked back at his phone. I walked down a few aisles looking at the different chandilers. There was a beautiful one that was stained glass with blue yellow and orange. I would come back for that another time. When I knew for sure where I would be in the next few months.I finally saw what I was looking for, the aisle was labeled Locks.I hustled into the aisle and found the replacement door locks, I looked around the
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LornaThe minute I saw my house come into view I looked down a couple houses further to see if I could spot James' car, I noticed the day I had taken the trash out he parks in the driveway instead of inside the garage. His car wasnt there, I rushed into the house I needed to get the locks changed immeditatley. I still had a couple hours before James would be back but I did not want to risk it at all. I had no one to call to help me or to just support me. My family had been pushed away my friends as well, I barely left the house because that is what James requested I do. He perferred if my focus was soley on him and the children.I should have seen it, anger rose from my chest again. I had become so docile in the past ten years. I was raised in a big family while I was an only sibling I was surrounded by aunts and uncles and cousins. My mother had 2 sisters and 1 brother resulting in her 5 nephews. My father had 4 siblings 3 brothers and 1 sister resulting i
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A huge weight was lifted off of me as I hung up the phone. The money I took out of our joint account will be an emergency fund that will keep me a float till I know what happening with the divorce. Although it does make me smile knowing that I pulled one over on James. He probably doesnt realize that the distance he has given me was the biggest gift any woman could ask for. Over the past couple weeks I have seen myself in a differnet light. A beautiful light. While James kept me as a possesion I have realized I am a prize to be won. I am college educated, came from a good family, and I am a good mother. My biggest achievement was raising independent and sweet children. Who have yet to be tarnished by their fathers behavior and actions.James felt that I babied my children but my parents said its better to love than to fight.I will fight James and I will win because he has taken far to much from me.I walked into the kitchen to make myself some
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I sit down into a super comfortable chair that is similar to the chairs out in the store. I take a deep breathe and look at my boots."Any cream or sugar for you?" Mr. Reynolds asked me breaking me away from the staring contest with my feet."Just a little cream,please." I whispered. He handed me a steaming cup of coffee just the way that I like it."Thanks Mr. Reynolds, I really appreciate it.""Liam, Please call me Liam I am way to young to be called Mr. Reynolds. I told you to this place is meant to be comfortable and casual."I nod my head. I can't look him in the eyes after all that is already witnessed after knowing me for only a couple weeks. Well not knowing me but seeing me over the last couple weeks."Lorna, I dont mean to pry but what I just witnessed in the parking lot is a little concerning." I finally look up at his face and again all I see is kindness. Man the woman he ends up with will be extremely luc
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"Alright, lets get moving we have to start opening the store up. You ready?"I nodded my head. Work will be good, I needed to keep busy and to keep on moving. I put down the coffee cup.Oh, the money. I have the money just sitting in the trunk of my car."Liam? Do you have a safe in the store?" He turned and loooked at me with curiosity in his eyes."Yes. Why?"" Remember the money I took from my husband, It's about 100,000 dollars and it's in the trunk of my car. You can count it, its in a bag I have the recipt for it as well. I just don't want James to see my car and take it back. It's my nest egg to restart my life.""I have a seperate safe for personal items in here. I'll put it in there with the rest of your shift until it's time to go. Give me your keys?"It was my turn to look at him curiously."My keys?" I asked."I am not letting you grab a bag of cash by yourself." I handed him my keys and put down my purse
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I felt a soft blanket on top of me I kept my eyes closed and snuggled closer into the beautiful blanket, I could smell something delicious in the air I could almost taste the garlic that lingered in the air. I slowly opened my eyes, half thinking I was dreaming. I was the only one that cooked so I knew that no one was actually cooking for me and my bed never felt this good. When I finally open my eyes, I realize I am not in my own house, the bedroom I currently was in was way to homey to be my house, it was warm and welcoming. The walls were painted a soft blue with a beautiful reading nook settled into a big bay window. The blankets that have now become my new favorite thing were a deep gray which matched the rest of the decor and accents around the bedroom. As I was taking in the deep beauty of this room I heard a knock on the door. "Come in." My voice came out hoarse and scratchy, there was a bit of fear in my voice because I had no idea where I was. Mr Reynolds came in s
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After the loud knock Liam and I both looked at each other. He was about to go towards the door when the door creaked open to someone popping their head in. I looked at the brown curly hair and those deep brown eyes and recognized him as the man who held me up as I fainted after the car incident. He stayed at the door awkwardly. I started to shift in the bed feeling uncomfortable myself.Liam was in the middle of the room, looking between me and the newcomer. When he finally nodded at the new comer he opened the door wider and walked into the room. "Lorna this is Detective Jacob Sanchez, he's the detective assigned to your case. He's also one of my best friends." Liam smiled softly looking back at he's friend. I could tell they had more of a brotherly relationship. I gave both of them a tight smile. My brain seems to be broken, I guess having a psychotic soon to be ex and finding myself around gorgeous guys my brain has decided to short circuit.Jacob came c
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"Where are you, honey?" My mom's sweet voice cooed over the phone. The lump in my throat made it harder for me to swallow and keep down the tears that are trying to break free. I haven't talked to my mom in years. James said they were embarrassing, I didn't think so though. We were a loud loving family that always wanted to be together. When we got married and had the kids that changed we stopped going over because James claimed that we needed to make our own traditions as a family. It was hard. Incredibly hard. I was close with my cousins and my aunts and uncles. I was the miracle baby, my parents had the hardest time convincing me each of my parent's siblings had buckets of children but they made the best surrogate siblings a girl could have. James took them all away from me. I'm sure they thought it was my choice to stop talking to them, but never in my life would I turn my back on my family, not by my own choice. I swallowed down the lump in my throat, trying to figure out
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We finshed eating in tense silence, well the guys were tense, I was enjoying my dinner and happy to be eating in peace for once. No one was commenting on how fat I was, or the fact that I was eating to much to keep my figure. My kids weren't huffing about what I made for dinner. It was a nice break for me.When I finished, I stood up and walked over to the sink and started washing the dishes that were in the sink. In the middle of washing up a hand landed on my waist, I look up to see Derek looking down at me. "You dont have to wash the dishes." "I don't mind honeslty I need something to keep me busy."He nods and grabs a rag, and starts drying off the dishes already in the drainer. I tilt my head towards him and watch him for a second. I noticed tattoos creeping out of his shirt, feeling awkward that I dont actually know anything about these men. So i decided I needed to know more."Is he mad that im here?" Derek looks over his shoulder from the cab
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It's not fair how beautful these men are, and the way they are with each other, I sit and watch them from the living room as they interact about what Liam had ordered. I watch as they push each other around. They interact the same way my cousins used to when we'd all meet up for family gatherings. I smiled at the thought that they obviously loved each other like family. Seeing as they all lived in the same house and none of them were together.They interact with such comfortability, that I find myself getting jealous. For as long as I lived in my home with James we have never had such comfortabilty. I walked around the house on what felt like constantly walking on eggshells. Even now somewhat out of his reach I still have to tip toe around afraid he will retaliate in some way.The doorbell rings, meaning dinner was here Liam walked out of the kitchen, giving me a small smile on the way headed to the door."Lorna." Jacob called out to me beckoning me
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I pulled my phone out slowly and swiped the screen up to unlock it. I glanced back at Liam his hand still on my shoulder, I turned to Jacob his hands still on my knees. I took another deep breath trying to center myself. I have never showed anyone the things I am about to show these two strangers. James was only abusive physically recently but the emotional abuse started several years before. The controlling behavior started after we said "I do" but it was small changes that I began to notice a year ago. Several weeks before the incident that turned physical I had went over my budget for grocceries. James had come home upset fuming, breaking everything screaming that I was ungrateful and stupid ranting and raving and for some reason I decided to record it. I never thought of bringing it forward. I just wanted proof that he was in a sense going wild. I guess now that I think about it, it probably had to do with the fact that he was seeing Anna on the side. It probably was to much for
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After the loud knock Liam and I both looked at each other. He was about to go towards the door when the door creaked open to someone popping their head in. I looked at the brown curly hair and those deep brown eyes and recognized him as the man who held me up as I fainted after the car incident. He stayed at the door awkwardly. I started to shift in the bed feeling uncomfortable myself.Liam was in the middle of the room, looking between me and the newcomer. When he finally nodded at the new comer he opened the door wider and walked into the room. "Lorna this is Detective Jacob Sanchez, he's the detective assigned to your case. He's also one of my best friends." Liam smiled softly looking back at he's friend. I could tell they had more of a brotherly relationship. I gave both of them a tight smile. My brain seems to be broken, I guess having a psychotic soon to be ex and finding myself around gorgeous guys my brain has decided to short circuit.Jacob came c
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I felt a soft blanket on top of me I kept my eyes closed and snuggled closer into the beautiful blanket, I could smell something delicious in the air I could almost taste the garlic that lingered in the air. I slowly opened my eyes, half thinking I was dreaming. I was the only one that cooked so I knew that no one was actually cooking for me and my bed never felt this good. When I finally open my eyes, I realize I am not in my own house, the bedroom I currently was in was way to homey to be my house, it was warm and welcoming. The walls were painted a soft blue with a beautiful reading nook settled into a big bay window. The blankets that have now become my new favorite thing were a deep gray which matched the rest of the decor and accents around the bedroom. As I was taking in the deep beauty of this room I heard a knock on the door. "Come in." My voice came out hoarse and scratchy, there was a bit of fear in my voice because I had no idea where I was. Mr Reynolds came in s
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"Alright, lets get moving we have to start opening the store up. You ready?"I nodded my head. Work will be good, I needed to keep busy and to keep on moving. I put down the coffee cup.Oh, the money. I have the money just sitting in the trunk of my car."Liam? Do you have a safe in the store?" He turned and loooked at me with curiosity in his eyes."Yes. Why?"" Remember the money I took from my husband, It's about 100,000 dollars and it's in the trunk of my car. You can count it, its in a bag I have the recipt for it as well. I just don't want James to see my car and take it back. It's my nest egg to restart my life.""I have a seperate safe for personal items in here. I'll put it in there with the rest of your shift until it's time to go. Give me your keys?"It was my turn to look at him curiously."My keys?" I asked."I am not letting you grab a bag of cash by yourself." I handed him my keys and put down my purse
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I sit down into a super comfortable chair that is similar to the chairs out in the store. I take a deep breathe and look at my boots."Any cream or sugar for you?" Mr. Reynolds asked me breaking me away from the staring contest with my feet."Just a little cream,please." I whispered. He handed me a steaming cup of coffee just the way that I like it."Thanks Mr. Reynolds, I really appreciate it.""Liam, Please call me Liam I am way to young to be called Mr. Reynolds. I told you to this place is meant to be comfortable and casual."I nod my head. I can't look him in the eyes after all that is already witnessed after knowing me for only a couple weeks. Well not knowing me but seeing me over the last couple weeks."Lorna, I dont mean to pry but what I just witnessed in the parking lot is a little concerning." I finally look up at his face and again all I see is kindness. Man the woman he ends up with will be extremely luc
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A huge weight was lifted off of me as I hung up the phone. The money I took out of our joint account will be an emergency fund that will keep me a float till I know what happening with the divorce. Although it does make me smile knowing that I pulled one over on James. He probably doesnt realize that the distance he has given me was the biggest gift any woman could ask for. Over the past couple weeks I have seen myself in a differnet light. A beautiful light. While James kept me as a possesion I have realized I am a prize to be won. I am college educated, came from a good family, and I am a good mother. My biggest achievement was raising independent and sweet children. Who have yet to be tarnished by their fathers behavior and actions.James felt that I babied my children but my parents said its better to love than to fight.I will fight James and I will win because he has taken far to much from me.I walked into the kitchen to make myself some
