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Chapter 14
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Lorna
There 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 aisle at some more of the security features and decided to get two extra locks for my front door and an extra one for my back door.
I walk back to the front of the store smiling at the man at the counter who looks like he would rather be anywhere but at work.
"Just these for you?" He looked up from his phone.
"Yeah."
"You on the run or something?" He said raising his eyebrow.
I laugh "No,just bought a house and its a little run down and wanted to update the locks and such."
He looked at me with an amused glint in his eye.
"Alright, that will be $201.76."
My heart did a little flutter I felt heat rush to my cheeks and grab the card out of my leggings.
"Can I try this first?"
"Sure you have ID?"
"Yep" I said making sure to pop the "P" sound.
I handed him my ID as well as my card. Praying that it would go through Im not sure if James was monitoring the account or not and if he decided to block any transactions after I took the money out of the account.
I heard the machine whir and beep and the seconds felt like hours as I held my breath.
I heard the recipt machine print and blew out a breath. I saw the cashier eyeing me with confusion and humor mixed in his eyes.
"Have a goodnight" I gave him a small smile as I walked out of the store.
I had tools at home, so I would be able to implement the 2nd part of my plan quickly. If James was still working his same schedule he would be getting home in about two hours.
I started my walk home feeling a little bit of hope rising in my chest.
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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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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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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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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
