Home Is Wherever You Are (9 page)

Chapter 15 – Broken Dream

The officers had just finished taking my statement at the hospital along with Addy’s, when Daniel came rushing in. I was sure he had run his sirens and sped the whole way here, but I didn’t blame him. I would have done the same. One of the officers said there was a free clinic across the street if I wanted to get checked out. I had a headache and was sporting a pretty huge lump on the back of my head and a few nasty bruises on my body. One of the officers came with me and was able to get me bumped to the front of the line. He needed photos and a doctor’s report. I had a feeling they usually didn’t push to get this done so fast, but because it involved a cop’s daughter, they were on top of it.

Turned out I had a concussion and several cracked ribs. They must have really done a number on me while I had been out. That would have been just like Jeremy, to beat a man while he was down. Once I was released, I went to where they were treating Addy. Daniel was there, holding her hand, as the doctor flushed her eyes out. The nurse had already been in when I was there and had cleaned the pepper spray off of Addy’s face.

Addy was crying softly, white-knuckling her dad’s hand. Daniel looked up at me sadly. “How’d you make out, boy?” he asked.

“I’ll survive. What have they said about Addy, is she going to be okay?”

“Yeah, they think so, but they’re worried about there being damage to her eyes, since he sprayed that stuff right into them. The idiot didn’t see you coming at him with the chair, because he’d sprayed the pepper spray at such close range and in such closed quarters that he was hit, too, the dumbass.”

“I want to shove that freaking spray down his throat,” I growled.

Daniel nodded in agreement. “I’ll keep that in mind when I go visit him.”

“Ms. Stratton, I’m going put a few drops in your eyes and shine a black light in them to see if you have any scratches,” the doctor said, moving the cool pack from her face.

He dropped a couple of drops into her very swollen eyes. I was amazed he was able to even get to them. He flipped on a black light and turned off the lights in the exam room. He pried her eyes open and gave her directions to look around, as he checked for scratches.

He didn’t look happy about the exam. Turned out she did have scratches on her eyes, and she needed eye drops to keep them from getting infected. “I’m going to thoroughly clean out your eyes and disinfect them. Then I’ll cover them with patches to keep everything out of them. It’s important that you keep your eyes clean and closed as much as possible.”

He pulled out a box of eye patches and set them aside. This whole time, Addy had been lying on her stomach over a water catch bowl at the end of the table. He pulled out some more flushing solution and got to work rinsing her eyes.  He then put some drops in them and also put some sort or cream or gel across her eyelashes, before he covered her eyes with the patches.

I pulled Daniel into the hall. “I think now would be the time to try and get Addy to move back to Woodville. Do you know of a Realtor you trust here?” I asked.

He smiled. “Just so happens I do. I’ll give her a call and see about getting the house on the market. I’m sure it’ll sell fast.  You did an excellent job turning it around.”

“Okay, I’m going to dig up her home improvement receipts and figure out how much she needs to ask for the house. Didn’t you say there was a house not far from you that was for sale?”

“Yeah, the Smith house is still for sale. It’s a nice place. They’ve drastically reduced the price. They’re only asking seventy thousand for it, since it’s been on the market for so long, and they’re anxious to sell.”

I nodded. “Hopefully, Addy can get at least eighty thousand for her home, and she can pay it off and the new house as well,” I suggested, and Daniel smiled, nodding in agreement.

“I have my start-up money saved up, and I looked into some grants I heard about that are available when you’re starting a new business.  I think I can get it off the ground and take care of her once we move.”

“Matthew? Daddy?” I heard Addy’s worried voice call from the room. We hurried back in, and I wrapped my arms around her.

“We’re here, baby,” Daniel said, rubbing her shoulder.

“The doctor said I could go now. Matthew, I want to go home,” she said, clinging to my side.

Her father followed me home and examined the entryways. “How did they get in?” he asked. I felt ashamed. I had an idea, but I didn’t want him to hear it.

“I thought I heard something outside. I swear I did, and I was worried Jeremy had finally come for Addy, but after I looked down the end of the drive and around outside of the house, I didn’t see anything. I think they came in when I was checking out back.”

Daniel patted my shoulder. “It’s alright, boy. Sometimes they get the drop on us. It’s just part of life. I’m just glad you two made it out alive.”

Addy had been sitting in my lap through this whole conversation. Once we got home, I took her to sit on the couch, and she pulled me down with her and climbed into my arms. I looked up at Daniel worried, but he just smiled at me sadly.

“You’re gonna have to take a couple of weeks off work, Addy,” Daniel said. “How about I pull up your work number, so you can talk to them?”

She nodded okay, and I wondered if she would be able to tell them what had happened. She had barely spoken since the attack, and I was starting to worry about her.

She took the phone and asked for Jeff, the manager. She told him she needed to be out for the next two weeks, not giving him a reason. I heard him tell her no way, that she had better get her butt in for her morning shift. I wanted to strangle him.

“I-I can’t,” she stuttered. “I can’t see.”

She was crying now.

“I’m sorry, Addy,” I heard the jerk say, “but we need someone here. I’m going to have to replace you.”

I took the phone from her. “Look, buddy, she was just attacked and has lost her eyesight for a good two weeks. You can’t just up and fire her for that.”

“I’m truly sorry, I just really need a body, and if she can’t be here, I’m going to have to hire someone else. I wish I could hold the job for her, but we’re too busy and understaffed as it is. She’s the one who’s usually covering the holes. I’m sad to have to let her go, but I need someone here.”

I wanted to hate the guy, I really did, but he was just trying to stay above water like the rest of us. “Fine, we’ll figure something out.”

“What happened?” Daniel asked as I hung up.

“She was fired.”

“That jerk fired her?” Daniel snarled.

“They’re understaffed. They need to hire a replacement for her right away. Maybe I could apply and try my hand at waiting tables.”

“No, you need to stay home and take care of Addy,” Daniel said, determined. “We’ll figure something out.”

That night, I let Daniel take my room. I put Addy to bed, but it wasn’t long before I heard her fumbling down the hallway. I quickly got up to see what was wrong. “Addy, honey, are you okay?” I asked.

She reached for me, stumbling quickly into my arms. “Please, don’t leave me alone,” she begged, sobbing.

“Okay, but do you mind if we lay on the couch? I don’t want your dad killing me.”

She nodded yes, so we made our way to the couch, and I let her snuggle up next to me. It wasn’t that comfortable, but I was sore and exhausted.

I woke up to Daniel tapping my foot. Addy was still curled up next to me. “She have a rough night?” he asked. I just nodded yes, and he frowned.

“I didn’t want her moving to the city for this reason. I think the pair of you should come and stay with me for a while. We can shut this place down, and I might be able to swing a couple of payments. Do you think you can get your business up and running in Woodville?”

“I hope so. I don’t think it’s a good idea to leave this house vacant, though. It’ll just end up stripped again, and all her hard work and money will have been for nothing.”

I heard Addy sniffle.

“Hey, honey, how are you feeling this morning? It’s time for drops and new eye patches.”

She burst into tears, and I just held her tightly, looking at Daniel lost. He frowned and made his way over, rubbing his daughter’s back. “You’re not alone, honey, we’re here for you.”

“I want to go home,” she whimpered, confusing me.

“We are home, Addy.  Remember, I tucked you in last night, and then you came out here? We’re in your house.”

She shook her head. “Daddy, I want to go home.”

“Alright, baby, we’ll take you home. I was just talking to Matthew about that.”

“Matthew was right. They’ll strip the house. We have to sell it before we can go.”

Daniel tried to hide his grin, but he failed horribly. Luckily, Addy couldn’t see it, or she might have changed her mind. “I know a gal who might be able to get it moving for you, honey. I’ll give her a call,” he said and slipped out.

“You’ll come, too, right?” Addy asked, sounding so vulnerable.

“I’m coming, I promise,” I said, kissing her forehead. “We’re going to be alright, Addy, you’ll see.”

The Realtor came that afternoon. She gave Daniel a hug and walked through the house.

“I brought some listings for you to look at. They’re all of neighboring homes. It’ll help us get an idea of how to price your house. Would you like me to read it to you?” she asked Addy.

“No, just have my dad and Matthew look at it,” she mumbled.

Daniel sat down next to me, and I smiled as I saw that several houses nearby had gone for nearly one hundred thousand dollars. When I pointed that out to the Realtor, Sharon Cleary, she pointed out that those were three-bedroom homes, but she thought we could price the house at ninety thousand and get it sold in the next few months.

“What if we wanted it sold fast?” Daniel asked.

Sharon frowned. “Well, I know a few investors, but then you’d have to price it lower.”

“How low?” Daniel asked.

“I’d say eighty-five thousand would probably get you a couple of cash offers,” Sharon said, looking to Addy. “Is that something you’d want to do, Addy?”

Addy frowned. I knew none of this was what she wanted to do, but our hands were tied. “We can’t leave it vacant,” I told her.

“I know,” Addy sighed. “Yeah, see if you can get some cash offers,” she finally conceded.

“Alright, I just need you to sign this, allowing me to represent you,” Sharon said, sliding a paper towards Addy with a pen. I helped put it in her hand and then put the pen where she was supposed to sign. She did so and sniffled again. I knew she was crying underneath her eye patches.

I hated that it was hurting her so much, but hopefully, everything would turn out for the best in the end.

Chapter 16 – Blessing to Be Blind

Sharon was quick to get on her phone as soon as Addy gave her the okay to sell the house for less. She stepped into the living room, while we were all at the kitchen table, but we could all still hear her conversation.

“Hey, Josh, this is Sharon. I was calling because I have a property that literally just went on the market. Do you have a moment to come look at it? Well, I’m not far from where you are. I can give you the address, and maybe you can swing by?” she asked, sounding hopeful. “The house is in excellent condition, the reason for the quick sale is the owner was attacked in it and wants it gone now.”

She was silent for a moment, as Josh spoke to her over the phone. “That’d be great, thank you, Josh, I really appreciate it,” she said, hanging up and walking back into the kitchen. “I have a guy coming by in about twenty minutes. He’s an investor and can pay cash, which will make the transaction go much faster if he buys. If not, I have a couple of other guys I could call who are investors as well, but Josh is the only one who deals in cash,” she explained.

“Alright, so what do we have to do to get the house show ready?” I asked.

She smiled. “You both have done wonderfully with the house. It’ll be fine for Josh. He doesn’t really fall for the fresh baked bread smell.”

There was a knock on the door, and I noticed Addy jump a little. I heard Daniel welcome someone in. “Daniel Stratton, you finally gave in and are chasing after your heart I see,” the man joked.

“Matthew,” Addy whispered in panic, her head turning left and right like she was looking for me.

“I’m here, Addy,” I tried to calm her, taking her hands. She pulled me closer, wrapping herself around me. “I’ve got you,” I spoke softly, as I lifted her and sat down. I kissed her head and reassured her that she was safe, until the others joined me in the kitchen.

“This place is cute and in good shape. It looks like a lot of remodeling was done already,” Josh commented.

“There was, the place was completely stripped,” Daniel said.

“So this was your place?” Josh asked Daniel.

“No, it’s Addy’s.”

His eyes finally found us sitting at the far side of the table. He frowned and looked away. He shifted uncomfortably and grimaced before he just said, “Oh.”

Addy tucked her face deeper into my neck, and I held her tighter. I didn’t like the way Josh looked almost annoyed at my girl.

“Well, what was the asking price, Sharon?” Josh asked.

“Well, as you know, this house could sell for seventy-five, and as it stands, you don’t have to do anything to it.”

“This is supposed to be a deal,” Josh said, looking hard at Sharon.

“Right, we’re asking for ninety thousand,” Sharon said hopefully. That was five thousand more than before.

Josh let out a huff. “How about eighty-eight?” he asked and looked to Daniel.

“Sold!” he answered for Addy. “Thanks, Josh, I really appreciate this. I just want to get my girl home.”

Josh gave a sideways glance at Addy and nodded stiffly. “Yeah, uh, you do that. Thanks for the call, Sharon. Daniel, call me if you want to go fishing,” he offered and walked out.

“That went well,” Sharon said.

“You asked for more,” I stated.

“Yup, I wanted him to feel like he was in control. I thought for sure he’d ask for eighty-five thousand. You guys made out with an extra three.”

“Thanks, Sharon,” Daniel said, smiling broadly. “I knew I could count on you.”

“So, are you two moving to Woodville, then?” Sharon asked me.

“Yes, I’m going to be starting up a handyman business. I have enough saved up to get licensed and insured now. I just hope I’m received well.”

“Are you any good?” she asked.

“I did this house, and I’m a certified electrician.”

“Really? Daniel, what do you think of this?”

“The boy does good work. I was going to recommend him to some of the older folks I look in on back home.”

“Well, if he’s good enough for you to recommend, I’ll do the same.”

“He’ll be at my house. You have my number still?” Daniel asked, and I didn’t miss Sharon’s blush.

“Yes, Daniel. I’ll let people know they can reach Matthew by calling you. The fact that he’s staying with you will probably just reinforce the recommendation.”

“I hope so,” I butted in. “I’d really like to get things going good, so I can support Addy on my own, and she can go to school.”

“Matthew,” Addy whined. She had been very quiet, but I guess she still had a defiant streak.

I just kissed her head. “We’ll discuss this again when you’re feeling better and you have your sight back.”

Addy frowned, but Sharon was beaming a bright smile at me, and Daniel actually winked at me. I was glad Addy couldn’t see their reaction, or I was sure she would have been offended. Even blind and broken, she had an independent heart, and I hoped I could tame it enough to get her to listen to reason and go to school again.

It wasn’t long after Sharon left that Daniel got a call and told me he was going down to the police station. I knew for a fact that he was going to see Jeremy. I slipped to the door and said, “Crack his skull for me, will ya?”

He gave me a nod and disappeared into the night.

He returned later that evening, causing Addy to jump awake, startled and frightened. I told her it was just her dad, and when she finally heard him speak to her to calm her, she settled down. I knew if she could see Daniel, she would have been far from calm. He was covered in blood, but I suspected it was not his own.

Once I had Addy tucked back into bed, I found Daniel. I wanted some details. “So, did you crack his skull?” I asked.

He looked over at me and smiled. “Funny thing about jails nowadays, they’re very overcrowded, so they have bunk beds. Seems Jeremy took a violent spill from the top bunk and smacked his head on the side of the bed and the railing on the way down, before he hit the ground at such a velocity that he bounced.”

I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face.

“I’m pretty dang sure he cracked his skull and a few other things as well,” he said with a wink and went off to his room.

Sharon called Addy a few times over the next couple of days and eventually brought her the final papers. Addy’s house was officially sold, and I rented a U-Haul truck and packed everything up.

“Have you spoken to your parents?” Addy asked. “You know they hate it when you move without telling them.”

“I’ll send them my information, so they know where I am. They know you’re from Woodville, so I’m sure they won’t question the move.”

“Do you think they’ll be upset?” she asked, sounding a little nervous.

I hugged her. “Upset because you were hurt?  Definitely.”

“No, upset that we’re leaving the house with the nursery,” she whispered sadly.

I kissed her deeply. “Addy, that’s not the only house in the world with a nursery. Don’t worry, honey, one day we’ll get married and have a houseful of troublemaking kids.”

“So, you want to marry me?”

I nibbled her ear. “How could I not? You’re the most beautiful, amazing woman in the world. Once I get my business off the ground, so I can support you like a proper husband, I won’t hesitate to get that ring on your finger.” I kissed her smiling lips soundly. “You’re mine, Adeline Stratton, and I won’t rest until you’re Adeline Martin.”

She giggled, and I scooped her up. “Now, let’s get this show on the road. I’ve got me a business to start and a woman to win.”

I looked back at the little house. I had worked so hard on it and had come to love it.  Again, I was glad Addy could not see the sadness in my face. I looked over at her smiling one and took her hand in mine, kissing it for comfort. I loved her so much. She was my strength, and she didn’t even know it. With her by my side, I would always be home, and no matter what, my future would always be bright.