Nila's Hope (22 page)

Will chuckled without humor. “Exactly.”

He closed his eyes, and his expression told her he was praying.

She closed hers and begged God for wisdom.

He touched her cheek. “I have an idea.” His blue eyes seemed an even deeper shade.

She couldn't look away.

“What if we were to treat this relationship as a courtship? It could take as long as you want, and it would give us time to figure out if this is God's plan. What do you think?”

Relief flooded her. “That sounds perfect. Thank you.” She lifted her face. “And thank You, Jesus.”

Will opened his arms, and she leaned against him. His heart thudded against her ear. It sounded steady—a little rapid, but steady. “I'm glad we got that settled,” he said huskily. “I…” His cellphone rang.

She pulled away so he could get it off his belt.

He held up one finger. “Hold that thought. Don't go away.” He checked the caller ID and muttered under his breath. “It's Hayley. Her timing is impeccable.”

Nila felt a chill. She sat back against the cushions and hugged herself. “You'd better see what she wants.”

Will flipped open his phone. “Hello, Hayley.”

Hayley's shrill voice was loud enough for Nila to hear, and it sounded even more strident than usual. As she watched, Will's expression darkened and his breathing quickened. Finally he said, “I'll be right there,” and closed his phone. He jammed the phone back onto his belt and raked his fingers through his hair. He didn't look at Nila, even when she reached toward him.

“I have to go. Hayley said to tell you that you were right. Her new friend Gerard is Nick, and since we wouldn't go to her party, they're on the way to my house to party. She sounded terrified.”

“What are you going to do?”

Now he looked at her, and her stomach clenched at the distress in his eyes. “Your crazy ex thinks I live at Mom's. I have to go.”

She stood and placed her hand on his chest. “Yes, of course you do.” She reached up on her tiptoes and kissed his lips, a brief but promise-filled caress. “Please be careful.” She stepped back and suppressed a shiver. “God is with you. And He is watching over us here, too. Go.”

A minute later, with boots unfastened and coat open, Will dashed out the door. His truck roared away.

She sank to her knees, burying her face in her hands and praying. “Protect him, please, dear Lord. Because I care for him. So very much.”

 

 

 

 

 

24

 

Will prayed for green lights and clear roads as he pulled onto Circle Drive. He desperately wanted to hit something. He ground his teeth and stomped on the brake for a red light. His truck skidded on the ice and stopped just short of a small car.

His cellphone rang. He dug under his coat, yanked it off his belt, and flipped it open. The light turned green, and the car ahead of him took off. He hit the gas and the speaker button at the same time. “Will Jamison.”

“This is Saskatoon Security. There's been a breach at…” the voice rattled off his mother's address.

He passed a big truck. “Have you phoned the cops?”

“This is our control check. If you didn't set it off by accident…”

“Do it! Phone them now.” His mind raced. The drive usually took twenty minutes. A lot of harm could be done by then. He pressed harder on the accelerator. He swung around a slow-moving car, the driver gesturing and mouthing silent yells. He ignored the man and drove through a late-yellow light.

If Nick was at the house already, what was he doing? If he damaged anything, especially that bed…Will couldn't go there. He latched onto another thought. How was Hayley involved? He prayed aloud as he drove. “Please, God, get me there on time. Don't let that monster get away with this. Oh, and take care of Hayley, too.” He pushed the speed limit, and two blocks from his home, red and blue flashing lights appeared in his rear-view mirror. He didn't slow.

The cop car pulled up close behind him, siren blaring.

“Good. Follow me, fellow.” He pulled into his mother's driveway with the police cruiser right behind him. Will jumped out of his truck.

“Hold it right there.” The policeman stood beside his car, gun drawn. “Down on the ground. Now!”

Will obeyed, his heart pounding.

The cop clipped handcuffs on his wrists and pulled him to his feet.

“I know I was speeding, and I'll pay the ticket.” Will gulped air. “But someone broke into this house—it's my mother's—and he's probably still in there.

The officer scowled as he looked at him and then at the house. A light shone inside. He spoke into his shoulder phone, listened, and then mumbled something more.

What was taking so long? Will's fists clenched, but the handcuffs dug in. He tried to appear relaxed, but his pulse pounded in his head. He stepped closer to the cop.

“Wait here.” The officer stalked toward the back door. Will followed two feet behind.

The window in the back door was broken, and the door stood half-way open. The officer slowly opened the door the rest of the way and called in a stern voice, “Saskatoon Police! Come out now with your hands up.”

No one responded. Will leaned against the door.

Was Nick waiting inside? Did he have a weapon?

The policeman called out again as he moved into the kitchen.

Will stayed a few steps behind, all too conscious of his bound wrists. He thought he heard a whimper. “Did you hear that?” he said in whisper.

The cop whirled. “I told you to stay put.” His voice was quiet but fierce.

Will just shook his head.

A wailing siren announced the arrival of another police car, and Will moved back outside to update them.

Two officers got out of the car, guns ready, as Will came around the corner of the house.

“Hands in the air!”

Will turned around to show them. “I'm already cuffed. This is my mom's house.” He explained the two calls he'd received and admitted his speed. “That's why I'm cuffed. Could you undo me?”

“Not yet. We'll check it out.” They ordered him to stay outside and hurried into the house. He leaned back against his truck, helpless, horribly cold, and frustrated beyond words.

Curious neighbours began to gather, including Bobbie, his mother's friend and next-door neighbour.

“What's going on here, kiddo? You OK?” Her gruff voice steadied him, and he gestured with his head for her to come closer. He tried to downplay the danger as he filled her in, but her short-cropped gray hair nearly bristled with anger when he finished.

“Why that little…if them cops wasn't here, I'd whup him myself.”

Will chuckled. “Good thing they're here, then, for Nick's sake.”

Bobbie looked up at him, frowning. “Well, what can I do? I gotta do something.”

Will shook his head. “We have to leave it to the cops, I guess. And God.”

Her lined face brightened. “I can pray.” And she did, out loud in spite of the onlookers. “God in heaven, you know what's goin' on in this house. Deal with that no-good bully, and don't let him hurt no one. Take care of Nila and those little ones, too, for Jesus' sake.”

A frosty jolt rocked Will. Nila! He'd left her alone with the kids after promising to protect her. What if…? His heart cried out for heavenly protection.

One of the cops appeared at the front door and beckoned to Will. “Come on in. It's safe.”

Bobbie patted his arm. “I'll go back home, but I'll keep talkin' to God. It'll be OK, honey. But boy, oh boy, I'll be glad when your mom and Danny-boy get home.”

Will climbed the steps carefully with his hands behind him, trying not to slip on the ice. He stepped into the living room and stopped. And stared.

Hayley sat cross-legged on the floor holding an ice-pack to the side of her head. Tears streaked her battered face. She looked up at him and wailed. The sound raked his already-raw nerves.

“Could someone please take these cuffs off me?” He looked from cop to cop. “And tell me what's going on?”

One cop stepped behind him and removed the handcuffs.

The first officer gestured toward Hayley. “You know this young woman?”

Will nodded and spoke through clenched teeth. “Hayley Blankenship. What happened?”

“She got roughed up. An ambulance is on the way.” He looked at Hayley. “You want to tell him?”

She barely nodded, her lower lip trembling. She looked up at him, her eyes pleading. “I—I'm so sorry, Will.”

“What did you do?”

She flinched as though struck. “Gerard…Nick said since you wouldn't come to my party, we'd take the party to you. I didn't know…” Her shoulders drooped, and she closed her eyes as her lips trembled.

Will waited. Tension built inside him until he thought he'd explode.

“He broke the window to unlock the door, and when the alarm went off, he said it didn't matter. That scared me, and I tried to get away, but he pushed me into the bedroom. I was so afraid! Then he said I had to decorate that gorgeous bed. He shoved a knife into my hand and told me to use it on the bed, or he'd use it on me. So I did. Just a little. But I didn't want to.” Her wail escalated to a shriek. “It wasn't my fault!”

One of the officers held up a baggie containing a pocket knife. “Got it.”

Will ran to the bedroom. One long gouge in the footboard caught his eye. He groaned and inspected the rest of the bed. That was all. He returned to the living room and frowned at the weeping young woman. “Then what happened?”

“I dropped the knife and ran in here. He yelled like a madman and followed me. And then he stopped.” She shook her head. “It was so weird. He saw that angel on the tree and just stared at it. Then he yelled something about no angel stopping him this time. He grabbed me and told me he didn't need me anymore. He slapped me so hard I fell. Then he slugged me again. He
hit
me!” She closed her eyes and wailed. “I thought he was going to
kill
me.”

Alarms rang in Will's head. “Then what?”

Hayley cradled her head in her hands. “I don't remember. I must have blacked out. I don't know.” She cried. “My head hurts.”

He ground out the words. “Where's Nick?”

She shrugged and winced. “I don't know. Really.”

Will's stomach lurched. He grabbed one of the officers by the arm. “Get some cops and an ambulance to my sister's house. Now! Nila, his ex, is there, and Nick's going after her.” He gave the man Faith's address.

The cop looked at Will's hand on his arm.

Will let go but didn't back off. “Please hurry.” His stomach twisted. He closed his eyes, but the images in his mind played on without mercy. He saw Nick wielding his knife as he stalked Nila. Closer and closer. Will clenched his teeth as he imagined Nick climbing the stairs to Jessica and Tommy's room. No, even that monster wouldn't…or would he?

His breath caught in his throat.

God would protect them.

He hoped.

Because He hadn't.

 

 

 

 

25

 

Nila locked the door behind Will and looked around. Why did it feel so empty? Her mouth twisted, and she shook her head. “Girl, you've got it bad.”

At least they'd talked, and he'd seemed to understand.

She pursed her lips. Even though she'd admitted she was falling in love with him, he hadn't said it back. Maybe there was a reason for that. She sank onto the couch. Had she made a fool of herself?

She replayed all the things he'd said. He wanted to court her. That meant he loved her, didn't it?

Her mouth relaxed into a small smile. “Court” was such an old-fashioned word. She imagined herself in a Victorian gown and broad-brimmed hat. In her dream, she relaxed on a porch swing and sipped an iced tea.

Will wore a top hat and long coat as he presented her with an exquisite, fragrant bouquet of lilies and roses.

The lovely scene disappeared, replaced by a memory of other flowers. Brought by Nick. After he'd beaten her.

She pressed her palms to her face. What was Nick doing now? Was God still watching over her? She hoped so, with all her heart.

She opened a magazine and tried to read, but the words blurred on the page. Exhaustion swept over her. She leaned against the arm of the couch and closed her eyes. She drifted off.

She jolted awake. What was that? She rubbed her eyes and glanced at her watch. Too soon for Will to be back, but she'd heard something.

She went upstairs and checked on the children. Both were sleeping. Tommy had his thumb in his mouth, and Jessica's chubby arms were wrapped around a stuffed bunny.

Nila's heart ached, and she closed her eyes for a moment. Someday, she hoped. Someday she'd have a family of her own. She shut the bedroom door without a sound and went downstairs.

As she opened a kitchen cupboard to get a glass, she heard another sound. Closer. She whirled around and gasped. The tumbler fell from her hands and shattered into shards on the tile floor. A corner of her mind—the part that moved in slow motion—linked that shattered glass to her life.

“Hello, Nila. Did you really think I'd let you get away?” Nick leered at her from the back doorway.

Her throat closed. She couldn't speak. She shot a quick, silent prayer heavenward. Her airway loosened, and she inhaled a deep, shuddering breath. “What are you doing here, Nick? What do you want?”

He took a step closer, and the kitchen light flashed on the knife in his hand. “I'm here to reclaim my property.” He raised the knife. “You belong to me, and if I can't have you, no one will. No one ‘
Will'
.” He chortled, a soul-sickening sound. “Get it?”

She scooted to the opposite end of the kitchen island. “I'm not your property. And you're not supposed to be anywhere near me.”