“I wish she hadn’t given me up,” Amy said timidly.
Nikki brushed the back of her hand against Amy’s cheek. “I know,” she spoke solemnly. “For now, let’s just try to live in the now and face the challenges and the questions as they come together, okay?”
Amy nodded her head as she agreed, “Okay.”
Just then, Amy’s cell rang. She fished it out of her pocket to see who it was. Her eyes widened in surprise, then they flickered to Nikki, who stared back at her in concern.
“What is it?” she asked.
“It’s the detective assigned to the case,” she informed her before lifting the phone to her ear. “Hello?”
Nikki watched her niece as she gave clipped answers to whatever the detective was saying to her. When she finally ended the call, Nikki was on edge as she watched Amy’s face go pale.
“Amy. Was it about Jake?” she asked.
Amy looked up, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.“Jake is back in jail,” she finally managed to say.
“Really?” Nikki asked, surprised. “Why?”
“He was booked in Seattle for assault and battery. He badly beat another girl, and she ended up in the hospital.”
“Oh no. That’s horrible,” Nikki exclaimed in alarm.
Amy nodded; her lips pursed together in a thin line. “The detective says with my case, this one, and his priors, he’s looking to go away for a long time.”
“Good riddance,” Nikki said with disdain. “How are you feeling?”
“Honestly, I’m relieved that he’s in jail, but I’m also saddened by the fact that another woman had to suffer such abuse for him to finally get what he deserves.”
“It is sad,” Nikki agreed. “But sometimes we have to celebrate the wins and look on the bright side. He won’t be able to hurt anyone else for a long time,” she reasoned.
Amy nodded. She sighed deeply and turned to Nikki with disappointment etched in her brows. “I can’t believe I was such a fool to trust him and believe that he could change because he claimed to love me.”
“None of this is your fault, Amy,” Nikki rushed in to say. “You were fooled by what he presented because he was a sick and manipulative person preying on your insecurities. That doesn’t make it your fault because if you had known the kind of person he was from the beginning, you would never have gotten involved with him.”
Amy gave her aunt a small smile of appreciation. “I’m just sorry I gave him so much of me.” She sighed.
“I know, sweetheart. I know.” Nikki rounded the island and pulled Amy into her arms, offering the comfort she knew she needed. “With time, the betrayal and hurt will go away, and you will be able to open your heart to someone who truly deserves your love. Someone who will cherish you for the gem you are,” Nikki assured her.
“Come on, let’s go,” Nikki instructed when they separated.
“Where are we going?” Amy asked with furrowed brows.
“We’re going for a walk on the beach to clear our minds,” Nikki replied, holding out her hand to Amy. A broad smile transformed Amy’s face as she hooked her hand in the crook of Nikki’s arm.
The two exited the house and made their way across the lawn, into the grove of evergreens at the back of the property, and finally down the uneven terrain toward the distant sound of crashing waves.
ChapterTwenty-Eight
Paul finished adding the whipped cream to the cheesecake just as the timer went off. Putting on a pair of mittens, he headed for the stove.
“All right, hold your horses. I’m here,” he said, opening the oven to stop the incessant buzzing. Reaching into the scalding heat, he removed the pan with the roasted pork. Using a carving knife, he cut into the meat, and a wide grin was plastered on his face at how easily the blade sliced through it and how pink it was on the inside as the juices oozed from the succulent flesh.
“Look at this beauty,” he marveled, satisfied with his work. He put the pan back into the welcoming warmth of the oven and turned his attention to the boiled potatoes. He stripped them from their skin before placing them in a bowl and mashing and grating cheddar cheese over them, then whisking them until they made the perfect, fluffy, creamy cloud.Setting that aside, he removed the cherry farro salad from the refrigerator, topping it up with some sweet vinaigrette he’d made from scratch.
As Paul was adding the finishing touches, the doorbell rang. He removed his apron, hung it on the hook behind the kitchen door, and made his way to the front door. A huge grin split his face as he opened the door.
“Hi, Dad,” Sarah greeted, just before he swept her into his arms for a bear hug, lifting her off the ground. Sarah laughed in glee.
