Page 44 of As It Was (Strawberry Springs #1)

MOLLIE

Strawberry Springs Neighborhood Watch

Kerry Winsor

I feel so much better now that I know the whole story. We’re all in agreement that we’re NOT talking to Cain, right?

Comments:

Jade Clark : He lives here. We kinda can’t not talk to him.

Kerry Winsor : We could boycott the farm.

Tammy Jane : Are you serious?

Kerry Winsor : He needs to know he was wrong!

I knew I needed to make myself scarce. I didn’t know where I was going, just that I needed to leave.

And out of habit, I was heading toward Nashville.

Was that where I wanted to be? Maybe not.

But the entirety of Strawberry Springs was mad. Rumors were swirling, and I had caused it. Cain didn’t need me at the farmhouse .

What other choice did I have?

I struggled not to cry as I got closer and closer. I was terrified of what my parents would do when they saw me, but they were the only ones who didn’t hate me. Or at least I hoped they didn’t.

But I needed them. Desperately.

When I pulled into the driveway, I completely broke down. I felt terrible. Both for leaving and for causing such a mess back in the place that had started to feel like home. My chest ached as I thought about the way Cain had looked at me, like I’d broken everything.

And I had.

The door to my car opened. “Mollie?” Mom’s voice asked. “Honey, are you okay?”

I silently shook my head.

She opened her arms without explanation. I fell into her, still feeling the regret of everything .

“Come inside.” Her voice was soft. “You need some tea and a listening ear.”

I followed her without another word.

Minutes later, I had a warm drink in my hand and my tears had slowed to sniffles.

“Tell me everything.”

“I doubt you wanna know. It’s Strawberry Springs drama.”

“If it upset you this much, then I want to.” She grabbed my arm. “So, start from the beginning.”

I wiped my eyes and did as she asked. I told her how Cain had been in the beginning and how we’d finally made a truce. And then how it had all fallen apart. She listened intently, but her eyes narrowed as I got to the night prior where Kerry had tricked me.

“This is almost exactly what happened to me,” she muttered. “I’m telling you, that town sees everything one way. And nothing will change their mind.”

“I really hurt Cain.”

“No, they did. Honestly, asking questions while you were drunk?” She shook her head. “Of course they did.”

“Did you know Kerry?”

“She was younger than me, so not really. But trust me, there were plenty of people like that when I lived there.”

“What happened when you were there?” I asked.

“It was years ago.” She shook her head.

“It still seems to affect you.”

“Oh no, don’t turn this around on me.”

“But maybe it’ll help me understand,” I said. “Please?”

Her lips thinned, but then she nodded. “Fine. I had a friend once. A close friend. And we did the kind of things friends do—be honest with one another. She was dating this man who wasn’t good for her.

I kept trying to tell her, but she never listened.

Eventually, I told her I couldn’t watch it happen, and that she needed to dump him or I would walk away.

Of course, she told everyone, and you know who they sided with? Her. ”

“Really?”

“Yes. They tried to shame me into submission, tried to tell me I was jealous of her perfect little boyfriend.” She crossed her arms. “No one spoke to me up until I left for college. And I never looked back.”

I looked down at my tea, stomach roiling. “That’s terrible.”

“It’s not the kind of place for you,” she said. “I just hate that you had to see it this way.”

My shoulders slumped, but not out of relief. I didn’t want to be done with the town; I only needed a break to think things through.

But would I even be welcomed if I did go back ?

Maybe Cain would only grow angrier over time. Maybe the town would too. And I would come back to Nashville.

The thought made me want to cry all over again.

The front door opened, and I looked up. Dad was walking in, a concerned expression on his face. For half a second, I was happy to see him. Then I realized he wasn’t alone.

Trevor was with him.

Fuck.

“Your mom texted me that something happened,” Dad said. “We came right away, Mollie-bear.”

“We’re worried,” Trevor added, smiling down at me.

It felt more like a smirk.

“I’ll catch you two up while I refill Mollie’s tea,” Mom said. “Come on.”

Dad nodded and headed toward the kitchen.

“Actually, I’ll stay here,” Trevor said. “Mollie doesn’t need to be alone through this.”

Mom put a hand on her heart. “You are so sweet.”

He was a fucking liar. My fists tightened as they walked away.

“Seems like you learned your lesson,” Trevor said.

“Fuck off,” I hissed.

“Not entirely, I suppose. You still have that damn attitude. You know, I really had you trained until you went and whored yourself out to some lowly farmer.”

For a second, all I could do was gape. Had he really said that?

But then, all my sadness vanished, replaced with the white-hot fire of rage.

Trevor smirked. “We’ll just have to work on getting you back up to my standards.”

Yeah, that was it. I was Mollie fucking Wilson. I’d gone off on Cain for far less .

I wasn’t taking this from him. Not on the best day of my life. And definitely not on my worst.

“How fucking dare you!” I snapped, slowly rising from my chair.

“Let’s get one thing straight. I will never let you talk to me like that again, no matter if I’m here or not.

You will never make me feel small again.

You will never be able to turn me into whatever fucking wife you wanted because I will fight you every step of the way. Do you understand me?”

“Mollie?” Mom’s voice sounded panicked. “What happened?”

“What’s wrong?” Dad asked.

“ What’s wrong? ” I laughed and looked at Trevor. “Repeat what you just said to me.”

“I said nothing,” Trevor hissed. “You’ve lost your mind.”

“Oh, you’re scared the second they’re in the room? Funny.” I turned to my parents. “Because when you two are gone? He’s a completely different person.”

Mom’s eyes went wide. “Wh—Mollie, what do you mean?”

“I told you she would do this. She’s blaming it all on me.” Trevor laughed. “Don’t believe a word she says.”

I was too far gone to feel fear. I’d lost everything.

Except for myself.

“If you believe him over me, then that’s fine.

But you should know the whole story. Like how he never cleaned and put it all on me.

Or how he would knock on the wall to summon coffee every morning.

Or how he lied about the farm and then tried to force me to sell.

How he made snide comments about Wren to try to isolate me from my friends, and how he talked a big story to you so you would cut me off.

He’s emotionally manipulative at his best. Emotionally abusive at his worst. And I’m not taking it anymore. ”

“Oh come on, she’s lying!” Trevor snapped. “I’ve never emotionally manipulated anyone in my life! ”

“Really? Then why did you never let me make any choices for myself? Why did you constantly say you were training me to be your wife? Was I a dog to you? Or just a trophy you wanted to show off?”

Mom covered her mouth, but Dad spoke first. “When did you feel this way, Mollie?”

“I felt this more and more every single day until I left.”

“Is he why you left?”

“Yes. I got out before it could get so much worse.”

“What did he say?” Mom’s voice was shaky, but I hadn’t seen her this mad in a long time.

“Come on?—”

“No,” Mom said. “If someone uses the word abuse , I listen. Honey, tell me what he said.”

“He said he had me trained well before I whored myself out. Despite the fact that he said he would be seeing other people.”

Mom turned to Trevor, jaw on the floor. “How dare you.”

“No, I didn’t!” Trevor snapped. “She’s lying like she always fucking does! She’s nothing but a spoiled princess who cares only about herself.”

“Is that all you have to say about me? Because you’ve said a lot worse in the past. Or are you too much of a fucking chickenshit to try it now?”

“You little bitch .” He sneered. “I don’t know what sort of inbred bullshit that town taught you, but you should learn your place!”

He stepped forward, and I wondered how hard it would be to punch him in the face.

Someone else did it for me.

“You fucking asshole,” Dad said. “Don’t you ever talk like that to my daughter. ”

“Get out!” Mom yelled, pointing at the door. “Before I call the damn police.”

“Wh-what?” Trevor asked.

“Leave,” he boomed. “Now!”

“But she?—”

“OUT!”

Trevor was red in the face, but stomped out the door. Dad cursed and got out his phone.

“I’m calling HR. A man like that isn’t working for me.” He left the room in a rush, his footsteps echoing throughout the house. “And I should probably cover my ass for hitting him. Honestly, how dare he ?—”

Mom grabbed my shoulders and pulled my attention from what Dad was muttering. “When did it start?”

“When did what start?”

“This behavior.”

“I ... I’m not sure. It was just a lot of little things. Comments here and there. Him always seeming to get what he wanted. Then he got bolder, and I just felt ... trapped. So, I left.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You said that it was normal to fight with your partner. I thought it was all fine. Until it wasn’t.”

“But still . If you said what was happening, I could have told you?—”

“When did I have a chance? He was always here when I saw you, saying the things you wanted to hear. He did it even after I was gone! And every time we’ve spoken since, you’ve pressured me to get back together with him.”

I was ready to continue to defend myself, to tell her I wasn’t in the wrong for falling victim to Trevor’s tricks. To say that I’d done my best, even if it had taken me a while to say it.

But then she let out a loud sob and started crying .

“M-Mom?” I asked slowly.

“I fucking fell for it!” she said, her voice thick with emotion. Another sob escaped her before she continued. “Like a fool. I thought he was so perfect .”