Page 76 of The Promise Of Rain

No more secrets, Jenny.

“There was a situation,” I murmured.“It caused a lot of trouble for him and Maxine, but they showed up for me.”

“What happened?”

Oh, God.I didn’t want to talk about this.

“After Ansel moved to St.Michael’s, there was a man, he, uh, decided he wanted to be with me.”

“Be with you?”His eyes narrowed.

I clarified, my face burning because what else did men want from me?

“He wanted to have sex with me, and he wasn’t taking no for an answer.He, uh, somehow got into the stairwell between the bakery and my apartment.I got away from him.When he came back, Miller and Maxine were with me.And, uh, Miller answered my door with no shirt on.”I made a motion like I was ruffling my hair.“With messy hair.”I swallowed.“There were rumours.But they protected me.That’s all.”

“How did Maxine feel about it?”

“She was there, too.”I smiled.“She latched onto me like white on rice.”

“Who was it?”he growled.

My heart thudded in my throat.Would he believe me?

He stepped closer.“Who, Jenny?Fucking, who?”

Miller and Maxine would back me up, but I didn’t want to defend myself.

I shook my head.“It’s over.It doesn’t matter.”

“Is he still a threat?”

“He’s not very, uh, polite when I see him, but he’s married now and has young kids so, no, I don’t believe he’s a threat.”

He nodded, but a deep, red flush suffused his face.“Miller’s a good man.I’m glad he was here for you.”

His lips pressed tight in a thin line.

My heartrate picked up.“You’re angry with me.”

He shook his head sharply, his brown eyes flashing darkly before softening.He drew me into a hug.“No, baby.I’m fucking furious with me.”

15

Perfect

Deacon

I swirled the dregs of my coffee in the bottom of the heavy ceramic mug.Unlike most of the newer places switching to tin mugs and paper takeaways, this old coffee shop located on the outskirts of Peppergrove stuck to real mugs that felt solid in your hand.

Sitting by the window, I ignored the whirling snow outside in favour of taking stock of the obstacles twisting and turning inside me.

With no definitive action for me to combat them, they simply swirled around in my mind and shredded my thinning patience.

I’d hoped my parents would have come around by now.When my mother called this morning, I was sure of it.But after a few minutes, she simply reiterated her concern and desire to protect me.

We were at a stalemate.

The hollow in my chest understood they might never accept her.As much as I didn’t want to lose them, I wouldn’t let them interfere with my choice.That was all well and good, but the fact I couldn’t shield her from the pain of their rejection infuriated me.