Escaping Parker, page 19
“That’s where I want to be, that’s why I came back. I couldn’t stand my life without you. All the times I’ve finished moving someone, setting them up, leaving was the best part. Not this time. Nothing was the same. I couldn’t function without you, thinking you hated me. I felt like such a horrible person that day. I’m sorry. I’ll never hide anything from you again. Parker, I love you. I want nothing else in this world—you’re everything to me,” he says and I start to tear up.
“I’m so glad you came back, not just to, you know, save my life, but because I knew I didn’t have to be alone anymore.” I grab his hand.
“I don’t know what I would’ve done if I lost you. I just know that I can’t spend another day without you. We’re going to make it. I’m done running. I want to stop being on the move just to avoid things that I never faced. If I have you, I know I can get through anything.”
“Well, I’m ready for you to come home. I’m going to make sure you are taken care of so you get better. After that, we can figure everything out, but right now getting better is the main priority. You get some rest, I’ll be right here. I’m just going to talk to the doctor and see how long you’ll have to be here and when I can bring you home for good.”
I kiss Rig like my life depends on it, because it kind of does, and go in search of the doctor.
The days after Rig saved my life I finally woke up. I was madly and deeply in love with a man who I thought would leave me in a million tiny pieces once he left, but he came back for me. As the saying goes: “If you love something set if free, and if it’s truly yours, it will come back to you.” Rig came back to me after realizing he was worthy of being loved, deserving of having his own life instead of just saving them.
Rig spent a good week in the hospital after a close brush with death. He fought the odds, and proved he is truly a miraculous human being. His strength to fight through emergency surgery to close up some major arteries, proved his time wasn’t over on this earth, and he still had so much more to give people. The bullet couldn’t be removed after all, it was too close to the repaired arteries, and they didn’t want to risk any complications.
My family has begged endlessly for me to come and live with them back home, encouraging Rig to come with me, but we declined. We’ve spent so much time hiding away from the world, running from everything, that we decided after he was released we would keep the little place, and stay in Montana, where we started to plants the roots of our relationship, this is where he said those three words to me that forever changed my life.
We fixed up the house with the money the money I received after Stevens’s death. Not only it is our home, but it’s also a safe house for other women and children who might need it while passing through. I started my Internet businesses back up again, and love every minute of doing something I love so much. It’s successful again!
Rig and I have no plans to get married anytime soon. We don’t need some piece of paper to tell us we love each other, and that we will be with one another through thick and thin. That’s already been proven tenfold. My last marriage certificate had left me with a bunch of broken promises, and also a lot of broken bones, something that kept me locked into a disastrous marriage, fighting for my life. So there is no rush to revisit something that was so painfully real for me.
We are both blissfully happy just being with each other, growing, and learning things about ourselves together. Nothing could’ve prepared me for the way my heart beats so wildly and differently than I ever thought possible, and I know this is a forever love.
Our parents were also elated that in the spring time, we will be giving them a grandchild, we recently just found out about, it was completely unexpected, but extremely welcomed. We can’t wait till he or she is old enough to take them back to the lake, the place where I fell in love with Rig. I can’t wait to be able to share that place with our child.
For one year now, I have been trying to escape Parker, begging for Clarissa to come back so I can finally feel like myself again. What I have learned is that Clarissa never left; she always lived in my heart.
I may have had to change certain parts of myself to become invisible, and nothing that was predictable to anyone who knew me. It was one of the hardest parts about this whole journey, but mile by mile, state by state, day by day, I’ve learned you can change your name, your clothes, your hair, but you can never change your heart and soul.
I will always be who I am, and I make no apologies for that. This test I have been harshly put through to find out how truly strong I was as an individual, has taught me so much. I’m worth it, I’m good enough, and I’m loved by so many, including Rig. My one and only knight in shining armor.
There are so many people to thank for helping me make this book possible.
Nanette Del Valle Bradford, one of my biggest supporters, thank you for making the time to read this book one chapter at a time, always giving me grief when the chapter ended because there wasn’t any more to read until I wrote another.
Monica Carrillo Villanueva, reading, plotting, and pushing me through the finish line. Our video chats that were to figure out what worked, though they always turned into hours of laughter, and just fun.
Paige Maroney Smith, your suggestions make my books flow effortlessly, and you are always such a huge part in my writing, without you, I wouldn’t be here.
Helen Williams, your cover design always matches what’s inside the book, you have a talent I’ve found nowhere else. Everything you design is beautiful, and I can’t wait to work on the next one with you.
Kiki Chatfield and Ruth Martin with The Next Step PR, thank you for all your guidance, support, and everything you do for me (there’s too much to list). You guys have my back, and work your tails off, I’m so lucky to be a part of your team.
As always, my husband, for countless, long nights you spend with the kids so I can work on my books I will forever be grateful.
My three little men, I hope that you guys chase your dreams, and follow your hearts in life. Anything is possible if you work hard, and have determination. Dream Big!
Table of Contents
Dedication
Prologue
June 24th, 2014 Wednesday 6:30pm
June 26, 2014 Friday 10:30am
June 29, 2014 Monday 9:45am
June 30, 2014 Tuesday 12:45am
June 30, 2014 Tuesday 10:30am
July 1, 2014 Wednesday 10:00am
July 2, 2014 Thursday 1:06am
July 2, 2014 Thursday 6:00am
July 4, 2014 Saturday 6:45pm
July 5, 2014 Sunday 9:30pm
July 6, 2014 Monday 6:45am
July 6, 2014 Monday 9:32pm
July 7, 2014 Tuesday 10:30am
July 16, 2014 Thursday 5:30pm
July 30, 2014 Thursday 5:30am
August 11, 2014 Tuesday 12:30pm
August 20, 2014 Thursday 7:00am
September 4, 2014 Friday 2:30pm
September 15, 2014 Tuesday 2:30pm
October 7, 2014 Wednesday 11:30am
October 31, 2014 Saturday 5:30pm
November 9, 2014 Monday 7:45am
November 19, 2014 Thursday 5:45pm
November 25, 2014 Wednesday 6:00pm
November 26, 2014 Thursday 3:45pm
December 19, 2014 Saturday 5:45pm
December 25, 2014 Friday 7:35am
December 31, 2014 Wednesday 8:45pm
January 1, 2015 Thursday 12:01am
January 3, 2014 Saturday 12:35pm
Epilogue
Acknowledgements
F.T. Zele, Escaping Parker
