The Inn in Rhode Island, page 6
The next morning, I waited for Kyle to go to the daycare. I knocked on Erin’s door. Then I sat down with her and told her what Judge Abrams asked us to do.
“I, uh, I didn’t want to be one of those stereotypes. I.—” she cried.
“Erin, it’s important that we protect you.”
“Ugh.” Erin rubbed her face. “Sorry, I, uh, I’m pretty banged up!”
“That’s why it’s important. We have to do it, in case…”
Erin blew out a breath. “I know.” She wrapped her hair up in a high ponytail.
I got up and locked the door. Erin went into the bathroom. When she came back, she had a towel wrapped around her. Wearing only a pair of panties, Erin dropped the towel.
I tried not to show any emotions. Her thighs were purple. The upper part of her arms, black and blue.
“One more and we’re done.” I reached up and lifted Erin’s chin. I took a snapshot of her jaw. Then I picked the towel up and handed it to her. “I’m proud of you for running as fast as you could.”
Erin held the towel together with her left hand. With her right hand, she reached down and grabbed a tissue. Tears were running down her face.
Mine, too. I sat down at the foot of the bed.
Erin went back into the bathroom to redress. When she came out and sat down next to me, I asked her if she would like a cup of tea.
She nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
We went to the kitchen. I put the water on and set four shortbread cookies on a small plate. A minute later, I sat down next to Erin.
“Thank you.” She sipped her tea. “Oooh, hot!”
I stood up, opened the kitchen drawer, and handed her a folder. “I found a few colleges that offer home study. Southern New Hampshire will hand deliver your diploma right to your door.”
“I don’t know what to say. I, I have no way of re-paying you.”
“Erin, please,” I said. “I’ll make you a deal.” I pointed my finger at her. “I’ll give you work but you have to go to college.”
Her face lit up. She nodded. “Okay…”
“Great!” I ate a cookie, drank my tea, and listened to Erin tell me another chapter in her story.
“Julie, I didn’t realize what Josh was doing until now.” Her mouth twisted. “When I first met him, he gave me a cell phone. I thought it was for…” she shook her head. “The phone was so he could keep track of me. It took me awhile to figure it out, but one day when he asked me where I went, I told him I was at the library. Just to see what he would say. Later on, when he asked me what I picked up at the drugstore, I knew.”
Erin sat back, laced her fingers, and continued. “I looked at the applications on my cell and saw an app called, Family Locator. He frigging monitored my phone.”
She was getting stronger. I could hear it in her voice.
“Last night, while Kyle was sleeping. I sat in the chair in my room, trying to come up with a reason why. Why I allowed him to treat me like that. I can’t believe how dumb I was.”
“Erin—”
“No, Julie, it’s true. For five years, I thought Josh was doing everything for me because he loved me.” Her voice got a little louder. “I thought he was taking care of me. Julie, when he put gas in my car, I thought he was being nice. But now I know why he did it.”
She drank her tea. Started tapping her fingers on the table. “He’d say to me, ‘You went through a lot of gas this week. Where did you go?’ And I’d be like, nowhere. Not realizing he was keeping track of everything. He bought the groceries, cooked all of our meals, he even bought my clothes. He would say things like, ‘Just make yourself pretty.’” She shifted in her seat. “One day a man came to the house to pick up his income tax returns. He told Josh that if I wasn’t his wife, he would ask me out on a date. When he left, Josh opened his desk drawer and pulled out a gun. He said he wanted to kill that man just for saying that to him. ‘Burn his files! Every damn last income tax file,’ he screamed.”
Oh, dear Lord. I looked at her. “Erin, have you ever been to New York?”
“I’ve never been nowhere but Rhode Island.” She picked up a cookie and broke it in half. “Why?”
“Dan and Jesse are planning to go to New York for a few days. Perhaps you and I could go with them. You could help me pack up some of my belongings in the house, while Dan and Jesse pack up Dan’s tools and load up his heavy equipment.”
“I would love to help you, but what about Kyle?”
I looked at her. “Lady and Kyle will go with us.”
Chapter 10
Friday, October 18th, when Dan opened the front door at the cottage, the sky cracked with thunder, and the downpour was instantaneous. By the time, we reached the inn and stepped up onto the porch, thankfully, the rain had softened.
I asked Dan and Jesse to attend the meeting because I wanted them both to know how the inn operated. And I wanted to formally introduce Erin to the entire staff.
Inside, Erin was sitting in one of the two accent chairs in the lobby. “Good morning,” I said to her.
A moment later, Kevin came down the stairs carrying Delilah. “Dan, I need to see you for a sec.”
“Sure.” Dan reached up and took the diaper bag from him.
Kevin looked back at me. “We’ll be right back. I have to take Delilah to daycare.”
I kissed her on the cheek.
Teresa set foot in the lobby, holding a cup of tea. “Crap, you guys want one?” She asked, holding up her cup, smiling at Erin and me.
“I’m good.” I looked at Erin. “Erin?”
“No thanks,” she replied.
Kourtnee came downstairs, followed by Jesse and two of our guests.
“Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Canton,” Teresa said. “Are you having breakfast before you leave?”
“We ate in the dining room earlier, thank you,” Mr. Canton replied. “We were hoping to beat the rain, but it doesn’t look like we succeeded.”
“It’s let up, if that helps,” I said as I held the door open for them.
“Great, because I hate driving in downpours,” Mr. Canton admitted.
I smiled warmly at them both and said, “Thank you for staying with us.”
“Hang on,” Teresa said, and held an umbrella over Mrs. Canton’s head as she went to step off the front porch. Teresa ran back inside, put the wet umbrella in the stand and announced, “Winter is coming. I can feel it in my bones.”
When Dan and Kevin came back, Dan gave Jesse two thumbs up.
I saw Jesse give Kevin a nod. “Good job.”
Not knowing what that was all about, I said, “Okay, let’s go.”
We all gathered in the kitchen. Everyone except Christine, who was tending to her newborn. “Good morning, please help yourself to breakfast and take your seats. I have a lot to go over.”
Dan sat down between Kevin and Jesse. The three men each had a sampling of pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, and sausage on their plates.
I waited for everyone to take a seat before saying, “I would like to start by introducing our new house guest, Erin, to everyone. Erin will be working with us. She has a four-year-old son. And for those of you who have not met him, his name is Kyle. They will be in the Newport room.”
“Welcome,” Michael said.
Erin nodded. “Thank you. Umm, congratulations on your new baby.”
I held my coffee cup up, smiling. “Cheers to Michael and Christine. Christine, by the way is upstairs with the baby. And for the next week, I’ll be baking all of our desserts.”
“Oh, boy,” Teresa said under her breath.
I pointed my finger at Teresa. I haven’t lost my touch yet. “Erin, let me start with the couples. Kevin is married to Kourtnee. Kevin is in charge of lawn maintenance. Kourtnee takes care of the books. Michael is our chef and Christine is our baker. You know what, why doesn’t everyone tell Erin who you are and what job you perform?”
“Jesse. Bodyguard.”
I laughed and then added, “He has a successful tree business. Jesse’s an arborist.”
Teresa smiled and winked at Erin. “Receptionist.”
Kourtnee raised her cup. “My closet is always open.”
Erin grinned.
“I’m Cathy. I run the day spa. It’s nice to meet you, Erin.”
“My name is Bea.” She looked at me and I nodded. “I assist Julie in the dining rooms. But in January I’ll be leaving to settle in an apartment in New York. I’ve been accepted to FIT!”
When the room erupted with loud cheers, Jesse put his hands over his ears. “Jeeez.”
Teresa, Molly and Kourtnee all jumped up and hugged Bea.
“Well, that leaves me. I’m Molly. Designer. I’m in charge of the floral arrangements and decor.”
“Molly is our inn-house decorator, so to speak,” I echoed. “And, she’s the best interior designer in the world.” I looked at Dan; he was staring at me, smiling. I winked at him. “Erin, besides Amanda, there are a few others that you may see from time to time. Frank is the contractor who put the addition on the inn. His architect’s name is Sabrina. Gina Maria and Jessica also work directly with Frank. We try to schedule repairs and renovations during the days when the inn is closed.”
“Never,” Michael said. “When the mood strikes, she gets it done.”
Everyone laughed.
“Stop. I’ve been very good.” I looked over at Dan, who was looking at Jesse. They both had two thumbs up again. “Okay, since Dan’s been here,” I added.
“What?” Dan said.
I waved him off. Wondering what in the world he was up to now. “I want to let you all know that next week, Dan, Jesse, Erin and I are going to go to New York to pack up the house.”
Michael jumped to his feet. “Yes!” At that. Everyone started cheering. Michael and Kevin shook Dan’s hand. “You’re going love it here,” Michael told Dan.
“Tell me you’re bringing some iron with you?” Kevin asked, with his hand on Dan’s shoulder. “You know, some heavy equipment!”
“I’ll be bringing back whatever Julie needs,” Dan replied.
“Dan is retiring,” I said with a smiling heart. “We’ve sold our home in New York.”
Chapter 11
The following Monday, Dan, Jesse, Kyle, and Lady drove down the driveway in Jesse’s truck. Erin and I drove Dan’s truck. Thankfully, both trucks had crew cabs. Dan had put Kyle’s car seat behind the driver’s seat so he could see him at all times.
Lady sat in the back with Kyle. Jesse’s truck already had tinted windows, but for added protection, Dan hung black screens on the two side windows. Kyle was small enough that no one would see him from the windshield. Dan also hung the screens in his truck and asked Erin to sit behind the passenger’s seat. He reassured her that once we were out of Rhode Island, she could join me in the front seat.
Erin agreed to ride in the back until we were in Connecticut.
“What type of music do you like to listen to?” I asked her.”
“Mostly country,” she replied. “But I’m fine with whatever you like.”
“Country it is,” I said happily.
Before I could turn the radio on, Erin asked me what I thought about Kyle not asking for his father. “He hasn’t asked once. It’s like… umm, he doesn’t even miss him. Do you think… he’s okay?”
I glanced in the mirror. Our eyes met. “Was he close to his father?”
Erin’s mouth twitched several times before saying, “No, not really.”
I stopped at a red light and turned to face her. “Erin, Kyle is four. Amanda says he’s very smart. Who taught him to read?”
“Umm, that would be me.”
“Very impressive.”
“You think so?” she asked. “I had to do something with him. I read to him to keep him quiet.” I heard her feet stomp on the floor. “Josh was such an ass! When Kyle was teething. It was hard for me to keep him quiet. No matter what I gave him, all he wanted was for me to hold him…” Her voice drifted away.
Silence.
Following Jesse’s every move, I put my blinker on and turned right at the corner. I glanced in the mirror and said, “All babies
“Julie, that’s when Josh moved my desk to the basement,” she said with sadness in her voice. “In one corner was Kyle’s playpen and in the other, my new file cabinet. The only time Kyle and I went upstairs was dinner and at bedtime.”
I could hear her breathing. I wondered if Josh put her in the basement to prevent other men from seeing her, or if he really was that cruel to his own son.
She continued, “So in between filling out income tax forms, I read to him. I think it was right before his third birthday when he started reading along with me. From that moment on I started pointing to the words.”
I looked back at her. Tears were running down her face. Once again, silence.
“Erin, are you hungry?” I asked her, hoping she was. “There’s a cooler with water and seltzer on the floor next to you.” I grabbed a small bag and handed it back to her. “I’m not sure what he packed, but Dan always packs a great snack bag.”
Up ahead, Jesse turned his signal on for us to pull over. He came back to the truck and asked us if we were both okay. “We’re fine,” I said.
Jesse tapped on my doorframe. “Good. Dan says to turn your damn cell phone ringer on. He’s been trying to call you.”
“Yikes,” I said, reaching for my phone.
“Is Kyle okay?” Erin asked.
“He’s fine. He’s singing country…” Jesse winked at me. “Dan just wants to make sure you’re okay.” He looked back at Erin. “Ya okay?”
Erin nodded.
Jesse went back to his truck and I put my cell phone in the car cradle. “Thank God for hands-free.” I laughed, adding, “but it only works if it’s on.” I glanced back at Erin. “Obviously, Kyle likes country as much Dan and Jesse.”
She smiled. “I used to let him listen while wearing my headphones.”
“I’m glad you’re coming with us,” I said and meant it. “You’ll get to see my house. I used to have some amazing gardens. I’m sure they’ve turned to weeds by now.”
I thought for a minute about Dan being there without me. As I thought about the house, my whole body was racked with guilt imagining Dan sitting home alone, wondering if I was dead or alive. I smiled knowing Dan would always be the only fox in my hole.
“Julie…?” From the backseat, I felt her reach out and touch my arm. “Why did you leave your home?”
“Erin, what if I told you that Dan is the person I trust and lean on because no matter how serious or bad the situation, like a good soldier, Dan knows exactly what to do under fire? And yet, three years ago, I left Dan. Moved to Rhode Island, bought an old farmhouse, put an addition on it and opened the inn…”
“By yourself?” she asked.
“Yes, in spite of my love for Dan, I left.” I looked back at her. “I don’t know where I would be without Frank. He is not only a building contractor, he’s my angel. Frank is the person responsible for bringing Dan and me back together.”
“Julie, because of jealousy?”
“Suspicion,” I corrected her and then looked out at Jesse’s truck and thought about my own thoughts had killed everything inside me. I almost lost the most important person in my life. Me. “Erin, Dan cheated on me and I could not live with myself, the mounting suspicions in my heart or in my head. So I left. Let me tell you, leaving Dan was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. I hit the floor. Hard.”
“How did you survive leaving him?” she asked.
“I brushed myself off. Stood up and made a new life for myself. When Dan found me, he was a changed man. I took him back… knowing that I was stronger. Strong enough to survive whatever storm comes my way.”
“You and Dan, remind me of my parents. Teresa said you’re much happier now.”
“I am. I love him so much.”
“Umm…” Erin’s voice was slow with hesitation. “All of your friends are really nice. Especially Jesse.”
I tried to keep my eyes on the road. I glanced back at her. “Jesse is definitely a big teddy bear. He’s a good friend to both Dan and me.”
Erin leaned forward. “Is he going to move to Rhode Island?”
“No, he lives and works in New York. Right down the road from where I used to live.”
“Oh…”
She sounded disappointed. I shot her a look.
I turned the radio up just as Zac Brown was singing, “As She’s Walking Away” and thought great timing.
Chapter 12
An hour and a half later, we stopped at a gas station. Jesse pulled up to the side of the building and pointed to the restrooms. I asked Erin if she needed to go to the bathroom.
She sat up and looked around. “Where are we?”
“Somewhere in Connecticut,” I replied.
Jesse got out of the truck. I saw Dan get out, holding Kyle in his arms. I had no idea where the small hooded sweatshirt had come from. I couldn’t even see Kyle’s face. Dan went into the men’s room. Jesse took Lady over by the bushes and motioned for us to get out.
“There’s no one around,” I said. “I have got to pee.”
Erin unbuckled her belt and gingerly opened her door, looking around. After we all used the restrooms, Erin got back in the truck and sat in the front seat. Dan put Lady in Jesse’s truck and then he, Jesse and Kyle got in the backseat of our truck.
“Mommy!” Kyle stood on the hump and Erin hugged him.
“Are you being a good boy for Dan and Jesse?”
“Uh huh. We’re singing and telling stories.”
“Who’s telling stories, Dan or Jesse?” Erin asked him.
“No, Mommy. Me.” Kyle laughed. “Pete the Cat, and The Mitten one, too.”
