Chapter 1
One would say that glitz, glamor and wealth is the epitome of success, but for Anne it might just be the recipe to a disaster. A disaster that will almost end up being the recipe for her death.
How did her life, her marriage, turn into such a mess? This she would ask herself over and over again until the brutal pain of her most recent punishment subsided to a dull sound in her bruised and banged up head.
Roy, the love of her life, or so she thought, was breaking a sweat while taking out his nightly frustrations on her lifeless body that laid on the ground of their Belair estate townhouse.
“Roy, please just let me explain.” She pleaded, shakinly so knowing what this horrible mistake would lead to if the situation was not diffused instantly.
“So that you can further humiliate me? How long have you been sleeping with that man?” Slap.
“Huh? How long have you been walking around baring your ass at him, swaying your hips seductively at him like you used to do for me? You little slut!” Punch. She had to ignore the stinging pain in her left eye. She moved closer to him, praying she could calm him down.
“I’m not sleeping with anyone, Roy. It was one shift, a half day shift to cover for a friend, there’s nothing more to it.” She said, forcing calmness through her voice. If she could just keep him calm now, she can go to bed tonight with minimal damage and less need for an excuse for her bruised face and split lip.
“Liar! Did you spread your legs across the counter for him like the slut you are?” Panic rising in her throat, she pleaded her case.
“I don’t know where you’re getting all this from, it was a shift at the local pharmacy. I’ve never been there before and never met anyone until today. Roy, please just believe me.”
He was angry at that statement, not sure because it was the truth and he knew it was the truth or because in his mind she was fooling around with someone else behind his back, going to work like someone who is not taken care of well enough. He couldn’t let her ruin his reputation as a good husband, a good man and an excellent business man with multiple companies in his name. He slowly stalked closer to her, seeing the fear in her eyes made something burn deep inside his stomach. Fear, exhilaration, lust, he was feeding off of her fear.
“Such a shame you had to make me ruin your pretty little face.” He creeped closer to her, making her move backwards with each step.
“Ungrateful bitch!” He pushed her down so hard she split her skull open against the kitchen counter, she wax gushing blood from the wound. She reached for her head, trying to put pressure on her head whilst blinking through her tears. She would not cry. Crying only made it worse, he hated it when she cried.
“Roy, please.” Her voice barely a whisper.
“Please what? Did you ask him nicely as well when you begged him to fuck you in his office!” He shouted, too loud for her pounding head to even digest. She was struggling to keep her eyes open, only flashes of his heaving body over her entered her mind. In and out of consciousness she could only hear parts of what he was saying. She was losing blood fast.
“I will not be embarrassed by a weak, worthless, whore like you ever again. Do you understand?” His last blow of his foot on her leg left her unable to move, speak or barely breathe, it was all a hazy vision now. He poked her lifeless body with his foot, searching for a reaction, but there would be no response from her anymore.
She remained on the floor where he left her, breathing deep in through her nose trying to bury the bile she tasted in the back of her throat. Her eyes were already swollen and she was sure it would be black the next day, however her leg begged to be a different type of bruise. Through tear streaked eyes she managed to briefly see him leaving the house dressed in his tailored Armani suit with a busty brunette waiting for him at the door, just barely so, unaware of her beaten up body a whisper away.
She would’ve tried to say something, shout or even whisper, but she knew that would probably have been the last thing she did on this earth. So she laid there, easing her breath, trying to cover her head wound and fighting the urge to fall to sleep. How she wanted to sleep in that moment, drifting off on a soft pillow with the waves of the beach singing her to sleep. Just as she started dozing off, she had only one thought. Run.
Breathe. The smell of ocean air always made her happy, and now finally she has exactly what she wanted since she could remember. A small beach house, only steps away from the pearly white sand beach in the most beautiful small town she has ever seen. She knew making the move here on her own would be a difficult one, but it was something she had to do for herself even if it meant she had to deal with the unknown. If she didn’t do it now, heaven knows, she wouldn’t have done it at all.
“It’s beautiful!” She whispered to herself. From her spot on the mountain range just before entering her new hometown, she sat on a bench overlooking the regal mountains with the small town houses at its feet on one side, with the deep blue ocean on the other side.
“It only took me a few bruises, broken bones and 2 years of hiding.” But she made it now, and she hoped it would be exactly what she wanted and needed for that matter.
Being with her family and best friends back home was the best time and the best way of navigating her life the past 2 years. She loved them more than anything in the world, but it was time that she learned how to navigate life on her own.
After arriving at the small cottage she’s renting from an old lady named Linda, she quickly unpacked most of her belongings and headed off to town. She spent the day walking around the town, popping into every small shop, restaurant and local food market she could find. Everywhere people would greet her overly friendly and quickly make work of introducing her to everyone close enough to listen to what was being said. After hours of walking, chatting, meeting and a quick grocery run she finally got back home and to her surprise she already found 3 welcoming baskets from nearby neighbors she would assume. After putting away her groceries and making herself a sandwich she decided it was time to unpack her art supplies. Maybe after all these years she can get back into doing one of the hobbies she loved so much. She hasn’t painted a single brush stroke in nearly 3 years, she probably had forgotten how to paint. While packing and unpacking and reorganizing every paintbrush and pot of paint she owned, she thought about how many things she had forgotten or left behind or pushed away so far back only for the sake of survival, for safety, to not upset him or outshine him. Too many things, she realized. She was so deep in thought she didn’t even realize the stranger coming around her house and approaching her on her front porch.
“Well Hello dear!” A voice shrieked from behind her. She turned around at the speed of light, her heart beating in her throat and her pulse basically jumping at her in distress.
“Oh sorry dear, didn’t mean to startle you. I’m Beth, your next door neighbor.” Beth reached out a hand to shake mine which I had to steady before reaching out and taking her soft, silky hand in mine. Her smile radiated with kindness, wisdom and trust.
“Hello Beth.” Anne took a deep breath to stabilize her heaving chest. She gave Beth a breathy smile. “I’m Anne, nice to meet you.” Steadier now, she ushered Beth onto the porch in an invitation to join her on a chair.
“Can I get you some lemonade, bought from the farmers market downtown?” She offered with a cautious smile. “That would be lovely dear, thank you.”
She hurried off to her kitchen, placed 2 glasses on a tray with a sifter of lemonade and ice cubes and carried the tray outside to the stranger on her front porch.
She poured lemonade in both glasses and handed one to Beth, she took a deep swig of her own glass before sitting down in the chair next to Beth.
“Mmm, nothing as refreshing as old Buck’s lemonade and this view.”
“How did you know I bought the lemonade from Buck?” Anne asked curiously.
“Honey, in this town we talk. Especially if there is a new, young, very pretty blonde in town.” Beth gave a hearty laugh and Anne found herself chuckling as well.
“So do you live alone Anne?” Beth asked suddenly very serious and Anne found herself hesitating before answering such a simple question.
“I do live alone. Why?”
“You know, I have a nephew. Just around your age, sweet boy. He comes every now and again to visit. You should come by next time, I think you two will hit it off.” Anne found herself taken back and speechless yet again by Beth. Feeling a sense of ease and comfort around Beth, she decided to relax and enjoy the sudden embrace by her new friend. She chuckled when she saw the starry look in Beth’s eyes and couldn’t help but feel a glimpse of happiness.
“He sounds great and I’m sure he is excellent company, but I’m not in a place where I am looking for a man aunt Beth.” A smirk played around her mouth as she watched Beth who is now looking over the view of the beach and ocean.
“Then what are you looking for Anne?” Beth turned to ask her, something showing in her eyes that Anne is not yet to completely understand. “Myself.” She answered with a sense of contentment. Beth turned back to her view of the beach a smile lingering on her face.
After a few glasses of lemonade, some shortcake biscuits and a whole lot of laughing, Beth excused herself and made Anne promise to come over for dinner sometime soon. Anne remained seated on her porch looking over the view of the ocean and decided to end her evening with a sunset stroll on the beach and a promise to buy a dog soon to join her on her walks. Her first day in her new home and the first sunset in her new town held promises of a bright future.
