Devotion Page 18

  Katherine has no proof of her attacker. From our conversation, she is assuming it was Corey. She has no idea he has a solid alibi to save him from arrest, thanks to me.

  Corey won't ever find out that I sent the message from his phone using the spyware I installed on the device. The second Katherine read the text from Corey and responded to it, I deleted the message from his cell using the spyware. I did the same on Katherine's phone after I struck her over the head with a metal pole I found lying around.

  After leaving Katherine unconscious, I rushed over to the office while calling Corey's cell to ask him to meet me in the faculty lounge. I told Corey some lie about Barry needing to speak to him urgently which got him there in a hurry. I couldn't risk him not coming because of our discussion from earlier that morning.

  Over half a dozen staff members saw Corey in the busy break room. I kept him waiting there long enough for people to see us chatting away after. I then apologized for what had happened in his classroom between us and asked if he'd spoken with Katherine yet.

  "Are you positive you want to hear this?"

  "I am. What you said made sense before. Plus, I need to make sure that everything is okay between you and Katherine."

  "I'm not sure. I guess I was hoping to speak with Kat before school started, but there wasn't enough time to go over it all. We'll hash it out tonight."

  "That's understandable. You guys have a lot to talk about."

  "We do. I hope we can push through this, provided I'm not too late."

  "I know Kat. I'm sure she will also want to start fresh and move forward."

  "We'll see, I guess… So, Barry wants to see me?"

  "Yes. He did, but he had to go, sorry. I'll find out what he wanted and let you know."

  "Thanks, Annette."

  After smoothing things over with Corey, one of Katherine's students entered the office with his mom. I rushed to my workstation and feigned confusion, pretending I didn't know why Katherine wasn't in her classroom. I called Corey and told him what was going on, suggesting he check his cell for any texts from Kat. He apparently found a voicemail from Kat telling him she was waiting to meet up behind the old sports shed.

  By now the police will have taken Corey aside and asked him some impossible questions. I never wanted to put him through this kind of stress, but I couldn't attack Katherine without first showing him how unhinged his spouse had become.

  Once the authorities see Corey's cell and realize that everything Katherine has told them doesn't add up, he will be free to go. No doubt he'll tell them the truth about their recent arguments and marital troubles, only adding to the fact that his wife's mental health is questionable at best.

  After it all comes out, Corey will recognize that Katherine isn't worth fighting for. And she will think her husband is trying to kill her. If Katherine plays her part well and doesn't interfere with Corey and I being together, then I won't have to take this to the final level. But if she allows her stubbornness to keep their pointless marriage afloat, God help me I will have no choice but to act accordingly.

  I climb into my car, satisfied that I'd bounced back after such an intense holdup with Corey this morning. Part of me wanted to give up, but I can't quit on him. Not now or ever.

  He will be mine no matter what.

  59

  Katherine

  Corey moved out. I didn't give him a choice. Just because he has the police fooled doesn't mean I'm falling for his lies anymore. I still don't know how this all happened. Maybe my memory is a little hazy and messed up after the attack, but I know it was him who did this to me.

  I swear to God he sent me a text demanding to meet up behind the sports shed. Surely my mind didn't dream that up post-concussion. If it has, then I don't know what is real and what is not.

  I'm at home with Ava, cuddling her on the sofa. We're watching one of her favorite shows, but I'm taking next to little notice of anything that's happening on the screen. All I can think about is Corey. It's been almost a week without a word between us. How can I speak to the man who harmed me? He was meant to protect me, but instead he allowed his anger to come close to ending my life. I am so afraid, yet my heart also feels broken.

  How can you both love and fear a man at the same time?

  Annette has been amazing throughout this last week, making sure that I feel safe at all times. I swear some days I'm the worst friend in the world. Everything always seems to be about me and my dramas. I never make the effort to ask how things are going in her life. It's so hard to when Corey's chaos envelops my every thought.

  Annette isn't here at the moment, meaning I am quietly terrified for both Ava and me. So much so that I had to take out a restraining order against Corey to feel any semblance of security.

  "Mommy? Where's Corey?"

  Ava has asked me this question so many times that I'm running out of excuses to tell her. "He had to go away, sweetie. Remember?"

  "I know that, but where's he gone?"

  How am I supposed to answer that? This poor girl hasn't had a father her whole life and now I've had no choice but to send off the one man she trusted. I guess I trusted him too and never thought he would lay so much as a finger on me. I was wrong.

  Darkness sweeps in and casts strong shadows outside. Ava doesn't have to go to bed for another hour. We had dinner earlier, not needing to wait around for Corey to come home. Despite Ava's bedtime being a short while off, I will no doubt keep her awake until she begs for sleep. I can't stand to be alone right now.

  I know that the restraining order means Corey can't touch me, but I still don't feel safe, especially at night. The slightest noise outside makes me jump off the sofa and into a state of panic. So many times now, I've heard a tiny disturbance in the street that sends me charging to the nearest window only to find nothing but the trees swaying in the wind. I don't know how much more of this I can stand.

  It gets to nine thirty when Ava finally asks me to take her to bed. With all the resistance and bribery I can come up with, I give in to her request and slowly carry her down the hallway. I drag out the process as far as possible — something I will pay for in the morning when Ava is too tired to function.

  I contemplate going to sleep myself when I see the door to my bedroom, but I know what is waiting for me in that room: fear and loneliness. I loathe sleeping in such a huge bed by myself. And I also hate trying to fall asleep all the while knowing that my husband attacked me and put me in hospital. It's not the best mix.

  After a few hours of pointless TV watching, I send Annette a late-night message, instantly feeling like the world's worst friend if I'm waking her. She told me to call or text any time day or night, but I realize that's something people respond with when they are friends with someone as frustrating as me.

  Annette messages me back straight away and asks if I want her to come around for a few hours despite both of us having to work in the morning. I accept her offer without a moment's hesitation. I know I should say no and that I'll be okay, but we both recognize that isn't the case and won't be for a long time.

  Waiting for Annette to make the short trip over to my place, I wonder what's keeping her up this late? She's normally in bed early compared to me. One of my bad habits has always been staying up too long on a work night. It's half the reason I'm so unorganized to get Ava and myself off to school each day. But this is different. Things have changed in such a crazy way that I don't know what to think anymore about anything.

  Why has my life fallen apart?

  60

  Annette

  What a week it's been. Corey and Katherine are no longer living together, and I can't see them ever making things work again. It's almost too good to be true.

  No one in their right mind believes Corey attacked his wife. I've listened in to the rumors and whispers that have floated around the school. None of them suspect Corey of any wrongdoing. Instead, they all think Katherine has lost it.

  I couldn't have asked for things to have worked out any bet
ter than this. If everything continues the way it has, then I won't need to take this endeavor any further than it's already pushed me. I can go through with my original idea where Corey and I run away from this dump of a town forever.

  I know that once Corey and I reunite, he will leave Battery Beach if I ask him to. He hasn't lived here long enough to allow the town's hooks to sink into his brain. I've let this place hold me back all along.

  It's kind of ironic. All these years, I resented Katherine for abandoning me when she left town to go to college and travel around the world. But now I see the true wisdom in the idea. Part of me wonders what things could have been like if I had gone with her, but I knew back then that I could never have discarded the people I loved to pursue my own selfish desires. Now, there's only one person I love.

  It's one in the morning, and I am leaving Katherine's house to travel home and get some sleep before work starts. I hate every minute I'm forced to spend with her. It's bad enough getting her moronic texts at random times of the day. But having no choice but to rush to her place so late at night is driving me to my limit.

  "Thank you so much for seeing me," Katherine said when I came through the front door a few hours ago. She made it sound like I was her therapist squeezing her in for an emergency appointment. I might as well have been one, given the amount of crap I've had to listen to over the last week. It's hard to pretend you care about a person's problems when you are causing them.

  "Any time. You know I'm here for you." I struggle not to laugh, hearing the lies as they spill out of my mouth.

  "I'm so sorry to keep annoying you so much, it's just I can't sleep anymore. And I realize that Corey wouldn't dare violate the restraining order I've had put against him, but it doesn't stop my crazy brain from going around in circles."

  Katherine holds on to this whole restraining order thing like it'll last forever. I doubt she realizes that within a few weeks the police will drop it when they determine that Corey has done nothing wrong. They never made him leave his house; he volunteered to.

  Who could blame him?

  Katherine had become a special kind of intolerable. There was a jittering in her eyes as she constantly looked left and right and over each shoulder. I've got her on edge.

  I spent the next three hours listening to Katherine drone on and on about Corey and everything that led up to her having no choice but to kick him out of his own home.

  I wanted to scream at her. I wanted to shout how she should have been kicked out to the streets like a dog that'd stolen its master's dinner. But I knew I couldn't. Soon Katherine's rambling wouldn't matter. Soon I'll be leaving this place with the man of my dreams.

  "Thank you again for listening to me," Katherine said when she finally let me leave.

  "Anytime," I replied. That was when I noticed a look in Katherine's eyes, one that told me she had a question to ask. "What is it?"

  "I know I shouldn't be bothering you like this, but I have a huge favor to ask."

  My head tilted a little. "Yes?"

  Katherine let out a quick sigh. "Is there any chance Ava and I can come stay with you next week?"

  "At my house? For the whole week?"

  "Yes. I need to get away from this place. All of Corey's stuff is still here and I can't stop thinking about him. I figure being apart from that mess might help me process and deal with what is going on."

  I wanted to say that she was lying, that she only needed to use my house to feel safe, but again I resisted saying what I truly felt. "That sounds like a wonderful idea, Kat," I said, all the while dreading the plan.

  "Thank you, thank you, thank you. I promise we won't get in your way. I'll give you some money for any food we eat and some more for the utilities."

  "Unnecessary," I said, playing my part as the loyal friend.

  "You're too good to Ava and me."

  "Just trying to help. I know this is a rough time for you both."

  Katherine sobbed as she wrapped her arms around me. She gripped me tighter than expected. So much so I had to break her hold.

  "Sorry," Katherine said.

  "It's okay." I tried to leave by heading to my car, but she wasn't done.

  "I don't suppose Ava and I could come around as early as this Saturday?"

  Frozen in the driveway, I had my back to Katherine. If she could have seen my face at that moment, she would have known instantly the disdain I felt toward her. It was bad enough having her and her stupid kid at my house during the week. Now I would lose my damn weekend.

  I turned to Katherine and smiled. "Sounds like a plan."

  She let me go after thanking me again for the hundredth time.

  Now that I have finally escaped from Katherine for the night, I feel exhausted. Spending the next week with her will be painful. So much so, that I may have to do everything I can to drive her back to her home. Besides, I won't be hanging around my house. I've got another friend to help. One who is more deserving of my attention.

  61

  Katherine

  School has been difficult. Every teacher I walk past has this look in their eyes that tells me what they truly think. No one believes Corey attacked me or that he is capable of such an act, so I have to continue on with my life knowing what I know. Everyone around me assumes the worst while I have to swallow my fears and teach my class in the same place I got ambushed.

  To say I'm on edge is an understatement. Sure, it would be insane for Corey to attack me again in the school, but he's done it before and gotten away with it. Every corner I walk around feels like it could be my last.

  The kids have noticed my weakness and are naturally acting out in response to my waning authority. With each hour that passes, they are seeing me for the washed-up excuse of a teacher that I have become. I don't know what I can do to make myself concentrate and focus on my job.

  Barry tried to send me away on leave, but I can't be at home, especially with Ava still needing to go to school each day. I could have used the time off to better recover, but I insisted on coming back after only a few days. So much so that I had to beg a doctor to sign off on the idea.

  It's early, and I'm late again. A parent is waiting outside my classroom with their kid. I should have been in my room already with the door unlocked to allow kids to come in but trying to arrive here on time has become an even harder task than before. When I wake up in the morning, I've usually been asleep for less than three hours and feel like death. I struggle to get Ava and myself into my car now that it's been fixed and on our way to school.

  "Mrs. Grayson," the parent calls to me as I unlock the door. Hearing my new surname stops me. It sounds like a rusty blade being dragged over a steel pole and makes me shudder. I don't even know how or what I'm supposed to do to have my name changed back to Armstrong.

  "How can I help you?" I ask the parent, seeing that look of reservation in her eyes.

  "I understand things have been rough for you lately, but Jackson's had no homework all week. Usually by now you've given the class some."

  "I'm sorry," I say, bringing my hand over my face as I shake my head. "I guess I've forgotten all about it. I'll send some home today."

  "Thank you," Mrs. Wilson says, "but I feel it would be best if you take some time off and let another teacher come in."

  "Excuse me? Do you have any idea what you're asking of me?"

  "Yes, I do. Clearly you are going through something at the moment and need to think of the kids first."

  "I am thinking of the children by coming here. Having their usual teacher disappear doesn't help in any way."

  "It does when their regular teacher isn't coping."

  I open my mouth to retort, but I realize I'm getting into an argument with a parent. That never bodes well for anyone. Focusing all my ability to show confidence, I clear my throat and respond. "If you have anything you wish to discuss, we can meet with the principal and go over your concerns."

  I turn back to the door and open the classroom as more parents and students ar
rive. I don't have the time or the energy to deal with this kind of hell first thing. These people know someone attacked me and put me in hospital. They're also aware that I think my husband is responsible, yet they still treat me this way.

  Before I take three steps into my classroom, Barry calls. "Mrs. Grayson. Do you have a minute?"

  "No, sorry," I say as I face him. "I've just opened my room."

  "That's okay. I'm sending someone down to watch the class for a moment. We really need to talk."

  I want to run and scream, not caring where I go. As long as it's away from here. Barry leaves me with little choice but to comply in front of all the parents that have lined up with their children behind me. "Okay then."

  "Thank you, Katherine," he says as one of the regular substitute teachers arrives. They have all the gear with them as if they are planning on coming into my room for the day. Barry doesn't want to talk; he's sending me home.

  "What's this?" I blurt at him before we're clear of the parents.

  Barry ushers me to follow and sighs. "You know what this is."

  "No, I don't. So why don't you tell me what this is all about."

  "Not here, Katherine."

  "Yes here, Barry. Whatever you have to say get it out already. I've got a class to teach."

  "I'm afraid you don't. I'm sending you home for the next few weeks until you feel that you are up to the job."

  I cross my arms over my chest. "Why?" Every parent and student watches our exchange despite the substitute teacher's best efforts.

  "To be frank, your job performance has taken a massive tumble. You've only been back for a few days, but I have nothing but complaints spilling into my office."

  "What the hell are you talking about?" I know I've been off my game a little, but considering everything that's happened, I highly doubt many people have called up to complain about me.