A few moments passed before she spoke again. “He did hit me once.”
His hand stilled on her foot.
She’d spoken so low. Had he heard correctly?
The bleak expression on her face told him he had.
“Tell me.”
“It was the night I found Ray. Evan was late getting home from work. He never bothered to let me know if he was going to be late but still expected a hot and ready dinner waiting for him. Something had happened at work, I don’t even remember what it was anymore, but was in a foul mood. One of his worst. He’d been nasty and cutting about my outfit and hair, the reheated dinner, the cleanliness of the house, my ability as a wife in general. I stayed quiet and took it like I always did. Twisted as it now seems, I wasn’t worried or afraid of him. His volatile moods had become my normal. I had nowhere to go, no one to turn to, so I just lived in my normal. Anyway, he’d been hollering, slamming things around, and getting in my face for a while when Ray barked from upstairs, where I’d set him up in our bedroom. I’ll never forget the expression of shock and rage on his face.”
She jolted then blinked as though she’d forgotten she’d been sharing the story with another person. Her cheeks turned pink. Embarrassment was the last thing she should feel. Strength, pride in no longer being in that shitty situation, happiness for living the way she wanted now.
Those were the things he felt for her.
Never shame.
But that was so much easier to tell someone than to have them believe it and live it.
“Keep going. Get it out.”
After a few seconds, she cleared her throat. “Evan sprinted out of the kitchen and up the stairs screaming about how the noise better not be what he thought it was. I ran after him, begging him to stay out of the room. To please not hurt the dog. God, I tried so hard to keep up, but he was so much faster. When he threw our bedroom door open and saw Ray sitting there…”
Her shoulders drooped, and she shook her head. “I couldn’t think of anything but my fear of Evan hurting Ray. I grabbed his arm and yanked him back into the hallway. It was a reaction. Instinct. No thought involved. It was also the first time in ten years that I stood up to him. I’m not sure who I surprised more, him or me.” Her chuckle was heavy and sad.
“Evan whirled around and slapped me so fast, I didn’t even feel it for a few seconds. Then he grabbed my throat and slammed me against the wall. He was screaming the entire time about what a horrible wife I was and how I didn’t love him. I don’t remember all of what he said because I was clawing at his hand, trying to get it off my throat instead of paying attention to his words.” Her hand lifted to her neck.
Was she reliving every second of the pain and fear?
Jesus Christ. Curly ran a hand down his face. Evan. He needed a last name because there was no way in hell he’d let this fucker have a pass. “How’d you get away?” he asked, voice ragged.
A small huff slipped from her as she pointed to her dog. “Ray.”
Curly glanced down at the Shepard whose ears twitched each time his name was mentioned.
“I swear he sprouted wings and flew out of the bedroom. He latched onto Evan’s arm with this snarl that still makes my blood run cold to think about. Evan had no choice but to let go of me. Well, I guess he could have chosen to lose his arm. He fell to the floor screaming for me to call nine-one-one and clutching his mangled arm to his chest. I called Ray to me, grabbed my purse, and we ran. My first stop was a nearby Walmart. I took out as much cash as I could and bought whatever I thought we’d need for the next few weeks before Evan had a chance to cancel my cards. Then I drove a few towns over and got a motel room.”
“And a divorce?”
She snorted. “That was a little more difficult. As I was lying there in the motel room that first night, stunned, sore, and terrified, I remembered the cameras in our house. Evan had them installed a few years after we were married. He claimed it was for security, but I’m pretty sure he only wanted to monitor me. I downloaded the app on my phone and guessed his password. It took me days to get it right, but I eventually did. The camera in the upstairs hallway had a perfect view of the door to our room. Everything that had happened that evening was there. Him punching me, choking me, screaming at me. I downloaded the footage and used it to get myself a divorce and enough money to start over. This was about five years ago. I’ve been on my own ever since, and that’s how it’s going to remain permanently. Well, not totally on my own. I’ve got Ray, huh, buddy?” She smiled at the dog who’d saved her life.