“He is a normal kid, he’s great.”
“You think?”
They started walking back toward the house.
“Yeah, course I do. Kid can talk, I’ll give him that, but he’s cool, brave too.”
“Brave?”
“Not many six-year-olds stand up to a grown man, least of all their father.”
She was quiet.
“What’s this asshole look like?” Jayden asked.
“Why?”
“I’m keeping an eye out for him, ain’t I?”
She was quiet then, “He’s not as tall as you, but he’s strong, all muscle.”
Muscle he used on you.
Jayden’s blood heated. “Hair?”
“Brown, losing it, something he was always very conscious about.”
Good. “What does he do for a living?”
“Works in a local grocery store, assistant manager.” She huffed. “Always moaning that he should be manager, that the woman in charge of him was a bitch.”
“Real fucking charmer.”
“He was once.” She paused as they crossed the road and began to walk parallel with the beach. “Told me he’d give me the world, that he promised to always be there for me and Zak and…”
“And what?”
“It doesn’t matter, it was all a pack of lies.”
“You’re better off without him.”
“I know. I just feel foolish for staying so long, you know? Now I’m out, now I’m here.”
“Everything has a breaking point. You had to reach that.” He waited several paces and then, “What was that breaking point for you?”
He was aware of her tensing and she reached for her cross, something she did a lot. “I don’t … he…”
“Hey.” He touched her shoulder lightly. “You don’t have to tell me.”
“I know but … you’ve been so good to us and…”
He waited for her to go on.
“And you’re right, there was a breaking point. The daybefore I called Hudson, he, Gary…” She stopped and looked out to sea.
Jayden did the same. His insides were prickling, as if he already knew what she was going to say, and damn it was going to turn him murderous. “Gary…” he prompted.
“He took what a man wants from his wife.” She’d spoken the words fast as if they’d fallen from her mouth.