Chapter 4 (Annora) “No, Grace, you can’t go to the fundraiser. I told you already, there will not be children there,” I tell her. Grace just stares me with those sea-green eyes of hers. Why did she to get his eyes? I think had she after more in watching her grow up wouldn’t have been so hard. Having Quinn’s eyes stare at me through our daughter hits me hard some days. “Mom, need Haylie to watch me anymore. I enough to stay home alone while party with rich doctors. ” Grace glares me. She stomps her foot, crosses her arms over chest then just stares at me. “Grace, about this. I obligations outside this and sometimes they get in the way of what you want. ” “I want go to movies or go with you to the fundraiser. pinch the bridge of my nose sigh. We have been at this same since she got home from school. My answer has remained the same yet she pushing. want sweet daughter for night not this heathen. looks me once more then runs to her room and slams the door. I glance at Haylie then walk calmly up the stairs to confront my child. I am getting increasingly frustrated her the minute. This is the preview show for her teenage years coming soon, I already feel the headaches to come. At eleven old, Grace is becoming a handful. know she get any of spunk and me. had one act of defiance and she is the result. I wouldn’t change it world. But oh like today make want to child off to visit grandfather. He will take none of her crap make listen. Grace isn’t a child by any but on nights that my work with what she wants, she fights me tooth and nail. Tonight, am not budging. The fundraiser tonight for vets, and I am with a friend of mine who an army nurse. Grace just to that I can’t always pass things like because throws a tantrum. I straighten my spine as I at her with steel my eyes. hate being the bad guy and she knows it. My ex-husband was never a good but he pretended to be until he became the cheating parent who sleeping with accountant. Then the asshole parent since Grace wasn’t his child no reason for to see her after the divorce. It affected Grace hard at Kyle had been the only father she had known. Part was fault for harder to find Quinn. chalk that up to teenage stupidity and innocence. the hell knew I end up pregnant at eighteen? I didn’t. We had used protection, well most time anyway. Shit we were fools. I the door Grace’s then just look at her. She is sitting on the staring at the door. stare turns into an glare look from the door. “What is the about doors in this house?” “No slamming them,” she mumbles. you think it is to break the rules a there be consequences. I tell Haylie that there to be video tonight. You can watch movies or board games. ” want you to do what you promised. ” “I didn’t promise to you the movies, Grace. I said we could go if nothing came at work. I never once said we would go tonight. ” “But you said,” she stopped talking when held my hand up in a gesture. look, I know me to stay home so can go movie wanted to watch. am that we can’t, but you have known about this fundraiser for the last Grace. is something that I am passionate about and I will not it because you are having I tell her. promised we would it,” Grace screams at me. “No I didn’t and you it. We will go on the weekend. you yell at me that we won’t go see it all. It will for months, we have plenty of time. Now, I want no more from you. ” I look her as she opens her mouth to complain again, but she doesn’t, this time. I her room so can go get dressed. a single parent is a pain the ass some days I love daughter and try hard to give her everything I can. within reason least. I take last look at myself in my floor to ceiling mirror. I pull my auburn back into French-braid, loose curls escaping around my face. The dress I have is tighter than I but works well with my complexion. It has a halter-like top, and the skirt flows down in a smooth line of satin. I feel a little overdressed for a for veterans, but there will be so many women dressed better than me. Most of will to snag rich husband, but having been once, even looking for anything remotely resembling right now. I step into the gaming room to tell the girls goodbye, then leave the house to go pick my friend Shawna. She picked my dress, so I have to it tonight. looks on just I it would. ” Shawna says when she her apartment door. I smile at then follow her inside. She tells me that she is almost ready and will be a more minutes. Her is painted in bright colors. has open floor that makes it look bigger than actually is. There are plants over the living room to give it that indoor garden feeling. apartment is very much like her personality. Bright and cheerful yet very down to earth. I wait her sofa her Leroy. I tell about Grace’s attitude while getting ready. she back out I widely. The green satin dress is form fitting and short. Her fiery red hair loose flowing down her back. My bestie knockout. “Are you going on hunt tonight?” I ask as she grabs her purse. am on the hunt but tonight I just want to dance have fun. I will think about finding a boyfriend another night. “One day soon you will Mr. Right of Mr. ” I tell her a gentle smile. sad for a so I hug her tight. “Now, let’s get this night over with I can home to my temperamental child. An hour later Shawna I walk into the at the grand hotel the fundraiser is in. Classical music is through the speakers, people milling with wine in hands, my smile fades minutes as hear that of my ex-accountant’s. Well, this night just became no fun. to punch her the face later?” Shawna asks me. I laugh and my head, “No, I can handle her. is Kyle worry about. Go Shaw, I will be fine. Shawna gives me hug, then goes off to a dance partner, leaving me to watch as Lana flirts with a in uniform. I pity her when Kyle her. she seen his temper yet? Has he around yet? I hope for her sake he hasn’t, but I know she stays with him much he get that point. Kyle at hiding his true face people. He fooled me the first were married. Then the first time wore something didn’t or folded his clothes wrong, I his temper. I covered bruises for years until I worked up the to file for divorce. Two days I walked in on him and Lana in bed. A restraining followed then a divorce. Adultery was our and pissed him off to no end that he got nothing from me. I learned during the that had been sleeping with Lana for over a year. A three-year marriage down the drain. day finalized divorce was day me for the time. He spent months in jail for but he tried again to me, so is now out on until his court date for that incident. there is a order of protection him. I will be forever thankful that he never Grace. Kyle hid his darker side from my very well. If here tonight, has to stay one hundred yards away from me all times. I decide that it is a good this to a security guard, but I am stopped as hand clamps around my arm, I am yanked behind large marble column. From the cologne, I know instantly who it is. Wells, the worst have ever made. “That dress is tight on you, Nora,” Kyle growls in my ear before he turns me him. “What have I you about that? When we get home, will have to remind you. Fantastic. I that too. “You are restraining order Kyle. “The hell am. You are my and no paper or judge will tell me when, where, or how I can talk to you. ” He slurs the last of his words as he glares at me. around as panic sets in. We alone in the entrance area that is a bad sign. I he pulls in close his body. He reeks booze. wrinkle my which off. “Do offend He growls at as he his to my face. “You used make the sexiest noises I you. ” Oh, yes, you really do. your makes my stomach lurch. faked most with this fool. What did I ever see in man? “Let go of me,” I grit out. “You are my wife, Nora. home, I show you that is to me right now. ” Been there, done not interested in repeat. Three of crappy sex was enough. Missionary Kyle, is what I called him in my head. No other positions were allowed. “Kyle, we are married anymore. Take your off me now and I won’t scream. You remember that you are not allowed near right?” I ask him. struggle to loosen his on my arm. This causes him to tighten his hold and me up against him. The smell of vodka his makes me to puke. “You will always mine, always. No will ever change that. You are mine, Nora, mine. ” “The I am. Let of at him. “No matter much deny it, you are still in love me. can for pressing against me. We can just forget that ever happened. His voice as he pleaded me but his eyes malice. I struggled to get of his hold thankfully he drunk enough he keep his grip on me. a step from him as his face took on a look that I know well. He reached out and grabbed my wrist in a vice-like grip that should have seen coming. “You are a pathetic excuse for a man, Kyle. I don’t love you. If the I never loved you. take your fucking hand off my I scream for help. ” swear at me, you little he hand like he is going to slap me. close my eyes, no lands my face. When I my eyes, Kyles is around to glare at a man behind him. That man is Kyle’s arm in air he caught it mid-swing. blur my vision, making hero’s blurry. “I believe the lady asked you to let her go,” the stranger said. Oh, my goodness, voice. I my tears to clear my vision. When I do, into a pair of eyes. Eyes that haunted me for years. His face is jaw more defined, but I would recognize anywhere. My god, really is him. Quinn Greyson in flesh.