Disclaimer: I am not the owner of the characters in this story. All rights go to Crown Media, Hallmark, Brian Bird, Michael Landon, Jr., the actors, creators, and writers of the show "When Calls the Heart." Any names or locations are simply for storyline purposes.

Chapter 9- Secrets Scar the Soul

"Excuse me? He asked you out on a date? Elizabeth, he's married…"

"Jack, I know that. I'm just telling you that he wanted to take Tristan and me out to dinner."

"You didn't go, did you?"

"Jack, is that even a serious question? Of course I didn't go. I want nothing to do with him. I just don't want to rock the boat by making him angry or filing for sole custody nor better yet, trying to have his rights terminated, because if I do, I'm afraid all Hell will break loose."

"Elizabeth, he doesn't scare me," Jack mentioned.

"I understand that, but he does scare me," she admitted. "You haven't had to…"

There was a period of uncomfortable silence before Jack asked, "What is it, Elizabeth?"

When she didn't respond he asked, "Was he ever physically abusive toward you or Tristan?"

The question took her back to a dark time in her life; her eyes closed, her mouth went dry and she felt herself begin to sweat.

When she still didn't respond, he asked again, "Elizabeth, did he ever hit you?"

Although he couldn't see her, he could hear her sniffling, "Elizabeth, please talk to me. Did he ever hit you?"

"No, but when he drank he would get angry if I didn't…"

"If you didn't what?" Jack was becoming frantic when she wouldn't answer as horrific thoughts and possibilities ran rampant through his mind.

"Jack, I don't want to talk about it."

"Elizabeth, at some point we have to."

"Why? It's over with…it doesn't matter anymore."

"Elizabeth, if it didn't matter, you'd talk about it."

"Jack…"

"Do you trust me, Elizabeth?"

"I do, but I've just pushed this down deep and I don't want to dredge it up again."

"Would you feel better if we talked in person? I can come right over?"

"No, I can't…"

"Please confide in me; I just want to help."

"Jack, the important thing is that he stays away from Tristan."

"Elizabeth, you're scaring me; what happened?"

"Jack, I'll tell you this; his physical abuse was always directed at me…except once. With Tristan, he was mostly abusive in the sense that he was indifferent toward her. She tried so hard to get his attention. Even now she's confused; he's her father and she believes that she should have love for him. Truly all she wants is for him to love her; to tell her that she's special."

She continued, "When he does see her, he sees me and he has such hatred for me that he can't let it go and love her like a father should love his daughter."

"He hit you?" Jack was in shock that a man would have raised his hand to her in anger.

"No…no, he pushed me, I think, and he drew his fist back several times I guess to try to keep me in line, but I don't think he actually hit me."

Feeling a knot tighten in his stomach he asked, "Why didn't you tell your dad, go to the police, or you could have called me?"

"Oh yeah right Jack; we weren't talking and I'm supposed to let you in on some of the darkest times of my life?"

"Okay, I understand, but why didn't you tell your dad or call the police?"

"Jack, I can't talk about this anymore. I'll talk to you later," she stated as he could hear her voice crack before she hung up the phone.

Unable to let this go, Jack grabbed his keys and headed for his SUV. Standing in his dimly lit driveway, a voice calling out his name grabbed his attention.

"Mr. Thornton…"

Jack was always cautious, but when he turned around, expecting to be confronted by a member of the media, he observed an elderly gentleman walking his immaculately groomed poodle as they passed his house.

Feeling comfortable, he responded, "Yes sir…"

The gentleman walked up his driveway stopping a short distance from Jack as his poodle danced around seeking attention from anyone who would offer it.

"Hi, we haven't met; I'm Martin Naismith; I live three houses down the dock from you."

"Good evening; it's nice to meet you," Jack responded doing his best to be neighborly, but wanting to get to Elizabeth's house as quickly as possible.

"You too…I'm sorry, I'm not into the music of you young kids; give me a Frank Sinatra song any day," he laughed softly. "But your mom was always so proud of you, and of course my grandkids and great grandkids love your music."

"Please tell them thank you for me."

"I will, but I really stopped by because I've been trying to catch you at home. I wanted you to be aware that some of those poparatzi fellers have been hanging around. I saw a few of them in the back of your yard recently and I yelled at them. They ran and jumped in a boat that was tied up at your dock."

Jack looked around his yard, "Thank you so much for letting me know."

"Well, I wanted to tell you when I saw them but I was out walking Poppy," he stated as he glanced down at his dog, "And there was a storm whipping up, besides it was really late, most of your lights were out, and I was rushing to get home, then I forgot about it…I'm sorry."

"Thank you, Mr. Naismith; it looks like some security measures are needed."

"You're welcome; I'm just sorry that it took me a while to get you the information. I can tell you that they've also been asking around about you, but no one here will talk. We're a close knit family."

"Thank you very much, Mr. Naismith."

"Call me Martin."

"And I'm Jack."

The two men shook hands, and Jack watched as Mr. Naismith and Poppy made their way down his driveway, onto the road and headed toward their home.

Jack slipped in behind the wheel of his vehicle and pulled out onto the street. It was late, but he wasn't about to allow things to fester between them. He only hoped that Elizabeth would trust him enough to discuss what he sensed was holding her emotionally captive.

Sitting in her den, Elizabeth's phone rang; it was after 9pm and she thought it was late for a call. However, realizing that it was Rosie's ring, and she had apparently put her off long enough, she answered the phone.

"Why have you not called me back?" Rosie sounded slightly rushed and agitated.

"I'm sorry; Tristan was sick and I've had a lot going on at school. I meant to call you back; what's up?"

"Lee told me that Tommy had an argument with Belinda in the parking lot at Rendezvous recently."

"Rosie, I don't really care what Tommy does, and…" suddenly she stopped. Although it wasn't her business, it was quite interesting that Tommy argued with his wife in public. Never in the years that they were together did he ever act anything but perfect in public.

Elizabeth asked, "Do you know what they argued about?"

"Lee wasn't there. He heard someone at the gym talking about it."

"Oh WOW, his perfect little world seems to be faltering."

"Well, Lee heard that Tommy said he didn't care what she did, or where she went, or something like that because there were plenty of other women around."

"Hmm, I wonder if that's why he called and asked me out."

"He what…? Did you go?"

"Why is it that you and Jack both asked if I went? I want nothing to do with Tommy. The farther away I am from him the safer I feel."

"I'm sorry; I know that things were bad with him, and I understand you not wanting to talk about it, but Elizabeth don't you think you can trust Jack?"

"Rosie, I lived it…"

While listening to Rosie, Elizabeth walked down the hall, peeking in Tristan's room to find the little girl fast asleep.

"I know you did, and you didn't even tell me how bad it was…" Rosie remarked. "I wish you had let me help you through it."

"I'm sorry; I was just trying to get through it, and even I don't know the truth about some stuff. He accused me; he threatened me, and no one knows what he's capable of," Elizabeth began to cry as she moved down the hall away from Tristan's room, doing her best not to awaken her child.

"Well, you owe Tommy nothing, and I'm sure he owes you everything. After all, you are the one who kept his character intact. His success is because of you."

"I want no credit for his success or maintaining his character. I want no credit for anything that has to do with him. If I could have safely blown him out of the water I'd have done it a long time ago," Elizabeth remarked, her respiration becoming noticeably more rapid.

"Elizabeth, are you okay?" Rosie asked.

"Rosie, I'm ashamed, and embarrassed. I used to be the first one to say 'get out of a loveless, unhappy marriage,' and yet I stayed."

"Why…?"

"For many reason, but none of which had anything to do with love."

"Please talk to me, Elizabeth. Let me help you…"

"I don't think anyone can help me. My focus is on Tristan; keeping her safe, and nothing else matters."

"What about Jack; doesn't he matter?"

Elizabeth fell back on the sofa; the phone fell to her side as she continued to cry.

"Elizabeth…Elizabeth…what's wrong?"

"Jack will always matter, but if Tommy finds out that Jack and I are seeing each other, he'll make his life a living hell."

"Elizabeth, Jack is not going anywhere, so Tommy is bound to find out that you two are seeing each other."

"Rosie, Tommy is very possessive…"

"Over you? You two are divorced."

"I know, but he has to have what other men want."

"Well Jack definitely wants you…"

"And I've already caused him problems."

"What are you talking about, Elizabeth?"

"Never mind; I'm done with Tommy, and if I can keep him away from us, Jack included, I'll be happy."

As she was finishing her conversation with Rosie, Jack pulled into her driveway. Sitting in his SUV with his phone in his hand he sent Elizabeth a text hoping she'd talk and not send him away.

Inside her phone chimed signifying a text…

"I'm outside, can we please talk…?"

Elizabeth hung up from Rosie and walked out onto her porch. Seeing Jack's SUV in her driveway she punched out a response, "I don't want 2 talk about it anymore."

Jack walked up to her front door; her eyes had lost their sparkle and their usual bright blue color was dull. It angered him that simply talking about Tommy had the ability to zap the life from her body.

It was obvious to him that she'd been crying as the tears had stained her cheeks. He stepped forward and brushed his thumbs across her cheeks before taking hold of her hand, partly to feel her touch, but if he was being completely honest with himself, it was actually to keep her from running away.

"Elizabeth, if we're going to make this work, we've got to let each other in. I need to know what we're facing with Tommy so I can be prepared."

"Jack, no one sees Tommy like I do. Even you said that you simply saw an older version of the Tommy you used to know."

Elizabeth backed against the door frame as her head lowered, "Sometimes I wish that I'd never married him, but then again, because of him, I have Tristan. I'd die for her… sometimes I think I nearly did, maybe not physically, but certainly emotionally."

Jack wrapped her in his arms, "I can tell you're scared, possibly more over Tommy than even the media," he stepped closer. His voice was soft, reassuring and somehow had the ability to calm the nerves that seemed to be controlling her body. "Please let me in; I can help and we can fight him together if we have to."

Elizabeth stepped aside and allowed Jack into her home. "Would you like a cup of coffee or a glass of wine?"

"I'll take whatever you're having," he responded.

She walked into the kitchen and poured them both a glass of wine and returned to the sofa.

"Is Tristan asleep?"

"Yes, I checked on her just before you got here and she's out like a light with her arms around those dolls you gave her."

"So, can we talk about it now?"

"I don't want to, Jack."

"What are you afraid of?" he asked.

"Jack, you just have no idea; I'm afraid of what you'll think of me."

"Elizabeth, I love you; I think I've always been in love with you. But we have to be open and honest," he stated as he put his glass on the table, reached over and took hold of her hand. "I can't force you to tell me, but it certainly will help for me to understand what he put you through, especially since I'm sure I'll see him around."

"Okay, what do you want to know?"

"You just talk and I'll listen…"

Elizabeth got up from her seat next to Jack, somehow feeling as though pacing would make it easier to tell her story. Worried about her most emotional secret, she began to talk, "After we broke up and you left, I didn't think I would ever see you again…"

"I'm so sorry, Elizabeth."

"Jack, I'm not telling you this to make you feel bad. You want to know it all, so here goes…

"When Tommy and I got married, I told myself that I loved him, but I didn't. I was just trying to get over you. The sad thing is that Tommy knew that and I don't think it mattered to him. He assumed that I'd grow to love him, or maybe he didn't even care, I don't know. What I do know is that I tried to find those feelings for him, really I did."

Jack remained quiet as she continued, "The first part of our marriage wasn't great, but it was okay. He was initially kind and generous, but also pushy in the sense that he wanted a baby. I wanted one too, because I could feel him changing toward me, and somehow a baby gave me someone to love and someone who would love me unconditionally."

She looked across the room and glanced into his eyes, "Don't look at me like that…"

"Like what…?"

"Like you don't understand how I could have done what I did."

"I'm sorry; I'm not looking down at you for anything. Please go on…"

Elizabeth thought she heard a noise and glanced down the hall. Seeing nothing, she continued, "Tommy wanted to move up into an executive position at the bank, so he kept asking for more and more responsibilities. If something needed to be done, they would ask him and he'd drop everything to do it. He'd work late, sometimes all night, and the family was pushed aside."

Elizabeth walked back over and took a seat across from Jack. Reaching over she picked up her glass of wine and took a sip, "Once Tristan arrived he changed again, only this time it appeared to be for the better. He pretended to be a doting father…"

"Pretended…?"

"The bank executives presented themselves as family men, and I believe that Tommy viewed Tristan and me as his ticket to a more prestigious position. So he'd show us off any chance he got."

Again she stood and walked around unable to get comfortable as she thought back quite a few years ago, "In public he was wonderful to us; he couldn't have been more kind, but in private," she lowered her head as her eyes seemed to settle on a speck of something on a strand in the carpet.

Jack stood up and walked over beside her; reaching over he took her hand, "I'm so sorry, Elizabeth. Did your parents always like him?"

"Dad…"

"Go ahead."

"Jack, I think dad saw Tommy's drive and it reminded him of himself when he was younger and just starting out. My dad thought Tommy was the son he never had, but he has no idea how different they are."

"I thought your dad liked me."

"He did; but he saw Tommy as a career man and you, well a musician was not what he saw for me. Then when you left; my dad saw me heartbroken, so suddenly he despised you."

"How does he feel now that I'm back?"

"Well, I haven't told my parents that you're back, and apparently Tristan hasn't said anything when she's seen them. I guess more and more people will find out because of the media, but if they've heard anything, they haven't mentioned it."

She continued, "Obviously my mom and Tristan are big fans of yours. Well, Tristan is a big fan of yours, my mom loves your music, but then again, I think she always did. According to Tristan, she and Nana talk about you in private. Apparently, you're a topic that is generally not on the table for discussion with my dad."

"My mom and Tom know I'm home…"

"Well, I expected that, but they aren't inclined to talk to reporters about you," she commented. "Jack, how do you get the rumors under control? And how do you handle the photographers snapping pictures of you all the time?"

"Elizabeth…"

"What?"

"You've sidetracked the conversation. We were talking about Tommy and you…"

"He's not worth talking about," she stated as she drank the last bit of wine from her glass.

Jack attempted to direct the conversation back to Elizabeth's marriage with Tommy. "I know you said that your dad doesn't know about Tommy not paying child support or spending time with Tristan, but since you're divorced, how does he feel about him now?

Elizabeth walked back to the sofa with Jack right behind her, and they took a seat side by side. She leaned forward, bracing her elbows on her thighs as she folded her hands together, "You know, when my dad was first starting out in business, there were school programs and dance recitals that he missed. He did his best to make it up to us in his free time…whenever he found free time," she smiled as she thought about her childhood.

Elizabeth continued, "In the beginning, I think he saw Tommy as doing what was needed to do to establish himself. I've covered up a lot for Tommy, so my parents really don't know how little he's involved in Tristan's life. As for child support, not that I need his money, but I'm sure my dad would be livid if he knew that Tommy is a deadbeat dad."

Jack reached over and took hold of her hand, feeling it nervously shake in his. "But why not tell him…? I mean, shouldn't he know what you're dealing with?"

Elizabeth pulled her hand away from his, stood up and walked to the kitchen for another glass of wine. "Jack, if my dad knew everything, I'm…just afraid," she replied before taking a gulp from her glass. "My dad understands needing to be away when building your career and although he missed out on things when we were younger, we are his little girls and you don't hurt us."

"Tommy would parade Tristan and me around at dinners and social functions like we were his trophies, doing his best to come across as a loving family. It's odd, but I always felt that some of those men he looked up to had skeletons of their own in their closets," she stated as she walked back into the den and stood behind the chair, resting her elbows on the back of the piece of furniture. "During our arguments, he would occasionally make comments that I was lucky he didn't take on a mistress."

She took a deep breath, "He has no idea how I wish he had…"

"Did you argue a lot?" he asked.

"The verbal abuse happened when he drank, which was pretty much every evening. It was more verbal and threatening. We argued about money, his drinking and sex mostly. He'd drink too much and then call me every name in the book, accuse me of sleeping around, and always threatened to take Tristan from me if I tried to leave him."

"You fought about money? He's bound to make a good salary at the bank; was he into gambling or something?"

"No, his problem is more a need for social standing. He wants the best of everything; the best house, the best car, membership in the best clubs…you get my drift," she stated as she took several gulps of wine, seeking the courage that was contained within her glass. "Tommy is a show-off and he wants people to envy him. If someone else wants what he has it seems to thrill him; I don't know why!"

"How long has he been drinking?" Jack asked.

"You know Tommy; he always drank, but when he pushed for more responsibilities at the bank, it got worse," Elizabeth released a frustrated breath. "I tried to talk with him about his drinking; the fact that I felt he was an alcoholic, which truly made him angrier."

She held up the wine bottle, "Would you like some more?" she asked.

"No I'm fine," he stated, concerned for her as she poured a third glass for herself. He knew that she was not one to drink excessively and he could only imagine that the memories of the past were causing her to overindulge.

She poured her glass of wine, and put the cork in the bottle before walking back into the den. "Jack, Tommy never thought that he had an alcohol problem," she stated as she looked at her glass of wine. She walked back into the kitchen and poured her wine down the drain, "Would you like some coffee?"

"No, I'm fine."

"Where was I?" she asked as she stood in the kitchen waiting on her coffee to brew.

"You were talking about Tommy and you arguing over his drinking."

"Oh right… He would scream about how he worked every day, brought the money into the household, like I didn't bring in anything, and there was no way he could be an alcoholic and do that. Jack, when we did go out, we couldn't go some place that didn't sell alcohol; he just couldn't be without it."

She swallowed hard before continuing. "Are you sure you want to hear this, Jack?"

Truthfully he didn't know that he wanted to hear it, but he knew that he needed to hear it. "I need to know what you and Tristan went through."

"But Jack…" holding her cup of coffee she walked back into the den.

Jack observed her body trembling. He walked over, took her hand and led her back to the sofa. They sat down as his thumb gently brushed across the skin on the top of her hand.

"You're safe; you can tell me…"

She momentarily closed her eyes and took a deep breath, "I'd get Tristan into bed and he'd come at me smelling of alcohol and stale cigarettes, expecting me to make love to him. Anything physical would have been sex, because there was no love involved there," her arm covered her abdomen as if she felt nauseous. "Before he passed out he'd call me a slut," her eyes watered as she spoke the word.

Jack felt as though he'd been lit on fire, "He called you a what?"

When she didn't respond he asked, "Why did you wait so long to leave?"

She pulled her hand away and stood up in front of the sofa, "Jack, you said that you'd let me talk. Please don't question what I did; I know I made mistakes, but since I left, I'm trying to set things right in Tristan's world."

"I'm sorry; go ahead," he stated as she sat back down at the far end of the sofa. Jack immediately moved to the cushion beside her; they were close enough that he held her hand, gently brushing his thumb across her skin. "Please…"

"Since I wouldn't sleep with him he said that I had to be "getting it" from somewhere. The names he called me I'm sure you've heard, but they certainly aren't appropriate to call anyone, let alone your wife."

Jack didn't want to ask, but needing to know everything he forced the question from his mouth, "Did he force himself on you?"

"Jack, I really don't want to talk about this with you."

"Elizabeth, we've talked about sex before."

"No Jack, what we've talked about is making love with each other after we got married; how beautiful it would be, and how special you thought it was that I waited."

Elizabeth's hands rubbed down her arms, almost as if she thought that in doing so, she could remove any sign of Tommy from her past. "That ship has sailed; I'm no longer special in that regard."

Jack's hand on the side of her face turned her head toward him. His voice was emotional, but stern, "Don't you ever say that you aren't special. I have loved you for so long, and you are every bit as special to me now as you were back in college. So we need to talk about it."

"Okay, how was your sex life with your fiancé?"

"Elizabeth, that's not fair."

"Why…? You want to know about my experiences, but I can't ask you about yours?"

"Elizabeth, I'm trying to understand what you went through with Tommy. There will be plenty of time to discuss my relationship with Dana. You ask and I'll answer, I promise, but right now, we're talking about you."

Elizabeth implied that she wanted to know about his relationship with his fiancé, but truth be told, she was simply trying to divert the attention away from her. Knowing that he was enough in love with another woman to propose to her was difficult to hear, let alone discuss the intimate details.

"Jack it's just so hard to have to relive our time with Tommy. He's not bothered us in years, so why bother dredging up that hurt again?"

"I'm just trying to find out what he did to you so we'll know how to deal with him; I'm not trying to hurt you. So please tell me Elizabeth, did he force you?"

Initially all she did was shake her head 'no.' She turned away and wiped her eyes before glancing back in his direction, "No, but then again he was usually drunk and would pass out beforehand, so I really don't know what he would have done if he was just angry and alcohol was not part of the picture," she responded. "When he was with me, alcohol and anger seemed to go hand in hand."

Jack could feel her body stiffen as he pulled her closer and held her in his arms.

Sitting back, she looked into Jack's warm and caring eyes, "Trust me, he might as well have done it, because the verbal abuse was almost as bad. Sadly, I guess you become numb; almost immune to it."

She momentarily closed her eyes as her breathing became more ragged. "He took my self respect, my love of life, and threatened me with following through and taking Tristan if I went against him. Some things I did I knew were wrong, but I was afraid of him; I'm still afraid of him, not so much for me, but for Tristan."

Elizabeth took a breath before continuing, "Tristan is confused. He's her father and she feels like she should love him, but he constantly lets her down," she stated as she walked over to the bookcase.

"Let me show you something," she stated as she pulled a paper booklet from between several books. Walking back she took a seat beside Jack. Opening the front cover Elizabeth showed Jack several pictures that Tristan had drawn when she was in kindergarten, just shortly before she filed for divorce.

Jack hesitantly smiled, "That's you and Tristan with Tommy standing beside you. Divorce and arguing between the parents is hard on kids; it shows that she wanted her family back together."

"Jack, that's not Tommy…"

"It's not; is it your dad?"

"No; it's you…"

"She didn't know me; how would she know about us?" he asked.

"Several years ago, Tristan found a photo album at my parent's house and came across that picture of you and me on the camping trip we took that first summer we were together," her eyes watered as she explained. "Life seemed so easy then."

As tears spilled over her eye lid, she continued, "Even as young as she was, Tristan knew that in the picture I was happy, but with her father…" her head lowered, "She knew that she rarely, if ever, saw a smile on my face while Tommy lived with us".

Jack wasn't expecting to be so overwhelmed as his own tears fell. He felt his anger building, certainly not at her, but he wondered how any man could treat a woman as he had Elizabeth; as he had his own child.

They wiped each other's eyes as Elizabeth continued to explain, "Tommy saw the picture and assuming that it was him, he became incensed when she said that it was mommy's boyfriend, Jack."

Elizabeth stood up and walked. She went no place in particular, but somehow walking and looking about the room kept her from having to look him in the eyes. Things were getting harder to relive, and watching him go from seemingly sympathetic understanding to detest and loathing had the butterflies in her stomach, usually welcomed when she was near Jack, suddenly quiet, their wings broken, but still leaving her feeling quite nauseous.

She stood at the window and stared out into the darkness, "Tommy was so angry; his eyes were piercing, almost like daggers. Tristan cried out as she attempted to get away from him. She screamed as if he was killing her when he grabbed her arm. I was in the kitchen fixing dinner; I ran into the den and fire flew in me. He was screaming at her; he was screaming at me that I was useless and worthless, and how he prayed that Tristan would look nothing like me, or she'd turn his stomach too," she was both angry and hurt as she relived that moment.

Jack's heart broke as she fell apart trying to give him the information he was demanding. Not certain what to do, he stepped forward to hold her but she backed away, so he kept his distance.

Elizabeth looked frantic as if she was reliving her worst nightmare, "I picked Tristan up and held her tight; he was trying to pry her from my arms and I fought him. For the first time I felt like I was literally fighting for our lives."

She again began to walk around as if moving would make the words easier to speak and the memory easier to relive. She continued to talk, but as Jack watched her, she seemed to distance herself from the present. Staring down into the dark hallway, Jack felt certain that she was again in the den of the house she shared with Tommy as the horror of that evening unfolded.

"Tommy was drunk and saying vulgar things. The next thing I knew he pushed me or I tripped, I don't know which and I fell backward over the foot stool. He grabbed Tristan and started for the door."

Her eyes began darting around the room as if she was looking for something in particular. "You want Jack; you can have him, but you'll never see my baby again…" he screamed at me. "Tommy was dragging Tristan toward the door; she was screaming 'Mommy…mommy, I'm scared, save me,' I didn't know what to do; Jack, I didn't know what he was going to do; all I could see was him leaving the house and taking her away from me. I had to protect her, so I…"

"You what…?" When she didn't immediately respond, he asked again.

"I grabbed the poker from the fireplace and I started hitting him, over and over and over," she stated as her arms rose and fell multiple times, almost as if she was attacking him again.

Jack rushed toward her and wrapped her in his arms, "Shh, calm down; it's over; you're safe; Tristan's safe."

After what seemed like forever, he felt her respiration return to normal, Jack whispered, "Oh Elizabeth, I had no idea…"

"No one did; no one does…everyone sees Tommy as the perfect man, they don't see what I saw; what I lived through."

Almost afraid to ask, but knowing that he had to, Jack inquired further, "What happened?"

"He lost his balance and fell against the counter in the kitchen, knocking him out," her eyes darted around the room as if she was subconsciously looking for a place to hide. Again her respiration began to increase, "There was blood everywhere, on the counter, the floor, the wall, our clothes, and it was even on Tristan's face. I was living my very own personal horror movie."

"You left him then, didn't you?" he asked.

"Yes, I grabbed Tristan, a few clothes for me and her, a wet wash cloth for her face, and we left the house. Jack I didn't even check to see if he was alive. I think I tried to kill him…"

"Obviously he was alive, so did you file for divorce then?" he asked.

"I intended to. I didn't see him for two days; Tristan and I stayed in a hotel, because I couldn't tell anyone what happened."

"What happened after two days?"

"He was standing by my car when Tristan and I walked outside after school. She wrapped her arms around my leg; the poor child was petrified, but then again so was I," Elizabeth stated. She placed her hand up to the side of her head above her right ear, "He had a bandage here, and although I didn't see the injury, he said that he went to the hospital and they put staples in to close the wound."

"Do you know what he told the doctor?"

"He said that he lost his balance and fell, hitting his head on the corner of the kitchen counter," she responded.

"Well, that's what happened…"

"Jack, I tried to kill him, and I didn't know that he wasn't dead when I left him lying on the floor."

"Did you actually go home with him?" he asked.

"Jack, unless you've been in a situation like this, please don't judge me. He said that if I didn't come back until he secured his promotion that he'd go to the police; I'd be charged with attempted murder, and he'd see to it that I lost Tristan. I wasn't willing to take the chance."

"Elizabeth…"

"See Jack; you say that nothing I tell you will change how you feel about me. The look on your face tells a different story."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"You don't know it all…"

"There's more?"

Staring out into the near darkness, dimly lit by the erratically positioned street lights, she continued. "You want to know everything; here goes…"

She couldn't bring herself to look at Jack as he stood practically numb near her; the secret she'd just revealed would be earth shattering in its own right, and yet she was about to reveal another.

"I filed for divorce right after he was promoted to vice president at the bank and almost from the beginning; he fought me tooth and nail. It wasn't hard to tell that all he really wanted was her trust fund."

"Was her trust fund in his bank?" Jack asked.

"Initially both of our trust funds were in his bank. Needless to say, when I filed for divorce, as soon as my complaint was signed, the money was transferred into my new account at Legacy Bank. The executives at Legacy were ecstatic, but the Board at Tommy's bank wasn't thrilled to take such a hit."

"Do you mind me asked how much?"

"A few years ago, Tristan's trust fund was just under $1 million."

"$1 million?" he asked as if he couldn't believe the amount.

"Well, my parents and my grandparents opened it, like they did with all the grandkids, with a substantial amount when she was born. It was put in my name, so I handle it and the decisions for what is done with it are up to me. It is actually well over $1 million now"

"What about your trust fund?" he asked.

Elizabeth stopped as she looked in Jack's eyes suddenly afraid to speak the secret.

"Please tell me…"

"Jack, my parents would be so upset if they knew."

"If they knew what?"

"Tommy wanted to get his hands on Tristan's money. It really killed him that he had no control over it, and he made it his mission to fight me in private. He went through the money he earned, and then set his sights on ours. When he looked at me and Tristan, I'm certain he only saw dollar signs."

Having told him this much, she felt as though she may as well explain everything, "I fought him for custody of Tristan for a long time. Court dates were continued and not that I was doing anything wrong, but he had a private investigator following me, taking pictures of me at school, the market and at the park where I would take Tristan to play. Even on a few dates that I did manage to go on, the private eye was always there."

"Dates…?"

"Jack, are you serious? Is that what you're getting out of this whole conversation?"

"I'm sorry, Elizabeth; I'll be quiet."

"That's what you said before."

"I mean it this time…"

"Okay, but please just let me finish. I even went to the police because the investigator was scaring me, but they said that they couldn't do anything unless he touched me, which he obviously didn't."

Elizabeth looked Jack in the eyes and of all the things she'd disclosed, the only regret she had with regard to this discovery is that she couldn't tell her parents.

"Jack, I signed over my trust fund to Tommy and declined child support. I just wanted him to leave us alone. That's the agreement I have with him. I guess it worked because he took my money and dropped his petition for custody. He must have been ecstatic because he had more money than he had ever seen; he had beauty queen Belinda, and apparently the wife he'd always wanted. I got Tristan out of the Hell we were living in, and she still has her trust fund, so it was a win-win for me," she started walking about the room.

"Jack, I don't care if I ever see Tommy again, and I pray to God that Tristan doesn't feel the need to contact him. He may be her father, but he's far from the daddy she deserves. What a poor excuse for a man; Belinda can have him. That is if she still wants him," she rambled.

"Trouble in paradise?" he asked.

"According to Lee he heard about them arguing in the Rendezvous parking lot, which is definitely not like him. Jack, people in the community have always seen a different side of Tommy. They see a man who works tirelessly to make their new home dreams come true; they see a man whose desk and office walls are covered in pictures of his two children and a wife who at least in photos appears to adore him, and they see a man who is quite capable of appearing perfect in public, while in private he could easily be likened to the devil himself."

Before he could say anything she continued, "It looks like the walls of his façade are beginning to crumble. I'm afraid of what he'll do if that happens."

"Well, he can't be perfect in everyone's eyes forever," Jack responded.

"Jack, I should have been stronger and left a long time before I did. I wasn't aware that Tristan internalized our fights. She was just a baby, and she shouldn't have had to deal with that. That's my fault and I have to accept responsibility for that." Until she broke down that night we went out and you made the comment that I was beautiful, I had no idea that she had buried those ugly things he'd called me so deep inside."

"Do you need any money?" he asked. He was at a loss for what to say but he quickly gathered how hurtful his thoughtful offer sounded to her.

"Excuse me?"

"It's a simple question…"

She looked at him as if the question hurt her feelings. "I don't need you to take care of me, Jack. I work, remember, and I'm quite capable of taking care of Tristan."

"I'm sorry;" he quickly apologized. "I didn't mean anything by it. I just don't want you or Tristan needing something and not having the money for it."

"No Jack, I'm the one who's sorry;" feeling slightly agitated with the need to take a seat, she stepped away from Jack and over to the sofa. "The last part of our marriage, Tommy insisted on handling the money and he'd say that he would determine what I deserved… as if I was a prostitute. He'd laugh about leaving me money on the dresser if I was good," her voice was soft, barely audible, her eyes never drifting from the carpeted floor beneath her feet.

"Elizabeth, no one can blame you for what you've done. We do the best we can with what we have available. I know that Tristan is your main concern, as well she should be, but I'm here. If you have to fight, you won't do it alone, okay?" he sat beside her, pulling her into his body, wanting desperately to hold her, to let her know that everything would be alright; that he understood.

"Jack…" she pulled away.

"What's wrong?" he asked. I understand what you did, and I appreciate you trusting me enough to tell me. I love you, Elizabeth."

"I know how you feel Jack, but there is no way with everything I've just told you that you can possibly look at me in the same way."

"Elizabeth, you don't know how I feel, because if you did, you'd know in your heart how much I love you and nothing you say could ever change that."

"I wouldn't be so sure; I have one more thing to tell you…"

To be continued…

For those who have requested updates on my other stories, please know that I am working on several of them now, and I will post those shortly.