Chapter 6

On the flight home, Abbey thought back to the first year she and Jed had been married.

He was keeping long hours and she had gotten home early to take a relaxing bath. As she unlocked the door, she wondered why the living room light was on. Maybe Jed had been home for a few minutes and had left it on. She didn't think twice about it.

She went into the bathroom, took off her clothes, turned on the hot water, and poured some bath crystals. She then moved to the bedroom to get her robe and that's when she saw him.

A tall, man dressed in black with a stocking covering his face. As she turned to run, he grabbed her by the arm. After throwing her on the bed, he pulled a knife and threatened to kill her if she screamed. Knowing that there was no chance of escape, his size made that impossible, she nodded.

As he raped her repeatedly, Abbey tried to withdraw into her mind. At times she was successful, at other times, the pain and the fear kept bringing her back to what was going on.

At times she tried to scream, but he would just put his hand over her mouth and nose. In order to live, she stayed quiet.

She didn't know how long he was there, but eventually he left. As soon as he did, Abbey struggled off the bed and dialed the police. She then remembered the bath water running and went to shut it off. It had already spilled over the tub and was filling the floor.

As she turned around, Jed was there staring at her. Then things just turned black.

Later, Jed told her what had happened while she was unconscious.

He looked at her bruised and battered body as she collapsed into his arms. He carried her to their bed and covered her with a blanket. As he waited for her to regain consciousness, there was a knock at the door.

As Jed opened the door, the police shoved him into the wall and handcuffed him.

"What the hell? I'm her husband. What's going on?"

"We have a report of an assault at this address. Where's your wife?"

"In there." Jed tried to motion in the direction of the bedroom.

The police went into the bedroom, dragging Jed with them, to find Abbey, under a blanket, just regaining consciousness.

"Is this the man you assaulted you?"

Abbey looked at the policeman in horror. "No, he's my husband. He just arrived home. Please let him go."

The policeman released the handcuffs, but never offered an apology.

Jed sat down beside Abbey while the police asked her all sorts of questions.

"Now, ma'am. You need to go the hospital to be checked. Do we need to call you an ambulance?"

"No. my husband will take me."

"Of course I will."

"We'll need the bedspread and any clothes you might have had on at the time of the assault."

"I told you that I had none on. I was going to take a bath."

She remembered Jed helping her to get dressed and the drive to the hospital. The exam and all the questions. The doctor refused to allow Jed in the room during the exam and all she could remember is how much she needed him to be there. Then the wait for the rape counselor to come, the blood tests, the so-called counseling, and then the drive home. By the time they had gotten home, it was early morning and she had shut down emotionally. .

"What do you need, Abbey?"

"A hot shower and then some sleep."

"Okay. Can I help?"

"No."

She shut Jed out for months. But then one night she decided to let him console her. She cried so hard that night that she cried herself to sleep. But the release when she let Jed back in was tremendous. Shortly after that, they made love for the first time in months. But it was soft, gentle and loving. Liz came nine months later.

Annie had no clue just how gentle making love could be.