Chapter 9

I return from Australia and I am exhausted! I head to my Seattle home to relax and sleep off this jet lag. I think about calling Bailey, but I know she won't answer. I can't help but worry about her. But I have two more weeks of appearances before I settle in Homer for a few weeks and then I head out to Dutch. I will hunt her down when I return. We need to talk…

For the next few weeks, the girls are busy with school. The first month is always busy, and for me too. They enjoyed being by their father's side this summer in Homer. They love their new friends, and they did not want to leave to visit him back home. I insisted Cara get a job on the slime line at the local cannery. She enjoys the work and enjoys the pay for now. Emily, though only 13, found a summer job babysitting for a few people in town. Emily visited with her dad a lot, but something seemed different every time she returned. Cara always came back angry with Paul. Wishing she never knew him. I can't help but worry about their relationship. They have never been close, but I have always been the referee and since I decided to step back I noticed them growing farther apart. It makes me sad for her, but it doesn't seem to bother Cara. She would rather him never come around. Emily is becoming less a daddy's girl too. She seems as if she drags her feet on the way out to see him. Strange, but I don't really care if they are close or not anymore.

Emily walks in the door after a long afternoon with the neighbors' kids, "Mom, I know this is Dad's last week here, but can I just not go tonight? I have a paper due soon and Cara is already not going."

"Sure, sweetheart. Go ahead and call him. Make sure you let him know you have a paper you need to write. I don't want him blaming me." I say as I finish making an early supper.

I landed in Homer and I head towards my house before tracking Bailey down. We need to talk. I am scared of this talk, I have never initiated this kind of talk and I really don't know how. I unpack and sit down for a few minutes. I fall asleep, and before I know it; I awaken to a beautiful day. "Crap! I didn't want to fall asleep!

I get up and shower and head to Bailey's house. Something tells me I need to hurry.

Bailey is sound asleep. I have been watching her sleep for the last 10 minutes. "She can't help but keep those kids away from me." I thought with anger building. I squeeze the knife I have in my hand and walk to her bedside and stare down at her. I used to love her. Why did she leave? Why was she keeping the kids away from me? It doesn't matter now. As soon as I kill her, I am heading out of the country with the girls. They will never know. We will be so happy together…forever.

Bailey stirs and I grab the rope I placed on her side table. It is time…

I awaken to someone watching me. I gasp in horror; Paul is standing over me with a rope and a knife.

"We can do this the easy way or the hard way…but knowing you, the hard way." Paul says.

He reaches for me and I kick the knife out of his hands. He watches as it flies across the room and slides under my dresser. He sends a stream of curses towards me and slaps me hard in the face with his backhand. I fall against the bed and roll the other direction.

He is fast and on top of me hitting and kicking me hard. I hear a few bones cracking and I cry out in pain. He wraps the rope around my neck cutting off my air supply. Cara runs in and grabs Paul by the hair. He drops the rope in surprise and he knocks her across the room and she is out cold. That enrages me enough to find strength through the pain to kick him in the chest hard. Paul stumbles back into my dresser and I stand as he comes at me.

Emily comes in and screams and Paul stops. I crawl quickly across my bed and stand in front of her daring him with a hard stare to come in her direction. I hear pounding on my front door and I scream for Emily to go get the door. Paul lunges in my direction as Emily flees for the door.

Like a lioness protecting her cub, I jam the palm of my hand into his nose. His nose goes up instead of to the side. He looks surprised as I land another few blows to his groin, chest, and another upwards motion to the nose. Paul falls to the floor lifeless. I had killed my ex husband with the final blow to his nose. I hear something at the bedroom door and I turn to see John and Nick rush into the room.

Nick pulls out his cell and tells me, "Every thing is fine now, Bail. We are here for you."

John grabs me by the waist; I wince in pain and pass out in his arms.