Lost in You: Petal, Georgia, Book 2 (17 page)

Not physically. Nothing on the outside hurt.

“I need to be alone.”

Lily looked between them. “Honey?”

“I need to be by myself.” She started to walk away and Lily caught up.

“What the hell is going on?”

“He dumped me. I—” Tears began to well up and she couldn’t afford them just then.

“Let me help you. Please. I hate seeing you like this. He didn’t mean it. You know he didn’t.”

“What’s happening?” Jacob called out.

“I can’t with this right now. Please. Let me be.”

Lily’s eyes were full of emotion. She reached toward Beth. “There’s no way your brothers are going to let you just walk off in the dark after that scene. You know them.”

“I need to be alone!” She yelled it and then instantly felt awful. “I’m sorry.”

Lily’s bottom lip wobbled as she gave Beth a hug. “
I’m
sorry. I just want to make it better. Go. I’ll hold them off. You better pick up when I call you in an hour. You get an hour, Beth, and then your best friend is declaring make-it-better rights. Don’t make me come find you.”

She kissed Lily’s cheek and took off, glad she’d worn her flat boots that night.

Tate heard the knock on the door. “I’ll get it,” she called out to Matt, who was in the bathroom with the girls, monitoring their bath time.

She opened and nearly had a heart attack at the sight of Beth, weeping and covered in blood. “Good Lord!” She grabbed Beth, pulling her into the house and slamming the door in her wake, locking it. “What is it? Are you all right? Is there someone after you?”

Beth shook her head, speechless but for the crying.

Matt ran out, holding a soaking-wet baby. “What’s going on?”

Beth’s attention jerked to where he stood with the baby. “Oh God, I’m so sorry. I just didn’t know where else to go.” Beth kept crying, which alarmed Tate more than she wanted to say. Beth didn’t even cry when she was a baby. Their father had reacted to it with rage, even as babies they’d known to keep quiet to avoid his notice.

“There’s blood all over you.” Matt handed Lil Beth to Tate, who tucked the towel around her better so she wouldn’t get cold. He kept his voice level and calm. “Honey, let me see what’s wrong.”

Matt was trained as a paramedic, he’d make it better. Tate held Lil Beth as she tried to squirm out of her arms to get to her aunt.

Beth’s face, so pale, contrasted against the blood, showed pain and it made Tate’s stomach hurt.

“It’s not me. It’s not my outside that’s hurt.”

That brought tears to Tate’s eyes.

Matt moved slowly, so Beth could see exactly where he was going and what he was doing. He brushed her hair back away from her forehead. “I can see glass in a few places. Come into the kitchen with me. I’ve got a first aid kit in there. Tate, why don’t you call Shane?”

“No!” Beth grabbed Matt’s arm. “It’s…they were already involved. Please.”

Matt sighed but since Beth allowed him to lead her into the kitchen, he didn’t say anything else.

Tate looked to Beth after shaking her head sharply at Matt. “I’ll be right back. I want to get Meg dried off and both girls dressed.”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come. I don’t want to scare the girls.”

“Hush about that. They love you to pieces. This is going to sting a little.” Matt worked steadily, pulling glass out of her skin and cleaning up after that.

She looked off into the middle distance, knowing he was torn between his job and his responsibility to her as family. She needed to explain enough to make him feel better. “Joe’s dad went through the front window of the Sands. He rushed at me. Joe knocked him aside to protect me and they both went out the window.”

“Jesus.”

“He was crazy. I mean like really crazy. He came in starting fights with everyone in sight. Joe and one of the cooks tried to calm him down. And then the window. The cops came. An ambulance came and took Joe’s dad to the hospital. Joe went with him. I just…I shouldn’t have come. I’m sorry.”

Matt tipped her chin up, kissing the tip of her nose. “I said no more of that. Where else would you go but to Tate? Hmm? She’s your momma as sure as she’s Meg and Beth’s momma. You’re family, sweetheart. Of course you should have come.”

Matt washed his hands. “I’m going to go get the girls down. Tate will be out in a minute. You’re welcome here any time. Do you understand?”

She nodded, very close to crying again.

Tate came into the kitchen. “First, why don’t you take a shower? You have clothes here. Change into some sweats and warm socks and then you can have some whiskey with a tiny bit of tea and I can have some hot milk. Then you’ll tell me.”

Beth wanted to hug her, but she wasn’t sure if there was any glass left. So she obeyed, taking the clothes Tate had brought with her and then shuffled into the bathroom, closing the door in her wake.

She turned the water on and stood there, letting the tears go, letting herself cry as hard as she could. Because once those were gone, she needed to get herself back together somehow.

But it was safe here to let it go. So as she shampooed her hair, making sure there was no glass, as she got rid of her fabulous makeup job, as she washed the millions of cuts she’d gotten and hadn’t even known it as the window had shattered and the glass had flown, she allowed herself to fall apart.

Tate would help her put her pieces back together when she was ready.

And knowing that helped.

Tate looked up as Matt came back into the room after he’d put the girls down to sleep. He’d have called his brother as well, she knew.

He waved her to sit. “Going to start the tea and warm milk. You should get off your feet.”

She smiled his way. “I’m fine. The nausea is nearly all gone. I can heat water and milk, you know.”

He stalked over, kissed her and gently but firmly sat her down. “I’ll tell you what I know if you rest.”

“You fight dirty for such a pretty man.”

“How else can I manage my wife?” He winked. “Beth said Joe’s dad went crazy at the Sands and that he rushed her. Joe ran him down to keep him from harming her and they both went out the big front window.”

“Holy fuck.” Whoops, her fuck problem tended to come out when she was really upset. Thank goodness the girls were down. “Sorry. What did Shane say?”

Matt put a kettle on to get some water hot and poured milk into a saucepan for her. Her gorgeous man, so protective. He’d always been there when she needed him. Always. A fabulous father, a wonderful husband. It was still hard to believe he was hers. Man, she was lucky.

“I’ve heard you say lots filthier than fuck, Venus.” He winked at her and went back to the telling. “Shane’s glad she’s here. I guess she left the scene, and Nathan and Jacob were pissed and worried about her. Lily said she needed to be left alone. She’ll need to talk to the cops though. But it can wait for now. Carl is under observation and being treated for multiple wounds. I’m gonna say stitches most likely, probably watching for signs of a concussion, that sort of thing. You know Shane’s got to be careful how much he says about anything hospital related. Anyway, he says Carl was pretty messed up. Joe was treated for lacerations. He’s got some bruised ribs, but nothing is broken. He’s still at the hospital with his mom.”

Tate blew out a breath. “Well, I’m glad they’re all okay. But Beth is my main concern. I’ve never seen her like this.” She got up, wiping the counter down just to do something with her hands to keep them from shaking so much. “A control freak, my baby sister. Especially of her emotions. She broke her arm when she was four. Oh fuck that, our father broke her arm. Goddamned piece of shit. She didn’t cry. She just tucked in between me and William, and she held on, even when they were setting it. So stoic.”

Matt moved to her, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. “Venus, you undo me.” He kissed each eyelid. “I love you so much. She came here to you. Tucking up into you just like she did then. She’ll be all right. She’s a strong woman, like her older sister.”

“I hate it when she’s upset. She’s a good woman, Matthew. What did that man do to her?”

“He dumped me.” Beth came down the hall, keeping her voice low. “I hope you don’t mind but I checked on the girls and gave them night-night kisses.”

Tate loved her sister so much. “They’d have been mad if you hadn’t.”

“Meg said she wasn’t going to sleep until you came in anyway.” Matt put the tea and milk out on the coffee table. “Call me if you need me.” He hugged Beth. “We’ll get this set to rights. I’ve never met the man who can resist a Murphy sister.”

Beth gave him a smile—not a big one—but it reached her eyes and that was a step in the right direction.

Tate kissed him. “Thank you.”

“Any time, Venus. I put out pillows and blankets. Do not drive her home yourself if she wants to go home. I’ll do it. I have tomorrow off and I don’t want you out so late.” He took her chin, looking into her eyes. “Okay? Please?”

“She promises. Though I can walk home. It’s not that far.”

He looked around Tate to Beth. “Except no. Jeez, ladies, let me do stuff sometimes, okay? Stay over. Tate’s making waffles and the girls would love to have you. I’m sure they’d even let you watch
Mary Poppins
a few times. But if you want to go home, come get me. I’m just catching up on all the stuff on the DVR that Tate hates anyway.”

Beth nodded. “All right. Thank you, Matt.”

Beth sat back, tucking her feet beneath her and turning her body toward Tate.

“Take it slow, Matt had a pretty liberal hand with the whiskey in the tea.”

Beth sipped and agreed. But the warmth felt good. The burn took away some of the fear, eased the panic.

“Baby, this is killing me. Tell me so I can fix it.” Tate took her hand and Beth put her head on her sister’s shoulder.

“I guess I know what he’s been skirting all these months. He dumped me.”

“I don’t understand. He broke up with you? You had a date, right?”

“Right on the sidewalk outside the Sands. Covered in blood, a bruise coming up on his cheek. He was so…” Beth closed her eyes as she remembered it all over again. “He was in so much pain. Not physical pain. He was heartsick. And ashamed.”

“Start at the beginning.”

“It was good. The date I mean. Jacob and Trey were there. Nathan and Lily. Royal. Joe. He was affectionate. He said I was his girlfriend. We’d gotten to a new level. I know we did. And then there was all this yelling and Joe got up because it was his dad and then everything happened so fast. It was so loud and people kept trying to help and he was trying to calm his dad down and it was crazy. I was standing on the booth. The one we were all sitting at. I was watching it all unfold and then his dad looked to me and started screaming about how I was part of it. Whatever
it
was. And then he rushed at me. I didn’t have time to react. Nathan grabbed the back of my sweater. I think he climbed up behind, in the booth behind ours. And then Joe rushed his dad, like to tackle him. And they both sailed right through the glass and I tipped out too. I didn’t get cut too bad. I think Nathan’s grabbing me helped. And Joe of course.”

Beth sipped the tea and tried to calm down. She closed her eyes, but saw it all again.

“Joe wrapped himself around his dad. Even after all that craziness, he tried to protect his father as they went through the window. So there was all this noise and mess and the cops had arrived and Roni handed me a bunch of wet towels to stanch all the bleeding. Joe was so lost. Watching his dad as they tried to treat him. They strapped him down to the gurney and I tried to help him. Joe, I mean. He had a big slice above his eye and it was bleeding pretty bad. But he pushed my hands away and then he broke up with me. Right there. In front of God and everyone he dumped me.”

Tate let out a long breath. “He doesn’t mean it.”

“That’s the thing. At first it hurt so bad. Like he blamed me. But then I realized that wasn’t it. He said some crap about how he had too much to do and didn’t have time for a relationship. But his whole life can’t be about his father. He came back here to help them. He’s a good man, Tate. He needs someone to help him. He loves me, Tate. I know it. I
know
it. And I love him. He needs help and I’m going to give it to him.”

Tate smiled. “There she is. My girl. You have a plan.”

“I yelled at Lily. In the middle of the sidewalk. I need to call her. She took on Nate and Jacob to give me some time to get away. I came here. I just needed you.”

Tate put her milk down to wrap her arms around Beth. “Of course you do. And I’m here. Because I love you. Now, what are you going to do?”

“It wasn’t alcohol. Though he was drunk. He’s not right. Joe mentioned his dad being on a new round of treatment so I’m guessing it’s mental illness of some kind. So I’m going to research. Get as much information as I can. He needs an advocate so I’m going to be one. Trey’s sister is a mental-health nurse. I’ll ask him for her number.” Making plans made the problem seem far less insurmountable. It was how she made it through. Step by step.

She felt better already.

“Matt called Shane. Joe was treated for lacerations and released. He’s at the hospital with his mother. Carl is still there, under observation. Shane didn’t say much about that. You know he already said more than he should have.”