They got married six months later.

Then the beatings started.

I told them about the abuse. The beatings. Jaden. The abuse to my mom. Everything. I was almost detached from it. The words tumbled out of my mouth.

Finally, Detective Samuels said, “Okay, Willow.” He laid a hand on my shoulder and squeezed it lightly. “We’ve got enough. You can stop now. You don’t need to keep reliving that.”

Detective Renard clicked the recorder off and slid it into his jacket pocket. “Is there anything you need? Anything we can get you?”

“I’d really love a Coke,” I answered, rubbing my eyes with the tips of my fingers.

The detective smiled and shook his head. “After all that, the memories you just relived, and all you want is a Coke?”

“Okay,” I said with a small smile, “some M&Ms would be good.”

He walked out of the door. “Coming right up,” he called over his shoulder.

“You did really good, Willow. I think we have all we need in your statement to keep you off the witness stand, but that’s going to be up to the lawyers.” He shrugged a shoulder. “I tried to be as thorough as I could with your part of the investigation. I have a daughter your age. If she’d…” He cleared his throat. “I don’t know what I’d do if someone treated her like you’ve been treated. I don’t want you to have to keep reliving this part of your life over and over. So,” he put his palms on his knees and pushed himself out of the chair, “I hope we have all we need. And you can start fresh at college.” He grinned at me.

“Thank you.” I reached out and squeezed his hand. “I appreciate you trying to keep me out of the courtroom. But I’ll testify if I have to. If I do, will you be there?”

“Of course. There’s not a damn thing that could keep me away,” he answered, his voice thick.

I gave him a small smile and nodded my head once.

“Here we go. Coke and M&Ms. I didn’t know what kind you liked so I bought them all.” Detective Renard spilled bags of M&Ms across the table in front of me and sat four cans of Coke down.

I laughed. A real laugh. It felt good. I’d almost forgotten how good. I looked at him, and he chuckled. “Luckily, I like all the M&M varieties,” I said with a giggle and grabbed a bag. “Thank you.”

“Willow, I just have a couple more questions. Just so everything we’ve went over is perfectly clear.” At my nod, he continued. “Did Jack Moore abuse your mother?” Detective Samuels asked.

I picked at the edge of the sheet. “Yes.”

“Did he abuse you, as well?”

I shook my head, and my gaze found the detective’s. “No. He was a great father to me!”

“Okay. Ralph McKenna, did he abuse your mother?” Both detectives stared at me.

My eyes dropped to the bed. I folded my hands to keep from fidgeting. “Yes, but not as bad. He didn’t like that she came with a kid, especially since my mother doesn’t even know who my real father is. He said that if she knew who my father was, they could’ve at least got child support payments for me.”

Detective Renard patted my hands. “You did good, Willow. You’re a strong girl. Ralph McKenna is in jail. We might need to ask you some more questions, but he won’t hurt you again.” The detective walked toward the door.

Detective Samuels smiled at me. “Be well, Ms. Rutherford. We’ll be here if you have any questions.”

Warm tears slid down the side of my face. “Thank you.”

I was in and out of consciousness most of the day. I woke up once and saw someone in the chair next to my bed. A familiar scent mixed with the medicinal odors of the hospital. I tried to focus, but my eyes were so heavy. I let myself drift back into the cocoon of sleep where nothing hurt.

When I woke again, I knew immediately someone was in the room.

“You could have told me. I would have believed you,” Brody said in the darkened room.

I didn’t know what time it was. It must’ve been late. The hospital was quieter than usual, and my room was bathed in darkness.

“I’m sorry—”

“Don’t,” he said through clenched teeth. “Don’t you dare apologize. You haven’t done anything wrong.”

I put my arm over my eyes and started to cry. I cried because I hurt and because my nightmare was finally over. But most of all, I cried because Brody was there.

He lifted my hand and kissed the inside of my wrist, letting his lips linger on my skin. I felt them move when he spoke. “I’m so sorry, Willow. I should’ve made you tell me.”

“There was no way for you to know.”

He threaded his fingers with mine. “He was the reason you stayed with Jaden? He forced you to.” Brody smoothed my hair from my face. His touch was gentle. Always gentle, such a huge contrast from Ralph and Jaden.

I longed for him to say he forgave me and we’d try again. If he’d asked me, I would have stayed and gone to school in Ann Arbor with him. I could have stuck it out in Michigan if I had him.

“Yes. When you and I were dating, Ralph was out of town a lot, remember? When he stopped traveling and found out I’d broken up with Jaden to be with you, he went crazy. Every time I tried to break up with Jaden, he’d…” My tears came faster. “He made sure things were bad enough for me that I’d get back together with him. Ralph is good friends with Jaden’s family. He said I was lucky someone like Jaden would even look at a piece of trash like me.”

“That’s what happened the day you kicked me out and told me you didn’t love me, that you loved Jaden. When you came back to school, your shoulder had been dislocated.” Brody sighed and ran his hand down his face.

I didn’t answer. There really wasn’t anything to say.

“What happened that made him go berserk this time? Did he know you’d broken up with Jaden?”

“Yes.”

I was in the hospital for a week. When I was released, I stayed with Jenna and her family. I couldn’t go back to the house on Rose Terrace. I couldn’t go back to my mother. Not after she turned her head and ignored what Ralph had done to me.

The detectives and the District Attorney’s office kept in close contact with me. The DA told me that Ralph pleaded no contest to child abuse and felony assault. His plea bargain saved us from going to trial.

Jenna and her family, along with Tim, went with me to his sentencing hearing for moral support. Ralph stared defiantly at me as I gave my testimony. I sat with my back straight in the witness chair and when the DA asked me to point out the person who’d abused me, I pointed with a steady hand toward Ralph.

“Him. Ralph McKenna abused me.” My voice didn’t waver. I didn’t cry. I finally felt stronger than him.

Ralph was sentenced to five years in prison. Because of Michigan’s over-crowed jail system, he’d probably be out in less than two. He’d spend fewer years in prison than I’d spent living in Hell with him.

My mother pleaded guilty to child neglect and abandonment. She was sentenced to ten years parole. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. I guess since she was my mother I should’ve been happy. But she was also the woman who let her husband knock me around while she looked the other way and that girl wanted to see her in jail. I was confused by my conflicted feelings.

Jack Moore’s case was reopened and an investigation was ongoing. Both Ralph and my mother were named as persons of interest.

I tested out of my classes at school and never went back. Instead, I withdrew the small college fund I’d managed to save, sold my car, and moved to California. I didn’t see any reason to stay in Middleton. I wanted as far away as I could get. There were too many bad memories there. I’d been awarded enough in academic scholarships that, combined with what little money I’d saved, I’d be able to pay for my tuition at UCLA. It was a fresh start. One I desperately needed.