All Chapters of Road to Redemption: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

PaytonIT DAWNED ON me relatively quickly that Dani was guiding my steps as we left the room. She led me through the foyer and out a side door, which opened onto an empty paved area with picnic tables and not much else. As soon as the cold hit me, I bent at the waist and vomited until there was nothing left in my stomach.“Come sit down, honey,” Dani said once I was calmer, and walked me to one of the picnic tables.I lowered myself onto the bench and dropped my face into my hands, unable to stop the sobs that wracked my body.“Payton, I’m so sorry,” Dani whispered.“I need to go,” I said with a hiccup. “I have to get out of here.”“I know, honey.” She nodded. “Kayla’s getting the car.”“All my things are in Alex’s saddle bags.”“We’ll get them and either bring them to you or give them to Macey.”“Okay. Yeah, that’ll work. Thanks.”Dani checked her phone. “Kayla’s waiting out back.”“Do I… do I have to go back in there?”“No.”“Okay, thanks.”I stood on shaky legs and followed Dani th

PaytonBrock pulled open the door, gun at the ready. “Pay?”I burst into tears and slipped into his arms, wrapping my arms around his waist. I heard the sound of Kayla’s car drive off as he closed the door.He rubbed my back. “Hey, what’s all this?”“I need to talk. But it has to be totally confidential.”“Always.” Brock leaned back and frowned. “You know that.”I nodded and Brock followed me into the family room. I loved this room. Partly because I’d decorated it and even after Brock and Bailey had married and Bailey moved in, my sister-in-law loved it enough not to change it.Bailey was curled up on the sectional wrapped in a blanket, but she rose to her feet to hug me. “You okay?”I shook my head.Bailey smiled. “I’ll make some tea.”“Scotch would be better.”“But you’re mean on Scotch,” Bailey said with a wicked grin.I sniffed, my angry tears finally drying up. “Fine. Tea.”“Done,” she said, and headed to the kitchen.I lowered myself to the sofa, crossed my legs in front of me,

PaytonMy composure crumbled, and I burst into tears. I found myself wrapped in his arms and that just made things worse.“Shh, baby, I’m so sorry,” he whispered.“I don’t even know what you’re doing here.” I sniffed, but didn’t pull away. “You told me to fuck off. Why didn’t you just give the bag to Dani?”“Because I love you.” His fingers slid into my hair and tilted my head back. “I am a total fuckin’ dick, baby, but I love you and I don’t know how to apologize so this is alright again.” He wiped the tears from my cheeks. “Tell me what to do. Anything, baby. I’ll do anything.”“You scared me last night.”“I know, Payton. I’m so sorry.” He sighed. “I know it’s lip service right now, but I would never raise a hand to you. Please give me the chance to prove it.”“I don’t want to be chained up and hit during sex, Alex.”“And you won’t be. Kayla confessed she told you what happened with Jenny.” A second of irritation crossed his face but he shook his head. “There’s more to it that even

PaytonMONDAY I SUFFERED through work. Luckily, my students were older which meant they tended to work quietly when instructed, but I was still exhausted and sad, and I missed Alex. Like my heart broke a thousand times in one day at the thought of not being with him.At the end of the day, I headed home, surprised to find my mom in the kitchen. “Hi,” I said. “You’re home early.”She smiled. “I quit.”“What? You did?”She nodded. “Took early retirement.”“Can you do that?”“Apparently so. Your dad and I ran the numbers and it worked, so I quit. I gave them three weeks, but I need to burn up some vacation time or I’ll lose it, so I’m only working one day at the end of that three-week period, and I’ll still have five weeks paid vacation to cash out.”“Wow, Mom, that’s awesome.”She studied me and then smiled. “What’s up with you, honey? You look sad. How’s Alex?”I forced back tears again and made my way to the fridge, grabbing the O.J. from the top shelf. “It’s been a rough couple of da

PaytonOnce Kristen was settled in her private room, we all had a chance for a visit, albeit a short one, before it was time for us to let her rest. Gordon would stay at the hospital for as long as he could, so Mom and Dad took Elizabeth home with them. I was tasked with packing a bag for Kristen and Elizabeth, which Mom would bring back to the hospital when she brought Gordon dinner, so Alex drove me to Kristen’s home and I went about packing.Chance, their six-year-old Llasa Aapso, met us at the door and I realized that no one had mentioned what to do with him. “Would you mind grabbing his food from the pantry, honey? His leash and stuff should be on the second shelf. We’ll take him back to my parents’ house and go from there.”Alex nodded, and I gave him a quick outline of the house, before he headed downstairs and I continued to throw things into an overnight bag for Kris. I dropped one bag in the hallway and moved onto Elizabeth’s room. When I turned to grab her makeup, I jumped.