Divorced! Now what?
Chapter 99

Bethany

POV

The outfit they gave me to wear was ridiculous. There is no way I would have chosen to wear anything close to it. The color needs to be corrected for my completion, and the dress drags on the floor like it was made for a person a lot taller than me. Kitty knew what she was doing when she gave it to me to wear. I felt hideous in it, and the hat made my head itch, the makeup was overdone, I felt like I looked like a clown, and I wanted to scream, 'Who is that woman in the mirror?' when I stopped to look at myself, I twisted and turned to get a full look at it. No matter what way I turned, it did nothing for me or my figure.

I was fighting and not giggling when I was on the gurney being taken to the ambulance bay. Hiding like that seemed to me so overboard. I was not in trouble here in the hospital, surely not.

But then I got into the vehicle, and everything changed. I was feeling frightened, and I had no idea why. I looked at every vehicle with suspicion, and every time we went through an intersection, I thought we were going to be rammed. I broke out into a sweat and held onto Theo's arm. I was never more relieved than when that garage door went down, and I was away from the vehicle.

Kitty took the pies and other little things I had made and placed them on the kitchen table.

'Hello sweetie, come with me, and I will show you where you can get changed.' I followed Kitty to a bedroom, quickly used the makeup remover, and cleaned my face. Then, I stripped off my clothes and put on my team shirt and some jeans. I was happy to look like me again. Then, I headed back towards the den.

'My, you look gorgeous. I have your pies in the warmer and will be ready for halftime, Kitty said as she pulled me closer to her and gave me a sort of hug. It was not a full-on tight hug; our chests did not even touch. It was like an air kiss but hug style. It was weird. Did I smell or something?

The den was just as I remembered it, and I was happy to scream and shout at the screen, but I could not yet get up and do a happy dance. In the end, our team lost, and my head hurt. I slept through the next game. I woke up to cheering for our team to win and missed the whole game. I felt embarrassed and cheated for missing the game.

We were going to stay the night. Kitty gave me a guest room, and Dad shared Theo's room. He had a spare bed there that his mates used when they stayed the night in his youth. I chuckled when I heard that. I could not see my Dad sharing a

room.

'Sweetheart, would you like something to change into?' Margaret offered before she dragged me to her room and offered me something that was not exactly what I would wear to bed. It was more like a camisole and g-string.

'Thanks, but I will pass on that thank you! I said as politely as I could. She dug out an oversized T-shirt and shorts. Now that was more my style, I happily took them, headed to the guest bedroom, changed, and climbed into bed. My sleep came quickly, and so did my dream.

I had just dropped my dad off and entered my home address on my phone. I was not sure of the best way home from here. Having never been out this way before, I pushed play on my phone, and a playlist started. Every now and then, the voice would interrupt the sone and tell me where to go. I was following the prompts. A set of lights seemed to get close, then back off, raising the hairs on my arms and neck. Many paragraphs are missing. Read the complete book on Job nib.c o-m Something was wrong. I took a turn I was not meant to take, and then another to head back onto the road, and the lights followed me. Feeling like I was being paranoid, I called my Dad, but his phone said it was switched off, which was weird as I was sure he turned his phone on at the same time. I turned my back on.

So I called the only other person I could, and that was Theo.

Hearing his voice calmed me, and we chatted; my telling him where I was and knowing he was headed my way helped ease my mind; then the car came really, really close and hit the back of the vehicle. I swore at the car, which now had turned on a high beam, making it a very annoying glare in my mirror. I suddenly saw a car come out of nowhere, and I screamed as the hit made the steering wheel turn suddenly. I think I broke my arm when it hit me and pulled the steering wheel out of my hand. I tried to steer the car, but I was struggling. Then, the edge of the drop came, and I was rolling down the embankment. When the car stopped, I saw men coming at me. I must have blacked out for a little while. Next thing I knew, a man had climbed in through the broken windscreen and was trying to pull me out. At first, I thought it was to save me, but after I got out of the car, the man hit me over the head with something, and soon it was lights out. When I woke up, I was in the back of the van.

'Wake up sweetheart, it is a dream, wake up please.' Theo was holding me, asking me to wake up. I must have been screaming in my sleep, and when I opened my eyes, I was in Theo's arms. He had his back resting on the bed's headboard and was rocking me back and forth. Dad, Kitty, and Hank were in the room beside the bed, looking at me with sadness in their eyes, whereas at the door were Cindy and Margaret looking in. Kitty handed me a gla*s of water, which I drank greedily. The screaming had dried my throat.

'What is wrong honey, another memory?' Dad asked. He had hold of my hand as if he needed to be in contact with me. 'Yeah, I remember dropping you off and the accident. I now have two more faces to give to Pam. I said with a shiver. 'Two men?' Theo asked softly, and I continued to describe the men.

'Tell me what they did?' Dad got out a notebook and started to write down what I said.

'Dad, two men climbed down to the car, one climbed in through the windscreen, and when they got me out, the one who stayed out of the vehicle called me a b***h and hit me, knocking me out till I woke up in the back of the van.' I said, staring at Dad. 'Were they on the album you looked at before?' Dad asked reassuringly. He seemed a lot calmer after I explained what had happened.

'Yes, the blue album, third page.' I said and described the men and how they had an accent.

'Gutter Boys, the accent is distinct. Theo said, and I looked over my shoulder at him. I had heard that name before but could not pinpoint it.

'I also remembered that I was married to Bret, Cynthia's Bret, and how I have been used all through my marriage, but I was not married, and I am a little confused about that part. Dad, how can I be married but not married? I still have some small holes to fill in gaps, but the worst of my memories are back. I am not sure how I feel about all of what I am remembering, it is as if I am watching a sick movie or something rather than my life!

'We will talk about that another day, because don't I suggest you try and rest and put all your thoughts into order? You have had a rough night and maybe still have some more memories to come back, Dad suggested, and kissed me on the cheek.

'You lot go back to bed, and I am staying here and holding my girl for the rest of the night.' Theo was not going to leave me alone. I must have scared him and Dad nodded and was already dialing someone on his phone as he was leaving. I wondered who he would be calling at this time of night or morning. The clock by the bed said it was two twenty in the morning. I doubt my Dad will be getting any more sleep tonight. Even if he tried to, his mind would be working overtime on what I had just said. Somehow, I managed to fall asleep again, cocooned in Theo's arms. I could not move even if I wanted to; he held me so tight. I am not sure if he went back to sleep. It would not surprise me if he didn't. After waking the whole house, I would be surprised if I was the only one to go back to sleep.

Morning came with a light shining through the curtains, which were not closed before I went to bed. I could see out the window of a large tree not too far away. The branches were moving in the breeze. The day looked to be a good one, and I took a deep breath. I had some apologies to give when the house woke up.

The memories of last night came flooding back; it took everything in me not to cry and scream out; how could they do this to me? Why do they want me dead so much? What have I done to them to deserve such treatment? I think Bret was doing everything Cynthia told him to. Whether he liked it or not, he was that much under her control. I am not sure whether I would call what he had with Cynthia's love more like an obsession he could not break away from.

Dad said Bret was helping them with their inquiries, and if all went well, they would have two different cases to answer for.

They had some new warrants for the others that I could give them as they could keep the accident separate from the other cases under investigation.