The End of Always A Novel by Randi Davenport

Author:Randi Davenport
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Published: 2014-05-06T00:00:00+00:00

15

William Oliver stood at the front counter with a tall man who was counting out coins. When he caught sight of me, he gave the man his parcel and then opened the front door for him. The man said something to William Oliver, who nodded and said something in return. They both glanced at me. Then the man turned and walked away.

“Mr. Oliver,” I said.

“Be quiet.”

“Mr. Oliver.”

“I think you have lost all bargaining position,” he said. He clenched his fingers. “Wouldn’t you agree? You did not have that much to begin with, but now you have none. None.” He took me by the elbow and walked me hard and fast into the alley. Dark shadow fell over us. In the street, wagons passed in the daylight. “Morning deliveries are almost through, but there is still time,” he said. His voice was hard and low. He tightened his grip on my wrist.

“I do not understand.”

“Of course you do.”

“Let go of me,” I said. “Mr. Oliver.” I pulled away from him. “I do not work here anymore.”

“No?” he said.

“No,” I said. I tried to step away but he squeezed my arm. Then he bent my arm behind me, as easily as if this had always been the plan.

“I think you do,” he said.

“I do not,” I said. “Let go of me.”

“We will see what your father says about that.” He pushed me hard into the wall, his familiar face queer and twisted in the half-light. “Right?” he said. “Right? Your father will have plenty to say, I can assure you. Two more nights in the woods, Mary. What can you possibly have to say for yourself?”

“Stop it.” I pulled away as hard as I could, but he pressed against me and his arm came up across my chest and pinned me against the wall. “It is time, Mary,” he said. “I have been patient with you. I have given you every chance. I have waited for you to come to your senses. You have chosen another path. Not my path,” he said. “Certainly not the path that any thinking girl would have chosen. But your choice has given me certain advantages. I think you know that your time has run its course. I think even you can see that there is only one thing left to do.”

“You are hurting me,” I said.

He loosened his grip and stepped back a little. I curled into myself and tried to pull free, but still he held my wrist in one hand. Then he held my arm against the wall over my head.

“Two nights ago, before things had made themselves entirely clear, I went to see your father,” he said. “I walked into that bar and I sat down in front of him. And he knows me, as I have said before, so I was not surprised when he greeted me. I was even less surprised when he poured a shot for me on the house. We had that trouble over your mother, as you no doubt recall, but we have not had any since.

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