The Far End of Happy by Kathryn Craft

Author:Kathryn Craft
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, azw3
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Published: 2015-05-04T23:00:00+00:00

ronnie

“We’ve been reviewing options,” Corporal McNichol said, striding back into the room.

“Oh?” Ronnie snapped to attention as if she’d been caught doing something wrong. Her body was flush with lingering feelings of intoxicating curiosity and—she hated to admit it, even to herself—desire. Things only Jeff used to make her feel. Had Jeff seen this change in her? Is that what had him so scared?

“You may want to file a protection from abuse order. After what happened at your house today, you’d qualify.”

“So after today, you suspect this will still be an issue?” Ronnie said. “Nothing will be solved?”

“I’m suggesting you prepare for all possibilities.”

Ronnie trudged back down the hall to the firehouse office. The men stepped out of the room. She called the Reading Courthouse only to learn she had to appear in person to file. Though Ronnie suspected this formality offered no hope. The order might ensure that Jeff would live somewhere else, but with the state police so far away, if he really wanted to hurt them—or try to hurt himself again, on the property—he’d have ample opportunity to do so before help could arrive.

Alone in the office this time, she allowed herself a moment to relish its windows. For the first time all morning, Ronnie looked up at the sky. That blue, so brilliant you could sense its depth; was there any color more beautiful? Wanting to be closer to it, she turned a handle and tipped open the window. She allowed a long draft of fresh air to make full contact with her lungs. This was her very favorite kind of fall day, with air so crisp it made her think of biting into a sweet-tart apple. With the sun smiling down on customers coming and going from Perlmutter’s General Store across the street, it was hard to believe any sort of tragedy could possibly be unfolding.

Ronnie returned to the social hall tables somewhat refreshed, certain she must have left hope for her family’s future lying around on one of these surfaces. All she found was the pile of keys, which opened cars blocked in by the police.

“Did you get through to someone at the courthouse?” Corporal McNichol said.

“For what it’s worth.” She thought of her sons’ arms, so vulnerably thin, their legs not yet muscled enough to make a run for their lives. How could she keep them safe?

Ronnie was wringing her hands again. She shoved them in her pockets. She’d worked too hard to purge the anxiety that had set in when they got home from the shore. She would not let it get the better of her now.

• • •

While absorbed in the endless list of catch-up chores that accumulated on the farm every time they went away, Ronnie couldn’t stop thinking about Kevin. During early morning sessions with her journal, she tried to explain away this fascination as false intimacy created by hearing him talk about his beloved grandfather in the home that had belonged to her father. The way he took command of his situation, even while surrendering to circumstance beyond his control.

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