Nora’s nerves raced. Adrenaline kicked in. She jammed her foot into Sam’s shin bone, throwing him off balance. He stumbled backward, losing his grip. Nora raced forward, hiding behind her mother.

In the flurry of activity, Eloise panicked and pulled the trigger. The bullet shattered a lamp; broken fragments grazed Sam’s hand. His eyes flashed with disbelief as blood sprayed from his hand to his face.

“You could have killed me!”

“That’s the point. Get out of here or you’re a dead man!” Eloise cocked the gun again, prepared to pull the trigger a second time.

Sam looked at the blood on his hand, and the fire in Eloise’s eyes and bolted. Nora watched him sprint down the stairs to escape to his truck.

“Mama—you did it!”

“We did it! Come on. Let’s go. We’re never coming back. Sam is out of our lives! It’s just you and me and . . . the baby!”

***

“Nora, wake up. We’ve arrived at our apartment.” Eloise nudged her daughter. “Let’s go in, it’s almost six thirty. Remember, Lisa is coming tonight to pick you up.”

Startled by her mother’s voice, Nora realized she had relived the horrible night from last September when Sam tried to attack her. She reached out for her mother’s hand. She never wanted to go through anything like it again. Sam was a monster!

Chapter 48: February 1970

Chapter 48

February 1970

Nora looked up at her mother with pleading brown eyes. “Why can’t I stay home? I won’t cause any trouble. I promise.”

“I know you won’t. But, I’m afraid Sam might show up. I don’t trust him.” Eloise knew what a drunk he was—no telling what he could do. She hugged her daughter. “Lisa should be here soon. I’m not having you stay with her to punish you; it’s for your safety. Please believe me.”

“We have a restraining order. Sam can’t bother us,” Nora begged softly.

“It’s just a piece of paper. I wish it could guarantee our safety—but it doesn’t!” Eloise replied.

Ten minutes later, the doorbell rang. “Lisa must be here.” Eloise opened the door, surprised to see the major. He gave her a squeeze.

Nora watched them hug. Their closeness struck a nerve. She didn’t want to lose her mother yet to another stepfather. “Doesn’t Mama know it’s too soon?” she mumbled.

“Hi, Nora,” the major called out.

She sat on the couch and didn’t say a word.

Eloise looked at her daughter, expecting a response. “Aren’t you going to greet the major?”

Nora got up and gave him a limp wave. She turned and walked to her bedroom. “Let me know when Lisa gets here.”