Suddenly, a truck started back-firing. The relaxed atmosphere quickly changed as Nora saw fear in her mother’s eyes. Eloise jumped up, rushed into the living-room, and jerked open the curtain. A black Ford pick-up had pulled up behind Lisa’s car. Seconds later, one fist after another hammered on the front door, rattling the light fixture in the entryway. Nora and the others hurried to the front room.

“Open this door . . . right now . . . you’re still—my wife!”

“It’s Sam!” Eloise cried out.

Major Hawkins pushed Nora back along with Eloise and Lisa. He lunged for the side of the front door, pulling Matt with him, as if he figured Sam had a gun.

“Get out of here!” The major yelled. His strong male voice must have taken Sam by surprise.

Moments later Sam began pounding again. “You ain’t scaring me. She’s my woman!”

“I’m calling the police. You’re violating your restraining order! You’ll be arrested if you don’t leave now,” the major yelled again, motioning to Eloise to call the police. She dashed to the kitchen and dialed the number she had taped to the phone.

Matt had stretched upward to look out the side window. “Looks like Sam is going ballistic,” Matt muttered loud enough for Nora to hear. “He’s glaring at the door as if he wants to kick it in.”

“I’ll . . . show . . . you,” Sam thundered.

“He’s staggering backward—losing his footing. Oh no, he’s yanking a gun out of his waistband. Run—get back,” Matt shouted at the women.

The next moment Nora heard a huge blast. It almost shattered her eardrums. Lisa screamed, blood was spraying from the side of her calf. Luckily, the bullet had only grazed her leg before it buried into the opposite wall.

Despite the ringing in her ears, Nora thought she heard something off in the distance. Each second the sound seemed to get louder. The roaring of Sam’s engine soon became muffled by deafening sirens.

The major flung back the drapes. Flashing red and blue lights temporarily blinded Nora. She tripped over Major Hawkins trying to see out the window. The police had Sam sprawled against the side of his truck while he shouted obscenities. They patted him down, handcuffed him, and led him to the squad car. Afterward, an officer came in to check on Lisa and order an ambulance. He took statements while another officer investigated the entryway.

Thanksgiving for Nora and her mother had started out well until Sam arrived and shattered it—just like he had tried to destroy their lives in the past. Nora hated him.

Chapter 13: November 1969

Chapter 13

November 1969

Jorden looked forward to the peace of the four-day Thanksgiving weekend. Her roommates were going home for the holidays. Darby was taking Nate to meet her parents. Jorden got a chuckle out of the couple as they left Wednesday afternoon.