Chapter 188

For the rest of the evening, Miles stays with us. His mac and cheese is divine. The girls are in heaven, as this is already their favorite meal. To have it be that much special, helps ease all of our ruffled nerves. Miles does his best to lay on the charm tonight too, making all of us laugh.

After the girls go to bed though, the bright smiles fade and he turns serious. He holds me as I fall to pieces in his arms, then keeps holding me as I slowly piece myself back together.

When I’ve recovered enough, I tell him. “I need to tell Garnar about Edward. He needs to know to watch out for Edward.”

Miles nods. “We will bring him here. And we’ll do it without his fiancé around too.”

I lean back to look up at him. “’We?’”

“My security can properly impart upon Garnar the importance of his presence here.”

“Now?” I ask.

Miles nods. “This is too important to wait.”

I agree.

Stepping back from Miles, he heads for the front door. “I’ll be right back.”

He returns two minutes later.

Ten minutes after that, there’s a knock on the door. Miles answers it.

“Oh, fuck no. I didn’t know you would be here,” Garnar snaps.

“This isn’t about me,” Miles says. “I’m only here for moral support.”

“For what?”

Miles doesn’t explain. Instead, he comes into the living room where I’m standing, waiting. Miles moves to my side. Garnar stands on the other side of the room. The security guard blocks the door behind him.

“Esther, what the hell is this about?”

I don’t know where to start. “I want to tell you the truth of Edward Zimmer,” I say. “So you know why you need to protect our girls from him.”

Garnar crosses his arms. “Are you making up lies? You can say whatever you want, it won’t get me to vote for your boy toy.”

“This isn’t about the election,” I say. “It’s about protecting our daughters.”

Garnar narrows his eyes. “I’m listening.”

It’s difficult, telling the story again, especially to such a hostile audience as Garnar. But with Miles beside me, I’m able to convey the worst of the story.

Garnar clucks his tongue. “There’s no way that is the same Edward Zimmer. You are misremembering.”

“It’s him,” I say, feeling hollow inside. I didn’t expect Garnar to blindly believe me, but to dismiss everything outright hurts too.

“That man is charming as all hell. He’s smart and he’s funny. I had a beer with him. He’s a good guy.”

“He puts up a front,” I say. “Behind closed doors, he’s different. He’s… a predator. Please, for the sake of the girls. I don’t care if you go to events with him, or if Rachel does, but leave the girls out of it. I will happily watch them any time you need.”

My voice starts to shake. Miles inches closer to me.

“P-please, Garnar. We have to protect our daughters.”

Garnar frowns. “Shit,” he curses. He’s known me a long time. I hope he can see I’m serious about this. “Why didn’t you ever mention this before?”

“I thought the past was dead and buried,” I say. “I didn’t expect the devil to return as a candidate for president.”

“Shit,” Garnar says again. “You scared the hell out of the girls tonight, you know that?”

“I’m sorry about that,” I admit. “Seeing Edward again was… difficult.”

“Yeah, I guess. Well. Let me talk to Rachel about this.”

Remembering Rachel sends warning lights through my thoughts. “No. You can’t tell her about this. She’s on his side, she’ll never believe you.”

“Now you are going too far, Esther. Rachel is my fiancé.”

“She told the girls that she hates them. She said it right to their face,” I say. My outrage gives me strength, giving me a stronger voice. “When I tried to call you to tell you what they said, she blew up at me on the phone. She told me she plans on pushing you into giving me full custody so that she can start a new family with you.”

“I will not give up my girls,” he says fiercely. It’s just the sort of thing I’d been hoping he’d say.

“Thank God,” I say.

“But I also think you are full of shit. Maybe not about Zimmer. I’ll watch him. But about Rachel? She’s never said anything to me but good things about Iris and Violet.”

“She could be waiting until you are married,” Miles says. “By then, you’ll be locked in. It will be more difficult to get rid of her.”

“No one asked you, playboy,” Garnar snaps.

“Just talk to her about it,” I tell him. “See what she has to say.” She was so vitriolic on the phone, I highly doubt that she would be able to hide the truth from Garnar, even if he doesn’t want to believe it.

He loves our daughters, as I do. He’s horrible in other ways, but I feel I can trust him with their best interests. At least, that’s the way I’ve always felt before. If he stays with Rachel… Well… I’ll have to reevaluate that.

Garnar huffs out a breath. “Why don’t you hold onto the girls for a few days? Let me sort things out with Rachel. With luck, we’ll have this thing cleared up by the end of the week.”

“Okay,” I say. “Thank you, Garnar.”

“I’m not doing it for you,” he snaps.

He glances at the guard behind him. “Next time, just call me.”

“Unblock her from your phone first,” Miles says snidely.

Garnar glares at him, but does as he says, opening his phone. “I’ll be damned,” he says, likely when he finds me on his blocked list. That answers that then. Rachel’s the one to have done that particular move.

“Take him home, please,” Miles tells the guard, who steps back to let Garnar through. They disappear down the hall and out the door.

The moment they are gone, Miles closes his arms around me again. He doesn’t ask if I’m okay this time. The answer is probably obvious. Instead he kisses the top of my head and holds me tighter.

The next day, after dropping off the girls at school, I bury myself in work, eager for the distraction.

For a while, it works. I’m measuring poll numbers, making phone calls, blocking off dates for events.

Then, my phone rings. My assistant ducks her head in the door. “Someone from Zimmer’s camp on the phone for you.”

They’re new. They are still learning to take names.

They’re enthusiastic though, which I appreciate. That makes me more patient than I might otherwise be.

“Name next time,” I remind her again.

“Oh! Right…”

“Next time,” I say again, softer.

She smiles and nods and disappears out of the room.

When she’s gone, I pick up the phone.

“Hamilton Campaign Headquarters, this is Esther Owens.”

“Esther… Owens, is it? I don’t recognize that name. When I knew you, you were only Esther. The orphan.”

My veins turn to ice. I’m totally frozen, even my thoughts are retreating back inside the pit of my brain.

Hiding from this voice. This man I know.

I fear.

He brings pain. Only pain.

Edward Zimmer.