| "I fell, at home, while washing the floor. Last night. It was stupid of me, but I completely forgot that I had done the kitchen, and when I went in�" She rambled on. "Whoa," he took her hands in his. "It's okay, don't get so defensive." The child suddenly began to scream again, and Andie reached forward to pick her up. She took the girl in her arms, and began talking to her soothingly. Pacey watched in envy. It was obvious to him now that the child was hers. He noted, suddenly, the simple gold band that adorned her wedding finger. He should have known that someday, somebody would take her - she was just too good of a woman to remain single until he decided to forgive her and come back. 'Walk away,' he told himself. If he just made his excuses and left, he wouldn't have to continue this discussion. He knew where she was now, and that she was married. Six years ago, he had let her go, and he had to stick with that decision. "I'm so sorry," she apologized, suddenly, referring to the child. "But she's just entered the terrible 2s, and she's not having a good day." "No, it's okay," he said to her. He studied the child; she was small for 2, with short hair the colour of her mother's, and big blue eyes. Whoever the father was, he must look identical to Andie; or else the child had inherited none of his traits. "So � you're married?" He hoped that hadn't come out as choked as he felt. "Yeah, for five years now." She said, unenthusiastically. "Just one kid?" He said, attempting to make conversation until he could excuse himself and get out of there. "Yeah, well even she was a mistake," she blushed, making the mark on her skin appear darker still. "But Ralston thinks Mera's quite a handful in herself." Suddenly she caught sight of something over his shoulder, and she placed the child back into the cart. "Listen, I have to get going." She started moving the cart away. "Andie, Andie - whoa!" He took hold of her arm. "Wait! I'll be in town for a few days, if you wanted to get together." "I can't, Pacey. It was nice seeing you," she tried to move, but he kept a firm grasp on her wrist. "Andie�" "Pacey, let me go!" She cried. "Andrea!" A booming voice startled him, and he dropped her hand. He turned to find a tall, middle-aged man coming towards them. He walked past Pacey, and took hold of Andie's cart. "What's this??" "Nothing," Andie said, meekly. "I was just leaving�" "I leave you for 5 minutes, and you manage to find some guy behind my back?" He raised his hand to her. "No," she replied, quietly. "No, it's not what you think. We were just�" "I was talking to her," Pacey stepped forward. "Shut up," he growled. He lifted the child from the seat, and grabbed hold of Andie's arm. "We're leaving, Andrea. Now!" Pacey watched helplessly as the guy practically dragged Andie from the store, leaving him and the cart behind. Andie glanced backwards, her eyes pleading, before she disappeared. By the time Pacey realized what had just happened, he was too late to go after her. But it must have been her husband - Ralston, she had called him, who he had just met. He didn't like him one bit, and he had a sinking feeling that Andie didn't either. * * * "Excuse me," Pacey approached the young cashier, one of the many people who had just been witness to the events of the past few minutes. "Yes?" "Well, this is going to sound strange, but could you tell me who that guy was?" "You mean Mr. Mackey? Hoo, quite a temper on that man. And the way he treats his missus, I can tell you right now that I wouldn't stay and take it." She shook her head. "Poor thing, comes in here every single week with some sort of excuse for the new markings she's got�" Pacey felt a sickening in the pit of his stomach. He should have known. He had covered enough of the bruises Sheriff Witter had adorned him with to know what denial looked and sounded like. Andie was a text book case. "�and the little girl too. Freaky thing is that she loves her father dearly. It's almost sad to watch, knowing what that child has to see at home�" The woman droned on, detailing to Pacey the very schedule of the Mackey family. "Listen," he focused on her nametag, "Shanna. Do you think you could give me the Mackey's address?" She immediately stopped talking. "Well, I think that'd be against policy, sir." 'And gossiping isn't,' he thought to himself. But he turned on the Witter charm. "Oh come on, I am an old friend of the wife's, and�" "I won't tell you," Shanna replied, stubbornly. "But it's not hard to find out. Just look under the 'rich, famous and spoiled' for Ralston Mackey." |
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