Chapter 2 - “HAS HE DONE THIS BEFORE?”
Two officers came through the front door.
Grant changed instantly.
It was almost impressive.
His shoulders relaxed.
His voice softened.
His face became concerned.
He stepped toward them with his palms open.
“Officers, thank God. This got blown completely out of proportion.”
I wanted to slap him.
One officer, a woman named Martinez, looked around the room.
“Who called?”
“I did.”
Grant pointed at me.
“She’s Brooke’s mother. She’s emotional.”
Officer Martinez looked at him.
“I wasn’t asking you.”
Grant stopped talking.
The second officer spoke to the manager while Martinez walked toward Brooke.
“Ma’am, are you Brooke?”
Brooke nodded.
“I’d like to speak with you privately.”
Grant stepped closer.
“I can explain what happened.”
Martinez turned.
“Sir, I need you to stay here.”
“I’m her husband.”
“I understand.”
“She’s upset.”
“I understand that too.”
“She gets confused when she’s upset.”
Brooke flinched.
Martinez noticed.
So did I.
“Sir,” the officer said, “take three steps back.”
Grant’s jaw tightened.
Diane jumped in.
“This is a family disagreement. Brooke provoked him.”
Martinez looked at her.
“And you are?”
“His mother.”
“Then you can step back too.”
Diane actually gasped.
Brooke and Officer Martinez moved toward the far end of the restaurant.
I could see them talking.
Grant kept trying to watch.
I moved into his line of sight.
He gave me a look filled with hate.
“You’re going to regret this.”
I leaned closer.
“Is that a threat?”
His eyes flicked toward the police.
Then he smiled.
“No. Of course not.”
I had known Grant for six years.
I had always thought he was arrogant.
Controlling.
Too eager to be the smartest man in every room.
But standing there under those bright restaurant lights, I realized I had never actually known him.
Not the real him.
The real Grant was standing six feet away from a police officer and still trying to control my daughter with his eyes.
Officer Martinez asked Brooke another question.
Brooke shook her head.
Then nodded.
Then covered her mouth.
My stomach dropped.
Grant saw it too.
“Brooke!” he called.
Martinez turned sharply.
“Sir, I told you to stay back.”
“I just need to talk to my wife.”
“No.”
“It’ll take two seconds.”
“No.”
Diane muttered, “This is absurd.”
Then Officer Martinez asked a question loud enough for me to hear.
“Has your husband ever physically hurt you before tonight?”
Everything inside me stopped.
Brooke stared at the floor.
Grant moved.
“Don’t answer that.”
The second officer stepped in front of him.
“Sir.”
Grant lifted his hands.
“I’m just saying she’s under stress.”
“Stay where you are.”
Diane shouted, “Brooke, think about what you’re doing!”
Brooke’s shoulders started shaking.
I wanted to run to her.
I didn’t.
This was her moment.
Not mine.
Officer Martinez lowered her voice.
“You’re not in trouble.”
Brooke looked at me.
I will never forget her face.
There was fear.
Shame.
And underneath both of them, something else.
Exhaustion.
She had been carrying something alone for too long.
Her lips parted.
“Yes.”
Grant went completely still.
Diane said, “Brooke!”
But my daughter didn’t stop.
“He’s hurt me before.”
My knees nearly gave out.
“How many times?” Martinez asked.
Brooke swallowed.
“I don’t know.”
Grant laughed once.
It was a strange, sharp sound.
“This is crazy.”
Brooke reached into her purse.
His laugh stopped.
She took out her phone.
“There’s more.”
Grant’s face drained.
“What are you doing?”
Brooke unlocked the screen.
Her fingers were trembling.
“There’s a folder.”
Grant took one step forward.
The other officer immediately blocked him.
“What folder?” Martinez asked.
Brooke looked directly at her husband.
May you like
Then she said:
“The one Grant doesn’t know I have.”
