Nicholas Sparks - Safe Haven

He loved her and she loved him and she had to come home because he couldn’t find her. She could have her happy life again and he wouldn’t hit or punch or slap or kick her if she walked in the door because he’d always been a good husband. He loved her and she loved him and he remembered that on the day he asked her to marry him, she reminded him of the night they’d met outside the casino when the men were following her. Dangerous men. He’d stopped them from hurting her that night, and in the morning they’d walked along the boardwalk and he took her for coffee. She told him that of course she would marry him. She loved him, she’d said. He made her feel safe.

Safe. That was the word she used. Safe.

The third week of June was a series of glorious high summer days. The temperature crept up over the course of the afternoon, bringing with it humidity heavy enough to thicken the air and blur the horizon. Heavy clouds would then form as if by magic, and violent thunderstorms would drop torrents of rain. The showers never lasted long, though, leaving behind only dripping leaves and a layer of ground mist.

Katie continued to work long evening shifts at the restaurant. She was tired when she rode home, and in the morning her legs and feet often ached. She put half the money she earned in tips in the coffee can, and it was almost filled to the brim. She had more money than she’d imagined she’d be able to save, more than enough to get away if she had to. For the first time, she wondered whether she needed to add more.

Lingering over her last few bites of breakfast, she stared out the window at Jo’s house. She hadn’t spoken with her since their encounter, and last night, after her shift, she’d seen lights burning in Jo’s kitchen and living room. Earlier this morning, she’d heard her car start up and listened to the crunching of dirt and gravel as it pulled away. She didn’t know what to say to Jo, or even whether she wanted to say anything at all. She couldn’t even decide whether she was angry with her. Jo cared about Alex and the kids; she was worried about them and had expressed her concerns to Katie. It was hard to find malice in anything she’d done.

Alex, she knew, would be by later today. His visits had settled into something of a routine, and when they were together, she was constantly reminded of all the reasons she’d fallen for him in the first place. He accepted her occasional silences and varying moods, and he treated her with a gentleness that astonished and touched her. But since her conversation with Jo, she wondered if she was being unfair to him. What would happen, after all, if Kevin showed up? How would Alex and the kids react if she disappeared, never to return? Was she willing to leave all of them behind and never talk to them again?

She hated the questions Jo had raised, because she wasn’t ready to face them. You have no idea what I’ve been through , she’d wanted to say afterward, once she had time to think about it. You have no idea what my husband is like . But even she knew that begged the question.

Leaving her breakfast dishes in the sink, she walked through the small cottage, thinking how much had changed in the last few months. She owned virtually nothing, but felt like she had more than ever. She felt loved for the first time in years. She’d never been a parent, but she found herself thinking and worrying about Kristen and Josh when she least expected it. She knew she couldn’t predict the future, and yet she was struck with the sudden certainty that leaving this new existence behind was inconceivable.

What had Jo once said to her? I just tell people what they already know but are afraid to admit to themselves.

Reflecting on her words, she knew exactly what she had to do.

* * *

“Sure,” Alex said to her, after she related her request. She could tell he was surprised, but he also seemed encouraged. “When do you want to start?”

“How about today?” she suggested. “If you have any time.”

He looked around the store. There was only one person eating in the grill area, and Roger was leaning against the counter, chatting with him.

“Hey, Roger? Do you think you could watch the register for an hour?”

“No problem, boss,” Roger said. He stayed where he was; Alex knew he wouldn’t come up front unless necessary. But on a weekday morning, after the initial rush, he didn’t expect many people in the store, so Alex didn’t mind. He moved out from behind the register.

“You ready?”

“Not really.” She hugged herself nervously. “But it’s something I should know how to do.”

They left the store, walking toward his jeep. Climbing in, she could feel his gaze on her.

“Why the sudden rush to learn how to drive?” he asked. “Is the bike not good enough?” he teased.

“The bike is all I need,” she said. “But I want to get a driver’s license.”

He reached for the car keys before pausing. He turned back to her again, and as he stared at her, she caught a glimpse of the investigator he used to be. He was alert and she sensed his caution. “Learning how to drive is only part of it. To get a license, the state requires identification. Birth certificate, social security card, things like that.”

“I know,” she said.

He chose his words carefully. “Information like that can be tracked,” he pointed out. “If you get a license, people might be able to find you.”

“I’m already using a safe social security number,” she said. “If Kevin knew about it, he would have tracked me down already. And if I’m going to stay in Southport, it’s something I need to do.”

He shook his head. “Katie…”

She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “It’s okay,” she said. “My name’s not Katie, remember?”

He traced the curve of her cheek with his finger. “To me, you’ll always be Katie.”

She smiled. “I have a secret,” she said. “My hair isn’t naturally brown. I’m really a blond.”

He sat back, processing this new information. “Are you sure you want to be telling me this?”

“I figure you’ll find out eventually, anyway. Who knows? Maybe I’ll go back to being a blond one day.”

“What’s this all about? Wanting to learn how to drive, volunteering information?”

“You told me I could trust you.” She shrugged. “I believe you.”

“That’s it?”

“Yes,” she said. “I feel like I can tell you anything.”

He studied their hands, locked together on the seat divider, before looking at her. “Then I’ll cut to the chase. Are you sure your documents will hold up? They can’t be copies. They have to be originals.”

“I know,” she said.

He knew better than to ask anything more. He reached for the keys but didn’t start the engine.

“What is it?” she asked.

“Since you want to learn how to drive, we may as well start now.” He opened the door and got out. “Let’s get you behind the wheel.”

They switched places. As soon as Katie was behind the wheel, Alex pointed out the basics: gas and brake pedals, how to put the car in gear, turn signals, lights and wipers, gauges on the dashboard. It was always best to start at the beginning.

“You ready?” he asked.

“I think so,” she said, concentrating.

“Since it’s not a manual transmission, you use only one foot. It’s either on the accelerator or the brake, okay?”

“Okay,” she said. She moved her left foot near the door.

“Now, push down on the brake and start the car. When you’re ready, keep the brake on while you put the transmission in reverse. Don’t use the accelerator, and slowly release the brake. Then turn the wheel to back out, keeping your foot lightly on the brake.”