Free Every Last Breath by Jessica Gaffney Page B

had a collection of throwing knives, spears for sparing, steel swords, wooden bowken’s, anything that could hurt an intruder.
    At first she forbid him to have them, and even got her parents on her side. What if the baby found it when he got older? But he convinced her that he would show Eli how to use the weapons. When the gun discussion came up, she was mortified. What if someone found it, what if he used it inappropriately during one of his trances? Maggie realized she didn’t want Jack having more control. She knew that bringing a gun into the house meant that she was totally powerless.
    The girls at the battered women’s shelter taught her that strength lied in the ability to speak and be understood. When your voice is heard and your opinion matters to another and proper boundaries are given, then you are empowered. She learned the definition of a healthy relationship which mirrored mutual respect. Her relationship with Jack never fit that description.
    Vala tugged gently on the leash which broke Maggie’s train of thought. Maggie followed her to the backyard. There was a pile of trash heaped up on her property line, back by the national forest. “That’s odd,” She said to herself as she bent over and crushed up the loose advertisements. “Who would leave trash back here?”
    When Maggie walked inside, she heard the faint beep of her cell phone alerting her to an incoming message. Attorney Collins had emailed her. Bringing her restraining order to Colorado would cost about $4400, money well spent. She had already filed and did the hard part, now it was instilling the order and convincing the police this was not another domestic issue that would work itself out.
    Maggie agreed to the fees and confirmed a retainer.  This was how she protected herself, legally. Especially for Eli’s sake.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

CHAPTER 11
     
     
    Eli was already dressed when Maggie got out of the shower. Typically Sunday’s were the day he laid around in his pajamas and refused to comb his hair. But today, he was going to see Santa. He was eager for Ben to pick them up. Maggie was just as thrilled. Aside from getting the tree and trying her hand at working with the dogs, this was the highlight of her month. Zipping up her favorite pair of boots she secured her Tiffany bracelet, her mother bought her as a birthday present, and looped her earrings in. For the remaining fifteen minutes, Maggie checked her hair, glossed her lips in a pale nude tone and packed a bag of snacks. She liked Eli to eat healthy before the Mall food court beckoned his attention.
    Ben arrived a few minutes early. Maggie did her best to wait, the garage was shut and she gave Vala the command that someone was entering the home. The door bell rang like a loud gong, and Eli yanked the door open. “Well hello there. Are you ready to go meet Santa?”
    He grabbed Ben’s hand and pulled him back toward the truck, “I am. Come on.”
    Ben laughed, “Wait buddy, what about your mom?” Eli may have had his hand but Maggie held his attention.
    The ride was wonderful. Eli played and joked with Ben for half of the ride and when it was time for a coffee stop, he convinced Ben to buy him a cookie. About ten minutes after they reached the freeway, Eli fell asleep. The conversation had been G rated to that point, but she hoped for more. She had questions but didn’t want to Ben to feel interrogated. “Do you mind some music?” He asked.
       “Not at all. What’s your forte?”
       “Holiday music would be great. Especially the old songs.”
    Maggie agreed. She missed the days of Christmas caroling and eggnog. Nowadays all the stations played were the same old mundane music. Maggie loved to sing carols when she was growing up. They always did when