Free Abandon: The Unloveable Series Book One by Michelle Lowhorn

love the girls as though they were my own.  Never doubt that I’ll do whatever necessary to keep them safe.”  He paused as he decided how to ask the difficult questions he needed to.  “Tell me what happened the night you called nine one one.  I promise I won’t get angry or think any less of you.”
    She took a deep breath and started recounting the events leading to Garret’s death.  “I’d been around him enough over the years to recognize the signs.  His speech would slow down and as his drug use progressed, he’d stumble and trip over furniture.  After a while he’d lose enough weight he looked gaunt.  He lost another job because he couldn’t think about anything but getting high.  I knew it had gotten out of control again when his boss called that morning looking for him.  Garret had been working construction for Mr. Vazquez, but his boss had had enough of Garret’s antics and asked me to tell him not to bother to come back to the site.  I was almost three months pregnant with Sadie when everything came to a head.  We’d been arguing for a couple days about him entering the drug treatment program again.  Of course he denied using telling me I was just letting my imagination run wild.  That night Ollie walked in the master bathroom and caught Garret smoking from a big pipe.  She didn’t understand what he was doing.  Instinctively Garret yelled at her and she got scared and ran out.  She barreled into the kitchen with Garret hot on her heels.  I was standing at the stove cooking dinner when she wrapped her arms around my leg.”
    Gage’s hand rubbed up and down her back ever so softly to comfort her.  It was obvious she was struggling to tell the story without breaking down.
    “I’d never witnessed that level of rage from him before.  I told him if he didn’t get help immediately, the girls and I would leave.  I wouldn’t tolerate him using drugs in the house with our children in the next room.  As always he claimed I was making a mountain out of a mole hill.  Our arguing escalated…”
    “Take your time, baby.  There’s no hurry.  I know this is difficult for you,” Gage reassured her as he continued to hold her tight.
    “Whenever he was using, he’d throw it in my face that I’d always loved you more than him.”
    Gage’s hand briefly stopped then continued to gently rub her back.  He knew he shouldn’t feel happy that once again she mentioned loving him, but he couldn’t help it.  He’d denied himself feeling anything for so long that he was numb except when Brook was around.
    “I told him to leave.  That I’d rather raise all three kids on my own than to subject them to his drug addiction and erratic behavior.  He was so furious he lost control and struck me.  The first blow was to the left side of my face.  I lost my balance and fell backwards with Ollie still attached to my leg.  Instinctively I rolled on top of her so she wouldn’t get injured.  Garret proceeded to kick me then he yanked my hair back so he could see my face. He finally landed a powerful blow to my left eye.  Makynlee heard the commotion and came in to investigate.  When she saw Garret punching me, she screamed at the top of her lungs.  That must have been what stopped him.  He took off to the bedroom, I guess to smoke some more to calm his nerves.  I asked Ollie to bring me the phone and that’s when I called the sheriff.  Moments before they arrived, Garret came back into the kitchen, pulled me into his lap, and stroked my face as he begged for forgiveness.  I don’t remember another time when either one of my girls cried quite so hysterically.  I couldn’t find it in my heart to forgive him for exposing our daughters to that level of violence.  If only I’d said those three powerful words, ‘I forgive you,’ maybe things would have worked out different.”
    Brook used the sheet to wipe her tears.  “I spent two nights in the hospital. Luckily your parents cared for