Excerpt: 'You're Still Mine' by Lise Guilbault

CHAPTER ONE

As Meg drove due south, she thought back to all that she had accomplished in the past three days. Her first move had been to empty her bank accounts. Her savings were not significant, but in the three and a half years of Rob's incarceration, she'd managed to amass a nice little nest egg. And it was all hers. She had more than enough money to do what she needed to ensure Rob never found her. There was no doubt in her mind he would try, for he had a score to settle, and he was a very determined, extremely angry man who, in his sick, twisted mind, believed he'd been wronged.

Ironically, the fact that Rob had deprived her of her friends had greatly simplified things for her. Other than notifying her employer of her departure, there was no one else to tell of her plan.

Rob's sister had called her two days ago, feigning concern for Meg's well being, but Meg had not been fooled. She was testing the waters and would report back to Rob. Meg had played along, saying she was considering reconciling with Rob but would need time to get things straight in her mind. "Time to think, my ass!" Meg had said to an empty room once she'd hung up. She'd continued to carefully sort through her belongings, deciding which she would take and which she would leave. Anything even remotely related to Rob, she had thrown out.

During her marathon packing session, Meg had given significant thought to where she might like to live. It was an overwhelming feeling, knowing she could live anywhere she chose and do what she wished, when she wished it.

Like a kid in a candy store, there were too many choices.

Although Rob had been away for more than three years, having remained in the house she'd shared with Rob had held her back. His ghost permeated every inch of the house, and had caused her to question her every move, every decision. No more! For the first time in seven years, she was truly free of him and his mama!

In the end, Meg had settled on West Virginia as her destination, in close proximity to the Tennessee border. In looking at a map and extensively researching the area online, she'd made her choice. Her new home would be approximately ten miles north-east of the twin cities of Bristol, Virginia and Bristol, Tennessee, in the small town of Elmsmere, Virginia, population just over four thousand. Meg felt like a new woman. They say a change is as good as a rest. In her case, the words meant so much more. A change would save her life, literally, and she was bound and determined to make this new life the best it could be.

Although the drive wasn't terribly long - just under ten hours - Meg decided to indulge in an overnight stay at a Comfort Inn along the way.

For most people, a hotel stay was commonplace, but for her it was a really big deal. At thirty-three, she'd never once paid for a room, or eaten at a restaurant by herself, for that matter. But despite a bad case of nerves, Meg managed to come off as relatively calm while she booked and paid for her room. Room service was not available, but this was of no consequence as she'd prepared a couple of ham and cheese sandwiches to take along on her trip.

Sitting in the motel room, watching TV was practically exhilarating. After munching on a sandwich, she soaked in a hot bubble bath, then had a quick shower and washed her hair. By ten o'clock, Meg was beginning to feel the effects of the day and crawled under the covers, anxiously anticipating tomorrow's drive to her new hometown.

CHAPTER TWO

When Meg opened her eyes the next morning, unable to remember where she was, she experienced a brief moment of disorientation and panic. She sat up in bed, heart pounding and pulse racing. She took a moment to orient herself, and it all came back. Today was the big day. Freedom, with a capital 'F'.

Within half an hour, she'd loaded her small overnight bag into her car and was pulling onto the interstate. Deciding to really let her hair down, Meg blared the radio and sang along to her heart's content.

Two hours later, she pulled into Elmsmere, a wide smile on her face and a song in her heart. It was everything she had hoped it would be!

From what she observed, most of the action seemed to be concentrated on the main street - actually called Main Street - with businesses reminiscent of decades past. There was an old-fashioned movie theater still in operation, and an old general store as well. It was a beautiful day and people were entering and exiting shops, others just milling about, chatting with friends and family. Meg decided then and there she loved this town and all that it stood for.

The first thing she needed to do was find a room where she could stay for a couple of nights until she found herself a house to rent. She had spotted a motel on her way into town which would suit her purpose. Once she'd checked in, she headed to a real estate office located at the opposite end of Main. The receptionist introduced her to a young female agent who enthusiastically offered to show her a couple of available rentals the very next day.

The agent informed her that the three homes they would be visiting were located within town limits, which was perfectly acceptable to Meg, who preferred to not be too isolated from her new community.

The rental she eventually settled on was a two-bedroom, two-level house situated on a cross-street east of Main. The small house stood on a one-acre lot, had a small one-car garage, a beautiful wrap-around, screened-in porch and came fully furnished. The furnishings were nowhere near new, but they were clean and in good condition. Most importantly, it would mean less expense for Meg, at a time when every penny counted. Best of all, the rent was reasonable and well within her self-imposed budget.

Meg signed a one-year lease and the house became hers - all hers - for a period of at least one year. The landlords agreed to allow her to move in on the fifteenth - three days from now - as the house was empty and she had nowhere to stay. She paid for the half month, as well as first and last month and a fifty-dollar deposit for the keys. The landlords were also amenable to her storing, in the garage, any purchases she made between now and moving day.

For the next two days, Meg focused on purchasing items she'd need in her new abode. Certain things she had brought along, such as bedding, towels and personal grooming items. She'd not be needing any clothes or shoes, although a pair of hiking boots could come in handy. From what she'd read on the internet, there were many beautiful places to visit in Virginia, and she planned to see every single one of them.

On the morning of moving day, Meg did some grocery shopping. Her list was extensive but straightforward. Basically, she needed just about everything, from meat to produce to spices, and anything in between. Cooking was something she enjoyed doing, although certain meals she'd not made since Rob's incarceration. Meg's private joke was asking herself if 'mama' would like a particular recipe. If the answer was no, then she'd make it. It was her secret way of sticking it to Rob, she supposed. Her repertoire of recipes had grown considerably in the last year, and Meg often thought how unfortunate it was that she never had anyone save herself to cook for.

From the moment she put the key in the lock and opened the door to her little house, she became a woman on a mission. The slate had been wiped clean and she could begin her life anew. With determination and pride, Meg set out to make her house into a home. First she cleaned everything. She scrubbed the floors, the walls, washed all the curtains and cupboards, inside and out. The last thing she did was scrub the floors until they shone. Exhausted but satisfied with the results of her two-day cleaning spree, Meg stood in the middle of the living room and performed a complete 360-degree inspection. With a big sigh and a nod, she decided that everything was just perfect!

By the end of the week, Meg realized she'd not thought of Rob in three whole days. That in itself was a feat, as he'd done nothing but invade her thoughts for the past eight years. It was a good sign, she told herself; she was moving on, and there would be nothing but good thing in her future.

CHAPTER THREE

Rochester, New York

Rob couldn't believe the bitch had taken off! When he'd discovered that Meg had flown the coop, he'd called his sister, in a rage, but she'd sworn up and down that she'd spoken with Meg shortly before his release, per his instructions, and had been positive everything was fine with her.

So Meg figured since they were divorced, she could up and leave without asking him? Was she really stupid enough to believe a puny piece of paper with some idiot judge's stamp was going to keep him from claiming what was rightfully his?

He'd done three-and-a-half fucking years because the bitch had accused him of battery. The only reason she'd been hurt in the first place that day was because she'd been too damn stupid to know when to keep her mouth shut! And now, she'd gone and done it again! Now, he was up shit creek without a paddle! And without any money!

How the hell was he supposed to pay the bills? He'd earned all of forty dollars while he was in the pen; he could barely afford a case of beer with that.

What Rob couldn't understand was where Meg could have run to. She had no relatives left and as far as he knew, didn't have a friend in the world. He was her whole world. Rob knew for a fact she was too damn chicken to take off on her own without someone to tell her what to do and how to do it, every minute of every day. So where the hell had she gotten up the nerve or found the brains to leave him?

"Well, Bitch, I'm coming for ya!" Rob shouted

before he threw his empty beer bottle across the room, watching as it smashed into a million pieces. Damn, he thought, now he'd have to clean that up, too!