Always: Two Side of the Coin, #3

By Brenda Parrack

Always

 Bri, the strong, independent, strong- willed woman had lost herself because of a  manipulative , cheating and abusive man named Drew.  How did life go so wrong for her in just 7 years? She thought she had found the love of her life and things had changed so drastically . Can Bri finally find her way back home and truly find the man that will love her and never cheat? Find out with the conclusion of Always. The final book of Two Sides of the Coin Trilogy. 

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brenda Parrack
• Release date: Sep 30, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393834618

Brenda Parrack

I was raised in Southern, Missouri and still currently reside in the Ozarks. I enjoy being at home with my family and writing. I have worked hard for years in the Medical Field but have decided to change directions and live my dream of writing. I enjoyed writing about my hometown and I hope you fall in love with my books as much as I have falling in love with these characters. B

Book preview

Sometimes the hardest part isn’t letting go but rather learning to start over.

Dr. Spencer Reid- Criminal Minds

Copyright 2020 Brenda Parrack

All Rights Reserved

THE CHARACTERS AND events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

Library of Congress Control number 2018675309

Printed in the United States of America

Chapter 1

BRI WOKE WITH A START. The nightmare is still fresh in her mind. She still could not believe her life has become a life of living in fear of a man. She looked around the room and remembered she was at Ronnie’s house. Bri relaxed a little knowing she was safe today.

Bri looked at her cell phone and saw a couple of missed calls from Drew. She just ignored them. She also had a few missed calls from Shanda. She had called Shanda a couple of days ago, and lied to her again. She told her that she had a UTI and didn’t feel up to going out. Of course her friend was concerned and very understanding. Bri hated lying to her but she didn’t want her to get involved in this situation at all.

Bri showered and looked at her face in the mirror. At least a week had gone by and the swelling was way down from what it was. She still had a black eye, that was now more green and purple. The blood was still pooled in her right eye. She hoped that would go away soon. Bri was so thankful for her friend, Ronnie, for taking her in for a little while.

Ronnie was that friend that was not judgemental at all. She just always had her friends back no matter what the circumstances were. Needless to say, Ronnie was furious when she saw her friend all beat up and so skinny. Ronnie was making sure that she was going to fatten up her friend while she had her here. Ronnie would help her friend find her way back to being the happy bubbly person she knew Bri was. She was also determined to get her to move back to Branson.

Bri emerged from the bathroom looking better than Ronnie had seen her in the last week.

Good Morning. Ronnie sang out to her.

Good Morning. What smells so delicious? Bri smiled at her.

Breakfast. I made french toast and sausage. Come sit down and we can eat. I just finished.

I need a cig first then I’ll eat. Bri went to the fridge and grabbed a Dr. Pepper and walked out the back door to smoke.

Ronnie joined her friend for a cig, I thought today we could help Granny in the garden. How does that sound?

Sure, I love helping your Granny.

She has a ton of green beans that need to be picked and snapped. I thought I would make lasagna for dinner. I know how much you love mine.

Ronnie, you are just so good to me. I can’t thank you enough for feeding and sheltering me right now.

It’s no big deal. I love you and I will always do whatever I can to help you. I do wish you would press charges on this asshole but I know you won’t. I wish you would move back home. You have friends and family here that love you. Your life is here with us.

You are my family. The problem is my job and my apartment, that I love, are in Springfield.

So is the asshole that beat you up. He will just keep coming after you if you're still there.

I don’t think so. He is done with me. He probably has already moved on to the next girl. Bri stubbed out her cig and reached for the door handle.

I’ll let it go for now but don’t think this is the end of the discussion. Ronnie said in her motherly voice.

Bri just laughed and they went in and enjoyed breakfast together. They spent the day in the garden and snapping beans.

Chapter 2

BRI, I HAVE TO WORK tonight at the club. Why don’t you call Ann and come out tonight? You can just tell people you were in a car accident. No one will be the wiser. Ronnie asked.

Sounds like a good idea. I’m ready to get out for a little bit. I have to call work and find out when I can go back to work today.

Are you ready to go back? Ronnie asked, concerned for her friend.

I’m not sure. I want to go back to work but I’m not sure if I’m ready to go back to my apartment. I love that place but I’m also scared now. I know it’s stupid because I’m sure Drew won’t come near me now but I’m still scared.

It’s not stupid. You have a reason to be scared. Just tell your job you need some more time. I’m not ready for you to go back. I like having you here.

Thank you, Ronnie. You are the best.

Bri called her job. She told her boss the truth about what happened. Her boss didn’t seem surprised and Bri figured the story had got out at work anyways.

Bri, I’m so sorry this has happened to you.  Do you think you could come back to work by Wednesday?

I think so. I know I would like to come back to work. It’s just staying in my apartment that scares me a little.

Well, that is understandable. If you need more time just call me on Tuesday and we will figure something out.

Bri was grateful for her job being so understanding.

Later that evening Bri got ready to go to the club. She decided she would take her own car because she wasn’t sure how long she would stay. She was ready to see her old friends but she was still very jumpy and nervous. Bri wondered if this feeling would ever go away or if this was her new normal.

Bri arrived at the club and was greeted by so many old friends. Ann was there but things were very different between them.  It was like the closeness they had shared for many years was gone. Bri regretted pushing her friends away while she was with Drew, but she couldn’t change the past. She hoped that her and Ann could find that old friendship again but tonight she just wanted to enjoy being around her old friends and didn’t want to have a discussion about it with Ann.

Ronnie introduced