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of the childhood feelings Brett described He heard Lacey in Ella’s words

He spent Tuesday night in Lacey’s bed, with Levi right there beside him

On Wednesday, right after he dropped Levi at day care—with a request to Mara, who’d always had a special affinity with Levi, to keep his son close to her that day—Jem called the police He called victim witness—a public service that provided support for victi orders And he went to court

By Wednesday night, he had a restraining order against Tressa Bridges, with Levi as a naht at home in his own bed

He woke Sunday ht, he flew out of bed

It took him a second to realize that it couldn’t be his ex-wife She’d had a visit froo to jail if she came within twenty-five feet of either Je Tressa feared,to jail

Hoping to God it was Lacey, breaking out of her shell and that eager to see hi heard froht thing—he raced down the hall in his cotton pajama bottoms

Soet fro on his door, the neouldn’t be good

More likely it was the cops

The banging was still happening as he yanked the door open

“Jem, let me in! Quick!” Tressa stood there, sweaty and disheveled, talking in a hushed tone

But banging loudly on the door?

He looked for her car, but didn’t see it

“What’s wrong? Where’s your car? Were you in an accident?” Their history didn’t er, he had to help her

“No! Let me in!”