“Scott, you should listen to Logan,” Justine said. “He’s a former police officer. He knows what he’s talking about.”

“It isn’t safe to go home with her,” Logan said. “Get over the idea that just because she’s a female, you shouldn’t fear her. She’s violent. She has a temper. If you want a ride somewhere, I’d be happy to give you a lift.”

Scott laughed uncomfortably. “I can work this out. You’re right, she has a bit of a temper but she burns out fast. I should know better than to irritate her, get her riled up. She’s really not like this. She’s really a sweet, kind girl.”

“No, she’s not,” Logan said. “She’s an abuser. You’re at risk. The police department can assist you. All you have to do is—”

“I appreciate your concern but it isn’t how it looks. This sort of thing never happens. I mean she can get mad and yell, but she gets over it and—”

“And apologizes,” Logan said. “And makes up. And promises to never do it again. Man, you’re a statistic waiting to happen.”

“You see the size of her?” Scott said with a laugh, absently rubbing his biceps. “She’s no bigger than a ladybug. I’m going to take her home. We’ll have a conversation, and it’ll never happen again. Thanks for your concern but we’re fine.”

Scott moved quickly to the car, got in and started it. Justine was frozen. She could see Cat sitting in the passenger seat, her arms crossed over her chest, a scowl on her face. She looked out the passenger window and didn’t make eye contact with either of them. Scott pulled out of his parking spot and off they went.

Justine looked up at Logan. “Well now, that’s very bad,” she said.

“She was slugging him with all her might. Don’t let the fact that she’s small fool you. There’s nothing preventing her from picking up a bat or a boulder. Or a gun.”

“Oh Logan, surely Scott wouldn’t let it get that out of control!”

“I don’t know Scott. But I do know that some of these abusers have an amazing power over their victims. It boggles the mind.”

“He left me for this?” she asked. “For a woman who would hit him hard enough to leave a bruise, make him bleed?”

“Here’s something I took for granted. There were a couple of domestic calls that police answered in her last relationship. Maybe there were similar problems before that. I assumed it was the man in the relationship beating on the woman. I didn’t go in and read the reports. I’ll do that now. Maybe she’s been the violent one all along.”

“Would that be in the report?”

“No telling,” Logan said. “Male victims are often reluctant to admit they are having trouble defending themselves. They hate admitting they’re being physically abused by a woman. Most of them won’t hit back. They’re captives. Prisoners. The situation is just as bad as any typical domestic violence where the man is the aggressor. Just as dangerous.”

“Will you check, please?”

“Sure,” he said. “Of course. But Justine, don’t get involved in this. You’re too close to the situation.”

“Maybe I’m too close to stay uninvolved,” she said.

* * *

Logan called Justine first thing in the morning. “It was probably her, creating the domestic disturbance in the earlier relationship.”

“Probably?” she asked.

“When the police arrived, they blamed each other. They were both charged with misdemeanor assault. I ask myself, how often has this happened with her other relationships?”

Justine was quiet for a moment. “What has he gotten himself into?”

“It’s also not unusual for someone, man or woman, to leave a satisfactory relationship for one that seems more thrilling only to find it’s loaded with problems. Only time will tell.”

It wasn’t as though this was the first issue of domestic violence Justine had ever heard of, but it was the closest she’d ever come to an actual case. And never in a million years did she think Scott could be caught up in something like that. Scott was too smart and sure of himself for that!

But then she hadn’t expected him to have an affair, either.

It was a quiet morning at the house. Amber wasn’t home from her overnight in San Jose, Olivia was on her laptop with her earbuds in, Addie had gone out for a long walk and had plans to do some shopping later. Justine spent an hour on her own laptop, sitting at the dining table. She read about male victims of spousal abuse and found lots of reading material. Then she applied herself to some laundry and cleaning, perfect activities when she wanted to think.

When she’d taken the job in this little town, she thought the hardest part would probably be seeing her husband and his mistress in blissful happiness living like college kids on the beach, nary a worry in their lives. She never in a million years thought she’d be seeing what she was seeing.

There was a certain amount of cynicism that came with her profession. She had to consider the worst-case scenario to be prepared to represent her company, or, in her new role, her client.

The household was full of activity. Addie came home, showered and changed and went off to San Jose for shopping. Olivia went with her. Amber came home and went straight to her bed for a badly needed nap after her night out.

Justine put on her tennis shoes and went out for a walk. She was wearing tight-fitting jeans with rips in the knees—high fashion these days, she mused. She pulled on an oversize poncho with a cowl neck over her dark long-sleeved shirt. She hadn’t paid any attention to Scott’s habits or schedule since they’d split up. In fact, she made it a point not to know too much about his current life. She didn’t know exactly where he lived, though she knew she could easily find out. But he was done with her; she wanted to be done with him even if that was a difficult emotional space to occupy. Was she curious about him and his new life? Absolutely. It was hard not to be.

She walked to the kayak shack and, as she expected, it was closed. The October weather was cold and the few ocean goers were now often in wet suits. There were no cars there. She knew Cat drove a red BMW SUV, one flashy, pricy vehicle. She knew because Olivia had mentioned it, along with her observation that maybe that meant the kayak shack was doing better than people thought. It was not there.

She braced herself for the possibility of running smack into Cat Brooks, but she was relieved that she didn’t. When she looked inside the shack, she saw Scott working on his laptop at the counter. He quickly closed the computer and looked at her.

“Wow,” she said before even considering stopping herself. He was sporting a nice shiner. “Looks like you didn’t work things out as quickly as you thought you would.”

“It’s none of your business, Justine,” he said angrily.

“Hey, no need to shoot the messenger. I came to see you, for the first time, I might add, because I’m concerned about you. I mean, I hate you, but it looks like maybe you’re in trouble.”

“I’m not in trouble. Everything is fine now.”

“I’m so disappointed in you, Scott. I thought by now you had perfected lying and here you go, bungling it. Clearly everything is not all right. You hooked yourself up with an abusive woman, and she’s beating the tar out of you.”

“It must make you so happy to think I’m in trouble,” he said. “I’m not. We have a very good relationship. One little flare-up doesn’t mean a thing.”

“One?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“One!” he insisted loudly.

“Listen, indulge me for a second. Exactly what is it about her that would entice you to sacrifice your family?”

“I haven’t done that,” he said. “I had to end my marriage, but I had hoped that once you got used to the idea that we weren’t married anymore, we’d still be friends. And I never intended to give up my children. I think you turned the girls against Cat and now I hope that in time they come around. I’m still their father. I still love them.”

She shook her head. “I didn’t have to turn them against her, Scott. They are very suspicious—naturally—of the woman who could make you betray all your commitments. You not only left us, you took half the money we earned together. Now it will take twice as long to reach that retirement goal...”

“But you said it—we earned it together. I only took what was mine.”

There were so many responses she wanted to throw back at him, but what was the point?

“Well, that’s what the law says. But will I ever know why?”

“I’m not sure I know why it happened. I wasn’t expecting a woman like Cat to come into my life. She believes in me. She thinks I’m amazing and smart. She trusts me to save her business. I’ve never felt like this before. I’ve never felt so alive.”

“Did you invest everything you have in her business?” she asked outright.

He paused for a moment, looking around as if seeking the right answer. “Yes,” he finally said. “I can make this work. I know business. I’ve studied the market, the local and tourist economy.”

“Where do you live, Scott?” she asked, taking a step closer.

“What does that matter?”

“I was just wondering. Do you live with her now? In her house or apartment?”

“No, I found a small house. Ocean Heights, just up the road. I’m renting. For now. She gave up her house. She lives with me.”

“I bet it’s a nice house,” Justine said.

He merely nodded, clearly not seeing where this could be going.

“And you bought her a car?”

“Hers was limping along and I—Wait a minute. How do you know that?”

She shrugged. “I just guessed. Our divorce has been final about five months. You got a good settlement and you’ve already complained that you need money.”