Savage Marie - Katie Lyn’s Guarded Heart: Sweethearts of Country Music, Book 4

F ix your makeup girl, its just a breakup. Eighteen-year-old newlywed Katie Lyn Bishop Howell sang the line to her favorite Miranda Lambert song as she tried to hide the red blotchy skin and fix the runny mascara that made her look like a rabid raccoon. Her mother would be here any minute and she didnt want her to see she had been crying for hours, especially over a man. She powdered her nose one more time, as she continued to sing Mamas Broken Heart.

As she put away her makeup, she noticed the positive home pregnancy test still sitting on the bathroom counter. The two pink lines only a little faded now, unlike the morning she took the test when they nearly blinded her. On that day, she couldnt wait for her husband, Trevor, to get home from job hunting, so she could surprise him. He was surprised all right. So much so, he took off that night and didnt return home until the next day.

The doorbell rang and Katie Lyn checked her makeup one more time. Time to put on her big girl panties and face the music. Before she stepped out of the bathroom, she quickly stuffed the test in her jeans pocket. She didnt want to take any chances of her snooping mother seeing it before she could break the news to her gently. She could just hear the lecture now, and she knew once her mama was on her soapbox, she was in for a long afternoon of I told you so.

Hi, Mama. Howve you been? Katie Lyn strained to smile as she opened the door. She was struggling to hold it together, when shed rather just walk into her mamas arms and cry her eyes out.

Lynette Bishop walked inside the small apartment and began looking things over, like she always did anytime shed visit. Shed nitpick about how messy Trevor was and how she needed to decorate the place up. Decorating required money, and money for that was hard to come by, especially when you could barely afford rent. Katie Lyn knew she hated her living in the apartment, but if her mama didnt help her soon, shed be living on the streets.

Youve made some changes in here. Wheres that big screen TV that yall had no business buying in the first place? Especially on credit. Dont tell me Trevor pawned it? Just as well if he did. It was too big for this room anyway, her mother rambled on.

Mama, would you like some tea? Katie Lyn asked as she went to the refrigerator to pour a glass.

So where is Trevor? Dont tell me the lazy bum is sleeping again. Hed better be out looking for a job. Im sick and tired of hearing his excuses of not finding work.

Lynette took a sip of the sweet tea, before setting the glass down on the breakfast bar.

He needs to give up this dream of being a country music star and get a real job.

Katie Lyn didnt want to rehash this old discussion again. She was supportive of her husbands dreams of making it big in Nashville one day. It was a dream they shared and what attracted her to him in the first place.

You two kids need to...

Mama, have a seat. We need to talk, Katie Lyn interrupted and knew by the surprised look on her face that she was being disrespectful.

Im sorry, but I need you to please be quiet and listen to what I have to say.

Oh no. Whats he done now? she asked before sitting down on the barstool.

Katie Lyn sighed, remembering to be strong like her best friend Cinnamon coached her just earlier today. She could do this. She had to do this.

Trevors gone, she said and was surprised how she made it sound like it was no big deal. Of course, she had practiced it over and over in the mirror for the last half hour.

What do you mean gone? Her mother suddenly smiled. Did you finally kick him to the curb?

Katie Lyn wished that was the case. Better to be the rejector than to be rejected.

No, Mama. He left me. Katie Lyn closed her mouth and bit the inside of her cheek, trying not to cry.

Her mama rolled her eyes.

Oh, hell be back. Yall do this all the time. Hell be back when he needs some money. Mark my words on that.

It was true. In her brief three months of marriage, Trevor did the leaving thing a lot, only to come back and beg for forgiveness and, of course, money.

No, I dont think hes coming back this time. He took all his belongings and left me these. She pushed the set of papers in front of her on the counter.

She watched as Lynette picked up them up and quickly glanced through them.

He wants a divorce?

Yes, maam, and I gave it to him. What do the papers say exactly? Ive been too upset to concentrate on reading them.

Lynette looked over the papers again as she read the highlights.

He doesnt want to pay you alimony, which is funny, since youre the one thats been pretty much supporting him. She smirked but stopped and looked up at Katie Lyn.

Wait. You already signed these?

Yes.

When?

A few hours ago. He asked me to meet him at the lawyers office and not drag this out.

How could he afford to get a lawyer to draw these up?

By wiping out our joint bank account and what little savings we had, and...

She paused as she struggled to fight back the tears. Her vision was already starting to blur.

And what, Katie Lyn?

He pawned my guitar, Mama. She couldnt hold back the tears any longer as they started rolling down her cheeks.

That lousy no good worthless thief! Lynette started to rant as she came off the bar stool and huffed and puffed while pacing the floor.

I cant believe this. I shouldve locked you in your room the day you met Trevor Howell. I told you when you ran off, that nothing good would come with being with him. Im too much of a Christian woman to say the things Id like to say now.

Katie Lyn had witnessed this tirade before, and she knew it was probably a good thing Trevor Howell was long gone. She knew her mama had to have worked hard to buy the guitar on her thirteenth birthday. Her mama was so angry shed probably kill him, and she hadnt even heard her other news yet.

Did you know he was going to leave?