Pretty Amazing Grace {Ryan Blaney || Sequel to Sweet Caroline} ✔️

one

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Lydia's hands shook as she gripped the doorknob. Every fiber of her being screamed that this was a bad idea -- the risk was too high.

But this was the plan that she had come up with. She needed to take some of the power from Stacy -- she needed to not be a missing person anymore. And maybe, she'd get lucky and a solution to keeping Kyle away from her would fall in her lap.

But this was the first step. While she had fled, Lydia regretted that. She should've fought Stacy, she should have called Ryan to tell him what was going on. Better yet, she should have never driven away. They could've figured it out together.

But it was too late for that and Lydia figured that she might as well do this so she didn't have it hanging over her head anymore. It was a little impulsive but Lydia was in a tailspin and this was one situation that she could take control over.

With a deep breath, she opened the door. All eyes turned to her, widening in recognition. On the drive over, Lydia had wondered if she'd be recognized -- it had been five years since she had been home and while she had never really changed her appearance, she wasn't sure if anybody would've bothered to remember her.

"You probably want to see the sheriff," A deputy stood up. "He's gone home for the night. But I can call him."

"No, no, that's okay." Lydia waved him off. She had waited until the sheriff had left to come in. Kyle was his son and she had a feeling that he'd be less than sympathetic to her.

"Amelia?" A woman's voice asked. The voice was familiar, familiar enough that Lydia couldn't help but grin as she turned to her childhood best friend.

"Natalie." Lydia wasn't surprised to see Natalie here, it had always been her dream to be a police officer. 

"You're okay." Natalie enveloped Lydia in a hug. "I take it that you heard about Kyle."

"Heard about Kyle?" Lydia pulled away. "What happened?"

"He was charged and convicted with kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment among other domestic violence charges. He's in prison for life." Natalie explained.

Lydia felt her knees start to give out from under her and she reached out, gripping her friend until she regained her balance. She hadn't expected that, hadn't expected a solution to come so easily. For once, things were turning out easier than she had imagined in her head.

"Are you okay?" Natalie's voice was concerned. "Where have you been?"

Lydia nodded before answering, "I live in Charlotte. I'm a lawyer now. I go by Lydia."

"Lydia." Natalie echoed, "You always named your baby dolls Lydia."

Lydia couldn't help but smile but she couldn't believe that Natalie remembered that. Truth be told, once she started dating Kyle, he had forced her to give up all of her friends and Natalie had taken that the hardest. She hadn't expected any sort of warmth from Natalie. "You remembered," Lydia whispered.

"Of course I did." Natalie paused, shifting -- suddenly uncomfortable. "Did Kyle..." Her voice trailed off for a moment. "Did he hurt you? Is that why you disappeared?"