1 Waking up alone

Allison woke up stretched her hand out and felt nothing but the cool sheet next to her. Tony had been coming home late at night or not at all for the past seven months, four of which she was hospitalized. "This can't keep going on!" was the only thought going through her head as the tears started to fall.

Tony had been her high school sweetheart. They started dating in the tenth grade and made it through his college years together. She had paid for that PhD he had with tips she made from her three waitress jobs. All that got her was a wedding band and several broken bones. Drying her eyes she checked to see if he at least texted her a reason for not coming home. 'Alli tonight and tomorrow night I am covering for a coworker. Don't wait up I will see you on Friday around dinner time.'

Allison got up and started getting ready to go out pulling her waist length auburn hair up in a high ponytail. She dusted on a light makeup and donned her favorite black skirt with a blood red tank top. Throwing her favorite black lace v-neck shirt on top and a pair of red high heels she set off for her new lawyer. Andrew Derek Sullivan had been in the business long enough to have an amazing record on cases like hers. Question was could he get her out of this without her getting hurt.

filling a duffle bag with her typical outfit of plain slacks and a plain shirt with white tennis shoes she checked the house for any tiny thing that could give her away. Leaving a note on the counter in the kitchen claiming she went to the grocery store she walked out of the house locking the doors before throwing the duffle bag into the back of her ford f-250 super duty.

The only thing in this marriage her supposed husband couldn't claim was this truck. It was a present from her parents before they married and left town. They hadn't heard or seen Allison for the past ten years, maybe now she could go back to her hometown was the only thought going through her mind as she pulled into the tiny town Pepperton. Andrews office was right in the middle of town three blocks away from Tony's office at the local hospital. Good thing about small towns like Pepperton no need for appointments.

Andrew was sitting behind his desk when the bell above the door signaled a potential client. Looking up he saw the most stunning angel in blank and red. Her long auburn hair was tied up swaying back and forth as she walked towards him. The curves on her body would make any man want to possess this angel. Those baby blue eyes spoke of the pain she had endured which gave her an ice cold feeling but behind that pain he could see the hope for a better future. His hands itched to pull her towards him and make her his. "Hello miss how may I help you today?"

"Hi my name is Allison Hight. I am here to see about a divorce and possible ways to seek protection from an abusive husband. Is Mr. Sullivan in today?" Hearing that voice and detecting the fear behind it he could only feel like she needed a hug, but knowing how women in her shoes felt at this point he could only hold it in and smile in understanding.

"Actually I am Andrew Sullivan. Do you have awhile to prepare for protection or do you need it immediately? Also can you fill out the paperwork today if not I can bring it to you once we find you a safe house and alter your identity. Another thing do you have any problems with cutting and dying your hair and how do you feel about contacts?"

Allison's head was spinning from the questions but she still smiled knowing this was her only chance. Staring at Andrew as he asked them her heart started beating faster. She always loved a tall man and he was at least a head and a half taller than her without her heels on. That Sandy blonde hair with green eyes had her wishing she could run her hands through it. 'Get yourself together Alli he is your lawyer and you are married even if your husband is the devil incarnate you made a vow.'

"Mr. Sullivan I am prepared to do anything to leave my husband. I can go into protection today I only ask that my vehicle be sent to my parents and for them to receive a letter from me every few weeks so they don't worry. Tony knows they are my weakness other than that I have a full wardrobe similar to this which is completely opposite of how he wanted me to dress as well as two hundred thousand left in cash from when my grandfather passed away. Tony has no clue about the money so he can't claim any of it. I am just worried about what will happen if he finds me can dying my hair and cutting it really help his me from him?"

Andrew looked at her in a different light hearing those words. 'This woman is willing to go the long run to be rid of this man. Just what did he do to her during their marriage for her to feel this way?' "Well Allison, do you mind if I call you that, I currently have no houses for protection available, but I have an idea if your open to it." Seeing her nod her head he continued talking to her. "The town knows I have a receptionist coming from a few towns over. What they don't know is she called to say she couldn't come out here to such a small town to work. I was wondering if you feel up to dying your hair blond and cutting it to shoulder length to pose as the receptionist. She was originally going to live at my house in the guest room, but you don't have to move into my house if you don't want to you can easily rent a house if you want. a vehicle will be provided for your use as for your clothes you can dress however you like."

Allison stared at him for a moment before nodding her head. "Where do I sign?"