Liar, page 17
Gabby tears up, and the other ladies nod in understanding. Some comfort her with empathy, some sympathy, and others just reach out to stroke and pat her.
“That’s good, Gabby. That’s exactly what I had hoped you’d share.” Sami smiles. “Candy? Do you want to go next?”
“Sure. I’ll go next. So, I was at work one night and it was kind of quiet at the hospital. It had to be a weeknight, I think. Anyway, I was standing there in the ER talking to some of my coworkers and this ambulance came screaming into the bay. It wasn’t my department, mind you, I was just visiting on my break. But, Dr. Henry, he was the doctor on duty that night, called an AHOD. You know, All Hands on Deck. So I rushed over to help do vitals, and I saw this young girl lying there all black and blue and bloody. She was pitiful. Just pitiful.
“Someone had literally beaten her to within an inch of her life. Knocked her front teeth out, broke a few ribs. We even had to intubate her. On top of that, the bastard almost blinded her. Well, come to find out, it was her husband, her loving husband.
“I thought to myself, right then, I will never let a man do that to me. I will never let anyone do that to me. Ever. And then, I saw a posting in the break room one day about the police department hosting a self-defense class for women. And I was like, ‘hell yeah!’”
The women rally, and Candy receives a hail of hoo-yahs and woot-woots.
“That’s great, Candy. Thank you. Lora?”
“Okay. So, I think you all know that I’m a school teacher. I teach third graders, which isn’t so bad. But sometimes, we have to cross-train for other grades and cover for teachers who are out sick or whatever.” She pauses, taking a deep breath. “Well, last year, our principal asked me at the last minute to fill in for Mr. McKenzie. He was out sick, I think. Anyway, he teaches the senior kids. I didn’t think anything about it at the time. I was like ‘Sure! I’d be happy to help!’ Why not, right?
“Well, it was Hell, just total Hell. I’d gotten through most of the day. And then, during seventh period, this kid comes in right after the bell rings. And I use the term ‘kid’ loosely here. He was huge, a man. He kept saying that Mr. McKenzie was going to change his term paper grade from a D to a B, and that he needed it for his license, or something like that. I told him that he’d have to wait for Mr. McKenzie to get back, and that made him furious.
“He started tossing papers off my desk onto the floor and kicking over trash cans and throwing books across the room. I was hiding behind my desk, scared to death, when he stomped over to me, backed me against the chalkboard and started yelling right in my face. He said I’d better change his grade right then or he was going to have to ‘put the hurt on me.’ What’s crazy is that I was actually about to do it, too. Fortunately, the bell sounded again, and about two seconds later, the door flew open and all my students started pouring in. The boy just smiled at me and said he’d catch up with me later.
“Now, I’m just angry about it. Really angry that the kid scared me like he did, and that he basically bullied me into throwing my ethics out the window. I’m also angry at myself, that I let him do it to me.
“Let me just say for the record, though, that if he does come back, I want to be ready for him. I won’t hide behind my desk the next time.”
The group nods, applauding her for her courage. Sami walks forward, smiling and clapping. “Awesome, Lora. Okay. Who wants to go next? Lucy?”
“Oh, sure. I’ll go.” Lucy stands up, even though none of the other ladies did. “Well, last Christmas, I just kept hearing all this awful stuff on the news about these women who were getting mugged and kidnapped and stuff from our local shopping malls. I told my husband about it, and he got so worried, he wouldn’t even let me go shopping by myself. I had to stay home and do most of it online! And, I thought, that’s a real shame, you know? Here it is Christmas, and my husband is so afraid of me driving downtown to go shop for presents that I’m actually turning into a hermit right here in front my stupid computer. And at Christmas!
“It just made me so mad. Grrr.” She actually growls. “It still burns me up every time I think about it. And what’s going to happen this year? I mean, I’m not like Billie over there. I can’t just go around beating up men.”
Okay. Leave me out of this, Lucy. And, I don’t just go around beating up men.
“I just wasn’t raised that way. But nowadays, a girl has to be able to protect herself.
So, I was at one of my quilting classes, and we were just sewing and talking about this and that, and one of the girls told me about this class. I don’t know. I just thought it might be a great way for me to learn how to protect myself. And, not only that, but a good reason for me and Billie to get away for some girl time while we learn something important. So I signed up. The end. Thank you,” she says and all but curtsies.
Everyone nods and chuckles, applauding politely.
“Thanks, Lucy. Okay. Jade?” Sami points to Jade.
Jade sighs. “Okay. Let me see where to begin. I guess I could start, Candy, by telling you that the lady you saw in the emergency room that night could very easily have been me. I’m divorced now. But I was married for almost ten years to a hot-headed, bullying bastard named Jimmy. It seemed like he would come home and just look for things to start yelling about. And once the curse words started flying, well, it wasn’t long before his fists started flying, too.
“It all started a couple of years after we were married, with a slap here and a kick there. I’d have to wear big, dark sunglasses and long sleeve shirts everywhere I went, even in the summer and when I went to work. And, you know, people would treat me like I was a leper or something, like it was all my fault... like I was asking for it. And I even started thinking that maybe they were right. Maybe, it was my fault.
“About the only good thing I can say is that he never touched the kids. Ever.” She surveys the group slowly, her eyes fierce, her face a mountain of strength. And then, she continues. “But that still doesn’t excuse what he did to me. And the kids had to see it every day. Maybe not the actual punches or even the bruises...” She pauses, looking at me. “But they knew. Even as young as they were, they knew.
“And then, one night, he came home, drunk again, and started in. I guess his hand got tired and he couldn’t find anything else handy to pick up and hit me with. So, he took off his belt and just started beating me senseless with it, the buckle end, mind you. I was screaming and crying, cowering in the corner of the kitchen, and I glanced up and saw my children. My kids were standing at the other end of the room, crying, hysterical almost, begging him to stop hitting Mommy.”
She stops talking now, and her eyes fill with tears. Everyone is silent. Lora and Gabby are quietly crying.
Then, Jade shakes her head and gives us a weak smile. “So the next morning, I packed up my kids and all our stuff, and we hauled ass out of there. I swore right then that no man would ever hit me again. And this class just seemed like another way of reinforcing that goal.”
No one speaks when Jade is done. Lora wipes her eyes, and Gabby nods her approval, her lip still quivering. The other ladies look at their laps or stare ahead into nothingness, trying to absorb the horror that Jade must have gone through.
“Thank you for sharing that, Jade,” Sami says, tears in her eyes, as well. “Okay. I’ll go next. So, a few weeks ago, I was sitting at home watching the news, and I saw that story about the young girl who got raped and murdered out there near the lake in Hot Springs. And I thought to myself, I wish she would have killed him. Or just kicked his ass even, whoever he was. You know, hurt him, really hurt him, bad. And then I thought about how she was only a kid, a fresh, young kid, just starting out with her whole life ahead of her.
“And, what if it had been me? What could I have done any different? Sat there and begged for my life from some son-of-a-bitch who thought he had the right to rape, torture and take it from me? Would I have fought him?” She nods. “Hell yeah, I would have fought. But, would I have won?” She shakes her head. “I doubt it. But I’m telling you right now. I will fight. I will fight to the death. And I’m done with fighting fair. Why should I? They damn sure don’t.”
“That’s the fucking truth.” Jade nods, setting off a wave of bobbing heads around us.
Sami smiles and then continues. “So, when Candy told me about that class, I thought, ‘Yes!’ I want to even the odds any way I can. I want to do whatever I have to do to stop those bastards who think they can use us like punching bags and sperm depositories.”
“Amen, sister!” Lora shouts, setting off a wave of laughter.
“Okay. I think that’s everyone.” Sami pauses, looking at me. “Now, I want to turn it over to our other sister, Billie. She has a very interesting story to tell us.”
Everyone turns to look at me curiously, especially Lucy. I stand up and walk to the front to stand by Sami. I stare out the window, my nerves on edge. I am no public speaker, for sure. It’s gotten dark outside, and I think briefly about Adam. I’ll call him when I finish here. Slowly, I turn my attention back to the group.
“Hi.” My voice shakes and I pause, taking a deep breath. “Candy, you asked what the emergency was that brought us all together here. I’m going to tell you now. I’m going to tell all of you, right now. There’s a sick, psycho motherfucker running around out there killing and butchering us like cattle. And I need your help to stop him.”
Dead silence. I step closer to them.
“Look. You all said you were tired of this, tired of all the crime, the rapes, the murders and the torturing. And you each took the first step toward making it stop, protecting yourselves. But there are others out there who need help, too. And even more who need justice for what was done to them. So I’m going to tell you a story. Then, I need to ask you...
“Can you the take the next step? And, then, the one after that? And, if so, just how far are you willing to go?”
Chapter Nineteen
“Hello?” Adam’s voice sounds worried.
“Hey, babe. It’s me.” I stand in the corner of Sami’s living room, my finger stuck in my ear so I can hear the phone.
“Hey! Are you okay? Where are you? I’ve called and texted—”
“I know. I’m sorry. We were all talking and yodeling and having so much fun, I didn’t hear my phone. I’m about to leave now. I just lost track of time.”
He sighs, relieved. “Well, that’s fine. I’m just glad you’re alright. You haven’t been drinking, have you? Do you need me to come and get you?”
Looking at my full, untouched glass of wine on the coffee table, I smile. Normally, I’d be finishing off a bottle by now. “No. Not a drop.”
“Good. Just drive slow and be careful. Do you remember the security code?”
“Yes, I do.”
“I’ll see you shortly, then.”
“Okay.” Silence. “And, Adam...”
“Yes?”
Come on. You can do this.
“I love you,” I whisper, wincing as if I expect someone to punch me in the face.
More silence during which time I could swear I heard a pin drop. Oh, man, what have I done?
Finally, he puts me out of my misery. “I love you, too, babe. Now, hurry up and get home.”
Taking a deep breath, I exhale loudly. “Right. On my way. Bye.”
Hanging up, I’m sure that I’m beaming like a puppy with two peters. He loves me. I think I knew it already. He’s all but told me so. Still, I wanted to hear it. I needed to hear it and I wanted to say it, too. I want all the wonderful things this man has to offer, like love, safety, family and home. I just want him. Adam Lesser.
“Good job tonight.”
A soft, pleasant voice rouses me from my reverie.
Looking up, I peer into the dark, gray eyes of Sami Longboat, and smile. “You’re one to talk. That was amazing, Sami.”
“Well, thank you. I thought about it all day. You know, how we were going to convince five sane, rational women to do something that is by all accounts, well, totally insane.”
“Well, I don’t know so much about all of them being sane and rational. But I get where you were going.”
Sami laughs. “The only thing I could think of that even had a shot at making them willing to cross that line was pure, old-fashioned rage. And everyone here has it, in spades. We just needed to find a way to tap into it.”
“Well, now, we just need to make sure that we stay in control of that rage, and it doesn’t get to a point where it’s controlling us.”
“Agree. So, you’re good with your next steps?”
“Yep. I’ll start in the morning.”
“Okay. Just keep the conversation short and sweet and don’t hit any heavy topics. And remember, she just needs saliva to do the test. A fork, a spoon, a glass, whatever you can get. I don’t have to tell you that if AB is as rare as Candy says it is, we’ll have all the proof we need.”
Nodding absently, I’m worried that even though I didn’t give anyone Adam’s name, they might just figure it out. I told them only as much as I felt comfortable revealing and didn’t give them all the names. Still, there’s an uncomfortable knot in my belly. “You and Candy will meet me at Luby’s, right down the street from the restaurant. Okay?”
“We’ll be there. Candy says she’s sure she can have the results by the time we get back together on Wednesday.”
“Are we sure about all this?” I look nervously at Sami, and her face returns my concern.
“We can always do nothing.”
“Not an option.”
“Well, it sounds like we’re sure, then,” she replies confidently.
“Sounds like it.” I chuckle and turn to leave, but Sami stops me, grabbing my arm and squeezing it lightly.
“Oh, and Billie?”
As I raise my brows in response, she smiles reassuringly.
“Good luck. We’re all here for you. Call us if you need us.”
When I return to the living room to gather my things, the ladies are still milling around and visiting. There’s an unfamiliar urge driving me to hurry and get home. Adam is waiting for me, and honestly, I can’t wait to see him. Spotting Lucy next to the table where she’s grazing, picking through what’s left of the little, icing-covered cookies, I head that way.
“Are you good getting home?”
Grinning, she gives me a knowing look and, as usual, I don’t know whether I want to hug her or poke her in the eye. Why does she drive me so crazy?
“Oh, yes, doll. I drove my own car tonight.” She finally picks out a cookie and takes a bite.
Thinking about the beautiful, totally unappreciated Corvette parked outside on the street that I would give my left nut to drive, if I had one, that is, usually makes me want to kick her. Instead, for some reason that I can’t explain or comprehend, tonight, I want to hug her. So, I do. Almost as surprised as me, she stiffens at first, taken off her guard. Then, she recovers and reaches her scrawny little arms around to hug me back.
“Oh, honey. It’s okay. I’m not going to let anything happen to you. You’re my girl,” she says, patting my back. “Everything is going to be alright.”
Smiling, I’m aware that’s exactly what a real mother would say right now and exactly what I needed to hear.
What the hell is wrong with me tonight? I let go of her and stand up straight, embarrassed, clearing my throat and tugging at my clothes.
“Ahem. Well, okay, then. If you’re alright, I’m going to go on home. And I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yes, you sure will, darlin’!” She gives her hips a little twist and then takes another bite of her cookie.
After saying goodnight to the ladies still hanging around, I head outside to my car, anxious to get home to the man who loves me and who’s waiting for me there. Finally, a man who means more to me than a drink or a cigarette or a good fight is waiting for me at home, and it feels great.
That gigantic chip on my shoulder is starting to thaw and as I drive toward the apartment, a feeling of rightness settles over me. That kryptonite that was attached to me for the past five years, draining me of all my happiness, hopes and dreams is finally gone. For the first time in I can’t really remember how long, I feel optimistic about the future, happy even. Thoughts of Adam entertain me the entire way home, not Derek and not the scary, awful things that I’m planning to do over the next few days. Just Adam.
“Honey! I’m home!” I chuckle at my own corny line as I step inside the entryway. Then, I gasp, wondering if someone had set off some kind of a love bomb throughout the apartment.
The place looks like something out of a Harlequin romance novel. The entire living room is lit only by candles and the soft, flickering light of the fireplace. There are tikis burning outside on the balcony, and soft, sexy music floating from the iPod speakers like a smoky aphrodisiac.
“Yes, you are home, my Queen.” Adam appears from the kitchen. “Let me take your coat.”
“Oh!” My Queen? I turn around and let him slide it off my shoulders. “Adam, this is beautiful.”
Feigning confusion, he lays my jacket across the table in the entry. “Adam? Who’s Adam? Tonight, you may call me your liege or your devoted servant, whichever you prefer.”
Giggling, I toss my keys on top of my jacket. “You sure? Because I can do a lot with that. In fact, you can just call me ‘She Who Must Be Obeyed,’ if you want.”
“As you wish, Madame,” he teases. Then, while he bends to just the right height, his eyes glisten with an unspoken invitation to kiss him. Stretching to my tiptoes, I snake my arms around his neck and give him a soft, gentle kiss. As he holds me almost tenderly with our bodies barely touching, his one hand cradles the back of my head and the other rests on my waist. A soft moan escapes my throat, and it’s all the encouragement he needs to release the beast. In a split second, I’m pressed against the wall, and he deepens the kiss. His hands dip to squeeze and cup my butt as he pulls me roughly to him. When he pushes his tongue past my lips, it duels with mine, exploring and ravishing me, and I melt into it. Hot, demanding and powerful, I’ve never been kissed like this.
