Ten minutes had nearly passed, and I was in the parking lot of my apartment building. The sun was still in the sky, but it was the last of the sunshine for the day. People were standing around talking, and there were even kids playing kickball in the far end where there were no parked cars. I could remember playing kickball when I was younger. They were playing with an old soccer ball. They were having a lot fun.
I should have been paying attention to where I was going instead of watching the kids because I ran right into Jason. Always the instigator, he posed himself tall in front of me like I was supposed to be glad to see him. That’s all I could think about was the look he gave my sister when I saw them in bed together. I hated him for that. He was trying to destroy my family.
“Move out of my way, Jason.” I demanded trying to go around him, but he moved in front of me again.
“You can’t speak to your boy? What’s up with that?” He came closer, and I could smell his cologne. He smelled the same as he did in high school, sweaty. I remember when we were together back then. I thought we were going to get married someday.
Jason was tall, hair cut close to his scalp, big dark eyes, and thick lips with a strong jaw. He was actually handsome with his perfect dark complexion and somewhat muscular body. He knew he was good looking, too, and he was arrogant. I guess being a superstar, even in the hole we lived in, made him proud. I hoped he would leave me alone, but I knew that hope was for nothing.
Jason grabbed my arm waking me from my day dream, and I tried to get away from him. But his grip was too strong. His friends started gathering around and watching us. A few of them were laughing. I was getting aggravated. “Jason, let me go!” Why was he messing with me? He had to be showing off for his friends. I had enough.
He asked as he began backing me to his car, “You’re mad at me, huh?”
“No, I’m not mad.” I lied. I was beyond it. I tried to yank away from him again, and he grabbed my other arm.
“Settle down now. You are mad at me. I can tell. She was the one who was flirting with me, you know.”
He was leaning on me using most of his body weight to keep me pinned. He was like a steel door that couldn’t be moved. I didn’t want him touching me at all, and I kept pushing and squirming.
I growled, “Jason, I’m not going to talk to you about that. I just want you to let me go.”
“You use to like it when I was on you.” He bent over to try and kiss me, and I hit him in the face. That set him off, and he slapped me so hard that I fell to the ground. He still held onto my arm, and he pulled me up enough to slap me again. I hit the ground. He kicked my stomach and shoved my arm down. I couldn’t breathe, and I was in a ton of pain. All of a sudden I heard shuffling and guys voices, and Jason was pulled away from me. I held my stomach trying my best to breathe. The tears came down my face. It happened so fast. I started scooting away from them, and when I felt I was far enough away, I stood slowly on my own and stared at him.
Jason has beaten me before. When we were dating, any reason was a good reason to put his hands on me. I was always so afraid of him. The burn on my cheek brought back painful memories of those times. My stomach hurt so badly. I had to get away from him. I had to get away fast.
A bigger crowd gathered around, and I could see some people whispering, others laughing and pointing. It was horrible and it was just too much. I backed away making sure I kept my eyes on him. I turned and rushed towards the apartment thinking it was over, but it wasn’t. I happen to turn around again, and he was walking towards me talking loud and calling me names. I began running to my apartment. It was difficult trying to run. I couldn’t breathe. I knew no one would help me. I was always on my own when it came to him. I finally got to my apartment door, and my hands were shaking so bad that I dropped my keys. I was afraid for my life. I felt like he was going to kill me. I knew he was going to kill me. Finally, I got the front door open. I made it inside. I slammed the door closed and locked it. I slid down to the floor and I cried.
It seemed like I stayed there for hours before I got up but it was only for a little while, and the phone wouldn’t stop ringing the whole time. Eventually, I dragged myself to the bathroom, only to find that I was the only one in the apartment. It didn’t matter. Even with Pritchard here, I was still alone and wouldn’t get any help. I turned on the shower and I stood under the hot water thinking it would melt my anguish away. I cried more, hurting deeply and shaking. I should have known Jason would get me after I caught him with my sister. I should have known he would find a way to embarrass me again.
I stumbled into bed, sliding deep under the covers, and I lay there. I didn’t sleep because I was in pain, and honestly, I was afraid. Every noise, every sound from outside my window had my attention. A couple of times there was a knock at my doors, but I didn’t get up to answer it. I wanted to hide from the world at that point. I couldn’t face it.
SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2009
CHAPTER TWELVE
The next morning, a soft knock was at my bedroom door. For some reason I was thinking Jason was at the door. He wouldn’t be knocking, and for that matter, he wouldn’t be knocking that soft. He wouldn’t be in the apartment, either. I quickly wiped my tears away, and I took in a deep breath. I was tired, still hurting, and so fed up with everything. I didn’t want to answer the door, but I did.
Pritchard stood in the hallway, looking worried. He didn’t say a word for a short moment like he was trying to read my reactions. He mumbled, “Sherrie Westing is on the phone.”
I huffed not really wanting to deal with her. I tried to sound like I was in a good mood, but it was hard. “Morning, Sherrie.”
“Well, I’m a bit shocked.” Sherrie remarked. She always spoke like she had her nose in the air, every effort with proper English.
“Okay,” I remarked. I don’t know why she said that, and I wasn’t about to ask.
“Angela, I wasn’t talking to you. My father is here.” That explained her weird comment. “I want you to come in today. The laundry wasn’t completed yesterday, and I need to have most of it done before tomorrow morning. I need for you to be here within the hour. You can have Tuesday off instead.”
“I’ll be there within the hour.” I answered.
She hung up the phone without thanking me, but that was nothing new. At first, I thought she was rude, but after working for her for a while, I simply accepted that’s how she was. And it wasn’t my fault she was stupid.
I hung up the phone and decided to get a drink of water. Maybe, it would curb my humungous appetite.
Pritchard asked from the kitchen entry way, “Angela, are you alright?”
I poured myself a glass of water with my back to him and asked, “Why you want to know?”
“The neighbor told me what happened last night. Maybe, you should call the police.”
I still had my back to him when I remarked, “I’m fine, Pritchard. I’m still standing, still alive.” I walked passed him holding the glass in my hand and said, “It doesn’t do any good to call the police anyway. Jason gets away with everything.”
I was a little surprised Pritchard was concerned, but now that I think about it, he did care about all of us in the apartment. I’ve never known for him to be mean or cruel.
“Oh, I wanted to tell you that Andrea will be in court tomorrow morning, and I was wondering...”
I interrupted him, “I won’t be there.”
“It’ll be real nice if she saw both of you girls in the courtroom.”
I laughed. He still hadn’t noticed Olivia was gone. I wasn’t going to tell him any different. I stated, “I’m not going, Pritchard. I know for a fact if that was me that got arrested and had to be in court, she wouldn’t take one second out of her precious time to support me.”
“Ya’ll are too hard on one another. I don’t understand it.”
I didn’t want to hear anything else from him.
“I’m not going tomorrow.” And that’s all I said to Pritchard before I se
t off for work.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
When I arrived at the nursing home, I went straight to the basement to clock in and start on the laundry. On one wall had ten washing machines built into, and on the opposite wall had ten dryers. Every single washer and dryer had towels, sheets, or face rags. This was going to be a lot of work. At least, I didn’t have to do clean the patients’ rooms.
After I finished folding the second load, I knew I couldn’t keep going without eating. I went into the break room and stole a sandwich and a bottle of water that someone left in the refrigerator. I sniffed the sandwich and the inside of the bottle to make sure it didn’t stink. The turkey sandwich smelled edible, and the water didn’t smell like anything. So, I took the food back to the laundry room, and I finished eating while watching television. The sound didn’t work on the TV, but the picture was perfect. It was kind of aggravating not being able to hear what was being said, but it didn’t. My goal was just to eat.
After my break, I went back to the grind. I folded more towels, and I put them up in the large linen room. I made sure all the garments were neatly put away. I guess that stupid linen room was the only thing I had to be proud of. I didn’t do anything else spectacular.
I rolled an annoyingly squeaky empty clothes bin cart back into the laundry room to start over with a new load. I didn’t realize someone was watching me. I jumped when he cleared his throat from the doorway.
I twisted around to see Alex standing with a smile on his face, and he was holding two paper cups. He said, “I scared you. I didn’t mean to.”
Why was Alex Westing down in the basement? I felt really uncomfortable, but I tried to act normal. I remarked with a little laugh, “Put bells on your shoes next time.”
I really liked his smile. His entire face lit up, and I couldn’t turn away.
He said, “I brought you something to drink. I know it can get warm down here sometimes.”
I was so glad to get something to drink other than water. I didn’t even ask what it was. I sipped on the straw, and the sweet tea tasted really good. He knew just what I needed. I was very grateful and said, “Thank you.” I couldn’t even think of a time when a guy brought me something as simple as a drink.
“I wish you could have gone to the concert with me Friday night. It was really nice, and I had backstage tickets, too. You could have met her.”
I hated hearing that, but I didn’t want to show my regret. I said trying to be serious, “Honestly, I didn’t think it was appropriate that we go out on a date together like that. You may think you know me, but you don’t.”
“Well, how are two people supposed to get to know one another? You have to spend time together, am I right?”
“I guess so.” Of course, he was right.
“How about we start with a simple lunch date?”
I asked in disbelief, “Why are you asking me out?”
“Why not? I like you, and I want to get to know you.”
I answered, “I can think of a lot reasons why not. Your sister, who is my boss, won’t like it, and I’m sure the rest of your family will not approve. What do you think they would say about you being down here in the basement asking the cleaning lady on a date?”
He answered quickly, “They won’t say a word. It’s my life. I do as I want.”
I knew Sherrie, and I knew she had an opinion about everything, especially about her family. There is no way she would approve. Their father, I have no idea what he’s like, but I hear he is very stern and set in his ways. So, I’m sure he’d say his piece on the matter, and it was a done deal. I don’t know about his mother, but I’m sure she’d follow the majority in her family.
He continued, “If I was concerned about their opinions, I wouldn’t be down here.”
I wasn’t convinced. “I think lunch is out.”
“Okay, then, coffee. What’s wrong with having coffee together?”
The same exact reasons I stated before, but I didn’t answer.
“There is a place outside of town. They have excellent coffee and tons of pies to choose from.”
“I’m not into coffee.”
“Then sit and have pie with me. I’m not asking you to commit to anything outrageous, just pie.”
I thought about it for a moment. Tanie did say I needed to live. I needed to take a chance, but at the same time, I felt like I had to play it safe. Oh, what the hell!
“When?” I asked. My heart was pounding in my chest. What was I doing? I knew better than to go anywhere with him.
“After you get done here, today, right now if you want.”
“I’ll be finished in an hour.” I can’t believe I was agreeing to this!
“I’ll meet you at my truck out front. It’s the blue one. In an hour, I’ll see you then. Enjoy your sweet tea.” He started for the door and waved as he rounded the corner.
I smiled and said, “I will. Thanks.”
So weird! Why was this guy asking me out on a pie date? Didn’t he have a girlfriend somewhere? He was too cute to be single. This was not real. Alex Westing did not ask me out. Okay, he did, but I couldn’t understand it. I was getting kind of excited. I had to finish my work. I actually had a pie date.
I was rushing to get done. I felt kind of stupid and scared and out of my mind, all at the same time. I bet this whole thing of going out to eat pie was going to be the worse idea ever! I can see people staring at us, pointing and whispering to one another. I wonder if I could back out. Maybe, I should run out the back door when I’m done and go home and hide. Okay, I need to stop. I need to get over this anxiety, go out with him one time, and that’s it. Tanie is right, nothing more than a moment to remember, the end.
I finished all the laundry, changed clothes, and clocked out. My heart and stomach was doing leaps and bounds as I went out the front door. I looked around for Sherrie or her car, no sign of either one. I started for his blue truck still looking out for her like my life depended on it. I was glad to see Alex come out of the nursing home by the time I was in the middle of the parking lot. That meant we can get out of there quick without Sherrie seeing us.
I got into his truck, and now I was committed. Here we go.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Alex took me to a diner beside route 80, right outside of Colum town limits. The diner was an old brick building with different kinds of signs hanging from it. There were stop signs, one way signs, no U-turn signs, and signs with traffic lights. It was kind of neat looking. I followed Alex inside feeling real self-conscious about being with him. I was scared of what people would say or do. I didn’t think this all the way through. What if his sister sees us? She may fire me. What if someone that knows him and his family sees us?
I stopped at the door. Alex was holding it open waiting for me to walk in. He smiled sincerely and said, “Come on, Angela. I promise it’ll be okay.”
He must have known what was going through my mind. I looked into his big trusting blue eyes, and then I found his smile. It was perfect, and that was enough to draw me in. There was hardly anyone in there. My heart calmed down. We sat at a booth, and I tried to be natural. I made myself breathe again.
Alex asked as he handed me a dessert menu, “You know what kind of pie you’re going to eat?”
“I haven’t thought about it.” This was not easy for me at all. I should have told him no and stayed in the basement.
He was totally oblivious to my anxiety as he said, “I like the pecan pie and the pumpkin pie. Actually, my favorite is cheesecake, but they don’t make that here.”
The waitress came over in her pink uniform. She had colorful buttons all over her apron, and her white smile gleamed between her pink lipstick. Alex ordered pecan pie and coffee, and I ordered sweet potato pie and milk. I felt juvenile ordering milk, but I didn’t like coffee and sweet tea never went well with a dessert.
“So, what else you do other than working?” He asked as he placed his full attention on me.
“Nothing, there isn’t anyt
hing else to do in this town.” I answered still looking around for staring eyes. Two other men were in the restaurant, but they weren’t paying any attention to us.
“There is plenty to do here. You have to make the most of it.”
He caught my attention with what he said. I asked, “What is it that you do?”
“I tutor kids in Colum and Tyler. I help the kids out at Covington Point and other places like that. I give swimming lessons during the summer.”
“How do you help the kids at Covington Point?”
“I take kids to dental or doctor’s appointments if their parents can’t. I bring food to some families out there. I just try to help out when I can.”
“That’s cool.” At first, I wasn’t going to tell him that I lived there, but I changed my mind. I wanted to see his reaction. “I live there.”
“I didn’t know that.” He didn’t look disgusted, and I didn’t get the vibe he was being judgmental. He seemed more fascinated than anything else.
“I’ve lived there most of my life. I’ve never seen you there before.”
“I don’t stick around all day, Angela. I’m there a couple hours a week, and I’m usually just picking up or dropping off kids.”
I watched his expression, his body language. He was still acting normal.
The waitress brought the pie and our drinks. My pie smelled good. I was hungry, but I didn’t want to inhale it. I picked at it slowly.
I had to ask him, “Where I live doesn’t bother you?”
He looked at me strange, like he was confused. He asked, “No, why should it?”
The Ex Killer Series Page 7