by J. Lea
“Loads of fun,” we nod in unison. “We’re just having some time out to rest our feet.” I look pointedly to my mile-high stilettos.
A tall, muscular waiter walks up to us. “Four beers,” Todd orders. “You ladies want another drink?”
Rebecca and I share a look. “Sure,” we agree.
“And whatever they’re drinking,” he gives the rest of the order to the waiter.
“I’ll be right back with your order,” the waiter replies, and, sure enough, he’s back at our side in a few seconds.
“You ladies want to join us?” Todd points to a table in the left corner where the men are sitting.
I turn to Rebecca. She’s grinning, nodding vigorously at me. “Okay, but not for long. This is ladies’ night, and we came here to dance.” I move my hips to the beat.
“Not a problem, but save at least one dance for me, sweet cheeks.” Todd winks at me.
“Looking forward to it,” I reply.
Just as we make ourselves comfortable at Todd’s table, a waiter sits two cocktails in front of Rebecca and me. Our eyes meet in confusion.
“We didn’t order these,” Rebecca says.
“I know. The man in the corner paid for them.” He points to the far left end of the bar, but I don’t see anyone looking our way. Everybody is too busy talking, flirting and dancing.
“Which man?” I straighten up.
“I dunno, he had a dark hoodie on, but I wasn’t paying that much attention to him. That’s all I can remember. Anyway, he was just there a minute ago,” he shrugs and leaves.
“Cool,” Rebecca can’t hide her excitement. “More free drinks!”
Leo never liked wearing hoodies, so I let out a long breath. At the same time, a shiver runs down my spine as I get an odd feeling someone is watching me, piercing my back with their eyes, but the longer I watch people around me the more I feel I’m getting way too paranoid. Is this one of the consequences of Leo’s creepy calls? Am I slowly losing my mind? I shiver. No, I won’t let someone that’s not even here ruin my night. Get it together, April, I tell myself.
“You okay?” Todd leans closer. “You look distraught.” His hand finds my lower back.
“I’m great. I just thought I saw someone I recognized in the crowd, but it wasn’t him,” I quickly say.
The rest of the evening is pleasant, without disruptions, but I can’t seem to shake off the unease that sprung up in me. I try to shake it off and enjoy the evening in great company. I’m dancing with Todd, my back pressed against his front, his hands on my hips. My eyes are closed; I’m enjoying the music, moving my body sensually to the melody. My tank top keeps riding up from the dancing, and, every once in a while, his hands slide slightly up, tracing my bare stomach with his thumbs. His warm breath is caressing the nape of my neck. When the song ends, he unexpectedly spins me around and tilts me down low to the ground. A giggle escapes me, causing us to almost crash to the ground, but Todd catches us at the last second. He is grinning down at me, but it’s wiped off his face when someone bumps into us with brutal force. Offering no apology, he walks past and disappears into the crowd of people on the dance floor.
“Hey, watch where you’re going!” Todd yells after him. “Idiot!” he sputters. His gaze finds mine. “You okay?”
I nod, rubbing my shoulder, sore from the impact. “I think I’ve had enough excitement for one day,” I smile at Todd. Looking to Rebecca, I see she witnessed the incident and she seems to agree. We say goodbye to Todd and his friends and weave our way out through the dancing crowd. Reaching the wardrobe, we grab our coats. I feel instantly better when cold air hits my face outside the club.
“I had a blast,” Rebecca gushes on our way to the car, wrapping her scarf tighter around her neck. There are a few people outside in the alley, smoking and talking, otherwise the parking lot behind the club is empty. When we reach our car and I’m fishing the car keys out of my bag, Rebecca takes a closer look at the windshield of my car.
“What is this?”
“Huh?” I glance up at her.
“There’s something under the wipers.”
“Probably a flyer or something.” I pull at the piece of white paper, folded once. As I open it, a faint smell of cigarettes and something sweet wafts from it. Across the paper, with big bold letter, it says:
IF I CAN’T HAVE YOU, NO ONE WILL!
Inhaling sharply, the note slips through my fingers to the floor. The writing screams of the wrath the person felt as he or she wrote it.
“What?” Rebecca is at my side the next second, crouching down to pick up the paper. “Oh my God!” she winces, her mouth wide open. “We should go to the police. I think this just turned very serious.”
“Thank you for coming with me.” I drove straight to the nearest police station. The note scared me too much; things are getting out of control.
“No need to thank me, silly. This guy is crazy. He needs to be reported.”
“This is nothing like Leo, Rebecca. He never threatened me in any way. He was never violent. He’d never hurt me.”
“April, sweetie, stop pulling the wool over your eyes. You know what alcohol does to a person, especially when their heart is broken. They become someone completely different- the alcohol messes with their head, making them not think straight.”
Rebecca’s dad was a drunk. Constantly wasted, he treated her and her mom like trash, hurling insults and abuses at them, but this doesn’t mean Leo is the same.
I park the car in front of the police station and take a deep breath, clutching the steering wheel. Rebecca sees my hesitation.
“Shall we go in or do you need more time?” Her voice is laced with concern.
“Let’s go,” I nod at her. I take another deep breath and step out of the car. Rebecca laces her elbow with mine and we walk up to the station.
At the entrance, three uniformed officers walk out past us. To the left of the hall, behind a glass partition, a policeman is sitting, typing furiously on his computer.
The place looks surprisingly busy, considering how late it is—or early, since it’s around three in the morning. We’re still standing still, looking around in confusion.
“Can I help you?” the policeman from behind the glass partition speaks up. He pats his big, round belly as we approach him. The silver nametag on his chest says his name is Officer West.
“We’re here to file a complaint,” Rebecca says.
“Hey, Travis,” Officer West yells over our shoulders and waves at a fellow officer, who is sitting at his desk. “These two want to file a complaint. You busy?” We turn our heads to look at Officer Travis and we see him nod. “He’ll help you,” Officer West says.
“Thank you.” I give him a small smile.
“Please, sit,” Officer Travis nods his head to the two chairs at his desk, when we reach him. “What kind of a complaint are we talking about?”
My eyes meet Rebecca’s. I then finally open my mouth.
“Somebody is harassing me, at least I think so. I keep getting weird calls, and now notes, and it looks like he’s been following me lately.”
Officer Travis raises an eyebrow. “You think so?”
I sink my teeth into my lower lip, feeling like a fool. I’ve completely run out of courage for the day. I’m not sure I want to do what I’m about to do.
“She doesn’t think that,” Rebecca interjects, giving me a disapproving stare. “Here,” she places the note from behind my windshield wipers. “Does this seem like a joke?” She looks at him sternly with her hands on her hips.
“Did you receive any more notes like this?” the officer asks, more seriously this time.
I shake my head. “No, but over the phone, he’s told me not to walk around alone because something might happen to me.”
“Who is this person? Do you know his identity?”
“It’s her ex-boyfriend,” Rebecca quickly says before I could say anything else. “Leo Devlin. He keeps harassing her. Even I’m fed up with h
im.”
The police officer nods, writing everything down in the notepad in front of him. When he finally focuses his attention back at me, he puts down his pen and leans back in his chair. He intertwines his fingers behind his nape.
“You have two options. We can issue a temporary restraining order right now, or you can wait for the office hours in the morning, go to the district court, and ask the judge for a restraining order. In any case, you’ll eventually have to go to the judge to get it because I can only issue a temporary one. Your decision.”
“I don’t know.” I look to Rebecca, undecided, then back to the officer. “I think I can wait until the morning. What do you think?” I ask Rebecca.
“I’d like to get you one right now.”
“It’s half past three in the morning. I’ll wait for the office hours.”
Rebecca lifts her hands in the air, rolling her eyes. “If that’s what you want…” I know she doesn’t think my decision is rational.
“Okay then. When you obtain the restraining order, you need to bring it to us. We have to serve it to him. It doesn’t come into effect until then, just so you know.” Officer Travis shifts in his seat.
“Okay.”
“And Miss Brookes?”
“Yes?” I look over my shoulder.
“Take care.”
“Thank you,” I offer him a grateful smile and then Rebecca and I walk to the exit.
“I don’t know why you’re thanking the guy. He didn’t do jack.” Rebecca rolls her eyes and I stay quiet.
I finally speak up in the car. “Thank you for coming with me.”
“What are friends for?” She smiles at me. “Are you sure you want to go home? You know I have a spare bedroom.”
“Yes, I’ll be fine. I’ll lock all the doors and shut all the windows, and then I’ll take a shower and go to bed.”
“Okay. If you change your mind, you know you’re always welcome at my place.”
“Thank you, Rebecca,” I say once more when I stop the car in her driveway and give her a big hug. “I love you.”
“Love you, too. I’ll talk to you in the morning.”
A few minutes later, I’m already unlocking my front door. Patiently waiting for me in the hallway, Bella instantly starts rubbing against my feet. I squeeze my feline friend to me and go take a quick shower, take my make up off, and get dressed for bed. I take my hair out of the ponytail I was wearing, shake my head to let it loose, and brush it. As soon as I have my pajamas on all I can think about is my warm bed beckoning me, but my phone beeping startles me. I frown and go to my nightstand to check the screen. I assume it’s Rebecca, checking to see if I got home safely, but I see my ex’s name. Hesitantly, I tap the screen to open his message.
Leo: I don’t like other men touching you. You’re mine! I want them to keep their dirty paws to themselves, my sweet April.
The phone slips through my fingers to the ground. Was he actually in the club? Was he watching me the whole night? What the hell happened to change him so much? Did alcohol completely brainwash him? Why couldn’t he consider getting treatment?
Luckily my phone remained intact, despite the fall, as it landed on a thick carpet. I kneel to pick it up, deciding I’ll try one last time to reason with him. It’s not too late for him to find professional help.
Me: Why are you doing this, Leo? You know very well why we broke up. I’m no longer yours. I beg you, find help. Please.
Not a full minute passes before I get a reply.
Leo: All I need is you. It’s that simple. You’re my cure, my obsession, my everything.
Me: We’ve talked about this. It’s over between us. Please, let it go. If you don’t stop harassing me, I’m contacting the police. It’s the last thing I want, but you leave me no other choice.
He doesn’t need to know I’ve already been to the police.
Leo: If you think those fuckers can stop me, you’re wrong. You’re going to be mine. I’ll have you, one way or another. You’re mine, whether you like it or not. I’m watching you, my sweet April. I’ll always be watching over what’s mine.
I shiver, my skin erupting in goose bumps.
Quickly, I move to the windows, open the blinds and look out into the dark night. My street looks peaceful, not a soul in sight or a suspicious car parked at the curb. No dogs are barking, so I feel a little calmer. I can’t let Leo manipulate me. I won’t let him.
First thing on my agenda in the morning is to head over to the district court to present all the incriminating evidence against Leo, including the messages I received last night. I ask for a restraining order, and I’m issued a temporary one. There’s a hearing I need to attend in ten days where I’ll be able to get a more permanent restraining order, which will last a year. I truly hope that won’t be necessary, that Leo will get his head together and stop messing with me. I’m relieved, not sure why, since I’m not convinced a piece of paper’s going to stop Leo from harassing me. I still believe he’s not dangerous; he’s just acting out because I broke up with him.
Then I bring the restraining order to the police station where they assure me it’ll be served to him this very day. I have no idea of where he went after I kicked him out of the house. He never had many friends, but he could be staying with his best friend, Ronnie, who’s one of the few people still sticking by his side, or maybe he went back to live with his parents. If he’s sleeping on someone else’s couch, they’ll be able to find him at his work. I gave the police all the information on his job.
I spend the remainder of the day at work, antsy and conflicted, constantly thinking about what Leo’s reaction was to being served the restraining order. I’m sure he was furious and a great deal offended. I hope he won’t take his anger out on me.
It’s almost 4 pm when I arrive home. There’s a green Volvo parked in front of my house. Exact same one Leo drives. I blink a few times to make sure my brain isn’t playing games with me. Shouldn’t the restraining order make sure Leo doesn’t approach me? Hesitantly, I exit my car, gripping my phone in one hand, 911 on speed dial, my keys in the other. I don’t see Leo anywhere so I run up the stairs to my front door and, just as I insert the right key into the lock, I hear his furious voice.
“A restraining order? Woman, have you gone completely insane?”
I slowly turn to face him, my heart pounding in my chest. I have no idea what is about to happen. Leo is holding the papers in his hand, waving them in my face like a madman. He runs a hand through his hair in frustration. He’s swaying and his breath stinks of alcohol. I use this moment to swiftly turn the key in the lock, open the door and lock it shut behind me. When he’s that drunk, his reflexes are slower. Taking a deep breath of relief, thankful for a door separating us, I slide down the door.
“You shouldn’t be here, Leo! I’m calling the cops!” I yell, hugging my knees to my chest.
“I don’t give a shit about the restraining order,” he spits out.
“Please leave, or else you’ll be in big trouble.” My voice is shaking. Leo starts pounding on the door. I jump off the floor and move to the side window, trying to take a peak at him.
Leo is standing by the front door, shifting his weight from one foot to another, and I see he’s barely able to hold himself up. He’s frowning, likely thinking about what to do. Then he curses and spits on the ground. He tears the restraining order into pieces, throws it at the door, and unsteadily makes his way to his car. A big rock falls off my chest as I watch him speed away. My hands, shaking like crazy, dial 911 and I tell the dispatcher what just happened. A nice man on the other side of the line instructs me to remain locked inside and to call someone to keep me company until they find him or go somewhere safe.
The restraining order clearly stated: breaking the order in any way, results in arrest. He could even go to jail. I didn’t think he’d be willing to go that far.
I sit at the foot of my bed for the next several hours, staring at nothing in particular. I don’t want to leave my hom
e, but it’s too dangerous to remain here. I grab Bella and drive to my brother’s house. I’ll just spend a few days with my niece, trying not to think about what’s happening in my life.
It’s a little past nine in the evening, so I know Max and Amanda are still up. I knock on their front door because I don’t want to wake Emmy up with the loud doorbell in case she’s already sleeping. I’m shifting back and forth in my spot, biting my nails, grasping Bella to my chest. It feels like an eternity passes before the door finally opens.
“April?” Amanda frowns at me. “What are you doing here?” She’s surprised I’m here this late.
“April’s here?” I hear my brother’s voice behind her. The next moment he is standing beside his wife. “What’s wrong?” He looks calm, but his voice is laced with concern. I’ve never showed up at their house that late, unannounced.
Before I can say anything, tears pour down my face. I’ve been holding my feelings in for so long, but now I can’t do it anymore. Max has me in his embrace the next instant. His hand comes over my shoulders, the other soothingly on my back. When I finally calm down, he takes Bella from me and gently pushes me inside. “Can you bring her a glass of water, Mandy?” he asks his wife, and he sits me down on the couch in the living room. I take my coat off.
“April, what happened?”
Amanda appears from the kitchen with a glass of water in her hand and hands it to me. I down half the glass before putting it down on the coffee table and start explaining, my words a jumbled mess.
“Hey, hey, slow your horses. I don’t understand anything,” Max looks confused. “Slow down.”
“Slow down,” I nod. “Okay.” I take a deep breath before starting over, slower this time. “Do you remember that call you answered on my phone the other day?”