Libby stuck her hands in her pockets and eyed Madge. “I hope to be."
"You're expecting Keith to take care of you?"
"Madge, I've got work to do and you have a customer waiting to be checked out."
Madge sucked her teeth and turned her head. “You know Susan was my niece."
"No, I didn't know. I'm sorry for what happened to her."
"Are you?"
"Of course."
Madge rushed off and Libby watched her go. No, working here is definitely a temporary fix.
* * * *
Libby checked out customers and bagged groceries for an hour. It was the first time Madge had allowed her to do this particular job and she liked it. The majority of the patrons at Harvey's Grocery seemed warm and welcoming. The occasional sourpuss would stroll through and Libby speculated that they were members of Madge's circle of friends.
After lunch, the store emptied. Madge stood by the register, straightening the impulse racks and setting out the newest gossip magazines. She chuckled from time to time over the headlines. Libby glanced her way as she stocked the canned vegetable aisle and saw her reading about an alien baby being born in Seattle. The photo, obviously enhanced, displayed a gray narrow-faced alien with a 1950's pompadour hairstyle. Below that picture was the headline “Big Foot's Human Lover Speaks for the First Time!” Libby stifled a giggle as she recalled the old adage—Big feet, big pecker.
Madge looked over the top of her paper. “Go see what Jimmy wants you to do next. Have you cleaned the restroom today?"
Libby cringed. She hated cleaning the restroom, especially after Jimmy had been in there. The man could make a skunk blush.
Moving through the double metal doors, she went to the office. She saw Jimmy sitting behind the desk, his head against the wall.
"Jimmy?” she asked and moved to his side. “Jimmy, you okay?"
He didn't answer. His skin was pallid and coated with sweat, his mouth open wide as he gasped for air. She tapped his cheek.
"Jimmy? Oh my God, wake up."
He didn't move. She grabbed the telephone and dialed 911. After explaining the situation, she ran to the front and told Madge.
"I called an ambulance. Jimmy's sick and I can't get him to wake up."
Madge's wrinkled face registered her surprise and the pair rushed back, Madge grabbing her son by the hand and sobbing. Libby tried to comfort her with a gentle touch but Madge glared at her. “You go out there and wait for the ambulance. Don't let anyone else in the store. Go, girl, now."
* * * *
Libby leaned against the building and watched as cars drove past. Closing her eyes, she set her face toward the sun. The spring was disappearing, leaving in its wake the sticky heat of summer. Nervous and agitated, Libby tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and blew at her bangs through the corner of her mouth.
Pacing the cracked and narrow sidewalk, she wanted nothing more than to see Keith and decided to call him. She set her hand on the rectangular door handle and looked at her reflection in the glass. Hair a mess, clothes coated in dust and perspiration, she looked more like a junkie than a grocery store clerk. Her hand dropped to her side as a movement from behind caught her attention. Turning, she came face to face with Dwayne.
"You'd better get away from me,” she warned. “You're in violation of...."
"Shut up,” he hissed and grabbed her wrist, dragging her around the corner of the building and into the alley between the grocery and the now vacant, Wee Are Special Daycare Center.
She tried to scream but he silenced her by clamping his hand over her mouth. She fought him, scratching at his face, kicking at him. He slammed her hard against the brick wall of the daycare, the action knocking the breath from her lungs.
"Your boyfriend tried to have me arrested this morning."
She made no effort to speak, staring at him through dazed eyes. How had she have ever cared for him? When she lost her grandmother, she clung to him despite her granny's warnings. But he was familiar and that comforted her. Looking at him now, he was a stranger.
"You know what? He ain't as smart as he seems. He knew I cut his dog, so why did he let his bitch roam free?” Cold eyes scanned her face and he pressed his body against hers. “How about a fuck for old time's sake?"
Her thoughts began to clear and once again, she tried to grate at his skin with her fingernails. When her knee made contact with his genitals, he crumpled and fell, his body in a tight ball on the ground. Stepping over him, she could almost taste freedom but he halted her and grabbed her ankle. She toppled over, her knees and elbows screaming in protest as jagged stones sliced and bit at her skin.
"Let me go!” she shouted. “Let me go!"
"I ain't letting you go, ever. You belong to me. Remember you said you'd always be mine?"
"No!” she yelled and wriggled free. Running into the store, she made her way to the back to find Madge dabbing Jimmy's face with a wet cloth.
"I thought I told you..."
"The gun,” Libby panted, trying to get the drawer open without knocking Jimmy from his chair. “I need the gun."
Madge's eyes grew wide with shock. “Why, what for?"
"Dwayne,” she answered, breathless. With Jimmy's huge body blocking her way she was unable to get the drawer open. She tried to pull the desk back but the heavy metal refused to cooperate. “We have to move him or he'll kill me."
Madge pushed and Libby pulled but Jimmy's three hundred pound frame was immovable.
She heard Dwayne's footfalls as he wandered around the store.
"Oh, Libby ... come out, come out wherever you are."
"He's drunk,” Madge whispered. “What have you done to my business?"
"Stay here and call the police,” she returned, her voice low.
Madge nodded and picked up the phone.
Libby locked the office door behind her and tiptoed through the stock room, prepared if necessary to lure him away from Madge and Jimmy. Hiding behind a box of paper towels, she watched Dwayne as he shook bags and boxes trying to flush her from her hiding place. Her heart pounded in her ears and she thought she might faint when he pulled a pistol from his pocket.
"Libby, I want to talk to you. Make you see how much I love you."
She bit back the terror. When he approached the office door, she made a break for the double doors. Hope filled her as she hit the metal with her palms and dashed for the storefront. Dwayne followed close behind her shouting her name. She had almost made it to the front door when she heard the sickening pop of the pistol. She stopped.
"Libby, I have a gun. I'll kill you. You know I will."
Seeing Keith's patrol car in the parking lot, lights flashing, she raised her hands and faced Dwayne. “The police are here."
Dwayne leveled the pistol, aiming at her. “Why the fuck didn't you stay home?” he asked. “We'd have made up and things would be back to normal."
She swallowed hard. “Dwayne, I'm sorry."
"You should be. You done messed up my life."
Staring into his liquid brown eyes, she tried to appear concerned. “What can I do to fix it?"
"It's too late.
"No.” She shook her head. “You haven't done any real harm. I'll drop the restraining order and I'll go home with you. Put the gun down."
Just then, Leon's amplified voice interrupted their discussion.
"Mr. Parsons, we need to talk to you."
"See, they know I'm here. I'm screwed,” Dwayne stated, as much to himself as to Libby.
"We need to know that everyone's all right,” Leon said. “Officer Graham is going to approach the building."
Dwayne became more agitated, rising and falling on the balls of his sneakered feet, running his free hand through his dirty hair over and over. His gun hand shaking, but the weapon still pointed at Libby.
"Officer Graham is bringing you a cell phone. She's not entering the building. I repeat she will not come in. She is unarmed."
Libby craned her neck
and saw Annie coming toward the building, crouched low, a black helmet covering her red hair. She pushed open the door a crack and slid the phone across the floor. She didn't say anything and finishing the task, she disappeared behind the brick support under the front window.
"Damn it,” Dwayne swore. “This is bad, really bad."
"Let me go and talk to them. I'll tell them whatever you want me to,” Libby pleaded.
He took a menacing step forward and she saw the hatred in his expression, his down-turned mouth, and narrowed eyes. He cocked the trigger. “I reckon I'll be seeing you in heaven."
She turned to run and the gun popped again, this time the bullet finding its mark. The force of the blast knocked her to the floor. Looking at her right shoulder, she saw the black hole in her smock turn to red. Strange, shouldn't it hurt?
Looking toward Dwayne, she recognized the shock in his eyes.
"Libby.” He fell to his knees and pulled her to him. “I didn't mean it."
"Dwayne, go get me some help.” Her ears rang from the percussion and her head felt fuzzy, her hands and feet cold and her fingers tingling.
"I can't do that. They'll kill me for sure."
He stood and pulled her to her feet.
"Dwayne, what's going on in there?” Leon asked over the megaphone, the cell phone chirping incessantly.
His arm around her waist, Dwayne dragged Libby behind the cash register. He set her down in the narrow space. “You stay put. I'm getting that fuckin’ phone."
On his belly, he slid across the battered linoleum floor, the gun still in his hand.
"Stop right there.” Libby heard Keith's voice. “Police.” Grabbing the cash register, she pulled herself up.
Dwayne rolled over, pointed the gun at Keith, and fired.
"Keith!” Libby shrieked. On impact Keith stumbled back and steading himself, returned gunfire. Dwayne's arm fell, the gun skittering across the floor, a pool of blood flowing from an ugly wound in his chest. He turned his head, his gaze on Libby's face before he stilled, his eyes going blank.
Keith held his side and retrieved the gun before coming to Libby.
"You all right, sweetheart?” His face paled and he touched her shoulder. “Oh no, baby, no."
"I'm okay,” she whispered and leaned into him. “Are you?"
"Yeah,” he said, breathless. “Bullet-proof vest.” Keith wrapped his arms around her. “I should never have let you out of my sight. I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault. How did you get in here anyway?"
"Madge, she let me in through the delivery door."
Keith held her close as he lifted his walkie-talkie to his mouth. “Suspect down. All clear. Libby's hurt and Jimmy's in a bad way. Send paramedics in now!"
* * * *
Libby woke with a start. The bright fluorescent light was painful to her tired eyes. Her head ached and her thoughts seemed wrapped in cotton batting. Opening her mouth to speak, she noticed her parched tongue felt heavy.
A relentless beeping sounded above her head. She lifted her hand to rub her itchy nose and found her arm attached to an IV. Memories flooded through her gauzy mind and she coughed, her shoulder protesting with the effort.
"You're awake.” She recognized Keith's voice and tried to raise her head. “No, no, you be still,” he urged as he came to her side and took her hand in his, smoothing her knuckles with his thumb.
"Dwayne?"
"He's dead, remember?"
She nodded, her breathing labored. “Jimmy?"
"ICU, heart attack. With luck and hard work, he'll be all right.” He leaned forward and kissed her lips, his silver eyes rimmed in tears. “You're going to be all right too, sweetheart. Bullet when right through but you had some muscle damage."
"I need a drink of water."
Keith brought a gold plastic cup with a straw up to her lips. “Little sips,” he instructed. “Once you're completely awake, Leon wants to talk to you about what happened."
She swallowed, savoring the feel of the cool water as it ran down her throat.
"When will I be able to go home?"
"Tomorrow.” He set the cup down and rested his head on the pillow next to hers. “I'm sorry I wasn't there for you. I should have been faster. I know what can happen.” A tear rolled down his cheek and he sniffled.
"You did fine.” She grinned. “I saw the look on your face when you found me."
He kissed her cheek. “It was like losing Susan all over again."
She bit her dry, cracked lip. “I know. Jimmy told me what happened. But I'm alive. I'm right here and will be as long as you'll have me."
"You sure of that?"
"Yes,” she whispered.
"Good, ‘cause that could be a mighty long time."
Raising her left hand, she touched his cheek. “I'm counting on that."
He sat up. “That being the case, there's something I wanted to discuss with you before all this happened.” She watched as he pulled a small velvet box from his shirt pocket. “Will you marry me?"
"Yes,” she answered, a sob escaping her lips.
Keith placed the ring on her finger. “I love you, sweetheart."
Tears rolled down her cheeks and despite the pain in her shoulder and the fog that shrouded her mind, genuine happiness filled her soul. “Oh, Keith, I love you, too."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
An Army brat, Harris Channing traveled around the Southern US and Europe as a child before settling in Tennessee as an adult. Married with two children, she enjoys her family, reading, writing, and gardening.
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