by Loy Holder
The man sat in his truck and watched Liz walk into the house. He was surprised that she didn’t notice him. Sneaky bitch. So that’s where you’re hiding. He took another long swallow of beer and studied the dark house. When his beer was gone, he threw the can on the floorboard and started the engine. As he drove away, he promised under his breath that he’d be back.
* * *
Chapter four
Morning arrived too soon. Liz groaned at the merciless sunlight. As she covered her eyes, her hand grazed the sutured lip and bruised jaw. Their dormant pain returned, and they beat together like the percussion section of a rock band.
She stood. Ah, good; no dizziness or nausea, just pain. She went to her bathroom, took two aspirin, and stared at her reflection. The sutures looked like a minuscule railroad track running across her lower lip, her jaw looked like an eggplant, and yep, her front tooth was still missing. Damn, too bad it isn’t Halloween. I wouldn’t need a mask. Just then there was a knock on her bedroom door.
“Liz, are you alive in there?” The voice sounded much too cheery.
“Barely.” Damn, it hurts to talk.
“OK. I’ll be in the kitchen making coffee. Want some?”
“Yes…coming.”
Distracted by the pain, she put her robe on wrong side out. She discovered her mistake while struggling to find the ties. Swearing under her breath, she took it off and put it on right. Then she headed for the kitchen.
“Good morning, sweet pea.” Lucille was holding a cup. “Here’s your coffee, black and no sugar, just like you drink it.”
“Perfect, thanks. You gonna say how bad I look?”
“I think you look better now than you did yesterday.” Lucille’s smile changed to a serious look. “How’d it go at the hospital? You look like you got some sleep.”
Liz sat beside Lucille at the table and wiggled her lip to test it. Ah…the aspirin’s kicking in. “Well, it wasn’t crowded, and I got a great doctor. She sent me for x-rays. I don’t have a concussion, and my jaw’s just bruised. The worst part was the lidocaine needle for the stitches.”
“What’re you supposed to do at home?” Lucille squinted, staring at her lip.
“She gave me some medicine and told me to use ice for the swelling.”
“Well, I have plenty of ice, so help yourself. Are you hungry?” Lucille glanced at the wall clock. “It’s still early, only seven.”
“I’m not sure if I can chew, but I’m hungry. I should check on my children first, though, and the doctor said she was going to make me an appointment at nine this morning with a dentist she knows. I hate to ask, but could you watch Ronnie and Regina while I go? I can call him and reschedule if you can’t.”
“Sure, Liz. I’m glad you’re getting that tooth fixed. Why don’t you dress and get the kids up? I’ll fix breakfast, something easy for you to chew.”
Liz felt better thanks to the aspirin. “Sounds good and when I get back from the dentist, I want to put together that plan for paying you back. “
Liz stood from the table as Lucille shook her head. “I know you won’t take advantage of me. There’s no hurry.”
“No, I wouldn’t, but a plan will make me feel better about accepting your help.” Liz placed her coffee cup on the counter and walked toward the children’s bedroom.
Her children were going to ask questions. She decided she would give simple answers. She pushed the door open and saw Ronnie sitting in bed playing with his favorite truck. Regina was still sleeping.
“Hi, Mom.” Ronnie smiled from ear to ear. “I’m hungry.”
Ronnie’s chirpy voice woke Regina. She sat up and studied Liz’s face. Liz smiled back with only her eyes. “Good morning, my precious loves. Lucille’s fixing breakfast; let’s get dressed so we can eat.”
“But Mommy, your mouth?” Regina’s frown was barely visible through all the sleep-tossed blond curls tumbling down her forehead.
Ronnie frowned. “Yeah, Mom, what’s wrong?”
“You mean this?” Liz pointed to her stitched lip, and both children nodded. “Well, I went to see a nice doctor after you went to sleep.” Liz sat on Ronnie’s bed and asked Regina to join them. With her arms around each child, she told them about her visit to the emergency room.
“Did it hurt?” Regina patted Liz’s arm.
Liz managed a half smile. “It only hurt for a minute.”
“Can I touch it?” Ronnie looked intrigued.
The question took Liz by surprise, and she thought for a second before answering, “No, Ronnie. That would hurt. Only Mom can touch it when I put medicine on it. Let’s get dressed so we can eat Lucille’s delicious breakfast.”
After breakfast, Lucille winked at Liz and grinned at the kids. “How would you two like to go to a really nice park? We can walk there, and you can play on the swings and slides.”
“There’s slides?” Ronnie grinned and wiggled in his chair.
“Oh, yes.” Lucille grinned.
“Can I take my dollies?” Regina asked.
Liz broke in. “No, Regina. Lucille will end up carrying them for you, and before you go to the park, you each need to brush your teeth and wash the jelly off your hands and face.”
The children rushed off, talking and laughing. Liz was grateful. “What a good idea to take them to the park. They’ll love that. I’m hoping I won’t be long at the dentist.”
“Don’t worry about the time. You have to get that tooth fixed.” Lucille grinned, threw her head back, and roared with laughter. “I can just see you up there on the stage, bouncing and swaying as you give the clientele your big, beautiful, toothless grin. That would clear out the place in five minutes.”
Liz looked away. “That’s not funny, Lucille.”
“I know honey.” Lucille stopped laughing. “I didn’t mean to make you feel bad. That’s why I want you to get it fixed, so you can be your alluring self again. Since you started dancing, I’ve made money. The more money I make, the more you’ll make. So get going and don’t worry about the kids. I’m getting attached to them already.”
Liz shook off her hurt feelings and went to tell the children where she was going. They seemed too busy fighting over the toothpaste to care, so she kissed them good-bye, grabbed her purse from her bedroom, and walked out to her car.
She turned right onto Folsom Boulevard and headed west toward her dental appointment in midtown Sacramento. It was warm, and she rolled the window down to get some air. The song playing on her favorite radio station reminded her of her early life with Ron.
When they were first married, he wouldn’t let her work. She cooked delicious dinners for him, but he’d always find something to complain about. One night he said the pot roast was overcooked, and he threw it on the kitchen floor. He’d often come home from work at the auto repair shop in a foul mood and down two or three beers before he would talk to her. The nights were full of brutal, painful sex that left her feeling used and dirty. After the children were born, things got much worse.
He’d come home in the middle of the night, reeking of booze and motor oil. No matter where I was in the house, he’d find me. I hated the smell of his dirty body and tried to push him away, but he was too strong. I was helpless while he squeezed and prodded me with his sandpaper hands or other things, hurting me down there, and then he’d rape and sodomize me while I screamed in pain. The days were hell, too. I’ve lost track of how many times he hit me, but yesterday morning, he threw the toaster at me for burning his toast. That was the last straw. I knew I had to leave him before he hurt the kids. Liz shook her head at her nightmare memories. Could I have done anything to make things better? I would have if he hadn’t been so mean.
The light turned red, and Liz slammed on her brakes, accidently biting her lip. She glanced in her rearview mirror to check her stinging lip and saw a familiar truck behind her. Her throat clenched in panic, and she gasped for air. It’s Ron. How long has he been following me?
The light turned green, and she steppe
d on the gas; I have to lose him. Perspiration trickled down her neck. She checked the mirror. He was close behind her. She made an illegal lane change, sped off Folsom Boulevard, dashed onto a side street, and slipped into an alley out of sight. She checked the mirror again and didn’t see him. Had she lost him? She stopped the car, panting with fear and praying he wouldn’t find her.
Ten minutes crept by. Liz had to move, or she’d be late. She started the car and found her way back to Folsom Boulevard. For now, she was safe, but she kept checking her mirror to make sure. She made a mental note to call the attorney on the card Dr. Conway had given her. Officer Hansen was right. She needed a restraining order against Ron.
The medical-dental building was on Capitol Avenue. She drove up the ramp and parked on the second floor of the garage. She checked her appearance in the mirror. Her lip was bleeding. She searched her purse but couldn’t find a tissue. Crap! She found her way to the office of James Garner, DDS. Her watch told her she was late, and she worried that he wouldn’t see her.
The receptionist stood, looking concerned as Liz approached the desk. “You must be Mrs. Harmon. Heavens, your lip is bleeding. Let me get you something.”
“Thanks.” Liz took the tissue and winced as she blotted her lip. “I’m sorry I’m late.”
The receptionist smiled. “Don’t worry. He’s still busy with another patient. Here’s a paper cup.” She pointed toward the hallway. “The water fountain is next to the ladies room. Get some water, and have a seat. He’ll be with you in just a few minutes.”
Liz hesitated. “Do you think I can make payments? I won’t have any money until I go back to work?” Liz didn’t want to ask Lucille for more money. By the time she got back to work, she’d owe her a fortune.
“Please don’t worry about that right now. Dr. Conway explained your situation to us. I’m sure we can work something out.”
The cold water from the fountain soothed her lip, and it felt good to sit in a comfortable chair. She leaned her head against the wall and started to calm down. Ten minutes later, the dental assistant came to her. “Mrs. Harmon, I’m Carrie Ward, Dr. Garner’s dental assistant. He can see you now.”
Liz followed Carrie into an exam room and sat in the dental chair. As Carrie fastened the paper bib under her chin, Liz looked at the overhead dental tools and felt uneasy. She never liked going to the dentist.
Dr. Garner came right in. He was in his late fifties, with thinning gray hair, steady brown eyes, and a smile as big as Texas. He held out his hand. “Mrs. Harmon, is it OK to call you Liz?”
Liz shook his hand. “Yes, that’s fine.”
“Tell us what’s happened to you.” He glanced at Carrie and laid a gentle hand on Liz’s arm. “That’s a nasty-looking lip, by the way.”
The sympathy she saw in their eyes touched a nerve. She was weary, full of fear, and the aspirin she’d taken that morning had worn off. Her words occasionally broke as she told them the whole story. “The worst is, I don’t have any money to pay you until I go back to work, and I need my tooth fixed to do that.”
The dentist shook his head, “Don’t worry about the cost. You can make payments when you get back to work. After we get finished today, I’ll have my receptionist write up a payment plan for you. Now let’s have a look at the inside of your mouth.”
Dr. Garner was careful not to hurt her lip as he examined her. Carrie took several x-rays and the dentist showed Liz the results. “I think we can fix this problem with a permanent bridge. He showed her an illustration and explained what he was going to do.
“Will it look natural? I’m a dancer in a club, and I smile a lot. I don’t want to scare the customers away.”
“No one will ever know. It should match exactly with your other teeth. Shall we do it?”
Liz sighed with relief. “Thank heavens. How long before the bridge is ready?”
“Well, the lab could take two or three weeks.”
“OK, I think that’ll work. But how much is it going to cost?”
Dr. Garner called the receptionist in and told her what he was going to do. He winked at Liz and then looked at his receptionist. “How much will it cost, Trudy?”
“Give me a few minutes to figure it out, and I’ll be right back.” Within five minutes, Trudy returned. “OK, it’s going to be eight hundred dollars, but that includes today’s appointment and any follow-up work.”
After taking a moment to think it through, Liz frowned. “When would I have to make my first payment?”
“Well, let’s say fifty dollars a month, and the first payment would be due a month after you start back to work.”
Liz’s eyes lit up. “That’ll work.” Gratitude flowed through Liz, and she brushed away a tear. “I appreciate your trust. I promise I won’t let you down.”
“I believe you.” Dr. Garner’s eyes twinkled as his glance shifted to Trudy. “Now, let me finish up here.” Trudy took the hint and left the room. Liz leaned back in the dental chair, and Dr. Garner and Carrie went to work.
When they finished, Dr. Garner patted Liz on the shoulder. “OK, Liz. That should do it for now. You can step out to see Trudy, and I’ll see you in two or three weeks.” He unclipped the bib and helped her out of the chair. “You look happy.”
“I can’t thank you all enough.” They shook hands, and Carrie disappeared with the used trays and utensils. Liz followed Dr. Garner out of the exam room.
Just before he turned to go into his private office, he wheeled around with a serious expression. “One more thing: I hope you’re considering a restraining order on your husband. I’d sure hate for him to knock out your new tooth.”
Liz thought of Ron following her and shuddered. “Yes, I’m going to see about that later today.”
She waited in front of the receptionist desk until Trudy finished a call. “OK, Trudy, I’m done for now. Do you have something for me to sign?”
“Yes, Mrs. Harmon. Here it is.” Trudy’s smile revealed beautiful white teeth that accentuated her dark exotic eyes. She laid the plan and a pen on the counter in front of Liz.
After Liz took a moment to read and sign it, she handed it back. “Thanks, Trudy. See you in a few weeks.”
She was almost at the door when Trudy called after her, “Mrs. Harmon, I forgot to tell you that I’ll call you for your next appointment as soon as the bridge comes in from the lab.”
“Thanks, again, Trudy. I’ll be waiting for your call.”
She felt good as she walked toward the parking garage. The doctor and the dentist had been so kind. As she slid behind the steering wheel, she refused to think bad thoughts. I’m gonna hang onto these positive vibes as long as I can.
* * *
Chapter five
When Liz reached Lucille’s house, she let herself in. The house was quiet, but Lucille’s car was parked in the driveway. Hmm, I’ll bet they’re still at the park. She changed into her tennis shoes and went to find them.
Within a block of the park, she heard Ronnie and Regina shouting to each other. They sounded happy. She spotted Lucille sitting under a shade tree, reading a magazine. The bright sunlight filtering through the tree made Lucille’s auburn hair gleam with red sparks of light. Liz snuck up beside her, and flicked the magazine with her finger. “Hi, I’m back.”
Lucille nearly jumped off the bench. “You startled me! What time is it? The kids have been playing so well, I completely lost track.”
Liz glanced at her watch and gave Lucille a lopsided smile. “It’s almost one.”
“Well, sit down for a minute and tell me how it went at the dentist’s office.”
Liz sat beside Lucille. “It went well. He took measurements and impressions and he’ll send them to the lab. I’ll have a new front tooth in two or three weeks. The cost is eight hundred dollars, but the good news is, I can make payments of fifty dollars a month. The first payment won’t be due until a month after I go back to work.”
“Wow! Sounds great.” Lucille smiled and shook her head. Afte
r you left, I wished I’d given you some money. I figured it would be more, but you worked it out. Good job.”
“Thanks, but I think Dr. Conway helped by putting in a good word for me.” Liz got serious. “The dental appointment was great, but the drive to his office wasn’t. Ron followed me partway, and then I lost him. I didn’t want him tailing me to the dentist’s office.”
Lucille’s eyes narrowed. “When did you notice him behind you?”
“At the intersection of Bradshaw and Folsom.”
“You know, I thought the kids and I were being followed. What does Ron’s truck look like?”
Liz swallowed hard and rubbed her forehead. “Uh, it’s white, a Ford I think, nothing fancy.” Her stomach roiled and her heart pounded.
“Yep, it was a white truck. I turned around, but the sun was in my eyes and I couldn’t get a good look at the driver. The kids didn’t notice him. They were too busy picking dandelions along the way. When we turned into the park, I looked over my shoulder to see if the truck was still behind us, but it was gone. Besides, he couldn’t be in two places at once.”
“Maybe, but what time did you leave for the park?”
Lucille scratched her head. “Well let’s see, I got a phone call, started some wash, and paid some bills. We didn’t actually leave until almost eleven.”
“Yeah, he had time. After I lost him, he could have doubled back to your house. It gives me the creeps, but I’m not going to panic. I got a lot of stuff to do. I want to work on that plan with you. We can do that while I’m icing. Also, Dr. Conway gave me an attorney’s card. I’m going to call about getting a restraining order on Ron.”
“Good.” Lucille laughed. “You’re sounding like your old spunky self. If you’re going to do all that, we’d better collect the kids and have lunch first.”
Lucille made sandwiches, and after lunch, the children were cranky and tired. Liz took them into their room. “Let me wash the peanut butter and jelly off you, and I’ll stay until you fall asleep.”