“No, he said he was working late tonight.”
“Well, he’s not here. I’m covering tonight. I’m just about to close up.”
“Oh. Sorry, Al. If he’s not there, I don’t know where he is.” Well, I had a good idea of whom he was with, but not where they were. I shuddered at the thought.
“Can I leave a message with you?”
“Sure.” I reached into the drawer closest to the telephone to grab a pen and the notepad we keep for messages. “Can you tell him that Mrs. Sutton’s part came in at six-thirty?”
“Wasn’t he at the shop at all today?”
“Yeah, but he left early.”
“Okay, Al. I’ll tell him. Thanks for calling.”
“Have a good night, Mandy.”
I was so pissed when I hung up the phone.
An hour later, the kitchen was finally taco free. I ran upstairs and took a fast shower so that I wouldn’t miss Rob’s call. At 8:45, Dad came home. I was sitting on the couch, trying to concentrate on the Discovery Channel. Somehow, animals fighting each other on the plains of the Serengeti seemed tamer than anything that was happening in my house. He walked into the living room and sat in the recliner. I stared at the animals on the television, trying my best to ignore him.
“Mandy, let me explain. Arlene cares about me.”
I couldn’t stop my eyes from darting over to him. “Arlene?”
“She listens to me. She understands. She doesn’t pull away from me.” He was trying to convince me. “She doesn’t hide in a bottle.”
Disgust filled me. “I don’t want to know what you do with your slut.” I clicked the television off and stood to leave.
“Mandy, I never meant to—“
I stopped at the base of the stairs. “Dad, you’ve been enabling her. Instead of helping your wife of eighteen years, you’d rather booze her up while you get your rocks off with some married, rich bitch who doesn’t even consider you a ‘professional’. I don’t want to know what you do. I don’t care. I’m tired of being the one who keeps all the secrets, the one who takes care of everyone and does whatever needs to be done. I’m tired of giving up what I want so that everyone else can be happy. Is that why you won’t let me get a car? Because you need me to make sure that Mom is wasted at home, and Dillon is safe, so you can go out and sleep around? Do whatever you want. Just don’t expect me to support you. It’s time for you to take responsibility of your family, Dad. I’m only seventeen. I’ve given up a lot of things to make sure that this family doesn’t fall apart. Well, I’m through! It’s my turn to have a life and be happy. I’m sorry if that doesn’t fit into your plan.”
I didn’t wait for his response. Instead, I marched upstairs to my room, and slammed the door. My throw pillows bounced around me when I flung myself onto my bed. Then the tears streamed down my face, but I wasn’t sure if I was sad, or angry.
The phone rang. “Hello?” I answered abruptly.
“Did I do something wrong?” His voice was concerned.
I took a deep breath. “I’m sorry. I’ve just had an awful night.”
“Wanna tell me about it?” Why was he so good to me?
“Maybe tomorrow. I don’t want to ruin your night, too.”
“Well, then, let me try to change your mood.” He told me how much he missed me. Yup, that turned my mood around.
“I never thanked you for another wonderful day,” I said. My voice was much less hostile than it was at the start of our conversation.
“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
“Rob, you make me so happy.”
He told me about who showed up for work, and who didn’t. He also told me what he had accomplished, and what he still had to do. I didn’t care what we talked about, as long as I heard his voice.
“Would you like to go to the creek tomorrow?” I asked. “I could bring lunch this time.”
“I would love that. I’ll call you in the morning when I wake up. I have to go, Matt’s coming.”
“Bye,” I said, but he had already hung up. Loneliness stabbed my heart.
I reached for the book on my end table, trying hard to focus on the characters, but the only one I found in my head was Rob. When I knew my father was upstairs in his room, I tiptoed into the kitchen. I poured myself a tall glass of milk. After plucking three cookies from the jar, I sat at the table, stared at the bouquet of roses, and thought about how wonderful Rob was. When the clock registered two A.M., I went upstairs and dreamt about sailing around the world with him.
Chapter Thirty-Two
The next morning, the sun shone through the opening in my curtains. I smiled as I remembered my telephone conversation with Rob. Stretching my arms past the edge of the blanket, I recalled the pleasant dream I just had. Of course it had Rob in it. Even Dillon didn’t give me a hard time when the slices of his gluten-free toast touched each other. As I washed the dishes, I hummed my favorite song.
“Mandy, I need your help,” Mom said from the doorway. I was surprised to see her awake so early. Her eyes were puffy from the previous night’s crying jag, and her nose was red, but I wasn’t sure if it was from crying, or drinking. She looked ragged and worn out.
“Sure, what’s wrong, Mom?”
“Mandy, I… I have to get help. I can’t go on like this.” Her voice trembled as she wrung a tissue in her hands. “Dillon could have gotten hurt.” Shewalked over to Dillon and hung onto the back of his chair as if it were a lifeline. Taking a deep breath, she said, “I’ve been selfish and wrong.” She sat down in the chair next to me. “Your father hasn’t been home, and when he is, I neglect him.”
I wrestled with the idea of telling her what I knew, but I didn’t want to give her a reason to crawl back into a bottle. She was trying hard.
“Will you… help me… find… a rehab center?” Her head hung in shame.
I walked over and hugged her so hard I thought I’d crack her ribs. “Of course, Mom. We can look up some numbers on the Internet and call.”
Her hazel eyes were no longer distant. Her gaze pierced me. “Oh, Mandy. I’ve forced you to grow up so fast. Too many responsibilities have been dropped in your lap—cooking, cleaning, and taking care of your brothers and your father.”
I cringed at the mention of him. “Don’t forget paying the bills and balancing the checkbook.” I thought it would make her laugh.
“You do that, too?”
I nodded. ”Someone has to make sure the mortgage is paid on time.”
“You’ve handled it all so well, and without complaining. I’ve robbed you of your childhood. Can you ever forgive me?” She pulled back, and tears rolled down her cheeks in rapid succession.
“Just get sober, Mom, and stay that way.” I poured her a cup of coffee, and buttered a couple of slices of toast for her.
After calling two of the three rehab centers in our vicinity, I was able to book an appointment with one of the counselors at the hospital.
“Will you go with me, Mandy?” Mom asked.
“I’ll go with you,” Dad said, before I could utter a word. He was in the kitchen doorway, dressed in his coveralls for work.
Mom lowered her face in shame. She didn’t look at my father. Neither did I, but for a very different reason. He walked over and put his arms around her. “I’ll call Al. He’ll run the shop today with Bryan. I want to help you through this. I need the woman I fell in love with back in my life.” She lifted her gaze and matched his smile. Then he kissed her on the forehead. I wasn’t convinced.
Mom’s face filled with hope. “I’ll get dressed.”
Without looking at him, I handed Dad the slip of paper with the information he needed, and the message from Al the night before.
“Mandy, she was just someone to talk to. Her brother is an alcoholic.” I knew he was referring to Mrs. Sutton. “I didn’t mean for it to happen.”
“It may have started out innocently, but you didn’t just talk with her, Dad.” I shook my head. “I told you, I don’t want to know.”
; Mom returned wearing a pink summer dress, and her purse hung from the strap over her shoulder. Her long brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail. Aside from her puffy face, she almost looked like she used to. They left for their appointment.
I handed Dillon his lunch box and watched as he got on the school bus. Finally, I was in the house all by myself. I wished Rob was with me, holding me until the world stopped spinning. I couldn’t stop thinking about him. It was only nine-thirty and I figured he’d still be sleeping, so I went upstairs and laid the outfit I was going to wear to the creek out on my bed. I matched the socks to the light blue t-shirt. I decided to take a shower and wash my hair so that I could wear it down, the way Rob liked. I went into the bathroom. The water ran for several minutes. I stuck my hand in to make sure it was the right temperature.
It felt good rolling down my back. Each droplet that beat against my skin reminded me of the electricity I felt when Rob touched me. I sang an assortment of love songs as I rinsed the shampoo from my hair. It was a good thing that no one was home to hear my horrible voice.
I wrapped a towel around my body and twisted another over my hair, before heading to my room. Instead of the outfit I had laid on my bed, the long, mauve, taffeta bridesmaid’s dress I wore when I was in my cousin’s wedding was spread across my comforter. I reached down to touch it. What? How’d this get here?
That’s when he stepped out from behind my bedroom door. I turned quickly and gasped.
“You looked very pretty in that dress last July.” His voice was monotone, lacking feeling. Blonde, stringy hair hung over his sharp green eyes.
“Jimmy, you scared the crap out of me. I didn’t hear you come in. Where’s Bryan?”
“He’s at your dad’s shop.”
Then I remembered Dad saying Bryan would be at the garage. Jimmy stared at me. His glare made me uncomfortable.
“Oh, right,” my voice cracked. I tried to swallow the lump in my throat, but my mouth was dry. “If you want to, go downstairs and let me get dressed. I can make you some breakfast before you go.” He stepped forward, closing the gap between us. I took a few steps backward towards my bed to widen the uncomfortable space. I didn’t like being this close to him with only a towel around me. “Um, Jimmy. I need some privacy to get dressed.”
He didn’t move as his eyes scanned me. Warning bells went off in my head. Assessing the distance between him and the door, I wondered if I could make it past him.
He moved closer. “You take such good care of everyone, Mandy. Always putting the rest of us before yourself. Now, I’m gonna take care of you.” He reached a hand up and stroked my cheek. “Let me take care of you, Mandy. Let me show you how special you are.”
Wait! Didn’t he say something about someone special yesterday? “Jimmy?” Fear swelled up inside of me as I looked at him. He was determined. My heart pounded against my chest. A bead of sweat slid down the side of my face.
“You’ve always been special, Mandy. I’ve known since we were little.”
Instantly, I recalled the topic of conversation from the day before. We were talking about having sex for the first time with someone special. Panic escalated inside me.
He kept talking. “I’ve dreamt of what it would be like when we were together. I knew you’d always be there, waiting for me. Whenever I’m here, you take care of me. You make sure I have something to eat, a place to sleep, you listen when I need to talk. You’re so good to me, Mandy. I know you care about me.”
A nervous laugh escaped my mouth. “We’ve known each other a long time. You’re my friend, Jimmy.”
“We’re more than friends, Mandy.”
I flipped through my memory. Had I ever led him on over the years I’d known him? I didn’t think so, even though I knew he had a small crush me. I had always been careful. I treated him as if he were my brother, nothing more. When had I sent a different signal?
“It didn’t matter how many girls your brother fixed me up with. I knew one day we’d be together, and everything would be perfect. I was just waiting for you to be ready.”
He stepped closer. Rapid breaths caused my lungs to burn. Think. Think. “I… I didn’t know you… felt that way… about me, Jimmy.” How can I get past him? Nervous sweat formed on my palms.
“I was going to tell you, Mandy. I just couldn’t think of the right words. But then, you met him.” The poisonous way he referred to Rob made me realize his desperation. His fists were clenched at his sides. “When I followedyou that day in the woods, I knew it was time to make you mine.” He moved a step closer now. The space between us was narrow. The heat of his breath was on my face. “He's not good enough for you, Mandy. He doesn't love you like I do. I can give you what you need, Mandy.”
I backed up, but the bed against my calves stopped me. Can I climb over it and run around it to the door? If I could make it downstairs and out the door to the Hanleys’ house, I could call Rob. Of course, they’d want to know why I was only wearing a towel. I could tell them that I thought I heard something in the house and ran out. Oh, worry about that later, Mandy.
Jimmy moved closer. There was barely enough room between us for a pillow. I could smell the mint of a Tic Tac on his breath. He lunged for me. I jerked my body back. My balance shifted, and the towel fell from my wet hair onto the bed. My dark, reddish-blonde curls slapped against my back. A million thoughts raced through my head. They all told me that I had to get past him.
“I’m going to take care of you now, Mandy. Let me show you how special you are.”
I opened my mouth,but nothing came out. I was paralyzed.Before I could even blink, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me close to him.
“Stop! Jimmy, you’re hurting me. Let go!” He was quick when he moved next. He stroked my wet hair. With my free hand, I grasped the towel so it wouldn’t fall off my body. “You’re so beautiful, Mandy.” He stuck his nose in my dripping locks and inhaled. I tried to loosen my wrist, but it was tight in his grip.
Letting go of the towel, and praying it wouldn’t fall off, I pushed him to break free.
“I’m going to show you how much I love you.” He grabbed a handful of my hair and yanked it back. I pushed at him harder. He used this moment of surprise to push me onto the bed. Before I could recover and run, he was on top of me. I tried to scream, but his mouth was over mine. Sloppy kisses forced me to gasp for air.
I reached up to push his face away. My legs scissor-kicked, trying to break free. His body was heavy on mine. Was I going to be raped by my brother’s best friend? A guy I had known since I was six?I retreated emotionally, but my body kept fighting.I hit him on the shoulders and clawed at his face, but it only seemed to fuel him. He was no longer Jimmy, my childhood friend; he was a monster. When I tried to rake his face again, he backhanded me and wrenched my arm behind my back. Squirming, I continued to fight.
This was not how I thought my first experience would be. I wanted it to be with someone I considered special. Images of Rob flashed through my head. He was the one I wanted.
Jimmy’s face registered confidence when he realized he had me pinned and couldn’t move.
His hand slithered over the towel, pushing the bottom hem up to my waist. I gasped. He shifted his weight so I could feel his intentions. A sneer spread across his face. His mouth moved closer to mine.
“I’ll make you forget him. I promise.”
I turned my head so he couldn’t kiss me again. There was no escape. A tear slid down the side of my face. I held my breath. He was so heavy. I couldn’t get him off me. My arm was tired from fighting.
My voice cracked through my sobs. “No, Jimmy, don’t!” I closed my eyes tight.
In the next second, the pressure was gone. I opened my eyes. Jimmy’s body was across the room, crumpled at the bottom of my closet door. I sat up, grasping my towel, holding it in place. Rob was at the foot of the bed, shielding me from Jimmy.
Jimmy stood up, shook himself off, and charged for Rob. He was stifled by a punch to the stomach. Jim
my doubled over, but it didn’t stop him. He regained himself and came at Rob again.
“She’s mine!” Jimmy shouted.His face contorted as his eyes blazed hatred at Rob.
Rob’s fist connected with Jimmy again. This time, it was his face. Blood poured from his nose. It stopped him, but only for a moment.
“You son-of-a-bitch!” Jimmy growled. He charged one more time, but never made it to Rob because I hit him over the head with my alarm clock. His body fell to the floor with a thud.
I looked at Rob. A stream of blood trickled from his lower lip. I grabbed the towel that had been around my hair and lifted it to his mouth. “Are you okay? You’re bleeding.” I moved closer to him.
“You almost get raped and you’re asking me if I’m all right?” He put his hand over the one I had holding the towel to his mouth. We both looked at Jimmy, unconscious on the floor. Then Rob smiled at me and I lost control. Tears poured like a waterfall. He stroked my wet hair with his fingers. “Sssh, Mandy. He won’t hurt you again.”
I looked up at him as the tears continued to fall. “H-how?”
“I couldn’t sleep knowing I’d see you today. Instead of lying awake, thinking of you, I thought I’d come pick you up early and we would go to the creek. I saw Jimmy’s car in the driveway, but I didn’t see Bryan’s. I knocked on the door. No one answered. When I tried the handle, it was unlocked, so I came in. I heard your voice, and then Jimmy’s. I raced up the stairs and saw that animal on top of you.” He turned his face away from me. I used my finger to tilt his chin back toward me.
“You saved me,” I said, and then he held me.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Through sobs and never-ending tears, I had to replay the moment over and over again to the detectives who came to the house. They escorted me to the hospital, where the doctors examined me. Rob called my parents, and they met us in the same building they were meeting the counselor in. The detectives questioned them and Rob in the visitors' lounge. Purple bruises covered both my arms from where Jimmy held me down, and my mouth was bruised from the pressure of his forced kisses. After three hours, multiple examinations–both physical and emotional–and a collection of business cards fromthe various professionals I met with, I was released. I went home and spent the next hour scrubbing myself in the shower, trying to rid myself of the horrible memory of Jimmy’s attack.
Fractured ( Fractured #1) Page 17