by Powers, Jade
Oblivious to her innermost fears, Sven said, “That’s what neighbor’s do.”
Minka froze.
“Are you okay? What’s wrong?” Sven strode into the kitchen, ready to fight demons or monsters, but utterly incapable of destroying the fear in Minka’s eyes.
“Nothing. I’m fine. Just thinking about what will happen when Joe gets out,” Minka lied. She couldn’t very well tell Sven that she was imagining all of the horrible things he might be, or wondering what he might do to her once they were alone together for an extended period.
“I’d love to tell you everything will be fine, but we both live in the real world. That guy is bad news. If you weren’t moving in just now, I’d tell you to start looking for a place out of town. Go somewhere safe. Take a self-defense class” Sven said. He wanted to add, Come with me. But he barely knew the woman. He couldn’t rescue every woman whose path he crossed.
Minka looked exhausted. She refused to stop unpacking. With dark circles under her eyes and a darkening bruise, she worked when she should rest. Minka said, “I’m signed onto a month-to-month, but I’m not running.”
What Minka said was the exact opposite of her plan. If she saved for about six months without dipping into her emergency fund, she would have enough to move. Enough to run. But she couldn’t tell Sven that she already had plans to flee, not when the whole plan made her sound like a coward.
They unpacked a few more boxes. Not wanting to overstay his welcome, Sven asked, “Are you ready to be alone for awhile? I can refresh your ice and you could lie down.”
Minka didn’t want Sven in her bedroom. She hardly knew the guy. Sure he was cute, but that didn’t mean he was nice. Well, he was nice up front, but that didn’t mean it would stick. In the end she said, “I’m fine. I don’t want to keep you. Thanks for your help.”
She stepped forward with her arms open and they hugged. Sven wasn’t really a hugger. He did that half hug-slap thing with Drake, the thing that men do when they’re showing brotherly affection.
This was unexpected.
This hug was different. It felt good. It felt like home. She fit in his arms so perfectly, and her hair smelled fresh, like a quality shampoo. Sven didn’t want to let go.
He walked away from Minka, not just in body but in heart, too. Even if she did linger in his thoughts while he boiled water for a box of macaroni and cheese, while he logged onto his computer to play Twelve Knights, while he stretched out in bed for a good night’s sleep. Even if he thought he could love her, Sven had to remember that he was in Spokane on temporary company business...and a quick fling wasn’t what Minka needed.
Minka’s red hair was luscious. She had a wicked sense of humor, an infectious laugh, and a ready wit. He should ask her out again, for a real date. If he could just get past her past. He wondered what kind of woman would stay with an abusive partner. He thought maybe she was broken, maybe she didn’t know how to live outside of the cycle of abuse.
After an hour of thinking about Minka, Sven logged onto his computer to play more video games. It was the most he’d played in months. Usually his game time was limited to the few days he had off. Now that Drake had him on standby, he could sleep in whenever.
Not even the game could ease Sven of his troubled thoughts.
Chapter 4
MINKA WAS STILL SHAKEN from her encounter with Joe when she came to an epiphany. Joe was in jail, at least for the night.
When she had left Joe and her old life behind, Minka had moved out like an indie race car driver, fleeing while he was on the road. She had left most of the furniture, the Queen bed, the couch, the bookshelves, most of the bedding and the towels, taking only her pillow, a sleeping bag, and her favorite blanket. Her books had taken a long time to pack, and she had spent three hours in terror that he would walk through the door while she was preparing to leave him. Even then, she left an entire bookshelf behind.
Her coworker, Alice, had acted lookout. She hoped for that same help again. Grabbing the phone, Minka called her best friend and coworker, “Alice? Joe just followed me into my apartment.”
“Are you okay?”
“Fine, but he’s in jail for the night. This might be the only time I have to get the rest of my stuff out of the house. Will you be my lookout again? I’m going to rent a small U-Haul and get my end tables back.”
Minka picked Alice up. The day was fading, the sun sinking behind pine-laced hills. The drive to Minka’s duplex felt familiar in an eerie way. Not home, Minka had to remind herself.
Alice and Minka exchanged a glance at the edge of the walk.
Minka said, “Are you ready for this?”
“If that bastard’s really in jail I am.” Alice couldn’t help that little thrill of fear that they would somehow be surprised in the middle of their caper.
Minka pulled the key to the duplex out of her pocket. She still hadn’t gotten around to mailing it back to Joe, mostly because half of her stuff was still in the house. She unlocked the door, flipping the light switch without a thought.
“Where should we start?” Alice asked. The painting Minka loved still hung on the wall, but the canvas was slashed in three ribbons. Minka gritted her teeth. If Joe had destroyed her teddy bear, she would kill him.
“Room by room. I don’t want to miss any of my stuff this time. Obviously, we won’t take the painting.” Minka narrowed her eyes at the slashes. It wasn’t the first time, but damn it, she hadn’t even considered taking the painting. They had purchased that together. In her mind, it belonged to Joe.
A woman in pajama bottoms and a pink t-shirt stepped out of the bedroom. “Get out of my house or I’m calling the cops.”
Minka ground her teeth. It certainly hadn’t taken Joe long to move his hussy in. She hadn’t even confronted him about that little detail during their last big blow-out, the one that convinced her to leave. Minka said, “I’m paid up through the month. This is my house and if we call the cops, you know who will go to jail, Candy? Why don’t you and Alice share a cup of tea while I get my stuff? Trust me, once I’m gone I’ll be out of your life for good.”
“You can’t take anything. This is my house. Me and Joe. You left him.” Candy had all the brains of a banana slug. Minka didn’t have words. She pushed past Candy into the kitchen, grabbed a chair, and hauled it back to the bedroom like she should have done the first time she moved from the duplex.
Candy’s hot little jumpers and sundresses were hanging in Minka’s side of the closet. Candy grabbed Minka’s arm. “Hey, that’s my closet now. I’m going to call Joe.”
Minka slapped Candy’s arm away. “You do that. The asshole is in jail for assaulting me in my home.”
“He wouldn’t go near you. He said you two are over.” Candy stood in the doorway with her hands on her hips. Her fake blonde hair over her fake blonde tan couldn’t make her pretty. Candy was too used up by the world.
“We are.” Minka ignored Candy. She had the rest of her stuff to move.
Candy just stood staring at Minka, so Minka ignored her. Minka shoved the closet doors from Joe’s side to Candy’s, slamming them against the wall. At least the blankets were still there. She stepped on the chair to reach the upper part of the closet and pull the blankets down.
“You bitch. Get out of my house.” Candy threw her weight against Minka, knocking her off the chair and into the dresser. Her shoulder hit the top half of the dresser before she slid down.
Minka came up swinging. She punched Candy in the nose, satisfied with the cracking noise it made. Her knuckles hurt, but inside she felt powerful. Through clenched teeth, Minka said, “I am here to get my things. You can get the hell out of the way, or I will have you arrested for trespassing.”
“Possession is nine tenths. You moved out. I’ll have you arrested.”
“My name’s on the lease. Until the end of this month I can be here whenever I want.”
“Stop!” Alice came between the two women like a referee. Candy’s nose was starting to bleed.
Meanwhile, Minka rubbed her right arm with her left. “Minka, get that teddy bear your father gave you. Young lady, come with me and we’ll get some ice on that nose. Minka won’t touch any of your belongings.”
Candy started to cry. Minka rolled her eyes, grateful when Alice herded Candy out of the bedroom. Alice put an arm around Candy as if she were a little girl and said, “I’m sorry. I know this has been a shock to you as well. Where do you keep the kitchen towels? We’ll wrap some ice in one for your nose.”
Minka discovered her teddy bear intact and still tucked away. She hugged him with a happy sigh. She ducked to the second bedroom and unplugged the tall lamp. She carried them down the hall and out the door while Alice fussed over Candy.
The end tables were on the other side of the kitchen. Minka wouldn’t be able to sneak those past Candy. Minka strode purposefully past Alice and Candy in the kitchen. She had one chance. Once she left the duplex, she was done forever. Candy wore the towel over her nose and sniveled like a three-year old.
Of course Candy noticed Minka passing by. Her voice sounded like she was pinching her nose. She said, “What are you doing? There’s nothing in there but the couch and coffee tables.”
Minka delicately removed the lamp from the end table and set it on the floor. She wouldn’t stoop to Joe’s level and smash the bulb. It was heavy and better with two people. Minka lifted two of the feet from the heavy part of the table and dragged it across the carpet. Alice said, “Need help?”
“God, maybe I should call the police. I need your help, but Candy will just attack me again.”
“You’re stealing our stuff,” Candy protested, her eyes full of tears. Minka wondered how she could have aged so much in three years. Last time she met Candy, Candy was a football cheer leader. Now she looked middle-aged at twenty-five, like she was into hard drugs.
“I grew up with these end tables.” Minka didn’t wait for Alice. She grunted and lifted, walking four steps before lowering the table to the linoleum. Her muscles tightened in expectation as if expecting a punch from behind. Minka had been pushed and struck too many times in the duplex for her body to relax, especially now that a new threat had been established.
Candy looked to Alice. It pissed Minka off. First Candy stole her boyfriend, and now she was taking her friend. Alice patted Candy’s hand and said, “She’s leaving the television, the couch, and the bed. Those are the three most expensive items in the house. You and Joe are coming out of this cleanly. If the courts got involved, you’d probably lose the couch.”
With a brief nod, Candy said, “If you leave your key with me, I’ll let you have the end tables.”
Minka wanted to punch her in the nose again. As if Candy were queen and Minka dropped in to pay homage. For the sake of getting out with what she wanted, Minka said, “Gladly. But I also want all of my books and three boxes from the attic space.”
“How do I know which books are yours?” Candy had lowered the towel. Her nose was extra large and she spoke with a nasal stuffiness, but it didn’t look broken—at least it wasn’t sideways or anything like that.
Minka pressed her lips together to still the swear words that inevitably wanted to tumble out. Instead she asked, “Are you really going to pretend that Joe reads?”
Candy laughed a little, “I guess not, but I do have a copy of Your Best Self on the table next to the bed.”
“And it’s still there. Like I said before, I’m not interested in your stuff. Only mine.” Minka had a few things to say about Candy’s best self, but decided that she wanted to get out of the duplex alive. If she pushed Candy too much, they’d end up in the cat fight of the century, and while they might pretend it was about books, Minka had the feeling that Candy would be fighting over the most worthless man in the history of civilization.
Candy held out her hand, “Fine. Give me the key.”
Minka pulled the key out of her pocket. She said, “I’m going to hand this to Alice. She will hold it until we load everything. Once we’re done, she’ll hand it to you. Agreed?”
“Agreed.”
Finally.
Alice helped Minka load both end tables. She held the ladder while Minka brought down the boxes of Christmas ornaments, the high school box, her yarn and crocheting needles, and a few boxes of knick knacks that Minka didn’t have space for. That didn’t stop her from taking them.
“Just the bookshelves in the spare bedroom then?” Alice asked as they loaded the last box.
It had been one of the hardest things to leave behind when Minka first moved out. She had expected Joe would destroy the books or throw them out. It was a testament to how little he read that he didn’t understand the value of those books to Minka. He hadn’t touched the shelves at all.
It was past eleven Saturday night when Minka and Alice finally drove away from the duplex, Minka’s belongings finally back where they belonged. Alice was unusually quiet.
“What’s wrong?”
“You almost broke her nose. That was uncalled for.” Alice wouldn’t look at Minka. She just stared out the window as the street lights went by.
“You didn’t see. She pushed me off the chair. I could have broken my neck.” Minka bit her lip. That rush of anger, that adrenaline, had she become hard? Minka remembered night after night imagining that she could swing a bone-crunching punch that would break Joe’s nose. After nursing all those bruises, not once had she fought back. She had never dared with Joe. “You think I’m just as bad as he is. You didn’t see her push me off the chair. I’ll show you the bruises when we get to my apartment.”
“That’s not necessary. Minka, I’m your friend. I just don’t want you turning into one of those people who think they always have to be fighting. You’re done with Joe now. You can move on with your life.”
“You don’t have to lecture me anymore. I got the message. I moved out.” Minka breathed through the pain searing her heart. This was just another hot wind in the desert of her life. Her relationship, no...association...with Joe lasted five years. She had hardened herself to leave him, knew he was a cheater, but still...she hurt.
Alice sighed, “I’m not trying to hurt you. I just don’t want to see you travel a dark path.”
“I’m not. I won’t.” Minka said. She rubbed her eyes. This wasn’t where she wanted the night to go. Minka had been planning to ask Alice to take some self-defense courses with her. Now, she wanted some space from her friend.
Chapter 5
THE NEXT DAY WAS SUNDAY. Sven spent a couple of hours at the gym lifting weights and running the treadmill. When he returned, Minka’s apartment was quiet. After a quick shower, Sven argued with himself over visiting Minka, finally settling on his computer game. When that didn’t cure his angst, Sven pushed away from his office chair and padded to the kitchen in his pajama bottoms and t-shirt.
No matter how many times he insisted he didn’t want anything to do with a woman coming off of an abusive relationship, Sven couldn’t resist Minka. Any other woman, yes, but this one was feisty and fun, beautiful and smart.
It was ten o’clock in the morning.
Minka would be awake by now.
Closing the refrigerator door, Sven made a decision. Changing into slacks and a blue button-up shirt, Sven crossed the landing to visit Minka and offer his services as furniture shopper, box unpacker, and general gopher. It was completely opposite to his regular life. Sven never stayed in one place long enough to buy his own furniture.
Minka invited Sven in.
“Would you like a few more hours of help?”
“Sure, that box of books needs to be shelved.” Minka said.
The room was reorganized with many of the boxes already unpacked and broken down into a stack of cardboard near the entryway. Sven’s feeling of claustrophobia and discomfort from the cluttered room was gone. Minka must have worked late into the night to get this much accomplished.
“You made great progress,” he said.
“Most of those boxes were books. I moved t
hem to the storage closet,” Minka said.
They worked in silence for several minutes.
Minka broke the silence. “You look angry. What are you thinking?” She pulled out a stack of dish towels. They were deep blue with white cartoon puppies.
“I’m angry at the jerk who hurt you. It bugs me. Why did you stay so long?” Sven asked.
He was disappointed in the situation. Any woman he married would smack her attacker in the face. Marriage. Where did that come from? He wasn’t going to marry anyone, ever.
Minka said, “Ex-boyfriend since high school. I should have noticed when we were kids. He’d be angry and move quickly by me, bumping into my shoulder. At the time, I didn’t think much of it. People get angry and pay less attention. It could have been an accident. Once we graduated and moved in together, the bumps became pushes and then a punch. This past year I feared for my life.”
“You’re here now. It’s a good first step,” Sven said. He didn’t really know what to say at all. There was no greeting card for leaving an abusive boyfriend.
“I’m just glad I have a neighbor like you,” Minka said. She winced as if her admission was too personal.
“Would you like to go out on Friday?” Sven asked. Just a date. He could decide later to make it something more.
Minka paused, hesitating. The bruise on her face was purplish in the light. She said, “I don’t know. I’m not planning to stay around Spokane long, and my track record with men, well, you saw Joe.”
“How did your other men turn out?” Sven asked. It wasn’t a tactic to convince her as much as curiosity. People sometimes did have a magnet for trouble. She was talking to him, so maybe her trouble magnet worked great. Sven certainly had his share of trouble. He’d never hit a woman. Never. Still, he lived his life in an ethically gray area, as does any mercenary working for a private corporation in business with the government.
Minka laughed, “Joe is the only guy I’ve had a relationship with. I’ll go out with you next Friday, but it will probably end horribly, especially since we’re neighbors. What if I want to break up with you? It’s gotta be uncomfortable living across the hall from an ex.”