Solid Stone: Choices

by E. G. Patrick

  Adam picks up on the first ring. “I promise to love you forever, understood?”

  He sounds emotional. “Understood.”

  §

  At four, my phone rings, it’s the museum. “Hello, Violet Cole speaking.”

  “Hi, it’s Marjorie. How are you today?”

  “I’m great thanks, and you?”

  “Fantastic, and about to make your day better, I hope. We’d like to offer you the job of assistant curator.”

  My smile stretches my lips as far as they can possibly go. “Thank you! That’s awesome news, and yes, you made my day better than ever.”

  “You’re welcome. When can you start? I need that for the offer letter. Your references were stellar and your university transcripts were quite impressive. Paul had nothing but good things to say about you. It’s rare to have someone’s current boss give a reference, but his was fabulous, I can tell he’s going to miss you.”

  Looking over my calendar, I decide to take a week off before starting at the museum. I grimace when I say, “How about in three weeks?”

  “Perfect. I’ll email it to you later today. If we can get it back early next week, that would be great.”

  “Consider it done. And really, thank you so much for the opportunity.”

  “You’re welcome, and I’ll see you in 3 weeks. Goodbye Violet.”

  “Goodbye.” I’m beyond elated. My life keeps getting better by the minute.

  I call Adam. “Hi sweetheart,” he says.

  “I got the job!” I yell down the phone.

  “Congratulations! That’s amazing news. We have to celebrate.”

  “Wait, let me pinch myself, ouch, okay yes it’s real, let’s celebrate. I need to call Ann and my dad though.”

  “Why don’t you invite them over for dinner this Saturday, I’ll cook something special, and check if my parents are free as well.”

  “Are you sure?” My day is getting even better. Having our families meet is a big deal for us.

  “Of course I am, remember I mean what I say?” he’s light-hearted.

  “Okay, you check with your parents and I’ll check with Ann and Dad. That means…”

  “Yes, that means, “Choices” waits another week. You’ll survive.” He laughs.

  I laugh too, but still feel a bit disappointed. “Yeah, I’ll survive, although, I still plan to have my way with you after they leave.”

  “You got that right. How was your appointment with Doctor Kramer?”

  My emotions catch up with me. “I learned a lot and just know I’ll always be here for you, always. Okay?”

  “I know that. I’m going to do whatever it takes to get better, so that I can be my best for you. You deserve it.”

  “Stop or I’ll cry.”

  “No tears, babe, we’re going to make it, you and me. Remember, I don’t take risks, and there’s none here. I love you. I’m going to say it again, I love you Violet Cole, always.”

  “Always, I love you Adam Stone.”

  “That’s all I need to hear. I love you and I’m so proud of you!”

  “Bye, love you too.”

  §

  At home drinking Perrier and eating chips, my phone rings. “Hi Vee.”

  “Hi Ann, I got the job!”

  “Fuck yeah! Of course you did!”

  “I pinched myself earlier. I start in three weeks.”

  “So when are we celebrating?”

  “Actually, that’s why I called. Adam wants to cook dinner for everyone, you, Ted, my Dad, and Dad’s girlfriend and Adam’s family. How’s this Saturday?”

  “Shit, no, we’re away this weekend. You could have dinner without us and we’ll see you next weekend? I’m sorry Vee, it’s our anniversary or I’d cancel and come to dinner.”

  “We can do it the weekend after, I want you to be there. That’s closer to my start date anyway. I’ll ask Adam to check with his parents and I haven’t called my dad yet anyway. It should be fine.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, I’m sure, and congrats on your anniversary, that’s amazing for you, my friend!”

  “I know right! I love him, we’re so good together.”

  “Yes, you are, and don’t forget that.”

  “I won’t. Vee, I’m thrilled to bits for you. You’re going to do really well.”

  “Thanks, I’m feeling very optimistic myself actually.”

  “Good. I’ll see you in a couple of weeks then.”

  “Yes, I’ll confirm plans as soon as I can. Bye.”

  “Bye, Vee.”

  I flop back on my sofa, listening to myself crunch on chips and blindly watch TV. I’m so thrilled about the new job and about Adam and me. Life couldn’t be better. My buzzer goes. “Hello.”

  “Hello, delivery for Miss Cole.”

  “Oh hi, come up.”

  I look through the peephole and there’s a floral arrangement, a large one. My first thought is Adam and I smile, feeling warm. My smile turns to terror when the man holding the arrangement lowers it, so I can see his face. It’s him, the jock who tried to… He pushes me inside and locks the door behind him.

  Chapter 37

  “Violet”

  “Hi bitch, it’s been a long time.” His voice sounds gruff from too much nicotine, and his odor confirms it. He slams the flowers on the table.

  My phone’s upstairs. As he looks around I take a few slow steps back until I’m at the bottom of the stairs. As I turn to run up them, he grabs my hair, yanking me backward. “No bitch, we’re not going up there yet. I know you want me, but a little foreplay down here first.” His breath smells heavily of tobacco and his cold smile reveals nicotine-covered teeth. He’s skinny and unkempt, and nowhere near as fit or attractive as he was in high school.

  “You’ve done well. Fucking a lawyer has paid off.” He laughs shoving me down on the sofa. “Do you want to know how this is gonna play out, bitch?”

  “Karl, what happened to you?”

  “What happened to me? Let’s see, a whiny little virgin bitch called Violet gave me the signals and then cried home to her parents, who called the school, who called the police, who fucked me out of a scholarship. That’s what happened, you fucking bitch!” Spittle comes out of his mouth he’s so agitated.

  “I wasn’t ready, I told you that.”

  “Oh, you were ripe and ready, I could smell it on you. You know my mother couldn’t look at me for ages? My father, for the first time, was proud, me getting a football scholarship, going to university. It changed my life—my dad was a drunk, but he finally noticed me.”

  “I’m sorry Karl, I didn’t know. I wasn’t planning to tell; my parents saw my torn dress and figured it out.”

  His face is inches from mine. “It’s down to you, bitch. It all started with you. You should’ve spread your legs like you wanted, like I wanted. You fucked it up. You should’ve been flattered to go out with someone like me.”

  “I wasn’t ready,” I almost whisper. My palms are moist and my heart races. Adrenaline rushes through my body as I try to assess what he might do next.

  “Shut up, bitch, cause tonight’s the night. I even brought you flowers. I’m a romantic at heart. I bet you’re still nice and tight.”

  “My boyfriend will be here any minute. You should leave.”

  “Oh, I’m counting on it. Doesn’t he always come over after work? I’ve been watching so I know. You must be one hell of a lay! That fuck-head and me need to talk too.”

  “What?”

  “Oh, that’s right, you’ve haven’t made that connection yet have you. We’ll save that for when he gets here. In the meantime, you can give my cock a little wash.” I cringe and it’s obvious. He laughs standing in front me. The door bursts open, the alarm chime doesn’t even finish. Adam’s eyes widen when he sees
a man with his crotch inches from my face, his intent obvious.

  “Get the fuck away from her asshole!”

  Karl, pulls out a gun from his pocket. “Who’s the asshole now? Sit down or I’ll blow her head off.”

  “Calm down,” Adam says as he sits down on a dining room chair.

  “Okay bitch, let’s make the lawyer comfortable.” He pulls out some rope from inside his jacket. “Go over there and tie his hands behind his back. Don’t try anything or I’ll blow his head off. Be smart, bitch.”

  Looking into Adam’s eyes, I walk toward to him. He mouths, ‘It’ll be okay, I promise’. I try to stay strong for both our sakes. Adam puts his arms behind the back of the chair, making it easier for me. I take a deep breath as I tie his wrists together, leaving a long piece that I place in the palm of his right hand. I step back slowly to avoid agitating Karl any further. Karl comes up beside me, pointing the gun at my head. He only has one hand to check with, he seems satisfied when he tugs at the rope. He grabs the back of my neck forcing me to the sofa again. Adam flinches, keeping his eyes on me the whole time.

  “Let me share a very interesting story.” He slaps me across the face. “I’m going to fuck you in so many ways, be patient.”

  Adam yells, “Don’t touch her, you fucking prick!”

  “Calm down asshole. Don’t worry, you won’t miss a thing. You’re gonna watch me fuck her so you’ll know everything first hand.”

  “Karl, please stop this now.” I plead. He slaps me harder, forcing my head backward this time. The heat from the sting tells me it’s going to swell.

  I’ll never forget the pain I see flash through Adam’s eyes. “Tell us your story, Karl. I’m listening.”

  “Clearly you’re the brains in this duet.” He snarls, glaring at me, I flinch.

  “Go ahead, you have our attention,” Adam says.

  “Well, here’s the thing. She fucked me over back in high school when she lost me my scholarship. She’s a teasing bitch.”

  Adam says calmly, “We’re still listening.”

  He relaxes slightly when Karl faces him. “And you, well you helped my wife and child at that fucking woman’s shelter. You helped her get a place of her own and full custody of my kid. He’s a cute fucker, but not too bright, he’s too timid like his fucking bitch mother. Imagine my delight when I saw the two people I hate the most together. It was like a two for one deal. I thanked my lucky stars and then started planning. It took me months.”

  Adam swallows hard. “Who’s your wife?”

  “Celia Brown, you remember her? She made you cookies more than once. I often wondered if you were fucking her yourself?”

  “I never touched her, it wasn’t like that. My guess is she never wants to be touched by a man again after what you did to her.”

  The cold metal barrel rests against the side of my head and I can feel my pulse rising against it. “You should shut the fuck up or I’ll let her have it now.”

  “I’m sorry. Please tell us the rest of your story.”

  “Does she know you pay my wife’s rent?”

  “No, she doesn’t.”

  “See bitch, when I sent you those text messages I was trying to save you.” He laughs, “Not really, I was trying to fuck you both up. I saw the way he looked at you, the love in his stupid fucking eyes. If you had just kept your ass in Chicago I may have left it at that. The merger leak was my doing by the way,” he glares at Adam. “I took a cleaning job and made sure I got your office.”

  Everything starts making sense. “So now it’s time to fuck her for your viewing pleasure. I’m going to fuck her mouth, her cunt, and her ass. I bet she’s really tight. I’m drooling at the thought.” He glares at Adam, his nostrils flare like the animal he’s become. He puts the gun in his jacket pocket.

  Adam’s demeanor changes, his body looks taller, bigger, and stronger. “You lay one hand on her and I’m going to kill you.” There’s no fear in his eyes, he means it.

  “Sure you are asshole.” Some of his spittle hits my cheek, I’m afraid to wipe it away. He stands in front of me rattling his zipper, using his free hand to grab the back of my head and that’s when Adam lunges forward with the chair still beneath him, his head connecting with Karl’s ribs. I hear a crash as Karl goes over one of the side tables. Adam pulls the length of rope I’d placed in his hand, I’d made slip a knot, he knew. He’s now free to fulfill his earlier promise.

  “Call the police,” he yells at me. Within seconds Adam’s body is over Karl’s. Adam’s fist connects with this face, not once or twice, but repeatedly.

  I can hear cracking sounds and it’s then I yell out, “Adam stop! You can’t protect me if you’re in jail for killing that asshole!” I watch his arm pull back and hold steady this time. He gets up taking the rope to tie up Karl. I hear Karl moaning. There’s blood splatter and a tooth on the floor. Adam’s hair is stuck to his brow. It takes two seconds for him to pull me into his arms. He puts the gun on the table. And I cry, cry like I’ve never cried before.

  §

  We’re alone. I have a bag of frozen peas on my face. The police took Karl in handcuffs. Adam gets a mop and bucket and starts cleaning up the blood. “I can do that.”

  “No, I don’t want you touching any of this,” he says.

  “How did you know?”

  “Know what?

  “You busted in like you knew something was wrong?”

  “Ray called me. Karl must’ve turned on his cell phone at some point. His location was only two blocks from here at the time, so I dropped everything and came to check on you. I didn’t know what to expect. Fuck, I would’ve never forgiven myself if something happened to you.”

  “You saved me, Adam.”

  He sits beside me. “No, you saved me. Are you going to be okay?” He looks under the peas, “There’s a little swelling, are you sure you’re okay?”

  “I’ll be fine, the worst is over. I’m just glad we know who’s behind all of this now so we can move on. Remember when I told you I was yours before we even met?”

  “I believed you then, but even more now.” His body slumps and his eyes begin to water. “If something had happened to you, I can’t even think it.” He squeezes me tight. The very thought of what could’ve happened, me losing him, makes me feel vulnerable, weak, and helpless. I never want to feel that way again.

  “You can’t stay here.”

  “Yes, I can. Why should I let Karl control my life? He’s done more than enough already.”

  “I know, but you’ll always think of him when you’re in this room?”

  “No, I won’t. I’ll think of the first time you held my hand in this room, the first time you kissed me in this room, the first time we danced in this room, it’s in this room you told me you loved me for the first time. Nothing he did can beat any of that, not even close.”

  “You’re an amazing woman, Violet. I’ll love you for eternity, and even that’s not enough.”

  I kiss him. “Let’s have some wine. We have to cheers to my new job.”

  He comes up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist as I open a bottle of an aged French Bordeaux from his high-end collection. Pouring into two glasses I hand him his. We clink glasses. He says, “To eternity, me and you, Violet.”

  “I’ll drink to that!”

  After the toast he kisses me and raises his glass again, “Congratulations! The museum is lucky to have you.”

  Chapter 38

  “Violet”

  Seated around the table are dad and his girlfriend, Barb, Adam’s parents, Rob and Shirley, his sister, Olivia, and Ann and Ted. Adam and I couldn’t be happier having all the people we love together in one room.

  Adam’s prepared a traditional roast beef dinner with roasted potatoes, green beans, and carrots. The gravy is perfect. As I look around the table I see Barb holding my dad
’s hand. Things are going really well between them.

  Shirley says, “Rob and I are so glad to finally meet you all. We’re so happy that Adam has Violet in his life.” She looks over at me. “Thank you Violet for making my son a much happier man, and congratulations on your new job, we’re confident you’re going to do really well.” Glasses clink around me.

  “Oh, Shirley, thank you, and Adam’s made me a very happy woman.” He wraps his arms around my shoulder.

  My dad smiles at us. “Shirley, I couldn’t agree more, my daughter’s one hell of a girl.” The table laughs. “But, I have to say, I’m glad she has Adam by her side and vice versa, he’s a good guy I can tell.” I gotta love my dad. Ann, on my left, squeezes my arm.

  The atmosphere is light and happy. After dinner Ann helps me in the kitchen, I insist everyone else goes upstairs with Adam to hang out or play pool. We hear the pool balls click, I say to Ann, “I wonder who Adam is pool sharking now?” We both laugh as I load the dishwasher and Ann wipes down the counter. We take two bottles of wine upstairs with us. Barb is a pretty good pool player, I’m impressed. Every time she laughs her head rolls back, she’s very genuine and I like that. My dad keeps touching her every chance he gets. I’m happy for them.

  I stand back watching the people I love enjoying themselves. Adam finds me and pulls me into him. “Pinch me, babe, tell me this is really happening. We’re this happy.”

  On tiptoes, my lips caress his. “Is that enough convincing?”

  “It’s a start, but I’ll want more, later.”

  “No problem.” I squeeze his hand and walk back to the group grabbing a pool cue. I break and watch a ball sink. I do my happy dance and everyone laughs. Two hours later we’re saying goodbye to our family. Ann and Ted stay for another hour before they leave.

  §

  Watching Adam’s naked body come toward me still makes my heart pound. His arm circles my waist, pulling me into a solid man. When I look up at him he smiles before kissing me. He whispers against my lips, “I’ve wanted you all night. It was hard keeping my hands off you. I love you, Beautiful.”