Through The Pieces

by Bobbi Jo Bentz

  "She needs to get checked out," Jerk Ass stated.

  "Mommy did Daddy do this again?" Maggie asked in a serious tone.

  I didn't know what to say. Maggie knew? Maggie knew Daddy hurt Mommy? A stabbing pain hit my chest, and I wanted to crawl in a hole and die. Should I say something? Maggie should not have to deal with this--it was too much. I gently stroked her face, holding back the tears.

  "Maggie, your Daddy will never hurt your Mommy again. She has a lot of people that care for her and are going to protect her. It may be hard for you, and you may miss your Daddy but from now on, you are going to live here with us." Annie said as she knelt in close to Maggie.

  Maggie looked at Annie, her brows furrowed. "Promise Daddy won't hurt Mommy anymore?" Maggie’s small voice was filled with concern,

  "I promise," Annie said gently.

  Maggie reached for my sunglasses and pulled them off. "You don't have to hide or be scared anymore Mommy. We love you and Daddy won't hurt you."

  That was my breaking point, and I cried. My four year old was simply amazing. She wanted to protect me. She was my sweet girl, and I would never let anyone tear us apart.

  I must have dozed off, awakening to voices in the kitchen. I was alone and someone had put a blanket over me. My body was stiff and sore. I found the sunglasses, put them on, and went into the kitchen. Annie was sitting with an older gentleman, their heads together, whispering. When Annie spotted me, she rose from her chair and crossed the room to me. The older man turned to look at me, and I noticed the badge on his belt. Annie wrapped her arms around me and ushered me to a vacant seat.

  "Claire, this is Sheriff Neumann. He is here to get your statement and help you fill out the paperwork for a restraining order." Annie poured a cup of hot coffee and brought it to me. Bless her soul.

  "Hey Claire, I know this might be hard but I need to get a statement about what happened. Do you think you can do that for me?" He questioned.

  I nodded and sipped the coffee before explaining the events of the previous night to Sheriff Neumann. He wrote everything down and explained the process. Scott would be arrested, I would file a restraining order, go to the local doctor, heal, live with my sister until I found a job and place of my own, and live happily ever after.

  Chapter 2

  Claire

  In the waiting room at the hospital, I nervously tapped my foot on the floor. I tried to sit still but had to get up and move. I wondered if Scott would be arrested that night or if it was possible he would just let us be and maybe get some help for himself so someday he could be the father I always wished he would be. I needed to think. Annie sat next to me, reading the newspaper.

  "Hey, earlier today Maggie said something about Matt having a green deer, what was that about?" I asked to break the silence.

  Annie set her paper aside and smirked, "Oh, that would be his John Deere lawn mower; he just loves that old thing."

  Well that made more sense. "Are you sure you and Matt are okay with us staying with you until I get on my feet?”

  "Don't be silly, anything is better than having you staying with him we shall not name."

  We sat in silence for a few minutes when I realized I never asked who Jerk Ass was. This thought made my face flame. When I was about to ask her, a nurse popped her head in the waiting room and called out my name.

  "Claire Blair." Man I hated my married name when people put it all together. Once in the room, the nurse asked all the protocol questions and took my blood pressure. She let us know the doctor would be with us shortly.

  "So, from what Sheriff Neumann has explained to me, once he gets the information from the doctor he will put it in his report," Annie stated.

  "Yes, then I can finally sit back and breath." I answered. Nervous energy flowed through me.

  "Oh, and before I forget, Mel will be coming in a few days," Annie informed me. Mel was short for Melanie; she was our oldest sister and never shy about telling it like it is.

  "She doesn't--" I was cut off.

  "She wants to," Annie interrupted me.

  The exam room door opened and my mouth hit the floor. WTH is Jerk Ass doing here? Not only here but in a white coat? Of course he’s a doctor--why wouldn't he be?

  "Stinky!" he sang as he came in and began to look at my file.

  "Claire Blair?" he questioned.

  "It was the dog, you jerk! And that is temporary until I can change it back to my maiden name Green," I seethed. Damn my luck.

  "Just jerk? I knew you would come around," he said with that damn smile again, his eyes dancing in amusement.

  Annie just sat there as if she swallowed a canary. Traitor! Dr. Jerk slapped his hands to his legs and stood, all humor gone, replaced with a professionalism I didn't think he was capable of.

  "I am going to begin my exam, but I will have to ask some question that may be hard to answer. May I proceed?" he asked.

  I nodded, apprehensive.

  A nurse came in to wrap up my bruised ribs. I looked bad, but Jerk said I would start to heal soon. The ribs would take the longest to heal, about a month. After the exam I finally got the nerve to ask him, "What's your name anyway? I need to stop referring to you as Jerk. Why were you at Annie and Matt's house?"

  "William Buckingham, but my friends call me Buck. I’ve been friends with Matt since high school. Oh, and Annie feeds me." He answered with that smile of his, giving Annie a wink.

  "And your patients?"

  "My patients call me Dr. Buckingham," he said with a slight teasing tone.

  "Well then, Dr. Buckingham, I will bid you good day." I abruptly left the room. What was that? I never say ‘I will bid good day’. Buck--what kind of name is that? A name for someone tall, handsome, and completely not my type. Buck the jerk.

  "I will bid you good day?" Annie said, taking me out of my thoughts.

  "It just came out. I don't know why I said it, and I know I’ve never said it before." Blowing out a frustrated sigh, I pushed open the door and took a deep breath. The spring day was seasonably warm, and the smell of flowers was in the air.

  "Interesting." Annie was staring at me intently.

  "What?"

  Annie did not reply, but I was too exhausted to care. As we drove back to her house--my new home--I sat and thought about the last few years. I think I stopped loving Scott around the time Maggie was two. I knew I would leave, but I needed to make sure I could live with myself--to know I did everything I possibly could to make it work. I was sure he knew what I was planning, and he was not going to let me leave alive. Now it was mine and Maggie's turn for happiness. I would start by finding a place that offered support group for victims. Scratch that. A support group for survivors. It had helped me so much in the past; it had given me courage and strength I never knew I possessed.

  When we arrived home I saw Matt and the girls outside running around. The girls chased after him, giggling and laughing. Maggie's beautiful golden locks bounced around her head, her face filled with happiness. She and little Rose could have been sisters. Rose had the same curly hair as Maggie, only hers was strawberry blonde. Matt was doing some sort of Frankenstein walk around the lawn with his arms outstretched. Annie came around the car and draped her arm around me. I looked at her and smiled.

  "This is nice" she said.

  "Yes it is."

  Matt loped over to where we were standing and gave Annie a peck on the cheek.

  "Hey Matt," I greeted.

  "Hey Claire. Sorry I haven't had a chance to talk with you much. I just want you to know you take however long you need here. This is your home now. But just so you know, if that husband of yours shows his face around here, I will do what he did to you, only worse."

  "There, there Matt, good boy." Annie spoke in a patronizing tone.

  "Are you talking to me like Boris?"

  "Good boy." She continued to antagonize him, patting his head.

  He gave her the stink eye and looked back to me. "I mean it, Claire."

  "Thanks,
Matt, I appreciate your concern." I looked down at my feet. Then I heard a screech from Annie as Matt tossed her over his shoulders and started to spin her. The girls saw what was going on and came running over, thinking Annie was enjoying herself. They clapped and cheered, urging Matt to spin her faster.

  "Put me down. I will puke!" Annie yelled. The girls were squealing in delight.

  Matt set her down. "That's what you get for talking to me like a dog," he said as he backed away.

  "My turn!" Rose and Maggie shouted in unison.

  "C'mon, Claire. Let's go inside," Annie laughed.

  Matt took turns spinning the girls around, until he all but crawled in the house. I helped get them in the tub as Annie finished supper. They played in the bubble bath, laughing and chatting away. Watching them play, how could I possibly feel anything but joy? Yet somehow I did. I felt hurt, anger, and shame. But I would not worry about that tonight. I chanced a look in the mirror. The bruises were darkening, and my eye was puffy and swollen. This was going to take a long time to heal.

  I wrapped the girls in towels and sent them to their rooms to get jammies on. As I opened the door Annie was standing in the hall.

  "Sheriff Neumann called they have him in custody."

  "Oh." That was all I could say. My appetite was gone, and my knees felt like they would give out.

  "Why don't you go lie down? After supper I can get the girls to bed. Maggie can sleep in Rose's room."

  I nodded, walked to my room, and closed the door. This is good. This is good. This is good. But why did it scare me? Why did I feel as if something bad was going to happen? I crossed the room and sank onto the bed, my energy zapped. Maybe a short nap would be in order.

  Chapter 3

  Claire

  I tried unsuccessfully to rest. I glanced over at the alarm clock, careful not to cause any more pain than necessary. I got up from the bed and made my way to the bathroom to splash some water on my face. Even this small movement made my ribs ache in protest. I decided to go downstairs and try to eat. At the top of the stairs I heard hushed voices, so I crept halfway down the stairs. From my vantage point, I could see Buck’s profile as he leaned against the door frame. He was tall and lean, with a five o’clock shadow and dark brown, unruly hair that needed a trim. It suited him. Jerk. He had a button down shirt and jeans--not your typical look for a doctor. More like just an ordinary guy. The shirt was cuffed at his forearms and from what I could see, he must work out. My eyes drifted to his full lips and straight nose, but his intense blue eyes were what made him so beautiful. They almost had a glow to them. Well, and his face was fit for a Greek god. Why the hell am I thinking about him like this?

  "If I can do anything let me know. Maybe Matt and I could watch the girls when Melanie gets here so they could have a relaxing night. You ladies could even stay at my house and I can stay here with Matt."

  "Oh, you would do that? Thank you Buck, thank you!" Annie replied.

  "Well, it is the least I can do. You know why I need to do this," Buck said, bowing his head. He looked deep in thought. I wonder what that is about.

  As if sensing my presence, he turned and stared up at me. Compared to him, I must look hideous. I didn’t know why I cared. It wasn’t as if I liked him. I supposed I could play nice, though. Hopefully.

  "Claire, how are you feeling?" His voice made my cheeks warm. Jerk.

  "My ribs and face hurt, but I’m feeling a little better." I continued down the stairs. "Do you normally make house calls, Dr. Buckingham?"

  "I suspected Annie was making dinner. I never pass up a chance to eat her food. I also wanted to see if you were experiencing any side effects from the medication."

  "I didn't fill the prescription. I don't like the way it makes me feel."

  "Come in here and get some food in you," chimed Annie.

  "Would you like some coffee, Claire?" Matt asked, as I sat down at the kitchen table.

  "Yes, please bring forth the liquid gold."

  "I'll warm a plate for you. There isn't much left, but then you eat like a bird. I swear Buck never eats unless he is here." She gave Buck the stink eye.

  "Hey, in my defense I thought she would sleep all night." Buck put his hands up in mock surrender. She took the wrapped plate from the fridge and stuck it in the microwave, then spun around and looked at me as if she might jump in my lap.

  "Guess what?" Annie gushed. "We're having a girl's night tomorrow with Mel." Did someone give her copious amounts of candy? "First, we will have some drinks, then some laughs, and finally, make fun of men. How does that sound?" She clapped her hands together as if it was Christmas morning.

  "You wouldn't make fun of me would you, Annie?" Matt asked and grabbed her around the waist.

  She gave him a small kiss and smiled."Not to your face, anyway."

  "You little snot." He smacked her butt with his free hand.

  "Owww! You beast--that hurt!"

  Matt quieted her with a big kiss. I looked down at the cup of coffee I held between my hands. They always had such a playful relationship. The microwave chimed, but before I could even stand to get the food, Buck brought me my plate.

  "Here, sit and eat."

  I looked up at him and murmured my thanks.

  "We are going upstairs. It's Matt's night to massage my feet," Annie giggled.

  "When is my turn? I always rub your feet." He followed behind with a hangdog expression, pretending to pout.

  "When you push out the next baby," she said and climbed the stairs.

  Buck went to the fridge and grabbed a beer. I tried not to stare as he took a long pull. How could I not gawk, though? He was nice on the eyes.

  He came over and took a seat next to me. "How are your ribs feeling?"

  "Sore as hell."

  "Do you want me to rewrap them? It may alleviate some of your discomfort."

  "Yeah, sure. Let me eat and then you can." I finished my supper and put my plate in the dishwasher. I was going to wipe down the table when Buck grabbed the washcloth and did it himself. From this spot, I could see he had other impressive assets. CRAP! Would you please stop having thoughts of Jerk when he is around? I shook the images from my head and finished off my coffee. I was about to put the cup in the dishwasher, when Jerk spoke. "Okay, do you want to take off your shirt for me or just pull it up?"

  Even though I knew he was a doctor, his question definitely threw me for a loop, and the mug slipped from my hands and fell to the ground. I was frozen in place, my mouth hanging open.

  "I’ve got it. Go sit down." He stooped to pick up the broken pieces of ceramic. "That wasn’t a play to see you shirtless but to bandage you ribs."

  “I--I know that." He looked up at me and my face ignited.

  "So why don't people call you William or Will?" I asked, trying to change the subject. I began to fidget with my hands, but then gave up and placed them in my lap.

  "I don't like my first name." He threw the broken glass in the garbage. "Before you ask, I don't want to talk about it. Let's save that conversation for another day."

  I was not deterred from at least giving him my opinion. "I think Will suits you."Needs some work

  He didn't say a word as he sat down next to me again. "Okay I am going to need you to stand and either hold up your shirt or take it off."

  Cheeks burning, I stood. Doctor hot pants. Oh. My. God. STOP! I lifted up my shirt up as high as I felt comfortable. He moved his chair in closer and began to take the compression bandage off. He was eye level with my breasts. Cue more blushing. He wrapped an arm around my waist and the other grabbed gauze as he made circles to take it off. I looked up at the ceiling as he released the bandage and let out a deep breath I didn't know I was holding. Once the wrap was free, cool air caressed my skin.

  He gently touched my bruise, sending goosebumps over my skin. "I am sorry this happened to you. No one should ever have to go through this." He put the bandage down and inspected my injury.

  "Are you cold?"

  "Um
--I--er--no. I mean yes, yes I am. Can you hurry up?" He was staring up at me, gracing me with that dazzling smile. I was in so much trouble.

  "Okay, it might be uncomfortable, but I will try to be as gentle as possible." He sounded worried for me, and I wondered what secret he was hiding.

  "Don't worry I can take a hit." You did not just say that! He looked at me with a pained expression.

  "I mean I have felt worse. I meant to say I trust you." Gah! I am an idiot. I cannot form a coherent thought around him. Hold up, did I just say I trust him? Do I trust him? How can I possibly even think about trusting someone? I must be tired. Yeah, I am just tired. As he bandaged me up, I cursed myself a million times.

  "Thank you. I can tell it's nice and tight." I almost tripped over the horse-dog, Boris, when I turned around to go to my chair.

  "It should feel better this way. Do you want me to stop tomorrow and tighten it up for you?" I was about to answer when the gag-inducing, god-awful smell began to fill the kitchen. By the looks of Buck, he smelled it, too. He grabbed my hand and pulled me to the back door out to the porch. Boris followed and waddled out onto the yard.

  I fanned my face. "How can a dog possibly stink that much?" I asked once I could breathe.

  "So that wasn't you?”

  "No, and you know it wasn’t." I playfully swatted him in the upper arm.

  "I should get going, but before I go, give me your cell phone number so I can call or text to check on you." He handed me his phone, and I plugged in my number. Sparks of nerves tingled my body.

  "Send me a text so I can put your name in," I said. Once that was accomplished, he got Boris in and we said our goodbyes. He wasn't nearly as bad as I’d originally thought. He could actually be pretty nice. I went into my room and heard the alert informing me I had a text message. I smiled to myself and clicked to open my messages. It was not who I was expecting at all.

  Scott: You need to come home now. I am sorry it won't happen again.

  Another text.

  Scott: Why aren't you answering me?

  Scott: I love u.

  Scott: Please come home.