Shivering in the early morning chill, she waited for her cab. A slit appeared in the window blinds of her nearest neighbor. She knew the neighbors whispered and gossiped about her, averting their eyes when they saw her bruises, closing their windows when they heard her screams. Let them stare, this is the last they will see of me.
~
Fatima arrived and found the front door open at 8 AM. The house was a mess and her nincompoop daughter-in-law was gone. She roamed through the house, instinctively knowing this was not a robbery. The stupid girl had run off. She made the sign of the cross and kissed her hand, thanking the Blessed Virgin for her intercession. “Maybe my Alex will have a chance for a happy life with a loving wife and beautiful children.” Fatima called her brother-in-law, Giuseppe to come secure the front door. Her second call was to Angelina, to tell her the good news.
Chapter 4
The Power of Three
Hunching her shoulders, Lilly clutched her garbage bag of possessions close to her body and watched the hands of the black and white clock on the wall of the Greyhound bus station. Her panic grew as the minute hand jerked its way to 8 o’clock. Alex’s mother, Fatima, would be arriving at the house any moment. The hateful old bitch would call Giuseppe and his thugs to look for her. The bus station was the first place they would check.
There were three people ahead of her in the ticket line. She had no idea where she could go. Her first thought was to return to LaPoint to seek refuge with her family. She quickly vetoed the idea, knowing there would be no support from them. Rex would call Alex’s family and have them pick her up.
Panic paralyzed her as a shiny black Cadillac cruised slowly past the bus terminal and stopped at the red light. She couldn’t see who was inside, but the car looked like Alex’s Uncle Giuseppe’s. The traffic light turned green; the Cadillac drove away, and Lilly sighed with momentary relief.
The stench of sweaty bodies and stale cigarettes in the bus station, made her stomach heave. She rushed out the door of the terminal, crossed Tulane Ave through a wave of exhaust fumes and entered the University Hospital. It was quiet in the lobby of the hospital. She breathed in the crisp, clean air, seeking temporary refuge.
The volunteer behind the information desk directed her to a pay phone. Lilly stood, phone in hand, trying to think of someone to call. Who would care about her? Who would help her? Suddenly the damn burst. She dropped the receiver and leaned against the wall, her head in her hands, sobbing.
Lilly flinched as she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned her head to see a middle-aged nurse with a halo of fuzzy blond hair and kindness in her eyes. The nurse was speaking quietly to her, “Miss, Miss, can I help you?”
“No, no I’m okay, sorry,” Lilly stammered.
“You don’t look okay, honey. My name is Trudy. I’m a nurse here in the hospital. I’m on my way to the cafeteria. Would you like to join me for some coffee?”
Coffee sounded good. Lilly nodded her head and followed the nurse to the cafeteria. Her rapid heartbeat calmed once she was settled at a cafeteria table with coffee and a warm biscuit. A few sips of the hot, dark brew relaxed her chest and she was able to take a deep breath. The safety of the hospital cafeteria soothed the cacophony in her mind, I’m safe, sitting like an average person, talking to another woman. Sipping her coffee, she looked up into the concerned eyes of the nurse and remembered her manners. “Thank you for the coffee. My name is Lilly.”
Trudy smiled and said, “Happy to meet you, Lilly. Do you have family here in the hospital?”
Lilly’s face flushed as she shook her head.
“The way you were sobbing, I thought maybe you had family in the emergency room or a seriously ill friend.”
“No, I don’t have any friends.”
Trudy reached across the table and touched Lilly’s hand. Her eyes were filled with compassion as she studied Lilly’s pale face, and matted hair.
Lilly blinked away tears, “I’m sorry, I am a mess today. I don’t seem to be able to stop crying. I am sorry to disturb your coffee break.”
“No, no,” Trudy said calmly, “You are not disturbing anything. It looks to me like you’re in trouble, and I want to help.”
“Why? Why would you want to help me? You don’t know me. I could be a dangerous person.”
Trudy gave a short laugh. “I don’t think you’re a dangerous person, but it appears you have run into one. You want to talk about it?” A deep sob rose from the pit of Lilly’s stomach. Trudy gave her a napkin and patiently waited for her to speak.
Lilly blew her nose and raised her head, “I haven’t run into a dangerous person, I married one.” Today I escaped. He is out of town, but when he returns he will hunt me down. When he finds me, he will kill me. The problem is, I don’t know where to go or what to do. I wanted to escape, but I didn’t think it through.”
The nurse nodded sympathetically, “Sometimes, we can look to the past to give us a direction for the future.”
Lilly was confused, “What do you mean?”
“Well, what were you doing before you met Alex?”
“I had graduated from college and was playing flute with the Carrollton Baroque Quartet.”
“You’re a musician?”
Lilly nodded sadly, “I used to be, before...”
Trudy smiled and explained, “Whatever you have done in the past, you can do again. How long
