“No.” I shook my head. “I don’t think I can do this,” I murmured.
“Do what?” Cal moved me toward his car.
“Live…love…survive?” I shrugged as if all those things were suddenly a question.
“Yes, you can. Don’t let him get to you. He’s trying to break you. You’re stronger than that. I know you.” Cal carefully put me in the car. “I’m gonna drive you home.” He climbed in and maneuvered us around to the house.
After helping me up the front steps, he pulled out a form. “I need you to sign this.” He handed it over.
“What is it?” I stared at the black and white print in front of me.
“You’re pressing charges. He violated the OP, that means you can press charges. Since it’s only the second time, I don’t know what they’ll do, but if he keeps doing it he can be locked up.” I blindly signed the paper, just going through the motions of being told what to do. “I’m going to check on you after my shift.” Cal folded the paper and put it back in his pocket.
“Ok.” I waved him off, turned, and trudged up to my room. Ava was still sleeping against me, and I felt like I needed a nap too. How had this day gone so bad, so fast?
Chapter 18
Brooke
I don’t know how long I slept, it felt like most of the day. When I woke up, it was starting to get dark. The sun was setting, and the snow had stopped falling. “You plan on joining us for dinner?” Donna knocked softly on my door.
“Yeah.” I yawned as I sat up. I glanced over at where Ava was lying in her bed. She was awake, but happy. I lifted her up, and smiled as she kicked her feet. “You’re a happy girl, aren’t you?” Ava blinked a few times as her mouth curved into a smile. “We’ll be there as soon as I change her.” I glanced at Donna as I laid Ava on the bed.
“Ok. See you in a few.” Donna turned and left. She hadn’t said much since Cal brought me back, and I’ve been keeping to myself most of the day.
I tickled Ava’s belly as I unsnapped her onesie, carefully going through the steps of changing her. After snapping her back up, I grabbed a clean bottle and made my way to the kitchen.
Donna and Amy were bustling about, bringing food to the table. Lauren had gone to work, and the others weren’t home yet. “Anything I can help with?” I murmured as I began scooping formula into the bottle.
“I think we’ve just about got it. Go ahead and feed her, and then we’ll join you.” Amy smiled.
I carried Ava into the dining room and sat down. As much as I wanted to be my usual self, I felt like I was just going through the motions. I was numb, plain and simple. One run in with Warren and I was back to where I’d been months before. How was I ever going to change if I couldn’t get past something like this?oooooooo
Blake
I’d worked a double shift today so I could have tomorrow off. I’d been wanting to spend the day with Brooke. Christmas was just around the corner, and I knew Donna didn’t have a tree yet. I asked Dan, the head of my department, if I could switch shifts with him. I hated the doubles, but it meant I could take Brooke out tree shopping.
I was just walking to my car when my brother came jogging up the sidewalk. His hat was pulled down over his ears, and his breath was coming out in puffs as if he’d been running. “Hang on!” He threw his hands in the air to stop me. I froze where I was, and let my shoulders sag. I was tired. I needed sleep, and talking to him was the last thing I wanted to do. When he caught up to me, he bent over and placed his hands on his thighs. “Did she tell you?” he puffed.
“Who? Tell me what?” I wiped my palm down my face.
“Brooke.” He gave me a duh look. “That asshole ex approached her today.”
“What?” I turned to face him, fists clenched at my sides.
“She went for a walk with one of the other girls, and he crossed the street and cornered her. Luckily her friend called the police,” Cal growled.
“I haven’t heard anything from her since we went to the beach. I was trying to give her time. After the kiss…” I trailed off.
“Wait! You kissed her?” His head whipped around, and he blinked a few times.
“Yeah. It was nothing big; I mean for her it probably was, but it was one kiss. Wait. Tell me more about having to come save her. Did he touch her?” I started pacing the sidewalk. It was freezing out, but I wasn’t feeling the cold at the moment.
“No, at least I don’t think so. She had the baby with her. By the time I got there, they were just standing there. He was saying something that made her uncomfortable. The look on her face said she was terrified. He wasn’t touching her in any way, but he had total control over her. I think she would have gone with him if I wasn’t there. It was like she was on autopilot.” Cal sighed. “I’ve seen this before. Some are so broken they have a hard time making decisions and thinking for themselves.”
“I gotta go.” I started running toward my car. The wind whipped around me, cutting through my scrubs
