“You suffered a terrible head injury. Memory loss and confusion are normal,” she soothed.
“This isn’t memory loss,” I growled. “I was here. Six years ago. I was here. I had a baby.” My heart began to race as I balled my hands into fists.
“Brooke.” Dr. McGee stood and stepped between me and my sight line.
“No!” I slammed my fists on the exam table. “I know I sound crazy, but I’m not. You helped me.” Tears of frustration welled in my eyes as a vision of Ava’s face floated through my mind. “He had to have taken her.” I sighed.
“Who? Warren?” Dr. McGee’s brow crinkled.
“Who else?” I closed my eyes and shook my head.
“Has he hurt you again?” The urgency in her voice startled me.
“You mean like hit me? No.” I began to pick at my nails.
“I can help you, Brooke. I can help you leave. There are places for women like you. I have friends who work at these places. They’ll keep you and the baby safe.” She fumbled through the pocket of her lab coat until she produced a small white card. “Here.” She handed it to me. “There’s a number on the back. If you want to leave, call that number. We’ll help you.”
It was as if a movie was playing out in front of me. I’ve had this conversation before. It was almost exactly the same. “Don’t you remember this?” I took the card. “You did this the last time I was here.”
“I’ve helped several women over my time working here, Brooke. Sadly, you aren’t the first.” She frowned. “Let’s get you measured, and we’ll set up your next appointment.”
“Fine,” I mumbled. I was done trying to convince her of anything. It wasn’t working, and I was wasting my breath.oooooooo
After leaving the office, I took a short walk to the coffee shop down the block. I ordered a tea, and sat by the window, people watching. The afternoon was slowly turning to evening, and a chill was beginning to form in the air. I should have gone straight home, but I didn’t. I sat there just thinking. Thinking about my life, how things could be different, how things should be different, what it might be like if I was with someone other than Warren. I let my mind wander as I sipped my tea. I started daydreaming about Officer Blake and Ava. I thought about the house he fixed up for me and the treehouse he built for Ava. I thought about our time living at the beach and on the farm. All the sacrifices I made over the years, and the friends who knew nothing about me. Where were they all, and was it even real?
By the time I finished my tea, the sun was setting. I pulled my coat tighter around me as I walked along the sidewalk. I hailed a cab, and made the short ride home. When I climbed out of the cab, I noticed there were no lights on. Warren’s car was in the drive, but it looked like no one was home. I assumed he was working in his office. I slowly climbed the front steps, fumbled in the dim lighting to get the door open, and then shuffled inside. I set my purse and coat on the edge of the couch, and flicked a light on.
“Where have you been?” his voice growled as he stepped around the corner.
I jumped as my hands flew to my chest. “You startled me.”
“Where have you been?” He stepped closer, causing me to sidestep him.
“I had an appointment, remember?” I caressed my belly.
“Right, for that thing.” He curled his lip in disgust.
“This thing is your daughter.” Tears welled in my eyes as my voice shook. How could he be like this about his own child?
“I’ve been sitting here for an hour. It is way past dinner time. Your appointment was hours ago.” His voice grew louder with each statement. “So, I’m going to ask you again… where have you been?” By this point he’d moved in front of me. I had my back against the closed door, and he was leaning inches from my face. I could smell the whisky on his breath, and it made me feel sick.
“I stopped for tea,” I whimpered. I knew I just needed to be honest. He’d still be mad, but lying made it worse.
“Tea?! You were drinking fucking tea while I’m sitting here waiting on you?!” he bellowed.
“I’m sorry.” I sobbed. “I’ll fix something right now.” I started to step around him but he grabbed my upper arm.
“You don’t ever make me wait,” he growled next to my ear as his grip tightened painfully. “You hear me?” I nodded, and he released me. “Now get in there and fix my dinner!”
I moved as quickly as my pregnant body would allow. I had taken out some pork chops earlier in the day, and quickly began to heat the oven. I knew that the night wasn’t going to get better for me, but I didn’t want it to get worse. oooooooo
When I woke up the next morning, something seemed different. Warren was already out of bed. As I made my way downstairs, I could smell coffee. Warren never made coffee, at least not in years. I stepped into the kitchen to be met with someone who couldn’t be my husband. He was standing in front of the stove, cooking eggs. “Good morning.” He glanced at me over his shoulder and then went back to what he was doing.
“Good morning.” My voice shook. Was this some kind of trick? Maybe I really was going crazy.
“There’s coffee if you want some.”
