“Honey calm down. Let’s not jump to conclusions until you’ve heard what she has to say okay?” Rebecca patted Shawn’s thigh.
Forty minutes later, Shawn pulled up in front of Stacy’s apartment but didn’t see her car parked anywhere in the lot. She knocked on her apartment door anyway, just to make sure she wasn’t home. When she received no answer, she looked around wondering which apartment was Randy’s. The mailboxes, where are they? Hopefully they have names on them. She lucked out when she saw the name Cash on the box marked 115. Shawn turned and walked quickly to the door marked 115 and knocked. Damnit, she is going to have a hard time getting to the door, that was stupid of me.
She waited a few minutes and knocked again, calling out “Randy, this is Shawn Evans. I came by to check on you.” She listened for any kind of movement. Less than a minute had passed when she heard a week voice answer her. “Give me a minute, I can’t move very fast.” She heard Randy say. “Don’t rush, take your time and be careful.” Shawn answered, stepping back to patiently wait for her.
A few minutes later, a pale-faced Randy opened the door while trying to balance on her crutches. She was trying to think of some sarcastic thing to say, but she was too exhausted to come up with anything. “Sorry, I’m not moving too quickly these days.”
Shawn moved forward without an invitation. “Here, let’s get you back down. I’m sorry I bothered you, but Rebecca and I checked in at the hospital to see how you were doing. Imagine our surprise when we found out you had been released.” She carefully led the officer over to the couch, where she helped her sit down and then carefully maneuvered her legs up.
“Yeah. They said they had done as much as they could for me there. Everything else that I need could be taken care of at home. I have a physical therapist coming out starting tomorrow to work with my leg. I’m not so good with these fucking crutches though, I’ve jarred my leg more times then I want to think about already!” Randy said with frustration.
“Does my sister know you’re home?” Shawn asked carefully.
Randy looked up into her eyes. “I don’t know. I haven’t seen your sister since the night of the shooting.”
Shawn could see the hurt in Randy’s eyes. Oh boy, she’s got it bad for Stacy and I bet Stacy figured it out. Still, that’s no reason to desert your friend, especially when she just took a bullet for you. I’m going to have to talk to Stacy.
“Well, never mind about that right now. What can we do to help you?” Shawn asked squatting down to her level. “Rebecca can’t help out a lot physically right now, but she can be as bossy as the next person!”
Randy looked at her in confusion. “You don’t have to do anything. Why would you want to? You hardly even know me.”
Shawn smiled. “Because I know what it’s like to be alone. If it weren’t for my sisters and now for Rebecca, I wouldn’t be here. I know you don’t have any family so that is where friends come in.”
Randy sighed. “I don’t know how to thank you. I was just lying in bed wondering how I was going to do everything when I can’t use both hands and I am not supposed to bear weight on this leg at all yet.”
Shawn laughed. “You’ll get used to the crutches; hopefully you won’t have to use them long. Let me get you something to eat and then I’ll make sure one of us is back by here this evening to help you with whatever you need.”
An hour later, Shawn left Randy’s apartment and noticed that Stacy’s car was in her parking space. She knocked on her door and waited.
Stacy opened the door with a frown. “What are you doing here?” She asked Shawn.
“Well hello to you too. I was down the way, helping a certain police officer who can’t get around very well. But then, you’d know that if you would have visited her at all. What is wrong with you Stacy? How could not visit her for more than a week?” Shawn said with annoyance.
“I didn’t realize I had to answer to you Shawn. I’m an adult and whatever I chose to do or not do isn’t any of your concern.” Stacy returned the annoyed tone.
Shawn pushed past her into the apartment and turned to face her. “When did you become so selfish? That woman was your friend and she saved your life by taking a fucking bullet for you without thinking twice about it. Why are you avoiding her like she did something horrible to you?”
“I’m not being selfish Shawn. I didn’t ask her to fucking jump in front of a maniac with a gun, she did that all on her own. Her fucking ego had to get shot so she’d be a hero.” Stacy shouted.
Shawn stared at her. “Are you really that dense? You didn’t have to ask her to jump in front of a maniac. She did it to protect you, because that’s what people do for those they love. Are you really going to stand there and act like you don’t know she is in love with you?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about Shawn and neither do you. Randy knows that I am straight and I have no interest whatsoever in anything romantic with her. I am not attracted to women.” Stacy said turning to mess with some paperwork on her counter.
Shawn watched her for a minute. “Oh my God, Rebecca is clairvoyant! She’s right though. You know there is a saying that he who doth protest too much. You know what I think?
