CHAPTER 19
Mason
“I knew something was up,” I reply, feeling like smacking the shit out of the wall right behind me. “I was too stupid to connect the dots.”
“She kept moving so many times that it was impossible to track down where she came from,” Wagner explains.
He gave me the short version of her story. I should have been there for her. I should have been there when she was telling it. It doesn’t matter now. What matters is keeping her and the boy safe.
“I pulled a few strings,” Wagner says. “They say this guy’s been out since Monday.”
“So, that’s at least a week.”
“I guess.”
“Is it possible he knows where she is?” I wonder.
Of course it is. Why am I even asking these fucking idiotic questions?
“It is possible,” Wagner nods.
“We have to keep her here.”
“Will she stay?”
“Why wouldn’t she?” I ask. “We’ll keep her safe. We’ll show that guy what happens to fucking cowards who beat up defenseless women and children.”
I can see the little hairs on Wagner’s neck stand up. He’s pissed. I know he’d transform right this minute and go to hunt down that son of a bitch. I know the feeling. I want to give him a peace of my mind, too. But, we have to wait. We can set up a trap, teach him a lesson he’ll never forget. Make him leave Danica and Dominick forever. No one deserves to live in fear. We all know that. We’ve all tasted it.
“She’s in Violet’s shack,” he tells me.
“Good,” I nod. “Keep her there.”
“She’ll need her stuff.”
“Then, we’ll go get it. But, she’s not to be let out of sight. It could be nothing. Someone from town could be just messing with her. But, she’s worried and that’s all we need to believe her that there actually might be something to it.”
Wagner just nods. I’d feel better having Adrian here with us, during this conversation, but he’s with Danica and her son. Strangely, he’s the best at this type of situation. I guess it’s his calm nature. And you know this for sure, once he trusts you, once he starts caring for you, there isn’t better protection you’d ever wish for, other than him.
“Alright then, I’ll go tell her this. You come with me. Then, you’ll go to her place, pick up whatever she needs.”
“Of course.”
I rush over to the shack. When I open the door, a pleasant smell of pancakes hits my nostrils, and I remember that I haven’t eaten since 8 am. It’s 8 pm now. Adrian and Dominick are sitting at the little table in the kitchen, and Danica is making pancakes.
“Just in time!” she smiles at me.
I clench my jaw tightly. I don’t remember the last time a woman smiled at me like that. Sure, one night stands are fine. You get the juices going, you get them out. But, pancakes. Smiles. Hugs. A man needs those, too. No matter how hard and rugged he might be.
“Any for me?” I wonder.
“Just sit anywhere,” she tell us, and Adrian and Dominick scoot to make room for us.
Like a small whirlwind, Danica places plates and glasses before us, then pancakes follow shortly after.
“I don’t remember the last time I had pancakes at 8 pm,” Wagner says, stuffing his face with food.
I watch Danica. She looks happy. Relieved. If she is scared, she is hiding it well. Every once in a while, I see it in her eyes. Fear that all this might be taken away from her, just like that. So, she is trying to enjoy the moment for as long as she can. I want to tell her not to be afraid. Maybe she already knows that. Maybe that’s why she’s agreed to stay.
“Listen,” I start, “the guys and I’ve been thinking, and we decided it might be best for you and your mom to stay here, with us.”
“For real!?” Dominick jumps up from the table, almost dropping the plate.
“Hey, hey!” Danica smiles at him. “Watch it.”
“Sorry, I’m just excited,” Dominick explains. “Can we stay here, mom? Can we?”
“Well, I’m not sure…” I see her looking at me, for confirmation, so I just nod. “I guess we could stay for a while.”
“That’s awesome!” Dominick exclaims. “Wagner promised to show me how to pull a whole bike apart and then put it back together again!”
Wagner gives her a look, and she just smiles.
“That’s fine,” she assures him. “As long as you guys are careful.”
“Of course,” Dominick nods, taking another bite of his pancake.
“Why don’t you take that plate over to the other room and watch some TV?” Danica asks Dominick.
He looks confused for a moment, but seems to get it immediately. The adults need to speak. He smiles, picks up his plate, and disappears, as he’s instructed. Danica looks at me, her face a tapestry of love and concern. I guess that’s what every mother looks like all the time. But, I want to remind her that she doesn’t need to worry about a thing. We’re here.
“I hope you don’t mind,” I start, once sure the three of us are alone, “Wagner shared with us what you told him.”
“I just wanted - “ Wagner starts, but she interrupts him.
“That’s OK,” she nods. “I doubt I’d be able to tell that story again. Every time I talk about him, I feel like a little part of me dies. And, I’m tired of slowly dying on the inside.”
She glances over at the door, as if afraid that Dominick might pop his little head out, but there is no one. She continues, with a lowered tone of voice.
“I’m really grateful that you guys offered us to stay here.”
“That offer is unconditional,” Adrian replies this time.
“I agree,” I confirm.
“It is possible that the letter in question was just a benign example of a kid’s prank. But, it could just as well be something much more sinister,” Adrian speaks again, and we all seem to shudder at the thought of that sinister something.
Still, none of us is afraid. We’ve lived several lifetimes, and we’ve met more than one such character. Men who think it’s alright to raise their hand to a woman get a special treatment with us. I remember one of Violet’s previous boyfriends. He needed to be straightened out a little. We were more than happy to oblige. Luckily, he was smart enough to know to leave her alone after we were done with him. This guy obviously isn’t so smart. That’s alright. There are ways to teach obedience to a stupid dog.
“Honestly,” Danica suddenly starts, taking a seat at the table, “I don’t want to leave Swallow Springs.” She looks at each of us, her gaze lingering long enough to assure us that she cares for us, that we are all in this together, no matter what. “I’ve made friends here. I found people who care about Dominick and me. I found a job I like. I know it’s nothing much, but I like it, and that’s more than enough for me, right now. This place feels like home, after so many places that just felt like stops on a never ending journey to nowhere.”
She places her hands on the table, palms upward. Adrian, to her left, puts his hand in hers. Wagner to her right, does the same. Together, we form a circle of hands. A unity. An alliance. Harmony.
“You have no idea how much this means to me,” she whispers.
I can see little tears sparkling in her eyes. Her beautiful eyes that won’t be crying anymore. I’ll make sure of that. We’ll all make sure of that.
“You can stay here as long as you want,” I continue. “Once we’re sure it’s safe for you to return home, you will do so.”
I didn’t say that I’d rather she didn’t return. I’d rather have her stay here. I’m sure the guys feel the same way. But, none of us says anything. We just enjoy the moment.