Chapter 18
Liza
After I hit submit on the last application, I leaned back against the couch and stared at my laptop.
I’d applied to three departments, including maternity, and the only one I’d been happy about applying to was maternity.
It was where I wanted to be. I felt almost called to it. I couldn’t just sit back and wait for Abby to reject my application.
With that thought in mind, I ran upstairs, put on lip gloss and mascara, then changed my shirt and brushed my hair into a low bun.
I was going to convince that woman to see past my relationship with Toby and give me a chance. I’d appeal to her medical side, to her sense of doing what was right for the patients.
When I got to the hospital, my hope had waned a bit and nervousness had set in. I could’ve waited for an interview, and for all I knew, Abby could be in the middle of a birth or a C-section.
But I had to try. I’d be damned if I’d let Abby and her bitter behavior stop me from my dream.
As soon as I got out of the car, I heard shouting.
Really angry, desperate shouting. I couldn’t ignore my curiosity, so I walked around to the next aisle of cars, then headed toward the hospital.
If I was right about the direction of the fight, I’d be passing right by and could make sure whoever was okay.
But then I spotted them. Dax, my ex-boyfriend, and Shelby, my ex-best friend. She was the one who had been sleeping with him while we all shared an apartment.
I hadn’t spoken to her since I moved out, nor did I want to, even now. It should’ve bothered me that she was obviously still involved with Dax, even as he kept pursuing me, but it really didn’t. I’d moved past them, which was a nice discovery. Their fight actually put a bit of a spring in my step.
As I turned to try to escape without being seen, Shelby whirled around and faced me, catching my gaze. I froze, shocked at her black eye.
My concern for what might have happened to her overruled any residual hurt that she’d stolen my boyfriend. I started to rush to her, but stopped myself, leaving plenty of distance between us. “Are you okay?” I shouted, instead of getting any closer.
Shelby nodded, but it was clear she was not okay.
Dax turned and said something to Shelby, something that made her eyes flash with anger, then he headed toward me.
“What the fuck did you say to the property manager?” he asked as he advanced on me.
“My fucking father called me, and it wasn’t a pleasant conversation, Liza.
Do you know how that made me feel?” He cocked his head and kept coming toward me, even though I was backing away from him.
The look in his eyes made me extremely uncomfortable and wary.
“Do you like making me miserable?” he snarled.
“I don’t give a shit about your feelings. I just wanted you to leave me alone. Why can’t you do that?” I edged around the front of a car, putting it between us.
“Why do you keep fighting this?” he asked. “What is wrong with you? You’re being so damn stubborn.”
“I’m not fighting anything. Why can’t you see it? Take no for an answer, Dax. It’s never happening. Never!” I screamed the last word. “I don’t love you anymore!”
Anger flashed across his face, and in my shouting, I hadn’t registered that he was moving around the car. Too late, I turned to run, but he grabbed my arm and yanked me back toward him.
“You’re hurting me,” I cried and tried to wrench my arm from his hand, but he had an iron grip.
“That fucker has his head so far up your ass that you’re blind to what’s going on.
” He pulled harder on my arm until we were nearly pressed against each other.
“Get your shit straight before someone gets hurt.”
The angle had loosened his grip a bit. I jerked out of his arms and backed away with my hands up. My left arm throbbed from his grip. “Don’t come any closer,” I warned.
“Just think about my warning,” he said in a low voice before turning to walk back toward Shelby. “Get in the fucking car, Shelby, and for fuck’s sake, stop crying.”
Shelby shot me a sorrowful glance before getting in the car. She probably hadn’t realized what she was in for when she betrayed me for Dax. But then, he hadn’t been like this then. He’d always been pretty mild-tempered. Losing me had done something to him, and definitely not for the best.
She was on her own, though. She had a big family and lots of support. I couldn’t worry about her when I had enough on my plate to deal with.
Before I did anything else, I called my mother. “Where are you?” I asked when she answered.
“Walking out of the grocery store,” she said in a guarded voice. “Why?”
“Meet me in your driveway,” I snarled. “Now.”
By the time she got the groceries loaded and got to her house, I’d be at hers. She lived on the edge of Bluewater.
I drove carefully, not letting my emotions cause me to speed, and I was right. She had her crappy old car’s trunk open, and a few bags of groceries sat in it when I pulled in.
Leaving my car running, I got out and stomped up the driveway. Before I could say a word, she had to run her damn mouth.
“Please tell me you’re here to say you and Dax made up.” She crossed her arms while I gaped at her, so furious I couldn’t process a straight thought.
And then, I snapped. I usually stayed pretty calm and even with her, and then just avoided dealing with her.
Not today. “Look!” I yelled and stuck out my arm. “Look at this!” There was already a big bruise coming up in the clear shape of a hand. The fingers were discernable and everything. “Dax did this to me. And I’m pressing charges!”
“Honey, no!” My mother grabbed my hand and lightly traced her fingers over my bruise. “I’m sorry, I know this is upsetting, but you can’t go to the police. Sometimes men just lose their temper. But you know Dax loves you. He’s just angry because you aren’t seeing things clearly.”
I pulled my arm away from her, trembling. My anger was so hot, I was afraid I’d do something like slap her silly. It was so hard to believe I’d come from this woman. This horrible woman who would try to get me to stay with a man who cheated on me and physically assaulted me.
“Stop interfering in my life,” I hissed. “If you can’t accept my choices, then you’re done. You’re out of my life.”
Her face fell as she clutched her throat. “You’ve changed,” my mother said in a weak voice. “My little girl would never even consider cutting me out of her life.”
“I’m not your little girl. I’m nothing like you and now I’m nothing to you. I’m calling the cops, reporting the assault, and that’s that.” I turned to go back to my car, my heart a little broken, even though I knew this was coming. It had been building for years. Decades, really.
“You’re wasting your time,” she called. “Dax’s father will use his money to make sure Dax isn’t in trouble. You know that. It’s pointless.”
My stomach sank. I didn’t even turn to look at her, but I knew she was right. Dax wouldn’t be in any trouble over this. Not a bit. His dad would even keep rumors from spreading, somehow. And me going to the police would only piss Dax off even more.
But at the same time, I couldn’t allow Dax to continue terrorizing me.
I didn’t know what else I could do except for tell Toby. Maybe he’d think of something. And I couldn’t think of anyone else I’d rather have at my back.
“Don’t even think about going to that Toby. His office is so small; he’s not anyone important and certainly not important enough for you.”
Those words got me to turn and look at her again. “What?” I narrowed my eyes.
“I went and talked to him. Didn’t he tell you?” She smiled, sly and triumphant. “I see.”
Hearing that she’d spoken to him and he’d kept it from me really hurt.
In light of all that had happened, it was a very small thing, but it hurt all the same.
“This is your last warning.” I glared up the driveway at my mother.
“Speak to Dax again and you’ll never see me.
I’ll cut you out for good, and I mean it. ”
She stared at me until I walked away, still shaking, still angry. I had to go straight to the hospital and talk to Toby. He’d have some idea, and of all the people I wanted in my corner, it was Toby. More than that, I needed him there.