18. nix #3
Her bottom lip trembles, and she shakes her head in a way that tells me she doesn’t realize she’s doing it. “I don’t have a home.” Her body folds like a house of cards, and I quickly wrap my arm around her slight frame to hold her up as she sobs while my heart breaks for her.
I know times are tough. Abbi reminds me often enough with the stories she shares after her volunteer shifts, but being confronted with this homeless young woman hits hard.
Now I understand my wife’s penchant for wanting to open our home to strangers in need, because that’s exactly what I want to do.
Experiencing a holdup is distressing, but most people can return to the safety of their home to recover. She doesn’t have the luxury of a safe space, and that guts me. It’s completely unacceptable. She needs somewhere safe to recover and recuperate.
A female officer steps beside us, her features awash with concern. “How are we doing over here?”
The young woman burrows further into me as if I’m her safe place, giving me hope that she’ll be open to letting me help her.
“I’m okay, but this young lady is in shock and needs to be seen by the paramedics.” I nod toward the fridges at the back of the store. “I don’t suppose you could grab a bottle of water for her. I’ll pay for it before I leave.”
She glances at the fridges and back at me, a soft smile tilting her lips. “Sure thing. Then I need to take statements from you both.”
“Happy to give you mine, but I don’t think this young lady is in any state to answer your questions right now.
” Maybe if they give her a chance to calm down and gather her bearings.
Even then, I’m not sure she’ll be in any state to recount the event.
She was toward the back of the store, so I doubt she saw much.
The officer returns with water, then heads back outside. When I glance out of the store, early evening has arrived and my stomach sinks. There’s no way I’ll make it to Abbi in time. Resignation fills the space where pride was more than an hour ago as I walked out of my building.
“C’mon. You need to drink some water,” I tell her softly. I remove the lid off the bottle and hand it to the woman.
“Thank you.”
I smile at her. “You’re welcome. I’m Nix, and I’m so sorry you had to witness all of this.”
The woman shakes her head. “I’m Veronica. P-please don’t apologize to me. You saved our lives.”
“I did what anyone would do,” I say calmly. “You were incredibly brave today.”
I swallow past the lump in my throat and consider how I can help her. I doubt she’ll be able to get into a shelter at this time because they fill up pretty fast, but maybe the police can help with that.
“I’d really like the paramedics to check you over before you give your statement to the police.
” I rub the back of my neck and look down at the floor.
“Then, we need to find you somewhere to stay for tonight.” Veronica opens her mouth, I’m sure to argue, but I look her directly in the eyes, hoping she can see my genuine concern for her.
“I’m sure the police can help you find somewhere safe; if not, I can offer you a place to stay at my office.
It’s not much, but it’s secure and safe and clean. ”
She shakes her head. “I couldn’t impose like that.”
I offer her a friendly smile. “It wouldn’t be an imposition at all.”
We’re interrupted by the paramedics, and I’m grateful they’re finally able to look after her. A police officer pulls me aside to take my statement, and the way he repeats his questions to gain the same answers I’ve already given is enough to make me feel like I’m the criminal.
“We may need to follow up with more questions. Will it be okay if we call you?”
I lift and drop one shoulder. It’s not like I haven’t been forthcoming already. “Of course. Happy to help in any way I can.”
The officer nods. “One last thing.” I raise my eyebrows for him to continue. “Any idea how the gunman was injured?”
I shrug, shake my head, and place my hands loosely on my hips. “No idea.”
The officer chuckles darkly. “Thanks for what you did here.”
I hate gratitude. “I was just doing my civic duty. I have the expertise to handle a situation like this, and I couldn’t, in good conscience, not step in to help where I could.”
Maybe not such a good conscience, more like I wanted to keep my friends safe and get to my wife so I could take her out to dinner.
He tips his head to the side. “Not everyone would do the same.”
Before I can respond, he steps aside, and I note Veronica giving her statement to the police, so I take the opportunity to call Abbi.
She answers on the first ring. “Hey, is everything okay?” she asks quickly.
I glance at the time and wince. Seven-thirty. “Yeah. Everything’s fine. I should be on my way home soon.” I look around the store and the pies I was planning to buy. “I’ll grab something for dinner.”
I hear her breath rush across the phone. “No, it’s okay. I’ve started dinner already. I was … I was worried about you. You haven’t been late home for weeks,” she says, tension tightening her tone.
“I’m sorry. I was actually coming to surprise you at work”—her breath catches—“this afternoon when there was an unexpected incident and I got caught up. I-I had to help. I’ll explain everything when I get home. This is my first chance to call.”
“Are you okay?” she asks, her tone high-pitched.
“Yeah, of course. I’m fine.” I tell her. “Look, I have to go. The police want a word.”
“The police!” Abbi screeches. “Nix, what on earth is going on?”
“I can’t explain right now; I have to go.”
I can practically see her nose crinkling. “Okay, but I want a full rundown when you get home.”
Nodding, I agree readily and disconnect the call while the officer watches me carefully as she steps closer to me.
“I believe you offered Veronica a place to stay for the night,” she states, her head tilted to the side. “No need to worry. I’ve made some calls and found her a safe place for a few nights.”
My chest inflates with relief. “That’s great. Thank you.”
She nods and leaves me to my thoughts. Veronica doesn’t need my help today, but I can give her my business card in case she needs something in the future.
I dig through my pockets for a card as I stroll over to her.
“I guess this is goodbye. The officer told me she’s found you somewhere to stay for a few days. ”
Veronica offers me a shaky smile, and I’m pleased to see some of her color has returned. “Yeah. It was really kind of her to help me.”
I hold out my business card between two fingers, and she takes it from me. “My business card.” She looks at me with confusion. “Just in case you need anything. I have small suites at the back of the business I own that you could use as a place to stay short-term.”
Her shoulders relax, and her smile grows. “Thank you so much. For this and for what you did today.”
I shrug. “No problem. Please take care.”
“I will.”
We say our goodbyes while the paramedics and police finish up and Mr. and Mrs. B lock the store. I spend a while helping them clean up. The three of us working silently.
“Nix. You should go home. Abbi’s probably worried where you are,” Mrs. B suggests.
“Are you guys going to be okay?”
Mrs. B hasn’t stopped shaking, and Mr. B is still two shades paler than I’ve ever seen him.
Mr. B waves off my concern as if he’s swatting a fly. “This isn’t the first time this sort of thing has happened, and I’m certain it won’t be the last. We’re fine. We’ll take a few days off to recover and be back again in no time.”
I head home with a promise to bring Abbi by.