“Because it’s kind of a long story I’d rather tell you in person. But I guess I can’t wait that long since you should know now and I don’t want you to bring him here to discuss it.”
“So talk. Spill it, bud. I have things to do.”
“Hot date?”
“Yeah. With a six-year-old.”
“Remember the other night when we went to the Marlins’ game and caught that ball?”
“How could I forget? I’m still suffering hearing loss from the good news phone call.”
“Well, the trouble-maker decided he wanted to try and hit like Wilson, so he snuck the ball outside and went one street over to take a couple swings where I wouldn’t see him.”
“Don’t tell me…”
“Yeah. He hit the ball through her window. And when he went to get it, he caught a glimpse of her and freaked out. He ran all the way home and wouldn’t come out of his room for hours.”
“I don’t get it. Was she all beat up then? Why wasn’t she in the hospital already?”
“No. Yes. Well, kind of.”
“Which is it?”
“Like I said before, she’s been beat up many times. It’s permanently disfigured her. That’s what Liam saw.”
“And she got beat up after that again?”
“Yes. Apparently. The day Liam hit the ball through her window, I went over there later to apologize and offer to pay for it. We met her boyfriend. Something about him seemed off, and then Liam was really bothered by something he said about Nicole. That’s her name, by the way. But we’re calling her Briana.”
There’s a hesitation before Helen speaks again. “Why are you calling her your sister’s name?”
“Don’t say it like that. It’s nothing weird. I just needed to keep her hidden.”
“Oh. Okay, that makes sense.”
“Anyway, I couldn’t let it go. I had to go back and make sure everything was cool. So Monday after you took Liam, I went over to talk to whoever was home. When I was checking out the hole in the window I saw her on the floor.”
“Holy shit.”
“Yeah. It was bad. I think he beat the crap out of her the night before, after we left, and just left her there on the floor all night.”
Helen is silent for a few seconds, and when she speaks, there are tears in her voice. “That’s the most horrible thing I think I’ve ever heard.”
“I’ve been doing a lot of research, Helen. This shit happens to women all over the place.”
“I know it does, but not to people we know.” She sniffs loudly, and clears her throat.
“You’d be surprised. Anyway, she’s probably going to think she has to go back to him, so my goal is to at least get her to realize she doesn’t have to do that, that she has other options.”
“How are you going to do that?”
“By showing her. By being patient. By being a friend and giving her a place to stay.”
“Do you like her?”
Brian hesitates before answering. “Uh, yeah, I guess. She seems nice. Scared and pretty much shattered, but nice. And she’s smart. I can tell by the way she talks.”
“I mean, like her. As in being attracted to her.”
“No, don’t be silly. I mean, she’s totally broken, Hel. Liam will tell you. He calls her a monster.”
“But that wouldn’t matter to you, Brian. I know you. You’ve always been about beauty only being skin deep.”
“I don’t even really know her. Let’s not even go there, okay? She’s just a girl who needs some help, and I’m just a human being willing to help, all right?” He says all this because it makes complete sense, but there’s something special about Nicole that he can’t ignore. Yes, he likes her. Why? He has no idea, really. But naming her after his deceased twin sister isn’t just a simple accident. He doesn’t analyze it any further than that.
“Okay, fine. I just know you. You don’t get involved and go halfway. That’s just not your style, so I hope you’re prepared for that. Sounds like you’re taking on a lot of baggage to me…”
“Whatever. Is there anything else you need? I should probably get back into the room.”
“Are you sleeping there at the hospital? What about work?”
“Yeah. I haven’t left except to get food from the cafeteria. Work is fine. I have a break in the schedule right now.”
“Ew. Smell much?”
“Hank brought me some clothes and shaving stuff, and there’s a shower in her room. I don’t stink. Much.”
She laughs, her earlier sadness no longer in evidence. “I’m happy to bring you stuff if you need it.”
“No, I’m good, but thanks.”
“Okay, I’m outta here.”
“Wait. Helen?”
“Yeah?”
“Remind me why we’re divorced?”
“Because we can’t stand to be around each other for longer than a few hours at a time? You’re a homebody and I’m a traveler? You like country and I like rock-n-roll?”
“I like rock-n-roll.”
“Whatever. You know what I mean.”
He smiles, feeling the warmth of their friendship fill his soul. “Yeah, I know what you mean. I’ll talk to you later.”
He hangs up the phone and goes back into the room, happy to see his charge awake, sitting up, and smiling.
Chapter Twenty
NICOLE WAITS UNTIL HE’S SEATED before she speaks.
“I’ve been thinking about what you said.”
“Oh yeah? Which thing? I’ve been pretty much carrying the conversation around here for days. A couple times I even caught myself talking to your IV bag.”
She tries hard not to smile, but ends up doing it anyway, ignoring the pain in her mouth. “Stop being charming. I’m being serious.”
“Oooh, charming. I like that. What if I can’t help it?” He grins, obviously very happy with himself.
“Try.”
He puts on a mock serious face. “Okay. Here we go. Charming switch in the off position.”
“That’s better.” She suddenly feels shy, embarrassed. Having his full, non-smiling attention is sending butterflies into her stomach to have a dance party. “Anyway, now that I’m getting kicked out of here and stuff, I was thinking that maybe … maybe … I could stay with you for just a few days until I’m able to get around on my own. Like two days. Or three, max.” Time to heal without John around to make things worse sounds like a dream, but it’s one she can’t let go of. Not yet.
“Sure. Or you could just stay until you find somewhere safe to go. However long that takes.”
“I’m sure it won’t be longer than three days.”
He shrugs. “Fine. Three days, then.”
She frowns. “Why are you being so cool about it?” Her suspicions take over, making her go from feeling carefree and silly to very uneasy.
“Cool? What do you mean?”
“Why aren’t you arguing for me to stay longer?”
“Do you want me to argue with you about it?” He shrugs. “If you want to stay longer, stay longer.”
She slaps her hand down on the sheets next to her. “No! I just want you to do what comes natural!”
He smiles. “Okay, then.”
It’s really hard to stay mad at him when he smiles like that. “Okay then, what?”
“Okay then, I’ll act natural. This is me, acting natural.” He opens up his arms wide and leans back in his chair.
“You’re pissing me off and confusing me, I hope you know that.”
“You and Helen will have lots to talk about.”
That isn’t the response she’d been expecting. “Who’s Helen?”
“She’s my ex-wife. I just got off the phone with her. She’s on board with you being at the house.”
“Does she live there?”
“No, but our son does, so I involved her in the decision-making process.”
“That’s very … fair of you. And nice.” He can’t possibly be for real. There’s a catch here s
omewhere, she just has to keep digging until she finds it. She almost feels like she won’t be able to relax or trust him until she discovers something awful about him. So far, no such luck.
“That’s because I’m a fair and nice guy.”
“And … silly.” This whole joking around thing is foreign to her. It’s been too long since laughter and silliness has been a part of her life; it just feels foreign. Uncomfortable, but not totally awful. In a weird way, it feels risky to laugh and enjoy the moment so easily. She’s waiting for the other foot to drop. Like for John to burst through the door and drag her out by her hair.
Brian puts his hands over his face and talks through his fingers. “Oh, man … you’ve figured me out.” He drops his arms into his lap. “Total cold shower, right? Silly men aren’t sexy. Helen tells me that all the time.”
Nicole wants to answer that she and Helen disagree very strongly on that point, but she says nothing of the sort. “When am I leaving? Did they tell you?”
“Friday. You ready?”
“I’m ready right now.” She holds up the hand with the IV in it. “As soon as they unhook me, I’m stealing a wheelchair and wheeling myself right out the front door.”
Brian shrugs. “I’ll steal it for you if you want.”
A devilish gleam comes into her eyes and she feels like singing with happiness. A kind of delirium takes over. “Do it.”
He looks at her and then the door. Suddenly he’s nervous. “I’m not so sure that’s a good idea. The doc said he wants to keep an eye on you for another day or so.”
“Screw him. I’ve lived through this stuff a hundred times. I don’t need to be here. Besides, what’s it costing me? Ten grand a day?”
“More, actually.”
“Fine. Let’s do this.” Nicole grabs at her the tubes, trying to pull the tape off the needle embedded in her hand, the arm in the cast a serious impediment to coordinated movement. She suddenly has a very desperate need to be out of this bed and out of this place. Get it out! Get it out of me!
Brian stands up and comes over to the side of her bed, taking hold of her hands and halting her frantic movements.
“Nicole, look at me.”
“My name’s Briana, remember?” she says, kicking the covers off, ignoring the pain it causes her ribs.
“Nicole,” he says more firmly. “Look at me, please.”
She ceases her struggles with the sheets and looks at him, her heart pounding and sweat pouring out of her. Is he going to hit her now? Is this where the real Brian comes out to introduce himself? She cringes as she waits for the pain.
“I think we should wait,” he says. His muscles are not bunching up in preparation for delivering a punch, and his face doesn’t look angry. It looks … sad.
“I need to get out of here,” she says, panic warring with confusion. Nothing makes sense anymore … this place, him, what’s happening to her with her thoughts being so disjointed, the fact that she feels safe with him and yet is absolutely sure he’s going to hurt her.
“Why do we need to go right this second? Just tell me why first.”
“Because!” She slaps at his hands, trying to get him away. “What if he finds me! What if he’s right down the hall!”
Brian takes a step back with his hands up in surrender, talking calmly. “Then we’ll need a disguise, right? You can’t just walk out of the hospital as Nicole. You have to leave as Briana.”
Her blood pressure goes down a notch and she ceases her frantic movements. He’s not telling her no, he’s just suggesting she have a shot at succeeding. It sounds more like a careful plan instead of blind running.
She feels bad for slapping him away now and wishes he’d come close again and talk some more sense to her. “What do you mean?”
“I’m going to buy you a disguise, just in case he’s hanging around. What do you think? Good idea? Bad? Stupid beyond belief? Brilliantly diabolically genius, maybe?” He steps forward and takes her hand gently, putting the tubes back in the right direction and pushing down on the edges of the tape.
She leans back in the bed, her hand sliding out from his. “It’s a good idea,” she concedes, gently wiping the sweat off her upper lip. “When can you do it? Right now?”
“Later today, maybe when you’re having dinner.”
“But that’s a long time from now.”
Brian takes her hand again and turns it over, rubbing the palm with his thumbs. “Listen, I know you’re feeling trapped right now and very vulnerable.”
“Sitting duck. I’m a sitting duck with a goddamned bullseye on my chest.”
“I know you feel that way, and I’m not going to tell you that’s the wrong way to feel. But I am going to tell you that I won’t let anything happen to you. That evil asshole is going to have to go through me to get to you. And as my ex likes to say, I’m built like a brick shithouse, so it’s not going to be easy for him to do that.”
“You are big,” she says, a ribbon of relief sliding around her and allowing her to relax just a little. “But he’s big too. And strong.”
“Check out these guns.” Brian gives her a double bicep curl.
She laughs and then winces at the pain. “Impressive.” It’s more than impressive, but it makes her sad to realize that about him. She doesn’t want to feel that way about her savior. She wants to be able to walk away in three days and never look back.
“See? All you gotta do is trust me.” He lets her go and sits down, picking up his Kindle from the small, nearby table.
She finds, as he begins to read out loud from the science fiction novel on his e-reader, that the idea of trusting him is no longer outside the realm of possibility.
Chapter Twenty-One
SHE’S LYING IN THE BED, a wrinkled sheet covering most of her body. The IV lines have been removed and she’s no longer tethered to the hospital room in any way. Beneath the blankets she’s fully dressed in a new outfit Brian bought for her at Target. The bruises on her face have started turning green and the swelling has gone down significantly, but that doesn’t change the fact that she looks like a monster with one arm in a cast. There’s nothing Brian can do about that. Not yet, anyway.
“Are you ready?” he asks her, holding out a hand.
“As ready as I’m ever going to be.” Nicole smiles at him tremulously, letting their fingers intertwine for a moment. It seems to calm and steady her to feel his touch, and Brian never tires of sharing it with her.
One of the nurses comes to the door. Her name is Tana and she’s always made a special effort for Nicole, never asking questions, but somehow always knowing what needs to be done before Brian does. “We’re ready for you.”
“Let’s do this,” says Brian. “You sure you’re ready?” he asks Nicole.
She nods. “Yes, I think so. You’re going to be down there, right?” She’s glad Brian was able to buy her clothes that would fit and not stick out as obviously as a hospital gown, but still, it’s not enough to make her feel safe.
“Yep. I’ll park at the door so you won’t have far to go.”
“Okay,” she whispers. Her face is a mask of fear.
“I promise, I’ll be there. You’re going to be fine.” He looks up at Tana who nods as she comes farther into the room. It’s clear she realizes the importance of what they’re doing; her expression holds pity and determination.
Tana speaks directly to Nicole. “I’m going to put the sheet up over your head now, okay, sweetie? Don’t panic. We just want to make sure no one recognizes you on the way down.”
Nicole looks at Brian one last time. They both know who the nurse is referring to, even if the nurse herself doesn’t. John.
The sheet goes over Nicole’s face and she’s instantly transformed from the living, breathing monster who lives around the corner from Brian to the corpse who didn’t make it. Faceless, nameless, invisible. This will be her disguise. Brian hates that she has to play dead to be safe. He pulls his hand away and smooths the sheet over her arm.
/> “See you in a few,” Brian says, squeezing her foot through the covers on his way out. She doesn’t answer. She’s so still, it’s almost as if she really is dead.
Brian tries to erase that horrible image from his mind as he leaves the floor and gets into the elevator, headed down to the parking lot so he can bring his car around to the morgue entrance. The idea of her no longer on this earth is too horrible to contemplate. He barely knows her, but somehow she’s become an integral part of his life. It only took five days for her to go from invisible woman living in a house around the corner to the center of his universe.
He’s alone inside the elevator and only has to wait ten seconds before the doors open again. Now on the ground floor, he begins to step out. He’s so absorbed in the task at hand that he doesn’t recognize the man coming in until the guy has bumped into him, knocking him a little off to the side.
“Oh, sorry, excuse me …,” Brian says, his words trailing off as he recognizes who it is. His heart stops beating in his chest for a few precious moments.
“Hey … ? Don’t I know you from somewhere?” asks the guy, pointing at Brian as he frowns in concentration. He’s wearing a dark blue polo shirt, untucked, with jeans and a Chicago Cubs baseball hat.
Brian’s heart begins to hammer loudly in his chest. It’s almost painful. “Nah, I don’t think so.”
Brian tries to leave, but the guy grabs his arm and stops him.
“Yeah, man. Remember? Your kid busted my window the other day. You came over and offered to pay for it. I remember you clear as day.” John puts his foot against the elevator doors to keep them from closing. Unfortunately, no one else is there to complain. Brian’s stuck having the conversation he wants to avoid more than anything in the world.
Holy shit. I don’t fucking believe it. Nicole was right. He’s hunting her down. “Uh, yeah. That’s right. Sorry, forgot.” Brian holds out his hand for a handshake. He’s outside the elevators, but to leave now would look like running away, and he can’t afford to give John that impression right now. Nicole is too close to making her escape.
There’s nothing Brian would like more than to haul off and punch the guy right in the face, but right now is not the time. Maybe someday the opportunity will arise, and Brian can’t help but put a little extra force into his hand when he grips John’s meaty fist as he wishes for it. The idea that this is the same fist that beat Nicole to a bloody pulp makes him physically ill and more angry than he can ever remember being in his life. He feels almost like he had something to do with her pain, standing here acting all nice to the asshole.