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Panic seized me again, and I shook my head, backing up. The thought of running from this room and house played out in my head. King would catch me, and I had no vehicle to get far even if I tried.
“I can’t go to a hospital or doctor for that matter. I need to just leave. I think it will be best for everyone. I can call a taxi. I don’t need the bus—”
“Take a deep breath and calm down, Rumor,” Maeme said, closing the space between us and touching my arm lightly. “Ain’t no one going anywhere. Not even the hospital. We have a friend who is a medical doctor. He makes house calls. He is also real discreet. He will come here, fix you up, eat my chicken and dumplings, enjoy my banana pudding, and be happy as a clam to do it.”
“I can’t pay for that,” I argued, wondering what kind of doctor would come here and work on a patient without equipment.
“And you won’t need to. He will do it as a favor,” Maeme informed me. “King, you can go now.”
I turned to watch him walk out of the room without a word. He closed the door behind him, and I took in a shaky breath.
What had I gotten myself into? I could have kept trying to find a woman to help me. Those men weren’t that big of a problem. It wasn’t like one of them was going to abduct me from the store in front of all those people. I was scared and alone, weak and terrified. He had approached me at the right time.
“Take off the shirt and show me what has you holding that side like it hurts to breathe,” Maeme directed me. It was said in a kind tone, but the demand that left no room for argument was also clear in her voice. It was amazing how she could sound like a kind grandmother but have a fierceness that had you obeying her.
I was also worn down. It was clear she wasn’t going to listen to me. I had to get through this, and in the morning, I’d find a way to leave.
I placed my purse on the dresser, then unbuttoned my blouse, only wincing when I had to shrug it off my shoulders. I’d done the best I could with athletic wrap this morning that I kept in my closet for times when Hill went beyond bruising me.
“Let me,” Maeme said with her eyes locked on my ribs.
The pain in her gaze as she began to gently remove the wrap was the first time I’d had anyone genuinely care about me. I felt my eyes begin to burn, and I blinked, fighting back the tears. I would not cry on this woman.
Closing my eyes, I inhaled deeply as the cool air hit my skin. I was afraid to look at the damage that had been done. I knew by now that the bruising would have set in.
“Son of a bitch,” Maeme muttered.
I opened my eyes as she was studying me, shaking her head with a look of fury on her face.
“I’m not a doctor, but I’ve seen enough broken ribs to recognize one when I see it. I’m gonna wrap you up with something a bit better than this, but why don’t you go stand in a hot shower first? It’ll make you feel better. Wash every bit of that bastard’s touch off your body. I’ll go get you some pain medicine that’s strong enough to ease the pain with a glass of sweet tea that I promised. Don’t you worry. We are gonna handle this. You’re safe now, honey.”
Even though I knew this sweet grandmother meant well and probably believed everything she was saying, I was aware that she couldn’t handle my problems. I’d dug myself a deep one by running. I could still go back. Tell the truth and hope the police believed me. I could call them now and tell them what I’d done and why. But then a battered wife who ran would look like the number one suspect. I didn’t have money for a lawyer. I wasn’t on any of Hill’s bank accounts. He had given me one credit card, and it had a two-thousand-dollar limit.
“Come on now. I’ll get you a towel and get the shower going,” Maeme said gently. “Everything is going to be okay, Rumor.”
No, it wasn’t, but I nodded regardless. I’d let her help me tonight. In the morning, I’d leave. Thank them for their help and walk out the door to get in a taxi. I could pay in cash and hopefully have enough for a bus ticket and motel room. I couldn’t let this nice lady be held accountable for my actions.
• six •
“Keep your chin up. Life will get better.”
Rumor
When I stepped out of the shower, there was a glass of iced tea and a pill lying beside it. I didn’t question it. The pain had gotten worse even if the rest of me felt refreshed from the warmth of the shower and the lavender scent of the body wash Maeme had given me to use. There was a plush white robe hanging on the hook that hadn’t been there when I got in the shower. Assuming Maeme had left it for me, I slipped it on, then dried my hair with a towel the best I could, only using one hand, then ran a brush through it.
Facing whoever was downstairs eating sounded like more than I was up for at the moment. I was grateful to Maeme for her hospitality and willingness to help, but I had to think. Plan. Prepare for what I was going to do next. Without my cell phone, I didn’t have a way to actually call a taxi without help. I kept forgetting that. I would need to borrow a phone to get any kind of taxi service.
Opening the door, I stepped into the bedroom and found Maeme sitting on the chaise lounge, near a man with a thick beard and friendly eyes, wearing a white oxford button-up and khaki pants. I paused my gaze from shifting between the two of them. Maeme stood up and stopped whatever she had been saying to the man.
“Rumor, this is Dr. Drew. He’s been a family friend for nigh on forty years. He’s here to check you over and to join us for dinner.”
I listened to Maeme, then turned back to the doctor. How had she gotten a doctor here so quickly? I had only been in the bathroom maybe thirty minutes at most.
He smiled and gave me a nod. “It’s nice to meet you, Rumor. I hear you’ve been worked over.”
He was studying my face, now blue and purple with the makeup completely gone. My lip was cracked on that side as well and swollen more than I had realized.
“Yes, sir,” I replied.
