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That actually makes me feel a little better. “So, did you make a statement with the police yet?” She shook her head, so I patted her on the hand. “We’ll worry about that later. You gotta promise me that you won’t go back there again. Not alone.”
Her face changes a little. Some more of that defiance in her. “Jack, I’ve lived there for years and never had any problems—”
“It’s a sketchy neighborhood,” I say. “You know, what if something worse happened to you? I’d never forgive myself.”
She sighs, then says, “I can’t stay here forever, Jack.”
I look at her and it’s all clear. It’s been there in front of us this whole time. “Why not?” I ask her. “Let’s just make this official. Stay here with me.”
“Jack,” she sits up and pulls out of my embrace. “I can’t stay here. I mean… I’m not comfortable here. You sleep with a fan on. You leave your clothes on the floor. Your toothpaste and deodorant and hairbrush and everything are all over the bathroom.” She’s looking around the bedroom, waving at the furniture and closet. “There’s no room for my clothes in the closet. There’s no room for me here!” The words pour from her mouth like a long sentence.
I sit up and look at the back of her head. She turns to me, looking into my eyes sorely. “I’m sorry,” I say to her. “I had no idea. You…you never said anything.”
“It’s not about sorry. I…You know, it feels like you don’t care about me.”
“Sarah,” I say incredulously. “I do care about you.”
“Yeah? Do you really?”
I get it. She needs this place to be as much hers as mine. She needs to see it in my actions. “Yes,” I say to her. “I do. More than you could ever know.”
She looks at me and for the first time since this whole doubt thing started, I think she believes me. “Then what are we going to do?”
I take a deep breath and give her a half smile. “I guess I’ve got to make a trip to the home improvement store.”
She smiles despite her tearful eyes. “I’ll go with you,” she says. “I’ve seen how you decorate.”
She leans in and kisses me and for a moment, it’s all back to good. We’re making this work.
“I’m here, baby,” I tell her. “You’re not going to push me away.”
She smiles and kisses me again.
I let Sarah sleep after that and go about getting dinner together. As I cook, I start to think about everything that just happened.
My first thought is to the guy that attacked her. I didn’t show it in front of her, but I am enraged. I wish I had been there to protect her, but more than that I wish I’d given that thug what for. He put his hands on her. He might’ve even killed her and for what? A few dollars in her person?
When she was feeling better, we were heading to the police station and pressing charges. I need to see that piece of shit in jail for what he did.
I feel all of this in my heart. God, I’m falling for her all over again. This day has made me realize what’s been missing in my life for those six years we were apart. Sarah has always been the missing piece to my life. I’m not about to let this all fall apart over her insecurities. I need to make things right for her.
We have dinner and for that time, things almost felt like they were back to normal. Sarah’s not talking a lot, but it’s okay. She seems a little better than she was earlier. I’ll take even the small steps at this point.
After dinner, we watch television for a while and before I know it, I fall asleep. My dreams are full of twisted images and anger. Sarah walking alone in the dark holding Martin’s hand…shadows are following her. Waiting to pounce on her…
I walk up in a cold sweat and look around in the living room. I’m alone. I get up and look in on Sarah and Martin and find them both asleep in their respective beds. The man that attacked her is now haunting me in my dreams. I need to keep my family safe.
The next morning, I decide to call in and take care of Sarah. I make breakfast like I usually do. After Martin is set up in the kitchen, I bring Sarah her breakfast in bed. Carrying a breakfast tray, I walk into the room and say, “Wakey, wakey, love. Time to get up.”
Her eyes open blearily and she smiles at me, stretching out and yawning. Her eyes travel down to the tray full of food in my hands and she says, “What’s all this?”
“Breakfast,” I say and kiss her on the forehead. “Thought you could use a little relaxation today.”
“Thank you.” She’s smiling as I set the table down over her lap. Her eyes widen as she looks over the bacon and eggs and pancakes. “This looks really good.”
“Dig in,” I say.
She picks up a bacon strip and takes a bite. “Gosh, I am starving,” she says. “This is great. You know, after, I think I’ll head out to the police station to give my statement.”
