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“I-I can’t leave her. She—she needs me. I—”
Before he could say anything more, a familiar sound came from the adjoining apartment. What started out as a loud thud of someone being pushed aggressively against the wall was quickly followed by moans and demands of harder and a stream of yeses.
Then, her mother’s voice was added to the mix. “Shut the hell up, you perverts! No one wants to hear you going at it like rutting bulls.”
The noise from next door stopped. Ali held her breath, not knowing whether to go to her living room or hide under her bed.
A door opened next door seconds before there was pounding on her door. Ali and Daniel looked at each other, then exited the bedroom. By the time they got to Zelda and Bradley, Bradley had an arm wrapped around Zelda’s waist, trying to hold her back as she attempted to get to the door.
Daniel placed a hand on Ali’s arm to stop her. She met his gaze. “Deal with your mother. I’ll handle the neighbors.”
She wanted to argue, but given the look on his face, she held her tongue. He wasn’t in the best mood given the circumstances, and she couldn’t blame him.
Going to her mom, she stood in front of her, looking her in the eye. “Mom, stop it. This isn’t helping anything.” Her mom didn’t stop, so she tried again. “Mom! Stop it. Now.”
That got her attention. Finally.
But then her mom collapsed on the ground, nearly taking Bradley with her. She curled up into a ball and burst into tears.
Ali kneeled in front of her. “Mom, are you okay?”
“No, I’m not okay. Nothing is ever okay.”
Not knowing what to do, she stayed with her mom on the floor while Daniel talked to her neighbors outside. When he came back in, he stood over her and her mom. He held out a hand for Ali, which she took, and he helped her to stand. Then, he offered a hand to Zelda. “Ms. Foster, you need to get up.”
“Why?”
“Well, I suppose you can stay here if you choose, but we’re leaving. If you’d like to remain with Ali, then you’ll be accompanying us.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you.” Then she glared at Bradley. “Or you.”
“Very well.” Daniel grabbed hold of Ali’s hand and began walking toward the door.
Ali didn’t move. “Wait—”
“We’re leaving,” he said.
She nodded. “I know, but I need to get the things I came for. They’re in my bathroom.”
He released his hold on her hand. “You have two minutes.”
Rushing down the hall, she ducked into her bathroom and grabbed the bag she’d stuffed all her things into earlier. After a quick double-check, she made her way back to Daniel.
When she reentered the living room, her mother was no longer on the floor. She was staring Daniel down. Her mother’s gaze didn’t soften when she noticed her daughter. “Who is this and why does he think he can order us around?”
“Mom, this is Daniel and his son, Bradley. Daniel and I...” She glanced at Daniel, then back at her mom. “Daniel and I are seeing each other.”
Her mom’s eyebrows shot into her hair, and she pointed at Daniel. “He’s your boyfriend?”
Ali nodded. “Yes.”
Daniel was still wearing his slacks, but he’d rolled up the sleeves on his dress shirt. “How old are you?”
“Fifty-five.”
“And you’re dating my daughter?”
“Yes.”
