She hesitated. “It went fine.”
“I need more than that. Have pity and indulge me.”
I wasn’t certain, but I thought I might have heard her chuckle. “Devon was the perfect gentleman and I had a delightful evening.”
That, most definitely, wasn’t what I wanted to hear. “You did?” My spirits sagged.
“How about you? How’s it going with you?” she asked.
“Fine.” Pride demanded that I downplay what a miserable failure my dating experiences had been.
“From the sound of it, you’re not having much luck?”
“You could say that.” Seeing that I probably sounded pitiful anyway, I decided I might as well own up to the truth. “If you must know, I met a construction electrician who literally burst into the house with a casserole dish. She outlined her qualifications and informed me I needed another outlet in my kitchen to meet code.”
As I expected she would, Shay laughed.
“She offered to check the rest of the house, but I declined.” Feeling it was important, I added, “I made her take the casserole with her, too.” I’d noticed she’d used a ceramic dish, which would entail me returning it. As far as I could see, no good would come from accepting the meal. She might have expected to join us for dinner, but that was speculation on my part.
“I’m sorry you’re having troubles.”
“No you’re not,” I challenged.
“Okay, the truth, you’re right. I’m secretly trying not to laugh.”
“The least you could do is tell me you’ve missed me.”
“I do miss you,” she offered, her voice low and soft. “When you asked me to the movie I was depressed that I couldn’t go.”
“Thank you for that.” Her words were like salve over a sunburn.
“You’re welcome.”
I exhaled, not sure where to go from here, especially since Shay had had a much more positive dating experience.
“So,” I said, dragging out the word, “are you going to be seeing this guy again?”
“He asked and we had a great time.”
“Oh.” It felt like I’d been kicked in the stomach.
“I didn’t say I accepted.”
“You’re toying with me, Shay, and that isn’t kind. Be straight with me because I’m miserable here and regret ever suggesting we do this. I’m more than ready to throw in the towel, surrender, and move forward with you.”
She sighed and went silent. “Are you serious, Drew?”
“Never more so. Even Mark is annoyed with me. He said if I lost you then I didn’t deserve you in the first place.”
“Mark said that?”
“Scout’s honor.”
The line went silent again before she spoke. “I’m pretty miserable myself, thinking about you with other women. Especially when I come with a whole lot of baggage.”
“Thank God. I don’t want to date anyone but you.”
“Are you sure?”
“After the last week I’ve never been more confident of anything.” I hesitated and then felt I had to ask: “What about you?”
“I feel the same.”
The relief was overwhelming. I couldn’t have been happier. For the first time in a week, I slept like a baby and woke feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. I didn’t know where a relationship with Shay would take me, but I was more than ready to find out.
I was feeling pretty good about life, especially the way things were developing with Drew. We’d both learned a valuable lesson in the last couple weeks. Like Sadie had mentioned, Devon was a good guy. I enjoyed his company, and under other circumstances I wouldn’t have minded getting to know him better. My feelings were wrapped up in a certain pastor, though, and it would be wrong to lead Devon on. He took the news with a shrug of his shoulders and wished me well.
“You let this guy you’re seeing know he’s one lucky fellow,” Devon told me when I spoke to him.
I’d never thought of myself as a catch, certainly not with my personal history. His words helped to remind me that I’d come a long way from the girl who hung out with gang members and flirted with drugs. Prison changed me and Hope Center showed me the way to a better life. The center was well named. I’d left hopeful that the positive changes I’d made would stick.
Just before Valentine’s Day, I got off the bus and headed toward the café. It was still dark this early in the morning and I kept a cautious eye out walking to the café, aware of my surroundings. It’d been two weeks since I’d heard about the computer glitch that had released felons into the general public. The news had been full of details. Several had been apprehended, but an equal number were still on the loose. The identities of those who remained at large were published in the paper, and that was where I saw Shooter’s name.
Perhaps I was foolish not to worry about his release, but I no longer lived in the same neighborhood or associated with the people I once had. It’d been nearly five years since I’d last seen him. My prayer was that he’d forgotten about me. While I wanted to believe I was safe, I wasn’t completely convinced Shooter wouldn’t come looking for me.
I looked both ways when I stepped off the bus. If Shooter found me, this is when I would be most vulnerable. The street was quiet and silent as I started toward The Corner Café. As I approached, I saw Richard and Chuck against the side of the building, still asleep.
I could see inside the café that Sadie and Frankie were busy getting everything in order before opening.
“Coffee’s ready,” Sadie told me as I came in from the cold. She knew I’d be taking coffee to Richard and Chuck.
I poured them each a cup and added sugar and cream. Both Navy veterans liked their coffee sweet, so I added extra sugar.
When I returned with the two cups, both men were awake and waiting for me.
“How’d you sleep?” I asked. I didn’t know how it was that they managed to get any rest, leaning against the side of the building. They claimed it was as good as any bed, but I suspected they were exaggerating, not wanting me to make a fuss. I’d grown close to these two, especially Richard. More than once I’d suggested they go to a shelter, but neither seemed interested. I never understood that and didn’t ask.
“You’re an angel,” Richard said, gratefully accepting the coffee.
A shadowy figure stepped out from the dark. “You got that all wrong, old man.”
A chill went up my spine. I’d recognize Shooter’s voice anywhere. He stepped purposely toward me, his look menacing. He was thinner than I remembered and had a large snake tattoo that wrapped around his neck.
I froze and swallowed hard.
“Cat got your tongue, Shay?” he growled. His eyes were dark and cold. The man was soulless.
“You leave her be,” Richard insisted.
“Shut up, old man, before I take out whatever teeth you’ve got left.”
Not willing to risk physical harm, Chuck scrambled out of sight. Richard, however, stood his ground, refusing to leave me.
“It’s all right, Richard. Go,” I urged. The last thing I wanted was for Shooter to hurt my friend.
“You heard her. Get lost,” Shooter said and shoved the older man aside. “I need to talk to my woman.”
“It’s been five years, Shooter. I’m not your woman any longer.”
He slapped me hard across the face and I tasted blood. “You’re my woman until I say you’re not.”
Holding my hand against my cheek, I asked, “How’d you find me?” Why knowing that was important, I couldn’t guess.
“You think you can hide from me?”
“I tried,” I whispered, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the sidewalk. Richard sent me a sympathetic look, but no way could he help me.
Shooter got in Richard’s face and screamed as he shoved him aside, “Leave.”
“No.”
“Richard, please.”
Shooter slapped me again and I stumbled backward, seeing stars.
“I’ll keep hitting her until you disappear.”