All of this is why I don't see the man who steps in front of me until I almost stumble over his feet. "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry," I rush out, putting a hand on my chest.
"No problem," he says, but his voice is low and it scares me instantly. The timbre causes my hair to stand up on the back of my neck, almost as if someone has walked over my grave. "You don't remember me, do you?" He questions, a smirk playing on his lips.
I'm trying to figure it out, and he looks familiar, but I'm awful with names and faces. I know my patients, but other than that, I don't tend to make a personal connection. It's hard when you sometimes only see patients for an afternoon. It took me a while to learn to take care of them, but not make it personal. Which is why I'm not sure where this man is from. "No, I'm sorry." I shake my head, smiling tiredly at him.
This has been one of the longest shifts of my life. All I want to do is go home, have a glass of wine, a hot shower, and send a text to Darren. We've been hanging out, and having dinner together once in a while, especially when he needs some adult companionship. He's become one of the happiest parts of my life. So maybe my attention hasn't fully been where it's supposed to as the shift was winding down.
The man in front of me changes in an instant. The smirk disappears from his lips. "So you delivered the shittiest news to me today and you don't even remember my fucking face? That's all I am to you huh? Someone who just shows up and you tell me that the mother of my baby doesn't want to see me?"
It comes back to me quickly. The mother who had the protection order against the father of her child. The one who gave birth a couple of days ago. I had to escort him out, and I can recall Darren telling me to be careful once I did it. But in the end, I didn't think much about it. I've had to do that before, and I've always made sure my patients were taken care of. Even if it made me uncomfortable to do it.
But this man? He'd given me the creeps. I remember that clearly.
I'd brushed it off though. The way we brush off things that could be an indicator of things to come. Of those feelings we have as women. Because we don't want others to think we're being too cautious. I've hardly ever been wrong when it comes to the low-level nervousness in my stomach, though, and I'd had it with him.
Stepping back slightly, I try to put space in between us. He doesn't allow it, he steps into my personal space. "Please know I had nothing to do with whatever happened legally," I try to diffuse the situation.
"The fuck you did," his voice is low. "You enforced it. You're the one who called the goddamn police."
It had been me who had called the police. It's part of my job. When I contacted security, they'd told me to go ahead and place the call, while they headed up to the floor. "I understand your frustration," I start again, trying to use every bit of de-escalation I've been trained with.
"Fuck you and understanding my frustration."
The way his dark eyes are flaring, I know I'm in some real trouble and irritated with myself for not paying attention when I was walking out. "Look, if you don't leave me alone I'm going to have to report you to security again."
"Wrong answer, bitch."
And before I can turn around and walk away, the man grabs my wrist, pulls me to him, and that's when I feel pain explode across my cheek and jaw. I scream, but no sound comes out as I hit the pavement. While I'm lying there, the man kicks me in the stomach, and then spits beside my head.
"Leave families alone, and just do your damn job. If you interfere again, you'll get even worse done to you."
He turns and leaves, while I roll around on the ground, tucking my arms around my stomach. Can anyone see me? Did anyone see this happen? Is help coming? All these questions roll through my mind as I lay there, stunned at what's just happened. Eventually, I sit up, and take stock. No one is around, and I'm out in the employee lot on my own. My hand shakes as I reach up and touch my cheek. When I pull it away, there's blood. Instead of going back in, I struggle to my feet and walk to my car.
Once in the driver's seat, I flip the visor down and take a look at my face. That's going to look awful in the morning. When I start the ignition, I have the thought of going home, but then realize I don't want to be alone. I don't think twice when I turn the opposite direction of my apartment, and head toward the person who has made me feel safer than anyone else.
Epilogue
Darren
Nicole went down two hours ago, and I haven't moved from my spot on the couch. I've been playing this stupid game where pigs shoot color blocks since the show I was watching turned off. Some days I just need to turn my brain off, and this is how I do it.
Today, is one of those days.
There honestly could've been two of me. My mom ended up having to pick up Nicole, and I'd had to rush home and make dinner. On these days, I wish I had someone to share this life with. When i finish the last of the game, I switch over to social media, and click on the profile of the woman who's had my attention the last few weeks. Macie.
When we met at the Lean To, I hadn't been looking for anything, and neither had she. All either of us had been planning to do was dance a little, maybe drink a few beers, but we quickly became each other's favorite dance partners.
"Then you started looking for her every time you went there, and outside of the place, too," I mumble to myself. "Which was stupid, considering you said you'd never be in a relationship again."
That's what I'm good at, berating myself for stupid shit. It's why I don't pay attention to the car that pulls in the driveway until they shut off the engine, and I see someone walking up to the front door. If I'm not mistaken, it's the woman I've been thinking about. Getting up, I head toward the door so that she won't ring the bell or knock. Nicole isn't used to people showing up at night, and even though she's in her room, I have no idea how she'll react. This is the first time that Macie's been here, but I'm sure it wasn't hard for her to find me. In a town this small, everyone knows where everyone else lives.
I get to the door right as she does, and open it. "Hey, come on in," I whisper. "Nic's asleep."
She nods, but keeps her head down, so I can't see her face. "I didn't mean to interrupt or cause a fuss," she says, but her voice is slightly muffled.
There's something about it that spikes my interest. I haven't been a cop as long as I have without taking note of what's going on around me. "Hey, what's going on?" I ask, following her with my gaze. She walks around and behind me, giving me her back.
"Something happened tonight, and I didn't want to go home by myself."