I was glad to be home too. Just knowing that I could eat dinner when I wanted was a satisfactory feeling. I could start to do things my way, and that little ember in my soul started to glow. I would feed that ember, and soon my flame would burn bright once again. Warren wouldn’t snuff me out anymore.
Chapter 7
Brooke
Over the next week my schedule was pretty much the same. I’d wake up, take a cab to the hospital, and spend the day in the NICU with Ava. She was doing great, much better than some of the other babies. There was one day that I was afraid to leave. They had a baby stop breathing and called a code. It was one of the scariest things I’ve ever witnessed. The parents stood there, helpless, as they watched the nurses and doctors swarm the incubator. After a few minutes the baby started breathing again and things calmed down. Maggie explained that sometimes that happens with preemies, they just forget to breathe.
Today was going to be different though. Today I was going back to Warren’s house to get my things. Cal had stopped by yesterday to let me know that Warren had been served the order of protection papers, and I should get my things. I was entitled to them. He suggested going by when Warren would be in the office, but also said he could come and escort me. I figured that was a good idea since I wasn’t really sure of what hours Warren was keeping at the office. The order of protection wouldn’t help me if I came to him.
“Brooke.” Cal smiled when he climbed out of a dark sedan. The passenger side door opened and Dr. Blake climbed out too.
“Hi.” My brow scrunched. I was confused.
“Cal thought you might need some help. Today’s my day off,” Dr. Blake clarified.
“Thanks, Dr. Blake.” I moved closer to the car.
“You can call me Blake.” He smiled. “My friends don’t use the doctor part.”
“We don’t?” Cal sounded amused.
“You’re family, not a friend.” Blake shot a warning glare.
“Ouch!” Cal placed his hand over his chest. “Let’s get going. I really don’t want to arrest anyone today.” Cal climbed back in just as I reached the car.
ooooooooo
“Thanks for doing this,” I murmured as we climbed the steps to the brownstone. I hadn’t been here since the night Warren pushed me down the steps.
“No problem.” Blake smiled. “How are we getting in?” He glanced at Cal.
“There’s a hide a key out here.” I reached for the little frog that was sitting by the door, produced the key that was hidden in his belly, and slipped into the lock, but the lock wouldn’t budge.
“What’s wrong?” Cal stepped closer and attempted to turn the key.
“It won’t open,” I grunted.
“That jackass changed the locks,” Blake grumbled.
“Hang on.” Cal rolled his eyes before going back to his car. A moment later, he jogged up the steps carrying a small black case.
“What’s that?” I pointed at his hands.
“Our way in.” Cal smiled as he opened the case and produced several small screwdrivers. “I knew this would come in handy one day.” He slipped the tools into the lock and went to work picking it. Within a few seconds, the door slipped open.
“Nice.” Blake nodded as Cal stepped back and let us pass.
“What happens if he finds out you did this?” I turned worried eyes on them both.
“This is still your house. You have as much right to be here as he does. You gave me permission to get in. He can’t do anything.” Cal shrugged. “Get your things while I keep watch.” He pointed into the house. I moved as fast as my body would allow as I shuffled toward the stairs. The scene I was met with made me skid to a halt.
There on the floor was a blood stain along with another broken spindle. “What the hell?” Blake gasped from behind me.
“This is his doing. He did this last time. He left the mess for me to clean,” I grumbled as I carefully stepped around the destruction. I shook my head as I climbed the stairs to our room. This would be the last time I entered this hell hole.
I wandered inside our bedroom, and turned toward the closet. I didn’t even want to look at the bed. The dress I’d worn to dinner that night was still crumpled in a pile on the floor. Flashes of that evening assaulted me. I could feel his hands on my body as I grabbed clothes from the closet. I could hear his voice right beside my ear as I tossed them on the bed. Him grabbing my hair and dragging me to the top of the steps played like a movie in my head.
I yanked piece after piece of clothing off the hanger. I tossed shoes on the bed with them. I grabbed things from my dresser, piling them on too. Anger boiled out of me as I stomped around the room. I could do this my way. He wasn’t here to critique me.
“You ok?” Blake’s voice was quiet as he stood by the door, watching.
“I’m fine,” I snapped. “Just dealing with ghosts is all.”
“Do you need help?” He stepped forward.
“Yes. Grab the edge of the comforter over there. I’m taking this.” I balled up the purple and gold comforter from our bed, the comforter that Warren complained about all the time. I used it as a sack of sorts to carry my things. Blake carried the bundle downstairs and I followed. I took every piece of clothing that was mine except the burgundy dress. I left it in the bottom of the closet as a reminder for Warren. He could pick it up. He could have it. It was the final straw. It symbolized me leaving, and I wanted him to think about the fact that it was his fault every time he saw that dress. I wanted him to remember that all of this was his fault.
ooooooooo
Blake
I’ve never met a woman as strong as Brooke. The pure determination on her face as we carried her belongings out to my brother’s cruiser was a sight to behold. Her husband was a real piece of work, and I truly don’t understand how she lived with him for as long as she did.
I stuffed the homemade sack into the trunk and then turned to see her standing on the bottom step. “You ready?”
“Almost,” she grumbled. “I just need a minute.”
“It’s ok to not be ok today. You know that, right?” I stepped up behind her.
“I do.” She nodded. “I just need to remember how bad he was. I need to keep all of that fresh so I can fight him. Warren won’t go away without a fight. He’s not wired that way.” Her voice sounded sad, defeated almost.
“You can do this. I’ll help you do this.” I don’t know where those words were coming from. I didn’t really know her other than the fact that she was my patient, and she wasn’t even really that anymore.
“Let’s get out of here,” Cal called from the top of the steps. He was just starting to lock the door when Brooke stopped him.
“Leave it unlocked.” She smirked. “I want him to worry for a few seconds before he figures out it was me.”
I almost laughed in that moment. She didn’t look like the scared woman I’d seen several months ago. At this moment in time, she looked as if she was finally taking a piece of her life back.
“Sure.” Cal shrugged as he jogged toward the car. “I wish I could be here when he shows up.”