Page 36 of The Dominator

I knew a bit of sign language because last year we’d had a deaf girl named Shelly live with us for four months. They were four hellish months because she was a nasty piece of work that brought too much drama to the house. Me and the other girls threw a little “Ding dong the witch is dead” party with chanting and everything when she was relocated.

Rose wasn’t happy about our celebration at the time, lecturing about being patient, trying to be helpful, and turning the other cheek, yada yada, but that girl had stolen something or another (clothes, money, books) from every one of us, had spread lies about Bethany at school and online, and she was just really unpleasant. Anyway, I knew a few signs because of that.

I waited until we turned another corner and then tried to be nonchalant. “Is there a public bathroom in this store?” I asked Sarah, careful not to look at Earl.

She pointed behind us. “Yeah, back by the customer service desk.”

“Okay, I’ll meet you in ice cream in five?”

She smiled at me, “You want ice cream?”

I smiled back and nodded. “Be right back.”

Earl said something to her and she took the cart from me. He followed me to the bathroom. I felt my face get hot. I didn’t make eye contact with him. Thankfully, he at least waited outside the door.

The bathroom had two regular stalls and one wheelchair one. I saw Rose’s feet in the wheelchair one, so pulled the handle and stepped in. She grabbed me and clutched me tight against her.

I tried not to make a sound but wanted to fall apart.

“Let’s go. Quick!” she said.

I put my finger to my lips and pointed at the door. “Bodyguard,” I whispered.

She gasped and covered her mouth, then said, “I’ve been so worried. Are you okay?” her voice was barely above a whisper, “You don’t look well.”

I nodded and dashed the tears off my face.

She said, “I don’t know much but I know when something is fishy. A man came to see me to tell me you were in protective custody temporarily, that your father was in trouble but the police were keeping you safe. He gave some cockamamie story with too many holes in it, so I called the police. I had written down the license plate and gave it to them.”

My hand came up to cover my mouth. Oh fuck. Oh no. Oh fuck.

“They transferred me to a cop who took down the information and said he’d call me back. Someone else called and it didn’t feel right. They were giving us the brush off, like you’d just run off with a boyfriend or something. Something wasn’t right. This wasn’t you. I called Susie. She started poking around and then I got another visit, from a man who said you were now engaged to a powerful man and that you had moved on with your life. When I balked because, hey, I know you…he said we’d all be in danger if we continued to try to interfere. He said if we stayed out of it we might get invited to the wedding and get to have a relationship with you. If we didn’t, we might need to find a new house to live in because old houses like ours often had electrical fires. Can you imagine? Cal was close to the house as he left with your things, I had him follow. This morning I decided to wait at that house for them and saw them leave with you, so I followed. Susie thinks you’re in trouble with the mob because of your father. Is it true? She said he’s been associated with the mafia over the years according to her contacts in the police department.”

“Oh Rose, this is too dangerous!” I was trying to keep my voice low. I didn’t have much time. “Listen,” I said, “These are dangerous people. I don’t want you and Cal getting mixed up in this. I’m okay. I’m fine. Please don’t do anything else, please just–”

“You are not fine!” Her voice was getting too loud.

“Shh,” I winced, clutching her biceps.

There was a loud knock on the door. I flushed the toilet and signaled for her to shh.

“Miss O’Connor?” Earl was inside the ladies’ room right outside the stall door. Shit.

I started to open it and tried to squeeze out without revealing that Rose was in there with me. It was no use. He pulled the door open and came face to face with her.

“Is everything okay, Miss O’Connor?” Earl asked, looking at her instead of me.

“It’s fine,” I breathed. “Let’s go.” I looked back, giving Rose a desperate look. “I’m fine. It’s okay. I’ll be in touch, okay?”

She shook her head at me and turned her attention to Earl. “What do you people think you’re doing? You can’t just–”

“Please!” I exclaimed, “I’ll be in touch. Don’t, okay? Don’t put your family at risk. Trust me. I’ll be fine.”

Earl’s eyes narrowed at me and then at her. He reached for my elbow and gently ushered me forward.

“You’re part of our family, Tia,” Rose choked out.

“I love you,” I said to her. “Thank you for everything. Everything. I’ll be in touch, okay?”

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