Page 138 of Embracing the Change

“He thought he could be her dad,” Lynch continued.

“Move away from me,” I demanded, shoving at his middle to push him off.

And Arnold was there, pulling violently at his shoulder. “Get away from her. Now!”

“You’re gonna learn, you fuckin’ bitch.”

His spittle landed on my face on the last word, and I feared he was loading his mouth to deliver more, but Arnold shoved him off and kept shoving him down the street.

Now Charlene was there, asking, “Mz. Ellington, are you okay?”

Lynch spat at Arnold’s feet, turned and jogged away.

“Mz. Ellington!” Charlene called urgently.

I looked to her. “Yes. I’m fine. I’m all right.”

“Do you want me to phone the police?” she asked.

On Drusilla’s biological father accosting and threatening me?

Not on my life.

Or…not until I talked with Jamie.

“No. I…not now. I think I just need to get upstairs,” I said.

Arnold returned. “She okay?”

“She wants to go upstairs,” Charlene told him.

“I’ll escort you Mz. Ellington,” he offered.

I nodded.

We all returned to the building with Arnold taking me all the way to my floor.

I knew Charlene shared because Alyona wasn’t at an opened door, she was standing in the vestibule.

I knew what I must look like when she rushed forward and took my arm. “Oh, my goodness.”

“You got her?” Arnold asked.

“Yes,” she answered.

“Get her to call the cops.”

At his words, Alyona’s face paled.

“Thank you, Arnold,” I said over my shoulder as Alyona led me inside.

“My job,” he replied.

“And you excel at it.”

He tipped his cap to me.

Alyona took me to the sofa in the living room and pushed me down.

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