Page 11 of A Constant Reminder

Chapter 7 – Tyler

A couple hours later, Sam and I were walking back into our home. She wore a pair of sweats the hospital had given her since the police had taken the dress she had worn the night of the attack. Her dad had offered to come to the house to get some of her clothes, but not wanting to put anyone out, she refused.

Slowly, she walked into the kitchen, moving cautiously due to her injuries.

Our housekeeper Jacinda stood wiping off the counters apparently not hearing us come in.

I said, “You know it can’t be too messy. No one’s been here for a couple of days.”

She looked up giving a warm smile. “I wanted to make sure everything was perfect. House is clean, and the fridge is stocked.”

Her eyes moved to Sam and immediately spilled over.

“Oh Miss Sam, I’m so sorry! If only I had gotten here sooner!”

Sam wrapped the stout Hispanic woman in a hug. When she pulled back, tears streaked her cheeks as well.

“Jacinda, you saved my life. You scared him off and called for help. I owe you my everything.”

Both women embraced each other again while the tears flowed freely.

Finally, Jacinda leaned back and wiped the ones from Sam’s cheeks. “I’m so glad you’re okay, Miss Sam. Now, you go get some rest. I’ll see you tomorrow. Call me with anything you need, and I’ll be right over! I’m serious! Anything! “

She leaned up to give me a peck on the cheek and headed out the door.

When she was gone, Sam walked around the island counter and froze. Her gaze was fixed on the ground where I assumed the attack took place.

She was almost lost in a trance...reliving the nightmare all over again.

“Sam?”

Nothing.

A little louder, “Sam?”

Her head shook back and forth as if trying to shake the memories out.

“Yeah, sorry.”

“We don’t have to say here, you know. We can go stay in a hotel or something.”

She thought for a moment. “No…he’s not going to scare me out of my home. I’m fine.”

I silently questioned how fine she actually was, but her tone made it clear she wasn’t in the mood for me to question her.

Instead, I wrapped her in my arms and gave her a soft, tender kiss. “Come on baby, let’s get you cleaned up.”

Usually, I would have swooped her up in my arms and carried her the whole way, but I feared hurting her. So, I grabbed her hand free of the cast and led her upstairs to our large bathroom.

I turned on the water in the large walk-in shower, and steam began to fill the air.

Gently, I reached down and pulled her shirt over her head careful not to hit any welts or bruises in the process.

Next, I slowly dragged down her pants and underwear before letting her hair down out of the bun it had been in.

Before letting her step in, I taped a trash bag around the cast covering her arm…carefully following the doctor’s instructions to not let it get wet.

Quickly, I undressed and led her in the door and under the hot water. She tried to hide the slight wince when the water first touched the dark colored spots, but I noticed.

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