Page 323 of Bad for Me

“Hello, Detective.” It’s hard to make eye contact with him. My eyes have too much pressure to keep open for any amount of time.

“Who did this to you?” He sits down beside me and pulls out his notepad and pen. I want to cry at the knowledge this man does not know he’s working for a monster.

“You don’t already know?”

“My guess is your husband, but the last police report you filed was retracted.”

I give him a wry look. “No, my husband had it swept under the rug, Detective.”

“I see. And are you going to file charges on him again?”

“Every time I do, it’s investigated, I’m called a druggie and alcoholic. Your boss has a marvelous tale of him being the poor, pitiful, charitable, and dutiful husband by staying with me. To help me not be a bad mother. When everyone, including his children, knows that he’s the monster. Just so we are clear, if it weren’t for my children, I’d have left years ago.”

“You take the beatings for your children?” He’s looking at me with curiosity instead of animosity.

“Yes. My daughter didn’t get into the college her father had picked out for her.” I give a humorless chuckle. “She wants to be an art teacher for young children. He wanted her to go into law. When she told him no, he told her she couldn’t have her college money. It devastated her. I told her that Mommy would make it happen.

“After letting him beat his frustrations out on me and disgusting sex, he gave in. Magnolia is across the country at a fantastic college that will help her become an extraordinary teacher. That’s her dream.”

Detective Long sighs and scribbles some things down. “And your son, he’s going to be going to college soon, yes?”

“Yes. In one month, he’ll be in college. Jacob graduated early because he’s smart and diligent. He’s chosen to not go into law enforcement. Hence why I’m in this hospital. The dream of father and son working together has been thwarted, and fists flew tonight.”

“Your son intervened this time, though.”

I sniffle and look at the man before me. How can I ever trust anyone? “Yes. My son caught his father about to throw me down the stairs. Fred didn’t hit him back. He was proud of him, to be honest, for standing up to him. But as Jacob’s punishment for insubordination, Fred threw me down the stairs, anyway.”

“I’ve called a caseworker for you and your son. Although Jacob is seventeen, and in the state of Texas, he’s an adult, he’s still a minor in this situation. It’s best if you two don’t go back home.”

My eyes pop, and the pressure is unbearable. Looking at this young detective, I’m shocked. “You’re going to help me?”

“I’m going to fry the son of a bitch.” He smiles at me, and I wonder what he’s done to the young man.

“You’re not the only woman that’s been the victim of abuse. My mother had an abusive husband who hated my guts. See the scar on my face? That’s from him. My mother didn’t make it out alive. You can.”

Those words rock my world.

1

ROSIE

Ten months later

“Congratson now being free of me, Rosie.” Fred saunters past me, and he smirks. “But you should have known better.”

The cold chill of the spring air makes me shiver. What does he mean I should have known better? My lawyer looks at me and helps me down the stairs. “Well, you’re able to move on now. You have your children’s funds secured to their names permanently, and the money from the divorce decree will allow you to live comfortably.”

This man does not know how wrong he is. Even if I move across the country, he will find me. He’ll hunt me down like a rabid dog. I don’t tell him that bit of information. No, I just smile a sad smile and shake his hand. “Thank you for assisting me with the divorce. I hope to never be in court again.”

If only I had known how stupid those words were.

* * *

Present Day

The judge sighs. “Mrs. Carlysle…”

I interrupt him. “It’s Ms. Sparks now.”

---