Page 80 of Little Empty Promises

“I couldn’t tell you because I don’t know.It was like a switch.One day he was the person I’d married, and the next he was someone else, someone I didn’t know anymore.”

“Are you ready to be honest with me about the bruises I pointed out the other day?How long had he been abusing you?”

She paused a moment.“Too long … far too long.”

“Did you ever try to get away from him?”

“You read Cordelia’s notes.You know I did, and you know what he did to me when he caught me.”

“Did you ever tell anyone what he was doing to you?”

“I thought about telling my parents.”

“Why didn’t you?”I asked.

“My parents stopped talking to me after we got married.They were angry with me because I didn’t listen to their warnings about him.They couldn’t stand him.The thought of calling them up and telling them they were right … it was just too hard.I was embarrassed to admit they’d been right all along..”

“Did Cordelia tell you she’d seen some of the interactions between you and Eddy?”I asked.

Rosalyn crossed her arms, shaking her head shaking as she said, “This is … it’s too much.I can’t … I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

I felt certain I’d been close to a confession, but now she was stalling.

I pushed the chair back and stood.“Hey, I don’t know about you, but I could go for a cold drink.Is there anything I can get you?”

“Can I have a glass of water?”

“You bet.I’ll be right back.”

I stepped out of the room, meeting Foley and Whitlock in the hall.

“Well,” Foley said, “what are your initial thoughts?”

“I think I was close to a confession.I need the dog.”

“The dog is a distraction,” he said.

“The dog is all she cares about,” I said.“She threw him a birthday party the other day.Trust me, the dog will bring her the comfort she needs right now.”

“I’m with Georgiana on this,” Whitlock said.

“Sure, sure,” Foley said.“Gang up on me, why don’t ya?Fine, get the dang dog and then get the conversation back on track.”

I got us each a cup of water, took them back to the room, and then told her I needed to step out again for a minute.She shrugged, and I walked out, went to the receptionist’s desk, and scooped Boomer into my arms.

Rosalyn’s eyes lit up when I returned.

“Someone was missing his mom,” I said.

She threw her arms up, and I handed Boomer off to her.

“I can’t thank you enough,” she said.

I could think of one way she could.

I sat back down, gave her a moment with Boomer, and then said, “If I leave here and we haven’t finished our conversation, I’m not sure they’ll let me talk to you again.”

It was a half-truth.

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