Page 37 of Christmas Home

Once I’d resumed my regular shift at the café, I felt better about my life. Safer, more secure. When Deputy Darren came by to fill me in on their progress with Jimmy, he assured me they would be watching, and if Jimmy showed up at the café to collect his next payment from me, they’d pick him up.

I took advantage of the deputy being close to rush to the motel on my break, collect my belongings, and check out. I’d prepaid for the month, which was money I lost, but I didn’t care. I now had something much better, thanks to Mrs. Cole.

The day came and went without any sign of Ruther. At first, I was glad he was giving me space. Until Jimmy was caught, I didn’t want him involved. By the end of the week, though, I was fit to be tied. Not just because Jimmy would likely show up any moment but because I hadn’t seen Ruther or Corey for days on end.

I’d just decided to go over to their condo and apologize after work when Jimmy came in with a couple of his buddies. One was the jackass who’d been with him before.

They sat at a table between where I was wiping down the buffet and the kitchen, so there was no way I could avoid him. “You got my money?” Jimmy asked, loud enough for several people to hear.

“No, son, he doesn’t,” Sheriff Pat said as she and Deputy Darren approached Jimmy’s table. Another deputy blocked the entrance.

“Sheriff, that man stole from me after he beat me up. I’m—”

“You’ll have your chance to share your side of the story,” she interrupted. “But right now, I need you boys to come down to the station with us.”

“Wait, I ain’t got nothing to do with this,” Jimmy’s jackass buddy said.

“Sheriff, that’s the man who held me down while Jimmy punched me,” I offered.

“Thanks, Clyde. We have your statement.”

The guy gave me a nasty look. I knew he wanted to lay into me but wisely kept his mouth shut. The third guy with them shrugged. “I’ve just met these two. Said they were coming to get money from his ex. I ain’t got nothing to do with it.”

Sheriff Pat looked at me, and I shrugged. “Be that as it may,” she told him, “you’re with them, and right now, I want to chat with all three of you, so if you don’t mind.”

Jimmy hadn’t taken his eyes off me. Anger pulsed around him, and the vein on his forehead stuck out the way it did when he went into a tirade. I didn’t flinch. Not this time. I’d fought back, which got me into legal trouble that I knew was not yet over, but it also gave me strength. Strength I hadn’t had in past relationships. I’d stood up to Jimmy, and this time, even the law seemed to support me.

The sheriff and her deputies handcuffed the three men without incident and led them to patrol cars. Sheriff Pat returned and told me I might need to come to the station to make another statement. “The county prosecutor might need to charge you, too, but you stand firm, okay? Our local judge doesn’t tolerate domestic violence. And even if by force, you’ve paid the perpetrator back, so that should count in your favor too.”

I nodded. She and the deputy had told me that several times. Jimmy had walked in thinking he’d win and probably still thought he’d be out soon enough. I didn’t know if he would, but I was pretty sure if he came around again, there’s only one way things would finally end between us.

Jimmy might not be the brightest bulb in the box, but he was smart enough to avoid that kind of trouble. At least, I hoped he was.

When the sheriff left, Mrs. Cole came over, put her arm around my waist, and pulled me close. “You go on up and rest. I’ll come up soon with some pie I’m just about to pull out of the oven.”

I nodded and thought once again about Ruther. I’d like to see him, but after all this, I wasn’t really emotionally in a place to make amends for how I’d treated him. I hated that he was uncomfortable coming into the café, though. I’m sure he and Corey were sick to death of pizza, since that was the only option in town besides the café, unless they’d just decided to eat at the condo.

I did as Mrs. Cole recommended, and took a nice long shower. I didn’t cry. It seemed like I was all cried out when it came to my bad choices. Yeah, I still had to pay the piper, but at least I could do that and hopefully not end up with a felony charge or something. There was pie waiting for me on the counter when I came back out of the bathroom. Mrs. Cole must’ve dropped it off during my shower. I ended up eating it by myself and then went to bed.

I felt more than a little guilty about leaving Mrs. Cole shorthanded, but I was exhausted. She seemed to understand that, though, and I appreciated her giving me the leeway. I relished the fact that, by some magic, I now had friends and support, which meant a lot and was one hell of a lot more than I’d ever had before.

The next day, I woke up to Mrs. Cole knocking on the door to the apartment. When I answered, I could tell she was concerned. “I’m sorry that I’m late for work,” I said.

“Don’t you worry about that.” She sighed. “I-I might’ve overstepped, but Baby, I…we all are worried about you.”

I nodded, waiting for the other shoe to drop. “I called an attorney here in town. He owes me a favor, you see, and I asked him if he’d be willing to meet with you. I understand if you don’t want to, but he’s a nice young man. Smart and knows his way around the law. I wouldn’t have done this if I didn’t think you might need some help to get you out of this scrape.”

I sat on the dining room chair close to the door. “I-I don’t have any money, Mrs. Cole. I gave my last paycheck to that asshole Jimmy. I, well, I know it shouldn’t be a priority, but I need a phone. I haven’t spoken to my family in weeks, not that they necessarily care how I’m gettin’ on. But I—”

She held up her hand. “Clyde, you don’t have to explain yourself to me or anyone. If Justin, he’s the attorney, needsmoney, we can work it out in your paycheck, but at least meet with him, okay?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I probably do need someone who actually wants to help. Court-appointed is about the same as not even having representation, in my experience.”

“He said he could be over here for breakfast around eight. Do you think you can be ready in thirty minutes?” she asked after looking at her watch.

I just laughed. “It doesn’t take me all that long to be presentable.”

“Well, come on down as soon as you’re ready. You should probably get some breakfast in you before you talk to him. I’ll warm up one of the cinnamon rolls since you seem to like those so much.”

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