Page 58 of The Man Next Door
Zona rang the doorbell again and pounded on the door but still got no results. Unsure what else she could do, she gave up and went back home.
She reentered the backyard and Darling bounded over to greet her, jumping up and putting dirty paws on her chest. “Down, Darling,” she commanded, taking a step back. Darling barked happily and jumped again, and she gave him a gentle shove back onto all fours.
“What happened?” Louise asked as Zona joined her at the patio table.
“He’s gone, but she wouldn’t come to the door.”
“Too embarrassed,” Louise surmised.
“Probably,” Zona said, and sighed. There were way too many rotten men in the world.
“There must be something we can do to help that woman,” said Louise.
“When someone’s determined to stay in a relationship, there’s not much you can do to help her until she’s ready to leave.”
What was the deal with this woman? Was she so in love with Alec James that she couldn’t let go? What was keeping her there?
What kept any woman in an unhealthy relationship? The hope that things would change? Fear of repercussions if she left?
Zona was still mulling that over when she heard their neighbor’s truck pull back into the driveway sometime after midnight. She went to her bedroom window and saw him walking back to his front door. He didn’t seem as angry, but what would happen once he was inside?
She wished she’d never taken over cookies. He didn’t deserve them. Maybe she needed to bake another batch laced with crushed sleeping pills so she could get that poor deluded woman out of the house and to a shelter.
THE TROUBLE NEXTdoor was escalating and Louise was now on high alert.
“Things are not right over there,” she told Martin when he stopped in the next afternoon to see if she needed anything from the store. “Alec James and that woman had a terrible fight last night. I’m sure he hit her.”
Martin’s brows pulled together. “What makes you think that?”
“Because of all the commotion. Plus, Zona went over later,and the woman wouldn’t come to the door. Her car is still sitting outside, but we haven’t caught a glimpse of her all day.”
“She could be embarrassed that you’d heard them fighting,” said Martin.
Honestly, Martin was so naive. “Embarrassed about a black eye, more likely,” Louise argued.
Martin was not swayed. “Louise, people fight all the time. Sometimes they even raise their voices.”
“This wasn’t your average argument,” she insisted. “Zona and I both heard. It was scary. She even pushed him in the pool.”
“Who, Zona?” Martin asked.
Louise frowned at him. “No, the woman.”
“Violence always escalates,” said Gilda, who had returned with a glass of Zona’s homemade raspberry lemonade for him.
“If this woman was able to push him in the pool, she’s probably perfectly capable of taking care of herself.” He sampled the drink. “This is good. What all has it got in it?”
If he thought he was going to change the subject that easily, he was very much mistaken. “I’m sure he hit her once he got out,” Louise said. “Maybe you could go over there and talk to him.”
Martin’s brows furrowed. “And say what? Are you beating your girlfriend?”
“Just feel things out.”
He shook his head. “Louise, unless you know someone is being hurt, what goes on between two people is nobody’s business. I’ve talked to the man a couple of times. He seems like a nice guy. And this woman clearly doesn’t want your help.”
“Looks can be deceiving,” Gilda said as she settled in with her crocheting.
“I really think you should stay out of the man’s business. Which is exactly what I’m going to do.” Martin finished his drink and stood. “Are you sure there’s nothing you need?”
