Page 24 of Take Me Now

“That would be nice,” she said softly. “I don’t want to rely on you, though.”

“Mom, I want to help. I tell you all the time that my bills aren’t that much. I make decent money. If you need something, I’ll help.”

When I drove away after dinner, I felt unsettled. That conversation with my mother had hurt. Even though he was dead, it scared me to think that Gerald threatened to kill her if she ever tried to leave. Yet intellectually, I knew that threat was genuine. That class taught me the most dangerous time for a woman in an abusive relationship was when she tried to leave.

As unsettled as I felt, these conversations with my mother were a victory. This topic had been so firmly off-limits for so long that, in a way, it felt like a big fuck you to my stepfather to even talk about it.

“Fuck you,” I said loudly in the car. “Fuck you, Gerald.”

I didn’t even notice I’d been crying until I felt the tears cooling as they slid down my cheeks.

After I climbed out of my car, I slipped my keys into my purse and started to walk around to the entrance when I heard Cooper’s voice calling, “Humpty, here! Humpty Dumpty!” This was followed by a little bell jingling.

ChapterSixteen

FARRAH

“Cooper!” I called into the darkness.

A few seconds later, footsteps approached. “Hey!” he called as he exited the trees on the back side of the parking lot.

“Is Humpty lost?” We met at the edge of the parking area where the glow from the lights by the building entrance reached.

He wore a worried expression as he looked down at me and nodded. “Yes.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I forgot to close my bathroom window. You know it’s one of those crank windows?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I have the same one.”

“Well, when I got home, the screen was pushed out. I don’t know where he is. I was worried maybe he died jumping out. But when I called Wes, he said a cat could survive a jump like that.”

Together, we looked up to the back window in question.

“Oh yeah, he probably survived. And if he didn’t—”

Cooper interjected, “I would’ve found him on the ground. Have you ever found a lost cat?”

“Absolutely.” I nodded firmly. “We need to put food out by the door, but let’s keep looking now.” I eyed the trees behind the building. “He’s probably right back there. He’s neutered, so I doubt he wandered far. Plus, he’s old, and he likes his comfort.” I reached over, lightly squeezing Cooper’s upper arm to comfort him.

Cooper smiled ruefully. “I hope so. You don’t have to help me find him.”

“I want to help.” I was honestly relieved to have a distraction.

We walked into the trees together. Although we were in downtown Willow Brook, it wasn’t crowded by any stretch. The small wooded area behind the apartment building was maybe an acre with another street behind it.

The leaves crunched under our feet with autumn upon us. Cooper jingled the small bell attached to the mouse stuffed with catnip that I had given him for Humpty last week.

“I think I need to get some more catnip stuffed animals,” Cooper said through the darkness.

“Oh yeah?”

“He loves them, even if he destroys them.”

I smiled over at Cooper even though he couldn’t see me. “I’ll get him some.”

“I think you’re kind of like his favorite grandmother with the presents,” he said dryly.

“His grandmother!” I exclaimed.

“Okay, I didn’t mean to imply that you seemed old. But you spoil him and take care of him when I need help.”

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