Daughters Of The Bride(119)
She went upstairs and checked on the room. It was simply furnished with two twin beds. There was a small kitchenette with a tiny refrigerator, a two-burner stove and a microwave. The door had a double lock, to make guests feel more secure.
She used the notepad by the nightstand lamp to start a list. Food, she thought. Food and other things to get her through the next couple of days.
She returned to the lobby. David walked out of the dining room and crossed to her. “What’s going on?” he asked, sounding annoyed. “You disappeared.”
“Sorry. There’s been an emergency at work. I was just on my way back to explain. I’m going to be busy for a couple of hours.”
He looked skeptical. “What could you be doing that couldn’t wait? Someone’s check didn’t clear?”
The dismissive tone caught her off guard, as did his words. “Excuse me?”
He rolled his eyes. “Come on, Sienna. Work? Really? You raise money. You don’t actually help with the battered women. It’s not like what you do can’t wait. I’m heading out of town tomorrow for my business trip. This is our last night together for a while and you’re ruining it.”
She felt as if he’d slapped her. No, as if he’d taken everything important to her and ground it under his heel. “David, startling as it may be to accept, I do help with the battered women when it’s appropriate. I can’t go into detail right now except to say someone needs me and I’m going to help her. I need you to respect that.”
“Not until you respect me. You can’t just disappear from dinner and expect me to be okay with it.”
“Why are you being like this? What’s wrong with you? I have a work emergency. When I can tell you more, I will, but right now I need you to trust me.”
“If you’re not going to stay for dinner, neither am I.”
He had to be kidding. This all had to be some hideous joke—only, neither of them was laughing.
“David, please.”
“Are you coming back to dinner or not?”
“I’m not.”
“Then I’m leaving.”
He turned and walked out of the hotel. Great. Not that she had time to deal with this. Later, she promised herself.
She hurried back to the dining room and explained there was a problem with work. Her mother, Rachel and Greg nodded in understanding, while Neil looked confused.
“I’ll explain it in a minute,” Maggie promised him, then looked at her. “Can we help?”
“I think I have everything under control.” She collected her bag, then kissed her mother on the cheek. “Sorry I have to run.”
“It’s fine, dear. I’ll talk to you soon.”
Sienna waved and headed back to the lobby to wait for Erika. She spotted Jimmy with a young couple she would guess were clients but didn’t try to catch his eye. Instead, she went out front to wait.
Less than five minutes later Erika arrived with a petite brunette at her side.
“This is Jessie,” Erika said. “Jessie, my friend Sienna.”
“Hi.”
Jessie’s voice was soft. She wore dark sunglasses and had a sling supporting her broken left arm. She looked tiny and defenseless. Sienna pushed down the anger that bubbled through her. This wasn’t the time.
“Hi, Jessie. Nice to meet you. Let’s get inside.”
She got them all upstairs to the room, then handed over the keys and a card with several phone numbers on it.
“This room is yours for seventy-two hours,” she began. “I can get you medical care, counseling, a job or a ticket home.”
“I’m never going back,” Jessie said flatly. She pulled off her sunglasses, revealing two black eyes. “He’s hit me before, but never like this. I thought he was going to kill me.” Tears filled her eyes, but she blinked them away. “I’m done with him. I want help to get away from him. Can you get me a lawyer?”
“I can.”
“I’m staying with her,” Erika said. “For as long as she needs me.”
“Good. What did you bring with you?”
Jessie grimaced and held up her cast. “I left everything except my driver’s license, some cash and my cell phone. Once I called Erika to tell her I was coming on the bus, I destroyed my phone so he couldn’t track me. After paying for the bus ticket, I have thirty-two dollars.”
Sienna smiled. “Don’t worry. Everything is replaceable. You’ll be fine.”
“I can help with the money,” Erika said quickly. “I’ll pay for whatever she needs.” She smiled at her cousin. “You can pay me back whenever. It’s no big deal.”