Love's Suicide(91)

Brooks sat down on the bed with her. “I have to go to work, bug, but I’ll be back later and we can play.”

“We can pay?”

Brooks made an excited face. “Maybe we can go swimming.”

“In da pool?” She looked ecstatic.

“Yeah, baby, in the pool.” He lifted her up and kissed her cheek. “I love you.”

I got up and grabbed a diaper, knowing she’d need to be cleaned up. While I started changing her, Brooks got his boots on. He grabbed his phone and leaned in to kiss me. “If you need anything, you call. I’m right down the road. I love you.”

We kissed twice before he pulled away. “Love you, too.”

He reached the door and came back in, kissing me one more time. “That was just in case you plan on leaving me again. Just know, I will come hunt you down. I have government resources this time.”

I pushed him to get going. “Will you stop it? You’re stuck with us now.”

“See you girls later.”

Once he was gone, I gave all of my attention to my little girl. “Did you sleep well?”

“Me go bye byes?” she asked sadly.

“We can’t go bye byes, B. We have to wait for Br -- daddy to come back.”

She looked confused and I knew she wouldn’t understand if I tried to explain it. Then I started thinking of Bobby. I reached for my phone and turned it back on.

It started buzzing with messages, both voice and text.

Knowing they’d be terrible to listen to, I took her to give her a bath.

After filling the tub with a little water, I sat B down and let her splash around. She enjoyed playing and after I’d washed her body, I let her enjoy her tub time.

Once she’d splashed most of the water onto the floor, I wrapped her in a towel and took her out to the bedroom area to get dressed. B was a good girl and she was content playing by herself on most days. Unlike my daughter, I was already feeling like I was suffocating being held up in a room. It was a shame that I couldn’t go home and feel safe there.

Moments after B was changed, I pulled out an apple and banana and started cutting them up with a knife Brooks had brought with him in his bag. I also found a miniature box of cereal that he’d probably had in his room. Since B loved to munch on it, I opened it up and spread it all out for her to eat.

She was quiet, watching cartoons and filling her cheeks with fruit and cereal.

I sat on the bed next to her and opened up my phone.

Figuring the text messages were easiest, I started with them.

Thirteen messages in total filled my inbox, all from Bobby.

Answer your phone!

I’m on my way to the house, you better be there.

Have my daughter ready.

You better not be shacked up with that soldier!

Katy, answer the phone. I’m at the house and you haven’t been here.

Just talked to Sarah. If I’ve got to go to that base and drag your ass out of there, I will.

You’ve got thirty minutes to return my calls or I’m coming after you.

You better hope you’re dead in a ditch somewhere, you little whore.

You’re going to pay for this, bitch. Tell your boyfriend to watch his fucking back.

You’re dead!

He’s dead!

I’m going to make sure you never see your daughter again. I’ll make sure you’re claimed unfit.

You will pay for this, bitch!

I covered my mouth and felt my heart beating heavily. I wasn’t just scared for my life; I was worried about Brooks too.

Knowing that there were voice messages, I took a deep breath and started listening to them.

“Katy, it’s me, Bobby, your fuckin’ husband that you had locked up. I have every right to put you in your place. You’re mine! You hear me? I own you. When I get home, you’re goin’ to be real sorry you did somethin’ so stupid.”

“Pick up the phone, bitch!”

“You think you’re slick don’t ya? You think I can’t find you? Tell your boyfriend to take you far away, because if I can find you, you’re both goin’ to pay for this.”

I erased the messages with shaky hands and looked over at B, who sat there so innocently as if nothing terrible was happening. Truth be told, I didn’t know what to do. Confessing to Brooks would only make him want to go after Bobby. I couldn’t have them harming each other. My marriage was most definitely over. I just needed to get in to see a lawyer without being discovered.

After calling to the front desk, I was brought a phone book in which I started sorting through. There had to be a lawyer that could help in a desperate situation.

I’d made three calls with no luck getting a same day appointment. When my phone started to ring, I jumped off the bed before realizing it was Brooks. “Hello?”