Ugly(88)

“You told me about what your stepfather did when I was sleeping. I heard every word you said, Max.”

He breathes in deeply, avoiding me and I can tell he’s trying to gather his thoughts. “You heard it?”

“Every word. But when I woke, Trent convinced me otherwise by saying he didn’t say what he did. I figured out he was lying and its then I realized you had been there for me more than my own husband.”

“I w-was.”

“It’s okay, Max. I know why. It’s because you see your mom in me, and you didn’t want me to suffer the same way she did.”

Max turns his head to look at me. “Yeah, that’s it.” He stands to his feet, and puts his coat on. “Are you d-done?” he asks. Why do I feel like suddenly the conversation is going in whatever way he wants it to? As if he’s purposely changing it.

“I am.”

Max takes my borrowed coat from the empty seat between us, and holds it out for me to put on. The waitress comes over and gives us our checks, Max scoops mine up and hands the waitress a twenty. “Is th-that enough?” he asks her without looking at the bills.

“Sure is, wait up for your change.”

“K-keep it,” he answers, as he leads us out the door.

“Thank you,” she calls toward Max.

We get outside and the cold air smacks right into me, winding me from the warmth inside the café. “You didn’t have to buy my lunch. Thank you though, I do appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I’m sorry, Max, I have to go. I was trying to go get a phone, and I just don’t have time now. I need to get back to work.”

“Y-you have to get a ph-phone. Especially considering y-your circumstances.”

I hop from foot to foot, trying to warm myself in this blazing cold air. “I’ll go tomorrow. I promise.”

“Okay. Y-you best get back to work,” he says to me.

“Okay. Well…thank you for lunch. I suppose I’ll see you around.”

“T-take care, Lily.” Max turns and leaves, and I hurry back to work. As I go upstairs, I find Candace at her desk and she gives me another task to do. She shows me a report which needs to be printed, and I write it in my notepad so I know what I need to do next Monday when Candace is no longer around.

The day flies by, Dale comes up and stands in front of the desk I’m sharing with Candace. “Can I borrow Lily for about ten minutes?” he asks Candace.

It’s toward the end of my work day, and Candace wants to duck out to get a coffee. “That’s fine, I’ll be back in about ten minutes,” she says, as she takes her purse out of the bottom drawer and goes downstairs.

“How are you doing, Lily?” Dale asks, as he comes to sit where Candace was.

“I’m good. Working through it all, one day at a time.”

“Have you had any problems with Trent?”

I shake my head. “No, I’ve heard not a peep out of him. Nothing at all. Maybe he’s moved on.” I shrug my shoulders and add, “I don’t know.”

“Look, I think it’s a good idea if you take my number, and Peter’s, and if he does contact you, let us know. We need to protect our staff, and him lurking around here won’t be allowed.”

“I doubt he’ll do anything to jeopardize his career as a doctor.” I shake my head. Trent really wouldn’t go that far, would he?

“It’s better to have people on board rather than not.” He stands and walks around the front of the desk, toward the door. “We don’t tolerate violence regardless who it’s against. We’re anti-bullying, and definitely anti-violence.” He turns back, gets a piece of paper and a pen and scribbles his number down. “Don’t be afraid to use it, no matter what time of the day or night. I’ve written my cell number, and my home number.” He hands me the paper and smiles.

“Thank you, Dale.” Dale leaves, and moments later Candace comes in holding a cup in one hand and a wrapped present in the other.

“Vivian said this was dropped off for you,” she says and gives me the box.

My heart leaps into my throat, and I quickly unwrap it, afraid of what sick thing Trent’s giving me. There’s nothing he can do that will surprise me. I rip the paper off the box and inside is a pre-paid cell phone. There’s an envelope under the paper and I open it.

A phone is important, and you need one. I’ve also given you my number. If you ever want to call me, you can. ~ Max

I smile at the gift, and make a mental note to call Max and tell him I’ll reimburse him for the phone.

“You got a gift?” Candace asks, as she takes a sip from her Styrofoam cup.