Read Online Copper by Iris Abbott - Free Book Online Page B

inside my head.  Once again I was a scared and pregnant eighteen year old, lying at the bottom of the stairs, bleeding out and losing my baby.”    
    Every muscle in Copper’s body tensed. The hand that was absently stroking her hair stilled.  He was afraid he already knew the answer, but he needed to ask anyway.  “Marla?”
    “Huh?”  Her voice sounded far away, like she was lost in the frightening memories of long ago.
    “How did you fall down the stairs?”
    “Rob and I were arguing about the pregnancy. He wanted me to have an abortion, but I refused.  I tried to tell him I would find a way to take care of the baby without him.  It would have been tough, but Natalie and I already talked about ways to make things work.”
    Copper’s fingers clenched and unclenched around the comforter. “You gave the SOB an out, and he didn’t take it?” Copper’s jaw was clenched so hard, it was difficult to get the words out.
    “No,” her voice was full of bitterness. “He lost his temper and grabbed my arm.  He was shaking me really hard.  I was so scared, I couldn’t catch my breath.”  A shiver skated down her spine, and her whole body shook.
    He couldn’t resist the urge to hold her.  He wrapped his arms around her again, hugging her close to his body.  He’d heard all he needed to hear.  “I think I can guess the rest. You don’t have to say anything else.”
    Marla placed her hand on top of his and squeezed.  "No, I need to finish, say the words out loud.  I think it’ll help, and you already know the worst of it anyway.”
    “Talk all you want, darlin’, and I’ll listen.”  It might kill him, but he’d do it and not say a word, if that’s what she needed.
    The woman in his arms took a deep breath and actually relaxed against him.  “Thank you, Copper.  This means a lot to me.  Natalie’s the only person I’ve ever talked to about this, and we haven’t mentioned it in years.  It’s been festering inside of me for way too long.  Being attacked and knowing that Rob might be behind it brought everything bubbling to the surface.” 
    Copper leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “Here’s your chance, talk all you want.” 
    After a long drawn out sigh, she picked up the thread of the story. “I tried to get away from Rob when he started shaking me.” She gave a bitter laugh. “Naively I thought everything would be all right if I could just break his grip and get away from him.  For a split second, I thought I succeeded.  I started down the stairs, trying to put some distance between us.” She paused and was silent for several seconds.
    Copper gently rubbed her temple with one hand and stroked her long blonde hair with the other.  He didn’t talk.  He just offered his silent support and hoped that some of his strength found a way to sink into her.  He was a man of action. Copper wasn’t really known for his patience, but for Marla he would wait all night, if that’s what she needed him to do.
    Finally her soft voice broke the taut silence.  It was barely a whisper.  “Natalie was in the kitchen, and I knew if I could get to her, I’d be safe.  The shove completely surprised me, though looking back, I’m not exactly sure why.  I lost my balance and toppled down the stairs.” 
    Her whole body was trembling now.  Copper didn’t know if it was from fear or the sudden chill in the air.  He settled the comforter around them the best he could without jostling Marla.  He knew in his gut that she wouldn’t feel better until she got it all out in the open.
    Her voice shook when she spoke.  “I knew right away something was terribly wrong.  The discomfort kept growing until it became excruciating enough to make me scream.   It was the worst pain I’d ever felt, way worse than the black eye and split lip Rob gave me several months before.”
    “What!” So much for keeping his mouth shut. “He hit you?”  The words came out in a menacing growl.  A