accuses me of being melodramatic. I’m sure that if it was up to him I’d be home washing dishes by tomorrow. Who knows, maybe he’s wishing he had just killed me, but I’m still here and I’m going to survive.
***
Carson
It has been a whole week since I was with her. Seven days without a word from her. Last Sunday feels like it could have been years ago at this point. I know she said she would call me, but I’m going crazy waiting for my phone to ring. I’ve been bringing my phone to the set with me and finding it hard to focus on my lines. The second the director says “cut”, I check my phone, hoping I haven’t missed her call. I’m not usually someone who waits by the phone like this, but I worry about her. I don’t know all the details of life with her father, but I know enough to make me very concerned. I haven’t even been back to Mrs. Hanley’s B&B. I stayed at the trailer this weekend, knowing I couldn’t be so close to her and still manage to stay away. This morning I woke up and decided I couldn’t just sit around any longer. I had Lucy bring me the car and I drove myself into town. Maybe I’m too impatient, maybe it seems pathetic, but I need to see her. I got lucky last time, so I’m heading back to Miller’s.
I walk into the store and it’s so damn hot in here that I decide I can’t handle coffee today. Instead, I buy a newspaper and a Pepsi before sitting down at one of the tables. Edith comes walking out from the back and heads over toward me. I just hope the granddaughter she wants me to meet isn’t around. I like Edith, but since I’m waiting for Brie that could get kind of awkward.
“If you’re waiting for Brielle again you’re wasting your time. She’s not coming in here today, no sir.”
“Well, I was kind of hoping to see her again, Mrs. Miller. What makes you so sure she won’t be in?”
“You didn’t hear? The whole town has been talking. Someone hurt that poor girl. They say it was some house robber, but I don’t believe a word of it. The only evil man in her life is her own father. Of course, no one would listen to an old biddy like me. Always getting hurt, that Brie. Bumps and bruises. He really did it this time, that’s for sure. Those damned police officers in this town can’t see what’s right in their faces. Just because Hank Douglas used to be one of them doesn’t make him a saint. I’m telling you, he…”
My blood runs cold and I can feel it drain from my face. Edith must see what the news has done to me because she just stops talking and stares at me. She reaches over to pat my hand and says, “She’s going to be okay, you know. Should be out of the hospital soon, I hear. She’s been in there a while. It took her four days to wake up, but she will be just fine. I can see you care about that girl. About time someone did. She could use a friend. She really could.”
Edith gives my hand a couple more pats and walks away, shaking her head. By the time she reaches the door to the back office she’s humming to herself and I’m still just sitting in my seat, trying to register what I just heard.
I finally shake off the shock and head for my car, thinking, please, God, let her be okay. I know Edith said she would be fine, but please, let her really be okay. I think I could love her. I think I could help her . But she needs to be okay. I have the sinking feeling that this is all my fault. I don’t know all the details of what happened yet. I don’t know where or when she was hurt, but I know I might never forgive myself if this happened because of me.
Chapter Seven
Brielle
It has been three days since I first woke up. Hank stuck around while I talked to Chief Davis, but the Chief didn’t stay long since I couldn’t “remember” much anyway. The two of them left together and I haven’t seen Hank since. I’m sure he’s off apologizing to Sheila for
***
Carson
It has been a whole week since I was with her. Seven days without a word from her. Last Sunday feels like it could have been years ago at this point. I know she said she would call me, but I’m going crazy waiting for my phone to ring. I’ve been bringing my phone to the set with me and finding it hard to focus on my lines. The second the director says “cut”, I check my phone, hoping I haven’t missed her call. I’m not usually someone who waits by the phone like this, but I worry about her. I don’t know all the details of life with her father, but I know enough to make me very concerned. I haven’t even been back to Mrs. Hanley’s B&B. I stayed at the trailer this weekend, knowing I couldn’t be so close to her and still manage to stay away. This morning I woke up and decided I couldn’t just sit around any longer. I had Lucy bring me the car and I drove myself into town. Maybe I’m too impatient, maybe it seems pathetic, but I need to see her. I got lucky last time, so I’m heading back to Miller’s.
I walk into the store and it’s so damn hot in here that I decide I can’t handle coffee today. Instead, I buy a newspaper and a Pepsi before sitting down at one of the tables. Edith comes walking out from the back and heads over toward me. I just hope the granddaughter she wants me to meet isn’t around. I like Edith, but since I’m waiting for Brie that could get kind of awkward.
“If you’re waiting for Brielle again you’re wasting your time. She’s not coming in here today, no sir.”
“Well, I was kind of hoping to see her again, Mrs. Miller. What makes you so sure she won’t be in?”
“You didn’t hear? The whole town has been talking. Someone hurt that poor girl. They say it was some house robber, but I don’t believe a word of it. The only evil man in her life is her own father. Of course, no one would listen to an old biddy like me. Always getting hurt, that Brie. Bumps and bruises. He really did it this time, that’s for sure. Those damned police officers in this town can’t see what’s right in their faces. Just because Hank Douglas used to be one of them doesn’t make him a saint. I’m telling you, he…”
My blood runs cold and I can feel it drain from my face. Edith must see what the news has done to me because she just stops talking and stares at me. She reaches over to pat my hand and says, “She’s going to be okay, you know. Should be out of the hospital soon, I hear. She’s been in there a while. It took her four days to wake up, but she will be just fine. I can see you care about that girl. About time someone did. She could use a friend. She really could.”
Edith gives my hand a couple more pats and walks away, shaking her head. By the time she reaches the door to the back office she’s humming to herself and I’m still just sitting in my seat, trying to register what I just heard.
I finally shake off the shock and head for my car, thinking, please, God, let her be okay. I know Edith said she would be fine, but please, let her really be okay. I think I could love her. I think I could help her . But she needs to be okay. I have the sinking feeling that this is all my fault. I don’t know all the details of what happened yet. I don’t know where or when she was hurt, but I know I might never forgive myself if this happened because of me.
Chapter Seven
Brielle
It has been three days since I first woke up. Hank stuck around while I talked to Chief Davis, but the Chief didn’t stay long since I couldn’t “remember” much anyway. The two of them left together and I haven’t seen Hank since. I’m sure he’s off apologizing to Sheila for
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