Dancing With the Doc

by Jennifer Youngblood

  Romina had told Cat about the other woman a couple of hours ago, but Cat had been too upset to get the details, which was why she was asking Romina to repeat the story. Cat ran a hand through her hair, swallowing down the lump in her throat. “I can’t believe Drew would do this to me.” Actually, it wasn’t so hard to believe. Ever since Cat had started dating Drew in her sophomore year in high school, she’d caught whispers of Drew’s infidelity off and on. She’d confronted Drew about it, but he adamantly denied it. Midway through her junior year, Cat and Drew started fighting a lot. Drew was growing increasingly possessive and began cutting Cat down, chipping away at her confidence. Cat had planned to break up with Drew, but then her mom suddenly got sick with breast cancer and died. The house where Cat and her mother lived was a rental. There was no life insurance, no nest egg. Cat was a high school student without a penny to her name. She’d hadn’t seen hide nor hair of her dad since he was deported. She’d been eight years old at the time.

  With no money, Cat was afraid she’d have to give up dance, but her instructor Mrs. Patterson insisted that she keep coming to class. Cat paid her tuition by teaching junior classes. A few days after her mother’s funeral, Cat moved in with her next-door neighbor Romina Castaneda, a widow who’d been her mom’s best friend. It was just easier at that point to let things with Drew ride. Also, Cat had felt so alone that she needed someone to cling to. Drew played the part of the doting boyfriend so well that Cat assumed they’d moved past the rocky phase of their relationship and were on their way to building something lasting. Then, the rumors started up again.

  “Sit down,” Romina encouraged. “You’re making me nervous with all that pacing.”

  Huffing out a breath, she pulled out a chair and slumped down. Cat let out a harsh laugh. “You know what? I’m not shattered by Drew’s infidelity.” She gritted her teeth. “I’m mad enough to chew nails, but I’m not shattered.” She sucked in a quick breath. “I guess I’m just mad at myself for letting it go on for so long.” Maybe a part of her had wanted to believe that Drew really was the hero he pretended to be in his notes. The knothole, those notes … they’d meant something to Cat. She’d even kept them. Remembering the notes made her think of a softer, kinder Drew. “I guess it’s time I grew up and realized that Hero really is dead,” she sighed.

  Romina looked puzzled. “I’m sorry?”

  She offered a wistful smile. “Never mind.” Tears rose in her eyes as she fidgeted with her hands. “What am I gonna do?” She’d graduated from high school three months prior. Mrs. Patterson had asked her if she wanted to come on as a full-time dance instructor at the studio. While that was tempting, Cat was starting to feel like this neighborhood was suffocating her. Every time she looked at her former house, a deep sadness filled her. She thought of Mami … how quickly the cancer took her life. Mami’s life had been hard and sad. She’d worked three jobs to keep a roof over her and Cat’s heads. Was it wrong to want something more? In a strange way, Drew’s notes in the knothole had kindled a fire in Cat. They’d opened a space inside her that allowed her to dream of a new life with the possibility of a bright future with a hero who loved her for who she was. Not one who constantly tried to make her into something else. Her brow furrowed as she thought of Drew. All he cared about was being a jock. He craved the admiration of prominent people. Nothing Cat ever did was good enough for him. If she wore her hair a certain way, he wanted it another. If she wore a particular dress, he found something wrong with it.

  Romina gave her a perceptive look. “You already know what you need to do. You’re just trying to muster up the courage to do it.”

  Cat’s head snapped up. “What do you mean?”

  “You need to get away from here … away from Drew. You need to find your own life.”

  Tears welled in her eyes. “It’s true,” she croaked. “It’s just …” Her words lost air as she tried again. She balled her fist, her fingernails digging into her palm. “I’m scared.” There it was. She’d admitted it out loud.

  Romina nodded. “I know.” A tender smile spread over her thin lips. “But your mother will be watching over you from above. Never forget that.”

  Tears dribbled down Cat’s cheeks as she nodded. She thought of something else. “How can I leave you?”

  Romina patted her hand. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. I’ve got my kids close by.”

  A feeling of excitement trickled over Cat. Where would she go? Someplace warm. Florida. Mami had always talked of going to Florida but never got the chance. A new thought took hold, bringing back the gloom. “I don’t have enough money.” She’d squirreled away some, but it wasn’t near enough to move.

  Romina used her hands to heave herself to her feet. She shuffled over and opened a door to the cupboard. Pushing her flour and cornmeal canisters aside, she retrieved a jelly jar. Her arthritic fingers worked to unscrew the lid. She reached in and pulled out a wad of cash. A large, gleeful smile filled her face as she turned to Cat. “How much do you need?”

  “Thank you,” Cat breathed, tears running rivers down her cheeks. Her heart was filled to overflowing for this stooped, unassuming woman. “I’ll leave in the morning,” she sniffed, mopping her eyes. A second later, Cat about jumped out of her skin at the loud pounding on the door. She looked at Romina, whose face was carved with worry. “It’s probably Drew,” Cat said unnecessarily. They both knew it was him.

  Less than an hour prior, Cat had called Drew and told him it was over. He’d yelled, screamed, and called her every name in the book until finally, she hung up on him.

  “Don’t answer the door,” Romina warned, clutching the jar tightly in her hands.

  More banging.

  A white-hot anger rose in Cat’s breast. “I’ll not be bullied by Drew,” she seethed. “Don’t worry,” she assured Romina, “it’s really over this time.” Running a hand through her hair and adjusting her clothes, she went to the door, trying to slow her erratic pulse.

  “Open up, Cat,” Drew demanded, pounding on the door with his fist. “We need to talk.”

  She flung it open, causing him to fall in. He caught himself and closed the door behind him. Then he got a good look at her tear-stained face. He swore under his breath. “I don’t know what you’ve heard, but it’s a lie. Baby,” he began, touching her cheek.

  She pushed his hand away. “Don’t.”

  “Will you just listen to me?” he demanded.

  Cat thought of Romina in the kitchen. Romina was frightened by Drew and his outbursts. “Let’s go outside and talk on the front steps.”

  Before he could protest, she opened the door and went outside, leaving him no alternative but to follow. It was a dark night with only hints of the fingernail of a moon showing through the fast-moving clouds. Cat sat down on the steps, pulling her knees to her chest as she hugged them with her arms. Drew plopped beside her. She could feel him watching her. He trailed his fingers over the naked skin of her arm. “Cat,” he began in a sultry tone that was probably supposed to be sexy, but it came across as grating.

  She jerked her arm away. “Don’t you dare touch me!”

  Drew scowled. “You’re being ridiculous. I told you there was no one else.”

  “People saw you in the diner,” she snapped, the anger returning full force. “You were with a big-haired blonde with a skimpy red dress.”

  He blinked a few times in surprise, and she could see the guilt written all over his face. It made her sick to her stomach. She couldn’t believe she’d wasted so much time on Drew.

  His words rushed out in a heap. “It’s not what you think. Monica works at the dealership. We were getting lunch for everyone.”

  A hard amusement tickled Cat’s insides. Drew’s dad owned a string of car dealerships. Drew’s wealth had made him a big man on campus, making Drew think he could buy anything he wanted … including her. Well, those days were over. Cat had thought him so handsome with his muscular build and thick crop of wavy, blonde hair. His quick smile a
nd hazel eyes had turned many a head in high school. Drew was a bully when they were kids. If it hadn’t been for his notes, Cat never would’ve given him the time of day. However, she’d started to view Drew differently. And even though no further notes were exchanged between them in the knothole, she took note of him. Then, when Drew asked her out, she accepted and the two fast became the it couple in school. Now, however, Cat was becoming disenchanted with Drew’s looks. She wanted more than a good-looking face and monster-sized ego. She wanted a partner in life—someone to build her up and share her dreams. Drew was not that person. He cared nothing for her dance or the movies and books she enjoyed. Furthermore, Cat didn’t fit in with Drew’s country club life and fast friends.

  “Drew, I’m tired of your lies. I’m not an idiot. I know there have been others. It’s over.”

  His eyes narrowed. “Don’t say that.”

  The fight had drained out of her. Drew’s infidelity didn’t matter. She was moving on. She ran her hands through her hair, feeling weary to the bone. “It’s late, Drew. I need to get some rest.”

  “No,” he countered, his jaw hard. “You’re not going to bed until we work this out.”

  She grunted. “Get it through your thick skull. We’re through.” She stood. He sprang to his feet and caught her arm, his fingers digging into her flesh. “Let go of me,” she growled.

  He smirked. “Or what?”

  “You’re hurting me, Drew.” She glanced around, wishing there were other people outside. It was just the two of them, however.

  A mask of anger twisted Drew’s face, and then she saw something that struck fear into the center of her heart—a smug look that let her know that Drew liked that she was afraid of him. It gave him some sick feeling of power. “I trusted you,” she heaved through gritted teeth, tears rising in her eyes. “You took that trust and stomped it into the ground.”

  “Don’t you talk to me like that, you little tramp.” His breath seethed through his teeth as he spit out the angry words.

  She winced at the stench of beer on his breath. “You’re drunk,” she said, disgust twisting her gut. His words stung, and she wasn’t going to take it … not anymore. “Go home, Drew.” She grunted. “I never should’ve let you into my life. You’re a low-down, cheating jerk!” Her voice escalated. “We’re done!”

  The hard slap took her by surprise. Pain wrenched through her as her head snapped back. The breath left her lungs, her mind reeling to process what had just happened. Drew had hit her! She wasn’t one of those women. This couldn’t be happening! Tears burned her eyes. “I hate you!”

  He punched her in the jaw. She toppled backwards, holding her jaw. “Just leave,” she cried.

  Grabbing her hair, he yanked her to her feet and began dragging her down the steps.

  “Stop!” she screamed, hitting his hand, but it was useless. “Where are you taking me?”

  “You belong to me, and it’s about time you acted like it.”

  Panic engulfed her, her legs wobbling uncontrollably. Drew had been pushing her to be intimate with him, but she’d put him off. It was with a sickening dread that she realized he intended to rape her.

  “Stop right there!” Romina’s thin, raspy voice filled the night air, bringing Cat a swift relief that left her dizzy.

  “Go back inside, old woman,” Drew roared.

  Romina stood in a battle stance, holding up the phone. “I called the police.”

  Cat sensed Drew’s hesitation and felt the tide shift. He released her, giving her a look filled with such hatred that it shriveled her insides. “This is not over,” he sneered as he stormed down the walkway, got in his Mustang, and squealed off. Cat’s legs were so weak she feared they might give way. She stumbled towards Romina, a sob trembling from her lips. Frail, meek Romina was her angel.

  “Are the police coming?” Cat stammered as they rushed inside and locked the door. She dreaded having to talk to the police but knew it was inevitable.

  Romina winced. “About that … I might’ve fudged the truth a little.”

  Cat’s eyes rounded as she hiccuped a laugh. “You were bluffing?” Her hand went to her mouth. She realized she was shaking all over.

  Romina nodded. Her features pulled into taut lines, eyes darting towards the door, as if she feared Drew might break through it at any moment. “You need to leave … tonight.”

  “Tonight?” Terror streaked through Cat. Her jaw throbbed with pain. Gingerly, she touched it, thinking she needed to put an ice pack on it.

  Romina looked her in the eye. “You need to get as far away from this place and Drew O’Hannon as you can. Go someplace where he’ll never find you.” She placed a hand on Cat’s arm, eyes cutting into hers. “Promise me.”

  “I promise,” she croaked.

  The future was a dark pool of muddy water. Facing it alone terrified Cat. Yet, staying here at Drew’s mercy was even worse. She straightened her shoulders, trying to calm her pounding heart. Before she even consciously realized what she was doing, her silent plea lifted to heaven. Help me, she prayed. Please, help me find my way.

  2

  Cat was glad it was nighttime when she left. She didn’t think her heart could take seeing the Chicago skyline vanishing in her rearview mirror as she headed south down the Interstate. When she’d moved out of her childhood home, Cat donated or threw away most of the mismatched furniture. She’d held onto a few keepsakes such as photo albums and a couple of Mami’s dresses, mainly because they smelled like Mami, an earthy muskiness. All of this fit in a single box that Cat placed in the car, along with her things. Kind of sad, but Cat’s entire life’s belongings could easily fit in the trunk and backseat of the car with room to spare. When she crossed the state line out of Illinois, she blew a kiss. “Thanks for the good times,” she said wistfully, blinking to stay the moisture in her eyes.

  It was a little after ten p.m. when Cat left Romina’s house and started out on her trip. Not wanting to waste her precious funds on a hotel, Cat intended to drive the entire way. However, around three a.m. her eyelids grew heavy, and she kept dozing off. With a jerk, she’d wake herself up, relieved that she’d not veered off the road. She rolled down the windows, turned up the music on the radio, and even kept her right foot raised an inch over the accelerator. Nothing helped. Finally, around four a.m., she pulled into a rest area. After making a quick trip to the restroom, she reclined her seat and drifted off into a heavy slumber wrought by emotional and physical exhaustion.

  When she awoke, ribbons of pink were threaded through the morning sky. She went to the restroom again. This time, she brushed her teeth and attempted to smooth down her tangled curls before getting back on the road. Romina had packed her a few snacks. She munched on granola bars and an apple. Six hours later, her stomach impatiently asked for something else to eat. She’d eaten most of the snacks and didn’t think she could stomach another granola bar. She spotted a green exit sign on the right shoulder of the road. “Clementine, one mile,” she read aloud. “Sounds like a decent place to grab a bite.” She got off at the exit.

  As she pulled into the downtown district, she marveled at the neat rows of homes with large wraparound porches. It looked like something out of a picture. She’d almost stopped at the Dixie Freeze on her way in but wanted something healthier, so she ventured into the heart of town. As she drove around a quaint square, she saw a sign for a restaurant that read The Magnolia. Cat had been hoping for a sandwich shop. This might be too expensive. She’d better keep driving. A second later, steam started pouring from beneath her hood. Panic gripped her as she pulled into an empty parking space and cut off the engine. Her stomach twisted into a hard knot, tears pressing against her eyes. She got out and opened the hood, jumping back as a steam cloud mushroomed. It smelled like burned honey. Don’t panic, she ordered herself. One step at a time!

  “I’m not a mechanic, but I know that smell. Radiator fluid. You’ve either blown your radiator or busted a hose. Either way, you can’t drive that thing
anywhere until it gets fixed.”

  Cat straightened, looking to her side as a blonde woman in her mid to late twenties stepped up beside her. Her hunter green button-down shirt was embroidered with The Magnolia above a white flower. She extended her hand. “Harper Wallentine.”

  Swallowing the dryness in her throat, Cat took the offered hand. “Cat. Nice to meet you.” Cat’s voice sounded as shaky and unsettled as she felt. If this woman—Harper—was correct in her assessment of the car, then Cat was stuck here. She’d have to hire a mechanic to fix her car, which would eat into money that was supposed to be used to put a deposit down on an apartment. Fear nipped at her as she clutched her hands. She realized with a start that Harper was speaking.

  “Cat? Like the furry thing that chases mice?”

  It took Cat’s tired brain a second to make the connection. They’d been talking about her name. “Carmelita Andrea Anastasia Hernandez de Silva. My friends call me Cat,” she said automatically, unable to squelch the tears.

  Harper chuckled. “I can see why.” Concern touched Harper’s features. “Honey, are you okay?”

  Cat bit her lower lip as a hot embarrassment cloaked her. She was falling apart in front of a stranger … in the center of town. She shook her head, tears slipping from her eyes. “I didn’t count on this expense,” she sniffed.

  “No one ever does,” Harper said sagely, giving her a measured look. “Why don’t you come on inside the restaurant? You can eat something while you let your car cool down. Meanwhile, I’ll see if I can scrounge up a mechanic.”

  “I don’t want to be any trouble.”

  Harper flashed a warm smile. “No trouble at all.” She glanced at the car’s front license plate. “Illinois, huh? I thought I detected a slight Northern accent.”

  Cat didn’t doubt that because in her ears, Harper had an exaggerated Southern twang like people in the movies. She pronounced Illinois with an S on the end, whereas Cat called it Illanoy.