Hard Focus

by MariaLisa deMora

  As she did, Connie heard a buzzing from beside her feet and glanced down. Inside her purse, her phone’s display was glowing, and she shook her head as she looked at the clock. It was nearly quitting time, which meant her caller would be Jonas, asking if she were coming over tonight. Connie grimaced as she ignored the contact and turned back to her computer to scan the document she’d been working on. Demanded is more like it. She hadn’t seen him in nearly a month, not since the weekend of his birthday. He’d called and texted, but she’d leveled a solid reason to avoid each invitation without lying.

  In retrospect, she could see how the past few months had shepherded in a shift in Jonas’ personality, at least where Connie was concerned. Even before the blow-up over his behavior, he’d wanted to know where she was and who she was with in a way that telegraphed possessiveness. Then there was the bombshell he’d dropped in the car, something she hadn’t been avoiding saying because it wasn’t even on her radar. In the weeks since the argument he had put in effort to smooth things over, sending flowers to her both at work and home, the enclosed cards filled with messages of remorse and sweet sentiment. Which I don’t return. For Connie, their time together had been pleasant, but not memorable—not how Jonas seemed to feel. We’re not at the same place in our heads, she thought as she finalized the letter for printing. He’s gone way past Go, and I’m still back at the starting line. Her phone buzzed again and she frowned as she looked down. That’s new. He normally at least waited for her to respond before he texted her again. It was Friday night and his weekend for Adrianne, and Connie had deliberately made plans to meet Taylor at a club downtown for drinks and dancing. She missed the little girl a lot but had decided to make it a point to only be available for what Jonas wanted to call “family time” every other visitation or so. By her count, this was not the weekend rotation for her participation.

  She bent and grabbed the phone just as it buzzed again. Frowning, she activated the text messaging application and stared at what he’d sent with wide eyes.

  Need you to help me.

  I’m hung up at work. Can’t get away.

  You have to pick up Adrianne for me. I can’t miss another weekend.

  She wasn’t aware he’d missed any weekends with his daughter, but since she was busy and hadn’t made it for a few of those, it could easily have happened. Still, every time she’d seen Addy, it had been as a second adult to their pair. She’d never been solely responsible for the little girl, so it didn’t make sense he’d assume this was okay. As she re-read the messages trying to comprehend what he wanted from her, another one came in.

  Please. It’s her birthday.

  Connie looked at the clock, then her computer, and quickly made a decision.

  Picking up the phone, she dialed Patty. “It’s Connie.”

  “Uh, yeah. I know from caller ID. What’s up?”

  “I have to leave a little early tonight. There’s an emergency with my boyfriend.” That didn’t feel like the right title for Jonas, but Connie shrugged off the unease.

  “Sure, honey. Have a good weekend.”

  “Thanks, Patty. See you Monday.”

  She sent back, On my way.

  ***

  Connie stared at the trim little house as she pulled up along the curb. Jonas always parked in the driveway, but that seemed intrusive for her to encroach onto Audrey’s property in that way. The whole exercise seemed invasive, because what mother would hand over their child to the ex’s girlfriend, who they had never even met. Audrey might have seen her sitting in the car a time or two, and Adrianne may or may not have talked about Connie when she got back from her visitations, but Connie and Audrey had never exchanged even a silent nod of hello through the windows.

  “This is insane.” She picked up her phone and texted Jonas, I’m here. Can you let her know? After waiting only a few seconds for a response that didn’t come in, she placed the phone in her purse and slipped the strap over her shoulder. He hadn’t answered any of her questions since acknowledging her initial response with a brief, Thanks. “I’m picking up a little girl I barely know for her birthday weekend, and I don’t have a booster seat, a key to her daddy’s apartment, or any idea when he’ll come home. Sure, Constance. This sounds like a great idea.”

  One edge of the front window curtains twitched to the side, indicating someone was watching her and Connie sighed. Audrey had to know she was out here now. Hopefully Jonas had called her to explain, and after all, Connie had promised. She didn’t know how much he talked to his ex, but Connie was a stickler for the truth. She’d told him she’d pick up Adrianne, and that meant she couldn’t chicken out at the last minute.

  With the car locked behind her, she made her careful way to the sidewalk and up to the porch. As she’d seen Jonas do so many times, she rang the doorbell and then retreated to the sidewalk and waited. A moment later, she heard a woman’s voice call through the unopened door, “Hello?”

  “Hi, I’m Connie Rowe. We haven’t met. I’m…” Undecided about her role in his life anymore, she bypassed giving herself a title and continued with—“Jonas sent me to pick up Adrianne. You can call him and confirm. He said it’s Addy’s birthday and he’s excited about spending time with her.” He hadn’t said that last, but if he weren’t, then why would he have asked Connie to pick up the little girl?

  “You’re Jonas’ girlfriend?” Connie stared at the door with wide eyes. Audrey sounded as if she were about to cry. Is she still carrying a torch for Jonas? Could that be the reason she gave him so much grief about Adrianne?

  “Uh, yes?” Now she was the one who sounded uncertain. “We’re friends. I’ve met Adrianne several times.” She paused, then tried to find her way back to the tactic that seemed more certain to move things forwards. “You should call Jonas and verify he still needs me to pick her up. He might have gotten away from work already and be on his way.” Not that you’ll let him have Adrianne if he’s late. Connie shook her head. “I can give you my phone number, and I’ve got my license with me if you need to verify I’m the Connie he’s talking about.”

  Silence greeted her and she stared at the front of the house. The sun was hot on her shoulders, and Connie glanced along the street. At least there’s no one to see me standing here. “Hello?” No response, not even a breeze of air stirring the curtains. Connie was uneasy, twisting to look over her shoulder at the car, wishing she could retreat to the interior. Without any feedback or instruction from Audrey, she didn’t know if she should continue to stand here, or just pack it up and leave. This is how Jonas feels. It’s so helpless. Why would she do this to him?

  Five minutes went by with no change. Connie finally pulled her phone out of her purse and texted Jonas: I don’t think Audrey’s willing for me to pick up Adrianne. Should I leave? Four words, that’s all Audrey had given her to work with, and no indication if she would be bringing Adrianne out in a minute, ten minutes, or never.

  The sound of an engine growled up the road and Connie turned to see a familiar truck driving towards her, faster than it should have been on the narrow residential streets. She stood to one side of the sidewalk and waited for Cole to disembark from the vehicle. Audrey’s brother didn’t even glance at her as he brushed past Connie on his way to the front door. It opened before he stepped a single foot on the porch, which meant Audrey had been standing right there. Connie sighed and rolled her eyes.

  Cole is here. Should I stay?

  Nothing in response. It was as if once he’d gotten her agreement in his plan, Jonas had fallen off the surface of the earth.

  You’ve got to talk to me. What do you want me to do?

  “Tell her to leave.” Cole’s voice resonated through the door. Even though she couldn’t see him, Connie had witnessed his angry posture often enough to know what he’d look like. “If you don’t want her to have Addy, then you don’t have to give our baby girl to that woman.” That woman. Connie winced. No name, no designation. Nothing in his voice to indicate she was anything other than
an annoyance.

  Audrey’s voice buzzed, the higher pitch impossible to make out words.

  “Then I’ll tell her to leave.”

  Another buzz of Audrey’s voice.

  “I know Addy likes her. Hell, Audrey, that’s the only reason you let the asshole have Adrianne sometimes, is knowing that woman’s in the car. It makes Addy feel better about going, and that makes you less anxious. But Addy’s not the one making the decision today. Not this time. Asshole isn’t here. It’s past time for him to pick her up. Call the lawyer and tell him asshole was a no-show again.”

  The slamming of a car door pulled her attention from the hidden conversation taking place behind the smooth surface of the door and made Connie turn to face the driveway. Jonas had pulled up behind Cole’s truck and was out of the vehicle, prowling around the front bumper towards where she stood.

  “Hey,” she started to say and jolted backwards when Jonas threw up a hand in front of her face.

  “Not right now. If you can’t manage to do me a simple favor, then don’t expect to spend the weekend with me and my little girl.”

  Uh, say what? Jonas’ reaction was miles away from anything she’d hoped for. If anything, Connie might have expected he would at least thank her for trying to do as he’d demanded, not throw attitude at her. Tension in his arms and shoulders showed a surprising rage bubbling just under the surface.

  He was up the porch steps in a single leap and pounded his fist against the door until the sound echoed off houses across the street as he rattled it in its frame. “Audrey, send the kid out. It’s my weekend.” He turned to glare at Connie, mouth pulled to the side in an unpleasant sneer. “I can’t deal with your attitude, too. Just get in your car and leave.”

  “Listen, Jonas. I did what you asked. I left work early to come and try to pick up Adrianne.” Connie felt her brows furrowing. Things had changed on a dime and she was still trying to reconcile the man who’d asked her for a favor with the raging lunatic standing in front of her. I think I’m pissed. She raised her voice slightly. “There’s no call for you to be that way.”

  “You didn’t manage this one, small thing, though, did you?” He scowled at Connie as he pounded his fist against the door again, then turned his back on her. His shout was loud and angry, voice scraped raw with ugly emotions. “Audrey. Open up.”

  Connie swung around on her heel and stalked down the sidewalk, digging in her purse for her keys. Oh, yeah. I’m pissed. Angry tears burned her eyes, and she blinked rapidly, determined not to let Jonas see how his behavior had hurt her. I left work early, asked a favor from a friend, and for what? As she climbed into the front seat, she heard the door to the house open and glanced back to see Cole filling the space. He took two steps outside, bumping chests with the smaller man, pushing Jonas backwards. Jonas stumbled and nearly fell off the porch, staggering as he landed with one foot on the sidewalk, the other in the grass. Her stomach lurched at the physical aggression between the unevenly matched men. This could turn out bad for Jonas.

  “You were late. That’s a no-show. Sixth time in five months, asshole.” Cole tsked, the sound loud in the silence surrounding his words. “Then, you have the absolute balls to send some chick to pick up Adrianne? Not happening, man. You pick that baby girl up on time, or not at all. That’s the deal.” Some chick. That stung as bad as Cole’s earlier words.

  “You know where I was.” Jonas shot back and Connie paused, listening. “You engineered that whole fiasco, and I don’t appreciate it. They came to my work. Embarrassed me.”

  “You’re embarrassed? How tragic. Too bad I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Cole propped clenched fists on either hip, ducking his head to glare at Jonas. His wrath was unmistakable, veins on his neck standing out as his face reddened. “I couldn’t give a shit. You’re a no-show again. That’s all I care about right here and now.”

  “He came to my work. Are you trying to get me fired? Does your sister not like the money I send her?”

  Connie shook her head. Not my problem right now. She slammed the door to mute their voices and jammed her keys into the ignition, twisting them to start the engine. Maybe not ever again. For the first time, she agreed with Cole’s assessment of Jonas: A-hole. She was that angry. She rolled down the front windows a few inches to allow hot air trapped in the car to escape. “…ever talk to my sister the way you just handled your girlfriend, I’ll beat you within a half…”

  She blew out a stream of air to steady herself, put the car into gear and pulled away, driving carefully. Taking the first main thoroughfare back downtown, she told her phone, “Text Taylor.” A pause while the software acknowledged her, then she said, “I need a drink. Meet me as soon as you can.”

  ***

  Cole

  Staring at the car as it drove away, he allowed himself to wonder again how a woman like that had wound up hooked to someone like Jonas Thompson. When Audrey called him to come over, she’d actually been pleased it was Connie who was picking up Addy. Cole understood it, because his niece liked the pretty woman, but rules were rules for a reason, and he’d needed to remind Audrey of that. Cole had been inside talking to Audrey when he’d heard the second car door, and just knew who it was.

  Then had been the yelling and a tone that would have cut the thickest skin. Connie didn’t look the type to have much in the way of defenses, but she’d not avoided Thompson’s anger, meeting it head-on. I wish I could figure her out. He’d looked into her, leveraging his contacts to find out she lived within her means, worked a good job and was well liked by her coworkers. It just seemed to be her boyfriend choices that were suspect.

  “What do you think you accomplished today, Thompson?” Pulling his gaze from the street, he stared down at the man who straddled his sister’s sidewalk, glaring up at Cole aggressively. He pulled in a steadying breath, and shaking his head, Cole reached back and opened the door. “Go home, asshole. See you in two weeks.”

  ***

  Jonas

  He watched Cole’s face as he focused on Connie’s car traveling up the street. There’s a little too much interest there, he thought, then gave the man his back and strode to his car.

  It had been a bad day, followed by what was shaking up to be a shit evening. Better start groveling.

  Paused at a red light, he snaked his phone out of his pocket and thumbed to the text app. I’m sorry.

  Two lights later, he took a picture of himself pouting and looking hangdog, then sent it to Connie with another apology.

  After leaving Audrey’s, he’d originally headed home by rote, but part-way there, he decided to backtrack. Parking on the street was hard to come by, but a car pulled out just as he drove up, and he smiled. Fate.

  Hey, baby, I’m on my way up. Let’s talk.

  ***

  Connie

  Taylor held Connie’s elbow to steady her as he steered her from the dance floor. She twisted to look up at him, laughing at his exaggerated huffing and puffing, trusting him to keep her from bumping into anyone. She pulled her phone from her back pocket before throwing herself into the booth Alden lounged in. Slapping it on the table, she woke the screen with her thumb, glanced at it and then turned it facedown with a groan.

  “More sexting from the boyfriend?” Taylor sat next to Alden and reached out to grab one of the water bottles waiting for them. “Doesn’t he know this is my weekend with you? Visitation rights are a bitch, little man.”

  She laughed. “Not hardly. This looked like more angry texting because I didn’t do what he wanted, and now I won’t answer his calls because I’m still pissed.”

  “And rightly so, my friend.” Alden pushed a bottle towards Connie. “You don’t talk about him much, one way or the other, but he doesn’t sound like much of a keeper to me. Not from this most recent debacle.”

  Minimizing the emotional upheaval from the day, she told Alden, “I’m beginning to agree with you.” She dusted her palms together, then grabbed the water and twisted the cap off, fl
icking it towards a laughing Taylor. Upending the bottle, she took several deep drinks. “Now, enough talk about my impending lack of a love life. Tell me what’s on the menu for this weekend. Isn’t there something happening downtown tomorrow?” Taylor shot her an appreciative grin while Alden sat forwards, elbows on the table as he leaned into the topic.

  She knew exactly what was happening, because Alden and Taylor had organized what promised to be a huge protest against a controversial state bill. The proposal was in danger of passing, and if it happened, it would become a law that would strip away the ability for domestic violence shelters to protect the anonymity of their clients. Alden, in particular, had spent hours writing letters, making calls, and engaging on social media arguing against the bill.

  Connie drained her water as she listened, chiming in with a few suggestions that had Alden pulling his phone out to make notes. Then it was back to the dance floor for another lengthy sweat session that was guaranteed to leave her happy and exhausted.

  The three of them shared a ride back to the apartment building, and Connie split off from the two men in the lobby, leaving them to enter the elevator as she checked her mailbox. The doors slid closed, cutting off their conversation as she found a blank envelope shoved inside her box. Gathering up the junk mail along with the mysterious envelope, she took the next elevator up to her floor and stepped off. Her heart jumped into her throat when she saw a form slumped against the wall near the door to her apartment. Arm extended behind her to keep the elevator doors open, she fumbled her phone out and gripped it tightly in her other hand.

  Then the form straightened, and she recognized Jonas.

  What the hell?

  “Connie.” His voice was quiet, almost cajoling, but edged with something else, and she felt the hair rising on the back of her neck. “Where have you been?”