The Boarding House

by Sharon Sala

  It was nearing dusk and their house was on the other side of town. It would take him at least ten minutes to get here, maybe more depending on traffic. She hunkered down in the seat and told herself everything was alright. Daddy would change the flat and then they’d go home. No big deal. She just wished Wyatt had stayed with her. She wouldn’t be scared if Wyatt was here.

  When a shiny black car with tinted windows drove past, she hunkered down even further in the hopes no one could see her. Within a couple of minutes, the same car came past her again, only slower. Her stomach knotted.

  “Keep going, keep going,” Ellie muttered, then nervously watched in the rearview mirror to see if it made a third trip around.

  When it appeared in her rearview mirror, she started to panic and this time when it rolled past, it didn’t go far before the brake lights came on.

  Her fingers tightened around the steering wheel. She thought about just starting the car up and driving away on the flat tire. But then both front doors opened and two young Latinos emerged. At that point Ellie got desperate.

  “Okay God, You and I haven’t had a conversation in about five years and we both know why, but I’m giving you one last chance to come through for me. Please don’t let these people hurt me. Amen.”

  She watched them get out with their baggy blue jeans and long plaid shirts hanging nearly to their knees. They had matching bandanas tied around their heads and walked with a slight swagger as they stopped at her window. They didn’t look much older than Ellie. One of them knocked on the window.

  “Hey, pretty lady, are you having car trouble?”

  Ellie could almost hear Wyatt telling her . . . don’t let them know you’re afraid. She made herself smile.

  “I have a flat. My Daddy’s on the way to help me change it,” Ellie yelled, pointing to the right front tire.

  They circled the car, pointed at her tire, then one of them tapped on the passenger-side window.

  “Pop the trunk and we’ll change it for you,” he said.

  Two things went through her mind. If she popped the trunk, they could steal the tools and spare tire. If she didn’t pop the trunk, they might try going after her instead. She reached for the button.

  The trunk popped up behind her and the two guys disappeared. She heard thumping and bumping. The car shook a couple of times, and then to her amazement they reappeared. One was carrying the spare, the other the jack and lug wrench.

  “You don’t have to get out. Just don’t move around,” he said.

  Ellie nodded.

  Within moments, she heard the hubcap pop. It fell onto the concrete with a clang. When the shorter one suddenly went out of view, she realized he’d squatted down beside the wheel and was loosening the lug nuts. She heard them dropping the nuts into the hubcap and closed her eyes in disbelief. This was exactly what Daddy would do. Oh my God, they were actually changing her flat.

  When they began to jack up the front end of the car, it was instinct that made her grab the steering wheel to keep from sliding against the door. She was trying very hard to sit still—to not rock the car in any manner.

  There was a loud thump as they dropped the flat tire to the side, and then the spare went on. In no time, the car was being lowered. One of them stayed behind to tighten the lug nuts and replace the hubcap, while the other one loaded up the flat. As soon as the last bolt was tightened, he put the lug wrench back in the trunk, then slammed it shut.

  They walked past her, giving her a thumbs-up and a wink, and then got in their car and drove away.

  Ellie was still shaking when she got her cell phone out of the purse. She counted the rings until Daddy answered.

  “Hello? Ellie, I’m sorry. I’m at a red light. I should be there in about five minutes.”

  “It’s okay. Some people stopped and helped me change the flat. I’m starting the car and heading home right this minute.”

  Garrett breathed a sigh of relief. “I’ll pull in at the pharmacy parking lot until I see you drive past and then follow you home.”

  “Okay, and thanks. Sorry I had to get you out.”

  Garrett sighed. “That’s what daddies are for.”

  When she hung up, it was with a heart was so full of joy she wanted to sing. But it wasn’t because of Daddy, or even the two boys who’d stopped to change her flat. For the first time in her life God had answered a prayer.

  By now, it was almost dark. She turned on the headlights before she pulled out of the parking lot.

  “Thank you, God. Thank you very much. And if you see Momma anytime soon, tell her I’m doing the best that I can.”

  She drove home with a light heart, telling herself that things just might be turning around. She knew when Daddy pulled in behind her and followed her home, and for one of the few times in her life, didn’t mind.

  They pulled into the driveway, one behind the other and got out nearly at the same time. Ellie knew he was going to hug her. She stood her ground and let it happen, even though she would have preferred it not be the case.

  “Sweetheart. I’m glad you’re okay. Come inside. You must be chilled.”

  Ellie nodded as they entered the house. “They put the flat tire in the trunk,” Ellie said.

  “I’ll drop it off at the garage on Monday on my way to work. I made tuna sandwiches. Are you hungry?”

  “Yes, but I want to change out of this uniform first. I’ll be right back.”

  She could hear him rattling dishes and glasses as she headed for her room. Even though she knew he was in the kitchen, she still locked her bedroom door before she stripped.

  She would have liked to shower before putting on other clothes, but didn’t want to take up too much time and have him come looking for her. She put on a pair of sweats and a long-sleeved T-shirt, slid her feet into some house shoes, then stopped by Sophie’s door and knocked before poking her head inside. Sophie had the television turned up to what Wyatt called blastoff.

  Ellie ran over to the rocker. “I’m back from work. Daddy has sandwiches in the kitchen. Come eat with us.”

  Sophie hit the mute button on the remote. “What did you say?”

  “I said come eat.”

  Sophie nodded. “Be right there.”

  Ellie was almost skipping as she headed for the kitchen.

  “Just in time,” Daddy said. “Do you want soda pop or iced tea?”

  “Tea, please and make another one for Sophie. She’s on her way.”

  A shadow passed over his face, but he didn’t comment. Instead, he filled a third glass with ice and tea, added another plate and then set the sandwiches on the table.

  Sophie took a seat at the table with Ellie.

  Garrett sat across the table.

  Ellie looked up. He hadn’t set a place for himself.

  “Aren’t you eating?”

  “I already ate a sandwich when I was making them. Help yourself.”

  Ellie served sandwiches to Sophie and herself, then dug a handful of potato chips from the bag and divided them on their plates.

  “So who were the people who stopped to help you?” Garrett asked.

  Ellie shook her head as she reached for a napkin. “I don’t know. I did like you said and got in the car and locked myself in. They stopped, asked me if I needed help. I popped the trunk. They did the rest.”

  He frowned. “You say you didn’t know them.”

  “Right.” Ellie popped a chip into her mouth and washed it down with a drink of iced tea.

  “What’s right?” Sophie asked.

  Ellie laughed. “I was talking to Daddy.”

  “Oh,” Sophie said then promptly dropped part of the sandwich in her lap. “Oh no.”

  “I’ll get it,” Ellie said, and jumped up to get a paper towel.

  “Were they old or young?” Garrett asked.

  Distracted by Sophie’s mishap, Ellie had lost track of the conversation. “Um . . . I’m sorry, Daddy, what were you saying?”

  Daddy’s jaw visibly clenched. �
��It doesn’t behoove you to play stupid, Ellie.”

  Ellie’s heartbeat skittered before it caught back up in rhythm. What had she done wrong?

  “I’m sorry, Daddy. I was talking to Sophie and—”

  He slapped the table. “You were talking to me.”

  Ellie felt the tuna coming up. “Yes. Sorry.”

  Sophie got up, making no attempt to hide her disapproval of his behavior. “It appears I am in the way, so I’ll be leaving. Sorry, Ellie. I had no idea.”

  The joy in Ellie’s heart vanished—just like that. She laid her sandwich back on the plate and then sat with her eyes on her glass, watching a cold drop of condensation make a run for the tablecloth.

  “The people who changed your tire, were they old or young?”

  The condensation hit the cloth, then slowly soaked into the fabric, leaving a small tear-shaped stain.

  Ellie’s voice trembled, and no matter how many deep breaths she took, she couldn’t make it stop. “They were two Latino guys who looked like they might be my age. I was a little nervous at first because I thought they were wearing gang colors, but they didn’t say or do anything that made me think they meant to hurt me. They just changed the tire and left.”

  She watched her father’s face flush. This didn’t feel right.

  “You’re asking me to believe you didn’t know them, and that they just stopped? Bullshit! Boys like that don’t do anything for free. They didn’t ask for money?”

  “No, Daddy. I told you, they just changed the tire and left.”

  “They didn’t want anything from you?”

  The storm was coming closer. She could feel the heat from his anger and no matter what she said, she couldn’t make it stop. It made her angry as well. Was there never going to be a day of peace in her miserable life?

  “Like what? What are you getting at?”

  “I know what boys like that want from a girl like you.”

  Ellie started to shake. “Boys like that? A girl like me? What the hell are you trying to say?”

  He stood up, towering over her where she sat. “I’m talking about lowlifes like them.”

  “And what do you call a girl like me? Your daughter or your whore?”

  He slapped her.

  Ellie fell backward. The chair hit the floor, taking her with it.

  Their gazes locked in a moment of shocked silence and then Ellie rolled onto her knees and bolted, but he was right behind her, running in an all-out sprint.

  Ellie heard the roar of Sophie’s television and realized that even if she called for help, Sophie wouldn’t hear a thing. She hit her bedroom door with the flat of her hand and slid sideways before grabbing the doorknob. Her heart was pounding, her breath coming in short frantic gasps as she slammed the door shut. She shoved the slide bolt into place and ran backward until she reached the wall. The bones were melting in her legs. She was going to die. The door reverberated from the first kick.

  Ellie screamed and started to move backward, only to realize she was already against the wall.

  “Wyatt!” she screamed. “Wyatt help me!”

  The adjoining door didn’t open. Wyatt wasn’t here. No one was going to come to her rescue.

  The door reverberated again and Ellie watched in horror as the frame split away from the wall, taking hinges and the rest of the door with it.

  Ellie shuddered, and then everything began to happen in slow motion. Rage changed Daddy’s face from a man to a demon with its mouth wide-open in a roar she couldn’t hear—the floor was quaking beneath her feet from the impact of his stride—his hands turned into claws—reaching for her throat.

  And then he grabbed her. “Did you fuck those boys? Did you? Did they crawl between your legs?”

  She spit in his face.

  Garrett hit her with his fist then seemed surprised when she went limp. It didn’t stop his rage, he just threw her over his shoulder, jumped the broken door and carried her to his room and locked them in.

  She was seemingly lifeless when he threw her onto his bed and began tearing at her clothes, ripping them in pieces until she was naked. He wanted to see for himself. He had to know if she’d been with them.

  “Wake up,” he shouted, and slapped her cheek again.

  She didn’t blink as her head lolled to one side.

  “Wake up, damn it,” Garrett yelled, and shook her by the shoulders.

  She dropped back onto the mattress without making a sound.

  “Have it your way,” he muttered, and then ripped off his clothes and climbed onto the bed.

  Chapter Eleven

  Ellie woke up flat on her back in her bed. Every fiber of her body was a solid ache and she wondered if she was getting sick. She couldn’t remember going to bed, or why she would be hurting, but when a yawn sent pain ricocheting through her head and out her eyes, she groaned and pressed her fingers against her lids until the pain eased.

  It wasn’t until she sat up and saw the gaping hole where her door had been that she remembered.

  Oh my God, oh my God.

  She slapped a hand over her mouth to keep from screaming, then frantically shoved back the covers. There was blood on her thighs. Horror seeped through her in shock waves.

  “Wyatt! Wyatt!”

  The fact he didn’t answer shocked her. He hadn’t even come home last night or he would have hit the ceiling when he’d seen the missing door. He’d always been the constant she could depend on, and now he had abandoned her, too.

  Damn you, Wyatt Wayne.

  She crawled out of bed, clutching her belly and moaning with every step as she dragged her battered body into the bathroom. The moment the door closed behind her, she turned the lock.

  The distinct click was a virtual tap on the shoulder that she’d done this once before and it hadn’t stopped him. If he wanted, he could kick that in, too.

  Afraid to look at herself, Ellie staggered toward the vanity then braced herself against the counter. Her legs were shaking and she was struggling with the urge to vomit. The smell of him was in her nose and on her skin. She turned her back to the mirror and began stripping off her clothes, then got into the shower and turned the water on full force.

  It was cold when it first hit her body, but she welcomed the bitter sting, and when it began to warm, she stepped beneath the spray and closed her eyes.

  The force of the water hit the top of her head, spilling down her face to her breasts, onto the flat planes of her belly, then the valley between her thighs. She kept turning the tap, making the water run hotter and hotter until her skin was burning. She was desperate to wash away the shame. The longer she stood, the more resentment began to build. She was mad at God for ever letting her be born—at Momma for abandoning her to a fate truly worse than death—and at Wyatt for turning his back on her when she needed him most.

  She had not directed anger toward Garrett, because you had to love someone before their betrayal hurt. She didn’t know if she’d ever loved her Daddy, but she knew how she felt about him now and love had nothing to do with it.

  When she began to hear hammering above the rush of water, her first thought was that he was back and coming through this door. But when she stepped out from beneath the spray to listen, she could tell the sounds were inside her room, but farther away.

  Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!

  What was he doing? Oh my God, couldn’t Sophie hear anything anymore? Ellie slid to the bottom of the tub, her heart hammering against her chest as she hid her face against her knees.

  The water kept running.

  The hammering didn’t stop.

  She stayed in the tub until the water ran cold. When she finally turned it off the silence was startling. Even the hammering had stopped.

  Her body was so sore it was a struggle to get up. As she was reaching for a towel, she accidentally caught a glimpse of herself.

  Shock swept through her in waves.

  There was a spreading purple bruise on her jaw and another one on her neck. One eye was n
early swollen shut and there were bite marks on her breasts and scratches on her thighs. She didn’t remember what had happened, but she knew—she knew.

  Shock shifted swiftly to rage. Why hadn’t he gone ahead and killed her? She would have preferred it.

  When she realized she was standing on her pajamas and had gotten them wet, she kicked them in a corner. No way would she put those back on. His scent was on them, too.

  She needed clean clothes, but they were all beyond this door. Did she dare look? What if he was sitting on the side of her bed, waiting for her to come out?

  Suddenly, it occurred to her that there was nothing left that he could do to her that he hadn’t already done. The recognition of that horror turned her fear to rage . She had no one left to depend on but herself. To hell with hiding. To hell with being afraid. The only thing left was to kill her, and she wasn’t afraid to die.

  She started to wrap a towel around herself then decided it was too much like closing the barn door after the horse was out. In a gesture of defiance, she dropped it on the floor and walked out completely nude, only to find herself alone. There was a new door on her room and with a new lock like the one she’d had before. She slid the bolt into place then went to get dressed. It was Sunday and there was a strong and growing need within her to be washed in the blood.

  An hour passed, and when she came out dressed and ready for church, she found a note taped to the outside of her door.

  Went to get your flat fixed. Daddy

  She stared. Was that how it was going to play out? Just like that they’d move on? No, I’m sorry—no, are you okay—just, I’m just off to do a chore? She ripped the note from her door, wadded it up and dropped it on the floor.

  She glanced toward Sophie’s room. There was no sound coming from inside. Either she was sleeping in, or she was gone for a walk. Sophie liked to take walks in the neighborhood when the weather was good. At this point, Ellie didn’t much care. Having a nanny hadn’t helped her last night.

  Her footsteps echoed on the hardwood floor as she walked down the hall. She remembered Momma’s heels making the same sound when she dressed up, but just thinking about Momma made Ellie pissed. Momma had been a coward, going off to live with Jesus and leaving Ellie alone with the Devil.