by Amy O'Neill
The seriousness in Delphine’s tone perplexed Noelle. On one hand, the statement had the feel of motherly advice. But on the other hand, Noelle got the sense that there was a bit of forewarning.
“I know he’d never hurt me. If I didn’t believe that, I would have never let him get past the first kiss.”
Delphine patted her hand. “I know I just want you to remember that. Sometimes when things happen it’s hard to separate our present from our past. Don’t ever judge Trent on how you were treated before.”
Noelle leaned back and eyed the other woman. “Of course I wouldn’t do that. Is there something you’re tryin’ to tell me Delphine? I get the sense you’re skirting ‘round something.”
Delphine averted her eyes for a moment, making her look like she really was evading something, but she said otherwise. “Nope. I just see you being so happy, not like the girl I met a few weeks ago. You’re like a daughter to me and I just want you to have that happiness that you’ve missed out on for so long.”
Noelle could feel her nose turn red as tears stung at the corner of her eyes. The concern in Delphine reminded her of her momma. She blotted at her eye and nodded. “Thank you, I know you mean that.”
Delphine patted her hand. “Well of course I do. Now, tell me about meeting his friends.”
Noelle smiled and told her about how great Avery was and how natural it felt to be part of a couple with Trent. “It’s almost as if I were meant to be there, ya know?”
Delphine nodded and smiled. “Yeah, I know. You seem really good for him. And though I didn’t know you before, I can tell he’s really brought you out of your shell.”
“I feel like I can trust him, with everything. He doesn’t judge me for staying so long with Lenny, and he doesn’t expect me to be anyone other than who I am. He makes me feel safe. Safe enough to let down my defenses.”
“Good. We all need love like that.”
Noelle held up her hand. “Now, hang on a minute. I didn’t say the L-word.”
Delphine winked at her. “You don’t have to say it. It’s written all over those blushing cheeks of yours!”
Noelle ducked her head, but couldn’t stop the smile. “I’m almost scared to say it out loud.”
“Say what – that you love him?”
Noelle nodded.
Delphine asked, “Well, do ya?”
After a moment, Noelle nodded. She looked up fast and reached for Delphine’s hand. “Please don’t tell him though. I mean I’ve known the man for just a few weeks. What if it’s me getting swept up in the moment? What if it’s just a lust thing? I don’t even know how he feels!”
Delphine cocked her head. “Honey, sometimes you don’t need words to know how someone else feels. Sometimes it’s a look, a touch. I see the looks, I see the small things he does with you. That boy is smitten.”
Noelle bit at the inside of her mouth and whispered. “I know I am.”
Delphine patted her hand once more. “Put some conviction in there! It’s alright to love someone and trust they will love you back.”
Noelle nodded. “I know. It’s just getting used to real love. I’d trust Trent with my life, and I’ve never been able to say that about another man.”
Delphine shook her head. “If you want any man on your side, it’s Trent. Like I said, he’d never hurt you for the world. Just remember that.”
Noelle eyed her. There was that forewarning again. “I’ll remember. Anyway, we should be getting to work.”
Delphine laughed and got up. “Who is the boss here?”
Noelle smiled and lowered her head. “Sorry.”
Delphine threw her hands in the air. “There’s that word again. Stop saying sorry! But it’s good to know if I left you in charge you would make sure work gets done.”
Noelle shrugged nonchalantly as she grabbed another sheet from the bin and started folding it. “Yeah, I’m reliable like that.”
Delphine nodded and started to push the cleaning cart into the other room. Before she walked out, she looked over her shoulder at Noelle. “I know you are. And I expect a full report at lunch on what happened with lover boy.”
Noelle threw a small hand towel at her, “I ain’t gonna kiss and tell, Delphine. Use your imagination.”
Delphine gave a wink and walked away, calling from the other room, “Oh I will. See you later.”
“Goodbye Delphine!”
Noelle shook her head and smiled. She spent the rest of the morning getting caught up on the laundry and made it half way through a romance novel.
Noelle stepped out of the shower and wrapped herself in a plush pink towel. Her arms ached from all the folding she’d done, but the romance novel from earlier had given her some steamy scenarios to act out with Trent. His lovemaking was bringing out the wanton woman in her!
She brushed her hair and caressed his love mark again. A quick look at the clock told her he’d be getting out of work soon. She still had more than an hour until he was going to pick her up, but it seemed like an eternity.
An urgent knock at the door startled her out of her thoughts. She jumped and let out a squeal before cautiously walking over and looking out the peephole.
She pressed her hand against her chest, trying to calm her racing heart and opened the door. “Hey there, handsome. You’re early.”
Noelle smiled and leaned forward to kiss Trent, but he rushed in and closed the door behind him. “You gotta get dressed. We need to get out of here.”
Noelle stared at him for a moment, then walked toward the small dresser and reached in the top drawer for a pair of panties. As she put them on she asked, “What’s wrong?”
Trent paced back and forth near the door, occasionally stealing looks through the sheer curtains. He pulled the heavy drapes closed, but still peered out the side. “I think I was followed.”
She pulled a t-shirt over her head. “By who?”
Trent gave her a look. He didn’t need to answer. Her heart dropped and she clutched her stomach. She struggled to find her voice, but finally managed to say, “Oh God. I think I’m gonna be sick.”
She took a seat on the end of the bed and tried to breathe. The fear was paralyzing. Her hands began to shake uncontrollably; a few deep breaths did nothing to help. She put her hands between her knees and rocked back and forth, trying to get her shaking under control.
Trent was kneeling in front of her in the next instant. “Hold it together, honey. We gotta get out of here. I’ll grab you some pants. Where are your shoes?”
Noelle looked at him as if he spoke Martian. She looked down and realized she was only half dressed. “Oh God. He’s gonna kill me. He told me before if I ran and he found me he was gonna do it.”
Trent shook his head as he tossed things out of a dresser drawer and into her duffle bag. “Over my dead body, I won’t let him near you. Babe, please, we gotta get moving.”
She nodded and numbly put on the sweatpants he handed her. As the seconds ticked by, the tension grew. It was almost as if she could sense Lenny getting closer and closer.
“How in the hell did he find me?”
Trent was back at the window watching the parking lot. “I forgot to close my computer after I saw your Missing Persons’ Bulletin. Fitzer saw it and called it in.”
The fear gave way to hysteria, making her voice escalate with each syllable. “Why didn’t you stop him?”
“I didn’t know for sure that he’d seen it until this morning. Lenny and his dad were at the station when I got there.”
Her eyes widened and she raced to finish putting on her shoes. “You saw him? Did you talk to him? What did he say?”
Trent swore. “They’re here.”
He looked around and eyed the small window over the towel in the bathroom. He let out another string of curses. “How the hell am I gonna get you out of here now?”
She eyed the window. “Are you sure we can’t try to squeeze through there?”
He shook his head. “We can get through fine, but
it’s a straight drop down at least sixteen feet. I jumped out of one of these windows once before and broke my arm. I’m not about to try again with you.”
Trent took out his cell phone. “Marshall, this is Torres. That guy and his dad from this morning are here at Seaside Escape. I think they want to hurt the woman I told you about. Can you send a car out right away? I don’t think this is gonna be pretty.”
Noelle walked to the curtain and peeked out as a large figure walked past the window. She dropped to the floor and covered her head as the pounding began on the door.
Tears filled her eyes and the helplessness she’d tried so hard to outrun caught up to her. Trent leaned over her and smoothed her hair. Her first reaction was to jerk away.
She stared at him with wide eyes. “Why didn’t you pay more attention to see if you were being followed?”
He recoiled at the accusing tone in her words. His forehead wrinkled. “My first concern was getting to you. Sorry I wasn’t thinking clearer.”
The pounding continued to the point where Noelle was waiting for the next hit to come breaking through the door.
“Sorry doesn’t cut it. We could be dead before help gets here. Why couldn’t you just trust me? If you had asked me first before nosing around I would have told you whatever you wanted to know.”
Noelle knew this wasn’t the best time or place to start accusing him, but she didn’t know how much time she had left. If she knew Lenny, he and his father were packing at least one handgun, which meant the chances of them getting out of the room unscathed were slim.
Trent started to get up. “I’m gonna answer it. I’m not scared of him. You shouldn’t have to hide, Noelle.”
Noelle lunged for him, clinging onto his arm. “What? Why? God, he’s gonna get me. He’s gonna get you!”
She couldn’t help the tears from falling. The fear ripped through her and she had to run to the bathroom to vomit. Trent was right on her heels.
“Noelle, focus on being pissed at me, alright? Focus on that, don’t focus on Lenny or what may or may not happen. Focus on me.”
She looked at him as if he’d grown another head. “There is a homicidal man on the other side of that door and you want me to focus on you?”
He nodded. “Yeah. Be pissed at me; hate my guts right now if you want. If that is gonna help you stop panicking then alright. I need you to be strong right now Noelle.”
Strong? He wanted her to be strong? Her anger grew. “Shut up! I’ll be strong when I’m done freaking out.”
He nodded. “Good, that’s good. Keep that anger. Stay here while I get the door.”
She slammed the bathroom door on him. Where did he get off bossing her around? She paced back and forth in the small room. She didn’t need him to fight her battles. She’d faced Lenny before, and she knew if she stayed hidden that he’d take pleasure in knowing she was so frightened now.
Without thinking, she opened the door and stormed out into the room. Straight ahead, standing out on the walkway was Lenny and his daddy. All that stood between her and their guns was Trent.
Trent stared down at the two Colt .45 barrels pointed at him. His heart pounded harder than Lenny’s fist had on the door just a moment before. The sound of approaching sirens got louder, but Trent didn’t know if he’d be alive by the time help arrived.
They were pissing him off and he widened his stance in the door. “Now boys, do we really need to start things off with violence. I think it’d be in your best interest to put the guns down. The last thing you want is for my buddies to show up and catch you in the act.”
“Where the hell is that bitch?”
Trent eyed Lenny. Man, he wished he was another foot closer so he could punch the bastard. “Who are you looking for?”
“Don’t be smart with me. Noelle – I want Noelle.”
Trent shrugged nonchalantly. “Don’t know what you’re talking about. It’s just me in here. So you two can run along and try to intimidate someone else.”
Lenny sneered at him. “Hey genius, next time you’re gonna lie, make sure she ain’t standing right behind ya.”
Trent heaved a heavy sigh. He wasn’t about to turn around, especially with guns pointed at him. But he heard Noelle’s approaching footsteps.
“Noelle, stay right there, don’t take another step.”
“You can’t boss me around. None of y’all can anymore. I’m tired of men telling me what to do!”
Trent clenched his teeth and swore to himself. He was all for Noelle standing her ground, but now was not the time to call him out when he was trying to defend her life.
“I get it Noelle, but I’ve got things under control. Stay where you are.” He could almost feel the waves of anger she was shooting into his back.
Trent let her anger build with his and took a step closer to Lenny, until the gun barrel was less than six inches from him. “You aren’t taking her out of this room. You aren’t getting past me.”
Lenny cocked the hammer on the gun. “I wouldn’t be too sure about that. This ain’t no toy gun.”
Noelle gasped behind him, but Trent stood his ground, refusing to give Lenny the satisfaction of backing down. He squared his shoulders and glared. “Oh, I’m sure. Why don’t you and your daddy put those down and we can discuss this like real men. We can let Noelle decide where she wants to be and then you two can run along back to whatever hole you climbed out of.”
Lenny turned red and his father cocked his pistol. “You think you’re real smart talking like that. You ain’t gonna be so smart in a body bag are ya?”
Trent held up his hands and widened his eyes in mock fear. “Ooh, I’m shaking. You seriously think I’m gonna be scared of two guys with guns? I’ve been a city cop for over ten years, I’ve been in much scarier situations.”
“You’re asking for it!” Lenny was shaking as he spoke, crimson flashed across his face.
“Leave him be, Lenny. It’s me you want.”
Trent was surprised by the calm in Noelle’s voice, especially after how she’d been moments ago. Her words distracted Lenny long enough for Trent to push the gun away and throw it across the room. It discharged as it bounced off the wall, the bullet struck the front window and glass shattered out into the night.
Everyone froze, and then in the next second all hell broke loose. Noelle screamed, Lenny charged forward, and Trent delivered a right hook to the chin, sending Lenny’s head snapping to the side. He fell to the ground like a ton of bricks.
Frank lunged toward Trent, but didn’t get more than two feet when a shotgun sounded behind him, breaking through the chaos. Delphine appeared at the door with the double barrels smoking as she aimed the gun at Frank.
“That was a warning shot buddy. I suggest you and that sorry excuse of a son get off my property before I decide to pull this trigger again.”
Frank glared at her and then at Trent. He dropped the gun, cursing at all of them. “You’re all gonna pay for this, ya hear?”
A moment later, Delphine brought the butt of her shotgun down hard on his head. Frank collapsed on top of Lenny. “Well, that’s one way to get him to shut up!”
“Holy shit, Del. Where did you come from?”
“I saw them whip into the parking lot. I grabbed my gun, and I’m damn lucky I wasn’t a few seconds sooner or I would have been in front of the window when it shattered.”
Noelle gasped. “Oh my God.”
Trent stared wide eyed at Delphine as she rushed past him to wrap her arms around Noelle. “I’m fine, honey. The question is - are you okay?”
Noelle nodded numbly and stared back at Trent. He knew she would protest, but he needed to get her to a safe place. “We gotta get out of here Noelle.”
She nodded again and gestured toward their intruders. “Are … are they dead?”
Trent shook his head. “No, they’ll be coming to soon, that’s why we gotta run. Del, the cops should be here any minute. You tell them what you know and I’ll call the Chief about what happ
ened before you showed up like Annie Oakley. “
In spite of all the drama that had just unfolded, Delphine laughed. “You take care of our girl here or else I have a few more bullets I’ll put to use.”
Trent held up his hand. “No worries there.”
He bent down and kissed Delphine’s cheek. “Thank you.”
She waved him off and hugged Noelle again. “Noelle, remember what I said earlier.”
The two women exchanged a look and then Noelle looked at him. Her reply was barely above a whisper. “I’m trying.”
Delphine shooed them out of the room. “Do better than try. Now get the hell out of here. Call me Noelle, so I know you guys are somewhere safe.”
As they sped out of the parking lot, Trent called Marshall and filled him in on what was going on. Marshall wasn’t pleased.
“Come straight to the station. We’ll get your statements and then we can make arrangements for Noelle.”
“No, I’m taking her away. I need to take a few days off. Until Lenny and his father are taken care of, I’m not letting her out of my sight.”
Marshall’s tone was stern. “Torres, you know we are gonna book them and they’ll be behind bars before the night is over. They aren’t going anywhere any time soon.”
“Sorry, Chief. I can’t do it. I’ll let you talk to Noelle to give her statement and I’ll answer any questions you need, but right now my priority is her safety.”
“Trent, did you completely forget our discussion earlier about letting your personal feelings cloud your rational judgment?”
Trent stopped at the red light and looked over at Noelle. She was staring blankly out the window. She looked pale and tired. The only word he could think of to describe her expression was haunted. Haunted by the past and by what had just transpired in her room.
Trent knew he was figuratively and literally at a crossroads. The road straight ahead would lead to the station and ‘doing things by the book’. The road to the left would lead to his condo and letting his heart lead him.
“Sorry, chief. But I’m going with my gut on this one.”
