“You’re going to have to work more hours,” Billy exploded.
“Billy, I can’t do it! I just can’t! I’m working as much as I can but with my morning sickness, I’ve had to call in a lot,” she tried to reason with him.
“I’m tired of finding cut-off notices every time I get the mail. And I saw that you’re behind on your credit card. You better make those payments or we won’t be able to buy diapers,” he yelled at her.
“You know,” she stopped mid-sentence, “Wait a minute! How do you know that I’m behind on my credit card?” she challenged.
“I opened the bill, dumb ass!”
“What? And don’t call me names! You don’t open my mail! My dad used to do that to me. I’m entitled to some privacy! That’s my bill, not yours!” As they started screaming at each other, Chloe began to cry.
“Shut up! And shut your kid up too! I’m sick of hearing her cry,” he demanded.
Ashley recognized that she was near her breaking point, but she didn’t know what to do about it. Billy was far too much like her father. While he hadn’t beaten her, it was really a matter of yet. She knew it was coming, just like she was able to sense when her dad was on one of his meth-induced binges. With the baby due in only three months, she decided to try to hold out until the baby was born. One of her concerns were that she wanted this baby’s gender to be a surprise; but she didn’t have anything for it if it were a boy. Her paychecks were so small that she couldn’t have bought anything anyway. She supposed it was best to wait until the baby arrived before leaving. At least if she waited, Billy could help her with Chloe until she was released from the hospital. Without him, she had nobody else to turn to; her parents were not an option.
Shortly after Brooke was born, she began talking to her co-workers to see what her options were. Billy was so controlling that he monitored her phone bill to see every call she made. She couldn’t talk to anyone without him knowing unless it were while she was at work. That was the one place he stayed away from. She explained to her supervisor that she didn’t want to become her mother, she wanted to break the cycle of abuse. Her boss suggested she go to the St. Louis Women’s Safe House.
“But if I go there, I’m not going to be able to keep my job here. He will show up. I know he will,” she said, biting her lip.
“Well, if that’s what you have to do, then do it. Ashley, no one can tell you what’s right for you. You have to make that decision.”
“I know, but I’m scared.”
“You’re a strong woman, and I see how much you love those babies. You should at least check into it. Maybe they can help you find a new job. I’m sure you wouldn’t be the first woman to be starting all over,” she assured her.
By the end of her shift, she’d made up her mind, but didn’t have the guts to admit it. She was going to see what her alternatives were and what kind of help the Women’s Safe House had to offer. There was no way that she could continue living like she was. The next afternoon when she came in for her scheduled shift, she pulled her manager to the side.
“Saundra, do you remember how you told me to look into the Women’s Safe House yesterday?”
“Yes, I do,” she answered.
“I was wondering…Billy checks my phone bill online—daily—to see who I’m calling. Could I use the phone…”
Saundra interrupted her before she could finish the sentence. “Yes, go to my office and close the door. Take all the time you need. I’ll cover for you until you get back,” she hugged her. “You’re going to get through this, honey. Hang in there.”
The comfort of a friend, even though it was her supervisor, warmed her heart and made her want to cry. She’d only ever known abuse, not acceptance, and certainly not affection. It had been so long since she’d received a hug. The only touches she received were when Billy was pawing at her to get into her pants. His touches made her cringe, but she obliged to keep from arguing with him and waking their babies. It was the only time he ever touched her.
After talking to the St. Louis Women’s Safe House, she felt as though they’d be able to help her. She could take both of her babies there and they offered plenty of assistance and resources to help her get back on her feet. Leaving Billy was going to be a trial, but she had to end the cycle. There was no way in hell she was going to let her babies grow up thinking it was all right to support a man and let him control her. She devised a plan to take the girls and escape the abuse from Billy though it hadn’t become physical yet. She knew it was only a matter of time. With the help of her friends from work, she secretly packed as much of her and the baby’s things without him knowing. A few days before she planned to leave, she tried talking him into going on a fishing trip with some of the guys from her work. They’d all gotten together and came up with a strategy to get him out of the house, using some of the guys from her work as bait.
“You should go, Billy. It’ll be fun, and I’m off work that day so I can keep the girls while you spend some time with the guys.”
“Who’s all going?” he asked as he played video games. This had become his favorite past time while she spent her time working and cleaning.
“Steve, Matt, and Jason are all going. I think they’re planning on leaving Thursday morning around 8 AM.”
“You know I don’t fish. Why would you come up with such a stupid idea that I should go?” he protested as he’d rather spend his time on the X-Box.
“Because you never get out of the house, and it would give me a day to myself with the girls. Please, Billy, will you go?”
“I’ll think about it,” he finally offered to get her off his back.
When she went back into work the next day, she told her co-workers that she didn’t think he was going to buy into her plan.
“You’ve got to get him out of that house,” Saundra insisted. “It’s the only way you’re going to get out of there.”
“I know, but he doesn’t like to fish.”
“What does he like to do?” her boss asked.
“Smoke weed, play video games. Anything that doesn’t involve physical activity.”
“Does he like to drink?”
“Oh yeah, he definitely likes to drink,” Ashley admitted.
“Tell him the guys are bringing a few cases of beer. Maybe that’ll do the trick. Hell, I’ll even pay for it. As much as I hate to lose you as an employee, I can’t wait to see you away from him.”
That night when she went home, she told Billy about the beer. It was her only hope to get him to go on the fishing trip.
“And we don’t have to pitch in?” he asked.
“No, the guys know how tight our bills are. They said they’d take care of it. All you have to do is show up.”
Thinking about it for a few minutes, Billy asked her, “Can I bring my weed?”
“They don’t smoke it, but I don’t think they would mind if you did, as long as it was away from them.”
“Hell yeah, free beer, getting stoned and hanging out with the guys! Will you pack me a cooler and run to the store to buy me some papers?”
She rolled her eyes but agreed. Ashley hated buying the papers for his weed, but she knew that if she didn’t run to the store for him, she’d pay for it later. Happily packing his cooler, she knew it would be the last thing she ever did anything for him. She was grateful the guys from work agreed to take him fishing. They hated him, but they were willing to help her out. That night, she could hardly sleep as she thought about finally getting out of there. Part of her was excited to leave, but she was scared of the unknown. She’d never known anyone who stayed in a Safe House for Women. Her friends told her that she’d need to be careful once she was there. Some of the other victims living there might steal some of their things for themselves.
When moving day came, Ashley and her friends frantically ran around the house, bustling to pack and move as much as possible. She rented a storage unit that morning, and they put most of her belongings into storage until she could find a new job and g
et a place of her own. By late afternoon, all of her and the baby’s things were out of the tiny shack that they shared with Billy. They arrived at the Safe House just after dinner. She didn’t know what to expect, but she noticed right away that the place was crowded. Women and children were spread around the front living area watching a big flat screen TV as they settled down for the night. Feeling awkward, she and the girls stayed with one of the volunteers as they showed her around the center. At the end of the evening, the three ended up sharing a small room which consisted of a bed and a crib.
Sharing the full-size bed with Chloe, space was cramped as the toddler rolled around through the night. Brooke slept peacefully in her crib. Ashley wished she could do the same, but she couldn’t stop thinking about Billy and what he said when he came home to a house that was practically deserted. The furniture, appliances and television were all still there, but the girls’ tiny room was completely bare; maybe a few stray toys scattered throughout the room, and her side of the closet was empty. Now their clothes were neatly folded inside a small white dresser that sat in between the tan crib and the bed she now shared with her toddler. A shelf above the chest supplied an area where she could store baby supplies such as diapers, wipes and baby lotion. She imagined how livid Billy probably was and was nervous that he would find them. That was impossible, though, as the shelter offered privacy. Something none of her friends could provide for her. Wrestling with her lumpy, lopsided pillow, she tried to find a position that was comfortable before she finally gave up and fell asleep.
The staff and volunteers at the Safe House were rather helpful in assisting her with the necessary resources to begin their new future. Ashley’s case manager, Terry Willis, quickly recognized that she could help some of the other women in the shelter. Since she did all of the budgeting when she lived with Billy, she could provide tutoring assistance for their financial literacy courses. Most of the women there were never trusted with money or a checkbook by their abusive partners. Ashley wanted to help empower the other women in any way she could and began teaching them how to budget and balance a check register. It offered her a sense of satisfaction to make a difference in these women’s lives.
Every Tuesday evening, the Safe House provided an hour-long session for financial literacy. Ashley spoke for the first 30 minutes of the meeting to go over the basics of how to record transactions in the ledger in the back of their checkbooks, and tips on budgeting. After she had finished speaking, a bank loan officer took over to volunteer his expertise for the remainder of the course. Keith Marshall taught the women the importance of having good credit and what their credit meant to them; and most significantly, how to use their credit. With Ashley and Keith teaming up, the women began to understand what it meant to finally live on their own two feet—financially.
Keith and Ashley had private conferences after each session to discuss what they would speak about or go over the following week. As they worked together, the two of them noticed that there was an electrical chemistry between them. Ashley picked up on the fact that any time he was around her, he stood taller with his back straight and chest pushed out. He also showed her that he was a real gentleman by holding doors open, pulling her chair out and accidentally brushed up against her a lot. She, on the other hand, often locked eye contact with him as she played with her hair and sat close to him.
Initially, they’re relationship was a bit awkward. He didn’t know if he was overstepping his boundaries by flirting with a woman in a Safe House for abused women, especially when he was in a position to help them. She thought it was a bit inappropriate to develop feelings for someone that the shelter highly regarded, but she could feel the connection. They shared many of the same interests and hobbies, and he offered her a sense of security. Over six feet tall, and weighing more than 200 pounds, she felt that he could protect her. It was something she desperately wanted; to feel safe, loved and secure. Keith could offer her those things. And with Ashley barely over five feet tall and an average frame, suffering from years of abuse, he felt that he needed to offer her those things. He wanted to protect her and make her feel safe and precious.
It didn’t take long for the two of them to develop a romantic relationship as they continued working together. She’d only been in the Safe House for about four months—working most of that time with Keith—when the two of them decided that it was time for her to leave. Ashley took her two babies and moved in with him. Even though they’d only known each other a few short months, they felt as though they’d known each other for an entire lifetime. They were soul mates; two old souls connecting together. She knew that he was the one she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. There wasn’t a mean bone in his body. He was gentle, kind and patient; the complete opposite of what she knew. Keith was a great man, well established and he cherished her baby girls. What more could a girl ask for? She would have no idea how stable and supportive he was. Not until they had to deal with Ashley’s crazy past after they were living together.
Chapter 2
With their whirlwind romance, Keith and Ashley tied the knot about six months after living together, and he treated the girls as if they were his own. Coming home to a loving family after a hard day at work was satisfying to him, but the most rewarding of all was when the girls began calling him Dad. He loved the sound of that. Things were finally starting to fall in place for all of them as Ashley stayed at home caring for her children while Keith earned a living to support them. It was definitely not something she’d been accustomed to, but it felt wonderful. She offered to find work, to help pay their bills, but he insisted that her place was at home with the girls.
One day while at home, Ashley decided to check her email—something she hadn’t done in months. Busy with escaping her controlling ex, living in the Safe House and then moving in with and marrying Keith, she hadn’t had much free time. Her mom, Brenda, had sent her a message. Reluctant to open it at first, she decided that she should at least see what her mom wanted. She hadn’t spoken to her—or really anyone—since she left Billy. Her mom had asked how everyone was doing. She was interested in hearing about her grandbabies and was curious as to what they were doing. Ashley was happy enough in her life that she decided to share the joy with her mom. She’d met the man of her dreams, lived in a beautiful place and was doing well. She knew her mom would be happy for her; and proud of her choices.
Mom,
We’re all doing great! When I stayed at the Safe House, I met a wonderful man who is a bank loan officer for Missouri State Bank. His name’s Keith, and the girls and I have been living with him since I left the shelter. I must warn you, though. You have a son-in-law now because we tied the knot! I’m sorry I didn’t tell you that I was getting married. It was kind of a last minute decision so please don’t be mad. We couldn’t wait another day and had a small ceremony at the courthouse. The girls love him to death and call him Dad. He’s excellent to all of us and insists that I don’t work. He wants me to stay at home to raise the girls. I miss you and love you. I hope all is going well.
Love,
Ashley
Unfortunately, Tim used her response as an opportunity to try to exert control over his daughter, risking her relationship with her husband. There was no way that she would have ever responded to a message from him, but she would answer to her mom. By this point, she’d stopped calling him dad and had been calling him Tim for the last couple of years. Ashley knew her mom well enough to know that they were both victims of abuse, and she would never deny her mom the opportunity to hear about how they were doing. Of course, Ashley wouldn’t find out any of this until it was too late.
Her dad stormed into the bank where Keith worked and began to cause a rampant scene. Sitting at his desk, he started to stand up as the man approached him.
“You Keith Marshall?” the tall, lanky man demanded.
“Yes, I am. Is there something I….” Keith initiated until he was interrupted.
“Tell me where Ashley and the girl
s are,” he growled, flaring his nostrils as his dark, greasy hair fell over his left eye.
“I’m sorry. Who are you?” Keith’s demeanor cocky, confused as to who this man was. Initially, he thought it must be Ashley’s ex, but the man appeared too old to be him.
“I’m her dad! And you’re going to tell me where they are right now!” Tim snarled, punching the desk.
The bank tellers froze as the ugly, violent scene unfolded before them. The bank manager signaled Keith to see if he wanted her to call the police. He nodded his head.
“I don’t have to tell you anything,” he said calmly. “Ashley is my wife and I can assure you that she and the girls are fine. I’m going to ask you to leave before the police come arrest you.”
“You motherfucker!” Tim spat in his face; it landed on his right cheek. “You’re going to tell me where my kid and grandkids are! Those are my girls. Don’t think I won’t do what’s necessary to get to them!”
Keith was beginning to realize how right his wife had been and how psycho her dad was. She wasn’t exaggerating; she was telling it exactly how it was. It frightened him to deal with the crazed man, he could only imagine how she must’ve felt growing up as his punching bag.
The Silencer: A Bad Boy MMA Romance Page 15
