Safe and Sound

by Lindy Zart

  Dr. Jones looked up from the screen. “Roxanne? Your girlfriend?”

  Face red, he gave a tight nod.

  She sat back. “I see.”

  “I don’t think she meant to,” Lola said, her words hollow. Two pairs of gray eyes zoomed in on her, showing their suspicion. She shifted her feet. “At least, I don’t think she meant for my chin to split open and need stitches.”

  Sebastian snorted.

  His mother gave him a look and motioned for Lola to sit on the examining table. “Let’s take a look.”

  Lola complied, the paper crinkling under her as she lay down.

  Dr. Jones shined a light on her and brought her face close to Lola’s. “Oh, yes, you do.” She paused and looked up at her son. “Sebastian, why don’t you step out for a minute.”

  He straightened. “But—“

  His mom raised a hand. “You’ve been a good friend. If Lola wants you with her while I do the stitches, that’s fine, but for now, you need to leave.” Her voice was stern and held no room for argument.

  Sebastian stared at his mother and then Lola before nodding. He left, shutting the door behind him.

  Lola moved to sit up.

  “You stay right where you are.”

  She froze and lay back down. Dr. Jones’s face blocked out the light as she scrutinized Lola. “I’ve known you since you were four, Lola. I read stories to you and fed you. I wiped your nose. I even wiped your behind on occasion.”

  Dr. Jones’s image wavered before her. Pain tightened her throat.

  “You’ve been like my daughter for years. We’ve been close. You and Sebastian were best friends, although for some reason you’re both being dumb this year. What I’m trying to say is, I would think you could come to me if something was wrong.” Dr. Jones cleared her throat when it cracked.

  Lola broke down, tears streaming down the sides of her face. Dr. Jones pulled her up and cocooned her in her arms. Lola clutched her to her, pretending for just a moment it was her mom holding her.

  “Now you tell me what’s going on and you tell me the truth,” she said against her hair. “Who did this to you? Who gave you those bruises?” Her voice shook and she squeezed Lola close. “Are you being abused?”

  It was like a dam broke. Horrible, gut-wrenching sounds left Lola’s lips. She couldn’t keep them in, she couldn’t stop. Her body was wracked with them, with the need to release all her pain. Dr. Jones rocked her as she cried, stroking her hair and murmuring into her ear.

  After a time, Dr. Jones jerked to a stop and said, “Oh, shit, we need to get you stitched up.”

  Lola laughed and sobbed as the same time. She’d never heard Sebastian’s mom swear.

  “Come on, honey.” She patted her hand and handed over a tissue. “Let’s go perform some minor surgery. You want Sebastian with you? Of course you do. Come on.”

  8

  “Your mom stopped by, signed papers, and left,” Dr. Jones told her, gaze intent on Lola’s face.

  Pain stabbed her chest and Lola looked away from Dr. Jones’s probing gaze. “Must have…had stuff to do.”

  “Something more important than being with her daughter when she’s hurt?”

  Lola was saved from answering when Sebastian walked into the room.

  He took one look at Lola’s face and rushed over. “What happened? Are you okay?” His eyes searched her face. She was sure she looked quite fetching with her puffy eyes and red nose.

  “She’s fine. Sit down on the other side of the table, on her other side, Sebastian.” Dr. Jones gave her arm a light squeeze. “This will sting a bit. Hold still. Deep breaths.”

  A hand enclosed hers and held it tight. Sebastian’s.

  “Debbie, is everything ready?” The nurse said it was.

  Her chin was swabbed with a cold gauze pad that smelled like alcohol. “Okay, Lola, here we go.” Lola closed her eyes as the needle came nearer, a sharp sting and pressure letting her know the injection was taking place.

  It took a few minutes for the area to numb up, a few more for the six stitches to be placed.

  “How you doing?” Sebastian asked once it was done.

  Sebastian still held her hand and Lola squeezed it in silent thanks. “I’m fine.”

  “You looked terrible when I first came in. You don’t look much better now.”

  Lola laughed weakly. “Thanks.”

  His mother came up behind him. “Okay, Sebastian, time to leave again.”

  He didn’t move, kept his eyes on Lola. “I’m not leaving Lola.”

  “Yes, you are. Lola and I have some things to discuss. She’ll be out shortly.”

  Sebastian released her hand. “I’ll be waiting out front, in the waiting area.”

  Lola nodded and sat up. She looked around the white room with its many counters, cupboards, and unusual instruments. Anywhere but at Dr. Jones.

  She couldn’t tell her and Lola knew that’s what Dr. Jones wanted to talk about. She didn’t even really know why. She wanted to tell her, she really did. But Lola couldn’t.

  Dr. Jones swiveled around in the chair and looked at her. Those eyes knew. Dr. Jones’ lips pressed into a line and she clasped her hands together. “You have bruises on your arms, neck, cheek, and a fading one above your eye. How did you get them?”

  She looked at her shirt and fingered the thin material. Why couldn’t she tell her?

  Sebastian’s mother let out a sigh. “I can’t help you if you won’t tell me what’s going on. So? Lola? What’s going on?”

  “Nothing.” Why did she say that? Take it back, Lola, and tell the truth. Her lips wouldn’t move, no words would form. It was like her brain shut off.

  “Nothing?” Disbelief and disappointment rang clearly in that one word.

  She jumped down from the table. “I have to go. I have to work.”

  Dr. Jones Jones stared at her, incomprehension clouding her features. “Why?”

  She purposely misinterpreted her question. “Because I’m on the schedule.” Lola walked to the door, opened it, and turned back to look at Sebastian’s mother. “Thank you. For everything.”

  ***

  Sebastian walked her across the street to her house. Lola’s eyes kept going to the door; she wondered what Bob was doing at that very moment. If he was waiting for her. If he would come out and yell at her. Sebastian needed to leave.

  “Thanks for everything,” Lola told him and inched toward the door.

  “It’s the least I could do. After all, it was my girlfriend that attacked you.” He tried to smile, but failed. “What time you need to leave by?”

  “I don’t need a ride, Sebastian. I’m fine. Really.” Fear of what Bob would do or say if he found out she’d gotten a ride from Sebastian caused her to sound harsher than she meant to.

  Sebastian blinked and fell back a step. “Right.” He looked away. When his eyes met hers, they were gray pools of pain. “Can we start over? I don’t know what happened. I don’t even care. I’ve been miserable this past year. At first I was mad, but now…it just sucks. I miss my best friend.”

  Her chest constricted. She wanted nothing more than to go back to the year before. Everything had been so much simpler then, better, happier.

  Lola thought of all the obstacles between them. Roxanne, Bob, her life, and shook her head. They couldn’t go back. It was impossible. It was sad, but impossible.

  “I’m sorry, Sebastian…I…can’t.” Her voice trailed off, the last word a barely audible whisper.

  His spine stiffened and he turned his back to her. “What’s going on with you and Jack Forrester?”

  Lola blinked. Where had that come from? “Nothing. He’s a friend. Why?”

  He swung around, holding her in place with his troubled gaze. “He’s bad news, Lola, and since when do you hang around messed up people?”

  Since I became one.

  “There’s nothing wrong with Jack. I like him.”

  He made a sound of derision. “Yeah. I guess I don’t know
you anymore. You’ve changed.” In a bad way, his words implied.

  Anger erupted inside her. “Really? Well, so have you. Since when do you date girls who are psycho?”

  Sebastian opened his mouth, closed it, and gave a low chuckle. “She is pretty nuts, isn’t she?” He laughed. “God, what was I thinking when I got involved with her?” Lola stared at him, stupefied. He looked at her face and laughed some more.

  He shook his head. “I don’t know what I was thinking. I just missed you so much and was lonely and Roxanne had been after me—“

  “Forever.”

  “Yeah. Forever. Guess she wore me down.”

  “That’s great, Sebastian, real impressive.”

  He smiled and gave a helpless shrug. “I’m weak. What can I say?”

  You’re not weak. You’re strong. I wish I was as strong as you.

  “Anyway. No ride then?”

  “No”

  He shoved his hands in his pockets and hopped off the porch. “I think you just like to torture me.”

  “What does that mean?” she called after him.

  “See you tonight, Lola,” he said with a mocking bow.

  Lola watched his lean frame cross the street, eyes on him until he disappeared into his house. She turned around and went motionless.

  Bob stood in the open doorway, eyes on Sebastian’s house. He had on a brown shirt and red sweatpants. He was unshaven and his skin had an oily sheen to it.

  Terror clawed its way up her throat. That suffocating sensation came back to her. He didn’t say anything, just stood there, watching. She tried to move past him, but he blocked her way.

  “You remember what I told you, don’t you?” he said in a low voice.

  Lola was chilled by the threat in his tone, though she had no idea what he was talking about.

  “You remember what I told you the last time that boy showed up here?”

  She stood there, barely breathing, heart racing. A memory tried to make its way to the surface, but was shoved back down by Lola. She didn’t want to remember. Couldn’t bear it.

  “No? Should I remind you?” His voice was even, calm. He enjoyed her pain. “Not so tough now, are ya?”

  Lola wordlessly shook her head.

  “What the hell happened to your face?” Bob suddenly demanded.

  Her eyes flew to his face to see if he was testing her. He didn’t know. Her mother hadn’t told him. Why?

  “Fell. Had to get stitches,” she mumbled, eyes on her shoes.

  “Goddamn it, girl! All you are is one huge expense after another. Maybe you should start giving your checks to me. Help pay some bills. They’re all because of you anyway.

  “Go on now.” He moved back just enough to allow her to slide past him. “Get to work and make me some money.”

  Lola waited for him to move more, but he didn’t, had no intention of doing so. She held her breath, angled her body as far away from his as she could, and sidled inside. His gut rubbed against her breasts and Lola gagged, hurrying down the hall to her room.

  “Lola?” her mother called from the living room.

  Lola ignored her, slamming her bedroom door and resting her head against it. What had Bob meant? Why couldn’t she remember? Her pulse sped at an alarming rate and she felt hot and cold at the same time.

  It was awful. Whatever he’d said was awful, she knew. Dread swam in her stomach and threatened to overwhelm her. Lola felt sick, like she might vomit. She put a hand against her stomach and pressed. Don’t think about it. Go to work. Don’t think about it.

  A knock sounded at the door and she recoiled from it. Lola searched her room; she wasn’t sure for what, a weapon or something, and grabbed a book from the nightstand.

  Lana opened the door. She had on a pair of jeans and a white tee shirt. Her hair was in a lopsided ponytail, like she’d fallen asleep with it in.

  “Are you okay?” She pointed to her chin.

  “Fine.”

  “Bob didn’t mean to be so rough earlier.” She trailed a finger up and down the door, eyes on her hand.

  “I need to get ready for work.” Her words were stiff, dismissive.

  Lana looked up. “Oh. Okay.” She turned to go. “We’ll get you paid back. Don’t worry.”

  “I’m not.” What was the point?

  Lola pulled her work clothes from her dresser. “Lola?” She paused, looked up.

  Her mother’s lips trembled and her eyes watered. “Please don’t hate me.”

  Lola clenched her teeth together, willed tears not to come, though they did anyway. She stood there, silent and still, until her mother left.

  ***

  Roxanne was glaring at her again. Lola sighed and turned away, wishing a customer would show up, anything to keep her busy from Roxanne’s hostile looks and snippy comments. She could actually feel her burning hatred boring two holes in her back.

  What did she have to be mad about? Lola was the one with fresh stitches in her face.

  “How’s your face?” she taunted from two checkout lanes over.

  “What happened to your face, Lola?” Dot asked.

  “How’s your love life?” Lola returned, glancing over her shoulder. Roxanne’s eyes widened. Lola herself was stunned she had said such a thing back.

  Dot laughed and clapped her hands. “Watch out, Roxie, Lola ain’t taking your crap no more.”

  “My love life is fine,” she said in a voice that quaked.

  Lola ignored her and checked out a customer.

  “Too bad yours isn’t,” Roxanne continued when the customer was gone.

  “Really? Considering your boyfriend was with me tonight and not you.”

  Roxanne squeaked. Dorothy slapped a hand over her mouth, but the snort was still heard.

  “You take that back.”

  Lola looked at Roxanne. Her face was pale, her eyes red. She’d been crying. A lot. It wasn’t just fury that twisted her features, though there was that, but it was more. She was upset. Very upset.

  “After you take tripping me back and my stitches. Not going to happen? Okay then.”

  Roxanna’s hands clenched at her sides. She stared at Lola for a long time, imagining all kinds of mean things, Lola was sure. Out of nowhere she burst into tears and ran toward the break room.

  Amazingly Lola didn’t feel good about stooping to Roxanne’s level. She sighed and met Dorothy’s gaze. “I feel bad.”

  “Don’t you feel bad. I’m proud of you. Finally stood up for yourself.” She leaned over to Lola. “By the way, he broke up with her tonight.”

  Lola’s stomach churned. Great. Now she felt doubly worse. On the other hand, it was about time for Sebastian to smarten up.

  Roxanne didn’t return to work and a new boy took her spot. He didn’t know what he was doing and kept making mistakes, so at least the rest of the night went by fast as Lola and Dorothy continually had to help him.

  9

  The day had been too long and Lola was relieved when the cool night air touched her skin. The rattle of a loose muffler caught her attention and Lola looked over the parking lot.

  The lot was empty, but a black Buick sat idling across the street. No.

  “Lola.”

  She whipped around, relieved and upset to see Jack. He stood near the door of the locked store.

  Jack straightened, eyes trained on her face. “What’s wrong?”

  The car was put in gear and headed for them. Oh, God. Panic shot through her. She clutched his arm, felt his muscles constrict under her fingers. “You have to leave, Jack, you have to go.” He’ll hurt you. He’ll hurt anyone he thinks I’ll tell.

  Lola inhaled sharply, shook her head. Where had that thought come from? And why did it make such sense?

  Jack grabbed her arms, held them tightly in his hands. “Lola, what’s going on? Tell me.”

  She heard the car slowly approach. Why was he there? Bob never picked her up from work. Never. Lola would be all alone with him, all night. He could hurt her. He could fo
rce himself on her. No one would be there. It would be just the two of them.

  Sick with panic and fear, Lola stared into Jack’s eyes. “We have to go. Please. Please.”

  He looked over her shoulder, met her eyes, and nodded. Jack grabbed her hand and took off at a fast jog.

  Lola struggled to keep up. She’d never been very athletic and it showed in the cramp in her leg and the fire in her lungs.

  An engine revved and the car sped up. Jack pulled her behind the building, into the alley. They zigzagged through yards and alleyways, intent on losing the tailing vehicle.

  The headlights followed them. Lola had the insane thought, I wonder if this is how deer feel when they’re hunted down.

  Jack suddenly jerked on her hand and she fell against him. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled Lola into the shadows behind a garage. They stayed that way, locked in each other’s arms, their breath coming out in little bursts of frosty air.

  A car roared down a nearby street, tires squealing as it took a turn. It sounded farther and farther away until it could be heard no longer. She was safe. For the moment. But when she got home…Lola refused to think about it.

  She looked up, discomfited to find Jack’s eyes on her. The look on his face took her breath away. It was furious and intense; protective.

  “Who was that?”

  “My mom’s husband.”

  “What was he doing there? Does he always pick you up from work?”

  “Never.” Lola’s body convulsed; fear of the unknown maddening to her senses. She couldn’t think about what his appearance at her workplace meant.

  Jack stared down at her, features closed. He suddenly dropped his arms from her and backed away. “I heard you had to get stitches in your lip.”

  “Chin.” Lola angled her face and pointed at the strip of medical tape on her chin.

  “Good thing Sebastian was there to rescue you.”

  Lola heard the scorn in his tone and didn’t understand it. “What do you have against Sebastian?”

  Jack lifted his arms out, palms up. “Nothing. Nothing at all. I’m glad you have someone so great to turn to.” His voice was at odds with the words leaving his lips. Someone unlike me, he seemed to not say.

  Lola blinked eyes that burned. She looked at the grass black with night. She didn’t have someone to turn to. Lola’s gaze collided with Jack’s. At least, she never used to.