Trust A Stranger

by Baxter, Cole

  Mary tried calling Shannon a couple of times and couldn't reach her. Shannon called her in return, and they kept missing each other. Understandably, this wasn't something Mary wanted to discuss over voicemail.

  Why do we even have phones if you can't use one when you need it the most? she fumed, getting voicemail again.

  Mary contemplated going to the bakery and eventually ruled against it. She didn't want to bother Shannon at her workplace, and she felt that would be an overreaction.

  Deep down, she firmly believed there was a logical explanation to all of this and didn't want to jeopardize friendships formed between all the parties involved.

  When her phone finally started ringing, Mary was relieved that Shannon was finally returning her call and she was actually there to take it. She really needed to speak with her since two heads were better than one. Shannon appeared as though she was someone who could see through all the crap and decipher what was what.

  Grabbing the phone, she sighed, discovering it was Ruby calling her and not Shannon. Knowing from experience that it was better to answer her now than let her spiral, Mary did just that.

  "Hey, Ruby, I was just about to call you." Which wasn't a lie. Before the session, she did promise she would call, and she planned on keeping it. Despite everything else that was going on, Mary continued to consider Ruby a dear friend and cared about her a great deal.

  "I have some wonderful news," Ruby exclaimed in return.

  "Oh? Do share."

  "I found an old movie roll with the recording of one of my plays."

  "Really? That's awesome."

  "Well, yes, they recorded just a few, and this is the only one I have in my possession. I thought I'd lost it, and I had to beg John Clarkson for it for years."

  "I'm glad you found it. I'm sure that's a cherished memory."

  "Do you want to come and watch it with me? We can order takeout from a real restaurant, not some fast food garbage."

  That almost made her smile. Ruby always had standards to maintain, which wasn't a bad way of living.

  "I don't feel like socializing today. How about tomorrow?"

  Mary planned on spending the pleasant afternoon all by her lonesome self, and not just because she had a lot on her mind. She just felt it would be a nice change.

  "Why not? Are you feeling okay?" Ruby asked in concern.

  "I'm fine." Mary wished she'd just lied and told her she was busy, but Ruby managed to catch her off guard and now she didn't have a plausible excuse.

  She couldn't just improvise. Her grandmother had always told her she was a terrible liar.

  "You don't sound like yourself. Are you sure you're not sick?"

  "I'm sure."

  What is wrong with you? You should have said yes. And then she would come here to look after her and Mary would feel guilty.

  "You're worried about Nick then."

  That was generally true except not at this moment.

  "The stress is a silent killer, and you're just like me, bottling everything inside. You need to express better and share what's troubling you simply to avoid your body rebelling against you," Ruby lectured, clearly upset for Mary's well-being.

  Mary was really tempted, for the heartbeat or two, to do something that was quite out of the ordinary for her. It was on the tip of her tongue to ask Ruby about her deceased daughter simply to see if she would be so forthcoming and share. Mary refrained from doing such a thing. She wasn't a monster. Besides, it wasn't her place to question her friend about such matters that were clearly beyond painful.

  "I'm not worried about Nick. Everything is okay, so please calm down," Mary said instead.

  "Are you sure?"

  "One hundred percent."

  "All right, good," she replied, taking a deep, calming, breath. "So, can you be here around three?"

  "Sure."

  "Excellent," Ruby cheered. "I'll pull the old projector out, set everything up, and order us some food when you get here," she explained.

  "That sounds great, Ruby. Want me to pick some dessert up?"

  "You read my mind, honey. See you in a bit."

  "See you."

  Hanging up, Mary couldn't believe she'd agreed to go despite wanting to stay home. Leaving Dr. Carson's office, Mary decided to start seeing Ruby less, feeling as though Ruby had started to rely just a little bit too much on her. Besides, Mary needed to get to the bottom of certain things, and for that, she needed a little bit of free time.

  Knowing fully well all of this, she still agreed to go to her, as though she was incapable of saying no to Ruby or disappointing her in any way. Perhaps that was her intuition telling her that she actually didn't believe what Carla said to her. She was drunk, saying stupid things and nothing more. With her mind somewhat set, she dressed and walked out the door.

  Chapter Fourteen

  One night, quite unexpectedly, the last person she believed would call her did just that. What does he want?

  Mary felt slightly nervous looking at the flashing screen. You have nothing to be nervous about, nothing to be afraid of, she told herself with conviction, and that helped her answer.

  "You took your sweet time answering," Nick growled at her.

  "Hello, Nick." Mary was very proud of herself and the fact that her voice stayed even.

  I can do this, she repeated like a mantra.

  "Don't you hello me," he snapped back.

  Nick sounded very drunk and aggressive. Neither one of those things was a novelty for her. Apparently, he still hadn't realized the error of his ways. No matter what, that saddened her a little.

  "You have serious explaining to do." He slurred his words so badly that it was hard keeping up with him.

  Once upon a time, she spoke drunken Nick fluently. Who knew it would only take her a couple of months to forget it? Not that she was complaining.

  "Look who's talking," she said before she could stop herself. She couldn't believe he had the nerve to say something like that to her. Him, whose list of sins was a mile long. On the other hand, confronting him was one thing, agitating him something else entirely. It would be prudent if she could rein in her temper from now on when dealing with him.

  "I’m coming over," he announced abruptly, returning her to the here and now.

  "Good luck with that, since I had to move out from our apartment because you took all my money," she countered, feeling like a pat on the back was in order for her handling this like an adult. She wanted to say robbed me blind and managed to remain diplomatic.

  Dr. Carson would be so proud of her.

  "Is that why you did it? Out of revenge?" he accused. "I always knew you were a spiteful woman."

  His rant made her pause. What was this drunken idiot talking about? Not even his usual insults hurt as much. All that gave her the strength to persist.

  "What are you talking about?" she countered.

  "You know what you did."

  Okay. "Look, I don't have time for this madness. When you sober up—" If he sobers up, she corrected. "We need to talk." It was time they ended this tragedy called marriage.

  "Don't you dare use that tone with me," he growled.

  "I'm hanging up now." Mary was in the process of doing just that when he continued speaking, and the first couple of words made her waver.

  "Our old landlord gave me your new address," he said smugly. "I'm coming now, and you’d better wait for me!" With that he hung up.

  That old bat had always favored Nick over Mary, so it was no wonder he’d ratted her out. All those drunks liked to stick together. I hope there is a special place in hell for men like that.

  What on Earth are you thinking about? she snapped at herself. She must be in serious shock if she was thinking about something so trivial as her previous landlord other than the fact that Nick was coming over. Nick is coming over finally started to sink in.

  She hadn't seen him in months. Her heart started to beat a lot faster. Nick was coming, and he was very drunk and terribly angry at her.
It didn't matter whether he had valid reasons for something like that or not. In his mind, she was guilty, and that was that. All her fears and insecurities came rushing back. Why is he coming? She started to stress.

  Nick probably discovered Mary hired a PI to track him down and was now pissed. What am I to do? Mary didn't feel strong enough to face him in such circumstances. She knew what he was capable of when this angry and drunk. She had the nightmares to prove it.

  I can’t face him. Do you think you have a choice? And that pissed her off. She should always have a choice.

  I can't reason with him, he won't listen. He never listened to her and always did what he pleased, making her feel like crap in the process.

  I need to run away. She couldn't do that, instantly rebelling against that idea, and not just because that would enrage him even further but because that wasn't the type of person she wanted to be. Besides, where could she possibly run to? If she did something like that, she would pay a greater price when he found her. And there wasn't a doubt in her mind that he would find her.

  Her constant nightmares about him tormenting her came to mind, his strong hands squeezing her neck, and she started to actually feel the pain. I can't breathe. She started to panic.

  What am I to do? she asked in desperation. I can't face him, not like this, not alone.

  Who to call? In all this chaos, only one name came to mind.

  Ruby. She'd promised she would help if Mary needed it. Without further delay, Mary dialed her up.

  "Can't sleep, honey? Me neither . . ." Ruby started to chat from the moment she picked up, being her usual self.

  "Ruby, Nick just called." Mary stopped her in haste as if Nick were already at the door.

  "What? Are you all right?" she demanded.

  "Yes. No. I don't know. He's coming over right now, and he's drunk and angry, and I don't know what to do. I'm scared," she rambled, saying all that in one breath.

  "Calm down. I'm on my way!" With that promise, Ruby hung up.

  That didn't calm Mary down. She continued to stand by the door, clutching the phone with all her might.

  Ruby wasn't going to arrive here on time. And even if she did, how was she going to fight Nick?

  Stupid woman, what did you do? I can't see him. I just can't. Fifteen minutes passed, and as she stressed, paralyzed to do anything other than that, someone started banging against her door.

  "Ruby?" she inquired in half a voice.

  "Mary, open up!" Nick started to shout. "I know you're in there. I can hear you. Let me in!" He banged against the wooden door with all his might.

  Oh, no, he's here. He really is. And now he's gonna . . . Mary stopped herself right there.

  "Go away, Nick. I don't want to talk to you," she yelled in return, needing him to hear her through all the noise he was making.

  "You witch!" he accused while continuing to pound.

  He heard her okay.

  "Open this damn door for me, right now!" he demanded, trying to break the door down.

  The suddenness of it made Mary scream. He's going to break in. As he continued to rage, panic inside her overrode everything else.

  Calm down. You're safe. You're not helpless. She repeated those words like a mantra.

  "You did this to me! You will pay!" Nick sounded beyond reach, consumed with rage. That was when she feared him the most.

  "You did this! You!"

  Did what? Mary shuddered as her front door shook again. She was dubious whether it would hold or not. It will hold, it has to.

  "What are you talking about?" she countered, hoping she could placate him in some way so he would peacefully leave.

  Yeah, right.

  "Gretchen broke up with me because of you. You poisoned her mind," he raged.

  Is he crying? Wait, who is Gretchen? Mary quickly put two and two together. Apparently, Gretchen was the name of his child girlfriend. Well, child ex-girlfriend, she corrected herself. And for some reason unknown to her, he was convinced that she had something to do with their breakup. That was preposterous. Mary would never do such a thing, not in a million years.

  "If she left you that is because of you. You're a narcissistic asshole. God, I wish I had been that smart and dumped you a long time ago." And spared myself a lot of misery and heartache in the process.

  So much for placating him. Mary was proud of herself and the bravado she was sporting.

  As was expected, Nick didn't receive her words that well. "You fucking liar! I will teach you a lesson not to mess with me!"

  "If you don't stop right now, I will call the police," Mary threatened in return. And she meant it. Nothing would please her more than to see him being dragged away in handcuffs.

  Her words only made him that much more adamant to break through the door and get to her.

  Please hold, she prayed.

  He must be seriously drunk if he didn't make a dent in it after all this time. He was a fit man, and it should have been a breeze for him to break a simple door. Not that she was complaining.

  "You ruined everything! I have nothing now!"

  He'd completely lost his mind.

  "That's it, Nick. I'm not kidding around. I'm dialing the police. Listen."

  Mary really started to dial 911, chastising herself for not doing that sooner, when something made her pause.

  "Step away from the door, you bastard," Mary heard a very familiar voice shouting.

  Ruby. She really came and was apparently trying to drive Nick off.

  "Leave me be, you old crone," Nick yelled, but he was clearly thrown off balance.

  Mary started walking toward the door, yet something stopped her midway. Stop acting like a coward. Unfortunately, her legs wouldn't budge.

  "This doesn't concern you! I'm allowed to speak with my wife!"

  Mary scowled. So I'm a wife now? Nice for him to remember. Not that she cared. Mary couldn't wait to divorce his sorry ass and get rid of him once and for all. She didn't feel like being tied down to this asshole a second longer. Not to mention, he was a dangerous asshole.

  "You're not allowed to act like a raging lunatic," Ruby countered.

  Mary could hear her much clearer now, which meant she was actually standing next to Nick now.

  "I said leave. And don't make me repeat myself."

  "If you don't leave, I promise you will regret it! Hey! let go of me!" he added in a completely different voice, clearly surprised for some reason.

  "I won't let you bully her any longer." Ruby was determined.

  All of a sudden, Mary started hearing some kind of a commotion going on out there. Are they fighting?

  Mary was horrified by that notion. The possibility of Ruby getting hurt because of her was what finally propelled her to action. She practically lunged at the door. As she started unlocking it, a particular cry echoed through the building.

  Oh, no, Ruby!

  Mary panicked, doubling her efforts, but she was all thumbs and clumsy. It took her a few precious seconds more to finally unlock the door. When she managed to get out, Mary arrived just in time to see Nick pushing Ruby down the stairs.

  "Nick, no!" Mary screamed, yet it was too late.

  Ruby started tumbling down the stairs, and the only thing Mary could think about was that Nick had probably killed her friend. Ruby fell awkwardly on her hand on the landing and screamed one last time in pain. After that, she stopped moving.

  "What did you do?" Mary screamed at her husband. He’d hurt an innocent woman whose only crime was defending Mary.

  Nick clearly realized the very same thing and fled without uttering another word to her.

  "Ruby," Mary said in a panic, rushing toward the unconscious woman.

  "Ruby, please wake up," she pleaded with all her might, taking Ruby into her arms.

  "Please, please wake up."

  Oh, no, this is all my fault. This is all my fault.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Ruby came to, and Mary sent her thanks to the heavens. Thank you, God, fo
r all your mercy. Ruby was pretty banged up and her left wrist was broken, yet she was alive and that was the only thing that mattered at the moment.

  That didn't mean Mary was off the hook, so the speak. She was steeped in guilt. She shouldn't have called Ruby in the first place. What was she thinking?

  That was the problem. Mary wasn't thinking in those moments of panic. She acted purely out of fear, and now she had to live with the consequences.

  "I am so sorry, Ruby," she said for the hundredth time.

  Once Mary managed to revive Ruby and discovered her wrist had sustained the biggest damage, she rushed her to the hospital.

  "I'm okay, honey," Ruby reassured her, also for the hundredth time. "An injured wrist seems like a fair price for getting rid of that ruffian," she joked as Mary cringed.

  "Please don't say that. Besides, it's not injured, it's broken," Mary countered.

  Ruby waved dismissively with her good hand.

  Entering the receiving area of the emergency room, Mary was shocked to see how many people with all kinds of injuries waited to be attended to.

  At the same time, in a big city like this one, it was to be expected. It was just that Mary had never been confronted with the reality of things before.

  Mary walked them over to the front desk where a busy looking nurse typed furiously on the keyboard. "Excuse me." Mary tried to get her attention. "My friend has a broken wrist and needs your help. She's in pain."

  The nurse glanced at Ruby and the injured hand she was so awkwardly holding, and she had a very strange expression on her face as though she already knew who Ruby was.

  Probably because of Ruby's seizures, Mary realized.

  "Certainly," the nurse replied dryly, offering them some papers. "Fill out these forms, return them back to me, and someone will attend to your friend."

  Mary couldn't believe her ears. "Fill out a form?" she repeated, outraged. "Have I mentioned that she's in pain?" Mary was aghast at the bureaucracy of this place. Ruby needed to be treated, and now, not sit around and fill out some ridiculous forms.