The Company You Keep

He bends down and kisses me hard and fast then smile and says, “God I love you. It’s exactly what I was thinking. Christmas is a few days away, and I’ve just fucked it up for them.”

I shake my head, but I can’t blame him for feeling this way. Dow was harassing me, so he got the axe. “I’m telling you. You didn’t do anything but the right thing. What were you supposed to do?”

He shrugs and steps away. “I don’t know, but maybe I should have checked on his family.”

I reach for his hand and stop his movements. “And what? Tell them the real reason he got fired? I bet he lied to her about why he got canned. Probably said some company restructuring thing.”

“Well at least we can do is try to help.”

“Yes, that’s all I’m saying.”

Chapter 13

James

We make our way to Rush where she’s been taken. They give us the pass to see her, but we’re not sure how we’re going to be received. When we knock on the room, a woman mumbles, “Come in.”

“Oh, who are you? More detectives? Social workers?” she questions so sullenly. I’ve never seen a domestic violence victim in the flesh. It’s fucking terrible. Her face is swollen from her eyebrow down to her jaw.

“No, Mrs. Dow. I’m James Smith, and this is Piper Davis.”

“Oh, I heard that he came after you yesterday. I’m so sorry,” she sobs. Piper lets go of my hand and goes to Mrs. Dow’s side, who flinches at first, but then relaxes when Piper takes her hand.

“Mrs. Dow, I’m the one who’s sorry. I fired him,” I tell her.

“Please, people get fired all the time. I should have left him the first time he put his hands on me. Instead, we had three kids, and I brought this misery on them and you. If he’d been prosecuted for assaulting me then, you wouldn’t have even met him.”

“It’s no one’s fault but his. How are you feeling?” Piper asks.

“I’ll be fine once I get my kids back,” she responds. Her vehemence is true and strong. I’ll do whatever I can to get them back and on her feet. It can’t be easy.

I step closer, sliding my arm around Piper’s waist. “If you don’t mind me asking, where are they?”

“They took them to a group home until I get out of the hospital tomorrow.” The sorrow in her eyes is palpable.

“Well, I know that we don’t know you and all, but if you would like to join us for Christmas, I’m sure Piper wouldn’t mind.”

She looks to Piper who has a warm and loving smile on her face. “Of course I wouldn’t mind. I don’t have any family here, and my grandparents aren’t coming until the day after.”

“That’s so kind of you, but I don’t have any way to repay you. Dave spent all our money on drugs apparently. I didn’t know until we got our first notice of default on our mortgage. I don’t know what we’re going to do, but I have to find something.”

“Do you have any work experience?” I ask.

“Not after I met him. I was a nurse, but he made me quit within our first week of being married. He changed immediately from the guy I started dating.”

“Drugs do that to people.”

“I know. I swear I thought he got help the last time when I threatened to leave.”

“Well, let’s not dwell on the past. Maybe we can see if we can get you back to doing what you love.”

“You don’t have to help, but I can’t say I’m in any position to refuse. My kids need things and my soon-to-be ex-husband has really done a number on our finances.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll get you back on your feet. Trust me, I know what it’s like to have my world flipped on his head by someone I trusted and loved,” I admit. When Craig shot my mother and father, I couldn’t even understand it or even put it into words. A love triangle gone so wrong it couldn’t be right. I never told my sister why he did it. Money was never the objective. My parentage was. I’m not my father’s son. My mother and Craig had an affair before my parents married. She got pregnant then, and they never said a word until that fateful night. Apparently shit got real when my mom wouldn’t leave my dad. I lose myself in that memory until Piper squeezes my hand. Both of them are staring at me.

“Sorry. My parents were killed by their best friend, leaving me to raise my sister. And the memory is still strong.” Piper presses her head on my chest. Then pulls back to start asking Mrs. Dow a bunch of questions.

“Please don’t call me Mrs. Dow. My name is Amanda, and I’ll be divorcing him as soon as humanly possible.”