“Bart! Bart Baker, is that you? What are you doing back in Forest Grove?”
I don’t stick around to wait on his answer. I excuse myself and walk over to one of the other women that is working out. She’s new, just signed up last week, so I ask her about how it’s going.
I had to get away. There’s a part of me that just wanted to tell Bart everything and let him help me. But already I’m mortified. I mean, this is beyond embarrassing. He has to think I’m such a loser. He didn’t ask why David was picking me up last night even though we’re divorced, but I’m sure he was wondering about it.
I hear Leah laugh and look over. She and Bart are still standing in the same spot talking. I thought I could walk away so I wouldn’t have to witness her flirting with him. Shaking my head, I walk back toward the desk and start going over invoices on the computer. I’m not even going to ask myself why it still bothers me thinking about Bart with another woman.
6
Chrissy
When I finally make it home, I have Katie clean up her toys while I get her a snack ready. I’m a wreck at this point, trying to figure out my next move. I called the divorce attorney today, but he still hasn’t called me back. It’s killing me that in the span of twenty-four hours I went from giving David another chance to now trying to figure out how to stop his visitations with our daughter. I should have known better.
The doorbell rings, and I’m drying my hands as I open the door. Too late, I find that my ex is at my door, so I crowd it, not wanting him to come in. I may have some strength from working out at the gym, but it’s nothing compared to his. “What are you doing here?”
He puts his foot on the door to stop me from closing it and pushes it all the way open as I back into the house. “What are you doing trying to get me in trouble with the cops? I didn’t mess with anyone’s car.”
I know he did it. After thinking about it most of the day, I’m almost positive of it. “You can’t just show up here without calling. We aren’t married anymore.”
He smirks and takes a step toward me, crowding me against the couch. I don’t dare let him know that I’m scared. That’s what he wants. “I should have told the cops about the switchblade I saw you putting away because that would have clinched it.”
He shows me the knife again, asking me, “You mean this switchblade?” He’s looking at me for a reaction, and I can see he wants to see fear. I refuse to show it even though I’m scared out of my mind. All I can think about is our daughter. Surely, he won’t hurt his daughter. I never would have thought so, but now I don’t know.
“Put it away, David. Our daughter is in the other room,” I plead with him.
“Or what? What are you going to do about it?” he asks, edging closer to me with the knife.
Katie comes in right at that moment. “Dad, what are you doing with a knife?”
I jump away from him while he’s got his attention on Katie and run over to her, picking her up and putting her on my hip. I stare him down, hoping that he realizes there is no way I’m going to let him hurt our daughter.
David puts away the knife and walks toward us. He leans in and gives Katie a kiss, and I try to stand still so I don’t alarm my daughter. “Be a good girl. I’ll be getting to spend some time with you really soon. I just came into a lot of money and bought a new car.” He looks at me then before he continues. “And I just got a bigtime lawyer. In no time, you’ll be living with me, honey.”
Katie turns her head and wraps her arms tightly around me, burying her face into my neck.
I’m sick to my stomach. But I know I can’t argue with him now, not with Katie in my arms between us. He’s proven that he’s unstable already, and I can’t put my daughter in danger.
“Knock, knock,” someone says, and as David turns toward the door, I take Katie and move around him and closer to the door.
“Bart!” I say, surprise and gratitude thick in my voice.
His hand goes to my arm. “I’m just dropping by to check on you.”
Bart
I knew David was here. I was sitting outside across the street as he pulled in and parked his car on the lawn. I told myself that I was just going to follow up with Chrissy about Logan’s seat, but I know that’s not the truth. I wanted to make sure she made it home okay. After I finally got away from Leah at the gym today, I couldn’t get Chrissy alone to talk to her after that. And really, my business was done, so I had no right to insist she talk to me. She just looked frazzled and a little worried. I was itching to soothe her… even if it wasn’t my place to do so.