"I don't need the ER Donnie. I'm okay… and I don't want anyone looking at me."
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead.
"You sure?"
She nodded.
"Alright, Mike take her to my moms. She'll know what to do. Look at me, sweetie."
She lifted her face to him. He felt like crying seeing how brave she was being. He kissed her swollen lips softly, knowing they must hurt.
"You go on now, honey. Carl and I are just going to have a little talk."
"Be careful Donnie."
He didn't answer, just waited until she was gone and the car had pulled away from the curb. He pulled out his phone and called his mother.
"Mom. I'm sending someone over. Yeah… it's her. Yes, of course I want you to meet her at a sensible hour.”
His mother was badgering him for answers. She told hi there was a right way and a wrong way to do things. He lowered his voice.
“It's not like that mom! No- she's been beat up. Her ex is a real sonofabitch. Yeah. Oh, don't worry. I'll take care of it."
He hung up and looked almost gleefully at the piece of garbage on the floor.
Dev slapped his hand on his shoulder.
"What now, brother?"
Donnie picked the bat up off the floor.
"Now shit gets real."
Chapter 29
Sally
It was over. Carl had found her and she was still alive. She didn't want to think about what they were doing to him back there. Hopefully it would be enough to keep him from coming near her ever again.
“You okay?”
Sally nodded to Mike. But it was a bit of a fib. She was feeling woozy as they pulled up to Donnie's mother's house. It was a beautiful wooded spot just past the edge of town, on what used to be a small farm.
Two adorable little houses sat next to each other, separated by less than fifty feet. They looked charming, with white picket fences and matching front porches. That's about all she could see in the dark.
"The one next door is Donnie's place."
That explained the two houses.
Mike helped her out of the car and up to the front door. He rang the doorbell.
"Bring her in here, son!"
"Yes, Mrs. Donahue."
He held Sally around the waist and he guided her to the bright and cheerful kitchen. He eased her into a chair. Mrs. Donahue walked over, wiping her hands on her apron. She was a stunning older woman, with long black and silver hair and blue eyes.
Just like Donnie's.
"Tsk tsk. Look at you honey. Who did this to you?"
"My ex."
“He find out you’re with my boy now? Didn’t like it much I gather.”
“Yes, m’am.”
Mrs. Donahue started talking and didn't stop while she gently examined Sally's face.
"Not the first time either was it? Well don't worry, I've got plenty of experience with this. First myself. Then the kids. And then Donnie getting into every scrape he could. I swear you would think that boy had magnets in his fists."
She pulled at Sally's silk top.
"Take this off, honey. I’ll get you a robe. You can go now, Mike."
"Donnie told me to stick around. Okay if I sit on the porch?"
"Course, honey. I'll bring you out some iced tea in a little while. Send Marie in if you see her."
Sally sat very still while Donnie's mother tended to her. The older woman tsk'd a few more times but was otherwise silent. She knew what she was doing too- being as gentle as possible while thoroughly cleaning all the cuts and abrasions. She finished everything off with an ointment and bandages.
"Best to let some of these breath. Just covered up the worst of them."
"Thank you."
Mrs. Donahue laughed.
"Girl, you're the first woman Donnie's ever brought home to me. I'd knit you a sweater if you were cold. Now then, you want a bourbon and a lie down? I don't have anything stronger than a Tylenol."
Sally shook her head. She didn't want to fall asleep. Not until she knew that Donnie was okay.
That he hadn't done anything stupid on her behalf.
"No, thank you. But I'd like some coffee if you have it."
"Afraid to go to sleep eh? Don't blame you. I don't have coffee though. Just tea."
"That'd be fine, thank you. I just- I just want to see Donnie when he gets back."
That made Mrs. Donahue beam. She brewed a pot of tea and poured Sally a cup. She was sipping it when a beautiful teenage girl came in.
"Come here Marie, say hello to Sally. She's Donnie's good friend."
Marie came over and gave Sally a shy little curtsy. It would have been adorable on a child but Marie was a lovely young woman. She was also simple. That was plain to see when you looked into her eyes.
Sally's heart twisted when she thought about all that this family had been through. She looked around again, not wanting them to see the pity in her eyes. She started noticing the fine craftsmanship of the home. It had been meticulously restored and renovated.