Karen D. Badger In a Family Way

[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.Sometime later, Cat slipped into bed beside her and draped anarm over her middle.Billie rolled onto her back and invited Cat intothe crook of her arm. Thank you for cleaning up the mess downstairs, shewhispered. No thanks necessary.It s the least I can do.Billie lifted her head and looked questioningly at Cat. Whatdo you mean?Cat traced the line of Billie s jaw with her fingertips. I soappreciate what you re doing for us and our children.The least I cando is support you in any way I can. Cat, while I was lying here waiting for you, all I thought aboutwas the danger this case has put you and the kids in. Billie closedher eyes and pressed her head back into the pillow for several longmoments. I m considering dropping the case.Cat bolted upright in bed. You can t stop.You can t give up.Billie shook her head back and forth. Those people out theretonight could ve hurt you and the kids.I can t& Cat put her hand on Billie s chest between her breasts. Youcan t what? You can t take the risks? You can t see it through? No.I252won t let you give up.You ve come all this way.no we ve comeall this way.We can t turn back. Cat& No, Billie.This isn t about you and me anymore.This is abouteveryone who faces that kind of ignorant hatred.Don t let themdefeat you.Don t you know you re my foundation, my strength?Don t crumble now.I need you to be strong.We all do.Billie stared at Cat.Her brow furrowed as she fought the tears. I m afraid. I am, too.I am, too, but we can t run away from everythingthat scares us.What kind of example is that for our children?Billie trembled as emotion overwhelmed her. You re right.Iwon t give up.I promise.* * *The next evening, Billie invited Jen, Fred, and Art over for adiscussion.She briefed them ahead of time, knowing that she dneed a united force to confront Cat.Billie watched Cat pace back and forth across the living room. No, Billie.I m not leaving.This is as much about me as it is aboutyou.I m not leaving you here alone. She won t be here alone, Fred said. Art and I will be stayingwith her until the notoriety wears off.They ll eventually get tired ofthe game and leave you alone.Cat looked at her wife. Billie? Cat, please.I promised you last night that I wouldn t give up,but I can t fight this and protect you and the kids at the same time.Please go to your parents house.I promise it won t be for long.Ifyou can t do this for me, do it for the kids.Please. Cat, honey, Jen said, we don t know what these people arecapable of.Billie s right.We need to keep you and the kids safe. I see I m pretty much outnumbered here, Cat said. Cat, please don t look at it that way, Jen said. We love youand we only want to keep you and the kids safe.Try not to be tooangry with us. All right.All right.I ll go.Billie released the breath she d been holding and pulled Cat inclose. Thank you.I wouldn t be able to bear it if somethinghappened to you or the kids.* * *253Billie relaxed a little once Cat and the children were safe.In thefull week following Cat s move to her parents house, there wasonly one anti-gay incident.Someone wrote distasteful graffiti acrossthe front yard fence.Billie, Fred, Art, and Jen painted over it so Catwouldn t see it when she came home.After a few more days, with no repeat incidents, Billie felt safeenough to insist that Art go home to his wife.He left with theassurance that Fred would continue to stay in the house with her atnight.Billie didn t dare visit Cat and the kids at her in-laws home.She feared she d be followed and might unknowingly disclose Cat swhereabouts to the zealots.She did, however, contact her by phoneseveral times a day.She missed her family dearly.The following week, Billie walked through the dark parking lotafter working late into the evening.She was distracted by herthoughts of Cat and the children.When she was within a few feet ofher car, she was confronted by three men.Billie looked around foran escape route, but they had her surrounded. Hey, lezbo, where are you going? one of the men asked as hetapped the end of a club into the palm of his other hand. Don t do this, Billie said.One of the other men pushed her from behind. Or what? heasked.Billie entered a martial arts stance and braced herself for anattack. Oooo, look at the big, tough she-man, the third man said. I m so scared. I m warning you.Walk away. Not a chance, the man with the club said as all threeassailants descended upon her.Billie quickly maneuvered herself from the center of theircircle and landed a sidekick on the knee of one of the assailants.Sheheard an audible crack when her foot made contact. Ahhh! She broke my leg.She broke my fucking leg, the manwailed.The other two attackers intensified their efforts.Outnumbered, Billie quickly lost any advantage her martial artstraining may have given her.The men beat her for what felt like aneternity.Her assailants stood over her in the dark lot next to her car.Theman with the club landed one last kick to her ribs. Let this be a254lesson to you.Drop your suit.You re a sick bitch.Your kind isn twelcome around here.Billie spat a mouthful of blood onto his shoes. Go to hell.The man lifted the club high into the air and landed it firmly onher head.* * *Billie regained consciousness near dawn.She lay on the groundfor a long time, trying to gather enough strength to move.After atime, she dragged herself into the car and called Art from her cellphone.Marge answered. Marge, Billie said in a weak, broken voice. This is Billie.I need Art [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

Linki