Total pages in book: 187
Estimated words: 174623 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 698(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 174623 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 698(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
"It's so easy to judge others," Dana says, and her tone makes me wonder if she's glaring at one of the other women.
"For those who haven't been in a cycle of violence, yes," Juliet says. "It's very easy to have opinions on things people know nothing about. Not to call you out, Melissa, but you don't have kids. Really think about it. If you had children, how do you think you would've handled things differently?"
The silence in the group grows, a minute or more passing before the woman answers.
"I'd like to say that I would've left if I had gotten pregnant," Melissa begins. "But the more I think about it, the more I know I would've convinced myself that a baby would make him change. That having a little girl would make him want to be different, so she didn't end up with a man who treated her the way he treated me."
"That was my reasoning," Kayla confesses. "Aleah being in the room made him pause at first, especially when she was an infant, but eventually he just carried her to her crib, even more pissed that he had to delay his reaction to something. It made it worse. She was almost a year old before he hit me in front of her. After that first time, he never held back again. Even at four years old now, I hate thinking about the things she witnessed and how it's going to affect her for the rest of her life."
"Back door open."
"We're ending school a little early today," Beth says. "I think they both just need a break."
"Thank you," Juliet says.
Beth closes the door.
"We've talked about a lot of heavy stuff today," Juliet continues.
"Sorry for my attitude earlier," Caroline says. "I learned a lot today."
"That's good," Juliet says, and I notice she doesn't tell Caroline that her attitude was okay.
It's clear the woman has made significant progress in her healing journey. My mother always made excuses and said things were okay when she didn't really mean it. Maybe to her, it was a way to help her own acceptance of the situation she felt she was powerless to change.
"With the heaviness of this group, I'd recommend an appointment with your therapist. If anyone wants me to schedule those, just let me know."
Furniture scrapes on the concrete patio as the women stand.
I wait for them all to go inside before letting Holler know the group is over. He's ready to change position as soon as I make the announcement and we coordinate the change.
The rest of the afternoon and early evening go by without so much as a hint of an issue.
Darkness falls on the property, Recon and Mischief arriving to take the night shift.
"I'm going to stick around," I tell Mischief as Holler comes from around the house, relieved of his duty.
Mischief shrugs. "Suit yourself."
I step away, keeping my earpiece in place.
"Crazy shit went down at two different locations," Mischief muses.
"I was telling Nyx they should just bring these women to the property. Would be a lot easier to protect them, and a lot less manpower,” Holler says
"Not the worst idea," Mischief says.
"Front door open."
The alert draws all our attention to Juliet as she takes a step outside. She pauses, seeing the three of us standing there.
"Shift change, ma'am," Holler explains.
"Oh," she says as she closes the front door. "Have a good evening."
I track her as she walks down the front steps, keeping a wide distance between herself and us.
I walk in that direction when she's halfway to her car, watching as she takes a step back, looks under it, and checks the backseat before unlocking it with the key fob.
"Do you always check under your car?"
She doesn't startle, making it clear that she's vigilant enough to know that I was close to her.
"Do you always hide in the shadows to scare women?" she counters, her face turning in my direction, eyes full of something I can't really describe.
The accusation hits me square in the chest. I don't point out that the front lawn is lit up like a military base, and there isn't a shadow in sight. It sounds too much like an excuse, and something I normally wouldn't do, but especially wouldn't do after listening to those women talk about just that.
"Your shift is over. Why haven't you left yet?"
"I'd like to see you home safely," I say. "I imagine you're a little shaken up after what happened this morning."
"I'd like for you not to go out of your way worrying about me."
"It's not out of my way, the worry, or your apartment."
Her eyes narrow. "You know where I live?"
I tap my finger to my forehead. "Part of the job is knowing where everyone lives. Having to ask for an address or look at a map wastes time that we don't always have to waste."