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Chapter 7

POV ALISSON COOPER

It had been a few days since I had spoken to Debbie, she tried to come to me and get me to listen to her, but I didn't want to. Mrs. Bonnie realized that something was wrong, after all, Debbie had stopped coming to our house, she did not force me to talk, she was waiting for my goodwill to open up to her. I should have told her everything since that day, but I didn't want to worry her about it, it was already settled and that was what mattered.

After arriving from another day of work I could throw myself on the couch, it was getting harder to go back and forth from work by bus, and most of the time it was Debbie who brought me. I hear a sniffle above my head, my eyes widen and I face Ms. Bonnie.

"Good evening Miss."

"Good evening Ms. Bonnie."

"How was your day?"

"Tiring, and yours?"

"Very productive, I started some plants to decorate the house."

I got up from the couch a little and looked around the room, I saw a good amount of plants in jars, it looked like a flower shop.

"Are you looking to open a flower store?"

"It didn't look that bad, this house needs some color."

"Wouldn't it be easier to paint the walls?"

"The flowers will add color."

"Green... A green color."

"Not for nothing, but pots fly, you know?"

I realized that those words were not information, but a threat, I tried to shut up and raised my arms showing surrender.

"And you and Debbie... Did you get along?" Ms. Bonnie asked sitting next to me on the couch.

"I haven't spoken to her anymore."

"I see you don't want to touch the subject, but I'll advise you anyway... Have you tried to listen to what she wants to tell you? I realize that she made a bad mistake and I don't judge you for being angry with her, but before you make a decision you won't regret it, try to hear her version, try to listen to her."

Those words touched me, I may be wrong or right, but she is right, I need to hear what she has to tell me before I decide to walk away for good. I faced Ms. Bonnie and kissed her cheek.

"Thank you for the advice, you're great with that."

"I know that God gave me the gift of being a counselor, but forgot to give me the luck in love."

"Why are you saying that?"

"Remember my date? The old man was married but lucky for me, I found out, and together with his wife we gave him a beating and sent him to the hospital."

"Mrs. Bonnie, were you going to commit a murder?"

"No... But listen to me, if the police knock on this door I'm not."

We smiled at the story she just told me. The next morning I woke up and did what I always do, go to the bathroom, take a shower, and get ready for work. My body longed to go back to bed, but I am no daddy's little girl to have such a privilege. Although I don't have a blood family and grew up in an orphanage, I considered it my home. I was raised in simplicity where I learned to share and thank God for what I have, I never missed a fraternal bond of mother or father, and I was never interested in knowing them if they left me in an orphanage it was because they did not want me, they do not miss me, I may be being selfish for thinking that way, but a mother would never abandon a child, for whatever circumstances.

After having breakfast and going to work, I remembered Ms. Bonnie's words, today I will try to talk to Debbie and listen to her. Already at the workplace, I realized that she was not there, I shrugged, and started my workday, but always wondered why she did not show up for work. With such curiosity I approached the boss, he was at the end of the corridor making notes in a notebook.

"Is there a problem, Cooper?"

"I'm sorry to bother you, but I was wondering... Why didn't Debbie show up for work today?"

"She didn't tell you?"

"No..."

"Her father passed away, today was the funeral."

I felt my heart squeeze when I heard that information, I already knew that Debbie's father had been battling cancer. My boss, noticing my expression, asked:

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine."

I went back to my work, but I couldn't pay enough attention, I often felt watched, and my body burned, ignoring that feeling I finished my work, left, and walked through the parking lot. As I walked I saw a car stop and realized it was Debbie's, she was leaning against it, I approached her and saw her eyes red and swollen from crying.

"Do you want a ride?" she asked.

"Yes."

She took the wheel and I got into the vehicle and sat next to her, it was already six in the evening, and as we were in traffic I looked at her.

"Are you okay?"

"No, but I'm staying."

Before heading home, Debbie pulled into a parking lot near the beach and we went near the water, we sat on the sand and were silent. I turned my face to the side, she was crying, I approached her and hugged her, she laid her head on my chest and cried loudly between sobs.

"I'm sorry for leaving you alone at the club," she said between tears. "I got the call that my dad had a cardiac arrest, I couldn't think of anything else but to run out of the club."

I felt like a fish out of water, my chest tightened and I hugged her tighter.

"Don't think about it anymore Debbie, I've forgiven you."

"I didn't mean for that to happen, I'm sorry."

"Shh... Forget about it."

I let her cry out all the bitterness and the pain that was suffocating her, I wasn't at the funeral, but now I'm here, trying to somehow listen to her and be by her side. We talked for a long time, she told me everything that happened in the last few days, after she got it off her chest she took me home. As soon as I got out of the car I said goodbye and went upstairs, before opening the door a message beeped on my cell phone, I quickly took it out of my pocket and opened it:

Stubborn woman... I thought I had made myself clear when I ordered not to go out at night.

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