In his drunken state, Doug allowed himself to be led to the bar. “Yeah, sure. She ain’t going nowhere.” He had no idea Janie had already left.

 

Chapter Four

Janie called in sick the next morning. She was afraid Doug would show up again at the clinic, and she wasn’t in the mood for another fight. She knew there’d be hell to pay for leaving him at the bar. The hard knock on her door scared her. She peeped through the security glass and fought the urge to hide.

Harvey Clarke beat on the door. “Jane, I know you’re in there. They told me you didn’t come to work today.” He pounded his beefy hand on the wood. “I’m not leaving, Jane. Open up.”

She unlocked the door and opened it slightly. “What is it, Harvey? I don’t feel much like company.”

He appeared to have come directly from work. His security guard uniform was wrinkled and a greasy stain on his chest showed the remains of the previous evening’s meal. “Don’t sass me, girl. Let me in.”

Janie opened the door wider and allowed him inside. She followed her father to the living area, where he dropped his considerable bulk onto the red floral sofa. She resigned herself to his company. Harvey would leave when he was ready, and not a moment before. “Would you like a cup of coffee? I recently made a pot.”

“Might as well.” He stretched one arm across the back of the sofa and propped his scuffed shoes on the oak coffee table. “Put plenty of cream and sugar in it.”

She rolled her eyes and went to the kitchen. If she wasn’t so fond of her grandmother, Janie would have left Piperton years ago. She often dreamed of making a new start in a larger city. But as long as Lucille was alive, she wasn’t going anywhere. Janie knew she was the only visitor her grandmother had and the thought pained her. She hurriedly made two cups of coffee and returned to Harvey. “Careful, it’s hot.”

“No shit.” He took a cautious sip before setting the mug on the table. “Doug called me.”

“I figured as much.” Janie perched on the edge of the wingback chair across from him.

Harvey looked at his daughter. She didn’t look any different, but there was something about the way she held herself he couldn’t quite figure out. “He’s pretty upset. Says you got all nasty with him yesterday. What’s up with that?”

“I’m through with Doug, Harvey.”

“Why? You got someone better?”

Janie shook her head. “No. But—”

“Damn it, Jane. It took me forever to find a man who would even look at you. At least Doug isn’t particular.”

“No, he’s a jerk.”

Harvey got to his feet so quickly that the coffee almost toppled over. “That’s enough out of you. He’s a hardworking man who would take care of you.”

She placed her coffee on the table and stood as well. “I don’t need taking care of. Especially by someone like him. Doesn’t it bother you that he almost raped me?”

“Quit being so dramatic. You’ve always stretched things out of proportion.” He pointed a finger at her. “I told Doug you’d apologize. He’s probably waiting for your call.”

Janie crossed her arms over her chest. “He’s got a long wait. If you’re so keen on Doug, why don’t you marry him?” The slap was unexpected and knocked her back into the chair. Janie covered her cheek with one hand and blinked away the tears. The shock on her face was evident. Harvey had never raised a hand to her before.

“I’ve had about all of your smart mouth I can take.” Harvey pulled his pants up higher on his waist and headed for the door. “You’ll call him and hope to hell he’ll take you back.” he turned at the door and looked at her. “Now get yourself cleaned up. You look like shit.” He slammed the door behind him.

#

Sam sat in the diner, picking at her lunch. Worrying about Janie kept her sleepless the night before. She knew it wasn’t any of her business, but she couldn’t help but be concerned about the quiet woman she had spoken to the previous day. Although they had recently met, there was something about Janie which made Sam want to protect her. She stuffed a cold fry into her mouth and chewed it.

The bell over the door rang as three men came into the restaurant. Doug and his crew congregated around a table in the center of the room. He raised his hand and snapped his fingers at the waitress. “Hey, babe! Bring us three specials, will you?”

The waitress gathered three glasses of iced tea and placed them in front of the men. She tried to slip away but Doug swatted her on the rear. “Dana, you get cuter every day. How about going to dinner with me sometime?”

She muttered something and hurried back to the kitchen. Whatever she said must have amused the two men with Doug, because they both roared with laughter.

Doug turned red. “Her loss.” He poked one of the other men. “What’s the matter, Chuck? Jealous?”

“Nah.” Chuck took off his filthy baseball cap and scratched his thinning hair. “I thought you had a girlfriend.”

“Well, sure. But no sense in making all the other women suffer, right? There’s more than enough of me to go around.” Doug looked around the near-empty room and spotted Sam by the window. He stood and adjusted himself. “Be right back, guys.”

Sam noticed him coming and closed her eyes. She jumped slightly when he knocked on her table.

“Hey there.”

She opened her eyes and looked into his face. “Hi.”

Doug sucked on his teeth and studied her. “Haven’t seen you in here before. You waiting for anyone?”

“Uh, no. Just wanted lunch.” Sam noticed how the muscles in Doug’s arms flexed as he opened and closed his fists.

“Good.” He leaned over until his face was only a few inches from hers. “I heard you had breakfast with my girl. Don’t do it again.” Doug straightened and chucked her on the shoulder. “Thanks for the drink yesterday.”

Sam nodded, thankful he couldn’t read her mind. The thoughts she’d had of his “girl” weren’t the kind he’d appreciate. “Sure.” She held her breath until he went back to his own table, then released it slowly.

The sight of Janie hurrying down the sidewalk caught Sam’s attention. She quickly left enough money on her table for her meal and a tip, then got up. A short glance at Doug and his cronies assured her they hadn’t noticed Janie, so she waved to the waitress and left the café.