Blood Relations II

Bad Day Brings New Beginnings

Brook Davis once dreamed of traveling the world as Miss Minnesota and later settling down with a career in nursing. Her life changed when she met Jason. The two met at a gala held after a recent Miss Minnesota pageant. Brook didn’t take home the crown that night but she still felt like a winner getting Jason. It was love at first sight. Unfortunately for Brook Jason tended to be the jealous type and wasn’t shy about telling Brook. The love in Brook’s heart for Jason was strong though and she was determined to make their relationship work. She dreamed of marrying him and raising a family with lots of children. Jason and Brook moved in together in a second-floor apartment and soon after Jason helped Brook get a job at his cousin’s restaurant down the street from there. Carl’s Diamond Star Diner was a medium-sized diner with 15 tables serving meals from 6 a.m. till midnight every day.

Brook still had all the charm of Miss Minnesota and all the beauty of a Playboy Bunny with a firm hourglass shape, shoulder-length blonde hair, and warm caramel eyes. Her long toothpick legs poking out under a light blue uniform could be seen any night dashing between dozens of waiting tables. That beauty along with her great big smile worked wonders to squeak out bigger tips from her customers; tips she desperately needed to please Jason.

It was the end of another fifteen-hour shift, in a string of fifteen-hour shifts. Brook felt every muscle in her body scream for a deep massage and a warm bubble bath. She hurt everywhere but especially in her back. Adding to her pain, her feet and legs were also burning. She looked forward to that bubble bath and some much-needed sleep.

In her rush to leave at the end of her shift, Brook pushed through the double doors leading to the kitchen without looking and crashed into her co-worker sending a tray of two dinner entrees to the floor.

Brook dropped to her knees and quickly helped to pick up the food and plates. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry, Jackie. I didn’t see you. Are you okay?”

Jackie bent down and reached for Brook’s arm. “Girl, you have to stop working so many hours. I swear you’re going to go blind!”

They both stood and smiled. “I know, but unless I hit the lottery, I’m going to have to keep this gig up for a little while longer. Bills you know?”

“No kidding. I have them too. When are you going to tell that lazy boyfriend of yours to get off his butt and get a job? You need two incomes. You can’t keep doing this to yourself.”

Brook reflected on Jackie’s words. She was right. Jason spends twice what she makes but every time she’d bring up getting a job to him they’d get into a big fight. She shook her head to clear her mind and then helped Jackie pick up the remaining food that splattered on the floor. As she stood she reached behind her back and pulled the string to untie her apron then turned to face Jackie. “It’s just that Jason’s going through a rough time right now.” She walked to the back wall and hooped her apron on one of the rusted hooks sticking out the red-brick wall.

Jackie tossed the spoiled food in the garbage and then grabbed Brook’s shoulder to spin her around to face her. “Listen!”

Brook tried to pull away but Jackie’s hold was stronger. “Listen, will ya? You need to get help. I think Jason abuses you and it’s not just financially.”

“Jackie, please stop saying that. I love him.”

“I know you do, honey and I think that’s your problem. Did you forget the handprints on your face and arm the other day? If I were you I’d have a talk with the police and then go find myself a better boyfriend.”

“You mean fiancee.”

Jackie screamed. “Whatever! You deserve better.”

“I can’t. I love him too much, Jackie. Those marks are from when I fell. I told you that before.”

“Okay, whatever you say. It’s your life. I’m just saying you deserve better.”

“He’s a good man. You just have to get to know him.”

Jackie shook her head. “Know him? I know him alright. I have an ex just like him. If Jason’s such a good man why isn’t he coming to pick you up tonight? It’s a blizzard out there. Wouldn’t it be nice of your fiancee to give you a lift home? That is of course if he loved you. Where is he anyway?”

“I don’t know but I’m sure he would be here if he could.”

“Honey, you are in serious denial. You walk home alone, late, every night. Where is he? Doesn’t he care about you?”

“Sure he cares. Come on, Jackie, you’re just jealous because you don’t have someone like him in your life now.” Brook turned to the time clock. The punch read 10 p.m. as she checked out of the diner for the night. She glanced at her watch and remembered she needed to be back in a few hours to do it all over.

After she grabbed her white parka off the coat rack she turned around and forced a smile then opened her arms toward her co-worker. “Are we still friends?”

The two hugged.

“Of course.”

Brook pulled away and smiled and then waved. “Goodnight.”

Jackie straightened her uniform and then reached for a new bottle of ketchup off the shelf. “You be careful. I worry about you.”

Brook smiled again. Being so tired her coat felt like every pocket was full of lead when she slid into it. After zipping she stuffed her hands into a pair of white mittens and then turned to the rear exit. She reached for her backpack from the floor and then stepped towards the door. As she pushed against the elephant-sized metal frame a gust of wind from the winter storm slammed against it pushing the door closed.

With a more forceful push, she threw herself out the steel door and into a snowbank three-times taller than her five-foot-ten inches self. The fresh snow felt soft like feathers in a pillow except for its ice-chilling cold. Another gust of arctic wind blew through her thin body as she stood and brushed the snow off. It was Minnesota, home to blizzards and polar vortexes. She pulled her parka’s hood over her head and turned to face the wind, to begin her two-block walk home.

Throughout the day customers in the diner talked about the snowstorm as if competing with each other for the highest snowfall totals. She feared the worst of their comments might be true as her boots sunk half a foot into the heavy snow with each step. Looking ahead, she noticed winds creating snowdrifts as high as rooftops and burying cars where they parked. After standing most of the day, her legs were too tired and unsteady for tonight’s walk.

Along the way, she noticed how quiet the street was. No one was out, not even a snowplow. It felt strange walking all alone out there past 10 p.m. Jackie made a good point but Jason would never pick her up and especially not during a snowstorm like this. Upon arriving at her apartment complex, she needed both hands to pull the glass door open against the two-foot snowdrift. Once inside she dusted herself off and then took out her keys to check the mailbox for any new letters or bills.

The stairs creaked under her wobbling thighs as she climbed up the 14 wooden steps to her second-floor apartment. Pounding in her ears like a beating drum her heart and splitting headache screamed for relief. Opening the door, she reached around the corner for the kitchen light switch and then stepped inside. “Jason, are you home?”

The darkness inside made it clear Jason was still out. The only sound came from a ticking wall clock hanging above the oven. She slipped out of her coat and then tossed it over one of the kitchen chairs. The smell of grease, cigarette smoke, and burnt food from working at the diner all day clung to her like a second skin. Struggling to make ends meet, she needed to work as many hours as her boss, Carl would allow. Today, she felt a sense of pride with the especially large tips collected. She fanned the ten twenties out on the kitchen table next to her keys for Jason to see then walked to the refrigerator and pulled out a near-empty bottle of Chianti. She grabbed a wine glass from the cupboard and a bottle of aspirins from the kitchen cabinet then poured the remaining contents of wine into her glass. After placing a few aspirins in her mouth she tipped her head back and guzzled the last of her liquor before strolling into the bedroom to undress. Once there, she closed the door and looked at herself in the full-size mirror on the opposite side while slowly unbuttoning her blue uniform until her breasts sprung out.

While she gazed at herself she rubbed her hands across her breasts. She reflected on how Valentine’s Day used to be very special for her and her fiancée, Jason. Now, this cupid day only meant bigger tips on an otherwise un-special day. After pulling off her top along with her wet boots, socks, and pants and tossing them on the floor, she crawled into bed. Her clock read ten-thirty when she set the alarm for four. She’d have to put her bubble bath off until tomorrow morning. As soon as her head hit the cool pillow, she collapsed into a deep restful sleep.

The kitchen clock softly ticketed away in the stillness of the night. A man shouting and swearing outside Brook’s window startled her from her sleep. The loud voice sounded familiar and grew louder as she listened to someone stumble up the steps. She waited nervously as Jason’s keys fumbled in the lock and then crash onto the floor just outside the apartment door. She heard his temper flare and his fists pound so hard into the door that she feared he would break it down. Fumbling with the lock again, Jason forced it open slamming the door into the refrigerator. Storming into the kitchen, he crashed into the table. He was obviously returning from another day of drinking with his friends at the bar. He was drunk and when he was drunk, he was mean and abusive. The sound of the door slamming almost caused Brook to have a heart attack. Jason belched and farted as he stumbled around the kitchen searching for the light switch. As she heard the flick of the light switch, he barked out in his drunken voice, “Where are your tips? This all you made tonight, bitch?”

Brook pulled the covers over her head hoping the gathering storm would pass. Her hopes were dashed when Jason stomped down the hall and pushed her door open. He flipped on the bedroom light. “Did you hear me? Didn’t I tell you I need you to bring home a thousand tonight? That’s a thousand with a capital T, not two hundred you God damned bitch! Didn’t I tell you to shake your tight ass a little faster and show more cleavage?”

Brook sat up and pulled the cover close to her chest. “What do you want me to do, dance on tables?”

“I want you to bring home more money, dam it! Dance, shake your sweet butt, do whatever it takes!”

“Carl’s not running a strip club and I’m not a whore. Two hundred dollars is a lot. I worked hard for that. I thought you’d be happy.”

“Well, you thought wrong then. Didn’t I warn you what would happen if you pissed me off again?”

Brook tucked her legs under her body and prepared herself to run. “You’re drunk! Go sleep it off in the front room.”

Jason reached for her long brown hair and jerked her head back. “Don’t you ever tell me what to do!”

Brook pushed him away. “Go on. Leave me alone.”

“What did you say?” He slammed the bedroom door and stepped closer while raising his fist.

Brook backed away. “I said, leave me alone! I’m too tired to fight with you tonight. I need to get some sleep so I can get back to the grill by five. You want me to go to work don’t you?”

“I give a fuck about your sleep. I come before everything! Me! Didn’t I tell you I need a thousand to pay the boys back at the bar tonight? Now, they won’t be too happy with me when I go there with this punny amount. You know this is all your fault.” Jason stepped closer.

“It’s Valentine’s. Let’s not fight, please. Okay, I’ll work harder tomorrow, I swear. I need to sleep now.”

He belched again. “It’s a little late for broken promises.” Jason reached for her hair again.

“What are you doing? I said leave me alone! Take your hands off me!” Dodging his grasp, Brook jumped off the bed and ran for the door wearing just soft white cotton panties and a t-shirt. Jason chased close behind. Just as she pulled the door open, he reached over her head and slammed it shut, almost smashing her tiny fingers in the door jam.

Turning toward him, with her back against the door, Brook’s body trembled. “I’m warning you. Leave me alone!”

“Or what?” With his left hand, he slapped the side of her face.

Brook stepped towards him and then kicked him hard between his legs.

Jason screamed as he dropped to his knees. Brook pulled the door open and ran into the hallway. Jason followed close behind. He ripped her panties off and then grabbed her hair to pull her back into the bedroom.

Brook screamed. “Let go of me!”

“What’s that?”

Brook tried to kick him. “I said let go of me!”

Jason picked her up and then tossed her onto the bed. He jumped on top of her and tried to pin her wrists to the bed with his arms. Brook slipped free and ran to the door again. Jason spun her around and swung his left hand striking the right side of her porcelain face. The loud slap sounded like a whip hitting the hind end of a horse. Brook spun around and fell, smashing her head against the dresser. Blood spurt from her nose while rivers of tears streamed down her face.

Brook picked herself up and charged him, knocking him onto the bed then ran towards the door.

Jason grabbed her t-shirt and ripped it as he pulled her towards him. Brook spun around and slapped his face then ran for the door again. Jason jumped on her back, knocking her to the floor. Grabbing her shirt, he ripped it off as he rolled her over onto her back. Once on her back, he slapped her. Brook slapped his face with all her might and tried to push him off of her but he was too strong and she was too tired. He pinned both of her hands over her head with one hand. She screamed in desperation. Jason’s anger was uncontrollable. With his free hand, he grabbed her neck and pushed down on her windpipe, squeezing her throat until she couldn’t scream anymore. He brought his other hand around and squeezed tighter putting her neck in a vice grip. He choked her so hard she couldn’t breathe. Brook’s head felt like it was about to explode as she struggled desperately fighting for air, fighting with all her might to pull his hands off her throat. She tried pushing herself away with her feet, tried to twist and turn, even tried to lift and throw him off, but his hold on her was unbreakable. Brook’s eye’s bulged as her lungs burned for oxygen. Darkness soon surrounded her. Within seconds, Brook stopped struggling. Her arms fell limp to the floor as darkness overtook her.

The loud bang of the kitchen door being slammed jolted Brook awake. She rolled on her side and curled into a ball as she coughed and gasped for air while rubbing her throat. Barely able to breathe or move, she cried as her body shook. Wiping the tears from her face, she used the bedroom chair to climb to her feet then limped to the bathroom to inspect the damages in the mirror. Her face had swollen even more than the last time he did this and her nose was still dripping blood. She pulled a washrag out of the bathroom drawer and soaked it in cold water then held it over her face. Her new t-shirt was now laying on the floor torn and blood-stained. She could feel her nose getting bigger by the second. Her body ached from head to toe and her once rosy cheeks were now marked and raised with his handprints showing the places where her face was struck. Stumbling to the bedroom, she sat at the edge of the bed and lowered her head into her hands, and let the tears roll down her face. She feared running into her friend at work in the morning and needing a better excuse.

Through the rivers of tears, she noticed a Christmas card she kept on her nightstand. It was from her cousin, Lori. The two used to be like sisters until Lori moved away to attend school in Florida. Brook picked up the card and read the message at the bottom that was handwritten in large bold letters. It said, “CALL ME SOMETIME STRANGER. I MISS YOU!” and listed a phone number. Without thinking, Brook reached for her phone.