Page 3 of More than a Memory
“Your man? He certainly hasn’t mentioned you,” she smirked.
Darcy knew trouble when she saw it, and she knew her sister had a temper. “Annie, let it go. He isn’t worth a pound of salt! Just get your keys and let’s get out of here!”
Bradley looked at Darcy and said sarcastically, “Oh, the big, controlling sister coming to the rescue. Poor little Annie the orphan needs big sis to fight her battles.”
It was all Darcy could do to control her own temper. He was drunk and being his usual asshole self. Bradly was good looking from a physical standpoint, and charming to boot when he wanted to be, but his character, or lack thereof, wiped out his appeal as far as Darcy was concerned. It appeared as if most of the female population thought otherwise though. He seemed to have his pick of willing women, which she would never understand, and especially that one of them was her little sister.
Darcy said, “Give her the keys, Brad,” intentionally using the shortened version of his name because she knew how much he hated it.
“It’sBradley,” he snarled, as he reached into his pocket, pulled out the keys, and threw them, missing her head by merely an inch. By this time, a few of Darcy’s friends had noticed trouble and were standing behind her and Annie, ready to intervene if necessary. Though Bradley was also a cop, he was disliked by most of his peers. They felt he set a bad example for them all. He was a bully and had a short fuse, a poor combination for a police officer and even more so for a boyfriend for her sister.
They were able to leave without incident, but Annie was like a caged tigress.
“Who does he think he is?” she hissed to Darcy in the parking lot. “The nerve to take my car so he can go out and pick up another woman! I have half a mind to go back in there and confront him all over again!”
“Oh no you don’t,” Darcy said. “And you’re spending the night with me. I don’t want him coming to your house in his drunken, angry state. You never know what could happen.” She thought of her parents’ violent, drunken arguments and of Ryan’s death, caused by a domestic quarrel much like this one.
When they arrived home, Darcy filled her tea kettle and put it on to boil. Pulling out fresh honey from a local farm, she grabbed two mugs and asked Annie what flavor tea she wanted.
“Oh, I don’t care, surprise me,” Annie said. Now that her initial anger had subsided, she was becoming despondent.
“I love him so much. How can he treat me like this?” she whined.
“It’s because he is a jerk, Annie. It’s not your fault! You must quit trying to make sense of it and get away from him. I promise you will find a healthier relationship! Trust me they do exist out there,” Darcy said convincingly in her most reasonable tone.
“But I don’t want someone else, I want Bradley,” Annie said, sniffling.
“I know you think you love him, but you’re just replaying our parents’ drama, Annie. Dad was a drunk and a cheat. Mother thought she loved him, but you see where that got her? She lost herself. She sacrificed her children, her health, her career for that man. You can change the pattern! Get into therapy Annie. Turn this around while you’re still young.”
Annie wiped her nose on her sleeve. “I hear what you are saying and a part of me knows it’s true, but I don’t feel like I have the strength to let go,” she said honestly.
“It’s like exercising a muscle, Kiddo! It takes practice. You’ll get stronger every day. You just have to take that first step,” Darcy assured her sister.
“Can I stay here for a few days to get my bearings?” Annie asked.
“Of course, you can! You’re always welcome! Wherever my home is will always be home to you as well, Sis. Right kids?” Darcy asked her canine companions, who looked worriedly at Annie as she cried. Fannie decided at that moment to get up and lick Annie’s hand, causing the sisters to look at each other and laugh. The tea kettle whistled, and Darcy got up to fill their mugs, letting the boiling water pour over the tea bags and spooning in honey as she stirred. Placing the hot tea in front of Annie, she gave her a big hug. “Trust me when I say, there will come a time when you will say ‘Bradley Who?’” she promised.
“You swear?” Annie said uncertainly.
“I swear. Cross my heart!” Annie answered confidently, feeling more hopeful for her sister than she had in a long while. Maybe she was finally going to come around and dump the jerk.
* * *
The next morning, they both took off for work at the same time. Darcy kept a small office in town, and she had an interview with a new client that morning and was meeting her at nine o’clock.
“Now, what are you going to do if Bradley continues trying to contact you?” Darcy quizzed her sister before getting in her car. Annie’s cell phone had been pinging with texts and voicemails since six that morning.
“Ignore him,” Annie replied dutifully.
Darcy replied, “Yes, and if he comes to your workplace call me immediately!”.
“You worry too much, Darcy. I understand why, but he would never hurt me,” Annie said naively.
“I was a cop for six years and have been a private investigator for another six since I quit the force. Pardon me for telling you that I wouldn’t put anything past that man. If he thinks he is really losing you, he could become violent. Be on guard, Annie. You must take this seriously. I know I don’t need to tell you, but this hits close to home,” she added quietly.
“Yes, Mom,” Annie said teasingly. “Listen, I’m not trying to be insensitive, but my situation is completely different. Bradley has a temper and maybe some jealousy issues, but he loves me. I know you don’t trust him. but try not to worry. You’ve seen some crazy things because of your job, but I know him and what he is really like. He may come off as arrogant, but he is actually a softy on the inside. He just can’t handle his alcohol. I promise that I will call you immediately if he sets foot in The Diamond,” she said, referring to the thriving hair salon that she had opened several years ago.
The salon offered three stylists besides herself, a nail specialist, a licensed massage therapist, and Annie hoped to add a fourth stylist before the end of next year.