Tarot

 

 

After hanging up with Peyton, I got out of the rental car and walked into the pet store. I headed over to where I noticed several puppies for sale, in glass-encased kennels, and cringed at the prices.

“Excuse me,” I said to an employee, who was carrying a white and gray puppy. I waved my thumb toward the price list. “Are those really what they cost?”

The woman smiled and nodded. “Yeah, we’ve got all of the papers for the puppies, too. They’re mostly purebreds.”

“Do you have any mutts?”

“Mixed-breeds? No, not right now.”

Figures.

“Is there a Humane Society around?” I asked.

“Not close. It’s about forty minutes from here.”

I didn’t want to lose any more time.

Fuck it.

“Are they all caught up on their shots and everything?” I asked, staring at the Siberian Husky she was holding. It had ice-blue eyes and extremely large paws for such a small pup.

“They are,” she replied and nodded toward the glass kennels. “Let me know if you’d like to hold one.”

“Is this one for sale?” I asked, nodding to the one in her arms.

She grinned down at the puppy. “Yeah. We call this one Chilly. Because of her eyes. They’re like ice.”

“So, she’s a female?” I asked as the woman handed me the squirming puppy.

“Yes. We just got her in yesterday. She’ll go quick. People out here love Huskies and we don’t get too many of them. To be honest,” she lowered her voice, “I think it’s too warm out here for this breed. They do better in cooler climates.”

“Is that so?” I said, petting the animal. Its fur was softer than I’d imagined. “So, how much is this one?”

“Twenty-five-hundred.”

I whistled.  

She smiled. “Like I said, they’re rare in this store. Anyway, Chilly is worth every penny. Do you have children?”

“Yeah. A daughter,” I said, as the puppy began licking my chin.

“Huskies are great with children,” she replied. “They love to run and play, although, they can be very… persevering, which is why they make great sled dogs. They also need a lot of exercise.”

She went on about the breed and all I kept thinking about was whether or not Ruby would like her enough to come home with me. I decided that if a puppy didn’t do the trick, then nothing else would.

“I’ll take her,” I said. “You take credit cards?”

The woman smiled. “Yes. Your daughter is going to love you for this.”

At this point, I just wanted her to like me.

 

***

 

An hour later, I was back at Hannah’s. When I knocked, nobody answered the door, but I noticed Jimmy’s car parked in the driveway. So, they were definitely home.

Holding Chilly in my arms, I turned the handle and found it open. “Hello?” I said, poking my head inside. I found Hannah lying on the sofa. She appeared to be passed out.

Setting the puppy down, I walked over and shook her arm. It took her several seconds to respond, and when she did, I could tell she was high on something again.

“Where’s Ruby?” I asked, feeling suddenly anxious.

“I don’t know,” she mumbled and then closed her eyes again.

I walked to the back of the trailer where I could hear the television blaring loudly in one of the bedrooms. I opened up the door and found Ruby cowering in the corner of the mattress. Jimmy loomed over her, his shirt off and his belt buckle undone.

Rage boiled inside of me. “What the fuck are you doing?” I growled, rushing toward Jimmy, who looked as guilty as all hell.

“Nothing!” he cried, backing away from me.

I grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him out of the room. Slamming the door behind me, I shoved him backward, ready to kill the fucker.

“Wait, you’re making a mistake,” he said, holding his hands up in front of him. “I didn’t do anything.”

“You fucking pervert,” I snapped and then punched him in the face.

Jimmy’s head snapped backward. He cried out and his nose began to bleed. Before I could hit him again, Hannah was between us, trying to stop me.

“What the hell you doin’?” she slurred.

“Your boyfriend was in back with Ruby, trying to… I don’t fucking know, but it wasn’t anything good,” I replied angrily.

“What are you saying?” she asked, looking confused.

“I didn’t do anything!” Jimmy cried, holding his bloody nose. “I was just teaching her a lesson for… for being rude to you. And this is how you repay me?”

I glared at him. He was lying. I knew it and he knew that I knew it.

“Honestly, I was just giving her a lecture,” he said, looking ready to shit his pants.

I didn’t know if he’d gotten around to touching her inappropriately, but it was what he’d intended. Every fiber of my being sensed it. I grabbed him by the throat and shoved him against the wall. “I should kill you right now.”

Jimmy looked at Hannah, who was staring at us in stunned silence. “I didn’t do anything!” he cried. “Hannah, I swear. He’s crazy!”

That pissed me off even more. I grabbed a vase that was sitting on the end-table and smashed him over the head with it. He screamed and crumbled to the ground. I was about to pick him back up, when Hannah grabbed my arm.

“Please. Stop this or I swear, I’ll call the cops,” she begged, as Jimmy sat up and moaned.

“Do that,” I said, pulling my arm away from her. “I’ll make sure you’re arrested for child endangerment, and not to mention, drugs.”

“Drugs?” Hannah said, her eyes darting around the trailer. She laughed nervously. “There’s no drugs here.”

“I’m not a fucking idiot,” I said, noticing that Chilly was over by the bedroom door, pawing at it. Ruby opened it from the inside and there was a brief look of joy on her face when she noticed the pup. Then she looked at us and it was replaced with fear.

Having had enough of the bullshit, I stepped over Jimmy and went to my daughter. I kneeled down and grabbed the puppy, to hold her still.

“Ruby,” I said, as calmly as possible. “This is Chilly. I bought her for you.”

She wiped the tears away from her eyes and managed a small smile.

“Look,” I said, gently. “I know you’re afraid, but I’m your daddy and I won’t ever do anything to hurt you. And if anyone tries to harm, or touch you in a bad way, they’ll answer to me.”

Ruby glanced over at Jimmy nervously.

“Especially him,” I said, seething inside. “You won’t ever have to worry about that guy. Or… anyone,” I said, touching her arm.

She flinched.

I let go of her arm. “I’m sorry. If you don’t want anyone to touch you, I understand, honey. You call the shots, okay?”

Relaxing, Ruby nodded.

“Did you eat anything while I was gone?” I asked her softly.

Ruby shook her head.

I glanced over at Hannah and glared at her. The woman lowered her eyes.

“Tell you what; let’s go out and grab a bite to eat. You. Chilly. And me. Okay? Maybe some pizza? Unless you’d prefer Mc Donald’s?”

“I like Mc Donald’s,” she said hoarsely.

Releasing a sigh of relief, I stood up. “Me, too. Let’s go and get you a Happy Meal.”

She smiled and nodded.

“Can you do me a favor?” I said, reaching into my jacket pocket. I pulled out the new leash I’d purchased and clipped it onto Chilly’s collar. “Take her outside, so she can go potty. Hold her tightly, though, or she might get away.”

Ruby nodded.

I handed her the leash and opened the door so they could step outside. Once they were out, I turned back to Hannah. I was still pissed off, but just wanted to get the hell out of there with my daughter. “You get her stuff ready?”

“She did,” Hannah said, and then went in back of the trailer to retrieve it.

I looked at Jimmy, who was staring at me timidly from the sofa. “You’re one sick fuck, you know that?”

He opened his mouth to protest, and I cut him off.

“I don’t want to hear about it,” I snapped. “The next time you try touching a kid, you’re going to get caught. You’ll end up in prison, and you’ll be the one getting touched.”

He looked at me like I was full of shit. But, after grabbing him by the throat, I’d seen it all. Whether or not my glimpse into his future had been triggered by rage or by skin-to-skin contact, I wasn’t sure. But, I knew his future was fucked. And he deserved everything he got.

“Here,” said Hannah, walking out of the back. She handed me a wheeled blue suitcase.

“This is everything?” I asked, surprised.

Hannah nodded. “That’s all she arrived with.”

I took it from her.

“You’re wrong about Jimmy,” she said. “He wouldn’t touch a young kid.”

I shook my head and walked toward the front door. She was clueless. I glanced over my shoulder. “Why don’t you ask him about Mary Jo?” I was pretty sure that was the name of the woman he’d been with earlier in the day.

Hannah gasped. “Mary Jo? Did he tell you about his ex-wife?”

“He didn’t have to,” I replied, looking back over my shoulder. “Besides the stink of beer, you can smell someone’s cheap perfume all over him.”

The couple started arguing and I left the trailer, a satisfied grin on my face.