Chapter 13: Andrea

“We’re fine.”

Andy’s voice startled me, and I almost spilled the coffee I was holding in my hand.

The coffee shop was busy, which was one of the reasons why Andy had asked Bobby to meet us here. A lot of people, less chance Dennis would try anything stupid. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was out there, watching us, waiting for a chance to strike. I knew Dennis. He rarely let an audience get in between him and what he wanted.

I put my coffee down and bit my lip. I grabbed the tissue next to me and started to play with it, twisting and turning it in my hands until Andy reached over and grabbed my hands in his. He squeezed gently and looked me in the eye.

“We’re fine,” he said again.

I wanted to believe him. After last night, falling asleep in his arms feeling like I had been able to wash away all my worries, I really wanted to believe him. I had woken up that morning with the widest smile on my face, ready to take on the world with vigor until I remembered what leaving the apartment entailed. I had been quiet during breakfast, while Andy and Bobby talked on the phone and decided on what to do next, and on the drive here. I had called Jane to let her know I wouldn’t be coming in, but I wanted nothing more than to do just that. I wanted the life I had started to enjoy these last few days. I wanted to feel safe again.

“He’s out there, somewhere,” I said. “I don’t like this, Andy. I had stopped worrying about looking over my shoulder wherever I went.”

“It’s okay,” Andy squeezed my hand again. “You’re okay. You’re still safe. He’s not going to do anything with all these people around us.”

“You don’t know him like I do,” I said, shaking my head. “He won’t care if we were sitting in the middle of a sold-out football stadium. When he wants something, he’s like a raging bull.”

“Good,” Andy said.

“How is that good?”

“I like a challenge,” he joked.

“This isn’t funny.”

“I’m not trying to be funny,” he smiled. “I just want you to relax. Enjoy the coffee, eat something, and let’s take this step by step, okay?”

I wish.

I looked out the window, scanning the faces that walked past the window for any sign of Dennis. With every car that passed by, I flinched a little, half expecting it to be him. I imagined him parking and jumping out, coming at us with a tire iron, ready to wreak havoc.

I only calmed down when I saw Bobby’s truck pull up next to Andy’s Nissan. My brother quickly jumped out, looked around and then made his way into the coffee shop. Andy gestured him over, and he slipped into the booth beside me, instantly hugging me.

“I’m so sorry,” he whispered, and I shook my head quickly, letting him know that I wasn’t angry anymore. I felt tears well up in my eyes, and I hugged him harder.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“I’m getting asked that a lot lately,” I said, trying to smile.

“I bet,” he said, briefly looking at Andy. “Any problems getting here?”

“We wouldn’t be here if there had been,” Andy said. “So far so good.”

Bobby nodded. “Dennis showed up at the house yesterday.”

“Oh God,” I sighed.

“It’s okay, I took Andy’s advice and ignored him,” Bobby said. “Didn’t make him happy, though. He took it out on the porch swing. Broke it into pieces. I was this close to going out there and beating him with what was left.”

“Good thing you didn’t,” Andy said.

“Yeah,” Bobby sighed. “I called the police, got in touch with Jeremy. He’s got Dennis’s description, and they’ll pick him up if they find him. I think the bastard’s going to be careful now.”

“Let’s hope so,” Andy said.

I held Bobby’s hand, feeling much better now that he and Andy were here together. They still looked like they had their issues to discuss, but for now, that would have to wait. They were both mature enough to set their priorities straight. Something I was eternally grateful for. I knew that my brother could hold a grudge, and Andy seemed just as hotheaded. At least for now, their anger was directed at Dennis and not at each other.

“The restraining order?” I asked.

“I got Jeremy working on it,” Bobby said, patting my hand. “Once that’s in place, we can breathe a little easier.”

“I’ll breathe easier when Dennis disappears from my life completely,” I said.

“This shouldn’t have happened, Andrea,” Bobby said. “I told you, your plan sucks. I could have thrown him off your trail for another week or two at least.”

“You calling him would have brought him here earlier,” I said, knowing that Dennis would have instantly seen through Bobby’s lies.

“What’s done is done,” Andy said. “Let’s just figure out the game plane here, okay?”

“I think she should stay with you,” Bobby said. “Dennis will probably come back to the house. I don’t want her there when that happens.”

“Or all three of us could be there,” Andy suggested. “Then, if he does come by, we could show him a thing or two about what it means to be on the receiving end of a beating.”

“I don’t want that,” I cut in, frowning in disbelief at how stupid he sounded.

“It’s the least of what he deserves,” Andy said.

“He’s the violent one, not you,” I countered. “I just want him to stay away from me, not beat him up.”

“Andrea, seriously, you –”

“No,” I cut him short. “You’re not going to stoop down to his level. Neither of you is. I’ll stay with Andy, and Bobby, you’ll ignore him if he comes back to the house. Let the police deal with this, and just make sure Jeremy hurries up with the restraining order.”

“The voice of reason?” Bobby asked, raising an eyebrow at me.

“Whatever,” I said. “Promise me. Both of you.”

Bobby and Andy looked at each other. “Fine,” Bobby said. “I’ll try not to kill him the next time I see him.”

I looked at Andy, and he sighed and shook his head in frustration. “Fine by me,” he said. “I’ll keep my fists to myself.”

“Thank you,” I said.

Andy looked at me, shook his head again and said, “So what are we eating?”

***

Andy didn’t keep that promise.

We finished lunch, keeping the conversation light. Both Andy and Bobby were trying to get my mind off Dennis, and it worked. Until we paid the check and walked out of the coffee shop.

Dennis was waiting outside, leaning against Bobby’s truck, smoking a cigarette that he snubbed out on the truck hood when he saw us. His smile was far from charming, and for some reason, he looked a lot more confident. As if he were sure that neither Andy nor Bobby would put up much of a fight.

“Now, if I had known this was a family reunion, I would have joined you for lunch,” Dennis said.

Bobby’s hands balled into fists and he took a step forward before I stopped him. If Dennis was feeling confident, I was definitely not going to give him the satisfaction of seeing me scared. If there was one thing I knew he hated the most, it was knowing that I wouldn’t cringe under his gaze.

He looked at me, his smiled widening, and winked at me. “Your brother’s suddenly grown a pair, sweetheart,” he chuckled. “Yesterday he was hiding inside the house like a pussy.”

“I’m here now,” Bobby countered, making to move again. I squeezed his arm, urging him to stay put.

People walking past us had begun to hurry up, sensing that something was happening. From inside the coffee shop, I could see some of the guests watching us intently. If a fist fight broke out, I doubted anyone would do more than film the whole debacle and post it on YouTube. I wondered if anyone would have the decency to at least call the police.

“How about we avoid a spectacle, and you just let me take my wife home?” Dennis said, taking a few steps towards us, but still making sure he was far enough to avoid any surprises.

“I don’t think so, asshole,” Andy said, stepping between Dennis and us. “Bobby, take your sister home. He won’t do anything stupid, will you?”

Dennis chuckled and looked past Andy at me. “Is this who you’ve been fucking while I was looking for you? Can’t keep your knees together, can you?”

“Watch it,” Andy warned.

“Fuck you,” Dennis said, his smile fading. “I don’t take lightly to men who go after married women.”

“And I don’t take lightly to men who need to prove themselves by beating their wives,” Andy shot back.

People started to gather, a small crowd mostly of college students, standing behind the parked cars and out of the way. The tension in the air was heavy, and everyone was just waiting for the first punch to be thrown. I prayed to God it didn’t happen.

“Andy, he isn’t worth it,” Bobby said through clenched teeth, not believing a word he was saying. I could tell he was only trying to calm the situation down for my sake. “We’re leaving, Dennis. Go back to Manchester if you know what’s good for you.”

Bobby grabbed my hand and pulled me along, past Andy and towards his truck. Dennis reached out and grabbed my arm, his fingers digging into it so hard that it hurt.

“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?” Dennis hissed.

All hell broke loose then.

You could almost hear the whistling of Andy’s arm flying through the air, and the sickening sound of bones cracking as his fist slammed into Dennis’s face. If people were expecting a fight, they definitely hadn’t expected the speed with which Andy would attack. It took Dennis completely by surprise, throwing him back. He let go of me, trying to keep himself from falling over, and Andy quickly followed through with another punch.

“Andy!” I screamed.

Andy wasn’t listening, though, the rage on his face terrifying. He threw a third and fourth punch, and Dennis fell back onto the hood of a parked car, rolling out of the way. He quickly got a hold of himself and threw his entire body against Andy, sending both men down.

“Andy, stop it!” I screamed, but no one was listening to me.

Bobby grabbed me by the arm and hurried me away. “Let’s go!” he shouted. “Andy’s got this!”

I fought back, wanting to rush in between Dennis and Andy to stop the fight. Both men were kicking and punching at each other with such ferocity, I was sure they would end up killing each other if no one stepped in.

Bobby pulled at me again. “Now, Andrea!”

I watched in horror as Andy rolled on top of Dennis and began to frantically throw punches at him, just to find himself being flung to the side and attacked with the same ferocity. It was like watching wild animals tearing at each other.

Bobby pulled me harder, almost throwing me off my feet, and pushed me into the passenger seat of his truck. He slammed the door and rushed around to the driver’s side.

“Help him!” I shouted.

“Trust me,” Bobby said, turning the ignition and pulling out of the parking space with a screech of his tires. “Right now, Dennis is the one who’s going to need help.”

I looked back as we pulled away, the crowd now getting involved and pulling both men away from each other. From this far, I could barely tell who had gotten the worst of the beating, but I could hear Dennis clearly swearing at me, yelling for me to come back, that he’d find me and kill me.

My body shook uncontrollably, and I gasped for air, the panic attack hitting me hard as Bobby sped away.

“Hold on, Andrea,” he was saying, his voice coming from far away. “We’re going to be home soon!”

I slammed my fists against the dashboard, finding it harder and harder to breathe, tears racing down my cheeks.

“We’re going to be fine,” Bobby kept saying.

I didn’t believe him.