Jack!

Sten is charged with a slew of offenses. Since he can’t make bail, he’s left to rot in a jail cell till a court date is set.

Now that’s justice.

I’m proud of how I handled myself, and Dylan is too. I want to continue taking responsibility for my own safety, so more self-defense classes are definitely in order. What Graham taught me has already proved invaluable.

So, a couple of mornings after the incident with Sten, and while Dylan’s at practice, I call my brother to see if he’s up for meeting at his gym.

“I’m already there,” he tells me with a laugh.

“Perfect. I’ll be right over.”

“Cool. See you soon.”

I arrive at the gym ready to roll.

“Let’s get started,” I say to Graham as I’m grabbing up a pair of sparring gloves.

He loves that I’m so pumped, but since I haven’t mentioned what went down the other night with Sten, he’s naturally confused.

“What’s brought on this renewed interest in learning to fight, Chloe? You haven’t been to the gym for a while.”

We’re stepping into the boxing ring, and I’m already bouncing on my toes, taking pretend shots at my brother. “Nothing, dude,” I reply. “I’m just excited to get back at it.”

Graham crosses his arms over his massive chest and stares at me. “Don’t bullshit me, Chloe. Something triggered this.”

I quit juking and jiving, knowing it’s time to come clean.

“Okay, okay. There is something I need to tell you.”

I proceed to fill him in on everything that happened, sparing no detail.

“And you’re just telling me this now!” he exclaims once I’m finished. “You should’ve called me right away. In fact, you should’ve called me before the police arrived. I would’ve liked to have had a few minutes alone with that worthless ex of yours.”

“I’m sure you would have, Graham, but that would’ve ended with you in trouble too.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right.”

Pulling me in for a brotherly hug, he says softly, “I’m just happy you’re okay. That fucking Sten was the stalker, huh? I had a feeling. Thank Christ he’s off the streets. He can’t harm you ever again.”

I sigh and take a step back, not as confident on that last.

“He couldn’t make bail, so we’re good for now. Let’s just hope the judge throws the book at him.”

Graham assures me, “I’m here for you, Chloe. I’ll testify if you need me to.”

“I know that, Graham. And I really appreciate how you’re always here for me. You’re the best brother ever.”

He really is the best brother. And he’s an amazing teacher. I tell him as much, and I let him know that the moves he taught me helped me subdue Sten.

“They really do work,” I marvel.

“They sure do,” he agrees. “But there’s a lot more you can learn.”

I start bouncing again like a prizefighter, fists up.

“Well then, I guess we better get started.”

When I return from the gym, wow, am I ever sore! Graham did not go easy on me. But that’s good. I want to feel empowered, like I really did work out and learn something.

Dylan is still at practice, so I head upstairs to take a long, hot bath.

My phone buzzes on the way, and since I don’t recognize the number, I answer with a tentative, “Hello?”

A gruff voice inquires, “Is this Chloe Tettersaw?”

“Yes.”

“This is Officer Willet, ma’am.”

Ma’am? He makes me feel so old. Maybe it’s just police protocol, like a formality. But then again, maybe it means something more serious is afoot.

Suddenly worried that the charges against Sten are about to be dropped, or something equally awful, I ask, “Is everything okay?”

“All is fine,” he replies. “I’m not calling for any bad reason. I just have a question.”

“Oh, thank God,” I breathe out, relieved.

Clearing his throat, he says, “So I was back at your old apartment this morning, checking on some details for my report, and I came across a rather friendly creature.”

“A rabbit?” I question, hopeful.

“Yes.”

“That’s Jack!” I exclaim, thrilled and happy. “I was wondering what happened to him. He ran off the other night when all that bad stuff went down.”

“Ah, so he is yours,” Officer Willet murmurs. “I figured that was the case. You’ll be happy to hear then that I apprehended him for you.”

“Apprehended him?”

Laughing, he says, “Sorry, hazards of the job. What I meant to say is I caught your rabbit and brought him back to the station.”

“You caught Jack? You must be like the rabbit whisperer. He usually only comes up to me, and sometimes Dylan.”

“I don’t know about that rabbit whisperer part.” He laughs. “But maybe you’re onto something since catching him was really easy. I just picked up a carrot that was lying on the ground and held it out to the little guy. He hopped right on over.”

“Wow, I guess feeding him really has made him tame.”

Officer Willet sounds perplexed. “Made him tame?”

“Yes.”

But wait, maybe I’ve been right all along and Jack is a domesticated rabbit. Here’s my chance for a second opinion, and from a rabbit whisperer to boot.

“Officer Willet, my boyfriend thinks Jack is a wild animal, a jackrabbit to be exact. That’s why I was saying we tamed him.”

He starts laughing and laughing. Once he calms, he says, “That rabbit isn’t wild by any means, and it doesn’t take a rabbit whisperer to know that. Your Jack is not a jackrabbit. He’s a domestic rabbit, Miss Tettersaw.”

“I knew it,” I state, feeling victorious. Wait till I gloat to Dylan.

“I always suspected he was abandoned,” I go on, “but Dylan kept insisting he was wild. I’d almost begun to believe it.”

“No, no, he was someone’s pet at one time.”

“Well, I’d really like to give him a home, if that’s okay.”

“Of course, Miss Tettersaw, I’d expect nothing less.”

We make arrangements for me to pick up Jack, and I’m so excited that once I’m off the phone I immediately text Dylan with the good news.

Jack is back! I write. And Officer Willet has him.

Great, he texts back. Is it okay for us to keep him then? I mean, even though he’s a wild animal.

And the gloating begins…

He’s not a wild animal. He’s a domestic bunny. I was right all along.

He is, huh? Guess I better stick to hockey.

Aw, worry. You’re still an expert on LOTS of other things, Dylan.

You bet I am. And I’m thinking maybe I need to demonstrate one particular area of expertise as soon as I get home.

Hell, I can’t pick up Jack and get back to the house fast enough.