Smoke, Lies, and Goobyes

Chapter 11

Smoke, Lies, and Goodbyes 11

Laura's POV

Victor walks in, flopping his computer bag on the chair with a sigh.

"Today was horrible." He whines, propping his feet up on the clean table.

"So was mine!" I say almost hysterically as I sigh loudly.

"I had so many cases I thought my head would explode." He whines some more. I hit the arm of the chair really hard and stand up.

"I'd get you a beer darling, but we're out and I don't feel like going out tonight." I shrug, smirking to myself as I think of what Norman told me.

"Why didn't you go shopping today?" He demands rather than asking as his eyes bore holes into mine.

"I didn't fucking feel like it! Is that so bad?" I shriek, staring right back.

"You never FEEL like doing anything!" He snaps, leaving me with another wild grin on my face. Crack, echoing through the apartment before I feel soft carpet beneath my hands as I try to catch myself.

"Victor! What the fuck!" I shout, anger rippling through me.

"You are such a bitch!" He shouts, pinning me to the floor.

"Get the fuck off!" I shriek, beating on his chest only for him to shove down on my shoulders; painfully slamming them into the floor. I grunt, pain shooting through my head as it connects with wood floor.

"Get the fuck off Victor!" I scream again, beating on him to get him off. He finally throws me out the door. My head connects with something hard and then then go black.

Grabbing my phone, I click Norman's contact as I run out the door.

"Yeah?" Asks a gruff, extremely drunk voice.

"Norman, I'm going to the bar, are you there?" I ask, sprinting down the sidewalk when the neon lights come into view. I hung up after listening to breathing. I sigh as I run faster somehow, to the front door. Five yards, four, three, two, I swing open the door. Jogging to the bar, I see Norman bent over, shot glass in hand.

"Norman." I sigh, slipping his arm around my shoulder.

"Is it really you?" He asks, eyes glassy and huge.

"Yes." I nod, hugging tight to him. The bell chimes and I know it's Victor.

"Don't move." Norman hushes, lifting my face to his as he starts kissing me, keeping my back to Victor. Victor walks by us twice, never grabbing hold of either of us. It was painful to kiss Norman because his fingers were digging into bruises as he deepened the kiss.

As the doorbell dings once more, I lean back, shaking my head. He doesn't seem to notice the bruising spots or the red mark on my cheek. I take his hand, leading him to his car and putting him in the passenger side, getting and driving back to his house.

"Norman, let's get you to bed." I chuckle, kissing his forehead.

"Good night Laura." He whispers as he smiles. "Mingus is coming home tomorrow." He hushes, making me smile into his shoulder as he hugs me tighter, pulling the sheets up over us. I know he thinks I'm a dream, but I don't care. I am safe. I curl into him, happy.

"Mommy? Mommy? Mommy? Momma?" I hear the little voice and a tear slips down my cheek before I sit up to see myself in a hospital gown and in a white sheeted bed. Where am I?

"Norman?" I ask, blinking and hoping it is a dream. My hands and the rest of me tingles as I come back to life.

"Hey, hey," he sits up from his lounging position in the chair, reaching for my outstretched hand.

"Norman? What's going on?" I ask, fear creeping through me.

"You fell down a flight of stairs. Damn girl, your faux is here." He says, standing up nodding to Victor. They get along? Mingus stays planted on the bed; next to me.

"Mommy?" He asks, shaking my arm.

"Mingus, she's not your mommy, let's go." He mumbles, coming over and lifting the boy who sat cross legged by my side.

"Mommy!" He shrieks, little fists beating uselessly on Norman's shoulder as he carried the screaming boy away.

"Norman stop!" My subconscious shouts before I know it. "Let him stay if he wants. Why are you leaving?" I ask, my tears blurring my vision.

"You and the faux need some time." He says harshly, keeping hold of Mingus.

"Norman stay, please." I beg, I don't know why but I don't want to be near him.

"Mr-"

"It's Victor." He interrupts.

"I don't care. Can I talk to Laura for minute? Alone?" He asks.

"Well why the hell not?" He growls, stalking out.

"What's wrong with you?" He grumbles as he gets closer.

"I don't know, I'm scared of being alone with him." I shudder at the thought.

"I can't do anything." He sighs, shaking his head. My throat constricts as Norman sits Mingus on the bed.

"Hi baby." I whisper, smoothing his hair as he curls up on my legs. "Doesn't that seem strange? Norman, I have two children, don't you think it's a little weird?" I ask.

"You have one, and we're all entitled to a clumsy mistake once or twice." He snaps, making my eyes blur even more.

"I-" then I remember when he hit me so hard I must have passed out. "I passed out because he kept hitting me." I whisper, pain stabbing me when I touch my cheek.

"Look, I can't do anything about it. You have to call me when it's going on." He is so angry. I didn't understand! I hadn't done anything to him!

"Momma? He found you on the street all bruised so we brought you here. Daddy slept in the chair all night cuz he dinent want tah leave." Mingus gives the explanation I would never get from Norman.

"That's enough outta you." He growls, pointing a finger at Mingus who sinks away from him.

"Norman, stop it. He was just telling me what happened. Don't get all pissy because your son opened his mouth." I snap back. "Mingus, how have you been sweetie?" I ask.

"Good, I sorry he did dat to you." He whimpers, pointing to my face. His big blue eyes are disks and wet. I pull him into a hug.

"It's not your fault sweetie." I whisper, kissing his forehead as I smooth his hair.

"Daddy apologized when he founded you. He said he sorry for not bein there for you." Mingus says, looking up at me.

"Well, tell him I said thank you and that I still love him too." I say, giving him a smile.

"I will mommy. I love you." He kisses my cheek lightly before he tightens me in a hug.

"I love you more." I smile, kissing his cheek. "Can you send daddy in here?" I hadn't noticed but he'd left the room.

"What?" He asks, sticking his hands in his pockets.

"I hope you take good care of that boy. He is the needle in the hay stack, he is that unique. I don't ever want to hear you've treated him any less than he deserves. Do you understand?" I ask, my eyes boring into him, which in turn made him extremely uneasy.

"I know! Cool down, I know how to raise our-." He presses his lips together to keep from going on. "My son. I don't need to be told how to raise my son." He fixes his mistake.

"Bye." I scoff, watching as he pushes the door open. At my voice, he stops.

"Laura." I don't know what was in him or why he said it, but he looks back and blinks before he walks out. Mingus' small hand is engulfed by Norman's as they walk to the elevator.