The Personal Assistant

Thirteen: Joanna

I wasn't expecting breakfast in bed, but I would never complain about being served. I woke to no Andriy in bed, and the smell of French toast and bacon. Before I got a chance to get out of bed, Andriy walked into my room with a tray of food. I sat up not caring if I held the sheet to my body or not. The tray was full of fruit, bacon, French toast, egg whites and two glasses of OJ. He placed it between us and sat beside me. "Thought you'd be starving after all the calories burned last night." He chuckled leaning over to kiss my cheek. I blushed and replied, "I actually am. Thank you very much. I can't remember the last time someone cooked breakfast for me." He winked at me and picked up a fork. He stabbed a strawberry and fed it to me. Taking the fork from him I smiled and went to eat more. Once our romantic breakfast in bed was over, Andriy insisted on doing the dishes but I told him that the chef never cleans. So he headed for the shower, and I the kitchen.
  Halfway through the  dishes and there was a knock at the door, and I asked Andriy to get it. "Lyubimyy!" He called, his voice hard and protective. "Yes?" I responded, hoping that I didn't need to get the door. I was elbow deep in dirty dish water and I looked like a mess. "You need to come here please." He responded. I sighed and quickly rinsed off my arms. I walked out to the main hallway and met Andriy standing beside to cops. My heart sank, and I felt dizzy. My first thought was Jordan. "Joanna Marcello?" The taller cop asked.  I swallowed, "Yes, that's me." I whispered. I stood beside Andriy who wrapped an arm around me protectively. "Is this about Jordan? Is my baby alright?" I asked worriedly as Andriy gripped me tighter.  The cops looked at each other.
  "No Miss Marcello. This is about Derrick James. He was released from jail yesterday. We came to inform you that due to his incarceration the restraining order you put on him is invalid now. So we recommend you file a new one. We cannot disclose any of his information regard his release or where he is now located. Please feel free to call our department or the judge regarding a new restraining order." The tall one spoke again.  My jaw dropped. My heart raced, and I was convinced I was going to be sick.
  "How could you let him out?" I screamed. I was beyond furious.
  "Joanna..." Andriy whispered, rubbing my back.
  "Miss Marcello, you have to understand that we aren't responsible. Don't shoot the messengers continued to sob ." The shorter tattooed cop said.
  "No. Why the fuck, is that monster out. He had at least another 15 years on his sentence!" I cried. The tears started to stream down my cheeks.
  "Miss  we understand-" tattoos began
  "No, you don't understand, because it didn't happen to you. Does no one care about what he did to me? How he hurt me again and again? How he threatened my unborn baby, his own damn child? No one gives a shit. All you care about his shutting down another drug lord and pimp. You don't care about catching rapists, murderers or abusers." I sobbed. Andriy pulled me into his arms and rubbed my back.
  I heard the cops sigh and tell Andriy to have me file a new restraining order, and then they were gone. I continued to sob into his arms as he moved us towards the couch. We sat together for a solid ten minutes before either of us spoke. Andriy held my head in his chest and rubbed my back. Once my sobs began to cease, he spoke.
"What is going on Joanna?" He mumbled. I pushed myself off of him and sniffled, debating whether I should tell him the whole story or not. But the look in his eyes told me to just let it all out.
"Derrick James, is Jordan's dad. My ex boyfriend." I began. I noticed Andriy's jaw tighten.
"Continue." He whispered. I nodded and obeyed.
"I met him through some friends in my first year at university. We began dating almost instantly. Mostly my fault for not taking things slow. Growing up fat, it was very rare to find someone who was attracted to me, and when I did I grabbed in to.hem like no tomorrow."
"I was only 19 when we started dating, and up until the 4 month mark, it was great. But then I got pregnant, and everything changed. First he accused me of cheating, while he himself was cheating. Then I noticed all the shit I had been blind to. He became verbally abusive first. Calling me names; a whore, a slut. Then it got really bad when I found out he was pimping out teenage runaways. Because of my mother'a job, I was furious. I confronted him about it and he slapped me. He asked me if I wanted to keep having food on the table or not."
"Eventually, that one time slap became a daily and nightly ritual. I also found out that he was selling hard drugs and even cooked meth with his pimp friends. I stayed with him another four months before I couldn't take it. One night he was beating me senseless and I realized that if he didn't kill me and my baby now, he would later. I couldn't bring a baby into that environment. So I told my parents, and we called the cops. He had a 20 year sentence, and he's barely served 5 years."
Andriy's face was hard, and angry. He looked ready for murder. I touched his hand and he held it in his.
"Joanna, I would never hurt you. In anyway. I'd rather have my body dismembered, than hurt you, even by accident. A man who hurts a woman and his child, is not a man. If he ever comes near you or Jordan, I would hunt him down. He doesn't deserve to live, or live freely." He said to me. There was something about his words and tone that made me believe him. He leaned to kiss me, passionately and smoothly.
"I need to let my parents know. We need to get another restraining order." I mumbled.

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My day got better the moment my son was back in my arms. Andriy had left shortly after Jordan got home, he told me he had some personal dealings and that he would call me later. As with every Halloween , Jordan and I sat down at the kitchen table sorting through his candy, hunting out the open pieces and dishing out which candy he could eat and when. I allowed him three per week. One chocolate bar, one bag of chips and one candy. The rest would be put away until later. Luckily for me, that plan was his own. He was too concerned about getting cavities and that no one would like him. My son, 6 years old and a ladies man.