Oedipus Complex

Chapter 7: The Deal

*Tick... tock... tick... tock...tick...*

The sound grew deafening with each second passing. She'd have to purchase another wrist watch another day, but she knew it was only her overreacting to everything she learned of the past couple of hours that made her anxious.

*tick... tock... tick... tock*

Norma fetched her cell phone and began to call Alex. As the phone began to ring, Norma placed one hand on the wheel and the other to her ear.

Voicemail. Great.

She switched hands and began to speak. "Alex, quit acting like a child. You can't ignore me forever. I've done your laundry for Gods sake. The least you can do is give me back a call."

She threw her phone to the passenger seat and began to rub her forehead. If he did it why didn't he just tell her? She'd been worried about it for weeks and he let her panic over her safety.

————

"Hey, Regina. Can you bring me a cup of coffee and the paperwork from the Joe Felder case."

"Sure, sheriff. Anything else?"

"That's all, Regina." He hung up his office phone and waited to begin his daily routine. Everything seemed to be the same recently. Waking up, skipping breakfast, drinking 2 cups of strong, dark coffee, asking Regina to bring in his work, eating an unhealthy lunch, arresting a couple of stupid, reckless dirtbags for abusing their wives, and ending the day with a bottle of scotch.

Work became a bore to him. It seemed like the crime was never ending and the criminals never got what they deserved.

He lost his train of thought when Regina walked in. "Here's your coffee. I hate to bother you sheriff, but Norma Bates is waiting right outside. I told her you were busy, but she seemed adamant and slipped right through the door. She said she wouldn't leave until you talked to her about this 'morning.'" She snuck in a smile, stopped at the door and let Norma walk past her. She looked at the two and winked at Alex, for some reason leaving the door open. On second thought, he's glad she left it open, so no one else would get the same idea. Alex didn't know what led Regina into believing something happened between the two or at least it seemed like she thought something had happened. He'd have to talk to her later, but right now he had to deal with Norma.

"Why didn't you tell me about Bob Paris' death?," she asked accusingly as if he'd done something to hurt her. In reality, she only spoke to him this way because she was worried he'd be in trouble. Alex and Norma have known each other for awhile now. She'd had him over for dinner a few times, he stayed over at her motel, and like she mentioned to him on the phone only a few minutes before, she had done his laundry.

Alex jumped out of the seat and pushed through her to shut the door. He pinned her against the wall but very gently. "Norma this is my office. The sheriff's office. You can't just bring up a dead man's name when everyone is looking for him."

Their faces were only mere inches away from each other. They could've kissed right now. This was the exact position any couple would. She studied him from eye to eye and from eye to lips. This was the first time she was this close to him. He smelled of strong cologne. She kind of liked it. She liked how he smelled, she liked how his hands were wrapped around her arms, inching up, but not hurting her. She liked how he was looking into her eyes, while his lips were parted.

"It was you, and you led me to believe he would barge into my house any minute of any day to kill me and my sons for weeks. You didn't tell me anything. You.... " she started tearing up and he moved closer to her and ghosted his hands across her already wet and rosy cheeks. "You told me to trust you and I did. I trusted you."

Without any intention, he stepped closer to her. She pushed her waist off of the door and put her hands on his chest. "I had no choice"
Her sniffling became silent and she peered at him over her wet lashes. "He was going to hurt you and I couldn't let that happen. I'm... I'm sorry."

He moved both hands to her cheeks and wiped her tears off slowly. She took her hands and rested them where his were laying. "You could've gotten caught."

"I wasn't. And well, it was worth it," he whispered. "I know Bob. He would've investigated Sam's death and they would've taken Norman away from you. And you... you would've gone to prison for covering up his death."

"Ale—" she looked to the side.

"Norma, no more lying. I know that's what happened" he became frustrated because she still thought she could fool him. Alex let her go and walked over to his desk. He sat on the corner and crossed his arms. He glares at her and let her explain.

"I know. I was going to tell you that I'm... I don't know... grateful? You are always there for me...and Norman. I don't know how to thank you." She offered sincerely.

"Norma, just get the boy some help. That's what he deserves"

Norma agreed. "I will, I will... I just need to take care of the money. The MOTEL is doing poorly and I don't even have money or insurance." She sat down in front of him at covered her face with her trembling hands.

"Listen, do you still trust me. Like, really trust me?"

She looked up at him quizzically, but she did trust him. She would trust him with her life if she could. "I do... why?"

He paced back and forth and began to think. "Marry me."

She scoffed. "I don't even know you, Alex. We haven't even... been intimate." She waved her finger back and forth towards each other. "Like a normal couple."

"Norma?" He cringed. "Not for that. For the insurance. And then we can go our separate ways after he gets help."

"You would do that. For me? With nothing in return?" She asked in disbelief.

"Yes. Actually, I ask of only one thing. Don't barge into my office and harass my receptionist, okay?"

Norma wiped her tears with her sleeve and giggled.

"Ok."