How to Save A Life (Anthony Rizzo)

5- Chocolate Chip Cookies

Anthony

I end up in Milwaukee for a series against the Brewers to play away from Wrigley for the first time this year. And I've left my home in Chicago so many times before, but never feeling like this.

I hover my finger over Clara's phone number but really try to refrain from calling her. I didn't want to seem like a hover parent but I really needed to know if she was okay or not. I don't think her ex would find her at my place but for the first time in her life she's alone in the city, that can be scary, I want to make sure she's feeling okay.

I was about to press call until there was a knock on the door. I let out a sigh and get up to look through the peep hole. I see Jon standing there and decide I should probably let him in.

"Hey man, what's up" I ask as I move to the side welcoming him over.

"Nothing much. I was about to go grab some food so I thought I should stop by and see how you're doing, how Claire has been" he questions as I close the door behind him. He's the only one I know that calls her that, but I kind of liked it.

"I'm good. She's good. She got her staples out and her head is heading nicely. I almost got her room all sorted out too" I explain.

"That's good. Has she said anything about her ex" he wonders.

"Not a word. She kind of acts like he doesn't exist. She never brings him up if she doesn't have to, and when she does he won't use his name or anything like that" I explain.

"Well his name is Eddie. He works as a police officer here in Chicago. Got himself a nice house and a nice girl, you would think he had it all. But for whatever reason he was terrible to that poor girl" he explains.

"I still don't get that. Clara has been nothing but amazing since I've been with her. She never says a word that's close to being wrong and apologizes for literally anything. The first time she made breakfast she said she was sorry for disturbing me, but all she did was make us breakfast. I can only imagine how terrible her life had been if she apologized for providing for herself" I insist.

"I'm not sure, she never talks about it and I never ask. Whenever she was over she just boasted about how good the kids were and they talked about how much they love her. In fact I think they're with her right now" he insists.

"Is she going to be okay" I ask and he sighs. I've been asking that a lot but have yet to get a answer I wanted.

"I think so, I don't think she will go back if she had a say in it. But he's a powerful man, very manipulative and very sneaky. That's why I think she doesn't want to talk about or think about him. He's in her mind, controlling her and she's trying so hard to get away" he explains.

"Is he still looking for her" I ask.

"Yeah. The other day I guess he went over to the house because he knew I wasn't there and knew Farrah was friends with her. He accused her of knowing where she was and threatened that if she didn't tell him where she was he was going to take legal actions" he says and my eyes go wide.

"Seriously? What does he want to do with her" I ask.

"Only the lord knows. I'm mean she's real pretty, I see why he would be crazy over her. But not crazy enough to break his own rules" he says and I nod. This did make a little more sense.

"Do you know how long this had been going on" I wonder.

"No clue. I know they've been together since before she was in college but that's about it. He's quite a bit older than her but honestly that seems to be the least of everyone's worries. I know he knows we're the ones that call the police and he doesn't like us. But he needs to get in trouble for what he's done, he won't and that's why he does it, but he needs to be fired and put in jail" he says.

"That's insane. That guy is supposed to be protecting us and he almost killed the woman he was supposed to love" I ask.

"Yeah, life doesn't seem to be fair to those who deserve nothing but the best it has to offer" he admits.

"I'll say" I whisper.

"Anyway, I just wanted to see how you guys were doing. Is there anything you need from us" he wonders.

"I do have one question" I admit.

"Sure, what is it?"

"I was done rearranging Clara's room but she doesn't really like the color of the walls, what color should I paint it" I wonder.

"White" he says.

"White" I ask.

"Yeah. It's something she uses a lot when painting. She likes white things" he claims.

"Oh, okay" I nod. "I got it, thanks."

"Of course. I'll see you later" he says walking out the door.

"See you later."

He goes out and I close the door behind him. I return to my phone and unlock it. Clara's contact information sat there staring at me as I look at it. I needed to know she was okay and I could call Farrah but I didn't want to bother her. So I finally press call and hold my breath as it rings. She quickly picks up and I was honestly just relieved she was okay.

"Hey Anthony" she says, her voice sweeter than sugar.

"Hey Clara" I smile. "How are you doing?"

"I'm fine" she says.

"That's good. Just wanted to make sure you were okay and see if you needed anything" I say.

"Umm nope. I think I'm pretty content" she insists.

"Are you sure you don't want anything" I ask and I hear her laugh.

"There's a million things I want Anthony, but a lot of them are not going to come from you" she claims.

"What is it that I can do for you" I beg. I was sounding really desperate but I didn't really care.

"Anthony... you're everything I need you to be times a million. I would never ask you for a single thing" she insists.

"If you could ask for one thing and know you could get it, what would it be" I challenge and the line goes silent.

"I want to be free" she says and I let out a sigh. I knew I couldn't give that to her, not with the limited information I have.

"Well I don't know about that, but I do have a stash of chocolate chip cookies in the back of the cabinet with the plates that I hide from the guys when they come over but I think I would be okay if I shared them with you" I say and she giggles.

"I might have to look into that."