Brave Enough

Two

       "James please! I'm sure we could get a babysitter! If Eddie goes he'll need a sitter for Christopher," Maddie begs James. James sighs. Maddie taps on her phone.

       "Okay but only if I find a sitter okay. I'm going to go home and change," James says slightly excited to spend her evening with other adults.

"Okay, Eddie is in. He said his sitter is willing to go to your house to watch the kids. Meet us at the bar across the street from here," Maddie hugs James. "Okay see you there." James smiles.

Maddie: She's coming!
Buck: Cool where are we meeting?
Maddie: The bar across the street from here.
Buck: K

****

"Okay call me if anything happens. And if you have any questions. Her bedtime is eight o'clock and she will show you her routine. Um..." James nervously blabbers on.

"It's okay Mija. Go have some fun. I'll call if there's an emergency," Eddie's aunt says pushing her out the door.

"Thank you so much," James says as she pushed her once more towards her Jeep. "I'll be home soon."

       James arrives at the bar and walks in wearing a short black dress that hugs her body and wedge heels. "Hi. I'm sorry to bother you. I'm meeting a group here." The hostess smiles and leads her through the tables until they find her group. "Hey, guys. Sorry, I'm late. This is the first time I've left Cleo for a night out." James says shyly. Buck stares at her unable to take his eyes off of her.

       "She's adorable. Christopher seemed to really like the idea of hanging out with her," Eddie says.

        "Christopher is adorable himself and that little personality he's got," James laughs. For the first time since she left Colin, she feels free to relax. "So I haven't met most of y'all. I'm James."

       Everyone introduces themselves. "I'm sorry. Who's Cleo?" Buck asks. James chews on her lip trying to find an answer she likes. To give the guy she kind of fancies.

       "Um, she's. She's my three-year-old sister. I um have custody of her since we don't know who her dad is and um our mom..." James trails off. "Our mom passed away seven months ago." James blinks away the tears brought on by the thought of her mom. "So thanks for this it's been a while since I've gone out with friends and enjoyed myself."

"No problem James. I'm glad you finally accepted the invitation," Maddie smiles changing the mood.

****

James' phone rings. "Oh, I'm sorry. It's the sitter I'll be right back," James excuses herself. "Hello. Miss Diaz?"

Her face pales as Eddie's aunt gives her bad news. "Sweetheart a package was delivered. And Cleo opened it. I think you should come home. It looks like a threat. It was signed by someone by the name Colin Timers." James starts to shake.

"Okay, I'm coming home right now. Thank you for letting me know," James rushes to the bar. "Hi, can I pay for my stuff now. An emergency has come up and I have to leave."

"Of course ma'am let me pull it up," the bartender says. James shakes as she pays for her items. Then rushes back to the table to collect her belongings.

"I'm sorry guys. An emergency has come up. I have to leave," near tears James jerks her purse from her chair. "It was lovely meeting you all," she chokes out before going for the door.

"James is everything okay? You look shaken up," Maddie asks. James just looks sadly at her before turning back away. Buck stands up and Maddie looks at him. "Take care of her Buck." He nods as he follows her out.

"James wait. James let me drive you. You're too shaken up to drive," James just keeps walking in silent terror. He steps in front of her. "James stop. Look at me," she does. "I'm driving you home and you're going to tell me what's going on. You should not look as terrified as you do." James collapses on to her knees. "James?" He kneels beside her.

"I have to move again. He's found me again. I can't do this. I don't know how to keep her safe. I should've listened to my friends when they said don't date him. He'll only isolate you, Billie, they said. He's abusive Billie. Look at the bruises, Billie. Billie he will end up killing you. Billie run now. I should've listened." She cries in his arms.

"Billie?" He mutters. "No one is going to hurt you or your sister. Come on. We'll go pick your sister up and wait for Eddie to pick up Christopher then I'm taking you two back to my apartment and you'll stay over tonight and then we'll go from there." He lifts her up and walks to her car.

"Thank you, Miss Diaz. We'll keep Christopher until Eddie comes to pick him up," Buck says as he walks her to the door. James runs up behind him.

"Thank you so much. And here for your trouble," James hands her a wad of cash. After closing the door Buck takes James' hand and leads her back into the kitchen with the package. A box with a bloody knife and a broken wine bottle on the inside and a note with black ribbon.

Billie, I've found you. You will come home. And you will be punished. And know no one will believe you. ~ Colin.

      James drops the note and runs a hand over her chest. She starts shaking again and the box is put on the table. Another memory takes over James.

      "Billie why would you make this? I told you to make steak medium rare with potatoes and steamed veggies. Why would you make pasta?" Colin shouts.

        "I'm sorry Colin. I didn't have enough money for the steak. I... I thought pasta would be okay," James stutters. "I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you tomorrow I promise. I get paid tomorrow so I'll be able to buy steak and potatoes." Colin slaps James.

        "Fuck that Billie. I don't want it tomorrow. I wanted it today," he picks up a knife off of the table. "You need to learn to listen," Colin pulls her up from the table and shoves the plates off. He pushes her on top of the table and yanks her shirt open and runs the blade against her skin. The flesh on her chest prickles with fear as he applies pressure making her bleed. Ten stitches and a scar later James regrets not leaving sooner.

       "James. James wakeup," Buck calls as she stands there stuck in the memory. "What happened to you?" He asks softly. James holds up a finger and runs to her room. She strips off her dress and pulls on jeans and a shirt. Taking a shaky breath she steps back into the kitchen.

      "He's a cop. That's what he means by no one will believe you. I dated a cop before I moved back home. I was going to school in Gainesville, Florida. He started cutting me off from the world. I was barely able to go to work. He monitored everything. This knife. This blood. It's my blood. Buck, I tried to escape and now it's not just my life I'm trying to protect. If I die Cleo won't have anyone." James pulls her shirt over her head. "This knife ran against my skin right here. Why? Because I made pasta for dinner instead of the steak and potatoes I couldn't afford to buy because that's what he wanted. It was so hard getting away from him. Then my mom died and I was left with Cleo. I just don't know what to do." She tears up a bit. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have told you that. I'm just so tired of being afraid." She pulls her shirt back over her head and Buck pulls her into his chest.

"You don't need to be afraid anymore James. That fucker isn't getting near you again. Go pack a bag for yourself and Cleo. As soon as Eddie picks up Christopher we're leaving," he says while dialing a number on his phone. James leaves the room and Cleo runs up to Buck.

"Are you going to make my sister happy again?" She asks curiously. Buck smiles at her.

"Yeah, sweetie. I really hope so," he says to her. "Hey Hen. We've got a problem. A stalker problem. Maddie level. Do you think Athena would be able to drop by my apartment in like an hour? Eddie just got here to pick up Christopher."

"Of course. I'm coming too," Hen says.

"Thanks, Hen," Buckley says.