HER

Chapter 4

Nina finished up at work that day and packed a bag for Gina with the tips she had made for her in her purse. She walked because Gina's house was far from the restaurant. She arrived at the house and rang the doorbell and a moment later, Gina opened up with a welcoming smile which meant she had been expecting her.

"Hi Gina." Nina greeted as she walked into the house.

"Darling, you didn't have to come by." Gina shut the door behind them as they walked into the house to the spacious all white living room with a touch of colors here and there.

"I wanted to. And I brought you dinner." Nina handed her the bag.

"Oh, thank you dear." Gina accepted the bag and peeped inside. "The medicine knocked me out and I got out of bed a while ago wondering what to cook."

"I'm glad I came then."

"Sit down while I get you something to drink."

"That's ok, I'll get it myself." Nina made her way to the kitchen and took a glass and went to the tap to get some water and just as she turned the faucet, Gina's voice rang out "Be careful with the tap." But it was too late.

Water hit her face in and she quickly turned it off. She reached up and wiped at her face but winced when she touched a bruise.

"Another one?" Nina spun around to see Gina standing there watching her.

Nina swallowed. She had confided in the woman when she had caught Nina at restroom in Marco's fixing her makeup. She had told Gina the whole story and the woman hadn't judged her or worse, pitied her.

"It's nothing."

"I doubt that." Gina said as she came up with a towel and handed it to her. "The last one was barely gone and you have a new one to add to it."

Nina patted her face dry careful not to smear or wipe off the makeup.

"Nina, darling, I'm going to tell you this as many times as you need to hear it; You need open your eyes and see this for what it is. You have to be strong enough to act fast before this gets out of your control."

"It's already out of control." Nina's gaze fell to the floor. "I can't do anything."

"Yes, you can!" Gina said. "We all have the power to do anything and everything, we just choose not to for reasons that make sense at that point in time. Be brave and do what you have to do to break free of the chains that's keeping you tied up."

Nina looked at Gina.
"It's not that easy."

Gina touched Nina's face.
"I know honey. It's the hardest thing to do but you have to do it before its too late." She caressed Nina's face like she was a little child. "But remember I'm always here for you, always."

Nina held the tears back as she hugged Gina. She knew Gina was right and she had to do something about her situation, but where did she get the power and strength to do what she had to do. It seemed like an impossible task to her. One she didn't think she could do.

Catherine got into work early as usual to get everything ready for the early customers that morning. She had been working at the B&B's for six months and George, the grey-haired owner had given her a key to open early because she was the only one who worked here asides his granddaughter who'd recently gone back to College. Catherine had left Settle almost a year ago for LA to pursue her dream of being a singer but nothing had gone according to her plan. She hadn't wanted to go back home to disappoint her mother, so instead of taking the next flight back home six months ago, she had taken a bus to Bell Gardens. George had been the one who helped her out when she had next to nothing; given her a room and let her pay for it by working for him. He had been the nicest person she had met since she arrived in California, asides Ian.

She smiled at the thought of him and just like her mind had conjured him up, the door bell rang as her first customer walked in. She didn't need to look up to know who it was. Six months of working here, he'd been the first one in and last one out.

"Ms. Summers." His voice vibrated through the empty diner.

"Sergeant." Catherine said as she poured his coffee. Grabbed his breakfast and placed them on the counter behind her. She looked up at his handsome face with a smile.

"Hey." His dimpled smile made her catch her breath every time.

"Hi." She tried to hide her excitement in seeing him, not the first time. Ian was the only gentleman close to her age that treated her like a woman and not an object like most of the other men around here. But with his line of work, she wasn't surprised. Ian was a cop and from what she had heard, a damned good one and a looker too. Among the ladies, he was a trophy and so far, he doesn't seem to care about anyone of them.

"Good night?"

She shrugged.
"Same as all the others." She grabbed a napkin and went around the counter to go wipe down the tables. A strategy she used when she wanted to avoid looking at him or him looking at her. Ian had jet black hair that fell into place, sometimes a few strands slipped to his temple and it took everything in her not to reach out and sweep it back. His captivating grey almost glassy eyes seemed to see right through her and pulled her in like a magnet. Catherine took a deep breath as her heart was beginning to race at the thought of a man who was just a few feet away from her.

"So, nothing new has happened so far?" Ian spun around in his seat to watch her; his food forgotten.

She had promised him she'd tell him if anything new happened every time he asked and so far, the answers remained the same. Well, except for the tiny detail of her day she always kept from him. George had told her to tell him a couple of times but she didn't want to say anything to him if it wasn't serious. Some of the men who came in were from out of town and seeing as she was the only female who worked here, she got asked out a lot and it hadn't been a big deal except for the new guy that came in a few days ago. Parker, she'd heard his friends say his name one time, had booked a room with his friends a couple of days ago and he had been making comments about spending a night with her but that was it. She was used to things like that and it hadn't bothered her but Parker's did.

She sighed thinking about it. She'd have to deal with him for a few more days and he was out.

"Something wrong?" Catherine straightened from wiping down a table to looking right at Ian who had quietly made his way behind her while she worked. His brow was furrowed and she wanted to smooth the lines away or better yet, kiss it away.

"No." She shook her head.

"Catherine?" He chided.

Ian hadn't never called her Cat as everyone else did, he told her once her name was too beautiful to be shortened and she hadn't complained because she loved the sound of her name from his lips.

Ian cupped her elbow which sent her pulse towards the roof.

"Nothing's wrong, Ian." She smiled. "I'm fine."

"You seemed tensed a while ago."

She frowned in confusion.

"Your shoulder tensed up and now you've gone rigid." His hand slid up her elbow and caressed her arm. Her gaze dropped to his hand on hers before she met his gaze again and she felt her heart skip a beat.

With a smile she pulled away.
"I'm fine."

Ian studied her for a moment before he nodded.
"If you say so."

She went back to cleaning while he sat down and watched her while he ate. When he was done, he paid up and left with his famous 'see you later' words.