Rescuing Atticus

Returning home

Song: Come and get it from me-Sun Heat

The next morning Stella calls into to work. I guess she will spend the day recovering. I don't bother going to her friends' house to check on her because I know that she is safe. The next day, I walk into the café and she is at the counter working away. I wait my turn. "Good morning Stella...the usual please."

She looks up with a smile. "Good morning Atticus." She fixes my cup and hands it to me.

"You look better today. Are you still staying with your friend?"

"Yes...but I plan on going back home today. I'm surprised that Mark hasn't bothered coming by here. I guess you really shook him up the other night."

"Well...he deserved to be shook up a little." I take my coffee and sit down at the table. I watch her work for a good half hour and then I leave. I don't want her to think that I am stocking her. I follow her home but she has no clue that I am close by. As she goes into the apartment, I go across the street and climb the fire escape. I watch as she walks into the living room. Everything is put back where it was. Everything is spotless.

After taking him to the remote location, I came back and cleaned he house. I also took out all of his shit...every piece of clothing...anything that I thought might be his. I left a scribbled note form him stating that I was sorry for putting you in harms way and that maybe it is better if we go our separate ways. She reads the note and it slowly slips out of hand and drifts to the floor. She sits down on the edge of the bed and lowers her head. I can't tell from here if she is sad or happy that he is finally out of her life. Either way...I am fucking happy that he is gone. No one should have to face a guy that beats you every day.

In that split second, I think about my mother. I wonder how she has been doing. I haven't gone by in so long. I bet she thinks I'm either wasted on drugs or dead in a ditch somewhere. I get back in my truck knowing that Stella will be alright now and head to the other side of town. When I pull up the house still looks the same. I get out and walk up the sidewalk to the house and knock on the door. I could easily go right on in but I just don't feel like I will ever be able to do that here again. I knock again and he answers the door.

"Well...I never thought you show your face around here again?"He looks me up and down before back up to stare at me.

"Yeah...well surprise. Where's my mom?"I don't take my eyes off of him.

"She is probably in the kitchen either cleaning up or cooking dinner like she always does." He steps the side and lets me through.

 I glance around the place of course everything is picked up and in the proper place. I'm sure she cleans up this place the day he lifts a finger hell will freeze over. I stand in the doorway to the kitchen and she is at the sink washing dishes. She is in her own little world. I make a low grunt and she turns around. When our eyes meet she slowly smiles. "Wow...what I nice surprise. I thought you would never come back after the last time."

"Yeah...well...surprise. I felt like I needed to check on you."

She quickly dries her hands off on the dish towel that is thrown across her shoulder and then opens her arms wide for me to hug her. I take a few steps towards her and she meets me half way. I let her hug me as well I hug her right back. I hate that he pulled us farther apart over the years. It was all him that did this and she let him. He lived his way...he never cared for me and when he took her from me, I knew that I would never get her back. "So how are things going?" I ask as I sit down at the table in the kitchen.

 She pulls out the chair beside me and quietly sits down. She keeps playing with the towel in her hand. I feel like she wants to tell me something however she pushes the thought away. "Oh you know same as always, nothing ever changes around here. Don't worry about your momma...tell me about you. Where are you staying? Is there are girl?"