Call Your Girlfriend

Part 36: In Which Max Questions

"Your...your wife...." She ever so quietly says and looks down at her hands. "But...it's too soon to even think...about something like that."

Meek and mild.

The total opposite of her everyday self. She's not wrong though. It would be too soon to hop into another marriage. Georgia's only been gone for 6 months. Some people would say any relationship at this moment in time would be too soon. I asked her though. I asked her what she wanted to be to me. I asked and said it would happen. I would love to marry Helen. Right here and now.

Would it be so awful if we did?

I tilt her head up so she looks at me. My hand just gently holding her chin and my eyes softly gazing at her. She looks into my eyes-scared, upset, confused- so many emotions swirling through her body. As I go to say something, Luna starts crying downstairs. I look on the monitor and I notice a tall dark figure in the background.

"Stay here."

"What? What's going on."

"Someone's in the house." Helen's eyes widen. Grabbing the metal broom from the hall bathroom, I head down stairs and remain as quiet as possible. Luna is still crying and I make my way around to the kitchen to get into the living room. Fuck! The back door is wide open and the cold October breeze blows in, making the sheer curtains dance. Then I see it.

Blood on the white door.

Blood drops on the floor. I round the corner and see a skinny man in torn clothing digging through the bureau in the dining room behind the babies. He's bleeding profusely from his left side. Luna continues to wail and I make my presence known.

"Back away from my children!" My voice deep and stern. The man slowly raises his hands above his head.

"I don't wanna hurt no baby, man..."

"Turn around, now." The guy is really just a young man- maybe in his early 20's. He has dark circles under his eyes and I can see injection sights on his his arms. "Did you get shot?"

"....yeah..."

"Why?" I make my way between him and the children and keep the broom up and ready to swing.

"I didn't have enough money...man, I'll leave and won't come back."

"Let me see the wound?" He furrows his eyebrows confused.

"Nah, man!"

"I'm a doctor. I can help." I slowly set the broom down and he lowers his hands. "What's your name?"

"Miguel."

"I'm Max. Now lift your shirt." He lifts it up and I slowly walk over. Taking a look, he's bleeding pretty bad, but it doesn't look like the bullet hit anything major from what I can tell. "You need to go to a hospital."

"I don't know if you noticed, but I have a drug problem. They're gonna call the cops."

"I could call the cops. Please let me take you to New Amsterdam- I'm in charge there. No cops will be called- if you cooperate." He slowly nods and holds his side. I hear Helen coming down the stairs. She slowly comes over and behind me towards the babies. "Helen, I'm taking Miguel to the hospital...I'll be back."

She nods and I give her a kiss before I go. Gesturing for Miguel to head out the back, he takes a look at Helen and then heads out. I shut the door behind us and notice that he must've hopped the fence because there's two hand prints that grip the top of the one panel near the door.

"So, why did you bust in my house?"

"I'm sorry man. I was a few blocks away when I got shot. I...I needed money to pay the guy for..." He pauses, embarrassed.