From the Damage 1 - Opposites Attract Read online

  ≈≈≈

  “Do you think I’m stupid?” Renee stormed into Carmen’s bedroom, her face flushed and her blonde hair frizzing as it worked its way out of its ponytail. “Did you think I wouldn’t figure it out? Did you think I wouldn’t know?”

  Carmen sat up on her bed, eyeing her sister carefully. “What are you talking about?”

  Renee held up a sheet of paper. “This is a notice from the school telling me you’ve missed twelve days in a six-week span. Twelve days, Carmen!”

  “So I’m sorry.”

  “You’re sorry?” Renee asked, tears brimming over in her green eyes as her face reddened. “They could take you away from me for this, and all you have to say is you’re sorry?”

  Carmen felt like her entire body had been drained of its blood. The room started to teeter as what was left of her world threatened to crumble. “What do you mean they could take me away?”

  “Don’t you get it?” she asked around a sob. “I’m only twenty-two years old!

  Nobody thinks I can do this, and you’re just proving them right. I’m doing everything I can to keep this family together, but every time I turn around, you’re sabotaging me. If I can’t make you stay in school, Social Services will deem me unfit to take care of you.

  They’ll put you in foster care.”

  “Foster care?” Carmen climbed off her bed, unable to believe her ears. “You’re serious? They’d send me to live with...with strangers?”

  “Yes,” she said, her voice shaky. “Dad signed custody over to Mom years ago, and there’s no one else left besides me.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” Carmen asked, feeling the fear turn into anger. “How could you not tell me something like this? How could you keep it a secret?”

  “You have enough on your mind,” Renee said. “I didn’t want to worry you or stress you out more.” Taking a deep breath, Renee sat on the edge of Carmen’s bed.

  “Look, you have to go to school and keep your grades up if you want to stay here with me. Believe me, Carmen, I get it. School seems pointless right now. Heck, everything does. But you still need to go...for me, okay?” Her voice cracking, and tears spilled down her cheeks again as a sob broke through her throat. “I can’t lose you too.”

  “It’s okay.” Carmen sat next to her sister and wrapped her arm around her shoulders. “I’ll pull my act together, I promise. Everything’s going to be okay. You’ll see.”

  Still crying soft tears, Renee leaned her head against Carmen’s shoulder and wrapped her arm around her waist. It was the first time she’d cried since they’d lost their mother, and it felt strangely good—a long awaited release.

  ≈≈≈

  “So, if I take these antibiotics as directed,” Kay asked the pharmacist as she picked up her medication, “then the infection will clear up and I’ll be good as new?”

  “Like you were never even sick,” the woman said with a kind, knowing smile.

  “I’d like to pay cash,” she said. “Don’t charge my insurance company.”

  “Of course,” the woman said, holding out her hand as Kay handed over twenty-five dollars.

  Carrying the white paper sack out of the store, Kay met up with Zander.

  “Everything taken care of?” Zander asked, standing up from where he’d been leaning against the building.

  “Yeah.” Kay ripped open the bag and took out the prescription bottle, throwing everything else in the trashcan. She popped open the bottle and dumped the first dose into her hand. “It was only the most embarrassing moment of my life.”

  “Kay...” Zander offered her a bottle of water to chase the pills with. “You didn’t know the guy would give you...uh...”

  “You can say it,” she said. “Chlamydia.”

  “It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

  “I appreciate the sentiment, Zand,” she said, handing the water bottle back to him, “but you’re allowed to call me stupid on this one.”

  Shaking his head with a sigh, he draped an arm around her shoulders, squeezing tightly. “I’d never call you stupid, Kay.”

  “And thanks to you, my dad won’t either,” she said as they started for his car. “I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t loaned me the money just now.”

  “Gave,” Zander corrected. “I don’t want it back.”

  “Too bad,” she said, reaching to pinch a tiny roll of fat on his stomach and surprised to find mostly muscle. “I’m giving it back anyway, just as soon as Mom gets back and I can hit her up for the cash.”

  “If you insist,” he said, pulling open the passenger door for her. “I’ll just spend it on you anyway though.”

  ≈≈≈

  Twenty minutes before the next meeting, Daphne sat in the room looking over her notes from previous sessions. She’d made some progress and honed in on some of the real issues. Meagan remained a mystery, but she’d pegged Carmen. She heard a throat-clearing noise and looked up to see Gage lingering by the doorway.

  “Hi.”

  Daphne looked up from the notebook on her lap. “Come in.”

  He walked into the room, shoulders hunched with his hands stuffed in his pockets. “Look, I just wanted to say…” He sighed and started to pace a slow line in front of her. “I don’t believe in this therapy shit. I think if your life sucks, all the talking in the world isn’t going to make it better. But I guess not everybody feels that way, so from now on, I’ll just keep my mouth shut. Okay? I’ll sit in that chair and bide my time.” He met her eyes with a look of steel. “Twelve sessions. That’s what the court ordered. Don’t expect me to participate or even care. Alright?”

  With that, he strolled out of the room, and Daphne gave a small, triumphant smile to his back. She knew it’d only be a matter of time before he turned out to be one of the strongest survivors.

  Chapter Six—Reasons Why

  That Wednesday, at the Discover-U Center, Daphne was running late to the meeting. Gage took the chair he’d been in before, with the empty one between his and Kelly’s. Next to her, Meagan chewed rapidly on a piece of gum, and Carmen filed her fingernails. Beside Carmen, Ryder grimaced at the ceiling.

  Meagan glanced up at the clock on the wall. “She’s ten minutes late.”

  “Seems unprofessional,” Carmen commented.

  Gage smirked. “Maybe she gave up on us. Maybe we’re too crazy for her.”

  Ryder yawned. “The only crazy person here is you.”

  “Blow me.”

  “You wish.”

  “What’s the deal with you two?” Meagan leaned forward, smiling in interest at the thought of some juicy gossip. “You went to the same school, right? Are you rivals or something?”

  Ryder scoffed. “I didn’t even know who the jerk was until his girlfriend held us hostage in the damn computer lab.”

  “She wasn’t my girlfriend.”

  “The shooter was a girl?” Meagan laughed. “Way to go, feminism.”

  Gage glared at her. “You think it’s funny?”

  “There was nothing funny about it.” Ryder shifted in his seat. “The bitch was psychotic.”

  Gage whirled to his feet and crossed the room. “You’re about to see psychotic.”

  “Let’s see it.” Ryder shoved out of his chair. “Come on, chickenshit! Bring it!”

  Gage grabbed Ryder’s shirt in a jolty movement.

  “Wait! Just hold on a second!” Standing to her feet, Kelly caused the whole room to fall silent. “Ryder, this isn’t a joke. Gage could go to jail for this.”

  “That’s right, man. You’re on probation,” Ryder taunted. “So come on and take a swing at me and get yourself locked up. I’m sure those boys in prison will find you real purdy.”

  “If you’re so convinced you can take me, why don’t you make your move, you asshole?”

  “Oh, I can take you, alright—”

  Gage scowled and turned away.

  “I should have known you aren’t man enough.” Ryder let out a vicious cack
le.

  “You can’t even defend your women.”

  Gage spun around and grabbed Ryder’s shirt, then reared his fist back, ready to let it fly off, without thinking of probation or Lizzie.

  Right at that moment, while the rest of the group was either gasping or laughing or cheering at the thought of an impending brawl, the door to the left opened, and Daphne strolled in, carrying her briefcase. She stopped, looking at the guys who’d stood from their seats, the girls who cowered in theirs, and Gage, ready to blow everything. “Whoa! What’d I miss?”

  Gage dropped his fist, still keeping it clutched tight, and backed away slowly.

  “You’d know if you’d been here on time.”

  “I am here on time. I wanted to give you guys a chance to talk.” She glanced at Ryder, who reeled from the fear. “But maybe that was a mistake.”

  “Yeah, maybe,” Ryder scowled and dropped down into his chair.

  Daphne took out a tape recorder and set it up to record. “Does anyone want to tell me what happened?”

  “Just a testosterone fest,” Carmen said as Daphne took her seat. “Something to do with the school shooting.”

  Gage shot Carmen a deadly scowl. “Hey, you stick to what you know, alright?”

  “Gage,” Daphne warned, “try to control yourself.”

  He bit his lip to keep from mouthing off to her too. Fixing his eyes on the clock, he started to count down the minutes until he could leave.

  “What about the school shooting?” She looked at Ryder.

  “I’m sick of his shit.” Ryder crossed his arms. “He walks around pissed at the world, but it’s all his fault the shooting ended the way it did. It’s his fault his girlfriend died.”

  “What makes you think that?”

  “The police almost had her talked down—”

  Gage spoke up. “They did not! They weren’t getting anywhere with her.”

  “And now they never will, will they?”

  “I swear, if I have to hear your mouth—”

  “Why are you so pissed at me? You’re the one who got your girlfriend killed, buddy, not me.”

  “She wasn’t my girlfriend, she was my wife!” Gage thrust to his feet as the room fell utterly silent. He glared at Ryder, then Daphne, and then he took off.

  “Gage!” Daphne called after him, but he didn’t stop. He ran out to his car and then sped away, fighting the tears.

  Back in the room, Kelly glowered at Ryder. “Are you happy now, asshole?”

  “How was I supposed to know?”

  “You’re so insensitive. What the hell is your problem?”

  “Hey, the bitch tried to shoot me. Why should I care who she was?”

  Daphne raised her hands in the air. “Okay, okay! Everybody calm down.”

  Kelly turned the scowl at Meagan. “Is that enough drama for you?”

  Her mouth dropped. “What did I do?”

  “You started the whole fight!”

  “Children! Do I have to make you sit in the corner?” Daphne raised her voice only enough to be heard.

  Kelly settled into her seat and stared at her shoes.

  “Why are you so protective of the guy?” Ryder asked.

  “Because there are things about him you don’t know.” Kelly thought of the little girl she’d seen. “He’s got a good heart.”

  “Whatever.”

  “Well, that sure was an interesting way to kick off the session.” Daphne crossed her legs and leaned forward. “But Gage isn’t here anymore, so let’s talk about something else. Ryder, do you want to talk about the shooting?”

  He shook his head.

  “I’ll go,” Carmen said.

  “Great. Carmen, what’s on your mind?”

  “I had another fight with my sister last night.”

  Daphne tilted her head. “What was the fight about?”

  She stood up and began to pace. “That’s the thing. I don’t know. I just have these mood swings that kick in out of nowhere and make me so upset. And then I just blow up at her for no reason.”

  “And nothing triggers them?”

  Carmen shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “Your life’s been in turmoil lately,” Daphne said softly. “When you fight with your sister, who are you thinking about?”

  Carmen paused in thought, cutting her gaze to meet Daphne’s as her lips started to tremble.

  “I was just thinking that...well, maybe you act like you’re mad at your sister when you’re really angry with your mother.”

  Carmen slowly sank into her seat. “It would make sense.”

  Daphne nodded in agreement.

  “Maybe.” She stood up again, unable to sit still. “Is it always going to be like this? Am I always going to feel that…that uncontrollable rage?”

  “I don’t think so,” Daphne said gently. “With therapy, and time, it will get easier to control that anger.”

  ***

  After the meeting, when Daphne got into her car, she rewound and played the tape she’d recorded.

  Gage spoke up. “They did not! They weren’t getting anywhere with her.”

  “And now they never will, will they?”

  “I swear, if I have to hear your mouth—”

  “Why are you so pissed at me? You’re the one who got your girlfriend killed, buddy, not me.”

  “She wasn’t my girlfriend, she was my wife!”

  Letting out an exhausted groan, she rested her head against the steering wheel.

  She really had her work cut out for her.

  She flipped through her files until she found Gage’s and looked up his address. It took her fifteen minutes to get there, and she prayed she wouldn’t get her head bitten off by his sharp tongue when she knocked on the door.

  He answered, balancing a baby on his hip.

  She tried not to stare in shock at the little girl as she stepped into the apartment.

  She held out the papers she’d brought as an excuse. “I handed these out after you left.”

  “Thanks.” He took them and sat down on the couch, placing the baby gently on his knee.

  “You’re welcome.” Cautiously, she sat down in the chair. “I hope you’re planning on coming back on Friday.”

  “I don’t know.” He leaned back and shook his head. “I don’t know if I can see that punk’s face and control my temper.”

  “I understand that, but to him, your wife was a perpetrator. The shooting was very traumatic for him.”

  “I lost more than he did.”

  “I know.” She smiled when the baby giggled and threw herself onto Gage’s shoulder. “She’s beautiful. What’s her name?”

  “Thank you.” He grinned. “This is Lizzie, my guardian angel.”

  “Why don’t you ever talk about her?”

  “Because she has nothing to do with anything. She’s not a problem.” He rested his head against Lizzie’s. “She’s a lifesaver.”

  “I can see how she can save a life.” She folded her hands together. “How long ago did you lose your wife, Gage?”

  “It feels like it’s been forever,” he said, absentmindedly smoothing his thumb over his wedding band, “but it’s only been about three months.”

  “The cops were questioning you about it, and that’s why you lost it on them?”

  He nodded. “They kept badgering me—asking me where she’d gotten the gun or how I couldn’t have seen it coming.” His eyes clouded over as tears welled up, but he blinked them back and took a deep breath until he’d reeled the emotions in. “I didn’t have answers for them. I have no idea where she got the gun, and I don’t know why I never saw it coming...how was I supposed to have foreseen the shooting? How could I have possibly known that was going to happen?”

  Daphne’s heart went out to him, and she wished there was something she could do to help, but she didn’t know what that would be. “You’ve had to grow up really fast, Gage, and that can make somebody cold and bitter, even eventually destructive. That’s why
it’s important for you to come back to group. If you don’t, you’ll be breaking your probation, and you could go to jail. And what will happen to Lizzie then?”

  “I know. I just…” He sighed. “I don’t want to talk. I want to move on with my life. I want to get out of this town and start over...for Lizzie.”

  “Have you thought about where you’re going to go?”

  “Anywhere—as long as they haven’t heard about Peyton or the shooting. I mean, Peyton killed two people that day.” He looked her straight in the eye. “I can’t let Lizzie grow up with that hanging over her head. I don’t need people telling her that her mother was a...a murderer.”

  She chewed on her bottom lip while she thought. “Well, you’re probation ends in two months, right?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I’ll make you a deal,” she said. “I have a friend who owns a garage in Charlotte, an upscale place with benefits. His wife works at a private daycare service, specializing in cheap but quality daycare for single parents. Are you interested?”

  “It sounds perfect. Too perfect. What’s the catch?”

  “You have to keep coming to group, with an open mind, and let it help you.”

  “Okay, but even if I did that, your friends aren’t going to want anything to do with me. I have a criminal record.”

  “Please! So you punched out a window after your wife was killed. That hardly makes you criminal.”

  “Why would you do that for me?”

  “Because you deserve it.”

  He looked down at Lizzie then back up at Daphne. “You’ll really do this? You won’t flake out on me?”

  “I won’t flake out on you. I promise.”

  He reached out to shake her hand. “Then we have a deal.”

  The relief washed over her because she truly wanted to help every kid in her group. “You won’t regret it.”

  “Can I ask you something?”

  “Sure.”

  “That first day, you said you were messed up too. What happened?”

  She looked down at the floor for a minute before she answered. “In high school, I met this boy. He was the most gorgeous person I’d ever met, and he wanted me.” She clutched her hands together to keep them from shaking. “It started with a fight. He punched me. When he said it’d never happen again, I believed him. It took two years, a marriage, and countless beatings for me to realize that it never would.”