Chapter Forty Three
Dave stretched out, glad it was time for lunch, he needed a break and he wanted to see Maria. The stunned look on her face had kept him amused the whole morning. He was sure she would insist that he answer the questions he had avoided that morning. She had asked him to take their relationship slow, but he found it difficult not to plan for their future. He had no intentions of letting them go, he wanted to make a family with them, he was glad he had an ally in Michael.
When the door opened and Izzy ran in, he expected to see Maria behind her, but instead it was Carol. Dave picked up his daughter and stared at Carol with a questioning look, “Where’s Maria?”
Carol placed the food on the table and turned to Dave. She moved to him and took Izzy out of his hands, “How about we keep all possible casualties away from you.” She placed her in the corner where her toys were before she walked back to Dave, “There was an incident at the cafe.”
“What kind of incident?” Dave asked, in a panic. “Promise to let me finish before you blow up.” Carol asked, a little frightened. She knew his temper and she didn’t want it directed to her.
“Carol.” his voice high and tempered. “Brian and a couple of his friends…”
“Who’s Brian?” Dave asked, interrupting her.
“The boy toy Amy brought here.” both Dave’s eyebrows shot up, “they bothered Maria.”
“What do you mean by bothered?” his stunned expression quickly changed to a livid one.
“They harassed her and one had her pinned against him. The look she had on her face Dave, she looked scared and abhorrent, and she didn’t even want me to touch her. What that man must have done to her…” Carol stopped, she was close to crying as she remembered the desperate look on Maria’s face.
“Arrgh!” Dave cried out angrily, pushing all his desk content on the floor. He was mad, murderously furious with Amy and her little gang. She did that to annoy him, and she’d gotten what she wanted, but he was going to give her exactly what she was asking for, “I have that punk’s address in my divorce file, find him!”
“Are you filing a law suit?”
“Against his stupid girlfriend yes, but him and his friends, I’m going to deal with them personally.”
“Dave, it would be nice if you don’t get arrested for assault.”
“Just do it Carol!”
“Da.” Izzy called out softly. Dave turned to her and saw the frightened look on her face. He had completely forgotten she was there. He went and picked her up, “Have them picked up at school by the police, and make sure to send one to Amy’s door step.” He spoke through clenched teeth.
Carol laughed, “I would pay big money to see her get dragged into a squad car, and even more to a cell.” She turned and left, closing the door behind her.
Dave picked up his cell phone from his desk, “How about we call your mommy and see if she’s alright.” he spoke, dialling Maria’s number.
****
Maria walked into Nate’s apartment and was shocked to find it in such a mess. She’d made sure to clean up and leave it as she’d found it, but now it looked like a tornado had gone through. The floor was cluttered with broken glass and broken pieces of furniture. The leather couch had several rips in it, the TV was on the floor with a huge hole in the screen. Whoever was in here made sure the breakables were broken and what could be ripped was shredded.
She felt all her strength drain out of her, this was all she needed to add to her disastrous day. She sank to the floor against the wall, balls of tears silently making their way down her cheeks. She was too exhausted and disillusioned to cry. She wanted to just disappear for the day, to just take a break from the bad luck her life was. The only thing that hasn’t gone wrong yet, was her life with Dave, but it would only be a matter of time, otherwise it wouldn’t be the life of Maria Diana Martinez.
The studio apartment mirrored her life, a broken, shattered, ripped to pieces life, and the worst of it was, Michael was stuck in it and she was about to drag Dave and Izzy in too. If it was possible to be someone else, she would jump at the opportunity. The scared, battered weak Maria, needed to disappear so that she could start fresh. No ghosts, nightmares, fears as her shadows, be better and more worthy to her new family. If only it was that simple.
Her vibrating phone pulled her out of her daze. She looked at Dave’s name on the screen for a minute before she lifted the phone to her ear, “Hello?”
Dave felt his chest tighten at her lifeless voice, “Maria, where are you?” he asked firmly. There was no need to ask her if she was okay, he could hear it in her voice how much she needed him.
“Someone broke in and tore the place apart.” she answered quietly, looking around the space.
Dave panicked at the thought of her hurt physically or worse, “Are you home? Are you okay? I’ll call the police!” he rapped out.
“No, not home, the apartment I lived in before.”
“I’m on my way.” Dave hung up and rushed out of his office, Izzy still in his arm. He grabbed Carol’s arm and dragged her behind him, “You are coming with me.”
Carol stumbled after him and was close to falling a few times, “Ouch, where are we going?” she pulled her arm out of his hold.
“To get Maria.” Dave answered, pushing the elevator buttons impatiently.
Carol got worried. Dave’s pensive manner could only mean there was trouble, “I’ll go get my purse,” she turned and ran back to her desk.
Stepping into the elevator he yelled, “Hurry up.”