I didn’t respond, and two seconds later, he grabbed my arm tightly and turned me around. His furrowed brow and his intense gaze bore into my face, sending shivers down my spine.
“Dave, you’re scaring me,” I said.
“Well, you’re hurting me,” he replied, his face contorted with anger.
“I don’t want to do that, I just… I need time, can you understand that?”
“No, I can’t.”
“Well, you’ll have to.”
I freed myself from his grip, grabbed my suitcase filled with clothes, towels, and necessary items for living, and crossed the threshold of what used to be my room.
“Anna, don’t leave when we’re having an argument,” Dave shouted, his voice full of frustration.
“We’re not having an argument. I’m leaving. End of story.”
My feigned confidence was in tatters. I had never seen Dave act like this with me, and an image of him grabbing my hair and forcing me to stay flashed in my mind. “He wouldn’t be capable of that,” but then again, I never thought he’d grip my arm so tightly and glare at me with such anger.
“It won’t be that easy, Anna!” He was raising his voice now. Fear coursed through my body, so I hurried to Jeremy’s room and opened his door.
“Yes, it will. I’ll call you in a few days,” I told him while looking at his red, furious face. “Jeremy, sweetheart, let’s go.”
I took my bewildered son’s hand. He didn’t understand what was happening or why Dave was yelling, as it was the strangest thing he could ever hear from him.
I walked to the front door, and as I was about to leave, Dave opened his mouth.
“Anna, come here, now!” he ordered. That was when I realized the kind of person he truly was. He wanted to have everything under his control and mercy. It was his way or the highway. If I stayed, it would be on his terms and what he wanted. If anything I did questioned his perfect life, he wouldn’t like it at all.
“Excuse me? Who do you think I am now? Your dog who will obey easily? Or do you think I’m the girl who has to obey her fiance like a servant? Screw you!”
“You’re not going anywhere,” he muttered, grabbing my arm and pulling me closer to make me look at him.
“Let her go!” Jeremy tried to hit his leg, but Dave didn’t care or flinch.
I slapped his cheek and quickly left the house with Jeremy in tow. As I stood just inches from the car door, Dave put a hand on my shoulder, pushed me against the car, and yelled in my face.
“You’re mine! Understand it! I gave years of my life for you! You’re not leaving!”
He shouted so loudly that some neighbors came out of their houses to see what was happening.
Henry got out of the car, furious, consumed by anger and the urge to kill Dave. He threw a punch at my assailant’s face, and he fell to the ground.
“Say those words again, you jerk,” Henry said, still punching Dave in the face. “Say them, I dare you!”
“Henry, enough, let’s go. Please, let’s go, Jeremy is here,” I told him, touching his shoulder. When I mentioned Jeremy’s name, he stopped hitting Dave.
The guy didn’t have too severe injuries, just a black eye and a cut on his cheek, in addition to a very swollen face.
Henry stood up, stroked my cheek, and whispered in my ear to get into the car. I nodded and put Jeremy in the back seat, leaving our things by his side. I quickly moved to the passenger seat, and Henry started the car.
“Who the hell does he think he is to claim you’re his and touch you like that? I’m going to kill him! If he ever touches you again, I’m going to…”
“Calm down. Just breathe. It’s over,” I reassured him, gently rubbing his back. After several deep breaths, he started to calm down.
Jeremy was watching us, confused by the whole scene. He also looked somewhat frightened.
“Why did Dave treat my mom that way? Why did you hit him?” Jeremy asked, looking at Henry.
“Because your mom wanted to leave, and Dave wouldn’t let her… So he started yelling at her, and I didn’t like that. I acted out of line, Jeremy. You should never react like that, never,” Henry replied, and I just realized how much he sounded like… a father. “Unless some idiot tries to hit or hurt you in any way.”
I screwed up.
Jeremy nodded and looked at me. “Mom, where are we going? Why is Henry with you? Didn’t you say you didn’t want him? Are you friends now? Can I play with him, Mom?”
Henry smiled. He loves how this kid is crazy about him.
“Yes, sweetheart, you can, but let’s wait until we get there, and we’ll discuss where we’ll be staying for a while.”
“Why not now? You’re not taking me to a boarding school, right? I said I’m sorry about the poison!”
“Boarding school?” Henry furrowed his brow and looked at me.
“I’ll explain later,” I murmured. “Sweetie, what did I tell you this morning? I won’t leave you, remember? You’re a good boy, and you’re not going anywhere.”
He smiled and opened his backpack, taking out his basketball.
“Hey, Henry, I brought my ball!”
“What? I thought you didn’t like that thing, son…”
“Henry taught me how to play. Now I’m better than him,” he said with the same arrogant smile as his father. Now I’ll have to deal with two Henrys in my life.
“That’s a lie…” Henry began, looking at me.
“Which part?” I asked.
“He doesn’t play better than me,” he smiled nervously. He doesn’t like having competition.
“Really? I don’t believe that,” I said, starting to laugh and kissing his cheek on impulse.
“Oh, you and my mom seem to be very good friends, don’t you, Henry?” Jeremy looked very happy as he pronounced each word. I’m not sure I can go a whole week without touching him…
“You have no idea, Jeremy,” Henry replied, winking at me.