Page 60 of Dream House
I had to perform a decidedly unmasculine dance move to keep from wearing the overflow.
Bear laughed like a hyena on amphetamines.
But I can ask Maggie to help out a girl in need.
I think.
“She could advise you on your options, and you could trust her,” I say because this, if nothing else, is true.
Nina blinks through her tears. “Faith House. I thought about going there.” She swallows before looking down at her hands. Then she shakes her head. “I just couldn’t make myself. It’s too humiliating.”
I’ve heard Maggie talk about this too. That so many women are too ashamed to ask for help. They don’t want to admit they’re living in a domestic violence shelter.
“That’s why they have the Outreach Center,” I say quickly. “It’s not for the women who live at Faith House. It’s for people like you.”
Her chin wobbles. “People like me?”
I glance at Stella, and I can’t help my genuine grin. “People who have a safe place to stay but need help getting out of a bad situation.”
“Oh,” Nina says, sounding a little more at ease. She sniffles. “So… I wouldn’t actually have to go there?”
I shrug. “We can find out.”
Nina sits up a little straighter, seeming to re-emerge from her skeletal collapse. She wipes her eyes and takes a couple of stuttering breaths. Stella straightens with her, never taking her eyes off her. She’s running a comforting hand up and down Nina’s back.
That’s got to feel good,I think with a pulse of envy.
“Yeah, okay,” Nina rasps. “Just not today. I can’t handle any more today.”
I nod. “Right. Sure. Whenever you are ready.”
She chews her lip and turns to Stella, saying nothing.
“What are you thinking?” Stella asks.
“Kaleb can’t come into the restaurant. My boss made sure of that,” she says, relief clear in her voice. “But that won’t stop him from following Aggie, my boss, when she drives me home. I don’t think he knows where I live yet, but it’s just a matter of time.”
Stella’s brows draw together. “That asshole has the time to stake out the restaurant?”
“He knows my schedule.”
“What about changing it?” Stella asks, eyes brightening.
Nina blinks. “I might be able to do that. But he’s off on Thursdays. That’s when he came by the restaurant. Other than Saturdays, Thursdays are my biggest tips because of the plate lunch special.”
“Where do you work?” I ask.
“Scratch Kitchen on Garfield.”
I nod. Tuesdays and Thursdays are my late days at school. “What time do you get off on Thursdays?”
“Around five,” Nina says with a shrug. “Aggie has to clean the grease trap before she can give me a ride, so I help her now that she’s driving me. We usually leave about five-thirty.”
“I can pick you up at five on Thursdays.” That’s easy. Even on days when I have to meet with my project group in Stratigraphy.
Both women jolt at my offer.
“Th-That’s okay,” Nina stammers. “Aggie says it’s no trouble.”
