By the time she was presentable, or as good as she could get, the wonder drug had done its job. She picked up her bag, reached for the door, and came to a screeching halt. A huge bear of a man with a hatchet-like face had his hand raised, as if he was about to knock, or hit her. Angel did the only sane thing she could think of, screamed like a girl and ducked beneath his massive outstretched arm while she ran for all she was worth. The sound of her name being called out by the man had her increasing her speed. The hip injury she was assured by the doctor had been just an ugly bruise let her know it wasn’t happy with her either.
The well-lit path to her parents’ house had shadows she was sure weren’t there before. She turned her head to see how far away she was from her pursuer and stumbled at his close proximity. The man shouted and lunged the last few feet separating them, catching her before she hit the paved walk. He twisted, and managed to be her cushion, taking the brunt of their fall.
“Miss Rugiero, are you all right?” the fallen man asked her, sounding concerned.
“Angel, is that you? What are you doing down there?” her mother asked, wiping her hands on an apron.
All the breath had left her lungs, and she couldn’t remember how to get them to fill again. Stars blinked in front of her eyes while a buzzing filled her ears, and then she was floating.
She heard her mother speaking to the man with the deep, gentle voice, telling him to carry her into the house. Her body must have remembered it needed air to live because, somehow, she found herself gasping. He laid her on the overstuffed couch in the family room, and then a cold cloth was put on her forehead.
“Baby girl, what’s happened?” Her father asked.
“I’m sorry, sir. I think I may have scared her. When I reached the guest house, I’d just raised my hand to knock, when the door opened. The next thing I knew, she was running and screaming. I feared she’d fall and hurt herself, so I tried to catch up to her.”
“Mom, Dad, do you guys know this man?” Angel was really proud of the fact her voice didn’t shake.
The expression that crossed her dad’s face could only be described as sheepish. A sneaking suspicion took root in her. The knowledge that her overprotective parents had hired a bodyguard for her, didn’t make her mad. Instead, she was filled with a sense of security.
“Now, listen here, young lady. Your mother is worried about you, and you know I can’t have that. She wouldn’t rest until you were safe. So this is for all our sakes.”
She really loved her parents. Her father always blamed his wife for things that came to feelings. He’d blame it on her mother if he grounded her for sneaking out. Your mother was worried sick when you didn’t make curfew. I hate to do this, but if I don’t, your mamá will have fits. Which really meant, he was worried and throwing fits. Her poor mother was just his excuse. She was Daddy’s little girl, and he hated to be the heavy.
“Thank you, Daddy,” Angelina said.
“You don’t have to thank me. You’re our precious child, even if you think you’re a grown-up. Okay.” He clapped his hands together. “Let’s eat. I’m starving.”
Yep, the gruff man was all bluster on the outside, but a cream puff on the inside.
The reality of her situation hit home. The prospect of going back to her little house, on the same property as her parents’ home, filled her with dread. She didn’t want to be alone yet, and didn’t know how to tell her mom and dad.
“Angel, your mama would like you to sleep here in the main house tonight. I agree, or she’ll get no sleep, and then I won’t either.”
Some might call it manipulation the way he phrased his words like an entreaty on his wife’s behalf, but Angelina called it a blessing in disguise.
They had just finished one of her favorite dishes of chicken in a garlic cream sauce over angel hair pasta with broccoli steamed to perfection. She set her fork down and turned toward her mother first, who looked more like her older sister, and then at her father. They both wore identical expressions of concern and hope.
“I would sleep better, too, if I’m being honest. Thank you both for everything. I’m really sorry…”
Her mother jumped up from her chair and hugged her, stopping the stupid words she’d almost said. It wasn’t her fault some guy she’d dated had gone crazy. He was the one in the wrong. Not her. She would not apologize for what he did. She would not allow him to make her a victim anymore. And she would not be scared of her own shadow. Having worked it all out in her head, she gave an emphatic nod against her mother’s shoulder. No more tears either.
“That’s my girl,” her father said with pride.
She said good night after a little fried ice cream. Eating all of her favorite dishes her mom had made just for her, had Angel loving them even more. When she reached her old bedroom, she pulled the phone out and saw several missed calls, one from Gia, two from Lorenzo, and an unknown number from someone who didn’t leave a message.
The time was a little past ten, but, in bar time it was still early. She wanted to hear Lorenzo’s wonderfully deep voice before she went to bed. Maybe they could have phone sex. A wicked smile crossed her face at the dirty thought. When she got his voicemail, the smile fell.