Through The Pieces Read Online Free Page B
Author: Bobbi Jo Bentz
did. I would never put Maggie in the position of seeing me hurt again. I would teach her it wasn't okay for anyone to hurt someone else, by words or by fists. I would help her become a strong, independent woman. This would be my gift to her.
Maggie came running out the front door, Boris on her heels. She was smiling and looked happy--obviously she could be carefree here. A warm sensation filled me, and a smile played on my lips.
"Mommy!" She skipped over to me and crawled up on my lap. I wrapped my arms around her.
"What should we do today? I was thinking we could go to the park in town or go get some ice cream."
Her eyes lit up at the thought. "I want to do both, please, and can Rose and Boris come with us, please Mommy?” she begged.
"I think I can manage Rose, but how about we leave Boris here?"
"But he likes ice cream!"
"Fine, but if he stinks up my car, I will tickle you until you pee," I joked.
She looked at me sternly. "Mommy, you can't. I am a big girl and big girls don't pee." At this I laughed, but I could see Maggie was serious.
"Okay, no tickling."
"You can tickle me, just don't make me pee."
"Deal, now let's tell Rose and get going. Maggie, did I tell you I love you today yet?"
Maggie was up and running to the door. "No." She went back in the house. I could hear her telling Rose. Now there were two excited four-year-old girls clamoring in excitement. I went back inside and found Annie in the kitchen.
"I am going to take the girls and Boris to the park and then go for ice cream. We will probably leave in two hours."
"Oh that sounds nice! Are you sure you want to take Boris?"
I shrugged. "Maggie and Rose want him to come with us."
"Good luck, just be back at two o'clock, because Mel will be here. Then we are going straight over to Buck's so we can have some drinks and girl time." Annie stated.
#
It was strange to me how each day I felt a bit stronger. I knew it would be a while until I was completely healed inside and out, but I felt stronger with each moment, and I was beginning to feel like the old me. The me that was not afraid to talk or ask questions. I was starting to like me again.
That morning I walked into the bathroom and noticed the swelling was subsiding. Buck had said it should be healed in a week or two. The bruising on my ribs had darkened to a purplish-black. I would have to get Annie to help me re-bandage it.
When we returned from the park, Matt was outside working on some old machine. The girls darted out of the car and went to play on the tire swing that hung from an old oak tree not too far from the house. I walked over to Matt.
"Did you have a good time?" Matt asked.
"Yes, it’s a lovely park. Where is Annie?"
"Mel got here and they went over to Buck's house. You are supposed to pack, then Buck will drive you over. They wanted to get everything ready for tonight."
"Oh, okay. I'll just go get ready." I went upstairs and began gathering my things for the night, feeling excited and nervous about seeing Mel. I wasn't sure what to expect and wondered if having a couple of Old Fashioneds would make me break down. I typically did not drink, and I knew just one would make me tipsy. I said my goodbyes to Maggie and got in the car with Buck. Annie decided it made more sense to have him drive me so we would only tie up one car. Plus, I had no idea where he lived.
"Thanks for giving me a ride," I said as we pulled out of the driveway onto the country road.
"No problem, any time," he said, adjusting his sunglasses. The movements made me look over at him. He was wearing an old tee and faded jeans. So not like what I thought a doctor would typically wear. More like a model on some photoshoot for high-dollar jeans.
"Please make sure Maggie is in bed by eight and that she brushes her teeth. Are you sure you can handle this with Matt?"
"We will be fine, and we know where to find you if there is a problem. Just go stay with your sisters and enjoy yourself."
"Your girlfriend won’t
Maggie came running out the front door, Boris on her heels. She was smiling and looked happy--obviously she could be carefree here. A warm sensation filled me, and a smile played on my lips.
"Mommy!" She skipped over to me and crawled up on my lap. I wrapped my arms around her.
"What should we do today? I was thinking we could go to the park in town or go get some ice cream."
Her eyes lit up at the thought. "I want to do both, please, and can Rose and Boris come with us, please Mommy?” she begged.
"I think I can manage Rose, but how about we leave Boris here?"
"But he likes ice cream!"
"Fine, but if he stinks up my car, I will tickle you until you pee," I joked.
She looked at me sternly. "Mommy, you can't. I am a big girl and big girls don't pee." At this I laughed, but I could see Maggie was serious.
"Okay, no tickling."
"You can tickle me, just don't make me pee."
"Deal, now let's tell Rose and get going. Maggie, did I tell you I love you today yet?"
Maggie was up and running to the door. "No." She went back in the house. I could hear her telling Rose. Now there were two excited four-year-old girls clamoring in excitement. I went back inside and found Annie in the kitchen.
"I am going to take the girls and Boris to the park and then go for ice cream. We will probably leave in two hours."
"Oh that sounds nice! Are you sure you want to take Boris?"
I shrugged. "Maggie and Rose want him to come with us."
"Good luck, just be back at two o'clock, because Mel will be here. Then we are going straight over to Buck's so we can have some drinks and girl time." Annie stated.
#
It was strange to me how each day I felt a bit stronger. I knew it would be a while until I was completely healed inside and out, but I felt stronger with each moment, and I was beginning to feel like the old me. The me that was not afraid to talk or ask questions. I was starting to like me again.
That morning I walked into the bathroom and noticed the swelling was subsiding. Buck had said it should be healed in a week or two. The bruising on my ribs had darkened to a purplish-black. I would have to get Annie to help me re-bandage it.
When we returned from the park, Matt was outside working on some old machine. The girls darted out of the car and went to play on the tire swing that hung from an old oak tree not too far from the house. I walked over to Matt.
"Did you have a good time?" Matt asked.
"Yes, it’s a lovely park. Where is Annie?"
"Mel got here and they went over to Buck's house. You are supposed to pack, then Buck will drive you over. They wanted to get everything ready for tonight."
"Oh, okay. I'll just go get ready." I went upstairs and began gathering my things for the night, feeling excited and nervous about seeing Mel. I wasn't sure what to expect and wondered if having a couple of Old Fashioneds would make me break down. I typically did not drink, and I knew just one would make me tipsy. I said my goodbyes to Maggie and got in the car with Buck. Annie decided it made more sense to have him drive me so we would only tie up one car. Plus, I had no idea where he lived.
"Thanks for giving me a ride," I said as we pulled out of the driveway onto the country road.
"No problem, any time," he said, adjusting his sunglasses. The movements made me look over at him. He was wearing an old tee and faded jeans. So not like what I thought a doctor would typically wear. More like a model on some photoshoot for high-dollar jeans.
"Please make sure Maggie is in bed by eight and that she brushes her teeth. Are you sure you can handle this with Matt?"
"We will be fine, and we know where to find you if there is a problem. Just go stay with your sisters and enjoy yourself."
"Your girlfriend won’t
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