Castleton
Tuesday
Bulk Foods Supermarket
Rachel stops her cart directly in front of the baked goods display. She glances over the food options, eyeing two giant cinnamon rolls. Inside her purse, her cellphone buzzes. Rachel opens the snap and rummages around for the tiny device. She rolls her eyes upon viewing the screen. Just spam.
The young woman's mind suddenly shifts to the night before. Evelyn. Evelyn hadn't looked good when she stormed out of the club. It might be a good idea if she gave Evelyn a call. Maybe even dropped by her old place? Whatever is going on with her friend can't be good.
Thinking back on her own situation, Rachel rolls her eyes a second time. Like her own life is any better. Ned is getting worse by the day-- and he refuses to seek help for his drinking problem. The man's violence has escalated from two domestic altercations a month; to about two a week. If not two a day. Rachel wrestles with the very real fact that she doesn't feel safe around Ned anymore. Perhaps, she can convince Evelyn to allow her to move in? Only temporarily. Girls have to stick together. It's worth a try.
Rachel continues to plan her escape, and woman's retreat, as she window shops the bakery case. Settling on the two ginormous cinnamon rolls, and a fresh loaf of raisin bread, Rachel sets the see-thru plastic containers inside the top portion of her cart. By the time she wanders away from the case, Rachel is resolute about her future. Tonight, she will tell Evelyn her wonderful plan. No boyfriends tonight. Maybe not ever.
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Castleton
Undying Rage Nightclub/Lounge
Wednesday morning
1:22 a.m.
Rachel stares through the strobing lights of the club. She wipes down the counter with one hand while searching the crowd with her eyes. Other than the numerous couples dancing, singing, or bumping and grinding against each other; Rachel does not see who she is looking for.
Evelyn. Where is Evelyn? For the last three years, Evelyn has been coming to the club almost every night like clockwork. Sometimes, to drink. Sometimes, to shoot the breeze with an old roommate. Seldom has Evelyn not made an appearance. The only real time, Rachel can remember Evelyn being absent from the club, is when Evelyn falsely believed she was pregnant. Three days, Evelyn had stayed away. Only to return after those three days with a heavy thirst and an appetite for bar peanuts. This time, feels different. Something isn't right.
Rachel glances around before pulling her cellphone closer under the bar. She unlocks the screen and opens the latest news feed. Nothing of interest pops up. Using a painted fingernail, to scroll through her long list of contacts, Rachel finally finds Evelyn's number. She types a quick message, adding a smiley face emoji and a heart for effect. After pressing send, she locks her cellphone and repositions it under the bar where it previously sat.
At that moment, two women and a very handsome man drunkenly approach the bar. The inebriated women are laughing excessively, their painted nails running through the gorgeous man's gelled down hair and suggestively over his body. They must've already been in the club before she'd arrived that evening. She doesn't remember serving either of these three. Rachel offers the trio a friendly grin.
"What can I get you?" Rachel says through her forced grin.
"The tab," Gel Man says. "Name's Mackey. Jim Mackey."
"Mackey? Oh. Uh, sure. Let me get that for you," Rachel replies.
Rachel's brow knits as she turns away from the three people at the bar. She heads for the register a few feet away. Jim Mackey? Another James Mackey? Can it be?
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Castleton
Wednesday
This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
4:56 a.m.
Rachel Corbin's Apartment
"At the tone...Please leave a short message and a number where you can be reached. Thank you. Beeeep."
Rachel considers leaving a message on Evelyn's voicemail but hangs up the phone instead. What's the use? She'll just end up returning to Ned once Evelyn and Neil eventually get back together. It's always the same thing with those two. Evelyn and Neil never stay broken up for long. In fact, that's probably where Evelyn is now. Laid up at Neil's having her life screwed out of her. This afternoon, Rachel's plan of escape had seemed almost foolproof. By the light of the moon, it just sounds plain foolish.
Rachel throws her purse on the table beside the door and unbuttons her suit jacket. She tosses her jacket on the table as well. Kicking off her flats, Rachel wriggles her aching toes inside her black stockings. She looks around, expecting Ned to come shuffling into the living room. When her drunken boyfriend does not appear after what seems like several minutes, but was really only two or three, Rachel breathes a sigh of relief.
"He must be asleep. Which means, I'm sleeping on the couch," Rachel says to no one in particular. "I'll shower later. The last thing I want to do is wake that sonofabitch up."
The tired young woman plops down on the couch, rubbing her toes with one hand and rolling her neck to get out kinks. Lying back on the sofa cushions, Rachel lifts her lower body enough to unzip her pants and slip them off. She tosses the pants on the floor, turning onto her side. One elbow is propped under her head as she begins to drift off to sleep.
Rachel's phone rings just as she floats into REM sleep. Jolting awake, she sits up on the couch.
"What the hell? Oh. Evelyn."
Rachel jumps up from the sofa and rushed to the other side of the room. A smile dances across her youthful face and she is barely able to contain the hope welling up inside her chest. Maybe her carefully made plan will work after all. She can leave Ned tomorrow. While he's at work. Assuming the sorry sack of crap still has a job.
Rachel snatches her phone from inside her purse. She glances at the display screen. All of her hope fades in a single moment. Not Evelyn. Ned.
"Yeah, Ned?" Rachel says. "Where are you?"
"I uh...I'm at the Lamont place. She let me spend the night. Work ran real late and there was no point in leaving...So," Ned explains in a halting voice. "Just thought I'd tell ya. So you wouldn't get to worrying about me."
In the background, Rachel hears a woman's laugh. Followed by the sound of a breaking glass. Another soft chuckle.
"So...Uh. Don't wait up for me, okay? I love you," Ned says.
"Sure, Ned," Rachel replies, and ends the call.
Dropping her phone back into her purse, Rachel solemnly shakes her head. The nerve. Does he think she's stupid or something? Of course, he does. What woman, besides an idiot, would put up with his nonsense? The sooner she leaves the cheating bastard the better.
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Somewhere Not Mrs. Lamont's
Ned watches as the escort he hired for the evening bends to pick up the glass she'd dropped. He pops her on the butt with his left hand and chuckles when she gasps loudly.
"Don't pick that crap up with your hands! You'll cut yourself. Get a broom. I'm not paying for no damn hospital bill."
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Mackey Residence
Wednesday
3:20 a.m.
Madison uncurls her legs from underneath her as James enters the house. Titus rushes between the detective's legs, hurrying towards his favorite human. Madison squeals with glee.
"Titus. There's my boy. Oh my gosh. What has Octavia been feeding you. You're huge."
James closes the front door and hangs his trenchcoat up on the coatrack. He crosses to the couch and leans down to kiss Madison's lips. She leans up to meet him, scratching Titus' head with one hand.
"I was wondering where you were, Mister," Madison playfully scolds her husband. "I thought you had gotten lost."
"Not a chance," James says, pecking Madison's lips again. "Not when I've got such a lovely lady at home."
James shifts his attention to Jamie, who is asleep in his bassinet. He reaches down and strokes the downy hair on his son's head.
"I still can't believe I'm a father, Madison. It doesn't seem real. He's so tiny. I..."
Dropping down onto the couch, James takes Madison's face in his hands. He stares deep into her eyes.
"I don't want you to ever doubt for a moment that I love you, Maddie. You don't have to perform for me. I mean, don't get me wrong. The other night, you had my heart doing cartwheels. But...I love you just the way you are. Do you believe me?"
"I...James...,"
"Do you believe me, Madison? I know this is a hard time right now. Between baby hormones and everything that's been going on. But I really want to know that you believe me. Tell me...You believe me. Because I'm crazy about you, Madison. Fancy lingerie or no fancy lingerie. You're my Maddie."
"James...Yes. I believe you," Madison finally says.
"Good. So...Off to bed, everyone. We've all got a busy day tomorrow. Oh yeah. Dave asked if we could watch Russo for a few days. He and Octavia are going to be visiting her brother out in Oxnard. They're leaving day after tomorrow. Or is it tomorrow? Anyway...They're leaving and needed someone to watch the dog. From what Dave tells me...Russo loves his kid brother Titus to pieces. But Titus doesn't quite share in his big brother's love. I'll keep Russo chained up in the yard. That way, you can still get your beauty rest. You keep an eye on Titus, okay? Keep him close to you so he doesn't bother Russo. It should be an easy next few days."
"No problem, there," Madison says. "Titus loves me. Don't you, Titus?"
As if in answer, Titus licks Madison's chin and wriggles his fluffy behind. Madison winks at James and grins.
"See? Piece of cake."
