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Cameron
I’m impressed with Shirlene’s composure as the two officers question her. She had the forethought to stay in her torn clothes. She covered herself with one of my work shirts, but when the police ask to take pictures and she reveals the damage Chase did to her blouse, trying to force himself on her, I picture strangling him as I clench and unclench my fists.
Our father drilled into us that you never lay your hands on a woman or a child. Women are equal and, in some ways, superior, he reminded us. They are to be respected. I knew my brother once but no longer.
One of the cops, who seems about my age, starts asking Shirlene the same questions his older partner asked. He’s checking to see if she’s consistent. She keeps her cool and answers. As she describes everything again, I want to hunt down my crazy brother, but I can’t have Shirlene dealing with these cops by herself. Chase thought she was Rain. I’d be enraged if it had been Rain or any woman, but it’s worse because it’s Shirlene. My Shirlene. And it’s my fault. I opened the door for him with my text to meet in Philly. Then the bastard snuck down here to rob me, or whatever, while I was supposedly at school. He intended for me to be out of the way.
I am forced out of my thoughts when the older cop asks, “So you’re living with his brother?”
For the first time during this interrogation, Shirlene appears unsure. The implication is clear in his voice: You’re sleeping with your former boyfriend’s brother, so what do you expect? The panic in Shirlene’s eyes guides me to speak up.
“My irresponsible brother abandoned Rain when she told him she was pregnant with his child. She came to me, and I decided to raise my niece. We are parenting this newborn together because Chase has no interest and no integrity. Now he comes in here and tries to rape Rain because he’s pissed off. I don’t care how angry a man is about something. He has no right to lay a hand on a woman. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“Oh, well...” He clears his throat. “Yes, of course.”
Jesus, what women go through.
I stand closer to Shirlene, whose eyes are welling up. “So let’s stay focused on who has been attacked and not wander into conjectures implying she somehow deserved it.”
“Of course not. That’s not what I meant.” He scratches his balding head.
The younger cop takes the lead. “When was the last time either of you had contact with him?”
Shirlene quickly comes up with something. “When I told him I was pregnant.”
“That was the last time you saw him?”
“Yes.”
“And you?” The bald cop glares. I can tell he’s not happy I called him on his crap.
“Rain and Chase stayed at my apartment in Philadelphia for a brief time. They left about ten or eleven months ago.”
The officer keeps writing things down. “And that’s the last time you saw your brother?”
“Yes.” I decline to offer the information about texting him a few days ago. He never answered me, so what’s the point?
“Will he come back?” the younger cop asks.
“Knowing Chase, I think not. Well, unless he needs money or a place to sleep because he’s on the street again. But I didn’t imagine him capable of this, so it’s anyone’s guess.”
“You said he let himself in. You didn’t open the door for him?”
“No,” Shirlene says. “As I said before, I was upstairs when I heard someone come in. I thought it was Cameron—that he’d forgotten the shopping list and had come back.”
“Chase does have a key, but I never expected he’d show up unannounced. I’ll change the locks today,” I say.
“Are you sure you don’t want to press charges?”
Shirlene sits down. “I don’t.”
“Are you sure, Shirlene?” I ask. “I would, but it’s up to you.”
“I just want to move past it.”
The younger cop puts his notebook away. “Contact us if you need us.”
“Thank you.” Shirlene stays on the couch as I direct the two men out and lock the door behind them.
Arlene sounds her little waking-up cackle.
“I’ll go change her,” I offer.
Shirlene doesn’t move.
“Shirlene, I think I should take you to the ER.”
“No. I’m not hurt, but I’d like to take a shower now.”
“Let’s go upstairs. I’ll take care of Arlene while you shower.”
“Will you stay up there until I finish?” she asks.
“Of course.”
Shirlene turns to me on the top step. “Did you lock the doors?”
“Yes.”
She heads to the bathroom.
Arlene’s cackle has ramped up to a full-out howl. I hurry into the nursery. “It’s okay, sweetheart.”
After changing her diaper, I sit in the rocker with the baby while her mother showers off my brother’s stench. No, I can’t let myself go there. The baby will sense my tension and become distressed.
Shirlene comes in wearing her robe. “She must be hungry.”
“I can offer her a bottle if you need to rest.” I stand.
“No, thank you. I want her in my arms.”
“Go ahead and sit.” I hand the baby to her after she’s in the rocker. “God, I never put the groceries away. Are you okay with me doing it now?”
“Yes.”
“Shirlene, I’m sorry to tell you this now, but you should know. When Hattie was here, we talked about me contacting Chase.”
Shirlene’s mouth opens. My gut tightens up.
“I didn’t tell you I texted him at an old cell number because I thought it was silly to worry you before I knew if I could find him.”
“Why did you text him?”
I run my hand through my hair. “I feel so stupid now.” I’m not blaming Hattie. Although she encouraged me, it was my decision. “I was in a generous mood or something, but I didn’t mention Rain or the baby. I wrote that I was coming up to Philly for a meeting, and we could meet for lunch. I never heard from him. I assumed the cell number wasn’t in service. So I didn’t bother telling him the meeting was postponed. I figured he could be anywhere.”
Her face darkens. “So he thought you were in Philly.”
“And while I was supposed to be there, he came here to steal something to sell for drug money.” I kneel in front of her. “I am so sorry.”
“Don’t keep things from me. You should have told me about texting Chase.”
“I blame myself. If I hadn’t texted him, he might have gone on with whatever he was doing. Instead, he took advantage.”
“You’d better put the food away before it spoils.”
I get up. “Shirlene, can you forgive me?”
“I need some time, Cam.”
I want to hug her and comfort her. “Is it okay if I kiss the top of your head?”
Her eyes pool up. “It’s thoughtful of you to ask, but I need space to process this.”
“You are calling the shots on any physical contact.”
“You should have warned me, Cam. Don’t keep things from me. It’s too similar to Stan.”
“I promise. No more secrets.”
“Go deal with the food.”
Like a schoolboy, I slink out of the room. When will she forgive me?