“What have you been doing?” she asked.

“Washed all the clothes, cleaned your bathroom, straightened up the room a bit, got dinner started, and waited for you,” I replied.

“Wow, thanks. I’ve been a little pre-occupied lately. That leaves more time for just us,” she said, snuggling her face into my neck.

We spent the evening in bed, shutting the world out. Sophia fell asleep early, but I didn’t have the heart to wake her. Her soft breaths and tiny snores made me chuckle. I’d never heard her snore before tonight. I brushed the hair away from her face, staring at her perfection. Holding her closer, I kissed her eyes, smelling her.

A knock sounded at the door, but Sophia didn’t move.

“Come in,” I said quietly.

The door opened slowly and a ragged Suzy appeared. “I’m so sick; I just wanted to let you know that I’m not going to work tomorrow.”

“Okay, Suzy. If you need anything just text me, this little one is out for the evening,” I said looking down at Sophia.

“She’s sleeps like a rock. I’m going to bed and I’ll see you in the morning, God willing.” Suzy closed the door.

I picked up my tablet and snapped pictures of Sophia asleep in my arms. I didn’t want a posed picture, but something pure and honest. She looked like a child wrapped in my arms. Her innocence drew me to her, the pull stronger now than ever before.

I slowly moved her off of me, she didn’t even stir. I’ve never seen someone sleep so soundly. I turned off the lights and crawled back in bed. I found a peace in Sophia’s arms unlike any other I’ve experienced.

Sophia left for work early the next morning, and I took care of Suzy. I brought her soup and ice water in bed, making sure she didn’t get up for anything; thankful that she allowed me to stay with them. I wanted to help them in every way possible. They had given me a roof over my head when I needed it most, and had nowhere else to turn.

We fell into a pattern; Suzy, Sophia, and I. I often cooked dinner, and the three of us ate together. Some evenings we played cards and watched movies. We became a threesome, not sexually, but friendship.

Suzy gave us our privacy, but we included her as much as possible. Sometimes she’d lie on the bed with us and talk. Sophia and I were both older, and she used the opportunity to pick our brains about love and life. Why she chose us to ask, I’ll never understand. Sophia and I had failed miserably before finding each other; we could only offer her advice on what not to do. She became like a little sister, filled with questions, looking to me for answers.

Days turned into weeks, panic began to fill me.

Hands Off

“What happens if you don’t pay a restitution payment?” I asked.

“Well, they could issue a warrant for my arrest, but I don’t know how likely that is.”

“And then what?”

“If a warrant is issued then I’d have to go in front of a judge and probably have to serve a one year jail term,” he said picking at a piece of paper sitting on the table.

Did I want him to take that chance? I’d be heartbroken if someone ripped him from my life. I couldn’t let that happen to him.

“I’ll lend you the money to pay it.”

“No, Sophia. It’s too much money. You’ve already done so much for me,” he said.

“Kayden, we’re a team. If you go to jail what good would that do me? I’d be lost without you. I’ll make the payment and when you get your job back soon, you can pay me back.” Sounded reasonable to me, I just prayed he would accept.

He seemed to be thinking about my proposition. He always thought so carefully about everything before answering my questions when they dealt with money. He rested his head in the palms of his hands, rubbing his eyes slowly. “Okay, Sophia. Just this one payment, as soon as I’m back to work I’ll pay you for everything.” He blew out a breath; he looked physically pained by accepting my money.

I didn’t have much money, but I had enough to help Kayden through this time. We were a team and I know he would have done the same for me. He didn’t like to ask for help or rely on anyone but himself.

We drove to the grocery store and purchased a money order to send in to the probation department. He’d notified his probation officer weeks ago about work, but he didn’t seem too sympathetic; I’m sure he hears a load of bullshit every day. I filled out the money order for two reasons, I didn’t want them to think Kayden had the means to pay, and mostly because I wanted that bitch to see my name on the check. I wanted her to know that he’s mine, and only mine. She had no claim on him, no pull over him anymore. I wanted her to choke when she opened the envelope.

I knew he had a deep love for her before I met him. When we first started chatting and he’d sworn off women, he was still in love with her. He was mad at her, yes, but they had still seen each other after his arrest. They carried on for months before he left for New Orleans. She even flew there to visit him. She had power over him. I’d be a liar if I didn’t say she worried me at times. Would he leave me for her when this was all over? Sometimes we forget the past when the love is strong enough. Was I pretty enough, good enough in bed or wild enough for him? I was a boring school librarian that led life on the straight and narrow. He was the rebel, always doing things against the norm and breaking rules.

A week later the bitch crawled out of the woodwork, she finally received her money.

“Lisa sent me a message today. She received the restitution payment,” he said, as I walked through the door after work.

“When did she send the message?” I asked Kayden.

“It was on my phone when I woke up,” he replied.

“What did she say?” I asked, not sure if I really wanted to know the answer.

Kayden handed me the phone and the message was on the screen.

Tammy: Your girlfriend pays your restitution? My boyfriend paid for my boob job, a new car, and a cruise. Don’t be a douchebag. You’ve done enough to my family and me. Stop being hateful Kayden.

That’s the pot calling the kettle black. She was so vile and hateful. I didn’t bat an eyelash when I filled out the money order; I knew it would piss her off and hopefully drive a dagger through her blackened heart. I felt satisfied in this moment.

Viper

Lisa must have felt guilty about her message regarding the restitution, because she messaged me the next day. What the fuck was I going to do about her? She wouldn’t leave me alone. I always knew she wasn’t mentally balanced, but I thought she’d forget about me and move the fuck on.

How was I supposed to handle the barrage of messages and her begging me to come back? I didn’t want the bitch, but she just didn’t seem to get the hint. I couldn’t ignore her messages anymore, even though that’s what Sophia asked me to do. I needed to get this rotten bitch out of my life; she needed to understand she meant nothing to me.

Tammy: Kayden I miss you terribly. I’m sorry I called you names… you know I didn’t mean it.

Her mental stability had always been questionable during out relationship, but since my arrest, it had been answered in my mind. She was bat shit crazy.

Me: You’re good at acting first and then claiming you didn’t mean it later, Lisa. I thought you ruined my life forever, but then Sophia rescued me. She is everything you’re not.