CHAPTER 7
“Hello.” Mark answered his phone.
He looked at the clock and it read 2:47 a.m. Then he heard Beth’s cracked voice, he opened his eyes wide realizing something was wrong. She told him what had happened, and Mark’s first thought was, “I’m going to kill the fucking bastard.”
“I’m outside your place. Can I come in?” Beth asked.
For once in her life, she was feeling unsure of herself. She tried and tried to pray but her feeling of God had left her. She felt alone, betrayed, and all out distraught.
“I’m coming out to you.” Mark said as he dropped the phone and ran outside to his love.
Beth sat there, unable to cry anymore. She saw Mark come out of his house. She opened the door and embraced him. She needed him now more than ever before. They whispered sweet things to each other. Mark calmed down, but he still wanted to tear Davis apart, but he knew she needed him more, right now.
“Mark, can I still go with you?” Beth asked with her big eyes opened up to him.
“I already bought you a ticket.” Mark replied. Everything else didn’t matter. He finally was starting to feel free.
Angie and Danny laid there staring at the ceiling. They both told of their adventures from the last week and chuckled together about how things have gotten rather strange. They discussed what the next story was going to be. They loved the new life that they had made for themselves. The phone rang. Danny picked it up; thinking the only person who calls him at three in the morning had to be Burt.
“Hello.” Danny answered.
“What’s up, Bro.” Davis slobbered out.
“Davis!” Danny said a little confused.
“Yeah, hey, my wife left me. What do you say we go get drunk?” Davis asked.
“Sounds like you already are. Why did she leave?” Danny asked.
“Disagreement, mostly her.” Davis explained.
“Oh, of course. Well, I think you need some sleep. Call me tomorrow.” Danny said.
“Yeah, you’re right. Tomorrow. Later.” Davis said.
“Oh, by the way, I think we need to go to an A.A. meeting together.” Danny said.
“Funny man, Steve.” Davis said as he hung up the phone.
Danny rolled over and kissed Angie good night. Tomorrow was definitely turning into an eventful day. Danny knew Burt would be all over him to write a follow-up story on his little retreat to rehab. He was ready. Or so he thought.
Davis opened his eyes. It was the same old story, pounding headache, dry eyes, and a parched throat, all those annoying traits of a hangover. He planted his feet on the floor. He put his head into his hands and tried to remember last night. How hard it had become to feel human. He looked up in dismay. A ton of bricks fell from the heavens. He opened his eyes really wide.
“Oh my God!” Davis whispered to himself.
The word God stung his tongue. He had avoided that word for such a long time. He didn’t have time to feel like something else controlled his life. He had no patience for something like that. He wanted what he wanted, and he wanted it now. His thoughts raced in his head. For the first time in his life he had felt ashamed about his actions. He raped his wife. He sat there thinking for hours. Or so it seemed. The ringing of a phone slowly became his focus.
“Hello.” Davis answered.
“Hey Davis, did you sleep it off?” Danny asked.
“Ha, ha.” Davis snickered back, not enjoying Danny’s sarcasm during such a dire situation.
“Well, we going?’ Danny asked.
“Where?” Davis asked.
“To a meeting.” Danny said.
“Look, Steve, I’m not really feeling up to it. I have a lot to think about right now.” Davis answered.
“All the more reason to go.” Danny quickly answered back.
“What time?” Davis asked. He just wanted to get off the phone. This feeling of guilt and shame ate away at him, and he wanted to stew in his misery some more.
“12:30 big book in Elk Grove. I’ll be there to get you at 11:30. That gives you an hour and a half to get ready. I don’t want to go but since Beth left you, I think it’s for the best.” Danny explained.
“How do you know Beth left?” Davis asked. He was a little suspicious, not remembering his little late night call.
“You called me last night and asked me to go out drinking with you. I said no.” Danny explained.
“Do you know why?” Davis asked, a little hesitantly.
“No, but you can tell me all about it when I get there.” Danny said.
“Fine.” Davis finally gave up and gave in.
“Cool. 11:30, later.” Danny hung up.
Davis hung the phone up and went back to his deep meditation of misery and sorrow. “What the hell.” He thought. If it would take his mind off of his life, then it would be worth it. He was out of control.
“I’m so sorry, Beth.” Davis whispered into the empty bedroom of fixed shadows and spirits of those long since passed. He didn’t notice the chair in the corner; it was occupied by an uninvited guest. God watched over him, but sat there with idle hands.
“Hello.” Angie answered her ringing cell phone.
“Angie, its Beth.”
“Hey, girlfriend.” Angie said.
“How’s it going?” Beth asked in a cracked voice.
“Not bad. And you?” Angie asked.
“Not good.” Beth almost started crying, having to relive the bad memory over and over.
“What’s wrong?” Angie asked.
“I wasn’t going to call, but you were something of a divine intervention as of late. Davis ….” Beth choked out, not able to contain her tears anymore.
“What happened? Tell me.” Angie forced out, even though she could hear the hurt and fear in Beth’s voice.
“It doesn’t matter. He’s not the man I married. He’s a monster on that alcohol. Anyway, I am leaving for a while. I just wanted to call and say thanks.” Beth finished strongly, as the anger and hurt propelled her into control.
“Where? With who? What the hell happened? I’m so lost. I had a great time with Steven. He and I hit it off. He even is going over to pick up Davis right now to go to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. I understand if you can’t tell me, but it sounds like you thought this through.” Angie stated.
“I have. It’s best I get away from Davis. But I will drop you a line when I get settled where I am going.” Beth sounded sincere.
“Alright, well you be careful, girl. I am very honored that you would call at all. Take care of yourself. And you had better call me when you get wherever it is, you’re going.” Angie finished.
“Count on it. Love ya, and thanks. Good luck with Steven. Don’t sell yourself short. I have done it for too long, so I speak from experience that it’s a bad idea. Good-bye.” Beth said as she hung up the phone.
Angie and Beth both sat in different worlds, each holding their closed cell-phones. They were both stunned. Angie, because of the news she had just heard, and Beth, because of the unexpected turn of events that had begun to change her life. Minutes passed by for eternity. Their God’s standing in the shadows.
The door bell rang, bringing Davis out of his daze. He dragged his broken soul to the door. When he opened the door, there stood a shining glimpse of hope in Danny’s face, that Davis once held himself.
“You look like shit!” Danny said.
“I feel like it too.” Davis grumbled.
“Well, you ready?” Danny asked as he slipped past Davis.
“No, I don’t feel like going.” Davis said.
“So, start doing the things you don’t like.” Danny said.
“Look, what is a meeting really going to do for me?” Davis asked.
“I don’t know. You’re just going to have to go and find out for yourself.” Danny said.
“Fine. Give me ten minutes. Make yourself at home.” Davis said.
Danny made himself comfortable and Davis went upstairs to get ready. Danny flipped through the channels on the television. He hit the news station and there on the local, 12:00 news, was his latest story on Davis. Danny felt really proud of himself. Here he was sitting in the living room of a man who had become a gold mine for him.
Davis got dressed with no real motivation to do anything. He figured he would humor Danny and be able to get home as quick as possible. He stumbled downstairs and Danny got up and shut off the television.
“Alright Steve. Let’s get this over with.” Davis said.
“Alright. Try to act somewhat enthused.” Danny asked.
“Let’s just go.” Davis muttered.
“Aren’t you going to pack?” Beth asked.
“No, we’re starting fresh. Both of us. Whatever we need, we will buy when we get to Mexico. I figure we’re both going there empty. So why not do everything together, from the beginning.” Mark replied.
“Whatever!” Beth said. She turned and left the room. She wandered outside and sat on the balcony. There she had found herself spending most of her time. She still didn’t know or understand what had happened. She still wanted to believe that it was the alcohol and not Davis that had done this to her. She no longer felt God’s presence. Prayer was the last thing on her mind. The only thing she had left that she could actually feel was hers was her thoughts. She had lost love, feeling, and freedom. Prison was a place she never ever saw herself, but she had slammed the cell door shut on herself with her own mind. And she didn’t even care. She couldn’t wait for Monday. Thirty six more hours until that plane took off from this cursed place she had been forced to call home for the last eighteen months.
“You going to call him?” Danny asked.
“Steve, Do you really think it’s gonna bring her back?” Davis asked.
“Who cares? You got problems you need to fix and until you do, she will never come back. Look, they say we need to get sponsors. Sam gave you his number. Is it going to hurt you to call him and see what he says?” Danny asked.
“I’ll call. I do feel better. The meeting was cool. I didn’t want to go at first, but after listening to everyone and talking afterward, I actually felt like I belonged. I never felt like this before. I mean I am the kind of guy who could only rely on me.” Davis said with his head hung down in shame.
“Yeah, I know what you mean.” Danny answered back.
They drove on in silence after that. Danny dropped Davis off and headed home. He missed Angie. Plus, it was really depressing to be around a guy who had no real desire to even breathe another breath.
“Thanks, Steve.” Davis said as he climbed out of the car and slammed the door.
Danny tried to say something but the slamming door caught his words up in the noise. Danny shook his head and took off to be around a more positive person. Some good sex is what he needed. Or so he thought.
Davis walked inside to go to bed. There he was going to lie for the next two days, praying for the phone to ring. It never would.
“Hello.” Angie answered the phone.
“Sorry Angie, its Beth.
“Hey girlfriend, I thought you were leaving?” Angie asked.
“I am. My plane leaves in a couple of hours. That’s why I’m calling. I was hoping you could see me off.” Beth politely asked.
“Sure. I would be glad too. I am kind of flattered that you would call me.” Angie said.
“Plus, I need you to deliver a letter to Davis for me.” Beth threw that in. She didn’t want Angie to think that was her reason for calling.
