The You I've Never Known(79)

He Left Me Behind


Just like I always worried

he would when I was little.

Now, at least, I’m old enough

to take care of myself. Maybe.

Gabe returns, tosses my stuff

onto the backseat. All but my phone.

That, he hands to me. You can call the cops on the way to town.

My head begins a slow right—

left motion. “Can’t call the cops.”

Run into the alfalfa fields. Hide.

No police ever. Programming.

But Gabe’s having none of it.

Why not? You can’t let that bastard get away with this, Ariel. Who knows what he might do next?

He’s right. I’m wrong. As usual.

“But he’s still my dad, Gabe.

If I call the cops and they catch him, he’ll probably go to jail.”

Which is exactly where he belongs.

Look, either you call 9-1-1 or I will.





He Starts the Car


But waits for me to dial, and I realize he’s totally serious about me doing this, so I comply.

“Hello? I’ve been in an accident.”

The cop on duty asks

if I’m injured, and do I require an ambulance, but when I tell him I’m mostly okay, he informs me that

this isn’t really an emergency.

“What if I told you someone purposely cut me off?”

He inquires if anyone else saw what happened,

and when I say no,

he invites me to come in and file a police report, but without witnesses

it’s my word

versus the other guy’s.

Now he asks a series

of questions designed, I think, to shift the blame onto my shoulders.

He sounds like he thinks I’m making it all up.

Have you been drinking tonight?

“Nope.”

Are you sure another car was involved?

“Positive.”

Could this be a domestic dispute?

“In a manner of speaking.”

Were you fighting with your boyfriend?

“I don’t have a boyfriend.”

But you know the other driver?

“Yes.”

Okay, who was it then?

Damn. Mistake. Can’t say.

Hello? Are you still there?

“Uh-huh.”

So, who cut you off?

“Never mind.”





I Hang Up


Gabe shoots me

a what just happened?

kind of look.

I shrug.

“He said I need a witness.”

It strikes me I might have an unreliable one, if I actually want one, not that Garrett would be likely to testify even if he did see Dad rocket by.

“Can we just go now, please?”

They really won’t do something about this?

“Apparently not.

But I don’t really care.

The last thing I want right now is to confront Dad, with or without the police involved.”

As Gabe eases the GTO

onto the highway, I realize how true that is. And . . .

I’m crying. Damn.

“I can’t believe any of this.”





Gabe Reaches Across


The console, takes my hand.

I’m grateful for his touch. Remember suddenly his touch is no longer mine.

I knew your dad was irrational.

The look in his eyes when he went after your mother . . .

And just now, when I saw your face, I realized he was abusive.

I can’t believe I didn’t see it before.

“Abusive?” Does running

me off the road count

as abuse? “What do you mean?”

I mean, I don’t think that mark on your cheek came from your steering wheel. It looks like a fresh handprint.

Beneath both forming bruises, my face ignites embarrassment.

“It’s nothing. He was upset.”

Upset? You’re kidding, right?

You can’t possibly be defending him.

Ariel, that man is dangerous.

It’s true. He is. Maybe even

psychopathic. But then again, “You’re dangerous, too.”





That Stops Him Cold


He doesn’t say anything for a long

few seconds. Finally, he nods.

I see how you might think so.

I knew last night bothered you.

Here’s the thing. I absolutely

have the ability to hurt someone.

But other than sanctioned Golden

Gloves matches, I’ve never gone

looking for a fight. I will defend

myself if I must, or someone who

can’t defend themselves if they’re

in trouble. But I would never, not ever in my lifetime, strike a woman unless she was out for my blood,

and capable of drawing it. And

hitting my own child? Impossible.

“Lots of parents hit their kids,

Gabe.” Still sticking up for Dad?

That doesn’t make it right. Don’t

ever believe abuse is okay. It’s not.





Abuse?


I’m not abused.

Am I?