Not Broken: The Happily Ever After(52)

“Well, that’s not all that uncommon considering what she went through. This is just an educated guess, but I would say Calida most likely has an acute case of PTSD.”

Shit! I really missed, rather ignored, all the things that should have been blatantly obvious. I pressed my fingers to my temple and massaged the throbbing ache. At the same time, Dad never brought this possibility up before when we’d talked. He’d probably been under the same impression I’d been; that she was still recovering, but doing okay since she was in therapy.

I lowered my head as the vivid recollection came back to me. I’d never been so scared or lost as I was watching her fall apart because of something I’d said. It was a surreal moment and one I’d unfortunately repeated a week later.

“I triggered two of them.” I shamefully admitted. “At least that I know of, because they happened in front of me.”

Mom walked around the island, coming to stand beside me, and started rubbing my back. “Sweetie, I’m sure it wasn’t you directly.”

“Oh, no, it was. Both times we were having a disagreement about us. She said some things, I said some things...needless to say, it wasn’t pretty.”

“Is that why you had a late night? Dealing with one of her attacks?”

I took another sip of my drink as I contemplated how much to tell them. Guilt had already started to creep in from letting them know about the panic attacks she’d been hiding.

“Yeah, something like that.”

I leaned against the island. Mom covered my hand with hers. “Honey, what happened?”

Looking from her to dad, I let out a breath. “Stress relief.”





Chapter 29


Calida





Shawn chewed on his toy car, continuously trying to share it with me. We sat on the front steps watching the Wrecker go about his task. The loud pop of the tow truck crank made us both jump. With a low rumble, it came to life, slowly pulling one of Seth’s destroyed cars onto its bed. The jolt made the one sideview mirror that was barely hanging on fall to the ground.

I picked up my coffee mug, turning my head to keep it out of Shawn’s reach, before taking a sip. He started fussing, trying to get ahold of the mug.

“Sorry, buddy, the caffeine will stunt your growth.”

I handed him his juice filled sippy cup, which he eagerly took. He leaned back against me, happily kicking his feet as he drank the watered down OJ. I ran my fingers through his dark, silky hair, moving the longer strands out of his face.

“Think it’s time for a haircut.” My hand went to my own hair. My bangs had grown out, the sides now hung mid-ear, and I found myself annoyed at having to constantly smooth it back. It was in a shabby state these days. “For us both, I think.”

Dorian pulled into the driveway just as the Wrecker put the chains on the F150 to pull it.

She got out of her car, and watched as the guy completed his work. “What the hell happened?”

“All set, Ms. Jokobi. I jus’ need ya to sign here. How’ll ya be payin’ today?”

I stood, and readjusted Shawn in my arms before taking the small, dirty clipboard he held out to me. My signature was a mess since Shawn insisted on trying to grab the pen.

Reaching into my back pocket, I pulled out my credit card. “You take American Express?”

“Yep.” The guy processed my payment then handed me back the card. Whistling through his teeth, he looked back at the three vehicles. “I sure bet he’s sorry for whatever he done.”

“You did that?” Dorian asked. The look on her face was a strange combination of shock and awe.

“They’ll be crushed, right?” I asked.

“Yes ‘em, that’s what the order says. Should be done by tomorrow, ‘less ya want us to hold off.”

“No, tomorrow is perfect. Thank you.” I turned to Dorian. “You can park in the garage now.” I picked up my coffee cup, and headed into the house.

“Jesus, Calida, you could have just parked one outside, not take a bat to them. And you’re having them crushed? Do you know how much that Jag cost?”

“A hammer.”

“What?”

“I took a hammer to them.”

I put Shawn down in the living room, and took a seat on the floor, ready to play with him. He walked over to Dorian, demanding to be picked up. She sat on the sofa then pulled him into her lap. He twisted trying to shove his empty cup in her mouth. I crawled over, taking it from him, which sent him into a mini tantrum. That was Dorian’s cue to hand him back over to me; she never liked to deal with him when he cried.

“So, are you going to tell me what happened? I’m gone for two days and you’ve pulled the angry girlfriend stunt.”

I shrugged, keeping my focus on trying to pacify Shawn. I drove one of his toy cars around the carpet while he was laid out on the floor continuing to cry, but watching me at the same time. Eventually, he rolled to his stomach, and crawled over to me to take the car. He climbed into my lap and started driving the car around as I had.

“Calida?”

“What, Dorian?”

She looked at me, expecting some explanation, but I had none to give. “How was your trip?”

She frowned. I turned my attention back to Shawn, who was now pulling out all of his toys.