Sample Chapter

Chapter 15:  Vanessa

            “Vanessa, what's going on?”

            “Nothing, David.”

            “Nothing?  Oh really?”

            “Yes, really.”

            “Then tell me why Officer Stanton called me, questioning me about vandalism to a Chevy Corvette?”

            The night a brick was thrown through my windshield, I thought about everything Officer Stanton asked me.  Do I have any enemies?  No.  I'm not married and I'm not dating a married man.  But it is evident that the vandalism to my vehicle had to be personal.  That is when David clicked in my mind.  The reason why we are not together today is because he was insecure and physically abusive.  I came to the conclusion that maybe David is jealous of the fact that I don't want to be with him.  So I did what any person with common sense would do.  I found the business card I was given and called Officer Stanton.

            I take a deep breath and say, 

            “After doing some thinking and analyzing, I believe you are the one who's been calling my phone and hanging up.”

            “Excuse you?”

            “And I also believe that you are the one who vandalized my car.”

            “Wait a second, Vanessa!”

            “Don't yell at me, David.”

            David sighs and says,

            “I don't believe this shit.  Vanessa, do you honestly believe that I have the time to sit around and play games on your phone?”

            “I don't know, you tell me.”

            “And for it even to cross your mind that I  would throw a brick through your window?”

            “Well hell, you used to beat me!”

            “I went to counseling!  I told you that I've changed.”

            “Obviously you haven't.”

            “These accusations are bogus and you know it, Vanessa.  I am a twenty nine year old grown ass man.  I have children at my camp that I have to worry about, rather than a woman I'm not even involved with.  And for you to even tell a police officer that you believe I had  something to do with your problems?  Get a clue.”

            “What else was I supposed to do?”

            “Talk to me before you go accusing me!”

            Right about now, I am fed up with this conversation. 

            “I'm hanging up, David.”

            Without saying goodbye, David slams the phone in my ear.  After I sit my cordless phone on its charger, I start pacing back and forth in my living room.  I don't want to believe that David is out to hurt me again, but I refuse to play the role of the naïve victim.  I mean, who else could have thrown a brick through my windshield?  Besides David, who else would have a motive?  Who else would be bold enough to step onto my property?  It is only one person I can think of and that is David.  Now that he is back to his crazy antics, I really need to be careful.  It's sad to know that the person who claims to love you can be the same person who is out to hurt you.  I need time to clear my head so I can think clearly and thoroughly.  I'm supposed to teach a class in two hours.  I am not in the right state of mind to deal with any of my students; therefore, I'm just going to cancel my classes for today.

****  

            Bryce flags me down as soon as I walk into the Grand Luxe Cafe.  He approaches me with a kiss on my cheek, and I follow him to our table.  Bryce is looking handsome, dressed in a pair of light denim jeans and a white suit jacket.  His blue and white tee shirt matches his tennis shoes perfectly.  And the Pacific ocean has nothing on his waves.  As soon as we sit down, our waiter comes to our table with two drinks.  The young Belizean waiter asks,

            “Are the two of you ready to order?”

            Bryce shakes his head and says,

            “In a few minutes, please.”

            “No problem.”  The waiter replies.  After he walks away, Bryce says,

            “Vanessa, what's going on?”

            I try to dodge the question by saying,

            “You got here fast.”

            “I came as soon as you called.”

            “And you remembered my strawberry margarita.  Thank you.”

            “Your welcome.”

            “Are you hungry?”

            “No.”

            “Oh.”

            “You sounded rattled over the phone.”

            “I've been stressed out.”

            “From what?”

            I stir my alcoholic beverage with its straw; I sigh and reply,

            “I believe that my ex is stalking me.”