The Anniversary

Her baby had been hurt. She couldn’t comprehend why anyone would do that at all. Discomfort and anger stirred in her gut.

“A classmate was at the ER with him. She said it was over her. The guy who attacked Carl is her ex-boyfriend and Carl likes her.” Toby’s mouth twisted. “Carl didn’t want the police involved.”

“He what?” Simone stared at her husband. “But he was assaulted. They need to be involved.”

“He doesn’t want them involved.” Toby raised a hand as Simone started to protest. “Before you harp on at me, love, Carl is seventeen so he is classified as an adult. If he doesn’t want to press charges then he doesn’t have to.”

Simone floundered. She didn’t agree with the state putting the age of majority at sixteen. Sixteen-year-olds couldn’t make mature, informed decisions for themselves. She certainly couldn’t when she was sixteen. This didn’t settle well with her.

Toby saw her agitation and his expression softened. He went to her and slipped his arms around her. Simone leaned her head on his chest and closed her eyes, telling herself to breathe as calmly as she could.

“I know you don’t like this, honey.” Toby rubbed her back. “I know you’re worried about Carl. Hell, I’m scared for him. But I think he’s concerned that the cops won’t arrest the guy and if they did he would be released to give him more aggravation. Either way he’s losing the battle.”

Simone didn’t like this. She wanted to drag Carl down to the police station and give a statement. But Toby was right. They couldn’t do anything now, Carl was classed as an adult. She would just have to grit her teeth and step back.

“I’ll comply with his wishes.” She said, raising her head. “But only for now. No one hits my kids and walks away.”

“I know. I’m thinking the same.” Toby pressed a kiss to her forehead. “We’ll see how Carl thinks in a few days.”

He was right. In a few days Carl would be thinking more clearly and decide that he was acting irrationally. At least Simone hoped so.

She gave Toby a quick hug before stepping back.

“How did it go with Mike?”

“Not good.” Toby rubbed the back of his neck with a sigh. “The food was fine as usual and he seemed cordial enough. But then he started making jabs at you, saying all black women cheated.”

Simone rolled her eyes.

“He’s doing that again?”

Every couple of years Mike would drop the same hint again that Simone was a gold-digger and was simply after Toby’s money. He seemed to forget that Simone married Toby before he made his billions and tried to put doubts into Toby’s mind that Simone was going to drain him dry. Toby was always wise to it but he did come home mentally worn out afterwards. It was getting incredibly old.

“I know. I had to walk out when he started insulting the children.” Toby rubbed her shoulder. “Luckily Carl called me to come and get him so I had an escape but I was ready to punch him.”

“I wish you had.” Simone glanced at the clock and realized she was going to be late. “Shoot, I’d better get moving. Nick will be furious if I’m late.”

“Are we still watching Criminal Minds later?”

Simone grinned.

“Absolutely.” She retrieved her handbag and slung the strap over her shoulder, slipping her feet into her pumps. “Put it on record just in case we’re late. We’ll get the pizzas on the way back.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Toby gave her peck on the lips. “Have fun.”

“Will do.”

Simone hurried out the house and jumped into her car, tossing her purse into the passenger seat before backing the car down the drive.

She was in such a hurry that she didn’t realize until she was nearly at the school that Simone realized she had forgotten her cell phone.