The Other Side

She looked up at Mark, who was watching her expectantly. He had stayed. He had stayed at her side and from the dark circles under his eyes and the paleness of his skin, he hadn’t used that time to sleep. They had barely slept the night before with their lovemaking and he hadn’t made the most of sleeping while she was unconscious.

“Will you stay?”

Mark glanced again at the clock.

“Visiting hours are nearly over so they’ll be asking me to leave shortly. But Atalya is coming to sit with you tonight. She’s not being discharged until the morning. Then I’ll be back first thing.” Mark smiled and leaned his forehead against hers. “We won’t leave you alone.”

Charli let out a shuddering sigh. She didn’t want to be alone right now.

“Thank you.”

*****

“How do you feel about going home?” Atalya asked.

Charli sighed and shifted in the wheelchair as she was wheeled into the lobby.

“Relieved. It’ll be nice to sleep in my own bed.” She glanced up at the nurse who had taken her down. “No offense. You girls were lovely.”

“None taken, dearie.” The middle-aged Hispanic woman gave her a smile and patted her good shoulder. “We’re just glad you’re going home.”

“So am I.”

“Their beds were quite comfy, I thought.” Atalya added.

“They are when you’re not pregnant.”

The nurse laughed and bid them farewell. As she walked away Atalya took control of the wheelchair and wheeled Charli towards the door. Charli thought about protesting but decided against it. Atalya had been shot in the arm but it had only been a flesh wound. She brushed off scolding from the nurses and concern from her daughter, saying that she was okay and didn’t need to be fussed over.

Charli knew better than to argue with her mother.

“Once Mark picks us up, you can go home and put your feet up.”

Charli rubbed at her eyes. She was still exhausted.

“I just want a week of sleep.”

“Make the most of it.” Atalya chuckled. “You won’t get a chance once the baby’s born.”

Charli had been told that far too many times to count. One thing you lost as a mother was a good night’s sleep. A friend who had three kids said she didn’t get a night where one or all of the kids didn’t get up until the youngest was four. Charli wasn’t looking forward to that.

The lobby doors opened and Charli heard someone calling her name. Thinking it was Mark, Charli looked up with a smile at the ready. But then her smile faded when she saw Andy enter the lobby and move in her direction. She shifted in her chair, wishing that she could run away but her legs were feeling like Jell-O.

Atalya stiffened when she saw Andy. She came around the wheelchair and stood between Andy and Charli, facing Andy down with a harsh glare.

“Take a step back, Andy. The restraining order came into effect yesterday and you’re violating it.”

“I just want to talk to Charli.” Andy protested.

“You’re not supposed to be talking to her or coming this close to Charli.”

“I’m sorry, Mrs Fraser, but I just want to have a word with your daughter.”

Something about him wasn’t right. He was swaying a little on his feet, his clothes looked like he had slept in them and his eyes were glazed over. Charli gripped the arms of her wheelchair. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. She was sure Andy, a man who made a pointed stand against drugs, was high.

“I’m calling the police.” Atalya reached into her bag.

“Wait a moment, Mom.” Charli gently moved her mother out the way and glared up at Andy. “Andy, get out of here before you cause more trouble.”

“Not until you listen to me.” Andy sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. “I wanted to see how you were but they wouldn’t let me in. Said I wasn’t family.”

“You’re not.”

Charli was glad he hadn’t been let in. The thought of him being anywhere near her while she was unable to defend herself terrified her.

“Don’t talk to him, sweetie.” Atalya warned her.

But Andy was talking to Charli and ignoring Atalya.

“I want us to start again. Start fresh. As if the last ten years never happened.” Andy put both hands to his chest in a dramatic gesture. “I want to have a future with you, Charli. I love you.”

None of that sounded heartfelt. Charli knew that now. She had never thought she’d be a victim of domestic violence and stalking but she was. Andy would always be an abuser now, he had attacked her and he would be labeled a stalker.

He had had a bright future in front of him. He could have won so many grand slams and be considered one of the greatest. But somehow since leaving him, Charli had noticed Andy’s deterioration, how his tennis was still top notch but his personal life was going down the drain. Something had slipped and Andy was on the downward spiral.

Even if she did believe him, Charli wasn’t going to join him.

“You won’t be going anywhere near my daughter once the cops get a hold of you.” Atalya snapped. She still had her cell phone in her hand.

“Stay out of this, please, Mrs Fraser.” Andy frowned at Atalya. “I’ve always liked you. Don’t make me hate you.”

“She’s right, Andy.” Charli was itching to get out of the wheelchair and swing at Andy but she didn’t want to be the one walking out of there in handcuffs. She didn’t want to bust her stitches because of him. “I warned you to keep away and you didn’t. Didn’t you get the restraining order?”

“I did.” Andy shrugged. “Doesn’t mean anything.”

Charli stared at him. Had he really said that?

“What can Hildenstern give you that I can’t?” Andy’s voice started getting louder, making the other people in the lobby turn to watch them. “He’s older, crap at tennis and I bet he’s not that good in the sack. Me? I’m young, I’ve got vitality and I’ve got a co*k to die for.”