“Your son’s a great worker. G & J Renovations is lucky to have him. He learns quickly.”
“Thanks, we’re proud of him,” he said.
“You should be.”
When they pulled into her driveway and he hopped into Travis’ truck, Ashley wondered how she would deal with Perry.
“Perry, I’m home,” she yelled as she opened the front door.
Tootsie barked her usual welcome, and Perry showed up in full makeup and clothing.
“You two were gone a long time,” he challenged.
She wanted to slap him. “You broke his leg, and he needed five stitches on his forehead, you asshole!”
“I did no such thing! You’re crazy. You told me to stay out of sight. I did. You’re crazy!”
“Is that what you told Priscilla every time you pulled some jealous thing on her?”
“Leave Priscilla out of this. She’s dead and gone. We’re here. I love you, Ashley. I thought you loved me too. But you go out dancing with other men. You bring that man here. He’s not your brother or your business partner. He’s a date, a possible lover. I love you. I’d have sex with you every night and all day long if that’s what you wanted. You don’t need anyone but me.”
“You are dead, Perry. I can’t have a real relationship with you. You and I can’t be married, can’t have children, and can’t be a couple in the normal sense. You need to realize that and move on. And you can’t hurt people who come to visit me. Promise me you’ll never hurt anyone who comes here again. Please.”
“I don’t make promises I can’t keep.”
She gasped. A cold chill ran down Ashley’s entire body. What the hell had she gotten into? And more importantly, how the hell could she get out?
“I can’t speak to you right now. I need to be alone.”
“Ashley, wait.”
“No.” Then she turned to Tootsie and said, “Come on, girl, time to go out,” and she took the dog outside for a long run. When they were both tired, they returned, and Perry wasn’t in sight.
Back in her room, the dog and Ashley sat up in the bed with Priscilla’s journal. Page after page recounted stories of getting the house in order. Learning new recipes to please Perry, sharing stories with friends at her book club for women at the Nashua Public Library, and knitting booties for the Presbyterian Church Ladies Guild Winter Fair to raise money for new robes for the church choir. She seemed so happy.
January 8, 1918
Dear Journal,
Perry surprised me for my birthday with a Singer sewing machine. It was such a generous and wonderful surprise! I’ll make curtains, quilts, baby clothes whenever we have them, so many things. Oh, it was the best day ever! He loves me, despite how dark he gets sometimes. The pressures of his job make it so hard for him. I understand and do all I can to help him.
Priscilla
Then Ashley read:
January 24, 1918
Dear Journal,
I’ve cried for hours today. Perry says I can no longer belong to the Church Guild or to my Book Club at the library. He says the ladies there are filling me with the wrong ideas about what being a good wife means and that I’m spending so much time with them that my housekeeping is slipping.
I really don’t think my housekeeping is slipping and told him so, but when I argued with him, he slapped me across the face. I was so shocked. Perry has never done such a thing before. Of course, he apologized immediately. He said things had been difficult at work and that’s why he lost his temper at me. Of course, I forgave him immediately. Men do have so many responsibilities. I do understand that.
But I will so much miss my friendships.
Priscilla
“That bastard,” Ashley said. She put a bookmark in her place in the journal and locked it up with her gun.
That night when Perry came to her in a dream, she slashed at him and pushed him away as though she was being raped. She would not let him have the satisfaction of pleasuring her, and she refused to be satisfied by a man who thought he could manipulate a woman as he had done Priscilla and one who would hurt Travis as he had done.
On her way to work that day, she remembered Travis’ slip in the shower. Had that been Perry too? Very likely.
Chapter Twenty-four
She had the unhappy duty of telling everyone at work that Travis would be gone for several weeks.
“That means we’ll all have to pick up the slack left by his absence. And, he’ll likely be stir crazy, so if any of you have time, I’m sure he’d appreciate a visit once in a while.”
“We’ll handle it.” “Sure, boss.” “We’ve got this.” Positive vibes came from all around the crew. But Ashley couldn’t shake the feeling that it was all her fault for bringing Travis into her home with Perry there waiting to pounce on him. He, apparently, was a jealous, controlling person. Not the sweet, loving man he made himself out to be when she first released his plaster-covered specter from the wall of her home.
“And remember, I am looking for new crew members, not to replace Travis. His job is guaranteed when he’s able to return, and not to replace any of you, but to grow the company. So, if you know of any responsible, dependable, trained workers, or people who can be easily trained, please let me know.”
They nodded their agreement. Kia arrived two hours late to work that morning, which had never happened before. She apologized and explained that she and her current boyfriend were fighting and she had spent the morning at the Nashua Police Department getting a restraining order against him. Kia’s pixie, red haircut did nothing to hide the gash across her forehead and her bruised eye. She wore long sleeves, but once they talked about her situation, Kia showed Ashley the bruises Ken had made by grabbing her arms during their fighting.
“It’s been going on for a while. Whenever he drinks too much, he gets out of control and takes all his troubles out on me. But it has never been this bad. I was really afraid. So, I’m not going back. That’s why I went to the cops for the restraining order. So he can’t come near me again.”
“Kia, I’m so sorry this happened. Is there anything I can do?”
“I’d like to show his picture to all the guys and if he shows up on site, ask any one of them not to approach him, but to dial 911 and have the police deal with him. Is that okay?”
“Yes, sure. We can’t have the crew fighting with him. Not good for them or you or the customers or company. But if everyone knows who we’re looking for, we can get the police involved right away. Good thinking.”
“Thanks, I’ll tell the guys,” Kia said, and she started walking away.
“Wait, where are you going to stay?”
“The three women’s shelters are full right now, but I’m on a waiting list. Moms with kids get first dibs. I’ll find someplace. Not to worry.”
“Come stay with me,” Ashley said, forgetting that she had a crazy apparition at her place.
Kia smiled and Ashley saw that he’d knocked out one of her teeth. “It will only be for two or three days. They say spaces open up fast as people get placements in more permanent housing. Thanks so much.”
“You’re welcome, now tell the guys, then let’s get some work done, okay?”