Chapter 73: Visitor
*Toxic families are allergic to the truth so much so that they would rather support an obvious lie or protect an overtly bad person over supporting the scapegoat. – Dr. Sherrie Campbell*
Jolene was in the physical therapy room, her guards sat in the corner trying to blend into the background. Physical therapy was mild, small movements just to keep her muscles from atrophying. However, at the end of the session, she was always exhausted.
Moving stiff muscles to recover from trauma was difficult. Being reminded of the trauma made it worse. Add in the fact that this happened at the hands of a man who she thought loved her, and it became even harder.
And today was her first anniversary.
This morning she made her first entry into her journal that Jolene had given her. It was a short entry with only a few sentences.
*A year ago today, I married my husband, my world, the man that I loved. He became my abuser, my hell and the man that I now hate.*
After that short entry, she stared at the page through her tears and couldn’t write any more. There was nothing left to say. Nothing else that needed to be said. She hated him for what he did to her. She hated herself for not leaving after the first incident. She had always said that she would never be one of those women who let a man mistreat her.
And yet here she was.
“I think that we’re good for today.” Emelia said and Jolene realized that she was not doing the exercises.
“I’m sorry.” She smiled at the woman in the black scrubs with pink trim and pockets.
“It’s okay. It’s more than just the body that’s healing.” The therapist said gently. “I’m going to go get you some things to play with in your room. I’ll be right back.”
Nichols looked over and watched the woman leave. A moment later another woman entered the room and walked over to Jolene. Nudging Childs, he pulled out his laminated card that listed the departments and scrub colors.
Occupational therapy – black with pink trim and pockets
Physical therapy – black with blue trim and pockets
Speech therapy – black with white trim and pockets
Behavior therapy – black with orange trim and pockets
Animal therapy – black with green trim and pockets
Nothing was listed with only black. Childs looked at the card in Nichols’s hand and shook his head.
“Get closer. I’m calling Neo.” Childs said quietly as he pulled out his phone. Nichols nodded and stepped closer as the woman reached the table.
“Jolene?” Amber Fargo said as she sat down across from her.
Jolene’s eyes widened at the surprise of seeing her mother-in-law. “What… what do you want?”
“You need to patch things up with Hank.” She said as Nichols sat down at the table. “He misses you.”
Jolene and Nichols both looked at her in absolute shock.
“He put me here.” Jolene said angrily.
“It was a mistake. He feels horrible about it. If you could just give him another chance-“
“Another chance?” Jolene hissed. “For what? To finish the job? To beat me some more?”
“He’s lost his job because of you!” Amber declared.
“He lost his job because the department finally saw what kind of an abusive asshole he is.” Jolene told her.
“He’s right. You are an ungrateful bitch.”
“Get out!” Jolene demanded and Nichols stood up.
“I’m not-“
“Get the fuck out.” Nichols ordered.
“You can’t talk to me like that.”
“Sure as hell can, get the fuck out.” He ordered.
With a huff, she stood up and walked out.
“You okay, Miss Jolene?” Nichols asked.
She nodded as she started to cry. Childs walked over and quietly told the other man that Neo was on his way. They were to keep her there until he arrived. His phone chirped and he looked at the screen.
“Miss Jolene,” Childs said with a smirk, “Reese and Ty are both on their way.”
She nodded again and Nichols began to gently rub her back.
“What happened?” Emelia asked as she came back into the room.
“She had an unwelcome visitor.” Nichols explained.
“I’ll get her some water.” Emelia sad setting the small box of wooden puzzles on the table before she walked out.
Slowly Jolene began to calm down and accepted the water bottle that the therapist brought back in. Childs nudged the chair that Nichols sat in, and he looked up to see Amber walking back to the therapy room with a hospital security officer.
“Him!” Amanda said walking in and pointing at Nichols. “I want him fired.”
“I already told you, get the fuck out.” Nichols replied as he once again stood up and looked down at the woman.
“I’m sorry, ma’am.” The hospital guard said. “He doesn’t work for us. He’s private security for a patient.”
Jolene had started to cry and hyperventilate as fears and memories assaulted her.
“Ma’am,” Childs said, trying to calm the situation. “Miss Jolene has asked that you leave, you need to leave.”
“Get. The. Fuck. Out.” Nichols reiterated. He didn’t care about the tension in the room. He heard what she had said and thought that he was being nice.
“I want to speak to your supervisor.” Amber demanded of Nichols.
“That’s me.” Childs responded. “We’ve already asked you to leave.”
*“That* is my daughter-in-law! You have no right to keep me from seeing her!”
“First, she has a name. Second, she asked you to leave. Third, *your son* put her here. So, like my colleague said, get the fuck out.”
“Who is your boss?” she demanded.
“I am.” Neo said from behind her. At the sound of his handcuffs, she turned to look at him. “Our client has asked you to leave, and my employees have asked you to leave. We can do it one of two ways. You can get the fuck out. Or I can put you in cuffs and wait for the cops to arrive.”
Smiling, she sat down. “I’ll wait.”
“Your choice.” He said as he forced her to her feet and placed a cuff on one of her wrists. Pulling it behind her, he grabbed the other wrist and locked the cuff on.
Ty rushed into the room and over to Jolene. Kneeling beside her wheelchair, he hugged her. “I’m here, do you want me to call Jaxon or Helen?” She shook her head as she gripped the back of his shirt in her good hand.
Reese walked in a moment later followed by two deputies. He walked over and kissed the top of er head, murmuring that it would be okay.
“What are you arresting me for?” Amber demanded.
“Trespassing.” Tru said as the other deputy swapped the cuffs and read her the Miranda rights. “You were asked to leave.”
“This is not fair!” Amber wailed.
“How fair is it for your son to nearly kill his wife?” Tru demanded.
“If she would have just done what he said, it wouldn’t have been this bad. All she had to do was do what he said.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Reese growled.
“Reese.” Neo warned.
“Take her down and book her.” Tru told her rookie. He nodded and started walking his prisoner out. “Call if you need me.”
Reese nodded. Neo ordered his men to get statements from the employees that were in the room and file their report on their tablets. After checking that she was done, he unlocked the chair.
“I’ll see you all in her room in a few.” With that, he rolled her out of the room and into the elevator. He took her to the staff balcony break area and locked the chair.
Carefully, Neo scooped her up out of her chair and sat down in one of the lounge chairs.
“I’ve got you, pet. You’re safe.” He sat there offering an occasional word of comfort until she cried herself to sleep.
The next time she opened her eyes, Jolene was back in her room and the next shift of guards were on duty.
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