Page 4 of Protecting Silver
“What’s that?” they all asked as they leaned in to listen.
“When I was around five or six, I was in a car accident. It wasn’t my parents’ fault, and they sued the other driver. You can’t see it, but on the top of my right thigh, I have a giant scar. My parents ended up getting a settlement that paid monthly dividends. It went to them until I was eighteen, and then it reverted to me. I wanted to leave Eddie, but didn’t have the money. Somehow the money I’d stashed either in the bottom of my sock drawer, or in the freezer always came up missing. I knew he’d found it and took it. Anyway, I had contacted one of those agencies that said if you have monthly payments, you could get all your money now. I called them from work, they researched it. I received that check two days before Eddie blew up at me, but it backfired on him.”
“How?”
“When I told him to make his own damn supper, he slapped me so hard I flew across the room. He’s a big guy, around six four, and back then he was pushing two seventy.”
“Damn.” The ladies stared at her in shock.
“Yeah, I’m only five three and barely weigh in at one twenty. Anyway, as soon as I sat up, the dog was before me. When Eddie approached, the dog growled at him. The dog actually took my side. He kept himself between us, and the only thing I saw was my purse lying on top of that clean basket of clothes, and I had left the letter, with the check in it, in my car. Eddie was screaming that if he couldn’t have me, no one else would have me. You know, the typical bullshit abusers spew when they don’t get their way.
“With the dog by my side, I walked up to him, and told him that if all men were like him, then I was going to start batting for the other side, because I never wanted another man in my life ever again, not if they were like him. I turned on my heel, he grabbed my hair, but the dog bit him, and then I picked up the clothes basket, my purse and walked out the door, but not before throwing the key to his apartment at him. I left everything except for what was in that basket. I went to my car, drove back to work, and was able to get to my desk before the building closed.”
“Why would you do that?” Lorna frowned at her.
“Because, I had money taped to the underside of the center drawer. The only place in my life Eddie wasn’t allowed, though he tried to throw his weight around to get in to see me. I told security at the front desk not to let him in. It was a very, very secure building.”
“Oh, snap, then what?” Ronnie asked in fascination at the tale.
“I had almost a thousand dollars in that hiding place. My boss was there, and she saw my bruised face. I told her everything, and then told her I had to leave, that I couldn’t stay there. She understood. I filled my car with gas, and hit the road, but I only went to the next town, until the banks opened the next morning. When I knew Eddie was at work, I went back and cashed that settlement check, then I left Chicago for good. I never looked back. I went to see my parents and explained everything to them, then I headed south. I kept moving until I settled here.”
“Didn’t or don’t you fear that he’ll come looking for you?”
“It would take too much effort on his part,” Silver snorted. “No, Eddie Freedman doesn’t go out of his way to do anything if he can help it. Besides, he already had at least two other women on the side, so I figured he’d replaced me with them. I never saw or heard from him again. That’s why I’ll never get married. Once the honeymoon phase is over, you might as well pack it in. It’s not for me, but I’m happy the rest of you are happy with your men. It’s rare that there are good men out there.” They all sat there in silence, until Silver laughed.
“I’m sorry for making everyone sad, but I’ve learned that I’m a survivor. I don’t pussyfoot around what I went through. I know it wasn’t as bad as some women have it, but it was bad. I was a lucky one and got out before it was too late.” She paused long enough for the others to let that sink in, before adding, “If by chance I do get into a relationship with a man again, things will be different. I’ll state my wishes from the very beginning. If he can handle them, then I’ll give it a shot. If he can’t, then he can let the door hit him on the ass on his way out. I will never cower and take demands from another man in this lifetime.”
“Abuse is abuse,” Tymber said through clenched teeth. “No matter if it’s emotional, mental, or physical. It shouldn’t happen, but sadly it happens more than we think.” They were lost in their own thoughts, when Amber jumped to her feet, and said, “I’m going to the ladies’ room. Anyone want to come?
“I will.” Silver jumped to her feet and hurried after her new friend, leaving her purse and phone at the table with the others.
Chapter 3
“Wow,”Lorna said as soon as Silver left the table. “I knew from some comments she’d made that she came from an abusive relationship, but never thought it was that bad. In a way, it kinda reminds me of my mother growing up.”
“Okay, I need to change the subject,” Ronnie said. She turned to Tymberly and leaned on her hands. “I have a question I’ve been dying to ask, but I don’t want to offend Grady, or bring up bad memories. He’s still not over some of what happened to you and Cherise last spring.”
“I know,” Tymber said. “What do you want to know?”
“You can tell me to butt out, and that it’s none of my business, but whatever happened with the lawsuit that Grady had against the guy that killed himself. The one that posed as a physical therapist, and messed up Grady’s first surgery?”
Tymber grinned, and leaned in to explain, “First, do you guys know Alex Nelson? The lawyer in town?” When they shook their heads no, she nodded. “He’s great. If you ever need one, I recommend you hire him. If it wasn’t for him, then we never would have gotten answers.”
“About?”
“Grady was suing Dawson for a certain amount of money. He didn’t go after him for the money, but he went after him for the principal of his lying on his application and resumé, and that he couldn’t get away with it. The money was only to pay for the second surgery that he wouldn’t have needed if Dawson hadn’t messed him up.”
“Okay, but that doesn’t answer the question.”
“I’m sorry, what was the question?”
“Did the lawsuit against Dawson die with him?”
“Actually, it didn’t. That’s why I told you if you needed a lawyer, talk to Alex Nelson. After Dawson was served with the papers to sue him, he contacted a lawyer. His lawyer wanted to settle for only one percent of what Grady was asking for.”
“WHAT?”Ronnie stared at her in shock. “That’s peanuts.”
“Correct, but Grady rejected the deal, and Alex sent the rejection to the lawyer, then Dawson killed himself. Alex opened a can of worms when he researched and found out who the insurance company was. He talked to the man in charge, and even sent the papers for the lawsuit against him. It was fortunate that Dawson had a policy that stated if anyone had a lawsuit against him at the time of his death, that would get paid first, before any beneficiaries would get paid. It’s been going on for months. Grady only received a letter in the mail yesterday from Dawson’s attorney, stating that the life insurance will be paying for the lawsuit, then he had the audacity to try to get Grady to pay his fees.” Tymberly shook her head, and laughed. “Yes, Alex got a call immediately on that blunder.”
