Page 31 of Preying Heart
Although discarding Slade and me to foster homes was her idea of sparing us her lifestyle choices. I don’t know what it’s like to be an addict, but I can’t help feeling that being a mother hadn’t motivated her to stay healthy.
It’s something I’m going to have to come to terms with. But not right now.
The doctor takes a brochure from her desk and flips to the last page.
“Okay, then, there are some questions I have to ask you. You can put on your clothes now.” She swivels her seat around to face me. “Do you feel controlled or isolated by your partner?”
“Are you talking about the baby’s father?”
“Well, yes. Heath claims it’s his, although I don’t believe him.”
“The baby is not his.” I hook the bra that Heath lent me and pull on my blouse. “I’m fine. No one is controlling or isolating me.”
She goes through the rest of the questions asking if anyone is threatening me or has physically assaulted me.
Like I’m going to tell her. Knowing her, she’d report it to the authorities and word would eventually get back to Seattle.
Something in my expression must give me away because Dr. Cole puts down her pen and looks me in the eye. “I know you’re hiding from someone. I won’t give anything away.”
“There’s nothing to give away. I came with Heath voluntarily.”
“You sure he’s not keeping you against your will?” She cocks her head and puts on that understanding therapist stare. “Whatever you say to me is confidential. I would never share information with him.”
I don’t know that. I’d bet my eyeteeth the two of them have a history that didn’t end well. Maybe she wouldn’t share, but she sure as heck could use information against him.
“You know something, don’t you?” I turn the tables on her. “What does he do with the women he supposedly rescues? He’s sure collected a lot of clothes.”
“I don’t have a clue.” Her gaze shutters into a blank stare. “I just think you need to consider your situation more carefully.”
“Do I have any options? I don’t know anyone else.”
“You have no one to call? No family?”
“I don’t have a cell phone or computer.” I pull on my pants and tuck in the blouse.
“You can borrow my phone.” She unlocks her cell phone and hands it to me. “I’d feel better if I know you have options. Go ahead and make a call. I’ll be back with some information on the social services our state offers.”
My finger hovers over the keypad as I recall Slade’s latest phone number. Should I call and put him in jeopardy? Certainly a call from a random doctor couldn’t be traced back to me. It could be put down as a wrong number. Slade might not even pick up.
I punch in his number. It rings and goes to voicemail. I wonder if he’s already ditched the phone, but I leave him a message in case he cares.
“I’m safe. Why did you leave without telling me? I’m not going back, but I’m going to need some money. Send me email. I’m going to get a burner when I can but don’t call this number. I borrowed a phone from a stranger.”
The doctor is back before I can browse the internet to check my email—not that he would have responded so quickly. Unless he’d purposely ignored the call from an unfamiliar number.
“We have a battered women’s shelter in town,” Dr. Cole says. “It’s operated by the Baptist church. Want to go see it?”
“You think I shouldn’t go back to Heath?”
“How well do you know him?” Dr. Cole hands me a folder. “If it weren’t for your pregnancy and the bleeding, I doubt he would have let you leave his fortress.”
“Does he often hold women up there? Isolated?” The vibes I’m getting has my skin crawling. “Is he really one of the good guys as he claims?”
“I think you should stay at the shelter. Then you can leave when you want.”
“As long as I’m not left on the streets. Will I be able to find work in town?”
“The church which runs the shelter has job placement services.”
