After the reports were made, Bruiser drove me to my townhouse. I showered and slipped into a comfortable gown. Xander and Jayne had stopped by earlier. Jayne and I couldn’t stop hugging. She kept asking Bruiser if he was sure Van was dead because if he wasn’t she would ride over to the hospital and put another bullet in him. It was just Jayne being Jayne, but a part of me felt for Van. The deeply sympathetic and caring side of me knew he made a grave mistake when he pushed his wife, causing her to flee from him. That one mistake led him down a path of psychological torture and dismay.
My phone rang nonstop. Friends and family I hadn't heard from in years were calling to make sure that I was okay. I answered as many calls as I could until I was too tired to take another one.
The one call that warmed my heart to its very core was the call from my mother. I had been expecting it. I just knew she would find a way to judge me by saying what had happened today could have been avoided if I was a better Christian.
“Baby girl, are you okay?” she hastily asked. “Did he hurt you?”
“Mama, I'm fine.”
“I was worried sick about you. Jayne called me and told me what happened, just as I was watching it in the news. I didn't know if you were going to make it back home. That almost killed me, Alise. With so much happening these days, I just worry so much about you. Even before this, I was so worried.”
“Well, I’m safe, Mama. I don’t want you to worry about me. I’m fine,” I said, looking at Bruiser, who was standing right beside me holding my hand.
“I know, but with you being a celebrity now, it just makes me worry.”
“I know you don’t want me doing this, Mama. But this is my life and—”
“Alise, nobody can take your talent away from you, my beautiful daughter, my songbird. You deserve everything that you have worked for. You're very talented. And, despite what you may think, I'm proud of you.”
My heart swelled. She sounded like my mother, but the words coming out of her mouth right now were nothing like what I had ever heard before from her.
“Thanks, Mama.”
“Will you come over here and visit me tomorrow?” she asked.
“Don't you have church tomorrow?”
“Well, yes I do. But that church will be there next Sunday. I want to spend some time with my daughter, who I have missed for far too long. And, I know you feel like I put the church above you. That's not really the case, Alise. I go to that church to pray for our souls. To pray for souls like the man that took you. I bow down on my knees and ask God to change men like Van Devereaux. It’s a spiritual war out here, and we need so much prayer in this world today. But I know now that not only do I need to pray, but I also need to be there for you and meet you where you are. Had I lost you today, not all the prayer in the world would have given me the time we’ve missed out on.”
My chest felt full as if it were going to burst, but instead, the wave came through my eyes and sprang a leak. When I gained my composure, I said, “I’ll be over about eleven, Mama. See you tomorrow.”
“See you then, Alise. Oh, and I also owe you a number one in the nation celebration party. I have all of your songs downloaded on my phone, too. Let my church girls talk about that.” Mama laughed.
“Mom, I missed you.”
“I missed you too, Alise. See you tomorrow.”
Chapter Thirteen
Bruiser
Slow Burn
Feelings of love and tenderness were new to me. I preferred to be serious, domineering, and, most of all, feared. I killed a man tonight, and I would do it again if any man dared to take her away from me. Since I met her, and especially since I rescued her from the grips of a psycho, my heart was filled with even more love for Alise. She made me feel things I never thought I would have the chance to feel. Not because I didn’t want to, but because I didn’t know I was capable. Now that I experienced love, there was no way for me to unfeel it, didn’t want to. I would always be indebted to her for showing me how to love.
She had just gotten off the phone call she had been waiting on since we made it to her house. I embraced her until she released all the tears that fell after reuniting with her mother.
“Before I met you, I never knew what it was like to look at someone and smile without knowing what I was smiling about. But whenever I see you, I get this overwhelming urge to, well, smile.” I hoped admitting how much joy she brought me would bring some to her face. I hated to see her cry, though I knew this was a good cry.
“It’s called happiness, Bruiser,” she said and giggled.
That little sound she made when she laughed added to my newfound joy.
“Yeah, I guess that’s what it is. I would look at you forever if I didn’t have to blink,” I said, and she giggled again. I was getting good at making her laugh.
“You’re funny,” she said.
“I’m just being honest, Alise. I love you, and I will keep telling you that for as many times as it takes for you to know that I’m not going anywhere. I need you to know that.”