His grip tightened. “You’re hurting me,” I said.
“Oh,you’rehurt?” His grip tightened further, and I felt the circulation being cut off from my fingers. “How do you think I feel?” Before I could respond, he pushed me forcefully, and knocked me off my feet. I fell hard on the concrete, feeling an instant pain jolt through my body from the point of impact.
“Hey! What the hell are you doing?” I heard Lucas yell, charging toward Daniel. Before I could push myself up from the floor, he had grabbed Daniel by the arms and forced him into a seating position on the bench, restraining him. “Natalie, call the police,” he said, looking at me with that familiar tenderness in his eyes.
Immediately, I pulled my phone out of my purse and dialed 911. A responder picked up in a matter of seconds, and after quickly sharing the circumstances and our location she dispatched a squad car, telling us they’d be there in less than five minutes.
“Get your hands off of me!” Daniel screamed at Lucas, indignant. He struggled to free himself from Lucas’s grip, and on realizing he couldn’t, he instead spat in Lucas’s face. Lucas remained neutral, despite his evident rage, maintaining his firm hold on Daniel’s shoulders.
“Hold tight, bud, the cops are on their way for you,” Lucas said. He kept Daniel in place as though he weren’t struggling at all, even though it was clear from the strain on Daniel’s face that he was working very hard at freeing himself.
Realizing his pursuit was fruitless, Daniel turned to look at me. By then I could hear the sirens in the near distance. “What do you see in him, Natalie? Why him and not me?”
“Because he treats me well,” I said. “Because he loves me.” I was about to say more, to put the nail in his coffin, but wasn’t sure if I could. But then the police cruiser turned the corner, and as I watched the red and blue hues paint Daniel’s face I realized he had no power over me—and in that moment, more than anything, I wanted Lucas to know the truth, to know that he was a bigger part of the family than he thought, and that he’d always have a place in my life.
And so, I finished defiantly. “Because he’s Sophie’s father.”
I watched both their expressions shift, stark opposites of one another: Daniel’s, a look of dismay; Lucas’s, one of shock.
Finally, I thought to myself. Finally he knows the truth.
28
AFTERMATH
Lucas
As soon as the words escaped Natalie’s lips, I found myself so utterly stunned that my grip loosened. In response, Daniel immediately jolted out from under my hands and off of the bench, lunging toward Natalie.
“You slut!” he shrieked.
His yell broke the trance, and I quickly came to. “No you don’t!” I yelled, swooping an arm around his midsection, and pulling him back toward me. He tried spitting at me, and in response I used my other arm to put him in a chokehold. I held him while he squirmed, until finally the sheriff emerged from the cop car and approached us, handcuffs and taser in hand.
“I’ll take it from here,” she said, grabbing Daniel firmly by the arm. I released my grip, allowing her to take over. “Alright, up against the car, and hands where I can see them,” she commanded, and he complied wordlessly, his breath almost whiny.
I ran over to Natalie, who had lifted herself into a sitting position on the ground. Her face betrayed a look of pure terror. I wrapped an arm around her, caressing her shoulder. Then, I saw her eyes glance over, to a spot just behind me. Turning around, I realized it was her parents’ car. Upon registering the scene, they quickly parked the car and poured out of it, her mother and father and daughter, running toward their beloved Natalie. I looked back at her and could see a wave of relief had washed over her.
“I called them,” she offered as an explanation, her voice wavering.
Soon her family was around her, hugging her, kissing her, making sure she was alright, asking if she needed anything. I smiled, relieved to know she had so many people who cared for her.
“Sophie!” I heard someone yell, suddenly. I saw Sophie look up, and I turned around to see who it was—Daniel. He was handcuffed, the sheriff and her deputy working to push him into the back seat, and he had a sinister smirk on his face.
“Sophie,” he continued. “You should know that your mommy is a—”
But he didn’t finish his sentence, because immediately I stood up and ran toward him, my face the paragon of intimidation. He cowered as I approached, and I smiled to myself internally. I would teach him a lesson he’d never forget.
“Daniel,” I said, as calmly and clearly as I could, despite the intense rage and contempt I harbored toward him. I looked over at the sheriff, who nodded for me to continue. “I’m only going to say this once, so you’d better be listening. Leave Natalie alone. Maybe you can’t see it, so I’ll spell it out for you. These past months you’ve done nothing but hurt and antagonize her. She told you that you aren’t Sophie’s father, and you ignored her. You demanded proof, and she provided it—and still you wouldn’t accept it. She’s a caring, patient woman, and so she allowed it, but I’m ending it right now, Daniel. If I ever see you mess with her again—with her or her family— I’ll make damn sure you regret it.” I paused, noticing the fear in his eyes. “Have I made myself clear?”
Daniel gulped. “Y— yes. Yes, sir.”
“Good. Now,” I looked over to the sheriff and nodded, “take him away.”
The sheriff nodded back. “You heard him,” she said, looking over at her deputy. Then she turned to Daniel. “Now get in the car.”
And he did.
Once they got him into the car and began the drive back to the station, I turned around to face Natalie’s family. The scene before me was a sight to behold. They were so sad and somber, congregating around her, that she appeared almost saintlike. I went before her and kneeled, as if in worship, kissing her hand gently. I looked into her eyes, relieved to find them suffused with their usual warmth, and the river of tears run dry. I looked over to Sophie, whose arms were fixed tightly around her mother, her face buried in her mother’s lap. And finally, looking up, I saw her parents, both of whom were looking at me with what I could only interpret as a deep appreciation—a welcome shift from our last interaction.