(Don't Mess With) Clear Lake Women Read online

  “Oh,” Madeline whined. “I’m here, Ned. I brought Roxy with me.” She turned to her daughter. “Come on over here and see your uncle.”

  Roxy squeezed her arms tighter and took two steps closer to the pasty colored body. She stared at his chest; the rise and fall, then the coughing that caused his chest to go into spasms. She nearly laughed. Bastard. I hope you lay there and suffer. Still, she didn’t want to see his face.

  Her mother took his age-spotted hand and held it. She leaned down and put her face next to his as she spoke in his ear. “Squeeze my hand if you know we’re here, brother.” He must have responded because Madeline smiled wide and turned to her daughter. “He knows.” She backed away a little and motioned for Roxy to come closer.

  Roxy stared at her and frowned. She shook her head and her eyes narrowed.

  Her mother pouted in return. She took Roxy’s arm, still tightened around her chest like a python snake, and tugged her close.

  Roxy glanced down. The man looked frail and helpless. Helpless like a little baby. His arms, once strong and muscular, were now thin like leafless limbs on a tree in the cold winter; brittle and lifeless. The arms that used to hold her tight so she couldn’t get away and...hands that hurt her. The hands now lay on a blanket, not moving. Skin thin; large purple veins that carried what little bit of life blood he had left. Intravenous needles were stuck in them, taped. Roxy had a thought of reaching down and yanking off that tape, just for a bit of her own pleasurable revenge.

  “Give him a kiss, honey,” Madeline said, placing her arm around her daughter, oblivious to the internal emotional turmoil Roxy was going through. Thoughts and memories of his abuse flashed in her mind like a turning kaleidoscope of horrible images.

  “Please, Roxy. Give him a little kiss.”

  Roxy loosened her arms enough to rest her hands on the side of the hospital bed. She knew his flesh was inches away. He can’t hurt me now. Her heart pounded so loud, she could feel the pulsations in her head. Her stomach rolled as a wave of nausea came over her. She leaned down, her face coming within a couple of inches of touching his skin. His scent was deep in her nostrils now, which heightened her memories. Her lips were so close, so close to his ear when she whispered, “Die, you bastard. Die.”

  Uncle Ned’s eyes flew open, his upper torso raised up, as if he was attempting to sit up. His eyes darted madly about. Another coughing fit sent him into spasms. His fists opened and closed, clenching tightly on the hospital blankets. His eyes continued to move about quickly, darting frantically here and there. A machine started to beep loudly and a nurse rushed into the room. She hurried about, trying to help him relax to settle his cough. Madeline left the room with Roxy in tow. Walking down the hall, Madeline took Roxy’s arm and smiled.

  “He heard you, Roxy. It woke him right up, didn’t it?” She squeezed her arm again, before reaching up to push the button for the elevator. The door slid open and she took a step inside, turning to her daughter. “What did you say to him, honey?”

  Roxy’s hand glazed over the top of her red spiked hair and she smiled her mother. “I only said ‘hello’, Mom. That’s all.”

  Madeline laughed. “Well. I’m so glad you came with me to cheer him up.”

  * * * *

  Roxy sat at Madison’s kitchen table petting LP, whispering lovingly devotions in her tiny ear. Madison sat down across from Roxy. A plate of chocolate chip cookies sat in the middle of the table, untouched.

  “So, your mother is clueless as usual?”

  Roxy nodded and returned LP’s kisses by giving her a lick on top of her head.

  “Uucck! I hate when you do that.”

  “Why?” Roxy looked up at her.

  “Becauuuuuse...” She leaned in, staring intently at the impish face. “She will probably expect that from me and I’m not having it.”

  Roxy laughed and turned LP around to face her. “Your master is such a...pussy!”

  Madison smiled and leaned back in her chair. “Sunday said she offered to go with you to the hospital.”

  “I know... It just seemed worse, having her come along.”

  Madison lowered her eyes. “It’s not your fault he molested her, too.”

  “Oh, I know that up here.” She pointed to her head. “It’s just that she had come over to spend the night with me...and I’ve always thought...”

  “If you hadn’t... asked her...”

  “Right.”

  “Maybe so, but he was her uncle too.”

  “I know. He had the opportunity at my house was all. Mom had gone out dancing and he was babysitting...” She gazed out of the kitchen window as if caught up in the past.

  Madison reached over and patted her hand. “Your mom was...is a real ditz. She didn’t believe you then, and she certainly won’t now.”

  Roxy wiped the back of her hand across her eye. “Oh, I know that. Cory and me knew a long time ago that Mom needed Ned more than she did us kids. She couldn’t believe what I told her, or her whole world would have crumbled.”

  “In the meantime, your world crumbled instead.”

  Roxy reached for a cookie and broke it in half. A few crumbs landed in her lap. Her eyes met Madison’s and she smiled wide. “Cookie. That’s how the cookie crumbles.”

  Madison shook her head. “You are one sick chick.”

  “Ya, well I’ve earned it.” LP whined then, and Roxy obliged her with more petting.

  Madison’s cell phone chirped. She answered it. Roxy continued to fondle LP, while listening in on Madison’s end of the conversation. She watched Madison fidget with her long hair, wrapping it around her finger, while talking. Her face turned a bright pink and she laughed loudly, not meeting Roxy’s eyes. When she closed the phone a few minutes later, Roxy spoke as she tickled LP’s stomach.

  “Must have been Justin.”

  Madison grinned. “Ya. Saturday is the concert.”

  Roxy looked up at her friend. Her eyes twinkled. “I suppose you’re going to play hard-to-get.”

  Madison laughed again and nodded her head. “Like always.”

  “Do you think he’ll ever get serious?”

  “Oh,” Madison put a cup of water in the microwave, “he’s serious all right...about having a good time.” She turned. “Would you like a cup of tea?”

  Roxy shook her head “no.” “I wish you’d find a great guy.”

  Madison leaned against her counter, crossing her arms. Cocking her head to one side, she replied, “I’m not even sure I want to settle down with one guy. But...I do want a baby.”

  “His?”

  “I don’t know.” She walked across the small kitchen and retrieved a tea bag from her ceramic canister. A moment later the microwave dinged and Madison reached in for her cup.

  Roxy placed LP on the floor. The dog looked up at her with her big brown eyes. Roxy apologized to her. “Sorry, Little Princess, I gotta be getting home.”

  “Are you going to be okay tonight? You can stay here, ya know.”

  “I know, but I gotta get up at the butt-crack-of-dawn tomorrow for work...earlier than you, so I’ll pass.”

  Madison walked Roxy to the front door and gave her a hug. “Call me later if you need to.” Roxy nodded. She stepped outside.

  * * * *

  It was past midnight when LP awoke with a start and whined. Madison turned over in her sleep. A few blocks away, Roxy had been tangled in her sheets, her short hair wet from sweat. She yelled out, but in reality, as in her dream, no one was there to save her.

  “Stop it!”

  Seven-year-old Roxy ran away from her uncle and to the bathroom where she immediately locked the door behind her. She backed up against the bathroom wall while she heard the heavy steps of her uncle.

  “Come on, Sweetie, open up the door,” He cooed.

  Roxy did not answer him; she took air in gulps; her heart thumped quick and hard within her chest. Her body trembled in fright, her eyes large, watching the doorknob, expecting it to open any second. The knob s
uddenly shook, her uncle gripping it from the other side.

  “Come on, Roxy!” He spoke with more authority now. “You know your mom won’t be happy with you when she comes home. You’re supposed to mind me.”

  She heard the sound of gentle padding outside. A young voice sent shivers down her spine.

  “Where’s sissy, Uncle Ned?”

  “She’s locked herself in the bathroom, Cory. That was a very naughty thing to do.”

  Faint knocking on the door caused a large lump to form in Roxy’s throat. “Come out, sissy. Mommie will be really mad if you don’t.”

  The dream switched to a new scene. She was still young, helping her mother set the table for dinner.

  “Why does Uncle Ned have to live here?” she asked her mother, laying the knife and spoon next to the dinner plate.

  “We’ve been over this several times, Roxy. He helps us financially and he helps by babysitting while I work.” Then as if an afterthought, “Besides, he’s my brother.”

  Roxy knew he also babysat while her mother went out dancing and to the bars, but she knew better than to comment about that. Leaving the knife and fork, she went to the drawer to get more flatware. “I don’t like him touching me.”

  Madeline stopped stirring the pasta and looked down at her daughter. A shadow fell across her face, a deep furrow ran across her forehead, eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about?”

  Eyes downcast, Roxy pointed to her pubic area. “He touches me there.”

  Madeline’s eyes grew large for a slice of a second, quickly narrowing into slits in her face. She let go of her spoon and her hand was so quick that Roxy didn’t know what was happening until she felt the stinging slap on her cheek. Her mother knelt down and grabbed her shoulders in both of her hands, shaking her so hard, her teeth rattled in her head.

  “Don’t you ever! Ever! Say that again! Don’t you dare! You’re uncle has taken good care of us.”

  She turned Roxy and pushed her away. “You just get that table ready for dinner.”

  Tears ran down her burning cheek, blurring her vision as she laid the knife and fork down, trying to stifle her sobs that stuck in her throat.

  One more scene began.

  A strong hand was pushing the back of her head towards him. Roxy shut her eyes tight. “I won’t I won’t I won’t,” ran loudly in her head. She had already promised herself she wouldn’t let him touch her any longer. She was eight now and her spirit took on a defiance that even surprised her when she opened her mouth...then bit into his tender skin. In her dream, his howling was just as loud, just as clear, as it had been so many years before.

  Roxy sat upright in bed, feeling like that terrified little girl. She got up, threw on her robe, grabbed her wallet and went out the door. A few minutes later she was knocking on Madison’s door.

  LP barked loudly at the noise and Madison got up and walked into the living room.

  “Who is it?” she called out loudly.

  “Let me in...or I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll...” The door opened.

  Without saying a word, Roxy entered the house. Madison closed and locked the door and by the time she got to her bedroom, Roxy was already on the other side of the bed, taking off her robe and climbing in. Once she had lain down, LP was giving Roxy licks on her face as if to take away her hurt.

  Climbing into bed, Madison glanced at her dog. “Traitor.” A few minutes later, she snored softly. Roxy lay there cuddling the small dog close to her neck. Seeing her uncle at the hospital had dredged up the old memories that she tried to keep dormant. Wide awake now, she continued to think of the past.

  * * * *

  After she had bitten him, he steered clear of her, although, ever so often, he tried to coax her to come close to him or sit on his lap. However, Roxy’s defiance and anger flared up and he continued to back down. For the first time in her life, Roxy realized she had the power to have some control over her life and body. She never brought the subject up to her mother again, and felt she learned an important lesson about her. Not long after, Uncle Ned had moved out. However, he did send money to help Madeline out. Then a few years ago, his health failing with emphysema and a bad heart, he had moved back in with Madeline.

  Roxy hoped he had a long, suffering illness before death came.

  Chapter 5

  Jacki tried to concentrate on the pond she was building; however her thoughts continually drifted back to Elvira and Jacki wondered if she had been peeking at her from inside the house. She had donned a sleeveless shirt on purpose, exposing her tanned buff arms; muscles were well defined in her triceps and biceps as she picked up rocks, forming a waterfall. Bending over, she was also aware of her shirt outlining her back muscles. Although she wore loose fitting jeans for her work, she could almost feel those black eyes taking in her firm glutes as she bent over the pond. Jacki found her loins tingle with sexual desire for the black haired wench.

  About an hour later, she sat down on the grass and grabbed her thermos for a cup of coffee. Hearing a door open, she saw Elvira slowly sauntering her way towards her. Elvira smiled and crossed her arms.

  “I like it.” She walked past Jacki, eyeing what had been accomplished. A smile grew while she seemed to appraise the work completed so far. Jacki peered over the thermos cup she was drinking from. Those tight jeans came within grabbing distance and Jacki wondered if Elvira had been born in them; they fit her so well.

  “Very nice.” Elvira walked to face Jacki. “How much longer do you think?”

  “To finish the pond, or the yard?”

  “The yard.”

  “I should be about done by the end of the week.”

  Elvira looked down at her and, reaching out with her index finger, wiped a spot on Jacki’s forehead. “Just a smudge of dirt,” she commented. Jacki looked at her in surprise. Elvira gave her a wink before she turned and walked back into the house.

  Jacki reached up and touched the same spot. She could still feel the pressure of Elvira’s finger touching her skin, like she had left a permanent mark.

  “Come on, Sunday. Please go with me?” Tuesday pleaded. Sunday leaned over the dishwasher, placing the last of the breakfast dishes inside the machine. “Oh, Sis, you know I can’t stand the man.”

  “Madeline called last night and asked when we were going.” She paused. “He is still family. And you know Mom would want us to see him.”

  Sunday shot her sister a dirty look before turning her attention back to the dishwasher, closing the door and turning the machine on. Sunday turned towards her sibling and crossed her arms. “I’ll go if you promise not to stay long, and don’t ask me to give him a hug or anything.”

  Tuesday held up two fingers. “Scouts honor.”

  Sunday hugged her arms tighter to her chest. “When did you want to go?”

  Tuesday smiled. “I have to run back to the house. How about I pick you up in an hour? We’ll see Uncle Ned, then stop by and visit with Mom.”

  Sunday agreed, not returning a smile. She returned to cleaning up the kitchen as her sister left and tried not to think of the upcoming visit. Sunday didn’t know which one she dreaded the most, seeing her uncle or seeing her poor mother.

  A little over an hour later Sunday sat quietly in the SUV. Her older sister chatted happily away like they were heading out shopping. She glanced at Tuesday and for the umpteenth time, wondered how they could look so much alike, yet both be so different. Sunday’s long, straight black hair was accentuated by her dark eyes and dark complexion. Tuesday, born with the same hair, had chosen to bleach hers, having it colored to a golden bronze. A light perm and shoulder length cut gave quite a different look. Still, she had a beautiful radiant look, and never went anywhere without her makeup. Even doing her gardening, Tuesday had full makeup and her brand-named shorts and top.

  Sunday sighed and looked out the window. Even though her sister was a “material” girl, as Madonna would say, she had to agree that she wasn’t far behind. She enjoyed the money Duffy mad
e and bought designer purses that would possibly take Roxy two weeks to earn enough to buy, cleaning toilets and making beds.

  Duffy. She sighed again. He had been quite nice lately. Of course, she knew the routine by now and understood it was only the “honeymoon” period. Sooner or later, the tension would begin to build again. Things going wrong on the construction site, weather putting a damper on building. Whatever. Even so, she had been formulating a plan. She had begun a savings account in a bank that their business was not connected with. Recently, she began to write checks for over the amount of the purchase, whenever she could, placing the extra cash into her secret savings account.

  Sunday loved him despite his abuse. He wasn’t all bad. He had refused counseling and he didn’t want her going either, but she had gone ahead and started seeing a counselor at a battered woman’s shelter. Sunday knew that she could talk to her friends; however, they were too judgmental when it came to Duffy, and that stunted what she wanted to share with them. They just wanted her to leave him and be done with it. Besides all of that, she had helped Duffy build up the business and she was damned if she was going to leave it all to him. She had an appointment with an attorney the next week and wanted to find out what she needed to do to protect her rights to the business. One nice thing about being the secretary and accountant was she knew when he’d be gone and could schedule her appointments around that. To top it off, she knew just how much money the business was pulling in.

  Sunday’s thoughts were interrupted as Tuesday pulled into the hospital parking lot. Reluctantly, she got out of the vehicle and followed her sister into the building. Tuesday got directions from the receptionist and they walked down the hall into an elevator. A few minutes later she stood by the open doorway, watching Tuesday walk up close to her uncle and bend down to him.

  “Hi, Uncle Ned. It’s me, Tuesday. Sunday came to visit too.” She motioned for Sunday to come up closer.

  The old man appeared to give a slight nod under his oxygen mask. The noise of the gas reminded Sunday of Darth Vader from Star Wars. The thought almost caused her to break out in nervous laughter.