Hey all! Here is my next story! I hope you all enjoy this. I will warn you all that it does have domestic abuse and alcoholism in it. If this is a trigger, please read it with caution if you want to still read it. If you are in a domestic abuse situation, PLEASE get some help and get away from it. I hope you all enjoy this.
I was working my shift at Macy's when I got a phone call from my sister, Brooke. My mother was causing a scene at her home. I go to my boss, Missy, and smile. "Missy." I say as she turns to me.
"Problems with your mom again?" She asks and smiles.
I nod and sigh. "I know I have another hour of work but you know how she gets." I say. My mother will pick fights with anyone when she is in one of her moods. My mother had stage five alzheimer's and it was only getting worse. She was in a special home for alzheimer's but we all knew that it was only downhill from here. My sister moved in with me four years ago when my mom had stage four.
Missy lays a hand on my arm and nods. "I do sweetie. Can you do an extra hour tomorrow?" She asks.
I nod. "Thank you so much Missy." I say and grin. Ever since I got a job at the store, Missy has been my number one companion. She has been everything I needed when it came to my mom.
"Anything for my number one sales person." She says.
I get my stuff and catch a bus to the alzheimer's house. I straight to the nurse's desk and smile at Jerry, the head nurse. "Hey Jerry, what did my mom do today?" I ask. All my sister could tell me was that the home needed me there because our mom did something.
"She was yelling at the nurses and telling them that she needed her daughter." He tells me with a sad smile.
I nod and look down the hall my mom's room was in. "Did you guys sedate her?" I ask.
"Yeah. She had to calm down but she should be awake soon." He tells me.
I look at the clock and see that it was 3:30. "I don't think I can stay today, Brooke will be getting home soon, but I can come tomorrow for dinner. Do you think she will be fine till then?"
He nods. "She is in good hands Mabel. I will personally make sure that she doesn't cause too much trouble." He tells me. "I think the doctor needed to talk to you tomorrow too."
"When will she be in?" I ask.
"Around four." He tells me.
I nod. "I'll be in around five." I tell him and then leave the building. I take another bus to my apartment building. It was a rundown place that wasn't the best, but it was cheap.
I get to my apartment and see Brooke sitting at the table, studying for her math test. "Hey sweetie. Mom just had a little episode. She will be fine." I tell her and kiss her forehead.
She nods and smiles. "That's good. Jerry wouldn't tell me what happened. He just said to pass on the message." Brooke tells me.
"I'm going to visit her tomorrow after work, did you want to come with?" I ask. She nods and looks back at her book. "Awesome." I say and get up. "Okay, do you want chicken and corn or pork and green beans for dinner?"
The rest of the night went the same way it always does. Brooke and me cooked dinner, she did her homework and I got everything ready for the next day. I make sure that Brooke went to bed at a normal time and got her bag ready for the next day. I was settling on the couch to watch trash tv when someone knocked on the door. I sigh and go answer it. I open the door to see my boyfriend of four years, Chad. He doesn't say hi as he walks past me and into the apartment. Most nights, he would come over, eat my food, and sleep over. Sometimes I wanted to leave him but he would remind me that he was the best thing in my life and I wouldn't get anyone better. I sigh and close the door. He at least listened to me when I asked him to only come over when Brooke was asleep. Chad could get a little violent when I didn't listen to him and I didn't want Brooke to deal with that. It was my fault and I didn't want her to think of me as a failure. I see Chris take some of the leftovers from tonight's dinner and sit on the couch. I go and sit by him.
Chad had been there for me when I took in Brooke. Chad was my rock in those times and he was the best thing to happen to me. He was sweet and kind, everything I wanted in a boyfriend in the beginning, but then it started to change. He started to go out and drink with his buddies. He would come home and just ignore me. Tonight seemed like a bad night, I could tell because he wasn't talking to me. On the good nights, he would at least say hi and kiss me before getting food.
I look at him and smile. "How was your night Chad?" I ask and lean my head on his shoulder.
He shrugs my head off and eats his food. "I don't want to talk about my night. I want to eat without hearing your annoying voice." He says and looks at the tv. He changes the channel to a boxing match. I nod and sit there, watching the match. I knew if I talked, he would get mad and I didn't want him to yell at me. Brooke needed her sleep because she had a math test in the morning.
After Chad finished his food, he hands me the plate and silver wear. "Get me a beer from the fridge." He tells me.
"We don't have any. I told you last time that I won't have that in the house." I say and get up. I take the dishes to the sink and let them soak in the water with the others. I hear Char come up behind me and I turn around. I open my mouth to talk and he slaps me. I freeze and cup my face.
"I told you that I wanted you to have beers here for me." He tells me and grabs my arm. He pulls me to the door, grabbing my purse on the way. He pushes me out of the apartment and glares at me. "I want you go out and get me a six pack and hurry back." He says and slams the door. I sigh and head to the closest liquor store. I know if I don't get back fast enough, I will have more than a red cheek. Chad wasn't violent that often, but he always told me he was sorry the next day. He has a stressful job and just can't contain his anger that well. I should have had beers in the fridge. I was so stupid. I get back to the apartment as soon as I can. I put the six pack in the fridge and hand him a cold beer. He pulls me down onto his lap and smiles. "See that wasn't so hard. Make sure you have beers in the fridge for me and you won't have to be punished." He grabs my chin and kisses me hard. He grabs the beer and pushes me off of his lap. "You should feel happy that someone like me wants to have anything to do with you. Any other person would leave you because you are so stupid." He tells me as I get up. I sit down next to him and nod. I was lucky to have him in my life. I would be even more stupid to leave him. He wraps an arm around me. "Maybe I'll treat you and let you have sex with me tonight." He smiles and kisses my cheek. I nod and smile.
For the rest of the night, I sat by Chad and got him his beers. After he finished watching his boxing matches, we went to bed.
The next morning, I got up and put my makeup on. I had a small red mark on my cheek were Chad hit me and I knew that I had to cover it up. People didn't understand that I was the one who messed up and Chad was just doing what he needed to do. Chad gets up and kisses my head as I put my cover up on. "I'm sorry baby." He says as he sees the red mark. "I didn't mean to hit you."
I look at him and smile. "I deserved it love. I didn't have what you asked me to have so I messed up." I say.
He nods and kisses my head. "I'll see you tonight." He tells me and leaves.
I finish my makeup and look in the mirror. You couldn't tell that I had a red mark. I look down at my arm and notice a bruise from where Chad grabbed me. I frown and grab quarter sleeve shirt. I couldn't wear a long sleeve shirt without getting called out, since it was getting warmer outside. I go to Brooke's room and wake her up. "Hey sweetie. Time to wake up." I tell Brooke.
She smiles up at me. "Hey Mabel. Was Chad here last night?" She asks as she gets up.
"Yes he was but he is gone." I tell her.
"I don't know why you stay with him. You could do a lot better." Brooke says as we walk to the kitchen.
"He is a good guy Brooke. You just don't know him like I do." I tell her and give her breakfast. "He takes care of me."
"Whatever you say." She says and finishes her breakfast. "I'm heading to school. I love you Mabel."
"Have a good day. I love you too. Good luck on your math test." I call after her. After she leaves, I get ready for work.
It was three hours into my shift, when I see a blonde women and a tall man walking around. I walk up to them, smiling. "Hello. How can I help you two?" I ask.
They look at me and the blonde grins at me. "The young genus here needs a new dress shirt for work." She tells me.
I look at her outfit and smile. She was wearing a bright pink dress that suited her perfectly. "I can help you guys with that." I tell them and start walking towards the men's section. "If you and your boyfriend would follow me." I say.
They stop and look at each other, then start laughing. "He is not my boyfriend sweetie. Any girl would be lucky to have him but I am definitely not the woman for him. Way too much to handle." She tells me.
I nod. "Sorry for assuming that." I tell them and show them the dress shirts. I look at the man standing there. He looked like he did not want to be there and was very uncomfortable.
"Penelope, I have enough dress shirts. I don't need another." He tells the woman.
"You have never been to a BAU dinner yet and I know if I don't help you, you will come in what you normally wear." She tells him.
I look at his outfit, a regular shirt with a vest over it and kaki's. "I think he looks good." I say and smiles.
The man smiles at me but the woman frowns. "If he goes like that, the directors will think of him as the young child they hired. You need to impress them." The woman, Penelope, tells us.
He sighs and nods. "That is true. First impressions are what people base most of their opinions on and I do look like I am too young for this job." He says. He runs a hand through his hair and smiles. "At least my hair is short."
"Yes, if your hair was longer you would have to get it cut." Penelope says.
"Well here is all of our business casual shirts that will fit what you are looking for. If you need me, I will be over there folding shirts. My name is Mabel." I tell them and smile.
"Thank you. I'm Penelope and this is Spencer." Penelope tells me.
I go back over to folding shirts and causally look over at Spencer and Penelope. I had to tell myself that it was because I want to make sure that they don't need help but I was an awful liar. I had to admit that Spencer was a nice looking guy. I shake my head as I think about Chad. I was in love with Chad and he was the person I was with for the rest of my life. I jump as a hand touches my arm where the bruise is. I turn around and see Spencer standing there.
"Sorry, I wasn't paying attention." I say and scratch behind my ear.
"Um, I was just wondering if I had to bring this to you to check out or no." He says and looks at my hand.
I move my hand behind my back and put on my best professional smile. "No, you can just take it to check out." I tell him.
He nods and looks at me. "Can I ask how you got your bruise?" He asks. I must have made a shocked face, because he hurries up and says, "I work for the BAU as a profiler. I am paid to notice things most people don't."
"Oh. I just hit my arm on my door. I was rushing to work and bumped the door. I bruise really easily." I say and laugh. "I'm super clumsy. It's really something I should work on."
He nods but he frowns. He pulls out a card and hands it to me. "This is my card. If you ever need my help with anything, just call." He tells me.
I take it and place it in my back pocket. "Thank you but I won't need your help. I have a strong boyfriend who can defend me from anything." I tell him.
He nods slightly. "Just in case. Just call if you need anything." He tells me and joins Penelope. I watch as they go to the cashier.
I look at the clock and sigh. Two more hours of work.
Hey Everyone! I hope you all liked this chapter. Don't worry too much about Mabel. It will get better for her. I promise. There is a reason that the story is called Pain, Heartache, and love. (Pay attention to the word love).