Chapter 4 After the Love is Gone

Natalia strode into the kitchen as Nicky walked through the door.

"Good morning." Her voice was slightly hoarse from last night. She cleared her throat trying again.

"Yea, what's so good about it?" He threw his jacket on the kitchen table.

"Would you like some breakfast," she didn't want to make him mad.

"Of course I want breakfast. He walked into the living room and headed up stairs.

She started his breakfast. Natalia hated when he got in these moods. She hoped that he would be better after his shower. Unlike him she was floating on cloud nine. The flash images from last night made her smile every few seconds.

When he finally appeared, he looked madder.

Nicky sat down in front of his plate, looking at it in disgust. She sat with her eyes staring at her own plate.

"What the fuck is this?"

"It's eggs and oatmeal." She replied. Nope, it is not going to be a good day. God give me the strength.

"These eggs are over done." He threw the plate across the room. It crashed into the wall, breaking.

Natalia flinched as it went flying passed her head.

"Clean that shit up."

Natalia started to pick up the piece of broken plate.

"What the fuck are you doing?" He shouted.

She knew answering would make it worse. There wasn't a right answer.

"Get me some more food, NOW."

"Yes, Nicky."

Natalia fixed his plate. She sat quietly and watched as he ate. I just have to make it through breakfast and then he will be sleep.

She was so lost in her thought she didn't even see the hand until it connected with her cheek.

She fell out her chair. She curled up in a ball to protect herself, from the blows never came.

Nicky just laughed as she balled up on the floor. He stood from the table.

"I'm going to sleep, don't disturb me." He walked out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

Natalia sat in the living room when she heard the phone ring.

It rang twice before she could answer it.

"Hello?"

….

"Oh, hi Olivia." Her heart swooned and dropped at the same time. She hadn't expected Olivia to call.

….

"No, I can't see you today. I have plans." Natalia looked at her reflection in the mirror on the wall. The bruise on her face wasn't bad but it still hurt.

…

"Yea, maybe some other time. Bye." The phone was snatched from her hand and thrown to the ground. She turned and saw an angry Nicky stand in front of her.

"I told you not to disturb me." He growled at her through clenched teeth.

"Nicky, I'm sorry I didn't mean…"

"You never mean to do anything." He stalked towards her as she took steps back.

"Who was that anyway? It better not have been that little…" He screamed, hurting her ears.

"No, it wasn't him, just a woman, a friend I met…"

"God, Natalia not this again. First you come on to some woman in Chicago and now this. Are you trying to make me look stupid again?" He balled his fist.

"NO, please Nicky. It's not like that." She lied but she had to. He would kill her. She just had to fight the temptation that was Olivia. She repeated something her priest told her in Chicago. Space and distance = strength

Nicky grabbed Natalia by her arms, pulling her into his chest, squeezing too tight.

"Talia, you know I just want what's best for you, right?" She nodded against his chest. "You have to stop this stuff. No friends okay. They are just going to get you in trouble. Okay?"

"I'm sorry Nicky. It won't happen again." She pleaded with him with her eyes.

"It's okay. Look, I'm just going to go to work and catch some Zs in the crib okay?" He kissed her forehead and walked away. "I love you."

"I hate you." Natalia whispered. She sunk into the couch opening a random magazine on the table. Great horoscopes let me guess you will meet someone new or new opportunities are in your future. Just ofr the heck of it Natalia read her horoscope. Something new and exciting has entered your life. Don't shy away from it. This will led you to a life you never knew existed. Be careful, your present company will not like it, but don't let that deter you. Go after your heart's delight, just remember what is done in the dark will always come to light. Natalia ripped the small paragraph out of the book. "God if this is a sign thank you and if it's a warning thank you."

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Olivia took a deep breathe through her nose. She leaned back in the chair, feeling the drug rush through her veins. Between her and the other two occupants at the table, the table top had been clean of the white dust. All evidence of any wrong doing was long gone.

Rodney, another friend from college sat at the table, telling some exaggerated story.

"You want to tell me what you were trying to pull Sunday." Father Ray stood his full height, which wasn't tall at all. His dark hair stood ruffled on top of his head like he had just woke up. He stood beside the table waiting for an answer form Olivia.

Olivia cracked open her eyes looking up at him. "What happened to you?"

"Broke up a fight down the street and you didn't answer my question." The priest shooed the other woman away, taking a seat across the table for Olivia.

Rodney stayed where he was. He didn't like the self righteous man talking to Olivia like her was her really father.

"That was noth…" Olivia's eyes rolled back. She shook her head, finishing the end of another sentence. "…don't want me at your church."

"You know that's not true. It would be nice if you tried to be more appropriate." Father Ray chastened her little a child. Lost souls were his specialty but Olivia had a way of getting under his skin.

"Yea don't worry about. I won't embarrass you again." Olivia tried to get up. Her legs weren't cooperating.

"Olivia, if you just talked to me, things could be so much better." He tried to comfort Olivia, placing his hand over hers.

Olivia quickly snatched her hand away, sneering at him, "Unless you have a time machine, fuck off. I don't need your help or anyone elses."

Despite her tone of voice and threatening actions, the priest could see the hurt hiding behind her glazed sea green eyes. Neither drugs nor alcohol could cover up that amount of pain and guilt.

Father Ray dipped his thumb in water filled glass that sat on the table, painting a cross on Olivia's forehead. "You're absolved."

Olivia didn't even flinch at his closeness, she was used to the action, and it was welcomed most of the time.

Father Ray helped Olivia stand, taking the keys out of her hand. "And you can come get these later." He dangled the keys in front of her face. "Let me call you a cab."

"Nah, I'm just going down the street." Olivia sway, holding her arms out for balance. "Thank you." She whispered as she slowly walked away, focusing on putting one foot in front of the other.

Father Ray looked over to Rodney.

"What the fuck are you looking at?" Rodney stuck his middle finger up, following Olivia out the door.