THE BEGINNING PART TWO Irene yawned, then stretched. She sighed as she listened to the words of a romantic love song playing on the radio. Normally she would've pressed the snooze button, but the words of the song held her attention. Her mind drifted to a fantasy she'd been having lately. Did she dare give in to it or should she continue on and forget her foolish daydreams?

The song ended and she turned off the radio alarm. She got out of bed, and then walked down the hall to the bathroom where she splashed cold water on her face. Afterward she walked into the kitchen and made a pot of coffee. When it was ready, she poured herself a cup, and then sat down at the kitchen table and stared at the pile of papers she'd left there the night before. They represented her latest book. The final draft had to be on her editor's desk in three weeks. She'd make the deadline. It would only take her a few days to make the final revisions.

Irene could've slept in since Lita and Serena had the day off from school, but she liked to work early in the morning while the girls were still asleep and the apartment was quiet. She could collect her thoughts and work without any distractions.

She took a sip of her coffee and began editing her second draft. She worked steadily for the next hour, only stopping to pour herself another cup of coffee.

The phone rang, jarring her. She stood up, and then hurried over to it, quickly picking up the receiver before the jangling woke the girls. "Hello?" She frowned when there was no response. She knew someone was there because she could hear their breathing. "Hello," she repeated. When she still received no reply, she said, "Well, I'm sorry, but I don't have time for games. Goodbye."

She settled back down to her work when the phone rang again. She got up, walked over to the phone and picked it up. "Hello," she said with a trace of annoyance in her voice.

She heard faint breathing, but nothing else.

"Okay, suit yourself," she said, then hung up the phone and switched on the answering machine.

"Who was that, Mom?" Serena asked as she walked into the room.

"I don't know." She looked at her daughter. "Someone playing games, I suppose." She sat back down at the table.

Serena 's eyes narrowed. "It's been happening a lot lately." She seated herself across from her mother.

"It has? Why didn't you mention it to me?" she asked sharply.

She shrugged. "I didn't want to bother you. You have a lot on your mind with the new book and everything."

Irene was grateful for her daughter's consideration, but at the same time didn't want either of her daughters to keep something like this from her. She smiled at Serena. "The next time it happens, tell me about it, okay?" she said softly.

"Is something wrong, Mom?" Her eyes narrowed.

"No, honey," Irene quickly assured her. "Don't worry. But if the calls continue, I'll see if we can have a tap put on the line."

"You don't think it's Alexander, do you?" Her eyes widened at the thought.

"No, I don't think he'll bother us again. Why would he? We've been divorced for over a year and we haven't heard from him." She hoped she eased Serena 's mind.

"I don't know, Mom," she said. "Don't forget what he said to you after the divorce."

Irene reached across the table and patted her daughter's hand. "Honey, please don't worry. Alexander won't bother us. I promise." She gave Serena 's hand a reassuring squeeze. "I want you to put it out of your mind. Your senior year is almost over and I want you to have fun and enjoy it." She stared into Serena 's dark eyes. "That's an order."

Serena laughed. "You're right. I think my psych class has made me paranoid. Especially since I used Alexander as my case profile."

Irene returned her laughter. "So what do you and Lita have on your agenda for today?"

"We're going over to the Kunzites' to hang out for a while. Maybe we'll go to the movies tonight."

"Sounds like fun," Irene answered. "I'll give you some money and you can get some pizza."

"Thanks, Mom."

"So, where's Lita this morning?"

"She's still sleeping. Give her another four hours," she added with a laugh as she stood up. "Well, I'm gonna take a shower, then finish my English report."

"Okay, honey."

Irene settled back down to her task. The moment she picked up her pen, the phone rang. She smiled to herself as she heard Lita's message stating they were unavailable to come to the phone. She listened for the message or an abrupt cut off, but was surprised when neither happened. A full minute elapsed before the machine automatically cut off the caller.

She got up from the table and raced over to the answering machine. She turned up the volume and listened carefully and intently. She heard steady rhythmic breathing, but nothing more. There was no audible background noise.

She quickly dialed the police and told the officer at the other end of the line what had happened. They promised to send someone over.

Irene walked over to the stove and poured herself another cup of coffee. She wouldn't be able to concentrate on her work until this unwanted caller left her alone. An uneasy feeling crept over her as she walked back to the table and sat down. What if Serena was right and it was Alexander? Could she really be certain he was out of her life for good? Or would he keep coming back to torment her? Would she ever be totally free of him?

She thought back to the last time she had seen him. It was a few days after the divorce was finalized. Only when she stopped to retie the lace on her running shoe during an early morning jog did she notice a car tailing her. Before she could react, Alexander was out of the car and bounding over to her.

She quickly stood up. Her heart pounded furiously, and she wasn't sure if it was from her run or from seeing her ex-husband. "I have nothing to say to you, Alexander," she said coldly.

He smiled warmly. "I just wanted to see how you're doing," he said softly. "I miss you."

"The girls and I are doing fine," she answered.

"How about a cup of coffee?" he offered.

"No, thank you, Alexander," she answered politely, glancing at her wristwatch. "It's getting late. I have to get back."

"Wait . . . just for a minute."

"What?" she asked sharply.

"Don't you miss me? Even just a little?"

She looked into his dark brooding eyes. He stood so self-assured in his typical God's-gift-to-the-world stance. "No, I don't. I've finally gotten you out of my system."

"Remember the good times?" he persisted.

"The bad outweighed the good," she answered. "Now I really have to go."

"I've changed, Irene." His voice was pleading. "I'm just asking you for one more chance."

"I have no more chances to give you." She watched his eyes narrow, and then cloud up. How many times had she seen those same eyes change in an instant from false compassion to true cruelty?

"The divorce means nothing, Irene. In God's eyes you're still mine."

"I don't want to hear it. We're divorced. And I know God understands." She turned to leave; he grabbed her arm. "Let go of me," she said firmly.

He tightened his grip.

"I swear I'll have you arrested!" she shouted.

He abruptly released her and she sprinted away, his threats echoing behind her.

"You'll always be mine! No other man will ever have you!"

She hurried into the apartment and shakily put the deadbolt on, then slumped to the floor, trying to steady her breathing. Serena and Lita ran to her, frantically repeating a phone conversation from Alexander.

"He's going to kill you!" Serena shrieked. "He's nuts!"

"Mom, he said you'll pay for what you've done to him," Lita added in a calmer tone than her sister.

Irene hugged her daughters close to her. "He's not going to hurt us anymore."

The words were barely out of her mouth when a large crash sounded outside the door. A series of thuds on the door followed the crash. Irene, her heartbeat quickening again as the girls trembled with fear, knew that Alexander was on the other side.

"Mom! What are we going to do?" Serena asked, her eyes wild with fright.

"Amy will call the police," she answered in what she hoped was a convincing voice.

"How do you know?"

"She always looked out for us. She won't stop now."

"What if she's not home?" Lita's voice shook.

"She is. I saw her earlier."

"Why don't we just call the police ourselves?" Serena asked.

"They'll come quicker if Amy does. I called them so many times in the past then refused to press charges, so I guess they don't go out of their way to respond quickly."

"Irene! You belong to me!" Alexander yelled. "Open up the door! You have no right to lock me out!"

Irene kept silent.

"Irene! I know you're in there!" He continued his barrage against the door.

"Where are the police?" Serena was almost hysterical.

"They'll be here, honey," Irene whispered, her voice barely audible with the hammering on the door.

After what seemed like hours, they heard muffled voices coming from the other side of the door. The pounding stopped and Irene jumped when she heard a loud rap on the door.

"It's the police, Mrs. Copeland. Please open the door."

Irene and the girls scrambled to their feet. She unlatched the deadbolt and swung the door open.

Alexander glared at her, then turned his attention to the officer. "This is my wife; she locked me out," he snarled.

"Is that correct, Mrs. Copeland?" the officer asked.

"No. We're divorced. He's not welcome here." She sighed. "I just want him to leave me alone."

"A Amy Madison called in the complaint. Says she's a friend of yours."

"Yes, she is."

"She's a troublemaker," Alexander bellowed. "She has no right interfering in our lives! I warned you what would happen if you got involved with the neighbors!"

"Please keep quiet, Mr. Copeland." The policeman's voice was firm.

Irene didn't recognize him. Must be new, she thought. Not new to police work because she guessed his age to be in his early forties. He had a rugged look about him, like he spent a lot of time outdoors. His sandy brown hair was neatly groomed and he wasn't bad looking.

"Do you want to press charges?" he asked Irene.

She sighed. "If that's what it'll take to keep him away from us."

"Has he been making threats before today, Mrs. Copeland?"

"Yes," Irene answered. "The police have been here several times in the past."

He frowned. "Then I think the judge probably won't be too lenient with him."

"I never pressed formal charges," Irene said in a low voice, as though she were ashamed.

He looked squarely at her. "I hope this time you do."

"Got the hots for my wife?" Alexander sneered at the officer.

The officer shook his head as he turned to Alexander. "If I were you, buddy, I'd keep my mouth shut."

"Officer . . ." Irene began.

"Officer Tsukino."

"Officer Tsukino, I'm no longer married to Alexander. Our divorce was finalized a few days ago. I intend to press every charge I can against him."

Alexander laughed. "Irene, you can get into serious trouble bringing false accusations against me."

Officer Tsukino turned to Irene. "Come down to the station and we'll complete the paperwork."

"Will he be arrested?" she asked as her daughters looked on hopefully.

"I can't say. Do you have an order of protection?"

She shook her head.

"Well, we'll see what the judge says." He looked at Alexander. "You'd better come down to the station with me."

"What for?"

"Your former wife is going to press charges against you."

His facial muscles twitched, then grew tight. "You'll be sorry, Irene!" he warned as he pointed a finger at her. "You'd better remember to keep looking over your shoulder because when you least expect it, you'll get yours!"

"Let's go, Copeland!" Officer Tsukino said as he pointed Alexander toward the exit.

Irene saw Amy coming out of her apartment and hurried over to her. She gave her a quick hug. "Thanks for calling the police."

"You know I'd do anything for you and your girls." She smiled warmly at Serena and Lita. "I'll drive you to the police station."

"Do you girls want to come?" Irene asked.

"Sure," they replied.



Irene looked around the crowded room, wondering what tragedies brought some of the others here. She observed a woman holding a small baby. The woman sobbed and pointed to a young disheveled man propped against a wall. Apparently he was intoxicated or high on drugs.

"People are nuts," Serena said angrily.

"We'll be out of here shortly," Irene replied.

"Most of these people will just get off no matter what they do," Lita stated.

"Why do you say that?" Amy asked.

"We're studying our great justice system in school," Lita explained. "In reality all the rights seem to go to the criminal."

"Like if someone broke into our home and got injured he could sue us," Serena added.

"That's not right," Amy replied.

"No, but that's how the system works today."

"I guess I'd better study the candidates better the next time I vote." Amy shook her head in wonder. "Here comes Officer Tsukino, Irene," she whispered.

Irene noticed how Officer Tsukino carried himself as he strode over to her. His handsome ruggedness made her envy the woman he obviously had waiting for him at home.

"Mrs. Copeland, if you'll follow me, the judge would like to see you. I've explained your situation and he's reviewing your case right now."

"We'll wait here for you, Irene," Amy said.

Officer Tsukino led her down a hallway and stopped before the courtroom door. "Don't be nervous. Court isn't in session right now. Judge Freed is waiting for you." He smiled. "He's a good guy."

"Thank you for your help, Officer Tsukino." Her knees grew weak at his smile.

"Just doing my job." He winked, and then walked back down the hall.

Irene signed the formal complaint against Alexander, and then received an order of protection from the judge. Alexander would probably only receive a verbal reprimand, but if he violated the order of protection he would be jailed. All she cared about was being left alone and getting on with her life.

And she had gotten on with her life. It had felt so good being free from Alexander. Or was she? After all this time was he coming back to intrude upon her life? Could her life ever truly be hers again?