Chapter 15
"So where does everyone want to celebrate?" Mimi asked excitedly as everyone left the courthouse, and walked out onto the sidewalk.
"Life Café?" Collins suggested.
Maureen sighed as she listened to her happy friends. She was grateful for them, they were after all there for her while she was going through all of this, but right now she didn't really feel like celebrating.
"Joanne?" Maureen softly called out, while using her hand to pull the lawyer back.
Joanne stopped walking, her eyebrows knitting together as her eyes landed on the tired and sad look of her girlfriend. "What is it?"
"I want to go home…" Maureen quietly said.
"Okay." Joanne nodded. "We don't have to go out if you don't want."
"I don't." Maureen said with a small pout.
"Hey you guys." Joanne called out, capturing the boho's attention. Once everyone was looking she continued. "Maureen and I are going to skip the celebration."
"Are you guys sure?" Mimi asked with a raised eyebrow, surprised Maureen would want to miss out on a night of drinking.
Joanne looked back towards Maureen, who looked as though she hadn't changed her mind, her attention went back to the others and she nodded her head. "Yeah…I think she needs some rest."
"You guys can celebrate for me." Maureen gently said with a faint smirk.
Collins walked over and put an arm around Maureen's shoulders. "I'll drink double the amount for you, and then next week we can celebrate again with you actually with us."
"Sounds good." Maureen agreed.
"So The Life Café?" Mark asked to make sure.
"The Life Café." Mimi nodded and looped arms with Roger.
"Bye you guys." Joanne said while she and Maureen walked in the opposite direction of the boho's.
"Bye chicas." Angel shouted back, but her eyes were unable to tear away from Maureen's slouched body.
"Angel?" Collins called out, causing Angel to rip away from her thoughts. "You coming?"
Angel turned her focus to Collins, her concern look changing into a bright smile. "Yeah let's go."
Collins grinned and wrapped an arm around Angel's waist, pulling her in close. They shared a small kiss, before catching up with the others.
"Home sweet home." Maureen breathed while she walked into the apartment and passed Joanne.
Joanne nodded while she shut the door behind them. "It was a long day…are you hungry or anything?"
Maureen shrugged as she kicked off her shoes, pulled off her coat, and headed for the big white couch, that was calling her name from the living room. "Not right now." She replied as she flopped down. "Right now…I just want to lie down and do nothing."
"That sounds nice." Joanne said as she joined her girlfriend on the couch.
Maureen was quickly curled up against Joanne, with her arms wrapped around the lawyer's waist, and her head resting against her chest.
"You did good today Maureen, you should be proud of yourself."
Maureen only nodded, her eyes slowly slipping closed.
"You were so brave, you answered those questions perfectly." Joanne continued while her fingers gently combed through Maureen's hair. "Now that sick pervert is in jail and won't be able to hurt you anymore…"
Joanne was going to carry on with her little rant, but before she could speak some more she heard a faint snore coming from the girl in her arms. Joanne smiled taking in the brunette's peaceful form. She placed a kiss on Maureen's temple before shutting her eyes herself so she too could get a little shuteye.
A couple hours later Joanne woke up, she was still on the couch, but Maureen was missing and there was a blanket covering her. Her ears perked up at the sound of the shower running. Deciding to let Maureen have a shower by herself, Joanne chose this time to start supper.
Twenty minutes later when Joanne still heard the shower going, she grew worried. So out of curiosity the lawyer headed for the bathroom to make sure everything was alright.
"Maureen?" Joanne asked while knocking on the door.
No answer.
Joanne tried again, and before she could call out her lover's name, she heard a weak sob. Out of concern for her girlfriend Joanne quickly turned the doorknob and entered the bathroom. Her hand pulled the shower curtain back, revealing a crying Maureen, her tears spilling away with the pounding water hitting her face.
"Maureen?!" Joanne said with fret, while her hand reached in to shut the cold water off. "What's wrong sweetie."
Maureen's sad eyes looked up into Joanne's, her face full of defeat. "I'm an accident."
Joanne's heart melted, the only thing she could think to do was climb in the tub and wrap her arms around Maureen's shivering body. Maureen leaned against Joanne, her eyes leaking out more tears. Joanne pulled her in close, Maureen had been through so much, and the fact that she had kept it concealed away for so long was finally catching up with her.