Chapter Four: Just One Bruise

The three girls waited at the breakfast place for Denise to arrive. She was twenty minutes late and she wasn't answering her house or cell phone. Everyone was starting to get worried. Especially Claudia Joy who knew that Jeremy could have hurt her.

"We've waited long enough. I'm going over there to make sure she's okay." Claudia Joy said standing up.

"We'll come with you" Roxy said as she and Pam stood up. Claudia Joy got to the house first and barely put her car in park before she shot out and knocked on the door. There was no answer. She heard Pam and Roxy come up behind her.

"Maybe we just missed her and she's on her way to the restaurant" offered Pam. Claudia Joy shook her head. She tried the door and it was unlocked. She opened the door and gasped. Denise was lying on the floor unconscious.

"Oh my god Denise!" She said racing to her best friend. The two other girls followed. "She's breathing."

"Should we call an ambulance?" before Claudia Joy could answer Denise began to stir in her arms. She opened her eyes and saw Claudia Joy's terrified expression. She tried to sit up but felt herself black out again.

"Sweetie don't try to move. Do we need to call the hospital?" Claudia Joy asked her friend.

"No I just need an ice pack."

"What happened? Did he do this to you?"

"He found out I told you and Michael."

"I'm so sorry."

"Its not your fault. He just went crazy I've never seen him like that before. He was so angry."

"Its okay. You're okay now he's gone."

"But for how long?"

Jeremy sat in the park a bottle of beer wrapped in a paper bag. He brought the bottle to his lips and took a long drink. He heard a truck pull in and looked up.

"Oh shit" he muttered under his breath. He recognized the truck to belong to Mr. Holden. No time to run. He was coming right for him.

"Jeremy" he said once he reached him. Jeremy had already stashed his bottle under the merry go round.

"Sir" Jeremy replied. "I expect you're here because of my mother. Is she okay?"

"No Jeremy she's not. And I'm not here because of your mother I'm here because of you. I'm here because you hit her. I got a call from Claudia Joy this morning. Did you even care that you could have killed her?"

"I checked to see if she was breathing sir."

"That's not good enough! She should never have fallen in the first place. Your mother has been a damn good friend to my wife for years. She is a good person who does not deserve to be your personal punching bag. The army has a code Jeremy. You do not hit women. If I ever see one bruise or cut on her again and I find out you had something to do with it I will treat you like any other man that ever hit a woman. And believe me you won't see it coming."

"Yes sir"

"Dismissed. Go home Jeremy." Jeremy nodded and began to walk away. "One bruise Jeremy!" He called after him.

Denise lay in bed that night thinking about her life. She had a loving husband, a wonderful best friend, and other great friends. She had a beautiful house and they lived pretty comfortably. It was almost perfect. Except for the fact that her son hit her. He could've killed her today. Denise didn't know what she would have done if Claudia Joy and the others hadn't shown up. She was so sore it took two of them to get her to her room. They were all sleeping here again. Denise was thankful but it pissed her off that her friends had to stop their lives to take care of her. Michael had come over and said that he talked to Jeremy. And that he thought it would be a good idea if she stayed with them for a while. Claudia Joy had agreed with her husband and managed to get Denise to agree to it. Denise felt sleep overtake her and finally let go.

Jeremy entered his home and saw Roxanne Leblanc, Pamela Moran, and Claudia Joy Holden sitting in his living room. He ignored their hateful glares. If murder was legal he was pretty sure he'd be dead right now with the look Claudia Joy was giving him.

"Is she okay?" he asked looking at the floor.

"Oh so now you care? Where was that attitude when you shoved her to the floor?" Roxy screamed at him.

"I know I deserve that. I never meant to hurt her that bad. I won't ever hit her again."

"You mean you won't hurt her again until something really makes you angry?" Claudia Joy said her voice cold and hard. "It doesn't even matter if she's making you angry. Its not okay to take out your anger on your mother. She is my best friend. Has been for years. You think my husbands scary? You hurt her one more time and you will truly know what the meaning of sorry is. Do we understand each other?"

"Yes ma'am" Jeremy said before heading up to his room. He really did want to stop hurting his mother. It was just so hard to keep his anger in check. He promised himself that he would try. He would never hit his mother again. He hoped.