Save Yourself First
"Mom! Stop!" My daughter hissed at me in the restaurant.
"What? I paid for the food and the leftovers are going home with me! It's called a doggie bag, remember?" My daughter was such a snob now that she was rich.
"I make plenty of money and you don't need to walk out of here with leftovers."
I waved her off and grabbed my take out bag, walking ahead of her to the car. I was very glad we arrived separately. I drove off hoping she wouldn't follow me home.
I stashed my leftovers in the fridge and then fed the cats, hoping they wouldn't play all night. My daughter was exhausting. She was 'new money', so a snob. If she had come from old money, she would know that they did the same thing, even to extremes, like taking sugar packs and more right off the table.
Sighing, I sat to watch a mystery show, hoping she would take another trip to Europe and leave me alone. I dozed with the show, tired from her lecturing at the table.
A pounding at the front door awakened me with a start. I jumped up, suddenly dizzy from the quick movement. I walked to the door, making sure to bring my cell phone, on a cord around my neck, and my cane.
"Who is it?!" I demanded. No answer. I yelled again, but nothing. I peeked out the peep hole and at the same time the back door crashed in.
I jumped and ran to the bedroom with the solid wood door and the deadbolt lock. Slamming the lock, I tried to pull out my phone but something hard hit the door and I froze.
"Open the door, old woman!"
I ignored the taunt and punched 911, leaving the circuit open. Even if I couldn't talk, they could hear.
"Get out of my house!" I yelled. I headed for the closet and listened to the 911 operator. 'Home invasion... ' I heard her say my address and sighed. They would be here soon.
The door was slammed and slammed again, but wouldn't give way. Silence followed. I breathed quietly and tried to slow my heartbeat.
Both bedroom windows crashed in and I hoped the cats were in the sewing room.
They still couldn't get to me, for I had barred both windows with iron. I had the only key and it was around my neck at the moment.
Bullets danced around the room, but I was deep in the corner of the closet.
Sirens rang out and tires squealed to a stop. I picked up the phone again to listen.
"Ma'am, the police have arrived. Stay where you are until I tell you that the area is clear."
"I will." I felt very faint and my right leg hurt and itched.
"Ma'am? Ma'am! You can open the door now. She isn't responding. Break down the door, she may have been hit by one of the shots."
I could hear it all, but was too weak to respond. I looked up into a kind police officer's face. I was soon in his arms and I smiled.
"We got you now, Ma'am." He said.
"Put her on the stretcher! That leg is really bleeding!" Commanded another voice.
The officer lowered me, but I held on. "You single?" I asked and then the world darkened.
***
In the hospital, the same police officer was in attendance. The room was large and filled with flowers and stuffed animals. What the hell? I didn't have this many friends.
"You never answered me, officer." I smiled.
"I did, but you just had to pass out on me." He laughed and patted my hand.
"Oh, I see, the hand pat. I must be too old for you." I grinned.
"Just maybe a year or two." He held on to me.
"Okay, a decade or four, I know. Thank you for saving me."
My daughter stormed into the room with an entourage to rival only the biggest celebs. She started barking orders to everyone.
I held the officer's hand even tighter and asked him to sit with me. He sat.
"Mother, how are you today?"
"I am fine, Marisa." It used to be Marcia, but she changed it to fit her new social standing.
"I am so relieved, but so guilty too. They were trying to kidnap you to ransom you to me." She looked excited, but put out as well.
"So! You are moving in with me!"
"Hell, I am!" I said loudly. The hand helped. "Officer, I never got your name."
"Nate, Ma'am, Nate Washington."
"Nate? You ever do any moonlighting for old women?"
"Not until now." I smiled.
"But mother, he's, uh, well, he's... "
"What? Black? Very observant of you, Marisa!"
"Uh, no, I mean, busy. He is busy!" She tried to recover, but failed.
"Will you come home with me while your house is repaired and upgraded and your leg heals?" I nodded.
"I will need to see the plans though and I need my cats too. Nate needs to review the plans too."
Marisa agreed to all my requirements and Nate would be working with me when his schedule allowed, but refused payment. I wouldn't talk to him until he agreed that Marisa could pay him and this he agreed to and even increased his rate; a little joke between us.
***
Marisa went to Europe for an extended tour.
My house was iron clad now, it seemed, and Nate was ever vigilant and even had other cops cruise the house when he was busy.
Nate's mother, my age, was being evicted from her condo since a developer couldn't raise her rent anymore, so she moved in with me in the extra bedroom.
Now I had a roommate, as crazy as I was, an adopted son and life on my own terms. Life was now fun.
One more thing, Nate and his cop buddies were building us a panic room, but don't tell anyone, especially Marisa!
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