Something Like That

CODY

Cody lay on the couch, blinking up at the ceiling.

Lia’s face had been pale, as if void of oxygen. Definitely not from lack of sleep.

It tore at him, witnessing Lia’s pain.

Cody remembered the first time he laid eyes on her down by the washed-out bridge. His chest had gripped at the sight of her. The rain clung to her luminous skin. Her face was taut with concentration: holding back a dam of feelings he couldn’t name.

When he saw her on the phone, it was as if the dam had broken, tears coursing down her cheeks like a flood.

Discomfort gnawed at his insides. Someone as kind and lovely as Lia should never suffer like that. Not on his watch.

Dani came bustling into the house, her keys jingling in her hand.

“You look rough,” she said.

“Well, look at you being so complimentary.”

“You scare Lia off already?” She set her bag down and herself in the recliner.

“I do not scare anyone. I’m the nicest guy you’ll ever meet until I’m not.”

“Yeah, yeah. Is she sleeping?” she asked, being serious now.

“I’m not sure. I…I…”

“What?” she asked.

“Between you and me?” he asked, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Yes, now tell me?!” Dani fussed.

“She got a phone call, and she was distraught. I tried to ask her about it, but she brushed it off and went to her room. I didn’t know if I should tell Nathan or you, and then you came in, so guess the universe picked you.”

“You and the universe.” She rolled her eyes. “How upset?”

“Tears, pale face…honestly? She looked terrified.”

***

NATHAN

Nathan wrapped up at the station and headed home a little early.

When he pulled up to the house, Dani’s Subaru was parked out front and his heart lifted, envisioning the smack he was going to give to that cute little ass.

Inside, he found Cody anxiously pacing the living room, clutching his side.

Dread rose in Nathan’s chest.

Something had been off since Lia arrived. He tried to brush it aside: he didn’t really know his sister deeply, not since he left his mom and stepdad to move in with his father here in Medford.

But now, Cody’s face told him something was amiss.

“You stretching or what?” Nathan said.

“Side’s getting a little stiff,” Cody replied. “But it’s fine. I should probably go home.”

“Take a damn pain pill and get on the couch, geez, man.” Nathan shook his head. Obviously, his friend was playing tough, so they’d trust him to his own devices. “Where are the girls?”

Cody’s jaw worked.

“Um, in Lia’s room,” he said.

He sat back on the couch as Nathan brought over a bottle of water and meds, shoving them in Cody’s face.

Giving in to the pain, Cody did as instructed.

“Everything alright here?” Nathan said, casting a suspicious look in the direction of Lia’s room.

“Fine...,” Cody grunted. “Just sat around all day. Dani just got here about an hour ago.”

“She’s been in there the whole time?” Nathan nodded toward Lia’s room.

“Pretty much,” Cody shrugged.

A frown drew at his mouth, and he rubbed his temple like his side wasn’t the only thing bothering him.

Before Nathan could launch into an interrogation, Dani emerged from the hallway. Her face was puffy with crying. When she met Nathan’s gaze, her eyes glossed up again and she covered her mouth with the sleeve of her sweater.

A cold feeling settled in the pit of Nathan’s stomach.

“What the hell is going on here?” he snapped.

Cody looked equally perplexed but kept his lips in a tight line.

“It’s not my place to share,” Dani croaked out, wiping her eyes, “and as much as she begged me not to, I’m going to tell you to talk to your sister.”

“Do you know what this is about?” Nathan said, whirling on Cody.

“He has no idea either,” Dani interjected. “Just go talk to her now before I have to leave, please.”

Setting his teeth, Nathan stood at the door.

He hesitated, unsure of what he was walking into. Dodging gunshots from a meth house sounded easier than stepping into his sister’s turmoil.

“Lia?”

Nathan pushed the door open.

“Your fiancée is a traitor,” she said with a half-smile, her eyes red from tears and her lips swollen.

“She’s worried, and now I am too.” He sat next to her on the bed. “Please tell me what’s going on and we’ll face it together, head on.”

“I will, on a few conditions.” Her gaze settled on the badge of Nathan’s police uniform.

He nodded in agreement.

“You have to stay calm, no telling Dad or anyone else for that matter, and you have to let me handle it.”

Nathan sucked in a deep breath. This couldn’t be good.

“Umm, okay? I guess.”

“Nathan please?” she begged.

“Okay, fine! What is it? You’re freaking me out.”

“Do you remember about a year and a half ago when I was MIA for a month?”

Nathan nodded.

“I was in the hospital, not as an employee, but as a patient.”

“But you’re okay now? I’m so confused.” He ran his hand through his hair, tension building in his shoulders.

“Yes, just let me finish, please. This is really hard.”

He took her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

“I was dating that doctor, remember? It was only a few months, but even though it started great, it wasn’t going so well at the end.”

“Lia, you didn’t tell me!”

“I said to stay calm,” she snapped.

Closing his eyes, he let out a long breath.

“I thought I was smart enough to get out of the situation, but every time I broke it off, he’d come back again,” Lia said. “I even transferred hospitals and moved in with Meg, all to distance myself from him. I was not going to be the woman to stay in an abusive relationship.”

Emotion trickled down her cheeks, making it more difficult for Nathan to remain calm as promised.

He recalled hearing about this boyfriend and tried to picture him from Lia’s Facebook posts. The blonde guy? Nathan remembered him. He could smash that smug prick’s face so far up his…

Lia hiccupped, “I found out I was pregnant…”

Nathan’s heart dropped all the way to his knees.

“I had to tell him, and stupidly I let him talk me into staying one last evening with him. While I was there, Meg called from Todd’s phone. When he saw Todd’s number come across my phone…”

Sobs burst from Lia, and Nathan clenched his fists, breathing hard.

“Go on,” he whispered.

“He lost it. He accused me of cheating. Of the baby being Todd’s even though he knew Todd was with Meg.”

Nathan shook his head, his horror mounting.

“He punched me several times, straight to the face. I begged him to stop, not for me but for the baby, and he snapped,” she choked through sobs. “He started kicking me in the stomach, calling me a whore, and telling me the baby needed to die.”

“Lia... I don’t know if I can hear more.” Nathan stood, pacing.

“Please, I want to tell you now and never again,” she pleaded.

“Okay.” He looked out the window, trying to figure out how he missed all of this. When his sister needed him the most, he had no idea.

“I’m told at some point I blacked out, and he continued to beat me. A neighbor overheard the commotion and called for help.

“I woke up two days later in the hospital. Three broken ribs, my eye socket busted, and a broken wrist. More bruises than I’ve ever seen, and more than those ICU nurses said they’d ever seen.” She paused. “And I was no longer pregnant.”

Nathan flinched, trying to swallow his rage.

“The month you didn’t hear from me was when I was trying to recover. Meg and Todd both begged me to call you, but I just couldn’t.”

“She should have called me,” he stated, full of rage.

“He was arrested once I was able to give my statement, there was a brief trial, then he changed his plea and took a deal. By the time he was locked up, I was physically recovered and just felt no need to bring this all to you.”

“Lia, that’s insane! I’m your brother! I would have been there, Dani would have been there, hell, even Dad would have!” he cried, looking into her tired eyes.

“I know! I just couldn’t then. I felt so embarrassed, so ashamed and so, so stupid.”

Sorrow stung in Nathan’s eyes, and he blinked rapidly.

“I got a call that he’s being released on Monday,” she said, her voice sounding small. “I mean, I doubt he’d have any idea where I am or if he’d even come after me, but what if…?”

“Released?! Are you fucking kidding me?”

Nathan paced back and forth, then guilt washed over him. He kneeled in front of her.

“I’m so sorry, Lia. He will never hurt you again. I promise you.”

He held her close, wishing to God he could have been there for her.

“I’m sorry to interrupt.” Dani tapped on the door. “I’ve got to head out to work.”

“It’s okay, I’m fine,” Lia put on a brave smile.

“Of course you are. You’re amazing. I love you, and I’m so glad you’re here,” Dani hugged Lia tightly.

“Cody’s passed out, and I’ll be back here when I get off,” she told Nathan, giving him a quick peck before leaving.

Nathan sighed.

“I’m gonna make some calls tomorrow,” he said. “But I promise you, you are not alone with this; he will never lay a hand on you again.”

A heavy footfall sounded in the hallway, and Cody peeked sheepishly into the room.

“Sorry guys, but um, I need assistance.” He held his hand up with blood on it.

“Oh, God!” Lia cried, rushing to him.

“I’m fine. I just don’t want to bleed all over the couch.”

“You just need fresh dressings, I’m sorry. I should have helped you earlier,” Lia said, leading him into the kitchen.

“Please don’t apologize; you did nothing wrong. If you people would let me go home, I could take care of it myself.”

Nathan listened as the two of them bantered softly in the kitchen. He went to his bedroom and changed out of his uniform. It wasn’t until his legs were halfway out of his blues that he realized his hands were shaking.

He couldn’t imagine what it must have been like for Lia, trapped with that sadistic doctor. Unable to escape him.

Guilt wormed its way through Nathan’s chest at another memory: he could see himself at fourteen, throwing his bag into his father’s pickup. Lia was hunched on the steps of their mom and stepdad’s house. She was so small.

Nathan left her there, with Robert.

It wasn’t his fault: he was just a kid, and he was so angry. If he stayed, he would probably have done something stupid to Robert and ended up in juvie instead of police training. Even so, Nathan left his sister behind.

In the kitchen, Lia stood over Cody by the sink. Her expression had softened, and warmth had returned to her face.

Cody was watching her shyly through low lashes.

“Does anyone else need a beer? I sure do,” Nathan said gruffly, opening the fridge.

When Cody glanced upward, concern was written all over his face.

Lia’s shoulders slackened. She shot an irritated glare at Nathan.

“Cody,” she began, “I can’t give details but…”

“My sister was attacked, nearly killed, and the bastard gets out on Monday,” Nathan spat without thinking.

Cody blanched with surprise, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Lia…,” he started.

“You’re all good now.”

She turned on her heels and stormed into her room.

“Dude?!” Cody moaned.

“What? That’s what happened. Almost two years ago, and she thinks telling me now is fine.” He flopped on the couch, and Cody followed, looking toward Lia’s room.

“You’re being a dick,” he said.

Nathan snorted, sipping his beer.

“You don’t know what it’s like…,” he snarled, his lips curled with rage. “Some…some bastard, and my sister…!”

“Really?” Cody shot back. “You think I wouldn’t get it?”

Nathan studied his friend, shame deflating his anger.

“God...fuck, I’m sorry.”

Cody shook his head and stared out the window.

Silence filled the room for a time.

“Someone hurting her feels like...like hurting me, you know?” Nathan said.

“Feels so useless,” Cody murmured.

He made a sudden, dark expression.

“What now?” Nathan asked through gritted teeth.

“The ER doc here,” Cody said, “he was an ass to her.”

“What the fuck?”

“Yeah, trying to get her to go out with him.”

“Fuck that and fuck him.” Nathan spat, standing up.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Cody stood slowly.

“To kick his doctor’s ass.”

“Funny. You’re drinking, and you can’t just beat a dude for being an ass.”

Nathan punched the wall.

Plaster crumbled, and pain split up his knuckles.

“Lia needs you,” Cody said, his tone severe.

Nathan sighed.

“You’re right. Let’s get some food.” He headed up toward the kitchen.

Nathan was surprised to see Lia standing at the stove in leggings and an oversized sweater. Her long hair was knotted atop her head in a messy bun.

“You’re cooking?” Nathan asked sheepishly.

“For Cody and me, yes. For you, no,” she said without turning.

Cody chuckled.

“I’m sorry, Sis. I really am,” Nathan gave her a side hug as she worked.

“Fine,” Lia said, “you can eat too.”