Page 24 of My So-Called Perfect Life

Scott rolls his eyes. “I wasn’t threatening her. She just wouldn’t open the door. I was trying to get her attention.”

The second officer is a short, stout man standing next to Scott. He leans toward Scott and sniffs. “Have you been drinking, sir?”

“I’m not driving, so what difference does it make? You need to focus on making her give me my money back.”

The first officer knocks on the door. “Police. Open the door.”

I step back and open the door. “Thank goodness you’re here. I thought he was going to break the door down.”

“I’m Officer Shaw and this is Officer Lee,” the first officer says pointing to the second. “We’re responding to---”

Scott tries to push past the officers. “Danielle! Where is my money?”

The second officer acts as a wall blocking him. In Scott’s flailing, he ends up punching Officer Lee in the face.

“That’s assault, buddy. You’re going in.” Officer Lee pushes Scott up against the wall and reads him his rights.

“That was an accident,” Scott yells struggling against their hold. “If anyone is an assaulter, it’s her. See the bruises under my eyes. She tried to break my nose yesterday. Then, she also kicked me in the dick. I want her taken in too.”

“Well, then, you should’ve called it in yesterday.” Officer Lee says. “Right now, it’s all about you and your assault. Come on, buddy.”

I can’t help but smile as Scott is dragged down the hall in handcuffs. That sight almost makes everything okay again. Almost.

Officer Shaw stays behind and asks me to explain what’s going on. I tell him everything, including how I used money from our joint account to pay for the wedding. Just as planned. I even show him the emails with payment confirmations.

“This guy sounds like a real charmer,” Shaw says as he puts his notebook in his pocket. “We’ll bring him downtown, let him sober up. What happens after that really depends on him. He probably won’t be in for long. If he bothers you again, you call us right away. You may want to consider getting a restraining order.”

I hold out my hand. “Thank you, officer. I feel better already.”

Chapter Seven

Danielle

Mercy tosses a bottle ofwater to me as we watch the kids run on the blacktop behind the elementary school. “It’s freaking hot today. This humidity is so thick. I wish it would just rain already.”

“Then, we’d be stuck inside with sixty energy-packed kids and no place for them to run it off,” I point out as I chug half of the bottle.

Mercy’s right. It’s hot, as in Amazon rainforest hot. “That would be worse,” I say.

Mercy shakes her head as she wipes her forehead with the bandana she had tied around her head. “I think I’m melting. Thank God it’s Friday.”

We’ve been working this camp together for the last three years. The city has a camp program run through the schools, giving kids something to do all summer to keep them occupied and out of trouble at a price parents can afford. The city is riddled with private summer programs for children, but they’re expensive, and living in the city is costly enough. So, the Board of Ed and the Parks and Rec department came up with this program, and a lot of teachers work as counselors during their off months.

“Still nothing from Scott?” Mercy asks just as Robbie Henderson spikes the kickball to the ground in celebration for getting Johnny Michaels out at second.

Robbie shouts, “You suck.”

“Robbie,” I call out. “That isn’t nice. Do you want to sit out while I talk to your mom and tell her you’re being mean?”

“No, Miss Jacobs.” Robbie shakes his head.

I stare at him. “Anything else you’d like to say?”

He turns to Johnny. “Sorry, Johnny.”

“Thank you, Robbie,” I praise him and turn back to Mercy. “Nope. I blocked him, remember?”

I want nothing more to do with that man! He did a great job of hiding his true colors all these years.