Page 12 of Remnants

Nora

NINE

“Nora, we’ve talked about your tendency to try and swoop in and fix things. You don’t have to be the hero in everyone’s story.”

I roll my eyes at the middle-aged woman leaning back in her desk chair.

Her sandy blonde hair is held back in one of those giant plastic claws that I feel would be annoying to wear if you planned on resting your head back at all.

Her name is Doris, and she is a plump, mild-mannered, therapist that the VA sunk its teeth into when she was fresh out of college.

Now, over a decade later, the poor woman is overworked, underpaid, and overwhelmed.

I feel bad for her—dealing with us can’t be easy, yet she tries her hardest to make sure each client is given her full attention.

This is why during our weekly sessions, I refrain from unloading on her.

Well, usually. Today is not that day. Between the PTSD attack and my argument with Kaitlin, I haven’t shut up for forty-five minutes—a rarity for me.

“I am not trying to fix her. I’m trying to protect her. She is obviously in trouble and I can’t stop it.” I cross my arms over my chest as I let out a loud breath.

“And do you feel like, maybe your inability to protect her may be causing—”

“Stop,” I interrupt and begin to stand. “This has nothing to do with my time overseas.”

“Nora, you and your team were trying to save those children from the attack. You are going to have to forgive yourself one day. No one could’ve seen the trap.” I brush past Doris and head toward the door. I’ve talked enough today.

“Because of my stupidity, three of my men, one of my women, and eight children were killed. There is no forgiving that. I think our time is up for the day. Have a good week, Doris.” I shut the door behind me, ignoring her calls as I walk down the crowded hall.

“Do you want him to disappear?” I snort at Mac’s comment as I continue working the shading in for the tattoo on his back. It’s a compass with a background on an old map. I’ve been working on it on and off for a few months when he and I both have some free time.

“Trust me,” I mutter as I wipe away some of the excess ink and stare at the piece before picking up some more ink. “If I thought she wouldn’t hate me forever, he’d already be underground.”

“Remember what momma always said.” I laugh at that.

Our mom, the farm woman that she was, had a knack for reminding people who threatened her babies that a pig could indeed consume a human in under ten minutes.

It was a little factoid that most of Mac’s girlfriends, and my one boyfriend, did not enjoy hearing.

“I miss her.” I sigh as I feel the familiar burn behind my eyes that happened whenever I thought of her.

“I know, kid. I miss her too.”

“She would know exactly what to say to fix this.”

Mac lets out a breath as he looks at me through the mirror.

“Nora, what you have to do is be there for her. You need to make her realize that she’s not going to be completely alone if she does choose to leave him.

She needs support right now, not a knight.

Katie has probably been told what to do her entire life.

How to dress, talk, act, think. You need to show her there are other options out there, and then let her make the decision to leave. ”

“What if by waiting, he hurts her again. What if he hurts her too bad?”

There is a long pause before Mac looks back up and smirks at me. “Well then, there’s always the pigs.”

Putting my Jeep in park, I turn off the ignition as Sam whines from his spot in the backseat. The poor guy is just as stressed and ready to relax this evening as I am.

“Okay, bud,” I say as I open the door and grab my cane to brace myself as I get out.

As I open Sam’s door, he leaps out and instantly starts snarling, pushing me behind him.

I look around the dark yard, nothing catching my eye.

I’m about to chalk it up to Sam’s impaired vision, until my motion light turns on and I see James sitting on my steps.

He stands and walks over to me, ignoring Sam’s warning.

“That’s far enough, James, you’re making him nervous.” I keep half of my body inside the back of the car. James holds his hands up to his chest.

“No need for hostility, I just came to talk to you about Kaitlin. Though, if your dog is unable to control himself around humans, that might be a cause for concern, considering his size and all.” I feel my stomach twist. Is he threatening Sam?

I look down at my growling protector. Sam is the friendliest dog, hands down.

There is no aggression in his body. Great Dane’s are truly gentle giants and Sam has never growled at a soul, until now. Until James.

“He isn’t used to men invading our space.

What do you need?” I’m not afraid of him—physically.

I may be missing a leg but I could end him before he can land a single blow.

I’ve taken on bigger and badder monsters.

I’ve ended those who privileged pussies like James could only have nightmares about.

My concern isn’t me, it’s Katie, and now Sam.

“Well, first I wanted to thank you for getting Kaitlin to the hospital, that was very heroic of you.” Two seconds, that is all it would take me to break both his hands and end his fucking career. I bite the inside of my cheek and hold myself firm.

“I didn’t get her to the hospital. The pharmacist called the ambulance. I happened to be there when they came.” James nods his stupid fucking head as he takes another step closer.

“Sam, fuss !” I yell his German ‘heel’ command as his growl deepens. Instantly, Sam sits and stops growling.

James raises a brow and looks at me. “Neat trick.”

“It’s not a trick, it's a command.”

“Anywho, I still wanted to thank you for staying with her. Kaitlin is very… accident-prone. I had no idea how bad her tumble was until I got the call from my colleague stating she was in the emergency room.”

“A tumble? Was she rock climbing during this tumble the other day and that’s what caused her cracked ribs?” James lets out a chuckle before closing the gap between us.

“ Nein, Sam!” I command, stopping him before he can attack. He sits there whining and barking. I watch James’ lip curl.

“Be a shame if something happened to that bark-box. Might want to keep him close.” The cool night air is filled with the distinct sound of a gun slide and James’ eyes go wide as he looks down between us.

I pulled out my nine millimeter from the holster I have mounted to the back of the driver’s seat.

“You have no idea who you are fucking with, Dr. Chambers,” I say through gritted teeth. “Unlike you, I do know everything about you. I also know how precious those hands are. If I were you, I would be really fucking careful tossing around threats when it wouldn’t take much to end your career.”

James’ jaw ticks and he looks between me and my snarling shadow before stepping back. “You keep your mutt and your gimp-ass out of my life, and that includes my wife.” He backs up another step. I put the gun back before closing the door.

“Make you a deal,” I say while leaning on my cane. “I’ll leave you alone, I’ll live my life in solitude, and be the best fucking neighbor you could ask for—the second you stop beating the shit out of your wife.” I watch as his right eye twitches and his upper lip curls.

“She fell,” he growls.

“I’m sure she did after you hit her,” I scoff as I start walking toward my front door.

“But,” I call from over my shoulder, “keep causing that girl to fall, and I’m going to start snipping off parts until you can’t touch her anymore.

Enlighten me, Dr. Chambers. How many fingers does a celebrity plastic surgeon need to continue his career? Now, you have a good night, sir.”