“Thank you for squeezing me in. I need this emergency session,” Isabel said, grateful for John’s help and happy that she kept extra workout gear in her trunk.
“No problem. We’re here to help.” John clasped her shoulder. Tall and built, he carried himself with the same confident awareness as Dutch. “What’s up?”
“The guy I told you about popped up today out of the blue.”
Concern tightened across his features. “Did he threaten you?”
This was where it sometimes got tricky with Chad. He hadn’t violated the restraining order and he hadn’t spoken to her. If she told anyone that he wagged his fingers at her as one might do a child, they’d blow her off. Tell her she was overreacting and to ignore the taunt.
But to dismiss the slightest action on Chad’s part would be a mistake that could cost her life. Of that, she was certain.
“He intimidated me on purpose, but not in a way that I have a legal recourse.” Not this time. Not yet. But she worried things might escalate. “And I froze when I saw him. The terror and panic came rushing back and I felt helpless.”
“I understand.” John tightened his hand on her in a reassuring way. “I want to be clear—it’s not okay for someone to make you fear for your safety or cause you emotional distress. When you have the option to call the cops and not engage, take it. That’s best.”
“What if that’s not an option?”
“Then you need to fight until you can get away from him and get help. I think we need to work on some extreme scenarios where you feel legitimately threatened. Get you to the point where you don’t hesitate. Freezing, even for a few seconds, can mean the difference between living and dying.”
She was in favor of living. “Sounds good.”
“But it’ll take time for practice to become habit and habit to become a reflex. It’s not going to happen in one or two sessions.”
If only she knew how much time she had until Chad finally snapped. “I can come in more often.”
John nodded. “What’s your parking situation like at the gallery and your house?”
She explained about the valet garage two blocks down and told him about the gated garage with security cameras at her condo.
“There’s a luxury valet service I know of. They’ll pick your car up for you in front of the art gallery, fuel it, wash it and deliver it right at your door. It’s a little pricey, but you might want to consider it. Save yourself the two-block walk.”
Jim, the valet at the garage, wouldn’t be happy to see her go, but the premium service was exactly what she needed. “I think I’ll try it.”
“You can grab a card at the desk on your way out. Now, let’s go work on your self-defense skills.”
Her phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID. It was her uncle. “I need to take this, but I’ll only be a minute.” After John nodded and stepped away, giving her privacy, she answered. “Hola, tío.”
“Hola, mi hija.” Since her dad had died, her uncle started calling her his daughter.
His love for her was undeniable. She felt deeply for him, treasured their bond, appreciated his attempt to fill the void left by her dad. He was almost a second father to her. Almost.
“I won’t be able to make it to your fund-raiser this year. Lo siento,” he said, apologizing in Spanish. “I know how much the event means to you.”
“It’s okay.” She hid the disappointment in her voice. “I know you’re a busy man.”
“But I still want to see you.” His deep voice and thick Mexican accent sounded so much like her father’s sometimes it made her heart ache. “I have something to discuss. Next Wednesday, I’ll come up to LA and we’ll have dinner. Clear your evening for me.”
He didn’t make requests. He made demands. Not just of her, but everyone around him. He’d been that way for as long as she could remember, and she’d learned it was easier to go along with him than refuse.
“Okay. What time?” she asked.
“Let’s say seven. I’ll send a car for you.”
“Gracias, tío. Te amo.” Thank you, uncle. I love you. “See you soon.”
“Te amo. Adios.”
Isabel hung up with a fresh wave of tension rising inside her. She dismissed it, not wanting the tightness in her chest to be related to her uncle’s call and whatever he wanted to discuss. Instead, she focused on not letting that psycho Chad catch her off guard again.