The Tyrant's Trophy

Maybell

The three of us sat in Denny’s, awaiting our food; Chad, Basil, and me. After my check-up, Basil decided we should eat and placed the location decision on me. Again, I don’t get hungry, and I barely got a job, so I still had nothing to pay them back, but this also worked in my favor in a way. I didn’t want either Chad or Basil to choose the place because they picked such high-class places where I don’t belong and treat me so well. They’re too good to me, and it just makes me feel guilty.

So I blurted out Dennys, and here we are: Drinking coffee and feeling pretty awkward.

“I think that went well.” Basil tittered; he and Chad wouldn’t make eye contact. Though they spoke gently with me, the two men were icy towards each other. “I would have preferred we ate in a much classier restaurant - that's what I had in mind - but this will do.”

“That’s rude.” Chad sniped as he patted my hand. “I think Maybell picked a great place to get grub - this place makes her comfortable.”

While the two men strangely bickered, my mind went back to the clinic. Quinn was eccentric; she was nothing like Chad except for the examination. I wasn’t comfortable with her at first - honestly, going to her clinic downright frightened me, but the thing that gave me the courage to go through it was Chad being there. He promised to protect me, so I’m choosing to trust him.

I found that it was worth it.

Quinn turned out not to be so bad.

It was obvious she loved her brother. When she and Chas exited her office, she led me to a private room. Chad couldn’t follow, but his hat gave me comfort. I found myself constantly grabbing it to remind myself it would be ok. I will be ok.

Once in the room, she turned to me. “Let’s get one thing straight,” The resemblance in her glare was uncanny: she looked precisely like Chad! “I heard about you, and I know about your baby.” I flinched at that. “I know exactly what those rumors say about you - heard them countless times - so I hope that this examination proves those sayings false or else.” The threat was crystal clear, but her eyes softened, “I don’t want my brother hurt. As his big sister, I want to protect him because he’s too loyal sometimes - especially towards those he cares about.” She briefly fingered the hat before sighing. “When he promises something, Chad stops at nothing to fulfill them.”

I couldn’t bring myself to fear her after that. Once that was said, I saw Quinn in a new light. She cared for her brother, and she feared pain being placed on him. It warmed me to see that there were doctors like her, caring and authentic with how they treat people, and it made the threat less intimidating.

“I understand, and thank you.” She was caught off guard, but honestly, she had no idea how refreshing her honesty was to me. Phil’s not like that: he takes pleasure in deception, almost as much as he took pleasure in hurting me.

“Well - good. Please, remove all clothes and makeup.” She walked into a smaller room conjoined to this one.

When I finished, she came back with some equipment and gloves. The procedure began. She did the usual; ear checks, tongue check, and breathing check. Then came the next step: She checked the bruises on my face and body, taking photos as she went. I closed my eyes, trying to drown out the embarrassment of being seen like this.

As she examined my back and private areas, she made conversation. “So my brother’s your bodyguard? How’s that going so far?”

I closed my eyes, glad said man was NOT ALLOWED IN HERE! Oh God, I feel so exposed! “It’s - he’s - uh.” I stammered, unable to form complete sentences as Quinn performed the rape kit. My face was a tomato by the time she finished.

If mom saw me, she would be as mortified as I felt. God, I never want her to know about this!

“I’m sorry about that.” Quinn finished the examination. “It’s always uncomfortable performing these tests, and thank you for trusting me.” She allowed me to get dressed, to which I hastily complied. “We have just one more test to do: blood work.”

“I-it’s ok.” I grabbed Chad’s hat and held it to my chest without thinking about it. “I’m the one sorry, and to answer your question, Chad’s been great to me.” Still glad he wasn’t in here, though. “He’s the reason why I’m here, actually.”

“Oh?” The woman took a syringe out of her drawer and a clean needle from those dispensers.

I allowed Chad’s sister to take my arm and draw blood. I winced as the needle pierced my flesh, but the pain was overlooked by the blood that came out of me. It was thick and darker than the norm. I wasn’t the only one confused by it either: Quinn silently gasped before shooting questions at me one after another.

She asked about my stool and any history of blood clots, hemorrhoids, gastric problems, or liver failures. As far as I know, I had none of those problems; my family has always been healthy - we had to be to work the land and survive.

“You sure?”

“Far as I know, yes.”

“That makes no sense.” Quinn’s furrowed her brows. “Your husband’s a doctor; how did he not notice this? Your blood’s too deoxidized to be fine, but everything else is showing normal.”

“My husband never takes my blood.” I pipped.

“But doesn’t he give you regular checkups? As his wife, I would think a routine check-up would be a must?”

I shook my head. Phil doesn’t care about that stuff. “ “If you can walk and breathe, you’re fine.” ” I repeated the very words Phil spoke to me the second I felt off with my body. It was my first trimester; Phil didn’t believe I was sick, so I didn’t get any checkups until I passed out. Even then, he didn’t take me to the hospital. He did it himself, and that’s when we found out about my baby. “As his wife, it was just expected of me to remain healthy.”

“WHAT A JERK!” I jumped at the outburst. “What did I expect from that self-absorbed egomaniac?! Why did you MARRY that man?!” As she raged, she swabbed the inside of my mouth and placed both the swab and my blood in separate tubes. “Are you sure you feel fine?”

I could only blink. “I feel cold, but that’s normal.”

The doctor huffed, fixing her on her face. “You’re a weird lady; you know that? Guess that’s why my brother’s fond of you.”

I tilted my head; The way she said that confused me. “I guess.” I fixed my dress. “Your brother is a great friend. Actually,” I giggled awkwardly. “Chad reminds me a little of my dad, and it’s comforting. My pa was a soldier too, and he was strict: kept a stoic demeanor no matter what!”

“My dad was the same way.” Quinn barked out a laugh. “My grandfather too! Man, that old man wouldn’t crack one smile - not one!” She made a ridiculous face that made me choke on my laughter. “He believed that warriors shouldn’t show weaknesses - being emotional was bad. He was hard on my dad, even harder on Chad for that reason.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Even though Quinn shrugged, I could tell it bothered her. What exactly did Chad go through growing up? He mentioned that being a Navy SEAL was required of him - with the men before him being SEALs too. Does Chad ever regret it?

“It’s no big deal. Older people are usually stubborn. I will say this; the man loved my grandma. Despite being a robot, he was sweet to her, and NOBODY was allowed to disrespect her. It’s pretty cute once I look back on it.” We walked out of the room. “What about you?”

Warmth flooded my heart, remembering pa. “Pa was a character; he preferred speaking through his actions, not words. He loved my ma; when he got back from serving, he became a cop, and every day - no matter how tired he was, he always stopped by the local florist to get my ma a flower.”

“What happened to your folks?”

“They divorced.” The memory made my heart ache.

“I’m sorry.” Quinn patted my shoulder. “Were there problems?”

I shook my head, no. “That’s the thing - there weren’t any problems. My pa loved ma and ma was crazy about him. They were made for each other, so I figured, if ma wasn’t why pa left us…then maybe it was me.”

We paused in our walking. Quinn made me look her in the face. “Why do you think that?”

“Because I’m no good.” I shrugged as if I were commenting on the weather. “Pa was the kindest man anyone could meet; strength of a bull and patience of a saint. I would push him, though. He hated talking about his time in the military, but I was foolishly curious. I would pester him about it, and one day I asked a horrible question. An awful question. That was the first and last time pa slapped me. After that, he divorced ma and left us.”

The expression on his face haunts me. The way his face contorted once he realized he hit me. Pa looked like he did the unforgivable.

“That was also the first time my pa cried.” He cried and hugged me so tight my ribs felt as if they would collapse. “I didn’t speak to him for a good eight years - I couldn’t.” Because I knew I ruined his and ma’s love. If I had only kept my mouth shut. “Then one day, pa was killed; stabbed while protecting a child.”

He was at the town’s Walmart, a couple of miles from home. Pa was grocery shopping - off duty - when he heard a kid scream for help in the parking lot. Some man broke into a jeep and tried to take a ten-year-old, but my dad stopped him. No one got a look at the kidnapper’s face, and while my dad fended him off, he pulled a knife and stabbed pa in the kidney.

The man got away, and the hospital couldn’t do anything to save pa. I only got to say goodbye to him, not sorry.

“I’m sorry.” We reached the boys, who remained seated, and avoided eye contact. I wondered what they spoke about; both were tight-jawed and irritated.

Quinn promised to send Chad my results as soon as they “popped out of the oven.” I chortled. Quinn’s way of expression amused me; also, it was entertaining to see how riled Chad could get around his sister. It must be nice; having a sibling.

“Earth to May.” Basil poked the middle of my forehead, bringing me back to the present. “That’s better. I got a question for you.” Unexpectedly, the man took my hand in his. “As I said, I would have preferred to do this in a more special place, but here I go. Maybell Sweetheart,” He patted my hand as he said my name. “I have only known you for a couple of weeks, but I feel like you’ve always been here. Would you do me the honors of,” He wouldn’t let me move my hand. “Being the maid of honor at mine and Abijah’s wedding!”

I felt all the anxiety deflate. Looking at Chad, he looked as relieved as me…also he held his cup in a throwing position. “Basil,” I responded politely. “That’s…sweet?” ‘Was it?’ “But you don’t know me well to make that decision. Plus, it’s your fiancee’s choice, so shouldn’t you talk it out with her?” I’m not going to be the reason Abijah beats him into next week.

Basil acted as if I kicked him. “You’re right, but Abijah wouldn’t mind! I know she loves you like a sister - same as me! Though there is Kelly…” he began mumbling to himself before perking up again. “Well, if you can’t be a maid of honor, then you’re my best man!”

“Huh?” Chad and I looked at one another.

“Yeah, my best man! It’ll be perfect, and we can find you the most amazing outfit - not more amazing than the love of my life - but perfect for my best man!”

He spent the next hour or so talking nonstop about preparations, and tailors, and asking for my input for decorations. From here on out, I thought that things couldn’t get weirder.