Beautifying Bernadette: A BBW Romantic Comedy (The Jackson Tribe Book 1) (9 page)

When Toni looked up into her face, Bernie started to question her original assessment. She could tell looking into Toni’s deep blue eyes that Toni had an old soul, but her face also carried more maturity than she had seen from across the table. Toni’s hood slipped a bit and Bernie noticed jet black hair with purple streaks.

Toni let out a very timid “Hi” before looking back at her hands again.

Bernie took a slice of berry pie and a scoop of ice cream as it passed by. Nonchalant, she asked, “So, what's your story? As much or little as you’d like to share—there’s no pressure. I just think we might be kindred spirits in this craziness.”

Toni offered a mild smile. “They are really loud. Umm, I’m just here ‘cause Mr. and Mrs. Jackson said maybe they could help me with… some stuff. So, I’m here. I got here last night. So, I don’t really know much.”

Bernie continued eating, showing interest, but not giving her full attention so as to not overwhelm the girl. “So, how old are you, Toni? And is Toni short for anything?”

Toni kept playing with the food on her plate. “I turned nineteen last week. I know this place is usually for kids, but the Jacksons said it was okay. And, my name is Antoinette. Like Marie? The French lady? I don’t think it’s actually a name, but my ma liked it I guess. Her grandparents were French or something.”

Bernie smiled as Toni opened up a little. “That’s a beautiful name, I love creative names. Well, since you were so kind as to share with me I’ll tell you that I am about to turn twenty-four, I’m an elementary school counselor, but I am hoping to get my Master’s in “regular” counseling, and I hope to see more of you this summer. I am going to see if the Jacksons need some help around here. But, really I just wanted to let you know that there is a non-judgmental listening ear available if you need one. You look as overwhelmed as I feel, so maybe we can help each other with the crazies, yeah?”

Toni actually looked in her eyes and nodded. “I’d like that.”

Just then Levi’s phone started ringing. His voice took on a very business-like tone. “Yes, sir. Yes, sir, I’m right on it.”

He looked seriously at Bernie. “I need to go get a kid out of a drug bust, the social worker on duty is stuck at a domestic dispute, would you be willing to come with me and just be a second pair of eyes and ears?”

Bernie stood up immediately. “Of course!” She squeezed Toni’s shoulder. “I’ll talk with you later. If you need to get in touch with me, I’ll make sure to leave my number with Maggie, okay?”

Toni nodded and Bernie raced out of the house with Levi.

As they pulled into the neighborhood she had picked Ashley up in the day before, her stomach plummeted, it sunk even further as they pulled up in front of the same house.

“Saul!” she gasped.

Levi gave her a sharp look. “You know someone here?”

She nodded. “This is where I picked up Ash yesterday when she called me to get her.”

Levi shook his head and gave her an angry look. “You two were here alone?”

Bernie nodded defensively. “Well, yeah, I mean did you want me to just leave her?”

“Never again, Bernadette, if you need to go somewhere like this again, you call me. Understand? This neighborhood is known for being incredibly sketchy and I don’t want you anywhere near it, got it?”

“Okay. Whatever. Fine.”

Levi raised his eyebrows. “Excuse me?”

“Um, yes… sir?”

“Better,” he grunted as he got out of the truck.

Bernie didn’t wait for him to open her door and jumped out at the same time.

“They already arrested the drug dealers, so we should be pretty safe, but, just to be sure, stay right at my side understood?” he said with a look that said, “Roasted buns if you don’t obey.”

This time the “yes, sir” wasn’t forced or a question. Bernie had no desire to leave his side.

They walked up to the house, Levi slightly in front shielding her from potential harm, and saw an officer and Saul standing to the side.

Bernie let go of Levi and ran and knelt by them. “Saul! Are you okay? What happened?”

He looked young and vulnerable wearing the officer’s jacket and his eyes were red rimmed; he had obviously been crying. “I… I dunno, Red, my buddy J was jus’ lyin’ there and I got scared and called 911 and then the cops came too and… I think I did real bad, Red. They never gonna forgive me. And I don’ even know if J’s okay. They took him out on oneuh those bed things with the handles, ya know?” He crumpled to his knees and Bernie pulled him into her chest and he began sobbing.

She calmly stroked his head gently, seeming completely oblivious to anyone except the heartbroken child in her arms. “You’re a good kid, Saul. And you did the right thing, honey. Calling 911 was the right choice, okay? Your friend was obviously in danger and you needed to make a split second call.” She looked up at Levi and the other officer. “Is he in trouble? Are his parents coming?”

The officer explained that his grandmother apparently lived down the street and Saul lived with her. They needed to do a cursory check of his living conditions, but he was welcome to go back to her as long as he promised to stay out of trouble.

Still holding Saul, Bernie reached into her pocket and pulled out a slightly bent business card. “Saul, here is my cell phone number and email. If you need anything, even if it’s just to talk, you give me a call, understand?”

Saul nodded and wiped his nose on the collar of his shirt. “Can I go home now?” He didn’t sound like a thug anymore. He just sounded like a little boy who wanted to go home.

Bernie nodded. “We will come with you to make sure you’re settled and safe, okay?”

Saul nodded and let her link arms with him and he led her down the street towards his apartment building.

Levi and the other officer walked a few steps behind them, far enough that Saul didn’t feel crowded, but close enough that they could foresee any trouble that may occur. They ended up in front of a rundown apartment building, none of the streets lights appeared to be in working order, there were broken windows, trash and laundry strewn various places.

When Saul led them inside, Bernie had to fight the bile rising to her throat at the oppressive heat and smell. It was only seventy degrees outdoors, but the inside was like a sauna, and smelled of feces and sweat. And blood. Bernie was pretty sure the spicy, mildly rotten stench, was blood. She squeezed Saul tighter and reached wildly behind her for Levi’s hand, he grabbed it immediately.

Saul led them up the barely lit concrete stairs, they had to step over broken toys and piles of sticky matter that Bernie didn’t even want to know what it was. Her heart was breaking more and more the closer they got to his apartment. She again thanked the heavens that she had chosen against social work as her specialty. She didn’t think she would be able to deal with this on a daily basis. It was heart breaking enough to hear the stories from the kids she saw at the elementary school.

Finally, Saul stopped at a door that looked slightly cleaner than the rest and had a withered poinsettia wreath on the door. Bernie gave a cursory glance and wondered if it had been there since Christmas. Saul unlocked the door and they all stepped inside. Bernie was surprised at how clean it was, it didn’t smell badly and, although obviously in disrepair, the floors were clean and everything had a cheery atmosphere. There was a worn dining set to the left with mismatched chairs, the room the door opened into held a ripped couch with homemade knit afghans, milk crates with boards that seemed to function as a coffee table, and a huge flat screen TV. Bernie raised her eyebrow at the TV, but didn’t say anything.

Sitting next to the couch in a recliner was an older lady. She had silvery white hair, mocha skin, and thick coke bottle glasses. She was knitting, or crocheting Bernie could never tell the difference, but looked up and smiled at them, speaking in a very shaky voice, “Welcome home, Grandson. Who are your friends?”

Saul walked over and very tenderly held the older lady’s hand. He spoke slowly and clearly, but with a gentleness to his voice. “Grandma, these men and this nice lady are just here to make sure that we are safe, okay? They are just making sure everyone in the apartment is healthy and okay. Everyone this is my grandma, Iris Whitacre. “

“Well, isn’t that just so sweet of them? Offer them some iced tea. Please, won’t you all sit down? It’s so rare that Saul brings home his friends. He is usually so busy making sure I am taken care of and making money to help keep food on the table, he never takes time to entertain.”

Saul looked pleadingly at the adults. Bernie assumed his grandmother did not know his actual goings on, and tugged at Levi’s hand to get him to sit down on the couch with her.  “Mrs. Whitacre, you have a lovely home. I can tell that you take very good care of Saul. He is so lucky to have you.”

Levi sat next to her and cleared his throat. “Officer Jenkins will need to take a quick look around, but Bernadette is right. I think we can tell that you love your grandson very much. I am sorry to have to tell you that—ouch!”

He glared at Bernie who had pinched his arm. He gave her a warning look and continued. “As I was saying, you are probably unaware, but some of the people he has been hanging around with lately were involved in drugs. We have no reason to believe that Saul was implicated with the others or that he had anything to do with the drugs, but it’s imperative that he not get back in with those types of people, okay? I don’t know if he has a curfew or something, but it probably would be a good idea.”

Bernie had crossed her arms and was glaring at him by this point, but did not try to stop him any further.

Mrs. Whitacre had raised herself up on the recliner and looked significantly taller than she had thirty seconds ago. “Saul Xavier Whitacre! Am I to understand that you've been around drugs? They're saying drugs? You told me you were at your job, you told me you were out making a living! You didn’t say nothing to me about—drugs!”

Saul was practically cowering at the edge of the couch where he was standing. “Well, Grandma see—”

She didn’t let him get any further.  “Don't you 'well, grandma' me, boy. You listen to me, and you listen good.” Releasing his hand, she pointed to a spot directly in front of her chair. "Get your butt right here."

Saul reluctantly obeyed. Dragging his feet, he stood in front of his grandmother looking like an errant child. 

Bernie had the awful urge to burst out laughing.

“No grandson of mine is going to throw his life away in drugs, you hear me? You are worth more than that. You are smart and creative and a good boy! And I will not let you toss your life away by getting involved in drugs or gangs or any of that foolishness.”

Looking at the officers, she shook her head sadly. “I promise you that he is going to be so busy doing chores and schoolwork he won’t have any time to get into trouble. Please, give him another chance.”

Levi spoke quickly and clearly. “Mrs. Whitacre, like I said, we have no reason to think that Saul was involved in any way. We just wanted you to be aware where we found him so you could keep him out of trouble.”

Saul’s grandmother looked at him sternly. “Oh, I will be.”

Levi smiled and nodded. Standing he offered Bernie his hand as if to signal it was time for them to go. “Good, I know you will, Mrs. Whitacre. You have a beautiful home, and I know you want the best for Saul.”

Bernie let go of Levi’s hand and walked over to Saul and pulled him into a big hug and whispered in his ear. “My cell phone number is on that card. You call me if you need anything, got it?”

Saul nodded and blushed when she pulled away. The other officer did his sweep of the bedrooms and bathroom and everything seemed in order, so they left.

Bernie left with the two officers and silently prayed that Saul would stay out of trouble.

Three weeks later. . .

Bernie sighed and sunk down into her office chair. She was relieved and a little sad to drop her last item into her box of things to take home for the summer. It was always a little bittersweet to see the last student out the door for break, but this year she was even happier to see them go than usual. She was ready to really focus on her relationship with Levi, and to start work at The Ranch. She’d found a grant that would pay for her to take a couple classes towards her Master’s over the summer in exchange for twenty hours a week of volunteer work at a non-profit. It was a win-win for everyone. The Ranch could get a dedicated counselor for the summer, Bernie could advance her education, and it didn’t hurt that she would be around Levi’s family—a lot. She spun in the chair and giggled. Everything was working out perfectly. Her cell phone started buzzing in her pocket, so she pulled it out and answered—it was a number she did not recognize.

“Bernie Douglas.”

Saul’s frantic whispers came through the phone. “Red! I need you! I need you real bad. They got into some bad shit and they won’t lemme leave the house! The guys’ house—not my place. Ya know, the den? Please hurry!”

In a more normal voice, she could hear him kind of far away.

“Nah man, I just had a text from my sidepiece, ya know? Those bitches are always tryin’ to get a piece of this action, you know what I’m saying?” Then the line went dead.

Bernie grabbed her box and purse and raced out of the school building to her car.

Speeding out of the parking lot towards the “drug den” she grabbed her phone to call Levi and let him know what was going on, but then remembered that the guys had told her that if Saul was with those felons again he could get taken away from his grandmother. Also, Levi had taken the day off from work to help his parents set up for some event tonight to raise money for The Ranch. She told herself she wouldn’t bother him until she knew something was actually wrong. Even though she knew that something
was
actually wrong. Besides, she didn’t want to get Saul in trouble. 

Really, a small part of her just wanted to prove to him she could handle this on her own. She didn’t need a man. She was a trained counselor, that was practically a negotiator.

And really what were the punks gonna do, shoot me? Pshaw!

She would get them to just let Saul go and it would be fine. She dropped her phone into her bra and sped down the street.

Bernie got to Saul’s neighborhood in record time, briefly thanking the heavens that there hadn’t been any cops out because her speed had definitely been on the “Way High” end of the spectrum. She jumped out of the car, not locking it, and barely closing the door, and raced up to the house. She banged on the front door and tried Saul’s phone several times. No one answered, so she tried the handle and the door opened right up. She hesitated for just a moment, but decided Saul really needed her, so she went in.

Stepping inside, she yelled out timidly, “H-hello?”

And then with more bravado than she was feeling, she called out louder, “Excuse me! Is anyone home? I’m just here to get my friend.”

She jumped when the punk Ashley’d had the one night stand with from Glitter came down the stairs. He glared at her.

“You again? Bitch, what are you doing here? Did I invite you into my abode? Did I send you a message saying ‘I want some white ass to fuck today?’ Actually you know what--that ain’t a bad idea.”

He strode over and leaned into her ear and whispered menacingly, “Is that what you want, cunt? You want my cock, don’t you?”

Bernie swallowed and shook her head. “N-no! I just want Saul that’s it. I’ll leave. I won’t come back. I just need Saul.”

Punk shook his head. “That boy ain’t going nowhere. He was a bad boy and we’re going to teach him what happens to snitches in my hood. But, as for you, I think you do want me and I want to hear you say it.”

Suddenly he grabbed her hair and yanked it so hard she saw stars. “Say it! ‘I want your cock and I want it hard!’”

Bernie couldn’t even catch her breath she was shaking so hard. “N-n-n-n-no.”

Punk, her hair still clenched in his fist, kneed her in the stomach. “Say it, bitch!”

Bernie threw up all over him.

“God!” He threw her away from him, and she hit her head on the edge of an end table.

***

The next thing she knew, she was waking up with the worst headache ever, she felt like she had broken a rib, there was something wet on her face.  She tried to reach her hand up to feel it, but found herself handcuffed to a bedframe. She yanked at it a few times, but it felt really solid. She tried the other hand and it was free, so she touched her head lightly and it came back sticky and red. Alarmed, she looked down and realized that whoever had tied her up in here had taken her pants. But her panties were still on and intact, so she didn’t think anything untoward had happened. Her mouth tasted like old vomit. She glanced down at her shirt and it was ripped and apparently covered in puke, but still on her body. She felt wildly at her bra with her free hand and sighed in extreme relief when she felt her phone under her boob. She reached in and pulled it out. The battery was flashing “1%” and so she didn’t read any of the twenty texts or voicemails or missed called from Levi, she just sent a message.

At Saul’s drug den—bring back up.

She hit send just as her phone went black, praying wildly that it worked. She could hear yelling outside the room.

“I’m so sorry, man!” It sounded like Saul and his voice sounded weak and strange. “Oomph! No man—please!”

She could hear obvious sounds of a scuffle and, based on the shouts and cries, she assumed they were holding Saul down and beating him. It didn’t sound like he was giving anything in return other than apologies. She desperately pulled at the handcuffs, but there was no give.

She started to cry. “God, please send help…”

***

Levi, dressed and ready for the evening, was pacing back and forth in front of the barn where guests were starting to arrive. He checked his phone for the twentieth time that hour, and shot another text.

Where the hell are you, Bernadette? If you’re “just running late,” I am going to blister your ass so hard you won’t want to sit down for a month.

Just as he hit send a text came in from her.

“Thank God!” He opened it up and his blood went cold.

He wasn’t “Mr. Chill” whose parents were throwing a gala anymore, within seconds he was all business, he didn’t even bother to find his parents. He just shot them a text as he rushed to the truck.

911—pray hard--gtg

He hopped in his truck and drove towards the “drug den”. On the way, he called his partner Karl and dispatch, and told them he needed back up and where to go.

Levi pulled up in front of the house, tossed his tie and suit jacket on the front seat of the truck, made sure his Glock was secure in its holster, and ran onto the porch. He did a quick visual sweep of the porch and the windows. He knew he should wait for backup, he was off duty, but that didn’t mean he could go in half-cocked. But he was too worried about Bernadette to care about protocol at the moment. Without bothering to knock or introduce himself, he just ran in the front door. Doing a quick sweep of the living room and main floor, from what he could gather with a cursory glance it appeared that everyone was upstairs. At that moment, Saul cried out again and Levi started up the stairs. By this point, he had moved his weapon to his hands and was creeping up the stairs pressed against the wall. Once he reached the top floor, he could see one of the doors was partially opened, and that’s where the sounds seemed to be emanating from.

Peeking through the cracked door, he could see two rough looking men holding Saul’s arms while a third kicked and punched him. He threw the door wide open and shouted, “Police! Hands up, and hit the floor!”

The two guys holding Saul were so startled they dropped him while they instantly obeyed Levi’s cry and fell prostrate to the floor their hands covering their heads. The Punk beating Saul however, turned, pulling a gun out of his waistband—Levi shot him in the chest. Just as the gunshot rang out, Karl and another officer named Dunkin came around the doorframe guns raised--Dunkin instantly going to cover the two on the ground and Karl knelt to check Punk’s pulse and then, with a somber face, moved on to check on Saul who was curled up in a ball on the ground sobbing by this point.

Levi, adrenaline pumping, went on to check the two other closed doors on this floor. The first was an empty bathroom, but the second led him to a petrified Bernadette. She started screaming when he opened the door, which melted to gut-wrenching sobs that shook her whole body when she saw who it was. Levi holstered his pistol and knelt, pulling her into his arms. He gave the handcuffs a yank so hard, that the metal post they’d been connected to on the bed frame snapped in half, and her arm was free. He held her, rocking while she wept so hard that she couldn’t even get out any words. Kissing her head and rocking her gently, his heart still pumping wildly, Levi felt tears falling down his face as well. He had been so terrified that he would lose her. Fury at her for getting herself into this situation started to clench his heart, but he clamped it down and focused solely on the relief he felt at finding her relatively unharmed. As far as he could tell. He wanted to do a full examination of her body, but decided holding her was more important right now.

Karl came around the corner. “Is she okay, Jackson? Ambulances are on their way. The kid is hurt, but, from what I can tell, nothing major. The lackeys aren’t hurt in any way and Douglas has them cuffed. We’ll move them down later. For now, they are just pleading and putting all the blame on… well, they’re very happy to talk.”

Levi barely registered Karl’s odd way of wording things, but was too focused on Bernadette to really care. “Thanks, man. Just send the EMTs in here when they arrive. She’s got a nasty head wound, but I haven’t been able to check the rest of her body.”

He followed Karl’s worried gaze and looked anxiously down at her ripped shirt and pantless state, but shook his head slightly at Karl with a “Don’t talk about it right now” look and returned his focus to Bernadette who was now calmer and just sniffling and shuddering every few moments.

She looked up at him and spoke with a cracking voice, “Levi, I’m so so—”

He put his finger over her lips. “Shhh, baby. Not now. Just rest. We will have plenty of time to talk later.” He stroked her hair, careful to avoid the laceration and just held her.

When the EMTs arrived, Levi had to let her go for them to examine her. They revealed an intense bruise in her upper abdomen and, when she cried out sharply as they massaged it, one of the guys said it seemed like a broken, or at least bruised, rib. The bleeding in her head had clotted, and they said it didn’t appear too deep. They tried to reassure both of them that head wounds tend to bleed a lot and it probably wasn’t as bad as it looked.

When they tried to attach her to a stretcher, Levi shook his head. “I’ll carry her.” They started to argue, but backed off when Levi practically growled and scooped Bernadette into his arms. They let him know they were going to examine the guys in the next room and to stay here with her until they returned. Levi obeyed.

They ended up helping Saul down the stairs between the two of them and Levi carried Bernadette. When they reached the ambulance, he let them know in no uncertain terms that he would be riding with her the whole way. They acquiesced.

An older white haired doctor at the hospital, however, was more firm, and would not allow Levi into the exam room. As he paced the waiting room, he texted his family that Bernadette was safe and they were at the hospital. And he waited. And prayed.