And so it was that, when a few days later Deb was released from the hospital and Mike drove her to his house in Woodbridge, Max was already inside, waiting for them.
“How did you get in here?” Deb asked, a little hostile.
Max, awkwardly, pointed at Mike. “He, uh, he gave me a key”
Deb narrowed her eyes and looked at Mike. “You gave her a key? Why did you give her a key? What does she need a key for? Heck, I don’t even have a key”
Max pressed her lips and closed her eyes for a split second. “That’s my cue” she said and she walked past them to the front door. “Oh, by the way,” she said as she turned around. “I left my number on the kitchen table, in case you need anything”
“Thank you, Max. I’ll see you tomorrow” Mike replied. He saw Deb mimicking Max’ ‘in case you need anything’ from the corner of his eye and as soon as the front door closed, he turned to her. “What was that for?”
Deb shrugged and turned to the kitchen, but Mike followed her. She could feel his eyes burning on her back, but refused to face him. “Why did you bring her into this?”
“Sorry, what?” Mike asked, confused.
Deb turned around, frustrated. “Why did you bring her into this? In our lives? She has no business with us”
“I did it for you” Mike explained, stunned. “I need to know you’ll be safe when I’m not around. She’s here to protect you”
Deb shook her head. “Why her? Why not…why not Ryan?”
“Claire wouldn’t like that” Mike shrugged.
“Then why not some other guy?” Deb asked.
“Because I wouldn’t like that!” Mike answered, louder than he intended. “Look, I thought you’d be relieved it’s a woman. After all the men-trouble you’ve had, I mean”
Deb let out a short laugh. “Men-trouble” she scoffed. “Well, that’s one way to call it. The women in my life may not have sexually assaulted me, they were vindictive and horrible people”
Mike fluttered his eyes. “I know” he sighed, putting his hands on her upper arms. “But I don’t think we can put Max under that category. She’s here to keep you safe”
“I don’t need her to keep me safe. I don’t need anyone to keep me safe. I’m not a damsel in distress, remember?” Deb replied.
“Are you sure?” Mike fired back, his eyebrows raised so high they almost disappeared under his hair. “Because lately a lot has happened that makes it look like that’s exactly what you are”
It happened in a flash. Deb’s hand hit Mike’s cheek so hard, he faltered. When he regained balance, he searched in his pockets and pulled out a key. “Here’s your key” he said and he put the key in Deb’s hand, looking hard at her.
He, then, turned around, and walked away. He slammed the door, and Deb threw the key against the wall.