Sunshine Valley

Hen party continued 

     Della smiled, in an attempt to redirect the conversation – maybe, she wasn’t sure. “Thanks for taking the hard months.”

     “Why are they so hard?” Evie sniffed, wiping at her face. 

     “Everyone knows Sheriff Pace has a soft spot for Coal Town.” Widow Blake spoke. 

     Sara 2 added, “most people want to be with their families on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Few people want to be with someone else’s people. Society has built up those holidays as all about family.”

     “Domestic violence is hard. By Povol’s own admission.” Patty added. 

     “Why is it so hard?” Sarah asked, “just leave.”

     If Evie started talking, they would know. Hell, they are gonna find out anyway. She sighed, “it’s not that simple. Women don’t fall in love with getting punched in the face. They fall in love with a false identity. Perpetrators have their victims so ‘in love’ with an idea; with a person that never existed. When victims do get the courage to leave, money, children, whatever weapon that can be used to keep victims in their place, as it were, is used. Sometimes to the point of physical imprisonment.”

     “As an E.R. nurse, I’ve seen victims come in that looked like they’d been in a car wreck.” Patty was looking down at her plate.  “Bradley will be the first person to tell you that domestic calls are the most volatile.”

     “Dad will ‘hand cuff’ you with that.” Sarah sighed. “But I still don’t understand.”

     “Perpetrators will use religion too. They throw Bible verses like confetti.” Evie added.

     “Really?” Sara 2 asked exasperated. 

     “Really. It’s never about love. It’s about power and control. I have often wondered; Adam and Eve were both cursed. I’ve often wondered if this need for power. That need to lord over someone, was part of Adam’s curse. Men have done it throughout recorded history. Women (mostly) have been their target. Or people they felt were  inferior or weak.” Evie sighed.

    “I’ve never thought about it like that?” Della thought out loud. “It could be one of Satan’s tricks; makin’ us think it’s part of the curse. That it’s some kind of blood lust. An inherent  need?”

     “Just ramblin’, I guess.” Evie sighed. 

     “Povol always asks someone to speak at the October dinner. Usually a victim survivor.” Sara 2 commented. “There have been a couple men.”

     “Men are victims of d.v. as well. Statisticly, there are more women than men.” Evie added.

     “Bradley spoke, as a representative of the law,” Patty volunteered. 

     “Good, good,” Sarah mocked her dad. All the ladies gave a light chuckle.

     Della stirred in her plate, “goin’ to those dinners, listenin’ to the speakers, my mom might have been a victim. Dad was meaner than a junkyard dog. I remember tellin’ Bill when we got married that if he was ever mean to me, I’d hit him across the face with a skillet.” A couple of the ladies drew a collective breath causing an oooo sound. “Never had to make good on that threat.”

     Evie sighed, “maybe coming home was a mistake.”

Sunshine Valley