He Hits You? Suck It Up So I Locked Them in With My Abusive Husband novel · Chapter 5 of 24

Chapter 5: On His Knees

Conway knelt on the waiting room carpet at eight-fifteen on Monday morning, in front of eleven patients and a fish tank.

I was standing behind the front desk with my badge in my hand.

Lucy had told me to stay home, and I had come in anyway, because I needed my paycheck.

He wore the gray suit I liked.

His hair was combed, and his face was pale and clean.

The pastor stood behind him, holding a glossy rehab brochure in both hands.

A cousin held up a phone and filmed.

"Jean," Conway said, loud enough for the whole room. "I know you can hear me."

The woman with the toddler stopped turning pages.

"You were right about me," he said. "I'm an alcoholic. I've been one for years, and I've hurt the person I love most."

His voice cracked on the last word.

A man by the window took off his cap.

"I'm checking into a twenty-eight-day program tomorrow," Conway said. "I'm going to get well. I'm not asking you to forgive me today. I'm asking you to let me try."

The woman with the toddler began to cry.

The patient beside her reached over and squeezed her hand.

Someone in the back of the room started clapping.

Then they all did.

The office manager came out of her glass cubicle and stood beside me.

She put a hand on my arm.

"Jean," she whispered. "Honey. Look at him. He's trying."

"He's under a court order not to be here," I said.

"It's one apology."

"It's thirty feet from where I work."

She lowered her voice further.

"Do you know what Slocumb Auto's employee plan is worth to this office?" she said. "Half our billing. Please. Just let him say his piece."

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