The Sauna Part 240

Our earlier escapades put Jon in the mellowest of moods and his performance reflected his considerably good humor. He talked to the audience and showed a softer side to his nature than was usual with such a large crowd, but his antics on stage lacked none of the energy he was known for. He scampered and cavorted down the catwalks as I watched from the side, entranced by his ability to keep an audience eating out of his hand.

I was suffused with a glow from my own warmth which had completely displaced the anxiety I’d felt earlier about Cherie and Dave. Jon had succeeded in making me completely forget what was occuring back home as I followed his every move with my eyes. He pulled Heike on stage and escorted her over to Richie who serenaded her with his guitar and she became his devoted fan from that night on. She might not have been that familiar with Bon Jovi this afternoon, but after tonight she’d never forget.

The tone of the evening was quite different in Buffalo as Cherie nervously waited for Dave to return home from work. Rick and Jared sat tensely in their car just down the street, anticipating his arrival as well. The two men were prepared to act quickly once he showed up and they planned to move in closer so they could better observe what was happening.

It was quarter to six when Dave’s car pulled in the driveway and he went into the house through the back door. He’d intended to make something to eat and then take a shower and he headed straight for the refrigerator and cracked open a beer. He hadn’t seen Cherie’s car which was still in Colorado since she’d decided to try flying rather than drive so far by herself.

“Dave?” she spoke softly as she walked from the living room to the kitchen and peered into the gloom.

Dave was startled and he spilled the beer he was drinking down the front of his shirt and choked as he swallowed.

“Shit! Cherie, you’re home!” he sputtered, finally grasping the situation.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to surprise you” she replied automatically.

“Of course you did! Why else would you be sitting there in the dark like you were hiding” he said, suddenly angry.

“I meant that I didn’t intend to startle you” she tried to explain.

“Where were you? Why didn’t you call me? Do you know what this has been like for me? I didn’t know if you were dead or alive” he lied, making her feel instantly ashamed.

“Dave, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to make you worry. I just wasn’t ready to talk. I just needed …” she stammered, but he cut her off.

“It’s always all about you, isn’t it? You never think about anyone else” he hissed back, driving the guilt home.

Cherie felt herself tensing and beginning to cry. He was right, it was her own fault for leaving the way that she did and never returning his phone calls. It was no wonder he was so angry with her all the time; I am stupid and thoughtless she heard her mother’s voice echoing in her ears.

“Dave, please, let me explain…” she pleaded, but his temper was already escalating.

“I’m tired, Cherie. I’m sick of your games and I’m sick of having everything revolve around you and your needs. Maybe you’re ready to talk now, but what about me? Maybe I’m sick of trying to talk when you never listen” he spat.

“I’ll listen, Dave. I’m listening now” her voice faltered as she tried to hold back the tears, hoping to placate his wrath.

She felt just like she did when she was a little girl and her mother berated her for being so selfish. She could never please her mother and nothing she did was ever good enough or worthy of love. Her mother and Dave were always disappointed in her and she knew she had to try harder. She stepped forward a bit and reached out to hug him, but that only enraged him and he shook off her embrace and struck her.

“Don’t you fuckin’ touch me, you bitch! How do I know you haven’t been out whoring around?” he screamed in her face.

“Dave, please, don’t…” she wailed, backing away as she shrunk towards the wall.

Just then there was a knock on the door and Dave whirled around before he could strike her again.

“What the fuck? Is that your boyfriend?” he screeched, moving towards the door with a vengeance.

He picked up a knife that was lying on the kitchen counter and whipped open the door, brandishing the blade as he spoke.

“Who the fuck are you? What do you want?” he sneered menacingly at the two men on his doorstep.

Before he could say another word, Rick and Jared moved in, tackling him back against the wall as Rick grabbed his wrist.

“Drop the knife, buddy” Rick said evenly in a voice schooled with command.

“What? This is my house! Get the fuck out!” Dave shrieked, his voice full of fury.

Cherie had screamed, but now she was silent as she stood trembling, her eyes fixed on the scene she was witnessing. Her legs felt like lead and she felt paralyzed, frozen with fear. She didn’t recognize these two men who were holding her husband at bay and her eyes darted back and forth between the knife he was clutching and the wild look on his face.

“I said drop the knife” Rick reiterated as he slammed Dave’s hand into the wall repeatedly until he loosened his grip and the utensil clattered to the floor.

“Call the police” Jared said calmly to Cherie, still holding Dave who was struggling to free himself.

Cherie moved slowly, as if in a dream, as she obeyed the instruction without thinking while Dave hurled obscenities at her, still blaming her for his predicament. She heard the words dully, as if from a great distance, as she picked up the phone and dialed 911 before dropping the phone and collapsing into a heap on the floor.

Jared released his hold and bent to pick up the phone. Rick had Dave under control now that the weapon had been removed and Dave no longer struggled as he realized he was overpowered by the two strangers. Jared spoke calmly into the phone and gave the address of the house to the police after explaining what had happened as he knelt on the floor beside Cherie.

“She’s out cold” he said with a touch of surprise as he laid her head gently onto a towel he’d grabbed from the stove.

“Fuckin’ bitch” Dave snarled as he spat in her direction.

Rick lost his temper and punched Dave in the mouth and he slumped from the blow, a look of astonishment on his face as he looked into Rick’s steely eyes. A bit of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as Rick continued holding him up by his shirt and shook his head.

“That’s no way to treat a lady, you little bastard. Now shut the fuck up before I do it for you” Rick sneered.

The police sirens could be heard in the distance as Jared tried to revive Cherie with a cold washcloth he’d gotten from the sink. She started to cough as she opened her eyes and looked at the man who was holding her head in his lap. Her eyes were unfocused and darted back and forth like a frightened animal, trying to get a sense of what happened.

“It’s okay now, Cherie. He won’t hurt you, you’re safe. You passed out” Jared tried reassuring her.

“Who are you? How do you know my name?” she asked as she struggled to sit upright.

“My name is Jared and that’s Rick over there. We work for Jon and he and Trish called us and asked us to look out for you in case something happened” he said, answering her questions.

She looked over at Rick and he nodded and smiled. Dave remained silent but his eyes shone with rage and Cherie cringed as she saw the look on his face.

“It’s okay, you’re safe. He can’t hurt you again” Jared repeated, seeing her flinch under Dave’s menacing glare. “The police will be here in a few minutes.”