Bobby's Cop

Chapter Three

I called my boss on Sunday evening and told him that I had been mugged and needed to take a week of vacation to rest and recover. I told him I'd fax a copy of my ER paperwork.

He was very nice and understanding and said I could have a week of sick leave and keep my vacation days.

Monday morning, I got flowers and a 'get well' card delivered to my house from everyone at work.

I needed to get my prescription filled and I needed some groceries for the week. I also needed to get a new pair of glasses. I didn't want to go out, but I didn't really have a choice. I called my eye doctor and was able to get an appointment that afternoon.

After my eye exam, I had an hour or so to kill while my glasses were being made, so I went to the grocery store and turned in my prescription, and did a little bit of shopping.

I knew people were staring at me like I was a freak, and I tried not to let it bother me, but it really did. By the time I left the store I was shaking and on the verge of tears.

I picked up my glasses and paid the half the insurance didn't cover with my credit card. Once I got home and put everything up, I took a pill and went to bed.

When the doorbell rang late Tuesday afternoon, I couldn't imagine who it was. I opened the door to find Officer Paolucci standing on my doorstep. He had said he was going to check with me, but I didn't think he really meant it.

"Hi, Bobby. I just wanted to check on you. Make sure you were okay."

"Um... Oh, hi... Yeah, I'm fine."

I stood there staring at him for a couple of seconds. "Oh, sorry. Come in."

I invited him in and took his coat and hung it up in the hall closet. I offered him a drink, but he declined and we sat down on the couch together.

"I'm sorry, but we haven't been able to find out anything about the guy who attacked you. They talked to the bar staff, they did find your jacket.

There was also checking the CCTV cameras around the area. But it doesn't look promising. I'm really sorry I don't have better news, Bobby."

"It's okay. I shouldn't have been there, I guess I deserved what I got."

"Hey. Don't you ever say that you hear me? No one deserves to be assaulted."

I nodded and wiped away a tear.

"Listen, do you need anything? I'm off duty in an hour. If you need me to run to the store or anything."

"No, thank you. I'm fine, but thank you for offering, Officer Paolucci."

"Call me Tony. Hey, how 'bout dinner? Do you want me to bring you something? There's a great little pizza place I know. I'll deliver it hot and fresh on my way home."

"Why are you being so nice to me, Off--, uh, Tony?"

He looked at me for a second. "You look like you could use a friend."

My eyes welled up with tears and I just nodded, afraid to speak.

"Okay. I'll be back in about an hour and a half, Bobby."

He patted my shoulder and grabbed his coat from the closet and was gone.

My house was pretty clean, but I straightened up, vacuumed, cleaned the bathroom, and cleaned up the kitchen. I took a quick shower and got dressed.

I let Tony in when the doorbell rang. He was wearing civilian clothes and was freshly showered and holding a pizza box.

"Pizza delivery," he said with a smile.

I laughed and let him in and he set it down on the breakfast bar.

"Here ya go," he said. "Okay. So, you got my number. Call me if you need anything else, and I'll try to check up on you later, okay?"

I thought he was going to stay and eat with me. I wanted him to stay. I really didn't want to be alone right now.

"Oh... You, um... Don't you want any? I mean, you can stay here and eat, I mean, if you want to, you know... Or you can, um, just leave me a couple of slices and take the rest with you."

"I didn't want to presume that you'd want me to stick around."

I shrugged. "If you want, you can."

"Do you want me to stay?" he asked.

I nodded and he smiled. I went to the cupboard and got two plates. "Um, I don't have a table, so we can eat at the breakfast bar or on the couch. I usually eat on the couch."

"Cool. That's what we'll do then."

I offered him several drink choices and we both chose a Coke. We sat on the couch and ate our pizza. It was really good and I told him so.

We didn't talk while we ate, but he caught me looking at him several times and I caught him looking at me as well.

He was so handsome and sitting on my couch with me, he actually seemed shy. I was used to guys who initiated and took charge. I thought it was cute and my crush on him deepened, even though I knew that he was only here because he felt sorry for me.

After Tony finished off most of the pizza, we stayed sitting on the couch. He turned and put his elbow on the back of the couch and rested his head on his fist and looked at me.

"So... tell me about yourself," he asked. "Where'd you grow up? What's your family like?"

I turned and mimicked his position and told him all about my family and growing up shy and alone. He told me that he was a shy kid as well, but he mostly got over it when he joined the Marines, and then he became a cop.

He came from a big Italian family of six siblings, he was the fourth oldest, and his given name was Antonio. Unlike me, he also had lots of aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Most of them lived in New York and New Jersey, but one of his sisters lived up in Royal Oak with her family, so he saw her from time to time. I also discovered that Tony was older than I was, 28 as opposed to my 22.

We talked for a couple of hours until I started to get sleepy.

"I'm gonna let you get some rest," Tony said. "I'll call you and check on you in a day or so, okay?"

I nodded and walked him to the door. He stopped for a second and then gave me a quick hug. We said goodbye and I watched him get into his silver pickup truck and I waved as he drove off.