Decimus said quietly, "I can give you both things, a place to live and a job."
Her first reaction was, What the fuck? Already? I'm not even out of the psych ward five minutes and here's the next guy trying to get me back in it. Then she had second thoughts. She remembered the way the nurse put him into the cab, how feeble he was. He wasn't going to force her to do anything. Maybe he has friends.
"Who else lives there?" It was a dumb question, but she couldn't think of a better one. Who else was going to put her back in the life?
"Nobody. I live alone. That's the problem. Why do you care?" "Never mind." She went silent, thinking. after a while, Decimus said, "Make up your mind, we're almost to the Rescue Mission, if your address is correct."
"It's right," the driver overheard, "I know where it is anyway. We still going there?"
She looked at Decimus, then softly, reluctantly, she said "I'll go with you."
"That was quick. I've never seen a move that quick, one that worked anyway."
"Just shut up and take us to Abbotsville."
"Abbotsville? That's a twenty minute drive? Where in Abbotsville?"
"The big house on the hill just this side of Abbotsville. You can't miss it."
"You live there?"
Reluctantly, "Yes I live there, for my sins." Then turning to May, "It's a real mess, but it's big, and the roof doesn't leak, and you can stay there as long as you want. And yes I mean it, and when you want to go somewhere else you call this cab number and I pay for that ride too. I've got money. It's just about all I've got."
But May had stopped talking. She regretted accepting and all the old fear was back. She thought of running off as soon as the cab stopped, but she had no idea where she would go. She didn't even know which direction to run. It got even worse when she saw the house.
It was a huge square house with a door in the middle. All she could think of was the size of the place, and how far it was from anything else, or anyone else, she noted fearfully. He could do anything he wanted to her and nobody would hear her scream. Then she remembered how weak he was. He won't be doing much for a while anyway, she thought.
The cab driver helped her get Decimus into the house, one on each side, carrying him through the front door and into one of the leather armchairs which dotted the entry way.
The cab driver was just about to say something when he saw the man reach for his wallet. Decimus handed the driver a single bill.
"I can't change this! I'm not a bank."
"Keep the change."
The driver handed a business card to Decimus. He waved it to May. She took it. The driver left.