American Outlaw - Jesse James [102]
“Keep your voice down,” I warned, following her. “I don’t want the kids to hear you like this.”
“You GUTLESS FUCK!” she screamed. “How’s that, Jesse? Is that what you mean?”
“Stop it,” I warned, stepping closer to her. We edged into the kitchen. “I am goddamn serious, Janine. You better shut up, right now, and get out of my house.”
Bill appeared next to me. “Hey man, I think we better call the cops, okay?”
“Yeah, call the cops,” taunted Janine. “Or what? You gonna punch me, you fucking COWARD? You gonna punch me?”
“Daddy!” cried Jesse Jr., appearing at the top of the stairs. He was sobbing, tears running down his face.
“Janine, STOP IT!” I screamed, stepping closer to her.
She whirled and picked up a large stainless-steel knife from our cutting board. “Don’t FUCKING TOUCH ME!” she screamed. “I will cut you wide open!”
I was stunned. Holding my hand up, I backed away from her.
She jabbed the knife toward me threateningly. “Move!”
Slowly, I backed my way up the stairs. When I reached the top of the landing, I picked up my son with my one good arm.
“Daddy’s so sorry,” I whispered to him. “I’m so, so sorry. I never meant for this.”
He cried into my chest. I placed him gently into his bed, walked out into the hallway, and shut the door firmly behind me.
“I called the cops, man,” said Bill. “They’ll be here any minute.”
“You understand what’s going on, Janine?” I said.
She sneered. “I can’t wait until the police come. I’ll tell them how you mentally abuse me, day in and day out, every day,” Janine said, laughing loudly. “I can’t fucking believe it. You are so out of control, you know that, right?”
“Janine, I swear to God, keep your fucking voice down. You just scared my son half to death.”
“Because you MADE me!” Janine cried. “Oh my God, it is SO hard being your wife! This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do!”
“I’m going downstairs,” I said. “To wait for the cops. You are staying up here in the bedroom. Is that understood?”
“Oh, so you can give them your story first, and make me out to be the bad guy, as usual? Thanks, but no thanks!”
I went down the staircase, with Janine following on my heels, only inches behind me.
“You big, fucking bully,” she taunted me. “Calling the cops on your WIFE? That’s a new low. Messing with your pregnant wife! I can’t wait till these cops get here, I’m going to give them an earful!”
“Please, be quiet, Janine,” I breathed, unlocking the front door, looking both ways down the street, in hopes of seeing an approaching squad car. “Just shut your mouth. I can’t take it anymore.”
“Really?” Janine said. “Why don’t you make me shut up, then?”
“The police will be here any second, Janine,” I said, walking as far away from her as I could, back toward the living room, “so honestly, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll calm down . . .”
Janine tackled me, clawing at me. The force of her attack made me fall against the couch. She punched me hard in the face, and then I rolled on top of her and used my knees to pin her underneath my body.
“Do not hit me again,” I said. “Dammit, Janine! Stop moving!”
She squirmed under me. With all the strength in my body, I struggled to keep her pinned down. Using my good arm, I forced her writhing shoulders down.
“What’s going on here!” said the police, as they burst through the open front door.
Reflexively, I held my good arm up in a gesture of surrender. Janine, seizing upon the opportunity, reached across me to the side table next to the couch. With her right hand, she picked up a ceramic vase, and with all her might, smashed it against the side of my head. The vase shattered on my temple, and I went down.
——
Janine was taken to jail that night, and I had her charged for spousal abuse. Jesse James: bodyguard, motorcycle outlaw, domestic abuse victim.
The next day, I had the locks changed. I was completely, finally done.
14
My skull ached for days from the impact of the blow. But a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders.
I couldn’t avoid the truth anymore. Conclusive separation from Janine wasn’t just a