The Chauffeur

  The dress is strapless with a fitted bodice, a black bow at the breast line and a full skirt that reaches just below my knees. Thank goodness the red tulle under the dress is soft and still holds the full skirt’s shape. The overlay of the dress is sheer lace that accentuates the vintage feel. It is truly stunning.

  “Oh, April. That looks beautiful on you!” Grace blurts out, covering her mouth with her hands.

  “You look stunning, baby,” my mom says, walking around me to look at the back.

  “It’s so comfortable too!” I squeal. “I have the perfect red shoes to wear with it.” I turn and then run into her arms. “You’re the best, Grace. Thank you so much. I love the idea of wearing the dress that you wore to your engagement party. It makes it that much more special.”

  “That’s because you’re special, April. We couldn’t have asked for a better woman to marry our son. There’s a reason you were brought to us. It was for Jason,” she says through the tears welling in her eyes. “He was drifting before you came into our lives. You have made him a better person … a better man.”

  “Oh, Grace, what a beautiful sentiment,” my mother cries out, diving for a tissue on the dresser.

  “Okay, enough of this mush,” I say, wiping a tear from my cheek. “Now that I have my dress, Mom, what about you? I want to treat you to your dress. We can go out today and get you one.”

  “Too late, honey. Grace already took care of me, too. We got mine the other night while we were out on the town. You can see it tomorrow night,” she says, kissing my cheek. “Carl is loaning a suit to your father since you know how he is about wearing one.” I laugh at her comment, knowing fully well what she’s talking about. My dad balks any time he has to dress up and would rather avoid the event altogether rather than put one on.

  ~.~

  “Hold still, April. I only have one more pin to put in here,” Emily grumbles while tugging every single strand of hair into place. She’s determined to complete my vintage themed ensemble with a French twist hairstyle. I cringe when the comb that she puts in my hair scratches my scalp, but when I look at it in the mirror, I am in awe of the beautiful job she’s done.

  “Oh, Emily, it’s perfect!” I beam, peeking at my hair from every conceivable angle.

  “I know,” she replies confidently. We both take a seat in the sitting area of Jason’s bedroom.

  “I’m so happy for you, April,” my dear friend says, touching her glass of champagne to my club soda. “Who would believe that we’d be in love with brothers, eh?” she giggles, taking a drink.

  “I certainly never did. I’m afraid I’m going to wake up and find this is all a dream—an illusion.”

  “Kyle asked me to marry him.”

  I nearly spew the contents in my mouth all over her.

  “Oh, Emily!” I pull her into my arms and almost cry happiness for her.

  “We don’t want to say anything until after your wedding. When is it by the way?” she asks.

  ”Not for a while yet.”

  “Oh, well maybe we’ll wait a few weeks. At least until the news of your announcement hits the newspapers. Lord knows it’s big news that you’ve taken Chicago’s most eligible bachelor off the market. Breaking hearts will be heard all over town,” she jokes, sipping her drink and rolling her eyes.

  “Okay, we better get ready,” I say, setting my glass down. “Thanks for helping with the hair and makeup.” I pull her in for another hug. “I’m happy for you and Kyle. You deserve him, sweetie. I promise I won’t say a word.”

  “Thanks. I want Kyle to make the announcement when he feels it’s best. See you downstairs.” Watching her as she leaves the room, shutting the door behind her, I let out a squeal and clap my hands.

  I toss my bathrobe onto the chair and step into the dress, struggling with the zipper. I sense Jason in the room, and after his hands gently nudge mine aside, he helps me zip it the rest of the way.

  “I’m at a loss for words right now, April,” he says, kissing my bare shoulder.

  “Do you like the dress?”

  “I love the dress. You are indescribably beautiful.”

  “It’s the same dress your mother wore to her engagement party with your father,” I say proudly. “I’m honored that she wants me to wear it.”

  “Wow, that’s quite an honor for sure,” he says still looking at me from head to toe.

  “Might I say how very handsome you look tonight, husband?” I say, brushing imaginary lint off his jacket. “I just wanted to try that out.”

  “And I love the sound of it,” he says no longer smiling. When his warm lips touch mine, my body reacts. “Are you ready, Mrs. Rowe?” he moves his mouth to my ear, teasingly. “I just wanted to try that out.”

  We make our way downstairs where our families are already gathered, drinks in hand, to watch us come down the stairs.

  “I know, I know, she looks beautiful,” Jason says with pride.

  “You sure do, baby,” my father says, kissing my cheek.

  By the time all the compliments are delivered, I’m thoroughly embarrassed because I don’t do well being the center of attention. Jason says it’s my fault for looking as beautiful as I do.

  After the guests arrive, and everyone has a glass of champagne, Carl, Grace, my mother and father get everyone’s attention for the big announcement.

  “Okay, everyone. We all know why we’re here, so let’s not delay it any longer. When my son, Kyle, told Grace that he had someone in mind to fill in the spot as our family chauffeur, it was just a slip of a girl. I wondered how she would be able to see over the steering wheel, let alone drive my Maybach. But when Jason told me she drove him around in a stretch limousine, I could only roll my eyes, thinking that’s even worse. No offense, April.”

  I giggle at his story and shake my head at him. “None taken, Carl.”

  “April captured the heart of my eldest son in a big way and boy did she make him work for it. But in the end, she fell for him nearly as hard as he did for her. So, without further ado, on behalf of myself and Grace, along with April’s father, Chief of Police, Tom Sanders and her beautiful mother, Maria Sanders, we announce the engagement of my son Jason to April Sanders.”

  Jason bends down to kiss my forehead as everyone applauds the announcement and then I’m surprised when he takes my hand to stand with our parents.

  “April and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts, and we’d like to add that we’ve decided on a date.” I nearly jump out of Grace’s beautiful dress when she screams her excitement.

  “June twelfth.” As soon as the date is given, everyone in the room surrounds us and smothers us with love.

  “I love you, April,” my fiancé says to me as he wraps his arm around me protectively.

  I smile up at him and tuck myself into his side, enjoying my engagement party wearing the coolest dress ever.

  Chapter 30

  ~Jason~

  The morning after the party, I get up, check that April’s still asleep, then quickly go downstairs to ask Rita if she would prepare a small breakfast tray for April and me.

  “I’ll be right back,” I say before heading for the back door. When I return, I take the tray from her, and my little friend follows me up the stairs. Once I open the door, I peek inside to make sure April’s still asleep and place the tray on the table next to the bed. Lifting Sherry off the floor, I release her, and she runs to April and starts licking her face.

  “Jason … stop!” she says in her sleep, trying to brush me away. But Sherry only keeps it up. “Stop it!” April says louder, opening her eyes to find the puppy staring at her.

  “What the…?” She pulls Sherry into her lap.

  “Do you like her?”

  “She’s adorable!” she squeals, holding Sherry up so that she can see her properly. April looks at me for an explanation.

  “This is Sherry,” I explain hesitantly, watching and waiting for her reaction.

  “James told me about Sherry. I thought she was
Kathryn’s child at the time.”

  “Me too, to be honest. But when I discovered this little thing, I knew it would need a new home,” I reply, feeling the soft fur.

  “And where’s Kathryn?” April asks guardedly.

  “She’s still at Sector. Sherry doesn’t have a home or anyone to take care of her, and she’s well behaved and house broken. Do you want her?”

  “I love her!” April squeals again, throwing herself back into her pillows, playing with her new pet. “But what about your family? Will they object to having an animal in the house? If they do, we can always move back into the apartment,” she suggests, nuzzling Sherry’s fur. “God, she smells good!”

  “Nope, they’re totally on board. I think Rita or Garrett gave her a bath.” I reach over to pet the pooch. “We also took in two terrifying Rottweilers that turned out to be two great big teddy bears,” I say, lying down next to April and Sherry.

  “Are you serious? Matt said if I tried to escape, those dogs would rip me to shreds.”

  “Nope. Lick you to death, maybe, but maul you to death? Not so much.”

  “I fell for it.”

  “It’s a classic case of their bark being worse than their bite. We have them at Sector as our guard dogs.”

  “Did you have fun last night?” She lies across my chest, tucking Sherry between us.

  “I did. I especially enjoyed telling everyone you’re mine,” I whisper into her hair.

  “I liked that part, too.”

  “Hey, I brought us some breakfast, would you like some coffee?”

  “No,” she says, running her hands over my chest.

  “Orange juice?”

  “No,” she answers again, draping her leg over my thigh.

  “Toast?”

  “Nope,” she says, grazing her nose along my cheek and popping the P.

  “Me?” I ask hopefully.

  “Yep.” She puts Sherry on the floor and sheds her panties.

  Making love to April after coming so close to losing her means much more to us now. Feeling her, holding her, and loving her will never get old.

  After spending the morning in bed with her, I look at my watch and steal a kiss before jumping out of bed, almost stepping on Sherry.

  “Where are you going?”

  “My parents and I have a meeting today. I’ll be gone a while, so you can spend time with yours,” I mumble, picking the dog up off the floor and setting her on the bed with April.

  “I have lunch with Sam. He’s feeling left out, and I promised I would fill him in.”

  “I think our parents are going out for dinner tonight, would you like to hang out here or go out?” I ask as I head for the shower.

  “Let’s play it by ear, okay?” I look over and see I’ve lost her to Sherry.

  “Okay. Care to join me?” I chuckle when she squeals, leaps out of bed and runs into my arms. I catch her and carry her into the shower, kicking the bathroom door shut with my foot.

  ~.~

  “You might not want to be in the room when I talk to Robin,” my mother advises her face stern and focused. I almost ask why, but I learned a long time ago never to question my mom’s motives. It’s a rule my father also lives by. I think it may have saved their marriage a time or two.

  It’s not going to go well for Robin I fear, but I have questions of my own that I want answers to, and I fully intend to be here to ask them.

  The agents that were on the over-night shift have already escorted Robin into the interrogation room. Once my father and I walk through the door, she attempts to appear confident and unafraid. But when my mother follows behind us, pushing her trusty metal cart containing her trusty tools, Robin’s confidence dissipates.

  “Robin,” I say, walking up to her, gently stroking her hair. I lean down close to the side of her cheek and whisper into her ear, “You fucked up.”

  “Hello, traitor,” my mother says to her former assistant. When she begins, putting on her apron, Robin’s confidence and fear have been replaced with terror.

  “Grace, p-please, just let me explain,” Robin begins before my mother holds up her hand to silence her.

  “Just one moment, Robin, dear. I will give you my undivided attention and hear everything you have to say, but let me get myself situated first, all right?”

  She rolls the steel cart closer for Robin to see. The cart has a white cloth draped over the top, and I grin when Robin peeks at it. Her eyes get huge as saucers the longer she stares at it. Anyone with any sense can see that there are utensils of various sizes under that cloth.

  “May I have a chair, darling?” Mother asks over her shoulder to my father.

  “Certainly, my love,” he replies jumping up to do her bidding. The act these two put on in front of their prisoners is primarily used for intimidation, but it’s because they work very well together. I know the fear is instilled in Robin by the way her eyes flit between my mother and father and the metal cart that’s hiding something sinister beneath the white cotton cloth.

  “Thank you, sweetheart,” Mother coos. My father replies by kissing her lips sweetly, but longer than appropriate. I find it difficult not to roll my eyes.

  “All right, dear, let’s start at the beginning, shall we? Let’s start at the time when you decided to turn traitor against my family and me.”

  “Um … I don’t know what you mean, Grace.”

  Oh, God!

  My mother stands, reaches over to the cart and swiftly removes the white cloth, revealing the utensils hidden beneath it. It’s just as I feared.

  “Now, let’s try this one more time. When did you decide to turn traitor against my family and me?”

  “I don’t actually see it as turning traitor, Grace, but I’ve been in love with your son since the first day you hired me. He flirted with me and led me to believe that he wanted me,” she begins, trying to muster up enough tears to make it all sound plausible. If she’s determined to put the blame on my plate, there’s nothing I can do for her now. My mother knows the truth, and it would have gone better for her if she hadn’t started with a lie.

  Mother begins to gingerly trace her fingers on the utensils on the cart, picking them up and admiring them. I shudder when she selects one, glances at Robin, puts it down and then selects another.

  “When did you decide to turn traitor against my family and me?” she asks again, in an unusually calm tone.

  “You see, Grace,” she whispers as she looks down at her hands in her lap, “I don’t see it …”

  The next thing I know, there’s a hot pink acrylic nail on the floor near my feet along with an ear-piercing scream.

  “Now, let’s start at the beginning, dear. When?”

  “It’s when Kathryn got pissed that Jason bought the building after the cartel gave her the money,” Robin says before Mom comes at her again with her special pliers.

  Finally, some truth.

  “After everything my husband and I did for you, Robin, why did you feel the need to turn against us? You had a place at Rowe Industries. You had a coveted position. Tell me why you would break confidentiality and use it against my family?”

  “I-I don’t know,” she cries out, pain coursing through her body.

  My mother picks up another tool, folds her arms across her chest, looks directly into Robin’s eyes and says, “Now, you were saying?”

  “Kathryn was in trouble with the cartel. She needed the money, and she threatened to ruin me and promised me two million dollars to help her.”

  “You fucked up when you made the decision to stand with Kathryn against my family and me. You claim that you loved my son from the first time you saw him? My son is too good for you. When my son rebuffed your advances, you set out to help Kathryn ruin him, and in doing so, you fucked with his family. Frankly, I’m stunned that you would make such a stupid decision. I thought you were smarter than that. I won’t even start that you helped murder Roger and four other innocent people,” my mother shouts in her face.

 
; “Whose idea was it to kidnap April?” I say from across the room. Startled, her eyes shoot to mine, and I know the answer right then and there.

  My mother muffles her by stuffing the white cloth in Robin’s mouth.

  “Did you know that April was pregnant with my child when James used his fists on her?” Her eyes flit between me, my mother and the pliers. I see the sweat bead on her brow and upper lip.

  “You are the very reason April, and my child came close to death. You had the trust of my mother,” I say through my teeth. “I pity you.” It’s too late for her and there’s nothing I can do, or will do, to help her.

  After my father and I enter his office that also doubles as the control room, I can’t help but wonder what’s going to happen next.

  My dad clears his throat. “I have a plan if you’re interested in hearing it. I can understand if you don’t want to know about it.”

  “Not to doubt your capabilities, but I need to know for my sanity that these people won’t be back.” He nods curtly. “They’ll come after the baby next time.”

  After he explains, in detail, the scenario that will put an end to the crooked four, I hold up my hands, having heard enough.

  “Your mother isn’t called the Master Interrogator for nothing, Jason. She gets the job done and swiftly.”

  “So, you’re giving Robin to the cartel? You know what they will do with her, don’t you?”

  “We’re giving them Robin, James, Kate, and Helen with an agreement that they keep their business out of Chicago. I tried to negotiate their restriction to the entire United States, but that only garnered a very boisterous laugh over the phone.”

  “When is this happening? I want to be home with April and her parents beforehand. April said you and Mom are taking the Sanders to dinner?”

  “The cartel wanted to wait until dark, so they’re meeting James at nine o’clock. And yes, we’re taking April’s parents to the club tonight for dinner.”

  “Oh, and by the way, as soon as her parents leave, you and April are to move back into the apartment. The foundation of the house can’t withstand another earth-shattering event like we had this morning.” I laugh, the heat of embarrassment rushing to my face.