Crashing Into Me (Crashing Into Me #1)

by R. L. Jackson

  “Here, here,” Mayor Lindy boomed and everyone raised their glasses higher. Kirk approached Kayden now and placed a hand on his shoulder.

  “To many, many more brother,” he replied and they tapped their glasses together. Everyone in the diner followed suit and took a sip where after they erupted into more applause.

  Maureen took a sip of her drink and set her glass down. There was no way Capshaw would sink their money into more charity restorations, that was for sure, she thought. Kayden seemed to be understanding the role Kim was to play in his life now. A woman other men wanted, and he the man every man wanted to be. She couldn’t be more proud of him if she tried.

  ***

  Lana walked around the room she shared with Kayden smelling the familiar scents she had left behind a month ago. She walked over to the huge glass window and peered into the garden. It was absolutely beautiful, she thought as she took the winter coat off and threw it onto the bed. She knew Kayden wouldn’t be too much longer, as it was already a quarter to nine and the after party was to commence at nine fifteen. She would wait until the video of Maureen’s betrayal played out, then reveal herself from the staircase.

  She just hoped everything went according to plan and that he and his mother’s relationship wouldn’t be totally irreparable. In spite of all the terrible things Maureen did, she was still his mother and that love doesn’t die. They needed to find a way to respect each other and keep their relationship. Not tear it apart. They were going to have a family of their own one day and it would only be right that both sets of grandparents be a part of his or her life.

  As far as Kim was concerned, Lana would never like her, but she could forgive her and then completely forget her. She wasn’t someone she wanted around in any capacity. She realized when her stomach growled that she hadn’t eaten in about two days and was famished. She looked at her watch and it was nine o’ clock now so she still had a little time before anyone arrived. She started trotting down the stairs hoping the ruffled potato chips she bought were still in the kitchen, but the door of the foyer opened and she heard voices coming down the hall. She ran back upstairs into the room and slowly closed the door. And waited.

  Everyone poured into Paula’s home laughing and talking about the night’s festivities. Heathcliff escorted Maureen, Kayden and Kim entered next, her arm linked into his. He made a bee line into the kitchen, so Kim joined Maureen and Heathcliff on the couch. Kirk and Paula were the last to enter and also went into the kitchen but no one said a word. Subtle glances revealed everything they needed to and Kayden reached into the cabinet for wine glasses. Paula walked into the living room and started the fireplace, the crackling of the wood was warm and inviting and Maureen cozied up to Heathcliff on the couch.

  “Not even gonna hide it anymore huh?” Paula asked, a forced smile on her face.

  “It’s been the hardest secret to keep,” Kim replied laughing and smiling. Paula smiled in her direction and walked back into the kitchen, then rolled her eyes so hard it hurt.

  “Champagne anyone?” Kayden asked as he began to pour into the glasses.

  “Yes, please dear,” Maureen replied in between whispered conversation between her and Heathcliff. Kim smiled and stood up.

  “I’ll help,” she offered, walking into the kitchen. She ran her hands along the smooth granite top as she approached Kayden. Tonight would definitely be the night they rekindled their relationship, she thought. She grabbed two of the glasses and winked at Kayden, then went back into the living room, putting way too much twist in her hips. Paula turned to Kayden as she rolled her eyes and smirked at him. Kirk took two glasses in the living room and sat them on the coffee table.

  Kayden carried his glass in, followed by Paula into the living room as well. Kayden and Paula sat on the opposite couch and smiled as everyone talked and sipped on champagne. It was finally time to wipe the stupid smiles off all their faces, he thought. He knew Kirk and Paula were itching to get things started and so was he. He couldn’t wait to lay down next to the beautiful woman waiting for him upstairs. It had already been far too long as it was, and he was getting anxious knowing she was just a floor above waiting on his cue. He nodded slightly to Paula and she stood tapping her finger onto her champagne flute.

  “If I could have your attention for a moment please,” she said. Everyone turned to her, smiling faces, waiting on her word. “I just want to again say how proud I am of my baby brother. You’ve come so far,” Paula stated, turning to him and raising her glass.

  “He certainly has,” Maureen replied, her face beaming with admiration. He raised his glass to his mother and Kim scooted closer to him on the couch.

  “I wanted to give you all a gift,” Paula continued, turning to them all. Maureen Heathcliff and Kim all looked surprised and excited and Kim beamed her smile even brighter. She and Maureen exchanged giddy looks.

  “What’s the gift for?” Maureen asked, curious with wonder. I’m finally receiving the family, I’ve been fighting for, she thought to herself and took another sip of the crisp bubbly drink.

  “It’s really for Kayden and all he has been through the last few years. Especially the last month.” Paula picked up the remote and pointed it at the TV. It flickered onto a white screen.

  “It’s a presentation!” Kim exclaimed.

  “Oh no, not family photos,” Maureen replied, smiling in anticipation.

  “Not quite,” Paula replied and hit play. She sat down on the couch next to Kirk as the screen began to count down. Three. Two. One.

  And there is was. Maureen, Kim and Lana. Her blackmail of Lana and everything it entailed. As the video played, everyone became uncomfortable. The smile on Maureen’s face was wiped away in an instant and Heathcliff couldn’t stop clearing his throat. Kim’s face was already beet red, and it looked like she might pass out from embarrassment. Kayden turned to his mother, her face crimson. Every syllable and awful word she spoke to Lana was blasting back out at her, like shards from a mirror explosion. Paula had edited the video so that there was no mistaking what was said and to whom.

  Kim was looking around the room her face already full of tears, unsure of what to do. When the video clips were over, Maureen was frozen still, staring at the screen, the vein in her forehead prominent.

  Kayden stood in front of them all.

  “Kayden—” Maureen started and he put his hand up stopping her.

  “Mother, I don’t want to hear another word from you.” He said calmly. Maureen, nodded her head and started to cry. This was it, foiled by her own children.

  Kayden reached over to Paula and she handed him a stack of papers.

  “An injunction for your claim on Capshaw Realty and your use of adding the entity as a part of black mail.”

  He dropped in in her lap. Her head was still, but her eyes looked down at the package. Kayden reached for Kirk and he handed him another stack of papers.

  “A summons for court for the defamation of character on Lana as well as faking Rachel’s death!” His voice grew louder.

  Maureen looked up at him, still in perpetual horror. She didn’t know what to say or do. For the first time she couldn’t argue or talk herself out of the things she’d done. It was presented to her full frontal and she didn’t like what she saw at all.

  Finally, Kayden grabbed a newspaper off the mantle and threw it at Kim.

  “A retraction of the engagement and the illicit way you went about chasing a man who didn’t want you. This will be published in tomorrow’s Page Six.”

  Kim couldn’t believe her eyes. There was a picture of her crying with the caption “Desperate and NOT a housewife.” Kim stood up shaking uncontrollably and Kayden smiled.

  “And as far as the file, you had on me where you planned to blackmail me and my mother? It’s gone.”

  Kim looked at Maureen, and flinched.

  “What is he talking about?” Maureen asked.

  “Before Lana left, she told her she would put Kayden away if she ever came back. She ke
pt a file on him with private emails between you and the judges who looked the other way in some of his cases,” Paula explained.

  Maureen’s mouth stood open. It was brilliant and something she would have done herself.

  “I’m sorry,” Kim squeezed out. Kayden approached her now.

  “And that little backdoor program you used to hack my twitter? Yeah, I had Frankie from M.I.T, reverse engineer it to wipe the hard drive. Now would you please, get out of my life,” he said to her in a cool calm voice.

  Heathcliff stood from the couch now, angry.

  “What does any of this have to do with me,” he barked and Kirk stood. “You knew exactly what was happening the entire time and as a law enforcement officer, you know that makes you an accessory.” Kirk said proudly to the officer who’d been a pain in his own ass, when he lived in Hamby.

  He slowly sat back down and now Maureen stood.

  “What do you want from me?” she asked in a whisper. Looking into her sons face, barely able to stand before him.

  “I want you to cease and desist when it comes to my life from here on out. And I want you to apologize to Lana,” he deadpanned. Maureen looked around the room.

  “I did all this to protect you Kayden!” She yelled now, getting angry.

  “You did this to control me! You wanted to teach me a lesson and you did. I learned from the best how to be sneaky, conniving and manipulative. Doesn’t feel so good does it? Game over mom!” He yelled.

  She trembled, wiping the tears from her face. Looking at Heathcliff, then her daughter.

  “And what of the lawsuits?” She asked.

  “I won’t file them as long as I’m able to continue to take over Capshaw Realty, Kim stays out of my life and me and my soon to be wife are allowed to live in peace.”

  Lana heard the keyword “peace” and started to walk down the stairs. Her heart was beating way too fast but the moment of reckoning was upon them. As she reached the bottom of the stairs, and passed the counter, she grabbed the last flute of champagne and joined them all. Maureen and Heathcliff’s faces were ashen while Kim was seething on the couch.

  “No!” She shrieked and lunged for Lana, but Kayden grabbed her around the waist and began struggling with her as she flailed uncontrollably.

  “Stop it!” Paula screamed, “You’re crazy!”

  Maureen’s mouth fell open as she witnessed Kim claw and fight in her son’s arms. Kim was not well mentally and she was certain to be the cause of some of that as well. Kayden continued to struggle with her as Lana raised her glass to her.

  Kim wailed uncontrollably as Kayden wrestled her down the foyer towards the front door. He opened the door, and lead her outside, where he released her and she collapsed on the lawn in the snow.

  “What is wrong with you?” He asked in shock at her reaction. Kim stayed in the snow blubbering and crying and he actually felt bad for her in that moment. He kneeled on the snow and grabbed her shoulders forcing her to look at him.

  “Kimberly, you have got to get yourself together. You have to find a life of your own and find your own happiness. I’ve already got mine and she’s inside.”

  Kim looked at him, her face wet and eyes red. She nodded her head and began to wipe her face. Kayden took his handkerchief from his coat and handed it to her.

  “I know,” she managed to get out as she wiped her face with the small cloth.

  “You’re smart and beautiful, and the right man for you will come along,” he stated, then stood and helped her out of the snow. Kayden walked her back inside, as she began to compose herself.

  Lana looked over at them as they came back in and Kim looked like she’d aged thirty years. Kim was not well in the head, she thought as the troubled girl sat back down in the living room covered in snow. Maureen, her face full of tears turned to Lana.

  “I’m sorry. I truly am,” she said to her.

  “I’ll believe it when you start earning your way back into my life again mother,” Kayden replied.

  Paula stood and looked at her mother.

  “I’m sorry it had to be this way, but this was the only way to truly get your attention.” Maureen nodded her head in submission because she knew it was true. It was very much something she would have done with a person like herself.

  “I understand,” she said.

  “I love you mom, but you have to make some serious life changes.” Paula walked over to her and hugged Maureen. Feeling her child squeeze her the way she did, reduced Maureen to weeping.

  “I’m so sorry,” she repeated collapsing in her daughter’s arms. Everyone was shocked to see that reaction from Maureen. Lana was sure there would be some sort of confrontation from her, but instead Maureen listened. She didn’t really have a choice in the matter.

  Paula and Maureen cried on each other a while and Kayden slipped his arm around Lana. He was teary eyed and Lana nodded her head to him to go to his mother. He leaned down and kissed her then walked over to the last three Capshaws on the planet. Kim watched from the couch in disbelief. Maureen gave up that easily, she asked herself. After everything she was coached on, and promised, they all got to forgive each other and ride into the sunset without her. Kim stood from the couch and walked towards the foyer, defeated. No one noticed except for Lana and she slowly followed her to the door. Kim had lost her shoes in the struggle and was carrying them in one hand now. She stood outside in the snow on the lawn and looked up at the sky. How am I gonna face my friends tomorrow, she asked herself trudging through the snow. She was so numb emotionally, she didn’t even feel the cold on her feet.

  Kim started walking down the hill in the road towards the town center. Lana wanted to say something but didn’t want to risk another outburst so she didn’t. She closed the door and walked back into the living room.

  “Excuse me guys, but I think someone should seriously check on Kim.”

  They stopped and turned to face her, then looked around the room.

  “Where is she?” Maureen asked.

  “She just started walking down the road bare-feet, someone should give her a ride.”

  Heathcliff stood up and Maureen walked over to him.

  “Let’s go,” she said then turned back to Kayden and Paula, and smiled weakly. She had truly almost destroyed her family all in an attempt to maintain control and it was for nothing. They both made their way down the foyer to the front door and Lana and Kayden followed. Maureen turned to Lana.

  “For what it’s worth, you changed my son for the better and I’ll always thank you for doing what I couldn’t. For saving him.” she said.

  “You’re only partly right Maureen. Kayden, he also saved me,” Lana replied. Maureen smiled and at her, nodded her head and got in the car with Heathcliff. Lana and Kayden closed the door and locked it. She took a deep long breath and turned around, where Kayden stood right in front of her. He gathered her in his arms, hugging her, then kissed her passionately and fiercely, then finally pried apart.

  “Is it over?” she asked, her eyes welling with more tears.

  “It’s over baby,” he replied.

  He picked her up and carried her to the living room, and kissed her again. He rested her down and Kirk walked up to them, holding his hand out to Kayden and they shook.

  “Thanks for that man. I have to get back to the hotel and get ready to head home.”

  “Oh,” Lana said “I need to run back there as well. I forgot to get my suitcase from the hotel.”

  “I can take her,” Paula offered from the living room sipping more champagne.

  “No, it’s ok, I don’t want to spend another minute away from her,” Kayden responded and Paula rolled her eyes.

  “Gosh you guys make me sick,” and winked at them. They all walked outside where the snow had begun to fall more steadily and piled into Paula’s car. She backed out of the driveway and within minutes they were behind Heathcliff’s squad car where they both pulled into the hotel at the same time. Maureen and Heathcliff got out but Kim remained i
nside.

  “Kimberly, aren’t you coming in?” Maureen asked leaning into the car window. Kim looked up at her and then to Heathcliff.

  “You mind leaving the car on for a few mins so I can compose myself? I just need a couple minutes,” she asked. He looked at Maureen not sure of what to say and Maureen winked at him.

  “Sure,” he replied after her nonverbal approval.

  “I’ll be back in about ten minutes,” he continued, then he and Maureen walked towards the entrance of the hotel.

  Kim took a few labored breaths as she watched them go inside and smiled. It was good to see Maureen find love again, she thought as he put his hand on the small of her back and disappeared inside. A car door slammed breaking her concentration, then another. Kim turned her head and saw it was Kayden and Lana behind her.

  A scowl crossed her face as they rushed past the car holding hands. The same way he used to hold mine, she thought, always left behind. Just like her dad left her mom, or every guy she ever dated. She started sobbing again, thinking of the ridicule she’d get when she got home.

  ***

  In the hallway of Spence Hotel Maureen and Heathcliff had just walked into her room and closed the door when Lana and Kayden got off the elevator. Everything was finally feeling the way it did a month ago now that the worst of everything had passed she could start to enjoy Kayden and Hamby again. When they got to the room, she handed Kayden the key and he opened the door.

  “Lets’ get you home,” Kayden said as he pulled the suitcase off the bed.

  “Wait a minute, I have to pee,” she replied and ran into the bathroom. When she closed the door, the pregnancy test was on the counter and she decided now was as good as any to take it and get it over with. She ripped the foil package open and proceeded. As she sat on the porcelain, and wet the stick, she thought about how different her life had become in a few short months. She removed the stick and placed it on the counter to wait the required two minutes. They had a wedding to plan, a new nursing license to apply for since she’d be moving, a new house to build and all with someone who became the love of her life, in the blink of an eye.