A Reason For Everything
Page 3
“What happened, Willow?”
“I stormed into his office, determined to get some answers out of him, only to find him otherwise engaged.”
A puzzled look crossed her face. “What on earth do you mean?”
“He was getting a blow job, Nan. She ran out then Rob proceeded to tell me that the only reason he had been cheating on me was because he wasn't happy. That he felt like he was pushed out by me as I spent more time with the kids and he was lonely,” I blurted out then burst into tears again.
“That fucking bastard!” Nan exclaimed angrily as she got up off the sofa, her vulgar words shocking me. Sure she cursed sometimes but this was so out of character for her. She must really be mad.
“You wait till I get my hands on him, I will wring his scrawny fucking neck!” She all but ran out of the living room and I could hear her banging in the hallway.
I got up to see what she was doing. I found her swinging Grandpa’s baseball bat, getting a few practice swings in.
“Going somewhere?” I asked her as she stormed toward the front door, a determined look set on her face. She didn't answer me. Instead she pulled open her door and carried on with her mission to go and do some damage to Rob and his neck.
“Nan, stop!” I pleaded as she went down the driveway picking up my pace to keep up with her. For someone who's getting on a bit she could power walk pretty well when mad.
“Will, he needs a few knocks to the head with Billy the bat. Don't you even try and stop me!”
“The bat has a name?” I stopped dead in my tracks, completely stumped as to why my obviously bat shit crazy grandmother had given Grandad’s beloved baseball bat a name.
Reaching the end of the driveway, my nan turned to look at me. “Out of everything that has transpired today, your biggest concern is why I have named my bat!” she all but screeched. In fact I was pretty sure she got to a decibel level that could only be heard by dogs and dolphins.
“How the hell do you think you're going to get to his office? I am not going to drive you and you certainly can't drive yourself!” I shouted at her, needing her to put a stop to all the madness.
“Don't you worry about that! I will think of something!” she shouted back before turning her back on me and marching across the road toward the Bakers’ house banging on the door. It was then that I noticed Jesse’s truck still in his driveway.
“Shit,” I cursed under my breath before running over to the house. It didn't take long to realize that I had left it a tad too late to get there as Jesse answered the door and my nan was talking animatedly with Billy the goddamn baseball bat waving in the air as she gestured wildly with her hands.
“Sure, I was heading over that way anyway. Give me a few minutes and we can go.” I heard him say as I reached them.
Jesse’s eyes met mine, a sympathetic look crossing his handsome features before he went back inside his house, I presumed so he could gather his things. Great, it looked like he now knew the story. I lowered my head as I let the humiliation wash over me.
“Nan, what are you doing? Just leave it be, what's done is done,” I told her with all the sternness I could muster up, my gaze meeting hers, hoping that the tone of my voice would put her off leaving with Jesse in a few moments time.
“No, Willow. I won't just leave it be. He has hurt you. My wonderful, caring, kind, and beautiful baby and he needs to be told just how much of a jackass he has been and I sure am going to love rubbing it in just how much he has lost!”
“Did you tell Jesse?”
“No, child. I asked for a lift is all.”
Seeing the look in her eyes I knew that my words were just wasted on her. She wouldn't be able to settle until she'd had the chance to say her piece to him. I decided to let her have her moment with him, then we could go from there.
I had no idea what was going on with those two but I damn sure wasn't going to refuse someone who was wielding a baseball bat and looked pissed enough to use it.
I am concerned for Willow though. Both times I've seen her now she's looked like she has the weight of the world on her shoulders and I'm hoping that whatever's going on now between them hasn't got anything to do with it. But my gut is telling me that it has everything to do with it.
All I could do was give them the lift Betty had asked for and take it from there.
“Ready, Betty?” Jesse asked her as he came back out of the house, swinging the keys to his truck around his finger and walking by us to open his truck.
“More than ready. Billy here has a date with someone's face, let's roll!” Nan quickly propelled herself up and into the truck before buckling herself in.
“Coming, Wills?” Jesse called to me as he turned the engine over, bringing the truck to life.
“Doesn't look like I have much fucking choice, someone has to keep this one out of trouble.” I pointed at Nan before I boosted myself up into his truck. I saw Jesse smirk as we pulled out of his driveway and started in the direction toward Rob's office.
“This will be fun,” I mumbled under my breath quietly. Must not have been quiet enough though, because I soon heard a deep chuckle coming from Jesse.
The ride to Rob’s office was an uncomfortable one done in complete silence. Nan was readying herself for battle, I’m sure. Whereas I kept quiet out of sheer mortification. I knew she would be pissed but I never thought for one minute dear old Betty would act this way. I mean what other grandmother would jump into a neighbor’s truck and demand a ride so she could go inflict bodily harm on her granddaughter’s cheating prick of a husband?
We soon pulled up in the parking lot that I hadn't long left. Jesse turned to us as he silenced the engine. “Well ladies, here you are. I hope everything goes ok...I think…” he trailed off, not sure of what else to say. Pretty sure at this point he thought that the pair of us were completely batshit crazy.
“You’re not coming with us, boy?” Nan turned in her seat to face him. I could see him starting to get flustered under her unwavering gaze. That gaze was pretty potent to be fair. I'd been subjected to it a lot over the course of my life.
“Sorry, Betty. I'm needed on a job.” He swallowed nervously, thinking dear old Betty was gonna tear him a new asshole for not wanting to come with us. I didn't blame him really for wanting to make a quick getaway. I wish I had the same option.
Tutting to herself she opened her door and slid out onto the tarmac. “Thanks for the lift,” she told him before slamming the door with far too much force for such a small woman.
“Well, looks like I just made her shit list.” Shaking his head, his eyes met mine in the rearview mirror.
“Wouldn't worry about it. You don't wanna be dragged into this and I don't really blame you.” I gave him a small smile before also departing the truck.
“Come on, Willow!” Nan yelled, already halfway to the main entrance of the office block.
“Sweetheart, do you want me to come with you?” My head snapped in the direction of Jesse who had now also gotten out the truck locking it up. His term of endearment completely shocked me. In all the years I'd been married, Rob had not once ever called me anything other than Willow or Will.
“Nah, we’ll be ok. Thanks, though,” I told him honestly. “Once she's had her say to him she will calm down, and I can get us a cab and take her back home where I will make sure she will be locked in, never able to escape again.” I tried to make a joke out of the awkward situation. Jesse obviously humored me and graced me with a dazzling smile.
“Don't worry about the cab, just come over to me once you're done and I’ll take you back home.”
Puzzled I asked, “I thought you had to be on a job?”
“I do, it's over there.” He nodded his head in the direction of the building site that I'd noticed when I was here earlier.
“Ahhhh, Nan said you owned a construction company.”
“I bet she did.” Jesse chuckled. “Well, head over once you're done. You better hurry, sweetheart. She's just gone in.”
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Glancing over I realized Jesse was right. “Shit.” I took off running after her.
“Let her give him hell! Prick obviously deserves it!” Jesse hollered to my retreating form. Knowing he was right, I slowed my pace a little, giving Nan just enough time to get to Rob’s office and have her say before I reached her.
I could hear shouting as soon as I got off the elevator, Nan and Rob clearly getting into it. I heard Nan shout some obscenity then Rob howled in pain. I decided now was probably the best time to intervene.
“Hey Harv,” I called as I passed his desk, not stopping long enough to hear if he'd replied.
I tried to smother my laugh once I reached Rob's office. The coward was lying on the floor in the fetal position as my nan stood over him, her bat raised in the air ready to strike him again.
“Willow, thank God!” The relief was evident in his voice as he caught sight of me coming through the doorway. “I think she's broken my arm!”
Only then did I notice he was cradling his arm protectively. I just shrugged my shoulders at him. “Best get that seen to. I’m sure the whore from earlier would be keen to play nursemaid. Nan, you about done?”
Whipping her head around to face me, she lowered her arms so the bat was once again at her side. “Yeah, he ain't worth another hit, plus Jeopardy is on soon and I don't want to miss it.”
“Aren't you going to do anything, Will? Your crazy assed nan has just attacked me!” Rob was getting to his knees now, his arm still cradled close to his body.
I gave him a cool look. “I am doing something. I’m taking her home. She hasn't done anything that you didn't deserve. I just wish that I could have been the one to hit you.”
“It's not too late, child.” Nan held the bat out in my direction. “Hit him in the balls, he won't be able to stick his rotten cock in another woman for awhile.”
Shaking my head at her, I hold out my hand as she walks over and places the bat in my hand, folding my fingers around it in a tight grip. Her hand still wrapped around mine, she looked me in the eye. “Make it count, child.” She walked out of the room without a backwards glance as I stalked over to that bastard husband of mine. I’m not gonna lie, the fear in his eyes as I approached him almost had me bursting into laughter. Had Rob always been this much of a pussy?
“Please, Willow. I need to go to the emergency room.”
I stood in front of him, he was still on his knees in front me. “Like I said, get your whore in here and she can take you.”
“You gonna hit me?” His voice wobbled at that point making me realize I didn't need to hit him. That wasn't me, plus Nan had done a good enough job the first time around.
“Nah, I'm not lowering myself to that level. You're just not worth it. I’ll be telling the kids later that you won't be living with us anymore. You don't work weekends so you’ll have them for the whole of it. Do you good to spend some time with them,” I informed him of what was going to be happening.
With those final words, I turned and walked out of his office. Nan was sitting talking to Harvey. “Ready, slugger?” I called over to her. Nan said her goodbyes and joined me at the elevator. I passed her back Billy the bat, no longer requiring it.
“His arm isn't broken,” she informed me, a slightly twisted look in her eyes. “I didn't hit him hard enough. Wimp went down onto the floor before I got a full swing in. He also won't go to the authorities. Who is going to believe a man that blames an old aged pensioner for hurting his arm?” she cackled evilly.
We both enter the elevator and I push the button for the ground floor. “Got it out of your system now?” I asked her with a smile on my own face. I knew Nan would always have my back and I loved her dearly for it.
“Yes, child. Let's put him and this whole situation behind us. We are going to have so much fun. Think about it, Willow. Two single ladies together, imagine all the possibilities, all the adventures we could have! We could go to Vegas! What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, baby. Whoop! Whoop!” she shouted excitedly.
“Fucking hell,” I muttered under my breath. This woman was going to be the death of me.
“Everything sorted out?” Jesse shouted to us as we got closer to the construction site. He was standing with another man, both holding clipboards and wearing the mandatory hard hats. It looked like they had been in the middle of discussing something when Jesse had caught sight of us coming over.
“Yeah, slugger here got it all out her system,” I shouted back as I nudged nan in the side. We had now reached the safety fence that surrounded the site, being closer meant I didn't have to shout to be heard anymore.
“If that offer of a ride still stands, I’m sure she'll love to fill you in on what went down in there,” I informed him with a slight smile on my face. Despite Rob being a cheating prick and my life changing as I knew it, I couldn't help but smile as I thought about what had just happened in Rob's office.
Jesse and the man with him walked closer to us so they were just on the other side of the fence. “Yeah, sure. Just give me a few to finish up here and I’ll be out.”
Nan remained silent but now decided to pipe up and add her bit to the conversation. “I gave him nothing more than he deserved.” Smacking the bat into the palm of the opposite hand to drive her point home, she smirked.
The man standing next to Jesse threw him a puzzled look. I realized how crazy we must have looked to him. Jesse by now had met my nan enough times to know just how batshit crazy she was, whereas this man was only just having the pleasure of encountering her for the first and hopefully the last time.
“Sorry, Trav. My bad,” Jesse apologized. “Ladies, meet Travis, my head foreman at Baker Construction who just also happens to be my best friend. This here is Betty.” He indicated toward Nan with a slight movement of his head. “She lives across the road from me and that's her granddaughter, Willow.”
I lifted my hand in a slight wave. Nan still pounded the hell out of her hand with her bat. Travis inclined his head in our direction but his eyes never left that goddamn bat.
“There’s some shit that’s happened with Will lately and Betty thought today was a great time to wade in and offer her opinion,” Jesse finished telling Travis a summary of what had brought us here today. He didn't really know much himself but I had a feeling he might just learn the whole story once Nan filled him in on the way home.
“Bad enough shit to warrant a baseball bat?” Travis asked Nan in all seriousness.
Nan met his questioning gaze head on. “Bad enough that I might just go back over there and finish the bastard off!” she told him honestly. I clamped my hand down on her shoulder before she had the chance to do another runner.
Travis saw my action and burst into laughter. “Well, Betty. You and I might become good friends!”
I saw my nan run her eyes up and down Travis’s body and I would be lying if I said I hadn't done the same. Although good looking in his own right, I couldn't help but think that he didn't hold a candle to Jesse.
“Right, ladies. As entertaining as this meeting has been, I must get on before the boss gets on my case. I work for a real hard ass.”
“Nice to meet you,” I told him as he nodded to Jesse and walked off toward the portable office.
“Time I got you two troublemakers home, just let me grab my keys.” Giving me a wink he sauntered off in the same direction as Travis.
“We’ll wait by the truck,” I called to his retreating form. “Come on, Nan. You'll miss the start of Jeopardy if you don't get a shake on.” Taking her arm I started to walk in the direction of the parked truck.
“Willow, I'm not that much of an old lady yet. Please refrain from pulling me like some dog on a leash.” Pulling her arm out of my hold, she took off under her own steam and I'm pretty sure I heard her mumbling about me and her bat. That's one conversation I wouldn't be having with her anytime soon.
True to my word, Nan retold all that had happened on our journey back to her home, not leaving one detail out.
Pulling up at our house Jesse quickly told us he wasn't staying, he must get back on site.
“Thanks for today, son. I'll be sure to drop off some more of those chocolate chip cookies you loved, my way of saying thank you.”
“You really don't have to go to any trouble, Betty. Honestly. All I did was drive you.” Jesse tried but failed to make her see that he didn't want repaying.
“Nonsense. I'll drop them over tomorrow.” With one final pat of his hand she got out of the truck and let herself into her house.
“Please try and persuade her that I don't need any of her cookies. She's a great lady and all but her cookie making skills are something to be desired.”
The pleading tone in his voice amused me to no end. I knew she couldn't cook for shit and I'm glad someone else had reaped her efforts. Made a change from me having to swallow down whatever she'd decided to try cooking, all while smiling and saying it was delicious.
“I'll see what I can do.” Sliding out of the truck, I stuck my head back in before shutting the door. “My way of saying thank you for today.” I winked at him and stepped back, waving as he shook his head and drove away.
“Stop daydreaming and come inside, Will. We've got things to talk about!” I heard her bellow out of the doorway.
Walking slowly up to her, I knew she was right. Decisions needed to be made after today and now was the time to make them.
“That lady sure is something else!”
Travis was currently doubled over with laughter. After I'd come back to the office, I filled him in on what had happened on the way home including the full story of what Betty had done to Rob when she paid him a visit.