by Xavier Neal
The doctor opens the door. “Well good to see you are awake Miss Davis. How are you feeling?” Marcus’ voice says something and he holds up a hand, “I understand sir. When I’m done.” He shuts the door and mumbles, “Pushy isn’t he?”
“You have no idea” The nurse winks at me. “I’ll be back to check on you.”
Once the nurse leaves, the doctor starts explaining the concussion I suffered curious if I remember exactly how I sustained it. Uncomfortable with telling the truth while Marcus is standing on the other side of the glass glaring, I shake my head and bury my face down. He further explains how I will need to avoid getting the stitches wet, the importance of proper hydration and pain medication.
Not gonna lie. An overdose to get away from Marcus seems like the best solution right now. Especially with nowhere safe to go. I have no one but Liv and I’m sure he’s watching her...do you think maybe...never mind. Forget it. If Dean wanted me he would be here in the hospital not Marcus. I can’t blame him after what I’ve done. Keeping this from him.
After telling me they wanna monitor me one more day, he exits and Marcus re-enters, the look on his face clear as day. He has no intention of ever letting me go again.
Not real sure if you’re the praying type, but if you are, please say one for me. I’m gonna need it to make it out of this alive.
Chapter 24
Dean
“Bubba hold me,” Little Bit wines at me again crawling into my lap on the downstairs living room couch. My arms wrap around her as she pokes my nose. “I miss my Bubba being happy. Be happy.”
How the fuck can I be happy at a time like this? Good news is Megan didn’t die. One of the nurses called and let Uncle Luke know, but I still have no way of reaching her. Apparently me being in jail twice in one week is a little much for my family.
“Pretty Megan always make you happy,” Faith states squeezing my cheeks together. “Let’s call her! Let’s share your Goldfish!”
Swallowing the grapefruit sized lump in my throat I push her hair behind her ear, “Bubba can’t right now.”
“Did you make her sad? Buy her a cupcake like daddy does mommy!”
“Always works,” Dad calls out from the kitchen table.
Uncle Tony, who is working on his lap top beside him agrees, “True story.”
“Both of you,” Mom speaks up from beside Uncle C.J. who is working at the bar on his computer. “Be lucky Little Bit is in the room or I’d cuss you both out.”
“We know,” Uncle Tony chuckles. “That’s why we do it.”
I try to smile at my family who hasn’t stopped working for the last couple of days around the clock looking for a way out of the charges and around the restraining order.
So far. Fail. Epic fail. Good news? Uncle C.J. is one of the best lawyers in the fucking country and doesn’t cave easily. Uncle Tony reminds me of the T.V. hackers when it comes to his skills and Dad, well Dad doesn’t deal with his family being threatened. However, it feels like they keep going in circles, between red flags, phone calls, and efforts from the Delaney family to make sure Uncle C.J. stays buried in paperwork for days. Fucking hate that entire bloodline.
“Fuck!” Uncle C.J. yells completely oblivious to the conversation around him.
“Mouf!” Little Bit yells at the top of her lungs.
He grumbles something at the same time Mom questions the reason for the outburst, “What?”
“I need leverage,” Uncle C.J. sighs. “That’s the way these people work. Leverage is key. They lock up this fucking shit iron tight, so the only way you get out of it or around it, is with leverage. And I don’t have any.”
“Mouf!” Little Bit whines.
Ignoring her squirming in my lap I state, “He beats her. How is that not leverage?”
“She’s never pressed charges. There’s never been a police report filed to even indicate that there were ever problems between them—”
“I watched him choke her!”
“He said, she said. The marks on her neck could have easily been made by someone else at a different time. They could claim it came from sex gone wrong.”
That’s not how she fucking likes her sex.
“And at this point if she were to try to file the claim not only would it be buried in a mountain of paperwork if it went through, it could easily be chalked up to confusion or disillusion from the concussion or pain meds.” Uncle C.J. explains. “Leverage is my only fucking hope at this point.”
“Blackmail,” Uncle Tony corrects. “You need blackmail.”
“Yeah.” He shrugs. “It’s dirty, I know, and this is exactly why I don’t like cases like this with people like them. This isn’t what I wanna do in law. I wanna help. Not destroy.”
“I’m sorry Uncle C.J.” I apologize my head hitting the back of the sofa as Little Bit plays with the hat on my head, turning it around , putting it sideways, anything that makes her giggle. “It’s my fault.”
“It’s not your fault Kid,” he assures shooting me a look. “It is what it is. People with money tend to work only one way.”
“What kind of blackmail?” Uncle Tony questions under his breath.
“What do you mean what kind?” Uncle C.J. turns his face at him. “Since when is there more than one kind?”
“Well are we talking he has a foot fetish blackmail or presidential impeachment blackmail?”
“We’re talking you’re lucky lynching isn’t legal any more kind of blackmail.”
“And....would this have to be obtained legally?”
The doorbell grabs my attention. “I’ll get it.” I insist.
“As a lawyer I’m gonna pretend you didn’t ask me that,” Uncle C.J. returns to typing on his computer.
Little Bit smiles at me widely, thankful I didn’t put her down.
Ever since I got home she’s been all over me every chance she’s gotten. She even snuck out of her bed and into mine in the middle of night. It’s like she knows I’m depressed. See. That’s how this family works even when they’re this little.
I open the front door and immediately clutch Faith tighter afraid to drop her.
“Pretty Megan!” She screams reaching out for her.
“Hey Faith,” she softly says grabbing her from me. In disbelief I continue to stare as she coos at my sister. “Did you miss me?”
“Yeah!” She claps her hands. “But Bubba missed you lots. He’s ready to share his Goldfish. He was so sad Pretty Megan. He needed extra snuggles.”
“Did he?” Megan whispers at her before looking up at me. “You don’t still hate me?”
At the words I gently grab Faith and put her on the ground. In one well executed motion I swing both arms around Megan cradling her body so close to mine we can barely breathe. When I feel her tears on my chest the reality she is home finally starts to sink in.
“I’m scared Dean,” she whimpers between tears, the sound of little feet running away informing me she’s gone to alert everyone. “Please don’t leave me again.”
“Never baby.” I squeeze her tight “I gotchu.”
***
A couple hours later the entire family is gathered around the kitchen and the downstairs living room. Mom and Dad are folded up on the couch while I’m on the floor beside Dad’s feet with Megan curled up into me, her head resting on my chest. Uncle C.J. and Aunt Erin are in the kitchen with Uncle Luke and Uncle Stuart munching away on pizza while Uncle Tony and Aunt Lex are on the other couch drinking beer.
Before you even comment. Yes we eat a lot of pizza, but what red blooded American family doesn’t?
Liv, who was the one that brought Megan to me, speaks up from the bar stool she’s on. “While I love having Megan here because I know she’s safe, what’s the plan long term exactly? I mean she can’t just move in here.”
“Why can’t she?” Dad’s voice grabs my attention.
“Because that’s weird right?” She ponders out loud.
“It’s really not for this family,” Aunt Erin
replies.
“Seriously? You’ll just move your son’s girlfriend in no questions asked?”
“Given the current situation, I don’t think questions need to be asked,” Dad clarifies. “But the answer is no. If the Kid expressed he needed his girl to move in, she would be welcomed. We’re family. The Harts never turned us away when we needed somewhere to be and we’ll honor their memory by always doing the same.”
“I had great parents,” Aunt Erin sighs deeply.
“We,” Luke corrects. “We had great parents.”
“Yeah they were yours too,” she brushes him off with a laugh.
“I can stay here?” Megan asks looking up at Mom who is looking down. “For how long? Just until we get this settled?”
“Definitely until then,” Mom says sweetly. “We’ll discuss permanent situations after we prevent my son from going to prison.”
“Working on it,” Uncle C.J. grumbles from behind a beer.
“You’re a tad bit sexy when you’re grouchy,” Aunt Erin giggles over him.
“So’s Tony,” Aunt Lex volunteers the information.
“Logan is not,” Mom says quickly. “He’s the opposite of sexy.”
“I’m always sexy,” Dad argues. “It’s the Kellar way, right Kid?”
“Right.” I fist bump him and Megan laughs. With a playful look down at her I say, “Don’t try to deny it. You know it’s true.”
“I—” is all the makes it out of mouth before a sharp wailing sound comes running in the living room.
Alex has tears in his eyes, which can only mean one thing.
You would think that kid would learn to duck or block or something.
“Where’d she hit you this time?” Uncle Luke squats down to ask.
“My penis!” He cries out loudly throwing his arms around Uncle Luke.
Stuart shakes his head. “Not many things a guy deserves to get kicked in the nuts for.”
“I can think of seven without trying,” Aunt Erin adds getting a glare from her brother.
“Nine without trying,” Liv adds.
“I like you,” Aunt Erin smiles proudly.
“Focus,” Maxx huffs. “Alex where’s Faith?”
“I don’t know!” He cries louder. “She’s so mean!”
“I am not mean!” Faith comes stomping around the corner holding an object in each hand.
“Faith Kellar, why did you kick your cousin Alex in the penis?” Mom’s voice sternly questions. “Hands and feet are not for kicking.”
“Daddy used to use his hands and feet for kicking.” She puts her hands on her hips. “Bubba showed me a video!”
Snitch. Way to throw me under the bus with her.
“You did what?” Mom looks so pissed I’m afraid her head might pop off. “Why! Why would you do that!”
“She said she missed dad,” I innocently answer. “When you’re gone because of work and dad’s gone because of work and not coming home, sometimes I’ll show her small, tiny clips from the beginning of fights so she can see his face when pictures aren’t enough.”
“Aw,” Aunt Lex swoons. “That’s really sweet.”
“I watch your videos when I miss you.” Uncle Tony raises an eyebrow.
“That’s just creepy.” Aunt Erin shakes her head.
“Faith, Daddy did that as a very special job. He used his hands and his feet for work,” Dad explains in a calm tone. “You are not to use your hands and feet to hurt people, especially not family.”
“But he broke my toy!” She holds up the evidence. In one hand her Barbie’s head and in the other the body. “Cupcake Barbie doesn’t have a head any more...”
“Why would you do that?” Uncle Luke fusses at Alex who now tries to look innocent.
“Because she wouldn’t share!”
“I wasn’t done playing with her!” Faith screams throwing the doll head at him, nailing him in the shoulder.
“Hell of an arm,” I mumble.
“Doesn’t she?” Dad mumbles back.
“You will see my hell of an arm, both of you, if you don’t shut it,” Mom grumbles under her breath before yelling. “No ma’am! We do not throw toys! Two minutes in time out. Now.”
Faith gives her a mean look and doesn’t move.
Before Mom can react Dad is off the couch, taking Faith to her time out chair, turning to face the corner. In a stern voice we hear him say, “That is enough. You do not treat your mother that way. You will sit there until I say you may get up. Understood?”
“Mean daddy,” Faith pouts, tears in her voice.
“Yup.” He walks away the pain of having to do that clear. “Mean daddy.”
Mom smiles softly.
When they aren’t going at each other and are on the same team, they really do make a hell of a pair. I hope Megan and I are like that someday. I hope our kid is a little easier to handle than Little Bit.
“And you,” Uncle Luke says firmly. “You deserve a time out too. You don’t break someone else’s things because you can’t have them. That’s not okay.”
“But Dad—”
“No buts,” Uncle Stuart steps in. “Everything Faith does to you is what happens when you are not nice. Be nice to people and people will be nice to you. Go say you’re sorry to your cousin. We’re going home. You’re going to bed and in the morning you will be making an I’m sorry card and buying Faith a new doll.”
“But Daddy—”
“Go!” Uncle Stuart points sharply.
Alex marches over to Faith while I look down at Megan, “And you’re sure this is the family you wanna be a part of?” She nods eagerly. “100 percent? I know Dad warned you once before, but I’ll say it again. The crazy really doesn’t dial back...”
“I hate you!” Faith yells at Alex. He pulls her hair with a sharp tug and she pops him in the face.
“She has a great arm!” Dad tosses a hand in the air proudly.
Mom whacks him in the ribs and Uncle Luke let’s his head fall forward. “God I hope they get along some day.”
“I hope not.” Aunt Erin grabs her keys. “They are way more entertaining this way.”
“You’re not helping,” he fusses at her.
“Yeah and neither is that shade of green for your skin tone, but I was polite enough to keep that to myself,” she snips bouncing out of the kitchen with Uncle C.J. waving goodbye to the rest of us.
“Oh my God, that’s what they’re gonna grow up to be like isn’t it?” Mom whines.
“Probably, I assume, though I will say, if Faith has even a third as much attitude towards men as Erin does, I will personally sleep better at night when she starts dating. When she’s 40.”
“Oh dream on.” Mom rises to her feet.
“You’re right. 41,” Dad surrenders his hands at the same time Uncle Tony and Aunt Lex decide they should bail too right along with Liv who bounces over and gives Megan a huge hug.
Immediately after the hug she points at me. “You protect her at all cost. You got that?”
“Yeah.” I nod, rising to my feet to walk her out.
“I know he’s expecting to find her at my place and probably will send someone looking for her here, but you keep this girl a secret that would make Anne Frank jealous. Got it?”
Just like Aunt Erin.
“Trust me Liv. I got it,” I assure.
“Good.” She nods tears coming to her eyes. “I hope to see you sooner rather than later, but knowing Marcus, I’ve gotta stay away for a bit. Pretty sure he had someone try to follow me earlier.”
In a shaky voice Megan asks, “How did you lose them?”
“Oh honey please. With an ex-Marine for a big brother, an ex-gang member for a younger brother, a private detective for a dad, and an uncle who has some sort of don’t ask can’t tell kind of job, a girl learns a few things.”
I agree with Aunt Erin fully. I like her.
We walk her out at the same time Dad says his goodbye from a small distance, fussing at Little Bit in the process
of taking her upstairs to bed. She’s crying and screaming and a giant heap of mess, but she’ll pass out the second he puts her down because she’s exhausted.
Fuck, we all are at this point. Aren’t you?
“You two can head up to bed too if you like,” Mom offers as we walk back into the kitchen seeing her begin to pick up. “Just...keep it down. No cake eating to wake up your sister.”
Megan’s face flushes, immediately I realize just how much I haven’t even thought about sex these last couple of days.
Given the fucking circumstances, can you blame me?
“I’ll help clean up Mom,” my voice says strongly. The strongest it’s been in days. “And Megan will go upstairs, take a bath, and crawl into bed.”
“But Dean—”
“Go.” I nod my head the direction of the stairs that leak into the kitchen. “Relax. Take a minute. I promise I’ll be up soon.”
She hesitates briefly, but ultimately gives Mom a kiss on the cheek. “By the way, I meant to tell you earlier, I found your keys in the bathroom upstairs on the side of the tub.”
“What the hell were they doing there?” Mom looks confused.
“Maybe the kids were playing with ‘em?” Megan shrugs. “But I put them back on the key ring by the door.”
“Thank you.”
“Mmmhm,” Megan hums, kisses my cheek, and strolls up the stairs leaving me alone with one of the only women in the world I would give up my life for.
“Kid.” Mom’s fingers drag my eyes to hers by the hand she places on my face. “I know you’re still worried, but don’t be.” When I lift my eyebrows she shakes her head, “That’s all I can say. You have to have faith in this family. And I know given the situation you’re in that’s not gonna be easy, but Dean, you are my son. You are my Kid,” the words sound so shaky it starts to stir the tears that are dormant.