Starting Over Trilogy Boxset

by Kennedy, Brenda

  I turn the TV on and the headline reads, “Ex Los Angeles Police Detective Jim Davis Obtains Counsel.” Jim is in a hospital bed badly beaten with his left arm bandaged and elevated. He has two black eyes and a cut to his bottom lip.

  Mason walks into the room with Vincent, Brea, Sara, his mother, Lilly, and Mason’s younger sister, Madison. Mason stops dead in his tracks in the doorway. I look at Mason and back to the TV. Lilly, Brea, Sara and Madison all climb into the bed with me while Vincent and Mason step closer to the TV.

  Standing beside Jim’s hospital bed is Mason’s ex-girlfriend, Julia Johnson.

  B.N.9: “Ms. Johnson, we understand Mr. Davis has hired you as counsel?”

  Julia: “Yes, that is correct. As of 6:00 am this morning, I was obtained as counsel and will be representing Mr. Davis. Any questions you have for him, please direct them to me.”

  Mason’s phone and my phone alert us of new text messages, although we both ignore them.

  B.N.9: “We read Mr. Davis’ charges, and this isn’t usually the type of case you take.”

  Julia: “Well, typically no, but whenever a person is charged wrongfully, I feel the need to step in, especially in such a case as this.”

  B.N.9 “So, you are certain Mr. Davis is innocent of his charges? There are some pretty serious charges listed. Attempted murder and kidnapping, to just name a few.”

  Julia: “Yes, I am familiar with my client’s charges and more than certain of his innocence, and I plan to prove it. I have seen the evidence the state has against my client, and it is all circumstantial.”

  B.N.9: “Well, Ms. Johnson, you are certainly notorious for your wins in a court room and Mr. Davis is definitely in good hands. I have to put this out there: I don’t envy the prosecutors with this go-round.

  Julia: Well, thank you. I plan to win then I plan on eating the prosecution team for lunch when this is over. Julia laughs.

  B.N.9: Well, I’m sure you do. We’ll be looking forward to another interview with you when this is all over and done with.”

  Julia: “That, you can count on. Now if you’ll excuse us, I need to get with my client and prepare our defense.”

  I shut the TV off and just sit there. Both phones alert us of another incoming text. No one says anything.

  I look around the room before looking up at Mason and saying, “Julia is an attorney? Julia is Jim’s attorney? Bay News 9 interviewed her in Jim’s hospital room? Are you kidding me? He is now the victim? I can’t win, I will never be rid of him. I have to go, I need to get out of here.” I try to get out of bed, but can’t. “Mason, I told you to cut your losses with me a long time ago. You should have listened.”

  Mason rushes over to me and kneels down beside me and says, “Angel?”

  “No, Mason, We can’t keep acting like this is ok; this kind of thing is not in a normal relationship. I need to go home and you need to move on. Can’t you see that I am not good for you? Please tell me you see that? Lilly, please tell him,” I say, looking over at her. “Look at what happened last night. Brea was here, and she could have lost her baby because of me. I can’t let all of you guys fight my battles.”

  I try to get up again, but I can’t.

  “God, would you please help me up. I need to get out of here.”

  “Angel?”

  “Mason, please just help me up, please,” I say, lowering my head to the pillow and closing my eyes.

  Mason looks around the room. “Please excuse us, I need to help Angel. Close the door as you leave, and we’ll be out soon.”

  When everyone leaves the room and the door closes, Mason stands and helps me out of bed. I am still in his tee shirt. He cradles me in his arms and carries me into the restroom. Once I am on the toilet, he closes the door and tells me he’ll be right back. He looks defeated and says nothing else.

  He returns with my wheelchair in tow. He puts me in the wheelchair and hands me a soapy washcloth then my toothbrush and toothpaste. I brush my teeth as Mason brushes his. This has been our morning routine for the last few days. I’m going to miss this, him. I love him and can’t bear the thought of being without him. I also can’t bear the thought of his life being in turmoil because of me. He pushes me into the bedroom, where Sara and Brea have a blue sundress laid out on the bed for me.

  “Mason, go help your Mom and Madison. We’ll help Angel get dressed,” Brea says with a sad smile.

  Mason goes into his walk-in closet, closes the door and changes into a tee shirt and jeans before leaving. Mason barefoot in jeans is as sexy as hell — one look I will miss. Brea and Sara help me into the sundress and brush my hair into a high ponytail. I spray myself with my peaches and cinnamon body spray and apply a little lip gloss. They don’t say anything to me, but I know they want to.

  Sara pushes me out into the family room. Mason, Madison, and Lilly are in the kitchen making breakfast, and Vincent is on the lanai talking on the phone. The mood is somber, and I just want to go home.

  “Sara, would you get my phone for me? I need to call Maria and let her know I’ll be returning to the cottage.”

  “I’ll get it for you in just a minute, Beauty,” Mason calls from the kitchen island.

  “Look, I want to apologize to everyone,” I say while looking around the room. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen and most importantly I didn’t mean to fall madly in love with Mason.” Tears are falling freely while I look at him. “I love you too much to let anything happen to you; please tell me you know that. Jim is crazy, as you all know, and he said himself he will kill you,” I say without taking my eyes off his. “Brea, you could have lost the baby last night, and I would never forgive myself if that had happened. Mason, once I am gone you’ll be thanking God that I left when I did. You deserve so much better than what you have with me.”

  Mason walks over to me and kneels down next to me. He leans in, frames my face with his hands and kisses me. He has the softest lips I have ever kissed. I just want to kiss him forever. I don’t fight it; I kiss him back.

  Vincent walks in from the lanai and says, “Bruce just called and said for everyone to stay here — he’s on his way — and Donovan texted and said he will be over as soon as he is out of court.” Vincent looks around the room and says, “Oops, sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.” He shakes his head and walks back outside.

  “Mason, please tell me you understand. This is so hard for me. I want to protect you, and this is the only way I know how.”

  Mason doesn’t say anything before he kisses me again. I wrap my arms around his neck and lean into him. A sob escapes my mouth and tears build up in my eyes before streaming down my face. I know this is our goodbye, but I love him. He lifts me from the wheelchair, cradles me, and carries me into the bedroom. I wrap my arm around his neck and let him. I want to be in his arms as long as I can.

  He gently lays me down on the bed and lies on top of me. He keeps his weight off me, but is close enough I can feel his arousal. “Beauty, you have no idea how much I love you,” is all he says before crashing his mouth to mine. Our tongues meet, and I try to pull him closer to me. He fists his hands in my hair and pulls on it lightly. I moan while arching my back. I open my mouth wider for him to enter. His breathing picks up faster and harder. I slide my left hand under his shirt and scratch his back hard with my nails. He lets out a painful moan and arches his back pushing his erection against me even more.

  There is a knock at the bedroom door.

  “Just a minute,” Mason says while looking down at me with lust-filled eyes, “Beauty, I want you more than I have ever wanted anything in my entire life, and when I finally have you, then you’ll know that you belong to me, forever.”

  “Mason?” his mother says, outside the bedroom door.

  Mason stands and adjusts himself before answering the door.

  “Mason, I am sorry, dear, but your father is here to see the both of you.”

  “All right, Mom, we’ll be right out.”

  Mason helps me up, cradle
s me in his arms, and walks us into the dining room. I hold on to his neck for support. He sets me down in a chair at the dining room table. He doesn’t put me in the same spot as last night when Jim was here; I am certain it is no accident. Mason always does things planned out to perfection. He stands next to me while Madison, Lilly, Sara, and Brea carry food out and place it on the table, along with juice, milk, and coffee.

  Bruce walks over and hugs Mason and then me, “Are you all right, sweetheart? I understand you had quite a scare last night.”

  “I’m fine, thank you.”

  “Mason, it looks like you may need a bigger table to accommodate everyone.”

  “It sure does. I never would have guessed my house would be a host house so soon. Everyone loves Angel.”

  “Yes, son, we sure do.”

  “Let’s eat before it gets cold,” Lilly says while passing out plates to everyone.

  Mason fills my plate for me and sets it in front of me. He gets me a glass of milk and coffee with cream and sugar, just the way I like it, before getting his own food.

  “Thank you, Mason.”

  He doesn’t say anything to me, just winks at me.

  The girls all sit around the table while the guys stand. Brea and Vincent share the news about the baby and Brea starts crying.

  Lilly comforts her and tells her that her reaction is normal and tells her it’s her hormones. Vincent says they have an appointment next week with her obstetrician.

  Mason

  After breakfast, I help carry the plates into the kitchen. Mom tells me Angel has been through a lot and maybe some time alone would help her. I know Angel loves me, and it kills me that she is so worried about me that she keeps distancing herself.

  Once everything is cleaned up, Dad says he would like to speak to me, Donovan, and Vincent out on the lanai.

  “Dad, if this is about Jim or Angel, Angel would like to be included from now on, as does Sara and Brea. They all have proved they are strong enough to deal with any news we have about any of this,” I say.

  I sit next to Angel and take her hand in mine.

  “I’m sorry, Angel. I didn’t mean to keep secrets from you or anyone else. I didn’t do it intentionally to hurt you. I — I mean we — we are all trying to protect you and everybody else,” Bruce says while pacing the floor.

  “No, Bruce, it’s all right, please don’t apologize. I need to hear this, and I need to be prepared for whatever comes my way. I appreciate your concern for me, for all of us,” Angel says and then looks at Brea and Sara. “We saw the live interview with Jim, Julia, and Bay News 9 this morning.”

  “Then you already know what a snake Julia can be,” Bruce says while looking over at Angel

  “I guess I do now,” Angel says, fidgeting with her nails.

  “Well, then, this won’t be easy to hear, but you’ll hear it soon enough. Julia has requested bail, and she has also requested that Jim be tried in another county, Pinellas County. She claims Jim won’t get a fair trial in Manatee or Sarasota counties.”

  “Dad, he won’t get bail, right? They have him threatening to kill Angel on a 911 recording.”

  “Julia is saying he was set up and attacked, and it was all premeditated.”

  I stand and fist my hands in my hair, “What about the 911 recording?”

  “I haven’t heard the recording yet, but I guess it’s very hard to understand because it is muffled and poor quality or something. Angel, are you all right?”

  Angel holds her stomach like she is going to be sick. “Set up, premeditated? What are they talking about? He was in Mason’s home, with a gun.”

  “I’m not certain. This is just what I know right now. I’ll know more later on today. Julia will probably request that his charges be dropped.”

  “This is all bullshit,” I say, pacing the room.

  “Can she do that? Can he get bail?” Angel asks while looking from my Dad to Donovan.

  “Angel, I hate to say it, but anything is possible. She can ask for anything she wants, but whether or not she gets it is unknown,” Donovan says.

  “I see. Thank you,” Angel looks around the room while straightening her blue sundress.

  “Vincent, would you mind taking me home? Mason, I need my phone to call my aunt. Would you mind getting it for me, please?”

  “Angel, please?” I start to reach for her hand, but her words stop me.

  “Mason, I’m going home. My mind is made up. I am not putting any of you in danger any longer. If Vincent won’t take me, I’ll call a taxi.”

  I stand up and turn away from her to walk into the bedroom to get her cellphone and charger off the nightstand. I can hear talking in the other room, so I stay in the bedroom for a few extra minutes.

  When I enter the family room, Angel, Sara, Madison, and Brea are in the spare bedroom where Angel’s things are.

  Vincent walks over to me and hands me his truck keys. “I’m sorry, man. I tried to get her to stay, but she wouldn’t listen.”

  “It’s all right, I appreciate it,” I say as I take the truck keys from him. “Do you mind if I use your truck for a little while today? I need to run some errands.”

  “No, use it as long as you need.”

  “You and Brea take my car; the keys are on the dresser.”

  “Man, Brea loves that car.”

  Dad, Mom, and Donovan walk over to me. “She loves you, son,” Dad says. “She is just worried about you.”

  “I know, Dad, and I love her more.”

  Madison wheels Angel from the bedroom with Sara and Brea carrying a few large bags and the painting Mom made for Angel. I feel my heart sink to the pit of my stomach. She is leaving, and there isn’t a damn thing I can do about it. Man up, Mason, I tell myself.

  I walk over and grab the painting and the two overstuffed bags. “I’ll put these in the truck while you say your goodbyes, Beauty.”

  I walk out through the mud room and into the garage. I load everything into the backseat and wait by the truck for them to get done.

  My Dad pushes Angel outside through the garage to the passenger-side door. He leans down and whispers something in her ear before kissing her cheek. She has tears in her eyes before he stands.

  “I am going to do everything in my power to get him, Angel. Just give me a few days, all right?”

  Angel just nods. I cradle her and lift her into the front seat of the truck.

  “Buckle up, Beauty,” I say, winking at her and shutting her door.

  I walk around the truck and get in. Sara, Brea, Madison, and even my Mom are all crying and hugging each other. I hear Angel sniffle, and I know that she is crying, too.

  “Ready?” I ask, hoping she says no.

  “Yes,” is the only word she says. I look over at her and she is looking out the passenger window. I know she is trying to hide her tears from me.

  I back out of the driveway without looking back at the somber faces standing in my driveway.

  The drive to her house is quiet with only her sniffles breaking through the silence. I want to say something, but I can’t. I just keep my eyes on the road and drive. We pull up into her driveway, and Maria meets us at the door.

  Angel is in the wheelchair, and Maria looks at me and gives me a sad smile.

  “Hello, Maria.”

  “It’s good to see you again, Mason.”

  I push Angel into her house. “I’ll go get her things,” I say, turning to leave through the front door.

  When I return, Maria is walking out of Angel’s bedroom, closing the door behind her. I lean the canvas painting against the wall and put the two bags on the floor next to the painting.

  “I’ll pack up the rest of her things and drop them off tomorrow.”

  “I’m sorry, Mason, but please just give her some time.”

  “Call me if you need me for anything and I’ll keep you posted with any updates on Jim.”

  I walk over to Angel’s bedroom and tap on the door, I hear her crying although she doesn’t a
nswer. “I’m leaving, Beauty. I’ll talk to you soon.” I try to sound upbeat but fail miserably.

  “Thank you,” are the only broken words she speaks, before the sobbing starts.

  I lean my head against her door and wait. I try to talk myself into leaving, but my feet refuse to listen. I want to walk in there, take her in my arms, and make love to her until she realizes I am the only one for her. I want to tell her I love her more than life and if I can’t have her, then life isn’t worth living. I want to ask her to marry me and be the mother of my children. When I can no longer take her crying, I turn to leave. I don’t look at Maria or say anything. Angel has ripped my heart out of my chest. I just leave without looking back.

  Driving away without looking back at Angel’s house, I have no idea where I am headed. Thinking about living without Angel damn near kills me. I just drive. I end up in the parking lot of Julia’s office. Uncertain of what I want to say to the little bitch, I sit there. I grab my cell phone and tap it against my leg. I want to go in there and beat the shit out of her.

  People come and go out of the office, but no Julia. I use my smart phone to look up the number to Julia’s office and save the number to my contact list. Deciding to wait for another day to approach her, I pull out of the parking lot and head to my office. The delivery truck is pulling off.

  “Wow, it looks great in here. I almost didn’t recognize the place,” I say, walking around the waiting area.

  Cathy is sitting in the nurse’s station on the phone booking appointments. I smile and wave to her. “The phone calls are so overwhelming I asked her to start early to book the appointments,” Carla smiles.

  “Really?’

  “Yeah, you are booking up very quickly. It was too much for me to do from home.”

  The waiting room is done in warm brown and gold tones. It’s very elegant but comfortable. There are two seating areas in the very large waiting room. A large plant sits in the right corner of the room, two beautiful overstuffed leather couches face each other, and four large comfortable cloth chairs surround a beautiful glass coffee table. The seating areas are identical to each other but are on separate ends of the room. The lighting from the lamps throughout the room give it a homey, relaxed ambience.