Finding Ever After

by Stephanie Hoffman McManus

  Dealing with the insurance company had been a grueling process and of course the company they used couldn’t start on it right away, which is why the kitchen was still a blackened pit. The construction guys were set to come in on the Monday coming up and start tearing out the burned wall, sections of the floor and ceiling.

  It’s amazing how much damage even a small fire does. I needed to replace cupboards, appliances, dishes and just about everything in the kitchen. Even stuff in the other rooms that hadn’t been touched by the actual fire didn’t survive all the smoke. As I looked around at all of it I couldn’t stand to think about what would have happened if Mr. Manning hadn’t noticed the guy running out of my yard. If the fire had burned for even another ten minutes, how much more would have been destroyed?

  “Hey, nothing was damaged that can’t be replaced. A little bit of paint and some new boards and it’ll be like it never happened.” He must’ve seen the emotions playing out on my face. I was thankful for his presence and the reassurance he provided. It wouldn’t do me any good to get worked up over what might’ve happened. He kept my hand in his all through the house and up to my room.

  After loading up another duffel of my things we tossed it in Kyden’s trunk and went to collect Spade and Ace. Vi invited Ky and I to brunch in the morning with her, Jake, Bas and Lissa. I felt Kyden tense up for just a second, but I think I was the only one who caught it. If I hadn’t been holding his hand I probably wouldn’t have noticed. Then he relaxed again and accepted the invite. I had to wonder what his hesitation was about.

  The entire car ride I held back, not wanting to talk about his reaction in front of the other two. As soon as we were alone and settled into his bed to watch a movie I decided to bring it up.

  “If the brunch thing is a little too ‘couply’ for you, or if it makes you uncomfortable we don’t have to go.” I was giving him an out without making him the bad guy, but I really hoped he didn’t take it.

  “So you caught that?” He asked sheepishly.

  “Yeah. If you don’t want to go, it’s okay. I don’t want you to feel like you have to just for me.”

  “It’s not that. I just … I’m not used to wanting this. My first reaction when things start to look like a relationship is to bail. But I do. Want you, and want this.” I smiled and melted into his arms. His lips brushed over my forehead and I let the contentment wash over me and settle in.

  Snuggled in close to him, my worries and doubts faded. I enjoyed the moment and didn’t think about anything except the aliens invasion on the screen and the sound of his heartbeat beneath my head. Those were the sounds that I fell asleep to.

  Chapter 32

  I turned the hot water handle and stood under the hot spray. I sighed as the heat soothed my aching body and washed away the layer of sweat that covered my skin. My muscles were so sore. I thought I was in pretty good shape but Kyden had really worn me out. His stamina was unbelievable, and he left me panting and so exhausted I would need a week to recover.

  I was never going running with him again. It was bad enough that he woke me up before nine on a Sunday morning, but then he made me run eight miles. I hadn’t run more than four since moving back. My legs felt like Jell-O and I was sure at any moment I would collapse, simply because Kyden woke up with extra energy to burn. He was incredibly lucky that I found it difficult to protest when he shirtless and using that penetrating gaze and those lips against me. He basically kissed me into submission, and I let him.

  When I finally emerged from the bathroom after what was probably the longest shower of my life, and I saw him leaning against the wall staring at me I just glared.

  “Oh come on, you know you had fun.” I hardened my face even more and he just laughed.

  “Fun? You and I have very different understandings of what that word means.” I mumbled as I brushed past him.

  “Aww. Do you need a massage?” I stopped, and he moved over to the bed. A massage? I liked the sound of that.

  “Well my muscles are a little sore.”

  “Then get over here. I’ll make it all better.” I took a step toward him, but then halted.

  “Wait. Massage isn’t code for something else is it?” I raised an eyebrow at him. He just chuckled.

  “Not unless you want it to be.” That grin of his was lethal, and for half a second I wanted it to be. Then I came to my senses and frowned again. “Yeah that’s what I thought, but you can’t blame a guy for trying.”

  I peeled off my shirt so that I was in my sports bra and stretched out on my stomach He kneeled over me, a leg on either side of my hips so that he was straddling me. His hands started at my shoulders and I closed my eyes on a sigh.

  “Tell me about the tat.” He said as his hands moved over the piece on my back. It was a bird cage, the door hanging open with a broken padlock and a little bird flying free.

  “I got it in Tennessee, the day after I left Massachusetts. That was the first place I stopped. I stayed there for about five months.” He continued to question me about my time away and I told him about the places I had seen. I discovered as he worked his way down my back and to my calves that his fingers weren’t just skilled on the guitar. At some point during the massage I relaxed so completely that I wasn’t able to answer any more of his questions and I drifted off to sleep.

  When I woke back up I was alone in his bed. I found him in the living with Ace and Danny. Surprise. They were trying to slaughter each other on the Xbox. I turned around and went to get my book. The rest of the day was spent lounging on the couch, reading and then watching one of those tattoo reality shows, but that’s what Sundays are for.

  When Monday morning came, I woke up with an inexplicable worried feeling. My thoughts went to Shane. I still hadn’t heard anything so I assumed that meant he hadn’t acted yet. I just had this bad feeling in the pit of my stomach that it wasn‘t going to end well. I sent him a text to find out what was happening but he didn’t respond right away. I jumped in the shower so I could get ready to leave.

  I’d taken the morning off work so I could meet the construction crew at my house to let them in. Hopefully they would get started on the repairs right away. The band had their third meeting with the recording label reps, so Vi was my official escort for the day. I was given strict orders from Ky not to go anywhere but to the house and back.

  Vi showed up at eight, her usual perky, caffeinated self. If a doctor ever had to draw her blood, I was sure he would end up with a pint of coffee instead. The stuff ran through her veins. I threw my keys into my purse and followed her out to the Beamer.

  “So how long are the repairs supposed to take, and the bigger question, will your boy even let you go back once they’re finished?” Vi asked as she took the exit for Needham.

  “I’m not sure. The insurance company took care of it and hired the crew, I only talked to the contractor for a minute on the phone to set up the time for this morning. Today we’re just going over the damage and exactly what I want done. They might start tearing stuff out as well. I’m not sure.” I explained.

  “As for the other question, yes at some point I will be going home, I just don’t know when. We haven’t really talked about it yet. I didn’t see much point when it will probably take a couple of weeks for it to be ready anyway. Everything with Connor could be resolved by then.” I said, still unable to shake the uneasy feeling in my gut.

  “By resolved you mean? … Shane will…” I sighed. This wasn’t a conversation I wanted to be having.

  “I don’t really want to talk about it, or even think about it right now.” I told her.

  “I understand. I’m sorry for bringing it up.” Neither one of spoke the last few minutes of the ride until we were pulling up outside my house behind the truck that said T.D. Construction.

  “That’s weird, I could have sworn the guy I talked to was from Miller Construction.”

  “Are you sure it was Miller?” She questioned as we hopped out of the car and walked toward the guys waiting
around the truck.

  “Is one of you Miss Zane?” A tall well-built guy who appeared to be in his late thirties asked as we approached.

  “I am.” I answered.

  “I’m Mark Harris.” He looked at me and stuck out his hand and I shook it, still somewhat confused because the guy I spoke to on the phone wasn’t named Mark. “This is Tony and Luke. We’re ready to take a look and get started whenever you are.”

  “I’m a little confused,” I explained. “The insurance company said Miller Construction would be handling the repairs, and the guy I spoke to last week said his name was Jim. I was expecting to be meeting with him this morning, so I’m just not sure what’s going on, or why the insurance company couldn’t have contacted me if they switched companies.”

  “I’m not sure either. All I know is our boss sent us out here for a job. From my understanding though, it isn’t an insurance company footing the bill. Our instructions were to use only the best materials and to special order everything you wanted. That’s not usually how the insurance companies operate. They want things done quickly and want to pay as little as possible. You’re welcome to call our office and find out though.” He handed me a card with their phone number. I pulled out my cell and placed the call.

  Five minutes later, after speaking with the secretary at T.D. I hung up my phone and it took everything I had not to throw it, I was so angry. Who did he think he was? What was he playing at?

  “I’m really sorry Mark but there has been a huge misunderstanding that I need to go take care of. I appreciate you guys coming out here this morning but this isn’t going to work.” He looked a little surprised but didn’t argue. They loaded up in the truck and drove off. I was still fuming.

  “What’s going on Jax?”

  “Vi, I need you to give me ride somewhere.”

  “Are you sure about this Jax? Because I think it’s a very, very bad idea. In fact I think it might be the worst idea you’ve ever had.” She insisted after I told her where I wanted to go and why. “Really, I think we just need to turn around and go back to the guys’ place. You can call Kyden, or Shane or Sebastian, anyone and we can get this figured out, but please don’t do this.”

  “I’m sorry Vi, but I have to, and you can’t call either of them. I need to deal with this myself. I want to know what is going on.”

  “I get that, I really do. But I think maybe you’re letting your emotions control you right now. I understand how mad you are-”

  “No. I don’t think you do,” I cut her off. “And I’m not changing my mind, so you can either take me yourself or I’ll get there on my own.” I knew she wasn’t happy with my choice, but I also knew she wouldn’t abandon me. I needed to do this.

  I didn’t bother checking in at reception, and security must have recognized me because they didn’t try to stop me from getting on the elevator. Good, that meant he knew I was coming.

  When the doors opened up on the top floor I stormed right past the main secretary’s desk, through his personal secretary’s office, ignoring each of their protests. Once again none of the security guard’s on the floor tried to stop me as I flung the door to his private office open and charged right in. He was on the phone, but looked up when I burst into the room. He ended the call and stood up.

  “I was wondering when you would grace me with your presence. After all you’ve been back for what? Almost two months now.” He remarked out snidely, as if he had the right to be offended. He hadn’t changed a bit. My father was just as callous and arrogant as ever. I however was not the same. I would not allow him to intimidate me or try to bulldoze me.

  “What possessed you to hire that construction company? Why would you think I’d ever want anything from you? I have insurance and they’re taking care of it. I don’t need your help.” I fumed.

  “Yes, I’m aware that your insurance had contracted another company to do the repairs. I also know that your insurance company would hire a kindergarten class to fix your house with Legos and popsicle sticks if they could get away with it.”

  “What’s it to you?” I snapped.

  “I was simply ensuring that the job would be done well.”

  “Again, I ask, what’s it to you?”

  “You’re my daughter.” I let out a bitter laugh but he didn’t stop. “Since when is it wrong for a father to help his daughter out and make sure she isn’t taken advantage of by her insurance company?”

  “Since it’s never mattered to you before, or how about since I wouldn’t have to repair my kitchen in the first place if it weren’t for you.” I yelled.

  “What makes you think that the fire had anything to do with me?” His calm and cool exterior never lifted. He was completely unaffected by what I was saying.

  “I know you had everything to do with the fire. Your men set it!” I shouted.

  “Enough with the dramatics Jaxyn.” He barked out. Finally. I got a reaction. “I didn’t have anything to do with it. What reason could I possibly have to set your house on fire?” His condescending tone only infuriated me further. Before I could scream at him and bring his entire security team in here to drag me out, my phone rang.

  It was Lucy. She was crying. Shane was in the hospital. He was shot. Oh God.

  “Jaxyn. What is it?” Jack took a step toward me and I retreated.

  “What did you do?” It came out barely a whisper as I ended the call.

  “Jaxyn, tell me what’s going on.”

  “Just stop.” I screamed. “Stop pretending you don’t know what’s going on. How could you do it?” I cried and then turned and ran from the room before he could answer.

  I had to get to the hospital; I needed out of this building and away from that man. I needed to get to my brother. My brother, who was lying in the hospital, bleeding out, because of our father. Him and Connor.

  I’d known something awful was going to happen, and now it had. Now I might lose my brother. He couldn’t die, he couldn’t’ leave me too. I finally had him in my life, I couldn’t lose him so soon. Lucy and Izzy couldn’t lose him.

  I was beyond hysterical when I got to the car, where Vi was waiting for me. I could barely speak to tell her I needed to get to the hospital. The drive seemed to take forever. She tried calm me down so I could tell her what happened, but I couldn’t put together more than two words at a time and I didn’t know if she was even able to understand them between my sobs.

  She dropped me off at the emergency entrance and went to park the car. I hated this hospital. Once again someone I loved was somewhere lying in a room here, dying. I didn’t know where to go, but somehow, I managed to ask a nurse. I don’t know how she understood what I was asking, but I probably wasn’t the first hysterical person she had ever dealt with. She pointed me in the right direction and I took off down the hallway.

  Lucy was sitting in the waiting room with a frightened Izzy on her lap. My heart broke for her, she was too young to be going through this. Neither one of them should be here. Lucy looked up and saw me, her face streaked with tears. I collapsed into the seat next to her and took her hand in mine.

  We sat there waiting for news. Lucy didn’t know anything other than he had been shot in the chest and was in surgery. Vi eventually came in and sat beside me. Bas showed up not long after. He didn’t say anything, which was good. I would have started crying again, and I had only just stopped.

  I loved Bas and Vi, more than anything, and I was glad they were with me, but there was only one person who could make me feel alright in the middle of this chaos, and when he rushed into the waiting room I launched myself into his arms. I buried my head in his chest and cried some more. He held me tightly and whispered that it would be okay. I wanted so badly to believe him. I tried hard to believe it, but I was so scared.

  When the doctor walked into the waiting room after almost two hours, and made his way toward us, I swear my heart stopped. His face was unreadable, he gave nothing away. I was in Ky’s lap and he squeezed my hand.

  “Mrs.
Malloy.” He addressed Lucy. “He made it through surgery and he’s stabilized for now, but we still don’t know if he’s going to pull through.” I tuned out at that point. Some part of me was still listening to the doctor explain how one tiny piece of metal caused so much damage, but I couldn’t focus. All I could see was my father’s smug expression and the evil look in Connor’s eyes. They did this. They were going to take my brother away from me. Away from me and his wife and that sweet little girl who needed her daddy.

  Chapter 33

  Lucy and I were let in to see him for a few minutes. The doctors weren’t sure when he would wake up, or even that he would. Lucy didn’t want Izzy to see her dad like that yet, so we left her with the others. She climbed up in Kyden’s lap and curled herself into him the same way I had earlier.

  When we walked into Shane’s room my heart broke a little bit more. Lucy sucked in a sharp breath and grabbed my hand. He was pale and one side of his face was covered in bruises. He was hooked up to a breathing tube and had needles sticking in his arms. The rest of his body was covered by a blanket. The slow beep on the heart monitor was the only sound besides Lucy’s soft cries. He didn’t even look like my brother. As long as I had known him he’d always been so strong and capable, and now he looked … weak and broken.

  We weren’t allowed to stay long. Lucy held his hand and told him how much she and Izzy loved him and wanted him to come back to them. I told him how thankful I was to have him in my life and for everything he had done for me. I told him he couldn’t leave me. I hoped he heard how much he meant to us. How much we all needed him to wake up.

  The doctor said it would be at least twenty four hours before he could wake up but he promised to keep us informed. Lucy wanted to get back to Izzy and I just wanted Ky to wrap his arms around me again and make me feel safe, like my world wasn’t falling apart. Again.

  Izzy was sound asleep on his lap, and even given the circumstances it was a precious sight. The rest of the guys had shown up by that time and everyone’s mood was pretty somber. Jake was holding Vi tightly, and Lissa was leaning her head on Bas’ shoulder. Ace and Spade both jumped up when they spotted me. They squeezed me in their arms and the waterworks came again. It was the first time I had ever felt like part of a big family. They were my family now, and it meant everything that they were here.