“Gone?” Michael pushed the drowsiness from his mind as fear filled him. He scrambled to the edge of the bed and rushed into the living room. He saw Ash’s leather jacket was gone from the coat hook and and his stomach lurched.
“Taryn, get dressed. Do it now, as fast as you can.” Taryn heard the urgency in his tone and hurried away.
Damn it, Ash, what have you done? He turned on the news, and was relieved to see Ash wasn’t making the headlines.
He almost jumped out of his skin as his phone rang. He picked it up at once.
“If you want to see your little boyfriend again, you’ll come to the diner at Sixth and Main. Bring Taryn as well. We need to have a talk.” Frank hung up and Michael held the phone in his shaking hand for a few more seconds before putting it away. It’s a trap for sure. I can’t put Taryn in danger like this, but I don’t have any other choice.
Taryn hurried out. “I’m ready.”
“Taryn, I need you to listen to me very carefully. We’re going to the diner. Frank is there, and he has Ash. There’s a chance he might hurt him, so I need you to do everything I tell you to do, okay?”
“O... Okay,” Taryn said uncertainly.
They headed downstairs, where Michael sighed. Dammit, Ash took my car. Oh well, we’ll just have to walk. He hurried Taryn to the diner on foot and opened the door, joining Frank, Michelle and Ash at a table. Ash had a black eye and Frank was seated next to him. Frank revealed a gun hidden in his jacket, pointed at Ash.
“You wouldn’t shoot him,” Michael said. “This is a public place, with a dozen witnesses. You would go down for life.”
“Do you really want to test that theory?” Frank asked. “Now smile and order something.”
The waitress came by and Michael ordered a coffee. Ash shot him an apologetic look across the table and Michael moved to reach his hand across, but Frank gave him a warning look and he backed off.
“What do you want?” Michael asked in a low tone. “What’s the purpose of all this?”
“Glad you asked,” Frank had Michelle produce some papers, which she reluctantly pushed across the table to Michael. He scan read the papers as fast as he could.
“You want me to sign away my parental rights? Are you insane?”
“Just do as he says,” Michelle pleaded. “Please.” The look in her eyes frightened him the most.
“Tell me Frank, why do you want Taryn?” Michael asked. “You treat her like she’s a thorn in your side.”
“We’re getting married,” Michelle said. “We want to move away, back to Frank’s hometown. But we can’t while you still have shared custody. I’m not giving my daughter up.”
“I don’t get it, Michelle,” Michael said. “Why do you want to marry this prick? What’s he done for you except hurt Taryn?” Michelle looked down in her lap in a vain attempt to hide her gaunt, sad expression.
“I take care of her. Something you never did,” Frank said. “As for Taryn, I’m just trying to teach her some discipline. Something else you never did.”
“She’s a good kid. There’s no excuse to ever lay your hands on her. None.” He stood up and Frank revealed the gun again.
“Sit down. Or we can take this to a quieter location where there are no witnesses.” Defeated, Michael sat down.
“I told you he’ll never give up Taryn,” Ash said. “Michael, keep her safe. Don’t worry about me.”
“Shut up!” Frank said. The waitress came around with Michael’s coffee and he forced a smile and thanked her. She walked away and Michael took a deep breath in.
“Just sign the forms,” Michelle said. “Please.”
“Never,” Michael pushed them off the table. “I’m not letting my daughter end up with a scumbag like Frank for a father.” He shook his head. “Michelle, I’m disappointed in you. Our daughter needs you and all you care about is yourself, yet again.”
“There’s a reason for that,” Michelle said, tears welling in her eyes. “Michael, I’m dying.”
“What?” Michael felt like the air had been knocked out of his lungs. “What do you mean, you’re dying?”
“I have cancer. That’s why I lost the baby. They should have found it then, but they didn’t. It took more pain and bleeding before they found out... by which time it was too late.”
Ash bowed his head in the corner. Taryn burst into tears. Michael pulled her close. “It’s gonna be okay, sweetheart.”
“Frank takes care of me, pays my medical bills so I can keep having the best treatment. Otherwise I’d be dead by now! You abandoned me when I needed you the most, Michael! What was I supposed to do?”
“I didn't know...”
“Of course you didn’t. You were too busy with your little boyfriend!” Michelle was crying openly. Their little drama was bringing in attention from the waitresses and Frank became agitated.
“Keep it down, Michelle! Jesus.”
“Leave him,” Michael said, putting a fist down on the table. “Ash and I will pay for your treatment. We’ll work something out.”
“With what money? Your parents re-mortgaged their home for your legal costs, not to mention Ash’s medical bills!” Michelle shook her head.
Michael looked down at the table. “There has to be a way we can all come out of this. I won’t let anybody hurt Taryn. Or Ash.”
“Sign away your rights,” Michelle said. “Let Taryn go. Once we’re married, I’ll make sure Frank doesn’t hurt her.”
“Look, I won’t hurt Taryn again.” Frank said. “Just sign the damn forms and everybody can go home.” Michelle leaned down, picked up the forms and dusted them off, putting them back on the table. She handed Michael a pen.
“That’s not going to happen,” Ash said, breaking his silence. He grabbed Frank’s wrist and twisted until he dropped the gun, which he grabbed in one swift motion and pointed back at him.
“Don’t you ever fuck with my family. Not my boyfriend, and not my daughter. You hear me? Now get the fuck out of this town before I kill you.”
The waitresses screamed. The diners started to rush out of the diner as they saw the gun. Michael saw a waitress pull the phone down behind the counter.
“The cops will be here soon,” Ash said. “I don’t care if they arrest me. I’ll gladly do time to protect my family.” His hand was shaking as he held the gun. Frank grabbed it back with a snort and pulled Ash close, putting the gun to his head.
“Nice try,” Frank said. “Michelle, move. Michelle moved out of the booth and let Frank through. He still had Ash in a choke hold, but as soon as they stood up Taryn climbed out of her seat.
“Please don’t hurt Uncle Ash!”
“Taryn, no!” Michael said, scrambling to grab hold of Taryn.
Frank tossed Ash to the floor and grabbed Taryn in one swift motion. She struggled in his grip and he held the gun to her head.
“What do you expect to gain?” Michael said. “You’ll never leave here with her now! Give it up!”
“Sign the forms and let us go, or nobody gets her!”
“He means it!” Michelle yelled. “Frank, please stop! Taryn’s my baby!”
“You want the best treatment, don’t you?” Frank asked. “Then shut up!”
“Michael, I’m sorry,” Michelle said. “You were right. I am selfish. I’m scared to die, Michael. I put my desire to live before what was best for Taryn.”
Police cars surrounded the diner. “Put down the girl and come out!” A police officer yelled on a loudspeaker.
“Please, Frank. Give it up,” Michael said, helping Ash to his feet. “Taryn didn’t do anything to you. She’s innocent in all this. If you want to shoot somebody, shoot me. Go ahead.”
“Michelle,” Frank said. “I wanted you to love me, but you never did, did you? The whole time we’ve been together, you’ve held a torch for him.” He pointed at Michael.
“Of course I have. He was my husband. We spent years of our lives together and raised a child. It’s not that easy to just let go!”
“I gave you everything,” Frank said. “All of my love, all of my money. I took out loans for your treatments because I wanted you to live!”
“I know. Please, just let Taryn go. I’ll go wherever you want. I can leave Taryn with them and we can build a new life together by ourselves.”
“It’s too late now. The cops have us surrounded. It’s just a matter of time before they come in here. By the time I get out of jail, you’ll be dead.” Michael saw real emotion in the man’s eyes and felt sympathy for his torture for a moment. He felt Ash squeeze his hand and knew he felt it too.
“This world’s so fucked up,” Frank said. “It’s all your fault, you damn queers.” He looked at Michael and Ash. “Remember that.”
“No, it’s not.” Ash leaned on Michael and stepped forward. “I won’t let you blame all your problems on us. So you have a sad story. You’re not the only one, you know. Congratulations, you’ve thrown one hell of a pity party for yourself. Does it feel good?” He cupped his ear. “I think I can hear the world’s tiniest violin playing just for you.”
“Shut the fuck up,” Frank said. He released Taryn and pointed his gun at Ash.
“Taryn, come here!” Michael yelled. Taryn rushed into his arms.
“Get out of here!” Ash said. “Go, now!”
“I can’t leave you!”
“You can and you will!” Ash said. “Michael, you and Taryn are my family. The only family I’ve ever had and if I die to defend you, it’ll be worth it. Please, Michael. Get out of here. I love you. I love Taryn. I want you to live.”
“Aw, how sweet,” Frank said. He pointed his gun at Michael as he fled with Taryn but Ash stepped in the way. Michael and Taryn rushed out into the vestibule, where they were spirited to safety by a dozen police officers. Ash smiled as Frank’s finger shook over the trigger. You can’t hurt me now. All that I care about is safe, and that’s all that matters to me. Michael, it was good, wasn’t it? If these are my last moments, I have no regrets. Not one.
“Please, Frank, stop this,” Michelle pleaded. “Let Ash go.”
“Why would you plead for his life? This man has brought you nothing but misery. He stole your husband! He ruined your life!”
“That may be true,” Michelle said, “but Michael’s happy. Taryn is safe. This man did all that, so I can’t bring myself to want him dead.” She shook her head. “Give it up, Frank. Put the gun down and surrender.” She put her hand out to reach for his.
The gun shook in Frank’s hand and he pointed it away from Ash with a sigh. Cops started to enter the room, and Frank raised the gun to his own head.
“I love you, Michelle,” he said, and he pulled the trigger. Ash looked away as Frank’s head exploded in a sea of red while Michelle stood, her hand stretched out, frozen in place with shock. Cops swarmed all over the scene, and soon he and Michelle were being led out of the building, blankets around their shoulders.
Ash saw Michael crying as he sat outside an ambulance, clinging to Taryn tightly. He stood up and Ash rushed to him. Michael grabbed him in a bear hug and swung him around like he was coming home from a war. Ash leaned into Michael’s embrace, kissing him deeply.
Michelle stopped and watched for a second, and then was led away to a waiting ambulance. Michael saw the tears in her eyes and his heart went out to her. He rested his head on Ash’s chest as Ash held onto him for balance.
“It’s gonna be okay,” Ash said. “We’ll go see her in the hospital.”
“I know. I know. I just... I can’t believe she’s dying.” Taryn pulled at his leg and he picked her up, holding her close as she cried.
“It’s not your fault, Michael. The world is just cruel sometimes.” Ash looked back at the diner, seeing the red stain on the window and the paramedics putting Frank’s dead body on a stretcher. “That’s why we’ve got each other. To stand together against the world.”
Epilogue
Family
Michael tentatively opened the door and stepped into Michelle’s hospital room. Months had passed since the incident with Frank and Michelle’s health had started to spiral downhill until she had been admitted to hospital for her last days. He sat Taryn on the bed and she leaned in to kiss her mother.
“Hey Taryn,” Michelle said. “It’s good to see you. You’re gonna be strong for me, right? Daddy and Uncle Ash need you to be strong for them as well.” Taryn nodded, tears in her eyes. Michael stood, trying to be strong, knowing Ash was waiting right outside the door.
“Uncle Ash is waiting for you,” Michael said. “Go see him, okay?” Taryn jumped off the bed and went outside.
“I wanted to apologize,” Michelle said.
“You’ve done enough of that. That thing with Frank wasn’t your fault.”
“I was selfish. Even when he had the gun pointed at Taryn. It was Ash who protected her. I haven’t treated him fairly, you know. He’s a great dad.” she started to tear up. “I’m okay with it, you know, if she wants to call him Dad as well.”
“I’m sorry about the pain I caused you.”
“It’s water under the bridge,” Michelle said. “I understand everything. Ever since the Frank thing, I think I finally get it.” She closed her eyes. “Michael, I still love you. I know we had some tough times and I know I did some stupid things, hell, we both did, but I had to tell you that. My final act of selfishness is to go down with this ship.”
“I loved you, you know. I wasn’t lying about that. I really did.”
“I know,” Michelle said. “It’s not like it was all a wash. We made Taryn.”
“That’s true.”
“I wanna... see her,” Michelle said. Michael called her in and Ash came with her, holding her hand while walking with his cane.
“You look so good together...” Michelle said. “You make a good family.”
“Thanks,” Ash said awkwardly. He set Taryn down on the bed where she held her mother’s hand. Michael listened to Michelle’s breathing slow as she faded away. As the hour passed, her breathing stopped. He kissed her on the forehead and stood up, walking out into the hallway. Taryn burst into tears and Ash held her tightly, looking down at Michelle’s peaceful face with a sad expression.
I was jealous of everything you had, and I took it all from you, leaving you with nothing. I’m sorry, Michelle. All I can do is take good care of them now, and I will. I promise you that. I’ll always do my best for Michael and Taryn.
Michael’s mom and dad stepped into the room with the doctors and nurses. Michelle’s parents were still on the road.
“Oh, we’re too late,” Michael’s mom said. “I’m sorry.”
“Could you take care for Taryn for me?” Ash said. “I have to find Michael. He left.”
“Okay,” Michael’s dad said. Ash walked away as fast as he could manage, feeling tears sting his eyes as he made his way out into the stark hospital corridor. He found Michael leaning up against a window, trying to keep his tears in.
“It’s okay to cry, you know.” Ash put his hand on Michael’s shoulder.
“It’s just awkward. It seems weird to cry for my ex-wife. I mean, you’re in my life now. I don’t love her any more.”
“You spent years of your life with Michelle and had a daughter together. You’re allowed to feel something. It’s not a betrayal.” His hand was on Michael’s shoulder. “Your mom and dad are taking care of Taryn. Let’s go for a walk.”
They walked out into the hospital grounds, where Michael sat down on a bench. “I feel guilty.”
“Why? You did what you had to do when you left Michelle.”
“No, that’s not it. I feel guilty because I don’t regret it.”
“That’s nothing to feel guilty about.”
“I could have hung on and she would have died anyway,” Michael said. “It would have saved a lot of pain.”
“Would it?” Ash said. “I still would have been lonely, picking up all the pieces of my accident by myself, and you never would have been honest with you
rself. I love the Michael who stood up for what he felt. I have a great respect for him for making that leap of faith for me.”
“Yeah, I’m happy with the man I am today. I was scared for so long that the fear of losing my marriage became worse than the reality of leaving it. Almost losing you was a wake up call.”
Ash put his hand over Michael’s and gripped it tightly. “I guess we should go home and start packing. We have a new house to move into, after all.”
“I can’t believe she left me everything,” Michael said. “I thought for sure she’d give the house to her parents.”
“She was investing in her family.”
“Yeah, I guess so,” Michael’s throat felt tight and he finally let the tears fall. Ash leaned in and took him in a tight hug as Michael sobbed.
“It’s gonna be okay,” Ash said and deep in his heart he truly believed it.
About the Author:
Victoria was born in the United Kingdom but emigrated to the United States at age 21. She's bisexual, happily married and still shouts in a British accent.
She’s been reading and writing m/m and f/f romance pretty much non-stop since 2006, after dabbling with short stories since childhood. She decided to release sci-fi m/m romance novel Written In The Stars in June 2012 and launch herself into the the exciting world of self-publishing, which has been an incredible journey of learning and self-improvement.
She runs a personal website called Infinite Love at http://victoriazagar.com where she reviews books she likes and posts updates on her latest projects.
Table of Contents
Rainy Days Chapter One: The Stranger
Chapter Two: One Time
Chapter Three: All Or Nothing
Chapter Four: The Affair
Chapter Five: Comfort
Chapter Six: Doubts and Fears
Chapter Seven: Making Plans
Chapter Eight: Family Outing
Chapter Nine: Dirty Little Secret
Chapter Ten: Jealous Words
Chapter Eleven: Burning Down Love
Rainy Days Page 24