Cry Me a River

by Devyn Dawson

  “Will you enter me now?” Her eyes are smoldering as she bites her lower lip.

  I grab a condom and slide it into place. “Say it again?” I demand.

  “Now!”

  “Again.”

  “Fuck me, Caide, please,” her voice pleading and I’m ready to honor her wish.

  “Oh, I’m going to fuck you River and then we’re going to make love until you come again.”

  “Please, Caide,” her voice is strained as she begs me.

  I hover over her, my arms holding me from crushing her. “I will, I promise.” It takes every ounce of restraint to keep from thrusting inside of her. I position myself with my dick at her entrance. I go in a little, her hands reach for my ass as if she could force me inside of her. I grin down at her frustrated face. She sighs. I finally begin my taunting game. I do it until I have only another inch or two to go. Finally, I thrust in until I have no more to give. Her eyes are wide open and her hands grasp the comforter into her fists. “Does that feel good, River?”

  “Yes, oh yes.”

  I pull out until I’m barely inside of her and I hold it there for a second.

  “Caide, I need you. Please…you’re torturing me.”

  I grin and finally I answer her pleading until she and I are both spent and exhausted from the epic thing we call sex.

  The moon is casting light along the sound and the water sparkles like a million diamonds. We take our glass of tea out onto the porch and listen to the waves as they crash along the shores. The ocean air is cool, a total contrast to the afternoon scorcher we had.

  I have my arm over River’s shoulder and she has her head against my chest. The innkeeper brought us a couple of throws to use outside if we decided to take a walk along the shore. No matter how hard I tried to convince Jed to let us walk alone, he refused. We refused to have them follow us, so we camped out on the porch.

  “Do you believe in angels, Caide?” River lifts her head and looks up at me.

  “In a way, I do. Why?”

  “I wonder what Heather would say about us being together. Sometimes, I feel like she’s the one who orchestrated this elaborate plan to have us meet. Do you think she and I would have liked each other?”

  I’ve wondered this too. “I think she would have liked you before she got hooked on drugs. I don’t really know if she would as a drug addict. I like to think she’s happy that we met. Heather loved me…she loved her fix more….but she loved me nonetheless.”

  “In a strange way, she did bring us together. From what you’ve told me, I think we would have been friends too. I can’t wait until I get to see you with Lucy. I bet the two of you are too stinkin’ cute together.” She snuggles her head in closer and pulls the blanket up higher.

  “Kids grow so much at this stage, and I’m missing everything. When Heather was alive, she’d send me text pictures of every milestone. I have a tough time going through my photos because I remember the captions she gave them. I’m not getting any updates or anything, and it’s killing me,” I admit.

  “I bet it is. Hopefully, we’ll be able to put this all behind us next month. For what it’s worth, I think you’re a great daddy. You’re a fighter and so damn sexy. I’m madly in-like with you.”

  I clear my throat nervously….for a split second, I thought she was going to say she loved me. “Back atcha kid.” I kiss the top of her head and find solace in this moment. “River?”

  “Uh huh?”

  “Will you still like me when I have a child taking up my time?”

  “I like to think I will. It will be an adjustment, but I have faith that we’ll figure things out. Will you still want to date me after she comes home?”

  I pause a moment to absorb the words. This girl in my arms is the most perfect human I’ve ever known…. What would she think if I told her I’m falling in love with her? “Of course I will date you. Not to put you on the spot or anything, but would you like to go to my next parenting class? Before you answer, I’m not saying I’m looking at you to mother her…but there’s some helpful information. The next class is going over what to do in household emergencies. One of the classes will be an infant-child CPR certification.”

  “Yes Caide, I’d be honored to go. You know I don’t think you’re trying to replace her mom. It will help me know what to do with a child around. I’ve never dated anyone with a child before.”

  “It’s a date. Close your eyes…I want to feel your heart beating with mine.”

  ____________________________________________

  Chapter Thirteen

  How they clang, and clash, and roar!

  What a horror they outpour

  On the bosom of the palpitating air!

  Yet the ear it fully knows,

  By the twanging,

  And the clanging,

  How the danger ebbs and flows

  Edgar Allan Poe

  TWO DAYS LATER

  “Caide! I’ve been trying to reach you for the past two days! Do not watch the news, come straight to my office,” Alex demanded.

  “We had our phones off for the last few days; I had to get away from all of the madness.”

  River and I decided to make it a technology-free getaway. We promised not to turn our phones on until we arrived back in Emerald Isle. When I finally turned on my phone, there were five messages from Alex to call her.

  “Caide, you might want to bring River and her bodyguard with you.”

  Oh shit, something serious must have happened. “You sound ominous, what aren’t you telling me?”

  “Caide, just get here.”

  “Hey Riv, have you turned on your phone yet?”

  “Not yet, is everything okay?” She crosses the room to me, her ponytail bouncing up and down like a schoolgirl.

  “I don’t know. Alex, my attorney wants us to go to her office. She said not to turn on the radio or TV, just get there. She’s never been so serious sounding, will you go with me?”

  “Of course, I’m ready….let’s go.”

  River is the easiest girlfriend I’ve ever had. She doesn’t bitch, she gives head, and she’s drop dead beautiful.

  “Do you think the hurricane will hit us?” River asks.

  Hurricane Hanna, is threatening to have a direct hit at Atlantic Beach in Morehead City which is less than fifteen miles away. The guys and I helped the innkeepers board up their house and helped move in all of the outdoor furniture. The Outer Banks will at a minimum get plummeted with rain and flooding. They’re literally a little island, and mandatory evacuation is typical for them. Garrett said he’d go drive by Lucy’s grandparent’s house for me. He’s checking to see if they evacuated or if they’re in town. Lucy is petrified of stormy weather and it pisses me off I can’t have any contact with her.

  One night, around her first birthday, she came over to stay with me for a couple of days. We were having one wicked thunderstorm. Living a block from the ocean makes the storm even louder as it echoes off the water. Lucy ran in circles and was shaking her hands. I ran over to pick her up and hold her until the storm was over. We huddled up in my bed and every time it thundered, she would tremble and hold onto me tighter.

  Is that why I’m infatuated with River? Is this the big storm and I’m holding onto her to keep my sanity?

  The rain has been coming down steady for the past hour. Jed has his truck with him, so we ride in it to Alex’s place. Jed tells us about working during Hurricane Floyd in 1999. It was a deadly hurricane that caused damage up along the North Carolina coast. He rescued a lady and her twin babies from her car. In the aftermath of the hurricane, there was flooding and it was destructive to businesses and homes, as well as the shore.

  All three of us are in the front seat of his truck. River is in the middle and I encourage her to lean into me. I have the feeling she isn’t a fan of hurricanes. I lean in so only she can hear me, “Don’t worry, everything’s going to be okay.”

  Garrett is going to swing by River’s house and grab her pets to
bring back to my house once he’s finished checking on Lucy. Hopefully, Alex won’t keep us on a don’t watch TV or listen to the radio after our meeting.

  Alex’s parking lot is empty except for her car. She looks as though she wasn’t in the office when I called her; she's dressed in jeans with a white shirt. We all follow her into her office and I make introductions for everyone. Jed has seen her a couple of times at the courthouse but hasn’t ever met her before today.

  “Thank you for coming here so fast. There has been a major break in the case. Jacob has decided to take a plea deal in exchange for information about who was funding him. You might want to brace yourself Caide….Heather’s parents have been taken in for questioning. Jacob has confessed that they paid him ten thousand dollars to make Caide out to be a poor choice for Lucy to live with.” Alex sits back in her chair and waits.

  My head is spinning, my airway is constricted, and I double over from the punch to the gut I just took. The anger is building quicker than I can control, everything is colored red and my rage is intense. I can’t speak, the words are too vile… I need to hit something. Mother FUCK! I scream in my head.

  “What do you mean they hired him? How in the fuck did they know about River? They hired him to drug her? I wasn’t in the club with her, so how did they figure out the two of us would be there? This doesn’t make sense. Of course I think they’re pond scum, but I can’t imagine them doing this to me.” I stand up, no longer able to control the rage… I have to pace.

  “Alex, you’re saying this Jacob guy was hired to roofie me and to burn down my business?” River’s voice is small and shaky, but I can’t console her right now.

  I’m so mad. I wish my dad was here, he’d have the right questions to ask and the right things to say. All I want to do is cuss and hit things.

  “Caide, I can tell you’re pissed, I don’t blame you, but don’t forget this will pass soon enough. Let me tell you what I’ve been told, sit down, please.” Alex, always cool and collected.

  “Please explain this to me, because I’m flipping out over here.” I take my chair between Jed and River.

  “Jacob was hired to follow you, which he did. He is a special effects make-up artist for sci-fi movies. He followed you to Al Anon and was up as a heavy set woman on your first night.”

  “Oh, I remember there being a couple of faces I’d never seen before on Caide’s first night,” River admits.

  “Well, he said he could tell there was an attraction from the two of you. He told Darla, Heather’s mother about the attraction. She told Jacob to follow Caide and get photos. He followed Caide to the club, again he was in disguise. He expected Caide was meeting you, River, for a date. You were with someone else, but he saw Caide go over and talk to you. He talked to River’s date that night and gave him a thousand dollars to drop the drug in River’s drink. The date wasn’t supposed to do anything to River, just make her dance with him. Darla told Jacob to watch you, because you would certainly try to save her….and you did. He took photos of you two leaving the club together, and how Caide carried you.”

  “You carried me?” River puts her hand on my leg.

  I take her hand in mine and give it a squeeze. “You weren’t doing well on your own feet, so I picked you up.”

  “You’re so sweet,” River whispers.

  “Go on,” I coax Alex to finish the story. I check what Jed is doing and he’s shaking his head back and forth in disbelief.

  “Jacob thought that would be the end of it, he was just supposed to prove how you bring strange women home. Darla wanted more from him; she wanted to lure you into looking like a reckless father. She offered another ten grand to show how River stays over at the house. Jacob has a thing for explosives; he had wanted to be a pyrotechnican, so he says. He has done other bombings; that’s how the Bureau of Investigation had him in their system. Jacob did what he intended to do, scare River and make you Caide take care of her. What no one planned was you two becoming a real couple. I’m not sure how Alan, Heather’s dad, was involved. The police will figure it all out.”

  “Where’s Lucy?” I’ve never understood how people say they felt sick by hearing someone tell them a story, now I do. “She’s scared of storms, can I see her?”

  “Lucy is with the nanny and she’s taking her to Raleigh to a friend’s house with her to ride out the storm.”

  “I want to see my daughter, Alex! That’s bullshit. If her grandparents have been arrested, wouldn’t that make the whole custody thing null and void?”

  “It makes your case obsolete, and I’m sure the court will drop the custody case and award you full and sole custody. The problem is the weather has shut down the government offices. Since Lucy isn’t in any danger, it will be difficult to convince the judge to work on the case. Hang tight, it’s just a formality and will be fixed as soon as the offices open again. Right now, the grandparents have custody. They’re innocent until proven guilty and if they don’t confess, it could make the waters murky.”

  “What the fuck did you just say? They have custody until they go to court or if they confess? What about the money? Doesn’t that prove them guilty?”

  I can’t believe what she’s telling me. How far will these bastards go?

  “Unless they confess, that kind of stuff will become evidence. The district attorney might make a plea deal with them since they’ve never been in trouble before. Their attorney is with them, and if they’re smart, they’ll take any deal that’s handed to them. I will let you know as soon as I do. Don’t go out of town and turn off your ringer.”

  Oh hell no, I’m not leaving town. “What a sticky mess,” I say without cussing like I’d like to do.

  “What’s going on with the TV and radio, Alex?” River asks.

  “I’m surprised you didn’t have any media at your house Caide. If we’re lucky, the reporters will focus on Hanna and leave you alone until we find out more. Any statements should go through me. Don’t give any opinions, good or bad. I’m asking the same for you, Jed and River. This will be in the news sooner or later. Hopefully, it will be left alone until we can get the judge to make a ruling. Darla and Alan will be instructed not to leave the area, unless they confess of course. If they confess, they’ll have to bond out. A liaison will be assigned to Lucy to assure they don’t run off with her. They won’t be able to go to Raleigh; they’ll have to stay in town.”

  I’m finished with everything. The well-being of my daughter has been compromised, and I’m to sit and wait for a judge to make a ruling? This is un-fucking-believable. I’m mad and they’ll burn in hell for the shit they’ve put River and I through for the last two months. Unbeknownst to them, they brought River and I together but I’ll never give them credit.

  “I’m guessing you’ll call when you hear from them. I’ll be at my house. Thanks for coming in, I know it’s a burden putting up with hurricane weather. Be safe.” I stand up to leave. River is telling Alex how nice it was to meet her. Jed is muttering under his breath, and I’m about to blow a gasket.

  ____________________________________________

  Chapter Fourteen

  Save only the divine light in thine eyes-

  Save but the soul in thine uplifted eyes.

  Edgar Allan Poe

  RIVER

  The rhythm of the windshield wipers lulls me to a half awake stage. If my brain would shut off and allow me to dwell on something other than the vicious acts of Heather’s parents, I’d be happy. Two people who’ve never met me in their life have made incredible strides into ruining me and my livelihood.

  Caide is on the verge of having a nervous breakdown. He’s trying to be strong for me and he’s blaming himself for everything that’s happened. I told him he couldn’t have known it was them, none of us did.

  Rusty meets us at the door with her tail wagging and a few circle spins. I love how she runs around in circles when she’s excited.

  Once Caide and I are at the top of the stairs and the bodyguards stay on the first le
vel, Caide pulls me in for a hug. “Riv, I’m sorry this happened. I don’t care how much it costs; I will hire the best attorneys possible and sue them.” His fingers run through my hair, and for a moment all I can think about is the closeness of our bodies.

  A sigh escapes me and I fight back tears, the kind that acknowledges the long road ahead. “I’m worried because the insurance company said if it is arson they would delay payment until a trial is decided,” I say defeated.

  He kisses the top of my head and pulls back to look me in the face. “River, I will help you get your business rebuilt. Don’t worry; we’ll make sure you’re back in business soon.”

  “I can’t take your money, Caide. I won’t take your money.”

  “Consider it a loan then, you can pay it back once the insurance pays. I’ll have my attorney draw up a contract if that will make you feel better. Come on, we’ll do some stress relief. Would you like to bake a cake with me? I’m thinking about a good old fashioned Better than Sex cake.” Caide is calmer than I’d expect, so I let him deal with the findings today in his way.

  “That’s a bold statement,” I look up into his beautiful blue eyes and my heart flutters.

  “Hmmm, I don’t remember. We’ll have to do both, bake the cake and have sex. We’ll see which one wins.” He lifts his eyebrows and wiggles them up and down.

  “You’re insufferable.”

  “I’ve been told.”

  “I’d love to bake with you. This bra is cutting into me, I’m going to go take it off and put on some shorts.” I turn to walk away and he smacks me on the butt.

  Coming out of the bedroom, there are voices coming from the kitchen. I recognize Caide’s, but not the other man’s voice. It isn’t Jed for sure. Do I walk in and disturb them, or should I let him visit with his company. Caide is telling the story about Heather’s parents and how they master planned all of it to keep custody of Lucy. Poor little girl, she’s made a pawn in this whole mess.

  “I’ll go check.” Caide’s voice is closer so I step back into the room. I act as though I just opened the door.