by JA Johnston
Lucas grabs David’s forearm, “Remove your hand from my wife.” He states in a menacing tone.
With his hand, still, on me, David responds, “So, you’re the husband. Why haven’t you drilled any manners into her? She needs to learn her place.”
“I am not going to repeat myself.” I feel David’s grip being pulled away as I see Sam stand up.
“I know who you are. You’re David Sawyer.” She glares at him.
“I am. I don’t know who you are sweetheart, but I wouldn’t mind finding out.” David responds in a suggestive tone.
At that moment, Ben leaps to his feet and is across the table. Upon hearing his name, Lucas has pushed him away from me. David no longer has a grip on my shoulder, and I hear flesh hitting flesh. I turn and see Lucas punching David. David is on his feet still, readying to return the favor to Lucas, but it doesn’t happen as Ben tackles David to the ground.
My breathing has been quickening since I laid eyes on David. I’m trying to calm myself, but seeing Lucas and Ben lifting David up, my shaking gets worse. I feel my head pounding as my chest tightens. The room is spinning as the scene before me plays out. I feel myself drifting, there are arms around me, a voice whispering into my ear. “Amelia.” Not Lucas’ voice, I smell his cologne, Old Spice, it’s Adam.
When I open my eyes again, I don’t know where I am. Laying on a couch, the room is dimly lit. I look around and see Lucas sitting on the floor in front of the couch. He has his elbows resting on his bent knees, with his forehead resting against his hands, ice-pack being held. I gently run my fingers along the nape of his neck.
He drops the ice-pack and turns towards me. “Hey.” Is all he manages to say in a choked-up voice. Now he’s running his fingers through my hair. “How are you?”
“I feel horrible.” I lift my hand and hold it against his hand that is now resting upon my cheek. “I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry about Amelia.” His eyes are filled with love, “I wish I had known who he was before he ever got that close to you.” His tone changes to one of anger, “I wanted to kill him. I had to be pulled off him.” He shakes his head, “Then I saw you passed out in Adam’s arms and Jennifer kneeling beside you. I thought,” he gets choked up, “I thought he did hurt you.”
“He didn’t this time either. You were here to rescue me.” I look into his eyes. “What happened? Where is he?”
“He’s not here. Mr. Bragg had security escort him out.” He shakes his head, “We were all asked to leave, but when they noticed you, they let us in this room to attend to you.” He looks up at the door when he hears it open.
“Is she up?” I hear a feminine voice ask.
“Yes, just now.”
Ailene Bragg kneels beside Lucas and looks upon me with deep concern. “You gave us quite a scare Amelia. I’ve brought you some water.” She hands me a water bottle.
“Thank you. And, I’m sorry for the…”
Ailene cuts me off. “You do not need to apologize. Neither does Lucas, who has done so a dozen times already.” She nods her head towards him and brushes a stray hair from my face. “We’ve had some guests tells us about the heated exchange. Then when Samantha told me about Mr. Sawyer,” she takes a deep breath, “I understand the angst of the situation.” She’s staring at me with gentle eyes.
I’m fighting back tears as Lucas says, “Thank you for everything.” He looks to me, “Are you ready?”
“Take me home.”
Seventeen years, eight months
A WINTER’S BALL, benefiting Alzheimer’s Research. This is the second year for this event. The founders, Mr. & Mrs. Bragg, began this when his mother was diagnosed, which progressed aggressively. Mr. Bragg shares the story of his mother and her decent into this horrible decease and how it has affected him and his family.
Adam has not taken his eyes off of me all evening. He says I look like a precious jewel and doesn’t want anyone to steal me away. My gown is a navy blue sleeveless, glitter lace overlay with a sweetheart neckline. The bodice clings to me, leaving nothing to the imagination. I feel Adam touch my back every so often with his hand against my skin. He loves the open back of the dress.
We are standing here talking with Thomas and Ailene Bragg. “Thomas, have you seen Aubrey?”
“Not for a while, is she with dad?” He says in a deep voice.
Ailene looks around, “If you’ll excuse me. I just want to check on her.”
We continue talking as Brian and Susan Bragg join us. I noticed that both Bragg brothers have younger wives. In fact, Susan is pregnant, showing off a little baby bump.
“How far along are you?” I ask. She looks absolutely beautiful in a form-fitting lavender gown.
“Five months.” Susan grins up at her husband, who looks down at his wife with so much warmth and love in his eyes. “We’re having a girl.”
“Congratulations. You both look very happy and you look absolutely glowing.”
Brian and Thomas laugh. “Well, yes.” She clears her throat, “I am, thanks to our niece. She spent the night with us and asked if she could rub lotion on me since that is what I was doing. I said she could, but I didn’t know she had glitter on her hands.” She laughs along with the men. “I can’t get it off.”
As we stand there laughing, Ailene returns with a beautiful little girl who looks like a miniature version of herself. “Found her. Her brothers were trying to bribe her into sneaking into the kitchen to find the dessert.” She looks down at her daughter.
“I wasn’t going to mommy.” The little girl shakes her strawberry blonde locks, then she looks up at me. “Oh! Are you a princess?” She asks me.
I chuckle, as does everyone else. “No, I’m not. Are you?”
“Are you sure? You look like one.” She states matter of fact tone. “I’m not a princess yet, but when I grow up, I will be.”
“Thank you for the compliment Princess Aubrey.” I kneel down to her level, “You already look like a princess to me.” I whisper into her ear.
Aubrey’s face lights up and a smile stretching ear-to-ear turns her cheeks rosy. “Thank you.” She says shyly and snuggles into her mother’s side.
“How many children do the two of you have?” I ask Ailene and Thomas.
“Four.” She looks up at her husband. Wow! I wasn’t expecting that. I wonder how old she is compared to her husband. “Three rambunctious boys and our one little princess.” She looks down lovingly squeezing her daughter to her side.
As we approach our table, I see Lucas Bishop is already seated along with Theresa Wahl, one of my girls. I smile at her when I catch her eye. “Good Evening.” I say as Adam pulls the chair out for me. “How are the two of you?”
“Good.” Lucas says. “How are you two?”
“Great.” Adam smiles at him as he sits down next to me.
As we’re talking Jennifer and Nicholas join us at the table, along with Ben and his escort, Kelly Werner, another one of my girls. Honestly, this feels strange to be in attendance at a function while two of my girls are here working. I haven’t had any personal clients in months, so this makes me a bit uncomfortable. I know it shouldn’t since I am now their boss, but at one time, not long ago, I worked alongside them. They are the closest thing I have to friends.
Adam squeezes my leg under the table, “Hey, are you okay? You seem distracted.”
I smile at him while gazing into his hazel eyes. “I’m fine. This is just peculiar sitting here with Kelly and Theresa.” I whisper to him. “I’ve never been in this situation before. Piper was never in a situation like this.” I pause, “At least I don’t think so.”
Adam smiles at me. “Do you want to leave?” He places a kiss on my forehead, “I didn’t know Ben’s date worked for you also.”
“I don’t want to leave, that would be rude. It’s just, I don’t know. I’m not going to judge them, but a part of me feels like I might. You know, their behavior or if I hear something that I do not want to hear in conversation
that could be illegal.” I sigh, “I just don’t know. It’s confusing to me right now.”
“Well, let me know what I can do for you. If you want to leave, we will.”
“Amelia Bennett, is that you?” I hear a squeaky voice ask.
I turn and see Ashley Haven. The girl who made my life miserable at the academy. My father’s or grandfather’s informant. I’m not sure which. So, with as much enthusiasm I can muster up, “Hi Ashley. What a nice surprise to see you.”
She smirks and snorts at that. “Really, is that what you said to David when he saw you at your office.” She says in a hateful tone while adding quotation marks to her remark.
“And how would you know anything about that?” I ask.
“I know all about you. Always have and always will.” She folds her arms across her chest.
“What does that mean?” I glare at her.
“Don’t be so dumb.” She shrugs her shoulders. “I know you figured out that I was telling your father everything you did when we were at the academy.” She’s smiling at me which is making me feel uncomfortable. “But, what you don’t know, is that I’ve never stopped.” She gives a light chuckle, “Your father made it very appealing to continue watching you all this time.”
“Why would you tell my father anything? Then or now?”
She’s grinning like a Cheshire cat. “Like I said, he made it very appealing to never stop.” Those words left her mouth when I see an arm reach around her middle and I hear a slurred voice say, “there you are.”
As I look up, all words leave me. My eyes must be deceiving me. My father has his arm wrapped around Ashely and is grinning while whispering into her ear. She’s grinning and looking at me. “Sweetie, you shouldn’t do that in front of your daughter.” She lays her hand on his chest in a playful manner, “We haven’t told her yet.”
“What?” I’m shaking my head staring at them.
“Amelia.” My father looks at me shockingly. Then he quickly removes his arm from Ashley. I watch as his posture stiffens and his features harden with anger. He reaches down and grabs me by my arm, making me stand. He leans into my ear, in a snarling tone he says, “I need to talk to you, now.”
“Excuse me.” Adam is standing and puts his hand on my waist. “I’m Adam Hunter.”
My father releases his grip from my arm. My arm is tingling as blood is rushing to the place that I am sure he has just bruised. “Darren Bennett.” He shakes hands with Adam but then returns his attention back to me. My father’s familiar hazel eyes are penetrating me, “Amelia,” he starts, but Ashley cuts him off.
“Darren, we need to get seated.” She looks around, “Besides this isn’t the time or place.”
My father glares at her, then back to me. “I will be in contact with you soon.” He straightens his suit as he looks at me. “There are things we need to discuss privately.” He states while his gaze is lingering on Adam.
“There’s nothing that we need to discuss.” I stand my ground glaring at him than Ashley. I don’t know what to make of the two of them together. How long has this been going on? I can not stomach the idea of them for too long. “You should take your, whatever she is” I shoo my hands in her direction; “away before I’ll do something I regret.”
This makes Ashley laughs. “Seriously, what would you do?” She glares at me. “You’re no better than me sweetie.”
My hands are clenching into fists, adrenaline is coursing through my veins, “Excuse me?”
“You’ve been whoring yourself out for years, so don’t go trying to act that you’re better than me.” She snarls out.
I clench my right fist and ready it when I feel a hand wrap around my wrist. I look down and see Lucas has his hand wrapped around it, he shakes his head at me. Adam stands in front of me, blocking Ashley and my father. “I think you should leave.”
“Why are you wasting your time with a whore?” Ashley says in a raised squeaky tone.
Lucas’ hold on my wrist tightens as I struggle to pull out of his grasp. “You better remove her from our presence before I do.” I hear Adam say in a menacing tone, that I’ve never heard from him before. “Believe me, you don’t want me too.”
What the hell does that mean? I look up at Adam. His features have gone hard; his posture is stiff. He’s standing eye to eye with my father. His hands are clenching by his side. I feel the blood coursing through my veins as I stare at these two men. Two men that have had a profound impact on my life.
Not only do my eyes deceive me at this moment, but so do my ears as I hear my father say, “Let’s go Ashley.” I look at the two of them, my father’s stare is still locked with Adam’s as Ashley is glaring at my father while stuttering, “but”. “Now” he demands as he pulls her by her arm. His gaze finally finds mine, “I will be in contact.”
I watch the two of them walk away, or I should say watch as Ashley is being dragged away. Finally, I turn my gaze to Adam. He’s standing stiffly, features still hard. I notice his hands are flexing as his face is beat red. Red with anger. It’s then that I notice the similarities between him and my father. Their height, build and eye color. Why would I be attracted to or have fallen in love with someone that looks similar to the man I loathe.
Lucas finally releases his grip from me. I place that hand on Adam’s shoulder, “Don’t” he says harshly. He looks at me and I see such anger lingering in his glassy stare. Shaking his head, “not right now. I need…”, he doesn’t finish as he walks away from me.
I feel Lucas stand behind me. He places both his hands on my shoulders and whispers in my ear, “I’ll go talk to him.” He removes his hands and I feel the warmth being taken away from my body. My blood feels chilled as goose bumps spread across my skin. Kelly and Theresa are both by my side as I see Ben walk off in the direction of Adam and Lucas. I sit and notice that Adam’s parents are no longer at the table. Where did they go?
I sat at the table for thirty minutes and nobody returned. I decided to leave, and Kelly and Theresa left with me. Phillip was working that night as their driver. After dropping the girls off at their apartments, he drove me home. Home.
The house felt colder than normal upon entering. I suppose it could be because of any number of things that lead up to me coming home alone. But mostly, because Adam was not beside me. We left our home together; we should have returned the same way. And yet, we hadn’t. I don’t even know where he is. I called his phone and texted. No answer from either.
I remove my dress as I enter our bathroom. I turn on the shower as hot as I can tolerate it. The water cascades down my body as I rub my hands over my face. Scrubbing. I try to remove the guilt of uncleanliness from my body. From the words that Ashley spoke, “whore”. Is that why Adam walked away? Is this too much for him? Is he leaving me?
Tears begin streaming down my face as sobs begin to shake my body. I go down to my knees, holding my face in my hands. The hot water feels cold against my skin. He’s leaving. Adam is leaving me, is all I can think as the warmth leaves my body. My body is heaving and trembling.
I’m not sure how long I stayed in the shower. I dried myself off, put pajamas on and crawled under the covers. My body is still quivering from the loss of Adam’s warmth. The loss of his touch, have I lost his love? He couldn’t even look at me as he walked away. The look in his eyes as he looked down at me, sends more chills through me. I’ve cried so much, that there are no more tears. My eyes are swollen and my throat raw as I descend into a fitful sleep.
I’m not sure how long I’ve been sleeping, if I have at all when I feel the bed sink beside me. The scent of Old Spice tingles my senses. Adam’s warmth embraces me from the back as he reaches his arm across my belly. His kiss on my neck sends chills coursing through my already cold body. His words are whispery sweet, “Amelia, I love you with all my heart. I am so very sorry that I left you the way that I did.” He sighs, “I just couldn’t handle the way I was feeling at that moment, and I didn’t want you to see me in that way.”
I place my hand on top of his and give his hand a squeeze. He pulls me closer as he brings our hands up towards my chin. “I’ve never been that angry before. When that woman, Ashley was talking to you, saying those things to you and calling you, what she did.” I hear him gulp. “Then your father. God, Amelia, how did you manage to turn out the way you did? How did you survive that man?”
Adam’s heart is racing, his breathing heavy. “I had to leave Amelia, because of what I wanted to do to him, but held myself back from doing so.” He nuzzles into my neck. “I wanted to kill him. Standing right there, the way he grabbed you, the way he spoke to you and looked at you. The way Ashley did. I envisioned picking up the knife from the table and stabbing it through his heart.” His hold is tighter, “I envisioned, grabbing his neck and twisting the knife as far as I could into his heart while whispering the words of vengeance for you and your mother in his ear.”
He’s now shaking, breathing harsher while taking in gulps of air. I roll over to face him, still in his arms. I place a hand on the side of his face, I can see the tears in his eyes from the glow that is cast on us from the lamp. “I’ve never had thoughts of anything like that before. I’ve only thrown a punch against a punching bag.”
I wipe the tears that have escaped his eyes. Rubbing my thumb across his cheek, looking into his eyes. “I thought even if I punched him, you would be disappointed in me. And if you thought that, what would you think if you knew what I was holding back.” He takes a deep breath. “Lucas and Ben were thinking the same thing that I was. Once I finally calmed down, I went inside to find you. But by then, you were already gone.”
“I didn’t know where you went. I didn’t know if you were coming back. I called you, I texted you. You never responded.” I say in an overwhelming tone. Wow, he wanted to defend me, to avenge me, and my mother. No one has ever done that or even said those words to me. I’ve always felt beneath everyone, that I was a burden to them.
“I’m sorry. I was ashamed.”