EXONERATION (INTERFERENCE)

by Kimberly Schwartzmiller

  “You still love me. I can see it in your eyes. I want you back. I’ll fight for you. They can’t run me off this time. You don’t have to be afraid.”

  “Who? What are you talking about?”

  He sat up and said, “I have to go.”

  “Are you coming back…tonight?” I asked, hopeful.

  “Are you going to leave him tomorrow?” I shook my head no.

  “Then, I’ll see you at noon.” He grabbed his pants and shirt and quickly dressed.

  “Shane…I can’t…I don’t. I can’t let you hurt me…or Shannon like that again. I couldn’t bear it. You can see Shannon, occasionally. I’ll make up excuses about volunteering with the animals…or something. No one has to know that you’re back.”

  “I have to go. But, for the record, she’s my daughter and I won’t sneak around or lie in order to see her…or you. I’m not that scared kid anymore. I don’t have to apologize to anyone or make pretenses to hide the fact that I fathered a beautiful little girl; even if you’re too embarrassed to admit it.”

  “You know that’s not true.”

  “Really? Tell me, who knows she’s my daughter besides Parker and your family?”

  “Shannon thinks Parker’s her father. She doesn’t know any different. She won’t understand…now.”

  “I think we can explain it to her without getting into too many details. She’s a smart kid. She’ll be fine with it.”

  “I told you, you can see her, but she can’t know…the truth.”

  “That’s not good enough.”

  “That’s the deal! Take it or leave it!” I said, offering him no other options.

  I Learned a Few Things in Prison

  I spent the rest of the night alone, trying to hang on to the scent of him in my bed…for the last time.

  Sam dropped off Shannon at 10:30. She looked green. “Space Mountain get to you?” I smiled.

  “Um…no, I think it’s the morning sickness that got to me,” she grinned, waiting for me to catch on.

  “What?”

  She smiled and nodded. “Oh, and we’re getting married!” she smiled and put out her hand to show me a diamond engagement ring.

  “Oh, it’s beautiful! Congratulations!!!” I hugged my sister hard, and then turned to Mark and hugged him, while welcoming him to the family.

  We sat and chatted about their upcoming nuptials as well as when I could expect my new niece or nephew. The time got away from us, and suddenly there was a knock on the door. I froze. My sister must have noticed the worry in my eyes.

  “Are you expecting someone?” she asked, with raised eyebrows. She had yet to broach the subject of Shane’s reappearance, but I knew it was only a matter of time.

  “Um, yeah. I’ll be right back.” I called for Shannon and pulled her to the side of the entry hall.

  “Honey, um, you remember Shane…the vet?” Of course she remembered him!

  “Yes! I like Shane. He saved Snowball!”

  “Yes, he did. Um, well, he was wondering if you’d like to…” the doorbell rang again and I was afraid my sister would come and answer it for me.

  I opened the door and as usual, my heart started beating out of my chest as I looked up into those perfect eyes.

  “Shane!” Shannon said, running to him.

  “Hey Kiddo! Did you have fun at the zoo and Disneyland?”

  “Oh, it was great! I threw up a pretzel though, that was GROSS!”

  He laughed and said, “Sounds gross. Are you ready to go?” he asked.

  “Where are we going?”

  “Um, Shane’s going to let you help him at his clinic…take care of the animals and stuff. Would you like that?”

  Shane looked at me like I had said the wrong thing. I knew he wanted me to tell her he was her father, but I couldn’t do that.

  “YAY! Can I feed puppies and stuff? I like puppies!”

  “Well, I thought we’d go to the park today. There are no puppies at the clinic now. But, you can help me with the other animals some time…if you want.”

  “YAY!”

  He reached his hand out to her and said, “Are you ready?”

  “Yes!”

  He looked up at me, “Are you going to join us?”

  I shook my head no, wishing I could say yes.

  “We’ll be back later,” he said, heading out the door.

  “By five!”

  He turned and looked at me. “What if I’m a little late?”

  “You can’t be late. He um, he’ll be home by six.”

  “I told you, I won’t sneak around. She’s my…”

  “Shane!” I shook my head no, warning him to keep the secret.”

  “I’ll see you at five.”

  I nodded and watched as father and daughter headed down the walkway, hand in hand.

  “What are you going to tell Parker when he comes home tonight and she tells him all about her time with ‘the vet?’”

  “I’ll jump off that bridge when I come to it. But, they don’t talk much, anyway. I’m hoping to avoid the subject all together.”

  “What are you doing, Becca? You’re falling for him all over again.”

  “NO! I’m not!”

  She rolled her eyes at me. “Well, we have to go. Be careful, Becca. I’d hate to see you fall into his trap again.”

  “I’m okay. My eyes are open this time.”

  They walked through the door at 5:18, and I was angry. I had paced the entire time they were gone. I told myself it was because he was new at this ‘father’ thing and I was worried, but the truth was, I wanted to share it with them. And as I looked into my daughter’s laughing face, I realized I was jealous that they were going to be able to spend time together and I couldn’t join in.

  “It’s about time! I’ve been worried sick! Shannon, say goodbye to Shane and run upstairs and play.”

  She said her goodbyes, thanking and hugging him before running upstairs to do as she was told.

  “What’s wrong with you? What did you think I was going to do? Kidnap her?”

  “NO! Of course not. But, I said five o’clock, not 5:18! If you’re going to see her then you’re going to have to follow my rules. I can’t risk Parker finding out.”

  “Rebecca, I told you, I won’t sneak around. She’s mine! You need to tell her…or I will!”

  “NO! No one knows you’re here…except Sam, and she won’t mention it.”

  “So, I have to hide in the shadows because you’re afraid of your husband?”

  “No, I’m not afraid of him. I just don’t want to deal with it. He won’t like it. He’ll make sure you can’t see her! He won’t allow it!”

  “I’m not afraid of him or your father. She’s mine. They can’t keep me from her. When can I see her again?”

  “I um, I don’t know. I have to see what Parker’s schedule looks like this week. He usually works late a couple nights a week. I’ll um, I’ll leave a message with a time you can see her with your receptionist.”

  He stepped toward me and leaned down to kiss me. I pulled away, knowing my time with him was up. He turned to leave and said, “Rebecca, I told you, I won’t sneak around. I’ve paid my dues, done my time…more than my share of time. I love you, but I can’t force you to leave him for me. But, I will see my daughter.

  Parker came home excited, telling me all about his trip and his clients and how the company they were suing was going to go down hard. Luckily, I managed to steer Shannon clear of him, instead offering to let her watch a movie in bed with a bowl of ice cream for dessert. She was exhausted, and I found her sound asleep in my bed, the bowl empty, the spoon stuck to my sheets and Spongebob Squarepants blaring on the television.

  I put her in her own bed and almost changed my sheets because of the chocolate ice cream stain, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I wanted Shane and I was praying his scent would last at least one more night.

  I climbed into bed, searching for his lingering scent and was disappointed when all traces of his
woodsy smell was gone.

  “Hi. I missed you,” Parker said, walking in without knocking, and sitting down on my bed.

  “Hi, yeah…um, me too.”

  “I thought we weren’t going to sleep apart anymore?”

  “Oh, I guess it’s just…habit.”

  “May I join you?”

  “Parker, um, not tonight.”

  He looked hurt and a little angry. “I thought we were going to try to work this out!”

  “We are…I just…”

  “You don’t want to sleep with me.”

  “No, that’s not…it, I just, I’ll move back into your room…tomorrow,” I finally agreed, hoping to get one more night of freedom.

  He looked at me strangely. “But, you don’t really want to, do you?”

  “You have to give me some time, Parker. I need to take things slow, okay?”

  “We’re married, it’s not like I’m asking you to move in and shack up!”

  “I know. But, we’ve been…apart, sleeping apart for so long. I’m not sure if I can sleep with…you, now.”

  “You mean you don’t think you can sleep with me, or that you can’t have sex with me?”

  “Sleep…I’m used to my own bed…alone, now.”

  “Well, then, why don’t we try this. We can have, um…make love, and then after I fall asleep…which is inevitable, you can come back to your bed…if you want?” he grinned, believing he was charming. But the idea turned my stomach.

  My face must have given some clue as to my aversion to sex with him, because he stood up, obviously angry and said, “Or not!”

  He started to walk out and I said, “Parker…I um, I was thinking about what you said…about maybe having another child…”

  This caught his attention. “And?”

  “And…maybe we should talk about it.”

  He smiled. “I think we have to do more than talk.”

  “I can’t guarantee you a son, though.”

  “Then, we’ll just have to keep trying until we get it right,” he smiled and walked toward

  me.

  His comment irritated me. “Get it right? So, if we had a girl, that would be wrong?

  “That’s not what I meant. But, I want a son! We have a daughter.”

  “I have a daughter. You didn’t even go up and see her tonight to ask her about her trip to Disneyland or the zoo.”

  “You took her to Disneyland…and the zoo?”

  “No, Sam did. Oh, and Sam’s engaged…and pregnant, too. Maybe she’ll have a boy! Or, maybe she won’t be so lucky…and get stuck with a girl.”

  “I’m going to bed. We can talk about this…”

  “Later!” I was angry again, but it wasn’t just Parker, it was everything.

  Shane stopped by the school when I was picking up Shannon Friday afternoon. I was irritated when he got her excited about helping him with some new kittens when I knew Parker was going to be home that night.

  “Shane, tonight’s not good!”

  “Okay, how’s Sunday?”

  “We’re um, we’re going to the club with my parent’s. Shannon, get in the car, Honey,” I said.

  “Bye Shane,” she said, sounding so sad over not seeing the kittens and got into the car with a pout.

  “See, this is why I said I’d call you! Dammit, now she’s going to be upset all night.”

  “Then let her come with me.”

  “This isn’t going to work! I told you, this has to be on my terms. Parker’s working late Tuesday, you can see her then.”

  “I work late on Tuesdays. The clinic’s open until eight. That doesn’t work for me!”

  Just then, another mom came up, obviously interested in meeting the gorgeous man I was talking to.

  “Hello, Rebecca,” she said, obviously waiting for an introduction.

  I looked at Belinda and then back at Shane and said, “Um, this is Shane…um, Dr. Ramsay. He’s um, he’s Shannon’s cat’s vet.”

  “Yeah, I’m the vet!” he snapped, and walked away.

  The Reunion

  We were talking to my parents at the club, trying to appear as a normal family. Sam and Mark joined us and announced their engagement, but they left out the part about the baby, until Shannon blurted out the big news for them.

  My father was upset, but it was short-lived, as he really liked Mark and was eagerly awaiting another grandchild.

  “So, um, when are you two going to give us another grandchild?” my mom asked.

  “We’re um, we’re working on it,” Parker smiled and pulled me close, just as Shane walked right up to our table.

  “Shane! Shane!” Shannon said, crawling under the table in order to get to him.

  I closed my eyes, knowing my life was over.

  The entire table fell silent.

  Parker stood up. “Shannon, do you know him?”

  “Yeah, Daddy! He’s Snowball’s vet…and my friend!”

  All eyes were on me, including the venomous glare from Parker. “Snowball’s…” he was breathing hard now, too angry to continue.

  “Rebecca! What the hell’s going on here?” my father shouted.

  “Rebecca?” my mother asked, staring at me sadly.

  “Um, he’s Snowball’s vet,” I sighed and looked down.

  “Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Brigham, Parker,” Shane said, stepping right up to the table.

  “What are you doing here?” I asked, knowing I was in huge trouble.

  “I wanted to see Shannon,” he said, hugging her close.

  “Can I see the kittens?”

  “They um, they went to the shelter to find a good home. But, I have a brand new puppy that I’m taking care of. I thought you might want to come and see her. She has to be bottle-fed. Can you help me with that tomorrow after school?” he looked up at me for approval.

  When I didn’t respond, he said, “It shouldn’t be a problem now that everyone knows I’m back.”

  My father stood up, preparing for a fight. “Get the hell away from her!” he yelled, reaching for Shannon.

  “Grandpa, Shane’s my friend!”

  This calmed him down a bit and I finally came to my senses. “Um, Sam, would you take Shannon to the play room, please?”

  “But, I want to stay with Shane!”

  “I’ll come see you before I leave. I promise!” he smiled and leaned down to hug her.

  “The hell you will!”

  I grabbed Parker’s arm, holding him back. “Wait until Shannon’s gone.”

  “You knew he was back…you knew!”

  Once Shannon was out of ear shot, my father glared at Shane and said, “Get out!”

  “Not until I’ve worked things out with Rebecca…about my daughter,” Shane said calmly.

  “GET OUT NOW! You don’t belong here!”

  “Hmm, maybe that was true before, but now I’m a respected vet…and as of today, a member of the club.”

  “The hell you are! And, if that’s true, you won’t be for long!” my father stood up and shouted for one of the managers of the club.

  “GET OUT!” Parker yelled.

  “Is there something wrong, Mr. Brigham?”

  “This…man…doesn’t belong here! He’s causing trouble!”

  “Hello, Evan. How are you?” Shane said, calmly shaking the man’s hand.

  “I’m fine, Dr. Ramsay. How are you?”

  “Well, evidently, I’m not welcome, but I only need a minute.”

  “Of course you’re welcome here. Can I get you anything?” he asked, smiling at Shane.

  “HE’S NOT WELCOME HERE! Have him removed! He’s making a scene!” Parker shouted.

  “Um, Mr. Hayes, I’m afraid you’re the one that’s making a scene. He’s just standing here. Let me know if I can be of some other form of assistance.” The manager walked off.

  “REBECCA! Explain…him!” Parker ordered, venom seeping from his skin.

  “I’m just here for my daughter! I’m not here to cause trouble.”

 
“Now’s not the time, Shane,” I said.

  “Why not? You were worried about them finding out that I was back. Now they know…problem solved!” He was angry with me. I could see it, feel it. But, unlike my husband and father, he kept in total control.

  I sighed, knowing I was in for a very long night.

  “Get the hell out of here!” Parker ordered.

  “Hmm, well, you obviously can’t have me thrown out since I’m a respected member…a gold member, and um, I don’t think you can have me arrested…this time, so I’m going to say what I have to say…and then I’ll leave!”

  “What do you mean, arrested?” I asked, standing up as well.

  “Nothing! He’s lying…again!”

  “What do you want Ramsay?” my father barked.

  “My daughter! Well, I want your daughter too, but that’s her decision,” he said, looking right at me, making me blush bright red.

  “Well, you can’t have either!” Parker said.

  “I can’t force Rebecca to leave you, but you can’t keep me from my own flesh and blood.”

  “The hell I can’t! You’re a convicted felon, Ramsay. You have no rights!”

  “Funny thing about that…seems all charges were dropped! Of course, it was too late for an early release, but I guess it’s some vindication.”

  “What are you talking about? What charges?” I asked, completely confused.

  “Nothing!” Parker said, “Now, tell him to leave!”

  “Not without setting up a schedule. I want to see her! And, I want her to know who I am! These terms are non-negotiable!”

  “LIKE HELL! Get out!” my father seethed, trying to force his voice to stay calm so as not to draw any more attention to himself or his family.

  “I’m going to pick her up from school tomorrow. I’ll bring her home to you by six-fifteen. I’m assuming, now that the cat’s out of the bag…so to speak, this is okay with you?”

  I nodded, not knowing what else to do.

  “Like hell!” Parker shouter and lunged at Shane. Shane stepped back, making Parker land face-first on the table next to us.

  He quickly turned back, lunging again, but Shane was too quick for him. He grabbed Parker by the arms, holding him close. He was calm when he spoke to Parker, “Self-defense…rule number one in the slammer!” He let Parker go, but was watching him carefully.