by Brooke May
“You are everything I could have ever asked for, Chamberlain.” I know he knows how much he means to me, but saying the words just reinforces them more. “You are the sweetest, most gentle man I’ve ever known, and that’s even when you are looking like the total Predator.” He grunts at his nickname; he doesn’t like me using it because he isn’t the Predator to me; he’s just my Chamberlain. “You give me everything. The only way I’m leaving you is to go to the hereafter but with you by my side.”
We continue to hold one another, knowing that is what the other needs. Our home is a place he can protect, can control the environment, and I know for certain that after this, he will be making sure that we have complete security.
Hours later, we are sitting on the couch. Marissa is playing dress up in her room, Beth and Scott are bickering downstairs, and Fiona is working on her newest quilt in her apartment. “We need to discuss that invitation.” Chamberlain draws lazy circles on the exposed flesh of my leg from where he sits behind me, cradling me between his legs.
“Scott didn’t destroy it?”
“No, he brought it up before I got here.”
“Where is it?” I start to get up to grab it, but he pulls me back onto his lap and pulls the envelope out of his shorts pocket. “Let me read it?” I make a grab for it, and he lets it slide from his hand.
Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlain Lawrence;
You are hereby invited to the banquet for Senator Douglas Cunningham’s campaign for the Presidency of the United States of America. Your support and donation are greatly appreciated by the Senator and his family.
The banquet will be held Thursday, July 21st, 2016 at the Villa Victoria Center for the Arts.
The Senator and Mrs. Cunningham hope to see you there.
“Great.” I flip it over and see nothing else; no RSVP or anything.
“What do you want to do about it?”
“Do we have to do anything?” I look up over my shoulder at him.
“This says yes.” Chamberlain picks up a magazine sitting on the back of the couch. It is already opened and flipped to a short article talking about Chamberlain supporting my father.
“They can’t print that! It isn’t true.”
“I agree with you, Katie, but the media are vultures and will write whatever information they are given. I am Boston’s golden boy, and your dad is the senator for the state. We make big news. And since I haven’t come out to say anything yet, they will keep printing stories like this.” He throws it over to the coffee table.
“We need to release a statement then.” Again, I got to get up, but he pulls me back.
“I’ve got a plan, but you need to trust me, okay?” I look him in the eyes. He’s pleading me to trust him. “Do you trust me, panda?”
“I trust you with my life,” I say without hesitation.
“Good.” He sits back again, dragging me with him. “You’re going to need a gown then. We have a banquet to crash in a few weeks.”
“What?” He smiles down at me.
“I’ve got it all figured out. Don’t worry your pretty little head.”
“Chamb—”
“C, we got more, and now, the press is camping outside.” Scott’s announcement cuts me off. I turn to see both him and Beth walking in carrying arms filled with magazines.
I thought they were sparring.
“What are those?” I point at them as they dump the magazines on the kitchen table.
“They work fast.” Beth holds up one that shows a picture of me talking to Zoey when we arrived at the house earlier today.
“See? Fucking vultures.”
“Did C talk to you about the plan?” Scott comes over and sits in the armchair.
“I told her to trust me.”
“On what?” Beth joins us.
“On finally getting her family to leave her alone.” Our eyes locks. “This will be over soon.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Katie
“I’M GLAD THE grocer told those fucking parasites to stay out and let us shop in peace.” Beth dumps some bags of nuts into the shopping cart while I push it.
“Thank, God.” Chamberlain was reluctant to let Beth, Fiona, and me go get groceries, but it’s been three days since we left the house, and I was starting to go crazy. It took some convincing, but Beth and I managed to escape.
Chamberlain has been distant, trying to get his plan in motion. I wish he would tell me what he has planned, so I could help him. But he continues to tell me not to worry and to trust him.
He had gone over the rules with Beth and me before we left the house.
Don’t answer the reporters.
Don’t lose your temper. (That one was more for Beth.)
Call me if you need me.
“Let’s hope the owner of the next shop we go to does the same.” I grab the next thing on the grocery list and push on.
“True.” Beth looks over her shoulder to the front doors of the store where Scott stands guard. He is really the only reason that I got out. She then looks down at the cart. “You’re grabbing more than usual.”
“I’m getting Chamberlain out of town for a few days. His worrying is going to drive all us crazy.”
“Where will you guys go? Denver?” She raises a brow. “You know that the media will follow you there.”
“No, Chamberlain has a cottage in the Berkshires that we can go to.”
“And the media won’t follow you there?”
“Scott says he is going to draw them away so we can get out without being followed.”
“Oh?” She stops and folds her arms over her chest. “How is he planning to do that?”
I shrug. “I honestly don’t know.”
But I’m guessing it involves you.
I don’t say that because it will just piss her off. Besides, being around him in a family setting or in a very public one, Beth hasn’t gone near Scott on her own. He does catch her off guard every once in a while, like the other day down in the gym when he managed to corner her. She has the poor man so frustrated. Part of me finds it hilarious that he finally has to chase a woman, but I also wish Beth would allow something good, a good man, to come into her life.
“Great.” She rolls her eyes and moves along. “So you’re going to leave me alone with him for a few days?”
“No, Fiona will be there too.” I grin teasingly at her. “You should just listen to what he has to say, Beth. Scott isn’t like the guys you’ve been with before.”
“No, thank you.” We finish getting groceries, and when we exit, Beth refuses to look at Scott as we load my SUV. We head to the boutique I found on the internet that has the dress I want. I just need to try it on.
The dress I found isn’t the usual black and white numbers that Chamberlain normally likes me in, but I think it will do perfectly for the grand scale of the banquet. I also don’t feel guilty about buying it because the price is reasonably low. I hate spending money.
“Chamberlain’s eyes will bug out of his head. Just look at Franks!” Beth doubles over, laughing at Scott’s expression when I come out of the dressing room in the dress. It is a tight mermaid style, loosening around my knees and opening to white lace. The whole dress is a chiffon red with intricate white lacework around the hem and spreading up to white beading right under my breasts. Not my usual style, but I really like it.
“I don’t care what Chamberlain thinks even though I know he’ll love it.” I smile, raising my shoulders in glee. “Scott? You okay there?”
“I’m good.” He scrubs his face and sits back. “Just … never seen you in red before.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“What? No!” He jumps up. “You look great, but ...” He looks down at Beth and shakes his head before returning to his seat. “Never mind.”
“What?” Beth shoves him not so nicely.
For the first time in my life, I watch as a blush crawls across Scott Franks’ face and then he throws a wicked smile Beth’s way. “I was
just going to say that you make red look a whole lot sexier.”
“I never wear ...” Beth’s eyes slowly grow as something dawns on her. She shoves him again and stands. “Fucking dick, you just had to bring that up.” Before I can ask what is going on, Beth grabs my hand and drags me back into the dressing room. “I’ll help you get out of this and put it in the bag to go.”
Is this takeout now?
“What was that about?” I hiss once we are out of earshot of Scott.
“Nothing,” Beth mutters.
“Don’t do that!” I turn around and manage the zipper on my own. She fumbles with her fingers and refuses to look up at me. “You had red on under your outfit when you two hooked up, didn’t you?”
“Yes.” She sounds broken. My strong friend, who is always looking for the bright side and is always so brave, weakened by a man. Now, I get it. Now, I understand why she doesn’t want Scott. She doesn’t want to feel weak.
XOXO
“COME ON, CHAMBERLAIN.” I pull on his arm as we walk out of the elevator and over to one of the cars. “It will do you some good to get out with us.” I unlock the Challenger and proceed to buckle Marissa in. She is holding a bouquet that she wants to give to her grandma and grandpa.
I decided when we got home, while I was putting groceries away, that we needed to get out as a family—just the three of us—and do something. Marissa asked about seeing Chamberlain’s parents, and I thought this would be a good idea. It may pull him from his thoughts for a little bit to share some stories with her about her grandma and grandpa.
“Katie, the press will follow us.” His weak attempt to keep us locked away isn’t going to work on me. He is going out with us and enjoy the sunshine.
“Get in the car, Chamberlain.” I point at his side over the top of the car. “So what if they do? It isn’t like they would talk badly about your parents.”
“No, but they would try to dig into my past.”
“Again, so what?” I give him a pointed glare. “We aren’t doing this for them; we are doing this because your daughter wants to see her grandparents.”
“Yeah, Daddy,” Marissa chimes in, finally getting Chamberlain to smile.
“Okay, but not for long.”
“Thank you.” I lean over and place a kiss on his cheek after he finally gets into the car. I sit back and pull my shades on and smile back at Marissa. “Are you ready to meet your grandma and grandpa?”
“Yes!”
I really don’t want her hopes to be dashed when we take her to the cemetery, but she needs to know them, and that even though I didn’t come from a home filled with love, Chamberlain did and we plan to give that to her. I want her to know the good that her grandparents would want her to know.
My excitement starts to fade the closer we get. I fidget in my seat and bounce my knee, looking out the window. When we arrive, I unbuckle Marissa after Chamberlain shuts the car off. “Do you have your flowers?”
“Yes!” She waves them in my face, giving me a blast of their fragrance. “You think Gramma will like?”
Chamberlain picks her up as she hops out of the car. “I think she will love them, princess.” He chokes up and carries her over to the double headstone.
“Where their house?” Marissa looks around, her little eyes landing on me.
I pat her hand that is on Chamberlain’s shoulder as we come to a stop. “In heaven, baby doll.” The watery smile breaks through as I kiss her hand and look down. Some old, wilted flowers are in a stand in the center of the headstone. They don’t look too old, maybe a few months.
“Why are those here?” Chamberlain places Marissa on the ground and kneels behind her as he turns her to face the headstone.
“Marissa …” His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows his emotions. “This is your Grandma Marissa and your Grandpa Rocky.”
I stand back and watch the moment. Marissa abruptly turns to her daddy. “Why they here?”
I can’t see Chamberlain’s face, but I can tell by his body he is struggling. “Grandma and Grandpa went to heaven a long time ago, Marissa. Your grandpa was a firefighter and was taken by the angels during a fire he was fighting. I was a young boy.”
Marissa cocks her head, not really understanding. I didn’t think she would with how young she is, but I’m glad she will at least know now. “And your grandma, who Mommy named you after, was taken by the angels a little while after.”
“That isn’t nice.”
Chamberlain’s head ducks, and I hear a sob rip through him. I step forward and drop down next to them. “They were needed there to look after Daddy and then send you to us.” I run my hand over her round face. “They are in heaven watching over us and making sure we stay safe.” She nods, but I know she doesn’t completely get it. “So when you want to talk to them, just talk. They can hear you everywhere.”
“Otay.” She turns back and looks down before doing something that takes my breath away, Chamberlain’s too. Marissa drops to her knees and places a kiss on each side of the headstone, over both of her grandparents. She stands back up and with her tongue poking out of the corner of her mouth; she puts her flowers in the holder.
Chamberlain drops back onto his butt and watches her, shocked. He pulls me between his legs and hugs me tightly to him, rocking us from our place in the grass. I will never understand why good people are taken so soon while others, people like my parents, are left on this earth. Rocky and Marissa should be here, getting to know their granddaughter and being a part of their son’s life.
“What do you say we go to the park for a bit?” Chamberlain pulls me from my reflections. I look up at him from my place against his chest, happily surprised.
“What about the press?” I try my best not to be snide.
He shrugs absentmindedly. “We can ignore them.” I force myself up and away from him. “Marissa, let’s get going.” Chamberlain hops up and extends his hand for her to join us.
We don’t tell her where we are going, and shockingly, she is eerily quiet the entire way to the park. But her demeanor quickly changes when she sees our destination. She is out of the car in a flash after I release her and heads straight for the swings.
“Mommy! Push!” She hops on and kicks her legs back and forth, waiting for me. I hum to her while I push, keeping a slow and steady pace. I’m glad she is young enough not to really pay any attention to the cameras. They are hiding behind trees and bushes to get pictures of us out as a family. Chamberlain leans against one of the posts supporting the swings, watching us with a happy expression on his face.
When that look slips from his face and one of pure, unadulterated anger directed somewhere over my shoulder replaces it, I freak, thinking my parents or sister somehow know where we are and are making their way toward us.
“Pump your legs like I’ve shown you, Marissa.” I pull the chains of the swing up so she is level with me and whisper to her before I push and leave her on the swing to her own. I can hear a low growl emanating from Chamberlain as he comes to stand behind me.
Inhaling deeply through my nose, I prepare myself to turn around to who I’m about to confront. A staggered breath of disbelief falls out of me, and my chest deflates as I turn to see it isn’t my parents, or my sister, or the media, but Gwen instead. At least I think it is her. Her hair is solid black and longer, and she doesn’t look as vibrant and beautiful as she did the last time I saw her. She looks like her life has gone down a rough road since we parted ways.
Chamberlain’s shoulders tense, his fists ball at his sides so tightly I can see his veins popping out. Movement just below my line of vision draws my focus away from Gwen and down to two little boys. Both look the same with dark eyes and dark hair.
I take a step to Chamberlain and place my hand delicately on his shoulder. He needs to watch his temper with kids around and the media. “Chamberlain, calm down,” I whisper.
Gwen looks down at the kids. “Boys, go play.” She smiles sweetly at them, and once they are gone, she look
s back to us. “K.C.” She nods at me; acknowledging me first is a wise move in my books but not Chamberlain’s.
“Gwen.” I force a smile to my face, but it is tight and very uncomfortable.
“It’s good to see you two–you know–together again?” She steps closer, and Chamberlain tenses more. Her eyes dart to my left and down, her eyes widening when she clocks my wedding ring. “You two got married?” she asks, almost horrified.
“Yes,” I answer defensively since Chamberlain seems to think that just standing there looking deadly and pissed will do the trick.
“Oh.” She grabs some of her hair and starts to twirl it. “I’m glad you two found a way.”
“No thanks to you.” Chamberlain grunts.
“Chamberlain,” I scold him.
“No.” Gwen steps in before I continue to stop him. “It’s okay, K.C. I deserve that. I acted horribly back then, and I wish every day I could take it back.”
I’ll give it to her; she has the decency to sound genuine, but Chamberlain isn’t having any of it. He storms right up to her face, and in a low tone, he lets her have it. “Because of you, I lost her.” He points at me without breaking eye contact with her. “It took me four fucking years to finally find her again. If you hadn’t pulled what you did that night, she would have been in my arms instead of going home thinking her boyfriend was cheating on her and then have her parents send away.”
“I did –”
“You don’t get to talk,” Chamberlain threatens. “I wouldn’t have missed her stomach stretching while my daughter grew inside, and I would have been there every step of the way for them.” Gwen’s eyes widen more and look around Chamberlain to where Marissa, who isn’t aware of anything, continues to swing. “You took that from me, and for that, I will never forgive you.”
I cringe because everyone should be forgiven for the deeds they’ve done. I may not like my parents or sister, but I have gotten over the fact that they sent me away. What they are doing now is just annoying and needs to stop. I don’t hold a grudge against them for anything because to me, they aren’t worth it.
“I understand that. I just ...” She looks away and steels herself to look back at him. “Just know that I am very sorry for what I did. You were a great friend, the best, and I ruined it.” With that, she leaves and heads over to the other end of the play park where the two boys are playing.