by Dani René
“How may I help you, sir?” The rookie sitting at the desk offers me tired smile.
“I am here to see Detective Dunston. He called me about Mrs. Alexander being brought in.” He nods, taps away on his keyboard and it feels as if time has slowed. I have no idea what to expect and it has me tense, or perhaps it is having to look at her again, the woman who birthed me.
Ivy’s hand slips into mine, offering me comfort with her presence. The only thing in my world that seems to be right is this beautiful angel and my son.
“It shows she’s in lock up at the moment, I will call the detective.” The young man who can’t be older than twenty, rises and walks toward the rear of the building behind steel doors.
“Flash, look at me?” I drag my gaze to my sweet girl. “I am here okay. There is nowhere I would rather be than by your side.” Her smile is soft and kind, and I realize she can’t tell me things will work out, because we both don’t know if they will or not.
The door to the main building flies open and we both turn to see Ivy’s father stalk in. His glare lands on us and my body tenses as if there’s ice running through my veins, steeling me for what’s coming.
What the fuck is he doing here?
“Father?” Ivy’s confusion matches mine. “What are you doing here?”
Narrowing his cold eyes, he scowls at me. Ignoring his daughter, he leans in close and hisses. “I got rid of you and your mother once and you’ve returned to poison my daughter’s life, you will not get away with it. Over my dead fucking body will you marry into my family.”
The fire heating my blood is at boiling point and if I move an inch, I don’t doubt I’ll knock this fucker out. Ivy steps between us before I have time to respond.
“You should leave, since you have no right to be here, or to talk to my fiancé like that. I am getting married to Jayce and you will not stop me. Do you understand me?” Her voice is as cold as his eyes and he has the audacity to wince. “You are not my father. I hate you for what you have done to me and Lacey. Over your dead body? I’ll gladly take that offer.”
His glare falls on her, and for a moment I think he will relent, but the cold-hearted bastard doesn’t. Not even for his baby daughter.
“You have both defied me by doing what you want, so I will see that none of the Devereaux fortune is given to either of you. Do you hear me? You will get nothing from me.” Just then the detective walks into the waiting area and his narrowed gaze flits between the three of us.
“Is everything okay here?”
“Yes, I need to see my mother.” I step forward, pulling my girl along with me.
“I am here to see the accused, she’s my client.” My laugh is loud as I pivot to him.
“Client? So you’re a lawyer now?” My gaze pins him to the spot, but the evil smirk that pulls on his lips tells me I am missing something.
“Oh, she didn’t tell you? I have been bailing her out for years.” He lowers his voice. “How do you think I made sure you left my daughter in peace?” Anger flares through me and I raise my fist, before I make contact, Ivy’s hand squeezes mine.
“Jayce, let’s just go to her.” Her sweet voice cuts through the haze of fury raging, calming the tornado that is about to burst free from me.
He’s not worth it because if I hit him now, they will arrest me and that’s what he wants. I turn, stepping through the doors as we head into a long hallway that leads to an interrogation room. Ivy and I slip into chairs beside each other and I watch as the short detective gets comfortable opposite us.
“Mr. Alexander, your mother is in a hell of a lot of trouble. She has been brought in for selling drugs, a mix of cocaine, marijuana, and a bag of pills we’re having tested. She’s signed statement already confessing to having knowledge of a murder, of a Mr Verán. She’s requested to tell you the story herself, but she’s in a hell of a lot of trouble.”
“What? I mean, what does that mean?”
“That she will be behind bars for a long time, Mr. Alexander.” His grave expression sends a jolt of fear through me. This was it; she’s finally fucked up so bad I can’t help her.
“This is preposterous, that wasn’t a murder. Let me talk to her, I will sort this out.” Ivy’s father is rigid, but this time it’s not anger, it’s fear I see dancing across his features.
“There’s nothing you can do, sir. Can I ask who you are?”
Ignoring the conversation, I stare at the detective.
“Can I see her?” I need to make a decision that will not only impact me, but Ivy and Ben, and my unborn baby. I have to talk to her and finally tell her what I should have said a long time ago. He nods, pushes up from the chair, and glances at Mr. Devereaux.
“I will have to ask you to leave. It will be family only.” The hate filled glare that the old man pins me with is chilling.
“My daughter is no family of theirs.” He spews angrily.
“That’s where you’re wrong because Jayce is my family now.” Her hand grips mine and her body shudders.
“You’ll regret this young lady. Mark my words.” Once we’re alone, I turn to her and find those big blue eyes shining with unshed tears.
“Baby, I’m so sorry he said that to you.”
“No, he needed to hear it because I want nothing to do with him and I meant what I said you are my family.”
I am about to lean in and plant a soft kiss on her lips when the door flies open and I come face to face with the woman I spent my life running from.
“Jayce…” Her voice is hoarse. She looks terrible, but her pupils aren’t dilated like I am so used to seeing. The way she says my name makes my heart gallop, and my memory flits to a time when she was real. When she was a mother I could love, it was so long ago that it’s a fuzzy image in my mind.
Her eyes fall on Ivy and she smiles, then they land on me and as she slips into the chair opposite us, her eyes never stray from mine.
“What happened to you? I mean, how did you fall so low?” My question is a whisper, filled with shock, pain, and anger.
“I need to talk to you, to tell you everything. Once I have, you have to leave. Turn around and don’t look back, do you hear me?” The urgency in her tone has me frowning, but I nod. “It started when I met Claudia, she wasn’t a Verán then, she had just come back from Europe, before she sank her claws into Lucien’s father.”
Her gaze settles on Ivy, and there is regret written all over her features. “She and your father, Richard Devereaux, wanted Verán Industries, so they plotted and planned. The problem was I found out about it when I was cleaning the Verán house one day, I found papers that had Claudia’s devious plan to poison Mr. Verán all over it. She would however do it over a few years, so there isn’t any speculation. She would then take over the company and…”
When she drops her gaze, my heart jumps into my throat. Fuck. Lucien will completely lose it if he finds out. I remember being at the hospital when his father died, he was shattered and this would send him over the edge.
“I don’t understand, what do you have to do with this, why didn’t you go to the police?”
“They caught me with the documents in my hand. Richard invited me for a drink and I thought he wanted to come clean until he had fed me a whiskey laced with drugs. That was my hook.” Guilt is etched on her expression. “Then after years of slowly poisoning him, they almost got it right. Until Cassie’s mom stepped in. She loved Lucien’s father for most of her life, and for her to see what they did to him, it must have nearly killed her. She was too late to save him, but she saved the company, and the Verán name, thank God for that.” Another frown creases my brows, but I stay silent. All the while, my hand in Ivy’s has tightened and I realize I must be hurting her.
“Jayce, I wasn’t strong enough to fight them. Ivy’s father made sure I was always fully supplied with whatever drug I wanted. He knew me long before either of you were born, knew my personality is one of an addict. They couldn’t do anything to me without looking suspiciou
s, because if they looked into my past, they would find my relationship with Richard.”
“What?” My voice comes out louder than I expect and I glance at the door, waiting and when nobody walks in, I look into eyes that match mine.
“I dated him when I was much younger. It was a short fling, but he didn’t forget how I would love to party, he knew that if he could get me hooked, I wouldn’t be a threat. So…” Her deep inhale is slow. It looks as if she’s trying to calm herself. “Anyway, I am in here because I am testifying against him and Claudia. They will be put away and I will check into a rehab center, then I am leaving the country. I can’t be around here anymore and I need to clean up my act. It’s gone on too long.”
The silence in the room is stifling. Turning to my girl, I stare at her for a moment, and she gives me a nod. She’s with me. Facing my mother, I sigh, “Mom,” I reach for her hand. “Thank you for your honesty, I mean, I was angry for years at what you did and I suppose, I understand now. Ivy and I are getting married.” Her gaze flits between us and she smiles affectionately. It’s so foreign to see that I feel my eyes sting with tears.
“Good. You have a wonderful woman, look after her. Please?” I nod slowly. Taking in her appearance, I can see she’s aged, and she looks exhausted. The years have taken their toll, and I wish she and I had a better relationship. One that I can say I remember fondly.
“I will. You have a grandson too. His name is Ben.” I pull out a small photo and turn it, showing her the little boy who’s stolen my heart. There are tears in her eyes and when she blinks, they make a slow steady path down her face.
“He’s beautiful.” She peers at me and cocks her head to the side. “I always knew you would make it because you were strong. You still are. I will always love you, Jayce. There wasn’t a time I didn’t and even though I wasn’t a good mother, deep down I did what I could to keep you safe. He would have hurt you if I fought back and I would rather die than see you hurt.”
Her words slice into me, cutting through the pain I have held onto for most of my life, allowing my heart to open to a woman who loved, even when she did everything to keep me at arms length. As soon as the realization hits me, it all becomes clear. “So you made me angry, pushed me away to make sure I was safe? What about Ivy? I walked out on her because of that fucker?” The question is a growl, and I watch her flinch.
“Jayce, he would never hurt her, but he would do something to you.” The confidence in her statement chills me. “I realize he is here now, hoping to make sure I stay quiet, but I won’t. Not anymore.” We sit in silence for what feels like hours before the door opens and I glance at the detective.
“I have to take her back to holding.” I nod. Without a word, I push up from my seat and round the table. Pulling her into my arms, I hold my mother for what may be the last time and the thought breaks me, but I know it’s for the best. She needs help, and I will do what I can for her, but this is one thing I know she has to face alone.
She gives Ivy a hug and whispers in her ear and when she steps backward, Ivy nods in response.
“Give me one more minute alone with my son?” My mother’s voice is rough with emotion as she talks to the man waiting to take her away. He gives one small nod and escorts my fiancée out. I stare at the woman who’s a stranger. “Jayce, I realize I wasn’t the mother you deserve, I never was. As I sat in those cells each time I was arrested, I knew I wasn’t worthy of your love or forgiveness. I don’t ask for it, the only thing you need to know is I am so proud you’ve made something of yourself. It may not be much, but I love you so much my sweet boy.”
“Mom—”
“Let me finish. I will get clean this time and I don’t want you to waste another moment worrying about me. Live your life for your girl and have a family and make her smile every day. I am so happy you’ve both found each other again. Living without the one person that completes you eats away at your soul. I am strong enough to fight this, I know I am, and when I look at you, I see one thing in my life I have done right. You.” She leans in and hugs me.
Emotion sweeps over me, and it comforts me like I never experienced before. My mother loves me. I wrap my arms around her and hold her close.
“Thank you, mom.”
“I love you, Jayce. Always.”
And then, she’s gone.
As I head out of the room, I find Ivy sitting on the sofa in the hallway. She rises and approaches me, circling her arms around my waist. “What did she say to you?” I question her quietly.
Big blue eyes peek up at me, and she smiles. “She told me to look after you and the kids.”
“Kids?” I murmur, and she nods.
“She knew I was pregnant.”
Three months later
Stalking back into the bedroom, I tug the drawers open, but I can’t find anything this morning. We moved into our new home a week ago and the movers delivered everything in one fell swoop which is why the place looks like a bomb hit it.
There are boxes, bags, toys, and it feels as if I am about to pass out from the anxiety of today.
“Jayce, I realize the house is a mess since we’ve moved in, but where the hell have you put my hair straightener?” My voice is shrill from stress. We decided to go to the courthouse for his mom’s testimony and I will see my father, which has me on tenterhooks.
This will be a test of the family either falling apart, or him confessing his transgressions. Somehow, I doubt it will be the latter. Since my sister got married, she’s moved on with her life and we have been happy to let our past dwindle to nothing.
This is our future and we need to focus on what we have rather than what we lost. Today will take its toll on us both and I just want to get it over with.
Jayce and I haven’t had the best role models for parents, but I think we’re doing a better job than mine ever did. Somehow, I can’t find it inside myself to blame Mrs. Alexander. I keep thinking if it weren’t for my dad doing what he did, things would have turned out differently.
“Baby,” I turn to find my handsome man staring at me. His heated gaze rakes over me and even though I am almost five months pregnant he still looks at me like I am his last meal. His hunger has definitely not diminished over the years. “Calm down.”
When he reaches for me I fall into his arms and inhale the sexy, spicy scent of him. “I am nervous. He will be so angry and you know how it feels to be on the receiving end of his spiteful tongue.”
“I know, baby, but I am beside you and nothing he says to you is true. You are an incredible woman, a wonderful mother, and the most beautiful fiancée I could have asked for. His anger is unwarranted, he brought this on himself. Please, don’t let him get to you.”
Jayce’s eyes are shining with so much love it calms my nerves, cocooning me in its warmth.
Since we were teenagers, he’s always done that for me, given me a calm in the midst of the surrounding chaos.
My body always ached for him, not only sexually, but emotionally, which I realize nobody else can ever fulfill. Seeing him as a man is so different to the boy I fell in love with, but the love I have for him is stronger than ever.
Being a father has come naturally to him, a transition he’s taken to, and it’s incredible to see how beautiful the relationship between him and Ben is growing.
“Flash, I love you.” My words are a whisper, but the emotion is clear in my tone. He leans in, planting a soft kiss on my lips.
“Mom!” Ben’s shout comes from down the hall. He’s bedroom has been a superhero haven and he spends most of his time in there. “Dad!”
As we step into his room, the scene we find is our little man on the floor dressed in his swim shorts and flippers with a bucket and spade.
Lucien and Cassie agreed to watch Ben for the day, and he’s excited to go swimming.
“What are you wearing, monster?” I stifle the giggle, taking in his serious expression. He’s just turned five, and he’s become more and more outgoing. He’s loving school and made so
many new friends. Cassandra is due soon, and I can’t wait for him to have a cousin to play with. Even though we’re not blood relatives, they are more of a family than anyone else I have known.
Although, my sister still calls from time to time, I haven’t seen her since the wedding. I think she’s still angry I left.
“Mom, Uncle Luke said he would take me to the beach.”
“Okay, but you need to put clothes on, what are you going to wear when you’ve finished swimming?” His face crinkles in concentration, and a small shrug lifts his shoulders.
“I guess.”
“Come on squirt, let me help you. Your mom needs to pack your lunch.” I stand for a moment, watching the two most important men in my life. They’re more alike every day and my heart finally feels full. I am complete.
Instinctively, my hand circles my belly. We are booked for an ultrasound scan tomorrow and I can’t wait to find out the sex of the baby. Jayce is adamant it’s a girl.
Turning, I make my way into the kitchen to pack snacks and a sandwich for Ben. He loves his Batman lunchbox and juice bottle, which goes everywhere with him.
We’re all packed and in the car and I feel the anxious knot in my stomach. I know my father will not be happy, and it doesn’t bother me, but deep down I wish he was more loving or supportive. “It will be fine.” Jayce’s voice is my calm. Nodding, I turn to see him glance quickly at me.
“I feel like a teenage girl again around him. Sometimes, I wish when my mom went on trips, she would’ve taken us and left him.”
“Do you think she’ll be there today?”
“No.” My mother was constantly on holiday, spending Devereaux money. I think they’re both so cold inside that nothing would ever change. She was absent for most of my early teens, I remember her becoming more distant the older we got, and then, she was never home.