by A. Aubry
“That dress is so pretty!” Violet complimented as she squeezed me, our small baby bumps getting in the way.
“Thanks, it’s kind of hard to find something cute to wear in the holiday style when you’re pregnant. Either the dresses were too low-cut, or I looked like I was wearing a square sack,” I rolled my eyes while laughing.
Finn came up behind me and snaked his arms around my body, placing his hands on my belly, “I voted for the low-cut option, but I was turned down.”
I giggled, “You’ll take anything where my boobs are spilling out.”
His lips pressed against my ear, “I’ll take them completely uncovered.”
My face flushed as I playfully hit his hand, silently scolding him for being naughty when we had guests around. The doorbell rang again, and I looked over at the door confused. Finn went over and opened it, inviting his father inside. It had been three days since George McAllister showed up unannounced on our doorstep. Since then, Finn and his brothers had gone out to dinner with him and now apparently, he was invited to our Christmas Day dinner.
I pulled Finn to the side as Cooper and Ashton introduced George to their wives, “You didn’t tell me that he was going to be here, Finn.”
He held up his hands, “Cooper and Ashton asked me to do it last night.”
Sighing, I looked over my shoulder at George then back at Finn, “I don’t trust him. I don’t like this at all.”
Finn brushed his fingers against my cheek, “Baby, it’s okay. Let’s just enjoy Christmas with my family. It’s Leo’s first Christmas and we don’t want any drama…right?”
I crossed my arms over my chest and huffed, “Right.”
“Don’t make me send you to your room, young lady,” he smirked at me.
“I’d only go if you were going to be joining me,” I smirked right back.
“Someone is definitely on Santa’s naughty list this year,” Finn grabbed my hips and pulled me against him.
“That’s enough you two, come on,” Cooper called out to us.
“Damn it, Coop. Way to ruin a moment,” Finn whined before he kissed me, and we joined his family.
Dinner was served not long after. I had made a full turkey dinner, slaving over a hot stove and oven for most of the day. Luckily everyone enjoyed sitting down as a family and eating together. The way Finn looked at me whenever I caught him sneaking a glance was filled with lust and love, a perfect pair.
I let Finn sit on the floor with Leo on his lap when it was time to open presents. If we weren’t careful, Leo would attempt to eat the wrapping and tissue paper. A lesson we learned when we opened his presents from Santa this morning. So it was supervised present opening for him as Finn helped him open his gifts from his aunts, uncles, and grandmother. We had Christmas with my family when they came up for Thanksgiving. My mother, the planner that she was, always finished her Christmas shopping well before December even started. So it was nice to celebrate two holidays with my family since it was difficult to travel to Wisconsin in the winter weather.
Watching Leo’s face as he opened presents with his father made me smile so big that my cheeks hurt. He got just as excited as Finn anytime a new present was opened. His favorite thing that he got by far was a plush soccer ball that was about the size of a small round decorative pillow. Once he was holding onto that, he wouldn’t let it go. Like father, like son I guess.
By the time it was Leo’s bedtime, it was also time for Violet and Ashton’s daughter Esme and Cooper and Amelia’s son Eli to go to bed. Since we barely got to see Finn’s family, we had Cooper and Ashton bring the pack and plays that they had brought with them from Georgia and set them up in one of the guest rooms upstairs. That way, the babies could sleep, and the parents could still have fun. The guest room even had a bed if Sofie ever tuckered out. She had about five Christmas cookies and seemed to be bouncing off the walls, so that was not really going to happen anytime soon.
Finn and the boys offered to take the kids up to bed, being the amazing fathers that they were, but that still left all of us women downstairs with their father. I cleaned up the wrapping paper with Amelia and Violet in the living room before going into the kitchen and starting to bring out the wine and beer for the adults to have now that the babies were asleep. Reaching up, I grabbed a few wine glasses out of the cabinet and put them down on the kitchen island just as George walked into the kitchen.
“Hey George, would you like something to drink?” I asked politely.
For Finn’s sake, I had to be polite.
“No, that’s okay. There’s something I wanted to talk to you about.” He stood a little too close.
Discreetly I took a few steps away, acting as though I was wiping off the countertop.
“Sure, what’s up?”
“How long have you been with my son?” George took a small step forward.
“Um, it will be two years next month,” I wiped my hands off with the towel I was just using.
“And how long were you two dating before you got engaged?”
“I don’t think that is a very appropriate question to be asking, George. It doesn’t matter how long we dated. Finn and I love each other, marriage was the next logical step in our relationship.” Goosebumps prickled up my arm, hidden by the sleeves of my sweater dress.
“Finn says that you are in charge of the finances,” his eyes pupils seemed to dilate when he said finances.
“We both are in charge of them since we both bring in money. I just happen to make sure the bills get paid on time,” I swallowed hard.
“I asked him for a loan, but he said he would have to talk to you.”
This was all about money. I knew he wouldn’t just show up for nothing.
“Well, he hasn’t talked to me about anything yet. We have a son to take care of and a daughter on the way, their needs have to come before others. I hope you understand that.”
George stood right in front of me, the toe of his boots touching the toe of my flats, “I know you married my son for his money. Money, that is supposed to be mine.”
I tried to step back again, but the refrigerator kept me from doing so, “I didn’t marry Finn for anything but love, George.”
He hit the refrigerator behind me, his fist landing right beside my head causing me to jump, “Don’t lie to me. You wanted money, so you came after what was mine. I watched Finn for years, waiting for him to go pro. Then, when he had a solid career, I was going to slip back into his life, get the money I need to pay off my debts.”
“I’m sorry you are in that situation. But, right now, we can’t help you. While Finn does have a stable career and so do I, we have a family to worry about. We have to plan for their futures as well as them now,” my voice shook as I spoke.
“Then I guess I will just have to make you see it my way you little slut,” George said low as his hand wrapped around my throat.
Chapter Twenty-One
Instant memories of Michael doing the same exact thing over a year ago flashed through my mind. This couldn’t be happening to me, not again. All because this fucker wanted my husband’s hard-earned money and I told him no. I tried to breath, I tried to call for help, but his wet disgusting mouth covered over mine as he tried to force his tongue inside of my mouth to keep me from opening it.
Tears burned my eyes as I reached a hand out to the only thing that would call attention to the situation. I could hear all three of boys back in the living room. Laughing and talking as though I wasn’t being choked just a few feet away. My fingers made contact with the towel that the wine glasses sat on top of, one I had put under there in case someone would spill while they poured their drink. With one hard yank, three wine glasses crashed to the ground. George didn’t even flinch.
“Baby, are you o—what the fuck?” Finn yelled before George was pulled off of me.
I touched my throat, finally getting gasps full of air into my lungs. The feeling of his meaty hand still etched into my skin.
“Were you fucking ch
oking my wife?” Finn screamed.
With one punch, George crumbled to the ground as Cooper and Ashton ran into the room. Finn came over to me, pulling my hand away from my neck, and his eyes went wide. I couldn’t talk, it was like he had crushed my voice box. I tried to speak, but it came out in squeaks and wheezes.
“Oh baby,” Finn pulled me into his arms, my head crushed against his chest.
“Finn, is she okay?” Ashton asked as Cooper called 9-1-1.
“She was trying to talk to me, but it’s like she can’t, Ash. What the fuck do I do? Why the fuck would he do that?” Finn’s voice cracked.
“Ashton, watch this pathetic excuse for a father. I’ll check out Jules,” Cooper said from his place beside one passed out George McAllister.
They swapped places and Finn let me go for Cooper to get a good look at me. Cooper was just as tall as Finn, so he had to hunch down to try to examine my neck. He looked uncomfortable leaning over like that, so I walked over to the kitchen island, careful to avoid the glass that now covered the floor and looked at Finn as I tapped the island.
“She’s worried you’re uncomfortable from hunching down to her height. She wants me to help her sit up on the island, so she is taller for you,” Finn rolled his eyes, answering Cooper’s confused look as I tapped my nose that he was right.
“How the fuck did you know that?” Cooper looked at him as Finn lifted me gracefully up onto the counter.
“Because my wife always thinks about others before she thinks about herself,” he narrowed his eyes at me.
I smiled sweetly then pointed at myself then made a heart with my hands before pointing at Finn.
“I love you more,” Finn responded softly, kissing me before moving aside for Cooper.
As Cooper examined my neck carefully, sirens stopped in front of our house. Finn went to let the police and paramedics in, one came over to help Cooper in his examination of me and one went to tend to George who was just waking up on our kitchen floor.
“Can you tell me what happened?” The paramedic who came to help me asked.
I rolled my eyes as Cooper answered for me, “She tried to speak a few times, but it is only coming out in squeaks and whistles.”
Then I had an idea. I could give my statement through charades. Finn was watching the one paramedic examine his father with an angry scowl on his face, I had to get his attention so that he could get one of the police officers over to me. Slamming my hand against the quartz countertop beneath me, the sound made Finn jump and look over at me quickly.
“Are you in pain, Julianna?” He asked quietly as he came over to me.
Cooper and the paramedic stopped their quiet discussion over what could be making my voice squeak. I pointed to Finn then I pointed to the police officer behind him. He nodded and went to get the police officer before joining me again.
“Julianna wants to give her statement,” Finn told the officer and the paramedic.
“I thought she couldn’t talk?” The paramedic looked at me.
“She wants to do it through charades,” Finn sighed, “Really, Jules? Can’t we just wait?”
I shook my head slowly, making sure I wouldn’t have any pain with that movement. Luckily, I was safe.
“And who is going to decode what she is saying?” The officer asked even though he had a smirk on his face.
“Finn should probably do it, he’s the best at reading her thoughts. Freaked me out earlier,” Cooper admitted.
I hopped off the counter and pushed everyone out of the space of the scene of the crime. I quickly backed up making sure I had enough space to show them exactly what happened when my shoe crunched on some glass.
“How do we know he is interpreting it right?” The paramedic asked.
With my foot, I tried to push the glass to the side, but I was getting frustrated because the sides of my shoes were not made for pushing small pieces of glass. I stomped my foot and looked at Finn, showing him that I couldn’t move the glass. He quickly went to fetch the broom out of the large pantry/utility closet and brought it out for me. I gave him a quick kiss and brushed the glass out of my way.
“Like that,” Cooper answered.
The officer and the paramedic both nodded as I handed the broom off to Cooper. Ashton finally joined the small semi-circle that the officer, the paramedic, and Cooper made up. He wanted to know what happened too. I aligned Finn up to play the part of his dad which he relayed to the officer taking notes. George was escorted out to the police car as the presentation of events began. Re-enacting myself getting the wine glasses out of the cupboard, I directed Finn to walk a step towards me.
“Julianna was setting up the drinks for all of us adults to have since the babies were all put to bed. She was getting the glasses out of the cabinet when my father walked in.”
I pretended to offer Finn a drink, but shook my head no. Then I signaled for him to stand close to me before I moved away, pretending to be busy.
“She offered him something to drink but he told her no. He stood close to her and she got uncomfortable, so she moved away.”
I pointed to Finn and myself before taking his hand in mine, using my free hand to brush the back of my hand against his cheek.
“He asked her how long we have been together, and she told him.”
Letting go of Finn, I slid my rings off my hand and held up my engagement ring.
“He asked her how long we were together before we got engaged.”
I shook my head but made the heart sign again and pointed at him.
His lips turned into a small smile, “She didn’t tell him how long. Knowing her she probably said it was inappropriate, she does get uneasy when she talks about our very short dating and engagement portion of our relationship. Makes her feel like people are judging her. But she told him that we are in love.”
I nodded, smiling at him for a second. The fact that he knew me so well in our two-year relationship was insane. He knew me better than I knew myself sometimes. Shaking my head to get back to the story I pointed at Finn and ran my thumb over my fingertips to indicate money. He nodded that he understood, and I pursed my lips and shook my head no.
Finn sighed, understanding where this was going, “He told her that he knew she was in charge of the finances of the house and he told her that he asked me for a loan, which he did at dinner a few nights ago. I had told him I had to talk to my wife. She told him no, that we couldn’t give him a loan.”
I pointed to my small baby bump and rubbed it softly.
“Because of our children.”
Using my index finger, I signaled for Finn to come up close to me as I backed up against the refrigerator. The toes of his shoes were against the toes of mine and I took a deep breath. He looked at me, love in his eyes, silently telling me he wouldn’t hurt me. I lifted my hand up to show my rings back on my finger and pointed to them before making the money sign again.
“He backed her up against the refrigerator, told her that she married me for my money.”
I mouthed ‘take your money’ to him. My charade skills were a little rusty, cut me some slack.
“He told her he wanted my money.”
My hand found Finn’s at his side and I lifted it, pushing it into a fist before putting it against the refrigerator next to my head, then flinched.
“He punched the refrigerator next to her to scare her into admitting that she married me for my money. He was angry because he wanted it.”
I shook my head again, pursing my lips and shaking my head quickly back and forth. Making the money sign after a few seconds.
“She refused to lie to him and say that she did, telling him again that we couldn’t give him a loan because of the kids.”
Swallowing hard, I took Finn’s hand off the refrigerator and opened it before placing it gently on my neck. A tear fell down Finn’s cheek.
“That’s when he started choking her,” he choked out softly.
My mouth opened, as it did when I tried to call for help.<
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“She tried to call for help,” his voice broke as more tears fell.
I put one hand over his on my neck, making sure that he knew this next part wasn’t me showing him I loved him…but me showing him what his father did to me. My free hand reached back behind his head and pushed it forwards, forcing his lips to meet mine. This kiss, even though it was a re-enactment of some of the most terrifying moments of my life, was different than what I had been subjected to before. Finn’s lips were soft, love rushing through my body at the very touch of his lips against mine. I moved my hand from the back of his neck to his shoulder and pulled him back.
When Finn stepped back, he was sobbing, “He kissed her, so she couldn’t call for help, so she couldn’t breath because she kept her mouth shut as he tried to force himself in. That was when she pulled the towel with the glasses off the counter, making them fall onto the ground to get my attention. I came in here and ripped him off of her.”
I touched my neck, showing I could finally breathe, tears burning my eyes at the sight of my husband crying.
“She gasped for air and I knew he had been choking her. I punched him, and he went out, then I ran to make sure she was okay. Cooper and Ashton came in next, that’s when the police were called.”
The room was silent except for Finn’s quiet sobs, the story finally told. I walked up to Finn, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him down to me. He buried his face into my neck and cried. My hand rubbed up and down his back as I whispered as best I could that I loved him. The officers waited with a camera, needing to take a picture of my neck for evidence before they could take off.
“I’m so sorry, I should have been there,” Finn sobbed.
My heart was shattering. There was nothing that he could have done. If George didn’t have his opportunity now, he would have found one later. It wasn’t Finn’s fault that he wanted to be a good father and put his son to bed. I was the one stupid enough to separate myself from the group. Cooper came over and tapped Finn on the shoulder, telling him that the police needed to do their job. Finn followed Cooper over to the side where Violet, Amelia, and Carol were all standing. Carol took her son into her arms and let him cry on her shoulder.