by Leigh Morgan
“Just do it mom. Ask him to send my diploma in the mail. Thank him for his help getting me into MIT...yada, yada, yada. Our window of opportunity is short here...”
Rhia started typing. When she was done she turned the computer back to her son. Within seconds the ‘send’ key sent her forged e-mail through space and back in time to yesterday. Rhia wondered absently how many laws she and her son had just broken. Aside from speeding, she’d never knowingly broken the law before she popped Becca yesterday. Her life was just full of surprises these days. Her son’s question saved her from contemplating her lack of integrity any further.
“Where is your house?” Ethan asked Ram.
Ram seemed to be taking all this plotting in stride. He didn’t look ruffled at all. Her hands were shaking.
“Which one?” Ram asked smiling.
Ethan smiled back. “Your favorite.”
Ram looked into Rhia’s eyes and winked. He was having a great time. Rhia wasn’t sure that was a good thing. Ram and Ethan teaming up could be dangerous.
“That’s easy. Pentla House in south Wales. That’s where I met your mom...the second time.” His gaze was positively scorching. “I’ll never forget that particular reunion.” He looked back at Ethan. “My house in Wales is my favorite. I think you and your sister will like it too. I’ve got plenty of room. You can stay at any of my houses, as long as you like.”
“Just where are your other houses?” Hunter asked.
Ethan cut her off. “Hunter please. Let’s get this done first. Then you can find out how rich he really is.”
Hunter blushed. Ram threw his head back and laughed. He couldn’t have picked a better family if he’d set out to find one. Rí’s kids were funny, devious, kindhearted and damn entertaining. What more could a man ask for?
“Where’s the closest university?” Ethan asked.
Ram thought about it. There were several universities and colleges in Wales that he knew of. “Well, the closest is probably the University of Glamorgan. There’s also the Glamorgan Centre for Art and Design. One of Flossie’s grandchildren studies art there. If you want something more math related, U of G is probably your best bet.”
Ethan nodded and had the University’s web-site on the screen before Ram finished. “They’ve got mathematics and aerospace engineering. Cool.” He glanced at Ram. “Know anyone there?”
Ram smiled. “As a matter of fact I do. And the guy I know owes me a favor. What do you have in mind?”
...
It took the better part of the day, but by the time Ethan shut down his laptop he was enrolled, as of yesterday, at the University of Glamorgan. Hacking into the courthouse computer system proved trickier mainly because so much was still done by hand, but Ethan was up to the challenge.
By dinner time, paperwork was filed bearing yesterday’s date requesting that Rhia be able to move to Wales with Ethan. Since she would be removing him from the state of Wisconsin, Rhia had to file notice. That notice magically appeared in the court file bearing the day before, and William would be served with a copy at any moment.
Now, it would look like William filed his ex-parte order in retaliation for Rhia’s earlier request to move with Ethan. Her kids had learned more about the law from their father than Rhia had given them credit for.
They both agreed to accompany their father on his ‘second honeymoon.’ Ethan told her that by the time he got back his father would be more than willing to let him move. Rhia warned him not to do anything he’d regret.
Then she got more specific and made him promise not to break any more laws. He reluctantly agreed. She made Hunter promise too. She was learning just how sneaky her children could be, especially when they acted as a team.
Ram packed them all up at about midnight and checked them into a hotel. As long as Rhia had made up her mind about selling the house, there was no advantage to staying there. Plus, as soon as William received her notice to remove Ethan he would be knocking on her door and Ram didn’t want to be arrested for battery. More than that, he didn’t want to look bad in front of Rhia and her kids when he pummeled the poor bastard.
Rhia grabbed her jewelry, a bag of her favorite clothes and her toiletries. It took less than ten minutes. Ram said he’d send movers to pack her grandmother’s desk, her books and photo albums and her big screen T.V.
Grabbing her aloe vera plant on her way out, Rhia locked her front door and didn’t look back.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Ben Stark’s cell phone chimed the unique ring that meant Ram was on the other end. Ben rubbed a hand over his face feeling a days worth of beard, and knowing from experience it made him look fierce. He eyed the clock on the bedside table, scowling.
What the hell was Ram thinking calling this early? Ram wasn’t usually awake before nine. Ordinarily, Ben would have been up for an hour already and half way through his daily seven mile run.
Instead, he was still in bed sleeping next to the most beautiful woman in the world. He smiled sardonically at his own expense, ‘sleeping’ being the operative word.
“Yea.”
“You still sleeping? At this hour? What’s wrong with you? You’ve got a woman with you, don’t you?”
He never could put much over on Ram. “What are you doing up at six? Lose the woman you’re supposed to be sleeping next to?”
“Wow, you are grouchy in the morning. I never realized.” Ram chuckled into the phone.
“That’s what happens when you sleep till noon. Not too many mornings you actually get to see much of anything.”
The customary insults bandied back and forth for a few more seconds before Ram told Ben what he wanted. “Did you give them access to some cash in case they have to get out?” Ben asked.
“Yea, I gave each of them a credit card and had them give me their signatures so I could add them to my account. I’ll have others made while they’re gone, I just don’t have time before they’re due to leave.”
“Do you want me to go? Or do you want me to send someone?” Ben asked. He really didn’t want to go to Hawaii, but then again, maybe putting an ocean between he and Becca Stonehaven would be a good idea.
“Send someone. Send two someone’s. I want them safe Ben and I don’t want them to know they’re being watched. Wainwright might not recognize you but Hunter and Ethan will.” Ben smiled at the obvious pride in Ram’s voice when he continued. “They’re smart and they’re devious as hell. They’d make you the second you hit the island.”
Ben doubted that but he held his tongue. “Bonding are we?”
“Yea. I guess so. This instant family stuff is fraying my nerves. I’ve never been up one minute and so worried the next. I swear Ben, between Rhia and her kids, I’m getting gray hair.”
“Too late to back out?” Ben asked, already knowing the answer.
“It was too damn late the minute I saw her.” Ram said hanging up.
“I know the feeling.” Ben muttered under his breath, closing his phone.
“Who was that?” Came a sleepy voice next to him.
“It’s nothing. Go back to sleep.” Ben pulled Becca to him, wrapping himself around her from behind. He was hard as granite in less time than it took him to sneeze. Too bad there wasn’t a damn thing he was going to do about it, short of a cold shower.
Becca used sex to get what she wanted and she used it well. Ben didn’t like Becca Stonehaven all that much, it was Becky Stone that was making her way to his heart. Becca was the super model. Becky was the woman who visited nursing homes and volunteered at the V.A. Becky was there, under Becca’s veneer, which was all the outside world saw. Ben wanted Becky. He’d take Becca too, but not until he had Becky’s heart. Once he had her heart he’d make love to her, but not until then.
The wait was probably going to kill him, but he had a feeling Becky was worth the wait.
...
Ram rented a house on Lake Drive in Milwaukee until he and Rhia knew where they were going to settle. The house was right on Lake M
ichigan. It had a long gated drive, so reporters wouldn’t be an issue. The house was lovely, it just wasn’t home. According to Rhia it had ‘about five thousand square feet too many’. If she thought this house was big, she was going to have a bird when she saw his ranch in Wyoming.
Almost a week had passed since Hunter and Ethan left with their father for Hawaii. Ram got nightly reports from Stark on how they were doing, but he hadn’t gotten one since yesterday morning.
The buzzer at the gate rang startling Rhia. She went to the intercom and pressed a button. “Who’s there?” She asked into the speaker. Not much of a security system, Ram thought. Ridiculously outdated.
Rhia heard Ethan’s tired voice. “It’s me mom.”
“Ethan?” She asked knowing it was her son but unable to make sense of the fact that he was at her gate. How did he know where to find her and what was he doing here?
“It’s me mom. Let us in.”
Rhia felt an instant relief. Ethan’s softly spoken “us” had to mean Hunter was with him. She didn’t know why they were home, but that wasn’t so terribly important, the fact they were here was enough for the moment.
Her heart sank when she opened the door and standing next to Ethan was her ex-husband, frazzled and angry looking.
“Tell her to get down here Rhia. I want to see her. Now.” William demanded stepping into her foyer.
“I don’t know what you’re...”
William cut her off. “Cut the crap Rhia. I want to see my daughter now.”
Ram could hear Wainwright from the study where he was working on new song. He was really beginning to hate the sound of Wainwright’s voice. The man was an idiot. He’d had a decent woman and he’d fucked around on her, worse than that, he placed everything and everyone before his wife and kids. Ram would be damned if he let Wainwright hurt Rhia again.
He needn’t have worried. Rhia was no shrinking violet. She was more of a hedge rose, beautiful, tough and impossible to kill once she dug in.
It looked to Ram like Rhia was digging in right in Wainwright’s face.
“What do you mean, you lost her? You. Lost. Our. Daughter?”
“I didn’t lose her, Rhia. She ran away. I figured she’d come here.” William retorted throwing an unreadable look at his son.
Ram’s cell rang. It was Stark checking in. Ram opened his phone. “Where is she, Ben?” It was all Ram asked. He spent the rest of the time listening, his blood pressure rising with every word Ben uttered.
Three sets of eyes were on him, and the room had grown so quiet that the blood rushing through Ram’s ears sounded like the ocean during monsoon season.
“Thanks Ben. I’ll call you back. Wainwright’s here with Ethan now.” Ram ended the call and put his cell phone back in his pocket, never taking his eyes off Rhia’s ex-husband.
Too bad Ethan was there, or Ram would have done what he’d been dying to do since he first laid eyes on the prissy prick. That, however, wouldn’t win him any points with his wife or his step-son.
“Rhiannon, why don’t you show Ethan his room?” Ram said, keeping his eyes on William.
Rhia knew the use of her full name didn’t bode well. She wasn’t about to leave Ram alone with William. She also needed to know what Ram knew about Hunter. Ethan had already proven he was a big boy, he could take whatever Ram had to say.
“I’m not going anywhere. Not before someone tells me what’s going on with Hunter.”
Ram nodded at William and Rhia had never seen a gesture so full of disdain. “Tell her. Or I will.”
The coldness in Ram’s voice made the hair on the back of her neck stand at attention. She never wanted that particular tone directed at her. It wasn’t just his voice that had her on edge, it was the way the veins in his arms were clearly popping. Ram was visibly restraining himself.
“Let’s go sit down.” Rhia suggested.
Ram didn’t even look at her. “He won’t be staying that long.”
“Someone better damn well tell me what’s happened to my daughter, or I swear to God, I’ll kill you both. This pissing match is now over. Where is Hunter?” The ice in his wife’s voice got to Ram. He didn’t want her worried one second longer than she already was, but he wanted Wainwright to tell her what he’d done.
Ram looked down at Rhia and pulled her to his side. She resisted for a second, but must not have wanted to fight with him in front of her ex, because she took his hand. The second she did Ram felt his anger dissipate to a controllable level.
“Hunter’s fine. She’s in L.A. with Ben. They’re staying at Becca’s.” Ram said seeing relief flood Rhia’s features. She had more starch in her backbone as she turned to Wainwright.
“What did you do William?” Rhia asked quietly.
“I didn’t do anything. Your children did. First they turned Candi’s hair green...”
Ethan interrupted. “I did that, dad. You know Hunter had nothing to do with that. She doesn’t know anything about chemistry. Besides, I told you it’ll fade. She can bleach it blonde again in a few days.” Ethan shrugged.
William opened his mouth and closed it again. Apparently he’d already had this conversation with Ethan. If she didn’t want answers and damn quickly, Rhia would have laughed at William’s expression. He was clearly out of his league and he didn’t have a clue what to do about it.
William’s shoulders slumped and Rhia took in the dark circles under his eyes and his wrinkled khakis. William didn’t do wrinkled. Under different circumstances Rhia may have felt sorry for him, but not today. Not when he was responsible for Hunter’s being in L.A. with a woman her husband contemplated marrying.
“I caught her in bed with someone and I kicked her out. I didn’t think she’d run away.”
“She’s nineteen William. Is it so surprising that she’s having sex?” Rhia asked clearly irritated.
William snorted. “You don’t know the half of it. Although, it probably wouldn’t matter to you if you did.”
William pointed at Ram, his finger shaking. “Ever since you met him, your morals have flown out the window. I know you manufactured those legal documents. Just because I can’t prove it doesn’t mean I don’t know you were behind it.”
William turned to Rhia. “And you...You involved our children in your little scheme. No wonder they feel free to hurt my wife, and embarrass me.”
“I already apologized to Candi. I didn’t mean to make her cry, dad, I just don’t want to live with you and I told you that. Hunter wasn’t trying to embarrass you. Not everything is about you. You’ll be lucky if she ever talks to you again after what you did.” Ethan said quietly.
“I’m not coming home with you either.” Ethan smiled ruefully. “Not that Candi would want me to anyway. Tell her she can safely color over the green in a couple of days. The chlorine needs to be out completely before she does. Some swimmer’s shampoo ought to do it.”
William didn’t say another word. He just turned and walked away. When did his world start to unravel, he wondered. He was sorry for what he’d said to Hunter but he didn’t know how to repair the damage. He simply didn’t have experience mending relationships. Hell, he didn’t have experience being a parent at all. He’d left that to Rhia, he’d had better things to do. Now his children were grown and he didn’t have a clue how to deal with them at all.
William vowed to make changes in his life. First, he wasn’t going to make the same mistakes with the child Candi was carrying as he’d made with Hunter and Ethan. Second, after he figured out what to say, he was going to make things right with his daughter.
Lord, I fucked up. Give me a second chance. Please.
It wasn’t much of a prayer, but it was the first one William had uttered since he was seven and he asked God for a new bike. This time he hoped God was listening.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
L.A. was great. Rodeo Drive was awesome too, but it was time to go home.
Becca sent her home with a suitcase full of designer clothes, costume jewelry,
and a watch that Hunter was sure cost more than a semester’s worth of tuition. Becca and Ben had been kind to her. Neither asked any questions, for which she was profoundly grateful.
They took her out for lunch and dinner to all the spots celebrities go to see and be seen. Hunter now had Cher’s autograph, and she’d learned that Pamela Anderson was more gracious, not to mention smarter, than she was given credit for.
It had been fun. For a few days she’d actually forgotten the look on her father’s face as he opened her bedroom door in Hawaii. Hunter was reliving that humiliation with every mile she got closer to Milwaukee.
What was her mom going to say? Hunter didn’t think she’d react as badly as her father had, but that didn’t mean she’d be accepting either.
Ben reached over and took her hand. He’d been so supportive, Hunter was glad he was with her. “Don’t worry kiddo. It’ll work out. Most of the time the worry is worse than the reality.”
Hunter just nodded, trying to swallow past the lump in her throat. She didn’t trust herself to speak. If the reality with mom was a quarter of what she’d experienced with her dad, Hunter knew she had plenty to worry about.
...
Rhia questioned them both, relentlessly. Neither Ram nor Ethan was talking.
“Mom I told you. It’s not my story to tell.” Ethan wasn’t angry but he wasn’t talking either.
Rhia has always been proud of the fact that her children genuinely liked each other and were loyal to each other, even if they were fighting. Now it was driving her nuts. She was the mother after all. She had a right to know each and every detail of her children’s lives.