by K. D. Jones
“Jerry? What are you doing here?” She had an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach.
“Hi, honey. Why don’t you come in.” Jerry flipped his blond hair back. He was wearing it shoulder length. He always primped more than a girl.
Molly shook her head. “No. That’s not a good idea.” She took several steps back ready to bolt. Why the hell was Jerry here?
Jerry followed her out into the hallway. “Okay. How about we go down to the hotel restaurant. There are things we need to go over regarding the condo and the rest of our joint accounts.”
A public place was better. “Alright.”
She waited while he closed the door. They were quiet as they headed down to the first floor restaurant. Jerry asked for a table in the corner. Molly would have preferred a table right in the middle of the room, or one closest to the door so she could make a quick escape. Jerry made her very uncomfortable.
As soon as they were seated, Molly asked, “What’s this all about, Jerry?”
Jerry tried to smile his self-important smile. “Let’s relax a little. What have you been up to while traveling around with the GCFA ship? Have you gone through all your savings yet?”
“That’s none of your business.” Molly was starting to get pissed.
“Easy. I don’t care what you do with your pitiful money, that’s separate from our joint accounts. You can blow it all you like.”
“One more time, why are you here, Jerry?” She was losing patience.
“Someone broke into the condo and caused some damages. I was in the vicinity when my lawyer contacted me. He said your lawyer made arrangements to come here to talk to you about the situation. I told my lawyer to let your lawyer know that I would discuss it with you.”
“Why did you contact my hotel claiming you were my lawyer?” Something just didn’t add up.
“I figured you would come see your lawyer quicker than you would me.”
“Damn straight.” Molly stood and was about to walk away but Jerry reached out and grabbed hold of her arm.
“Stay for a few minutes.”
“Let go.”
“Will you stay and listen?” he asked.
“Fine. Make it quick.” She stared at his hand. When he removed it from her arm, she sat back down slowly.
“Talk.”
The waitress came to take their food order. “I want a steak, medium rare, and a bottle of Merlot.”
The waitress looked at Molly. “Just a glass of water please.”
“Eat something, Molly. You are not on a diet…clearly.” He gave her a look up and down.
Molly glared at him. He was always critical of her weight and appearance. He acted embarrassed to be seen with a woman that had a little weight to her.
“I’m not staying here that long. What happened to the condo?”
“Like I said earlier, someone broke in and did some damage. The insurance company needs us to both go through the condo and price out the items that were destroyed so we can be reimbursed.”
Molly sighed. “When do they need me to do this?”
“Immediately, within the next few days. There was some damage done to the door locks and a few windows were broken. Those are being repaired as we speak. But the insurance wants to finish out this claim.”
“I don’t know if I can get a flight out at this short a notice.”
“I took care of that already. I have two tickets booked for first thing tomorrow morning.” He cut into the steak the waitress just had set before him.
Tomorrow morning? Crap. She didn’t want to go. “Is my presence really necessary?”
“Yes, since the condo is in both our names and the insurance policy is in both our names then both of us have to be present to go through the condo and make a list of what was damaged and what each item was worth.”
Moly bit her bottom lip. She didn’t want to go back. It wasn’t her home anymore. She didn’t want to go back with Jerry. But most of all, she didn’t want to leave Hammer and the kids.
“I don’t know.” Molly checked her watch. Wow, it had already been three hours. Maya would have the kids with her by now.
“The condo cannot sell as is. Repairs need to be made immediately and the insurance won’t pay until they receive the estimates.” Jerry poured himself another glass of wine.
“Fine.”
“Great. Did you want to stay here so we can leave first thing in the morning?”
“No, I have to go back and make arrangements for the kids.”
“That’s right, you babysit a bunch of brats.”
“They are not brats! They are wonderful children. And I am their nanny.”
“Which of those creepy halfsies do you work for?” Jerry kept stuffing his face.
“Hammer, and he is not creepy.”
Jerry almost spit his wine out. “The Cyclops?”
“He’s not a Cyclops, he is a Biclops halfsie.”
“I hear that he has a brain the size of a squirrel. All muscle but dumb as a doornail.”
“He is not! You will stop speaking bad about him right now or I will not go back to get the claim to the insurance company!”
“Fine. You staying?”
“No. Come by the GCFA ship and pick me up at eight in the morning.” Molly stood and started walking away.
“See you in the morning, honey.”
Molly didn’t look back. She really hated him sometimes. What was she going to do about the kids? She called a shuttle and waited for it in the lobby of the hotel. She also made a few calls.
*****
It was almost evening before she arrived back at the GCFA. Molly had called Maya who was more than happy to feed the kids and to notify Hammer to pick the kids up from her suite. Maya also offered assistance with the kids while Molly went back to handle things with the insurance company. Maya’s grandparents were going to help her too. Now all she had to do was let Hammer and the kids know.
Molly was bone tired and nervous as she headed to Hammer’s suite. She hadn’t called to let Hammer know what was going on yet. She wasn’t happy about leaving and she knew he might not take it well. They were growing close fast. Maybe it was too fast. This time away might help them step back and make sure this relationship was what both of them wanted. She sighed as she opened the door and entered the suite.
“Molly!” Little Kate ran up to her and hugged her leg.
Molly picked her up and gave her a kiss on her cheek. “Hey there, sweetheart. What have you been doing?”
“Nothin'.” Kate hugged her neck.
“What took so long with the lawyer?” Hammer asked from across the room. He was suspicious when he was notified that Maya had the kids stay over for dinner. All he was told by Maya was that Molly was running late from her meeting. But Molly never called him.
“I have to go back home for a few days.”
“Why?” Hammer felt an uneasiness build within him.
“I’ll talk to you about it later.” Molly turned her attention to the kids. “Did you all finish your homework?”
Lauren and Tomas nodded their heads. Kate shrugged her shoulders because she was too young to have homework yet.
“You guys ate at Maya’s. So now, it’s time to get ready for bed.” The kids moaned as they headed off to take their baths and get ready. Molly went with the girls to help get Kate ready.
By eight, the kids were all tucked into bed. By eight thirty, they were completely asleep. Molly put away clothes and finished cleaning up the kitchen. She was avoiding the topic but she knew she had to go over things with Hammer.
“What did your lawyers say exactly?” Hammer asked, leaning against the wall, watching her in the kitchen.
“It wasn’t my lawyer. It was Jerry, my ex-husband. He came to tell me about the condo being broken into and that there were damages.”
“You told me it was your lawyer.” Hammer moved closer. He was getting angry and didn’t dare touch her.
“I thought it was. It was supposed to
be. My lawyer made the plans but Jerry intercepted. He said he was doing business in this region.”
“But why would he make you think you were meeting your lawyer? Why not just call you and tell you about the condo?” Something didn’t add up for Hammer.
“I don’t know why Jerry does half the stuff he does. Maybe he figured I wouldn’t meet with him in person otherwise.”
“Now you are going back…with him?”
“He says the insurance company needs both of us to take inventory on the damages and estimate what it will cost to fix everything.”
“Good ole Jerry, couldn’t handle this himself?”
Molly sighed. “He says the insurance company requires both of us.”
Hammer didn’t say anything. He just stood there staring at her. He wasn’t sure what to believe. He didn’t scent deceit on her. But his senses weren’t as strong as some of the other halfsies.
“Look, the sooner I go and take inventory, the sooner the condo can be fixed, then sold.” Molly approached him slowly. “Maya and her grandmother are going to help with the kids the next few days while I’m gone. I’ve made extra food and put some in the freezer. All you’ll have to do is heat it up.”
He looked at her angrily. Was that all she thought he cared about. “You are leaving with your ex and you think I am worried about the damn food?” He didn’t wait for her to reply but stomped off to his own bedroom.
Molly felt like her heart was being crushed. She wanted to go after him but he had closed his door and locked it. He locked her out. She turned the lights off and went to her own bedroom. She could tell Jerry she wasn’t coming. When it came down to it, she could sign it all over to her ex and wash her hands of it. But that was a lot of money going to a man who made her feel inferior. She didn’t want to reward him like that.
Her other concern was that if things didn’t work out with Hammer, she would need that money to help her start over. Tears fell down her face with the thought that this might be the end of her and Hammer. Jerry had screwed her life and now he was about to ruin the only good thing in her life. God how she hated her ex-husband.
She took off her clothes and turned on the shower. As the water fell down over her body, she let the tears fall freely. She didn’t want to leave. She wanted to remain with Hammer and the kids. She was so afraid she might never see them again.
Chapter Fourteen
Hammer and Molly walked the kids to school. Molly had her bag with her. He then went with her down to the lobby. He hadn’t spoken to her since last night. She feared this was a final goodbye for them.
“Will you be back?” Hammer was barely keeping it together. Every instinct in him screamed not to let her go. He was bigger and he could carry her back to his suite and keep her there. No one would dare try to take her from him. He would kill any who tried. But humans didn’t appreciate the basic animal instincts that halfsies and other alien races had.
They had just gotten off the elevator. She could see Jerry standing by the front desk. He was flirting with the attendant. He always flirted with other women. Even when they were married. She turned to look at Hammer.
“Of course I will be back. Just a few days to take inventory and then I am back.” She saw Hammer’s eyes narrow and his nostrils flare. He was staring at Jerry with pure hatred.
“I don’t like him. He’s too…pretty.”
Molly snorted. “He thinks he’s God’s gift to women. But he’s just a jackass.”
Hammer turned back to her, grabbing her and pulling her up against his body. He took her lips in an aggressive and possessive manner. He wanted to make sure she knew who she was leaving and maybe remind her what she had to come back to. Everything in him wanted to throw her over his shoulder and take her back up to their suite.
Molly responded to Hammer’s sudden kiss with all that was in her. She forgot everything else. It all faded away. There was no lobby full of people. No Jerry standing there watching them. Nothing but Hammer’s arms and lips. He kissed her until she literally had no breath left in her lungs. When he finally released her, she was gulping in air, her body tingled everywhere, and her eyes were glazed over. She wanted more. She was about to reach for him for another kiss but she was interrupted.
“Molly?” a whiny male voice called out behind her.
Molly cringed. She had never realized how irritating Jerry’s voice was until now. She looked up at Hammer but he was staring past her to Jerry. He looked ready to tear Jerry’s head off. Uh oh.
Molly turned around to face her ex-husband. “I thought you would wait in the shuttle.”
“Aren’t you going to introduce us?” Jerry continued to stare at Hammer in disgust. “Let me, since Molly is being so rude. I am Jerry Fields, Molly’s husband.” He offered his hand to shake.
“Ex-husband.” Molly clarified. “This is Hammer.”
Hammer’s nostrils flared. He wanted to rip the offending man’s arm off. He refused to accept the handshake. He growled a little. It pleased him when the little man took a step backwards.
Oh shit! Molly stepped in between the two. Seeing her ex and Hammer face to face helped her put things in perspective. She had no feelings whatsoever for her ex. She couldn’t imagine having ever felt for him what she felt for Hammer. What she felt for Hammer was so much more. It also scared her shitless.
“It shouldn’t take but a few days. You have my cell phone number in case you need anything.” Molly touched Hammer’s arm to get his attention.
Hammer stared down at her. “Don’t go.”
Molly felt a vise squeeze her heart. She didn’t want to go. She wanted to stay with Hammer forever. But she needed to wrap up all ties with Jerry before she could fully move on.
“I have to. I won’t be gone long. I swear it.” Molly wanted to kiss him again. But he turned and entered the elevator that just opened. She stood there watching as the doors closed slowly separating her from Hammer. She was scared that somehow she was shut off from him for good.
“Big and stupid, just like I thought,” Jerry snorted.
Molly turned on him. “Shut the hell up, Jerry!”
He looked at her in shock. She had never talked to him that way. He was about to say something else but she interrupted him.
“You don’t talk to me unless it is in regards to the condo and you sure as hell do not say anything to me about Hammer. He is twice the man you will ever be in more ways than one. If you don’t, I will drag this shit out with the insurance company and you won’t get any money for a long while.” She headed out of the lobby not waiting to see if Jerry followed her or not. She was done with his crap.
*****
Hammer didn’t go back to his suite. He headed to the gym. He went for the punching bag. He started with a jab. Then he did a reverse punch. One by one he went through the different strikes: uppercut, elbow strikes, knee strikes, roundhouse kick. He worked up quite a sweat.
“What they hell is wrong with you?” Zen asked, standing at a safe distance away.
“Nothing.”
“Doesn’t look like nothing.” Zen watched him carefully. “Heard Molly was leaving to go back home today.”
Hammer hit the heavy bag harder. He didn’t answer Zen but kept striking the bag.
“She was supposed to leave with her husband right?”
“Ex-husband!” Hammer hit the bag harder, almost taking it off the hook that it hung by.
“They’re traveling together right?” Zen continued, asking him questions.
“Yes.”
“But she’s coming back. That’s what…” Zen stopped talking when Hammer stopped hitting the bag and stomped toward him. “Whoa, big guy. I’m on your side here.”
Hammer stopped a foot away and rubbed his bald head. “He’s…attractive.”
Zen stared at Hammer confused at first. “Who’s attractive?”
“The ex. He’s…pretty.”
It finally dawned on Zen what Hammer was trying to say. “Hey, man, you are no slouch i
n that department either. Many females find you sexy as hell. Even some males.” Zen laughed but Hammer remained stoic. “You’re really worried over this?”
Hammer nodded his head.
Zen walked up to Hammer and turned him around to look into the mirrors that lined the walls. “Look and tell me what you see?”
Hammer shrugged Zen’s hands off his shoulders. He stared at his image in the mirror. “Big, shaved bald, Biclops.”
Zen shook his head. “Big…yes. Shaved head…yes. Biclops…yes. But you are also tall, exotic, strong, sexy, and kind.”
Hammer frowned. “I’m not going to date you no matter how many compliments you give.”
Zen laughed. “Yeah, you’re not really my type either, big guy. But you know what? You are Molly’s type for sure.”
“Not sure about that. Her ex was blonde haired and blue eyed. He wasn’t scary looking.”
“I don’t know about the ex, but I do know that Molly has the hots for you and you alone.”
“Really?”
Zen looked at him with anger. “You have been fucking her for a while now. How could you not know how she feels about you?”
Hammer growled. “Watch how you talk about her.”
“I am the sexiest fighter on the GCFA circuit, the girl barely looked at me. All she wanted was to know about you.”
Hammer smiled. “Thanks, Zen.”
“Whatever.” Zen felt raw inside. He would give anything to have a woman want him the way Molly wanted Hammer.
*****
“What about this one?” Jerry asked, pointing to a glass picture frame that was cracked.
Molly almost cried. It was her grandmother’s picture frame. She had gotten it when her grandmother died. The frame was worth more than the picture that had been inside it.
“It was worth about three hundred dollars. Now, it would cost two hundred to replace the glass.”
“We’ll mark it down valued at six hundred.” Jerry scribbled on the list he carried around with him.