by Jody Kaye
She’d looked up from the spot she’d nestled her nose into while enjoying the lingering the scent of his aftershave. He kissed her forehead.
“You’re only saying that to get me into bed.”
“It’s a better line than the one you used on me on our wedding night. I think it’ll work.” Her bare breasts were pressed to his dress shirt and Rose didn’t have much else on.
She laughed. “It’s only working because I love you, Mr. Cavanaugh. I love you with my whole heart and you’re the person I was meant to share this life with.”
“I love you too, Rose.
Turn the page to read the bonus content!
BONUS SCENE
Lily Anne laid the Tribune out on the dining room table, smoothing the creased centerfold. She held the newspaper corner and picked up the shiny silver shears. About to make the first cut, she hesitated and looked over at the lovely box of mementos and clippings that she’d kept for as long as her memory served.
She was a pack rat when it came to remembrances, but suddenly she wasn’t sure if this article belonged with her most cherished souvenirs. She stopped what she was doing and began taking out the hodge-podge of items one by one. She touched a corsage pressed between layers of waxed paper from the evening of her debutante ball, admiring it’s beauty and recalling how times had changed.
Bead and clay trinkets her son, Drew, and the quints had bestowed on her during their shared childhood lay amongst the snapshots of her and Rose hanging upside down from peach trees. She fingered the raised lettering on the cover of a printed program from the Sunday her grandchildren were dedicated to the Lord. A bright paperclip held her father’s obituary underneath her daughter’s wedding announcement.
Filled with so many memories, the box had grown heavy and Lil couldn’t help but consider how life came full circle. There was still room in the ornate container to hold memories of life’s blessings in the years to come.
But was this one of them?
Lily Anne meant to save the article because she’d been proud of her entire family. She’d sat on that hard bench, clutching Ross’s hand, when Rose got called to the stand as a character witness. For the first time, Rose recounted the full details of her ordeal. Her children filled the gallery understanding what Rose was compelled to say. Although, their mother had remained silent, fighting the battle on her own terms, so the magnitude of her words didn’t become real to them until the truth slipped past Roses’s lips.
Rose’s daughters especially had been basket cases. Daveigh had her own wounds and it was only after watching the testimony that she’d found the strength to tell Rose.
There had been no sense trying to hold back tears when Rose thanked Lil for stepping into her role. She absolved Lily Anne for never saying that she’d known all along. Daveigh’s secret was never hers to tell.
However, as the scales of justice weighed the evidence, Lily Anne felt no one’s pain more than Ross’s. His body tensed and shoulders hunched and, after her testimony, Ross couldn’t get his arms around Rose quick enough to begin the process of mending her all over again.
It took a lot of guts to do what Rose did. She opened herself up to criticism and plenty of folks brought up the way she acted as a girl. Lil respected the person Rose had become and was gratified that two of Rose’s reasons for speaking up were their shared granddaughters. Their babies’ babies joined then in an unbreakable bond. Those children deserved to understand that their grandmother had done right by them.
Lily Anne picked up her scissors once more. The blades made quick straight lines against the newspaper margins. She placed it over the box and let it float down like a feather. It landed atop a small framed portrait of Savannah and Joy.
Tears filled Lily Anne’s eyes as she spoke loving words to them. And then Lily Anne closed the box, knowing that they’d put this ghost to rest while the spirits of the women who’d founded their families still lifted them up in hard times.
EDWARD CHANGES PLEA, FOUND GUILTY OF ASSAULT
….While not charged with a crime against her, the most outspoken alleged victim of Edward’s was Rose Kingsbrier-Cavanaugh. Her testimony for the prosecution encouraged numerous other women to come forward. Finding strength in numbers they exposed a pattern of sexual and domestic abuse that spanned decades.
When questioned by the defendant’s lawyer as to why she never pressed charges, Mrs. Kingsbrier-Cavanaugh stated, “There were few avenues afforded to women at the time. No one wanted to talk about it. No one wanted to believe us so we lost faith in ourselves. I took the only road that would bring me justice and help me regain a sense of self-worth.”
She proceeded to take down Edward Investments brick by brick. “Whenever I found another crack in the business’s foundation, I used that leverage to my advantage.” She went on to recount how women began taking many prominent roles formerly held by their male counterpoints. Hearing murmurs of similar stories, they quietly banded together ensuring that Edward Investments failed to receive contracts. Trying to remain afloat, the firm was quick to latch onto whatever deals it could negotiate.
Kingsbrier-Cavanaugh was named Acting Chairman of Kingsbrier Holdings after her father, Eric Kingsbrier, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. Edward Investments was then acquired by Kingsbrier Holdings for less than one-fifth of the value it held at the time of the alleged incident between them. Later that year, Kingsbrier Holdings made a sizable donation in Lathan Edward’s name to an East Texas agency whose mission it is to assist victims of sexual assault allowing the non-profit to broaden outreach services.
When asked in the courtroom if he knew about the donation Lathan Edward became enraged. The judge held Edward in contempt of court. After consulting with his lawyers, he changed his plea to guilty.
When asked if she felt vindicated Mrs. Kingsbrier-Cavanaugh replied, “No. This wasn’t about me. Everyone knows there was enough evidence in the current case against Mr. Edwards to prove his culpability. No matter what I may have done to stick it to him, not coming forward allowed Lathan Edward the leeway to assault other women. I fall asleep every night with that on my conscience.”
Turn the page to read the first chapter of Adam!
Adam, The Kingsbrier Quintuplets no. 4
Copyright ©2018 Jody Kaye
All Rights Reserved
“Boring a hole into the back of Adam Cavanaugh’s head is not going to get him to look at you,” Temple D’Amico advised her younger sister as she dragged a crisp fry through the puddle of ketchup on her plate. “Guy’s brains’ don’t work like that, Tessa, particularly juvenile high school ones. Furthermore, a Kingsbrier is the last boy you want paying attention to you.”
The eldest of the Kingsbrier Quintuplets had walked into The Grille as if he owned the place. Of course, he was rich enough to buy whatever wanted so there was nothing shocking about his cocky attitude. His youngest sister, Daveigh, was in tow. Adam tilted his chin toward Tessa, and Daveigh’s fingers splayed in a diminutive wave.
A sudden glowing smile spreading across Tessa’s face had Temple turning in her seat to see what made her own sister giddy. Complimented by the attention, Tessa became intent on it happening again.
The poor girl. It was as plain as the nose on her face that he’d pay her no more mind.
Adam pushed Daveigh into another booth a few feet away. He hunched in the opposite seat with his back to them, immersed in conversation with her.
It was a blessing in disguise. The boy went through the local teenage female population like a kid samples sweet morsels in a candy store. There was one small exception. Adam wasn’t partial to licorice. Never once had the tall boy dated anyone with hair darker than a Bit-O-Honey. If dating was what you’d call Adam’s proclivity. He’d secured a man-whore reputation when Temple was a senior and Adam and Tessa were lowly freshman. Jet black hair aside, Tessa also didn’t have any traits putting her in the same universe as the other teen girls. It was surprising Adam acknowledged Tessa’s presence at all
.
Yet, had Adam actually done anything remarkable toward Tessa? It wasn’t like Kingsbrier Numero Uno waved or said “hello”. This was the most attention the poor girl might ever get from a star football player.
“The quintuplets are bad news,” Temple continued on her diatribe. “Have you listened to what everyone’s whispering about Ginny Adair? How long do you think it’ll be before she’s on her own trying to raise that baby?”
Their mother had crossed herself and prayed when the rumors from Richardson’s Market began spreading. It was obvious the lecture on the sins of the flesh flew out the window for Tessa once a flesh and blood boy entered the picture. It was up to Temple to talk some sense into her.
Tessa scowled like a two-year-old. “Oh mio Dio, sorella! Let me have this moment. You got a boyfriend once you went to college and got away from Mama and Papa. At this rate, you’ll get married and I’ll become the crazy cat lady.”
“Stop being melodramatic,” Temple retorted, bossily.
Her sister continued laser-gazing at Adam’s mussy hair. Would it hurt him to run a brush through those curls once in a while?
Temple’s lip twitched, self-satisfied. What didn’t she have to be proud of? She’d been Valedictorian of her high school class and Dean’s List each semester since. Getting into medical school was going to be a snap. She’d shied away from young men before college, not so much by virtue of being a wallflower, but the idea of getting into a relationship and finding out she was pregnant meant she’d never live out her dreams and make her parents proud. With intention, Temple chose a young man to make her husband who understood wearing a pure-white wedding dress was important to Temple. She only hoped they served as role models for Tessa.
It was Temple’s job to ensure her sister didn’t go off the rails with the likes of Adam. Both young women had bright futures ahead of them. As far as Temple was concerned, she was well on her way to getting everything she’d ever wanted. Her staunch persistence to be the best was paying off.
“Hey, Kingsbrier!” boomed a boisterous voice. Every one of the quints responded to the name of the massive ranch they live at. Their mother was the former Miss Rose Kingsbrier and had a reputation in her youth for causing as much trouble as her five children combined.
One of Adam’s crude football cronies approached the table with a whip-thin blonde bouncing on her toes in an effort to direct attention to her low-cut top. Vanilla as the rest, she crowded Adam into the booth. Temple pegged her as a cheerleader, recognizing Adam probably didn’t give one iota if her eyes were the color of brown, blue or green M&M’s as long as she melted like chocolate. All. Over. Him. Luckily, only tonight had Tessa ever acted like she had bubble gum for brains.
Tessa picked at the bun of the best hamburger this side of Houston, mumbling something regarding the second boy, “Alcee Bennett’s known Adam near as long as Drew Newhouse.” The longing in her voice wasn’t lost, proving her sister wanted to be a part of the group. It bothered Temple to no end that Tessa picked up on nuances of the quints’ friendships.
“Give it up, Tessa.”
“You don’t know if this rumor Mama heard is true. Eric seems to love Ginny.” Tessa shrugged innocently. “Besides, you’re three years older, Temple. It’s not as if you know the quints. Daveigh is so nice. She invited me to the farewell party they’re having before Colton leaves.”
“Papa told you no.” Temple had already taken her father’s side.
“That’s so unfair! It’s almost like you have something against the Cavanaughs because of the notoriety the quints attracted when they were babies. It’s the complete opposite of the way everyone else in the county acts.”
“People in this town wouldn’t care if their grandfather hadn’t been wealthy. Those kids get away with murder. Even conceding twenty percent of the Cavanaughs are decent folk, it’s not a stellar rating. Plus, you’re comparing apples to oranges. Daveigh is a friend. You want Adam’s attention for different reasons. He looks for hearts to break. It makes me want to spit that he’s been your lab partner for the past four years.”
Tessa had developed an unrequited crush on Adam. He’d never give her the time of day and likely chose her year after year to get out of doing the assignments himself. Tessa’s GPA made her a worthwhile classmate to cheat off of.
Temple wiped her mouth and folded the napkin, setting it on her lap.
“Adam is really smart. He plans to go pre-med, like you.”
“You’ve mentioned that before, Tessa,” she said, uncaring.
He’d pay for his degree, while Temple earned hers. Being from a lower-middle class background, their good fortune was the result of studying hard and scholarship awards.
“He’s so handsome too. That dark hair and his green eyes are to die for. I can stare into them all day.”
“Adam doesn’t have the Sexiest Man Alive nomination tied up. There are other things that make a guy attractive. You know, like being a good person.” Who didn’t treat teenage girls like notches in their bedpost. How long could anyone keep that up? Would Adam still be screwing around in a decade? Then again, what did Temple know? Maybe rich people did what they wanted as long as it suited them. “Be patient. The right guy’s out there.”
“Easy for you to say.” Tessa pulled her straight, dark hair behind her shoulder glancing at the perverse diamond in her sister’s engagement ring. “You have someone.”
“Dolce,” Temple used their father’s Italian endearment with an air of condescension. “You can’t define yourself by whether you’ve caught yourself a man. Especially not at eighteen.”
“Hey, Tessa, how’s it going?” Adam interrupted, walking by their table.
“Ah, great!” she flustered. “Have you met my sister?”
Somehow the lame attempt to get him to stop worked. Adam leaned forward. His fists clasped the table edge, making the wood creak. “We haven’t been introduced.” The colossal douche ignored Temple’s presence entirely.
Not that Temple cared. She was glad to be immune from his boyish good looks and rouge charm.
The bigger issue was this brief encounter was bound to leave Tessa floating on a marshmallow cloud. It was her sisterly duty to return the teenage girl’s feet to solid ground. Where they belonged.
Tessa blushed as Adam studied her high, round cheekbones. Her rich chocolate eyes turned into round brownie bites when she noticed he’d traced her features down to where a lock of her long black hair fell against her chest.
Yup, there it was. Complete pig.
“Everyone’s coming to the stable for a bonfire tonight. You should be there.” It was as if Adam practiced the nonchalant tone to gave him leeway to never let on if he gave a hoot. Temple couldn’t help but wonder if he was more interested in how many people attended the party than who actually showed. A higher number proved his dominion over the high school crowd.
“I’m sorry. Temple and I have plans.” Tessa sounded confident while covering up her absence. It was surprising since she continually whined about how foolish she looked to her classmates with an early curfew and having to abide by a strict no-party rule.
“Temple?” The kid shook his head as if she spoke a foreign language.
“My sister.” She graciously directed his eyes across the booth.
Adam turned his gaze to the right. His eyes widened as Temple’s narrowed and he straightened his stance.
“Kingsbrier.” The name rolled off her tongue with a hint of disdain. For a boy supposedly well-bred, he had horrible manners and Temple had no desire to witness an intelligent girl fawn over anyone who didn’t deserve her. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to use the ladies room.”
Temple stood to leave. The hair on her arms prickled before she realized Adam was watching her intensely—the same way she’d chided Tessa for doing. His mere presence crowded her, and she felt the focused heat follow along as she walked towards the bathrooms. Adam’s acute gaze made Temple aware of every flaw she tried to hide. Like Tessa, he
r hips were a little too wide for her narrow waist. Their mother called it healthy. She said her daughters had the bodies of classic actresses like Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor. The size of Temple’s chest made her feel like she’s supposed to be a warbird pin-up girl on the nose of a B-52 with some patronizing tagline about her bust that ignored her brain.
Grasping the doorframe, Temple stopped and turned before entering the restroom to observe. The group of teenagers had followed the ringmaster and switched booths. Tessa slid to the side to make room for Alcee. She was grinning like a clown, animated while chatting to Daveigh, and eating up the attention the popular kids bestowed. Only the blonde, picking her cuticles, seemed as disinterested at the whole situation as Temple was annoyed.
Temple’s lips curled into a frown as her sister’s giggles became discernible above the noise in the crowded restaurant. The whole thing was undignified. She’d never needed shallow friendships to fill her life. Tessa shouldn’t either. Shock replaced the annoyance when Temple saw a matched expression reflected on Adam’s face as he continued leering at her. What made the golden boy look so downcast?
In the restroom, Temple had a moment of guilt. She dried her hands wiping away the feeling she should be kinder for Tessa’s sake. Her sister deserved to be happy, but that happiness didn’t need to come at the cost of having her heart broken.
It was time to finish up their meal and head home. As the bathroom door closed behind her a hand caught Temple’s shoulder. Using self-defense techniques, she slip-shrugged it off and turned to stomp on…Adam Cavanaugh’s foot?
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Amazing husbands aside, I hail from a family of women (my oldest was the first boy born in a half-century and my youngest the last in a decade.) In recent years, I’ve relied immensely on my aunts, sister, and cousins in a way that wasn’t imaginable when I was young. It’s made me recognize all the ways women support other women. I’m proud of the foundation that we’ve come from and are passing on to future generations.