by Iris Bolling
“You killed my soul!” Winnie grabbed the woman by the neck as she jumped on top of her. She pounded her fist into her face over and over. Blood began to pour out of the woman’s face, but it did not faze Winnie. She didn’t see it. All she saw was the face of the woman who had taken Hepburn away from her, from his children, from his work. “All for that no good Walker.” She grabbed the woman’s neck and began banging her head on the floor. “That fool don’t love you.” She lifted her head than slammed it back against the floor. “He don’t know how to love.” She slammed her head again. “You stupid,” slam, “stupid woman.” She slammed her head down again.
Suddenly she was kicked in the stomach, knocking her backwards. Angelina scrambled to her feet. Winnie reached out and grabbed her foot. “Oh hell no you don’t!” She swung the woman across the floor, towards the coffee table, then rushed over to grab her hair.
Angelina had reached her purse that was near the chair she was sitting in when they first arrived. “Don’t call me stupid. I didn’t want to do this, Winnie. I didn’t want to.” She scrambled inside the purse, but was yanked back.
Ignoring the banging and yelling at the door, Winnie yanked Angelina back up to her feet. “You killed Hepburn!” She grabbed the woman by the neck and began choking her.
The window in the door crashed open. “Winnie, what in the hell are you doing?” Daisy dropped the cast iron frying pan to the floor as she crashed through the door. She ran over to Winnie and tried to pull her away. Vivian screamed then ran to the woman fighting with Winnie and pulled her by the waist.
“Winnie,” Daisy called out as she tried to pull her from the woman. But her grip was tight and Winnie wasn’t letting go. Daisy knocked Winnie’s arm down, then grabbed her by the waist, pushing her backwards until they both hit the floor.
Vivian had the other woman by the waist holding her away from Winnie. She looked at the woman. “Oh my God.” Then she looked at Winnie. There was a strange look in her eyes as Daisy helped her from the floor.
“I’m going to kill that bitch!” Winnie yelled as she lurched by Daisy.
“Winnie, stop!” Daisy yelled as she caught her by the waist.
Vivian ran to them. “Winnie, please.”
Winnie saw Angelina coming at Vivian from behind with something in her hand. Winnie raised both feet kicking Vivian out of the way. The momentum landed all of them on the floor with Angelina over them about to strike. Winnie started to move, but that would leave Daisy exposed.
Angelina was mere inches away when suddenly, she fell to the floor knocked out cold.
Winnie and Daisy looked up to see Vivian with the frying pan in her hand, breathing heavily as she stared down at the woman.
“Is this Angelina?” she asked.
“Is she dead?” Winnie asked as she stood up.
“I don’t think so,” Vivian said as she helped Daisy from the floor.
“Then I need to finish killing her.” Winnie grabbed Angelina by the hair, so fast, no one had a chance to stop her. She began pounding into the woman’s face again.
Jerome and Myles ran into the house.
Jerome saw the syringe, kicked it to the side as Myles grabbed his mother by the waist. She knocked him backwards and continued on her quest to kill the woman who had taken her Hep away.
Jerome grabbed Winnie’s arms pinning them to her waist then lifted her from the woman. Her legs kicking, as she struggled to get back at Angelina.
“Carry her outside,” Myles said as he stood adjusting his suit. He looked at Daisy. “What in the hell happened?”
“Like I’m supposed to know,” Daisy yelled back. “They were fighting when we got here. I swear Winnie was literally trying to kill the woman.”
“Somebody better tell me what in the hell is going on.” Myles walked out the door to see Jerome trying to control his mother. Her legs were kicking out, she was screaming for him to let her go. There was blood all over her top, her jeans. Her hands were beaten raw. Jerome put a leg over his mother’s.
“I’m going to kill her!” Winnie was screaming. “I’m going to kill her!”
“Mom,” Myles called out. He ran over then cupped his mother’s face. “Winnieford Dunning, look at me!” he yelled.
That voice. The hands. It was her Hep calling out to her.
“Winnieford Dunning, look at me,” Myles said again. “Look at me,” he said a bit softer as he caressed her face. “Look at me.”
The fog began to clear in her mind. She could see Hep….no, it wasn’t Hepburn.
“Mother,” Myles said.
It wasn’t Hepburn. It was her baby. “Myles.”
“Yes, Mother, it’s me.” He kissed her forehead as Jerome slowly began to release her into his arms. “It’s me, Mother.”
Winnie touched his face. The hurt began to cut through her again. It was so deep in her soul she couldn’t breathe. “Myles.” She softly cried trying to let it out. “She killed him.” She cried as if her heart was leaving her body. It started as a whimper, then increased to a low moan.
Myles wrapped his arms around her. “Let it out, Mother. You can let it out now.”
The warmth of his arms, the beating of his heart against her, made her feel free. And she did exactly what he told her to do. Winnieford screamed at the top of her lungs. A long harrowing scream, for the loss, the senseless loss of the man she loved.
Tears ran down Myles’ face as he held his mother. Her body shook. Her screams penetrated his shield. The tears, the anguish all that he had held in joined with hers.
CHAPTER 39
Everyone had gathered in the kitchen at the family house. Grace and Jonathan, Mike, Gary, AnnieMarie, Myles and Chrystina, Vivian and her husband Ken, all sat with coffee or tea that Daisy had prepared. They rallied around Winnie to comfort her, but the opposite was happening.
Myles watched his amazing mother, coddling each of his siblings as if her personal hurt wasn’t happening. Internally he knew the pain, he felt it as he’d held her weeping in his arms. Now she was standing there insisting that they all support and embrace Preston.
“He is innocent in all that happened and is going to need our support.”
“How do we know he is not involved? There are more details we are not aware of,” Mike stated.
“I am certain he was not and is not involved,” Myles defended. “His mother’s deceit devastated him and we are not going to add to it.” He looked around. “Every Board member is going to not only support him, we are going to extend every courtesy known to man to help him personally deal with this.”
“Who is with him now?” AnnieMarie asked.
“Jerome and Cainan,” Chrystina replied. “Oh and Gina.”
“Your sister?” Mike questioned. “Why?”
“She was the one who...helped him this morning.”
Mike was about to say something but Gary stood.
“I think one of us should be there.” He continued, “Cainan and I are the closest to him. He needs to know now rather than later that we have his back.” He walked over to his mother and said, “We may have lost Dad, but Myles stepped in to handle this family the way you raised him to. He demonstrates that leadership in the office each day. Tonight he showed it as the head of this family. He could not have done that without Daddy’s teaching and your guidance.” He kissed her cheek, then stood. He walked over to Myles who was standing near the island, pulled him into a bear hug then said, “I love you, man.”
The family smiled as some laughed.
“I’m serious.” He smiled.
“I know you are.” Myles returned the smile then turned to his uncle. “Ken, Preston is going to need legal advice. Would you go to the police station to offer whatever assistance you can?”
Ken, who was an attorney, stood, then placed his wife, Viv, who had been sitting on his lap, in his seat. “I will do all I can.” Then he shook his head. “I will not defend his mother. She took my friend and a damn good man from us. I will recommend someone fr
om the firm to Preston.”
“Thank you,” Myles replied.
“Let’s go, funny man,” Ken said as he and Gary walked out of the house.
Myles’ phone buzzed. He looked at the number. “I need to take this call.” He stepped out of the room.
Winnie turned to Jonathan. “With all that is going on, I was remiss in asking how is your mother?”
“She is resting comfortably,” he replied.
“Why don’t you bring her here to recuperate,” Winnie offered. “She doesn’t know anyone here, don’t you think she will be more comfortable here rather than in the hospital? And it will give us a chance to get to know each other. I think both of us could use the company.”
“I think that’s a great idea.” Grace looked up at Jonathan. “It will give her a chance to get to know the family.”
“What an incredibly generous offer.” Jonathan nodded “I will discuss it with her in the morning.”
It was weak but, Winnie smiled. “Then it’s settled. When she is released from the hospital you bring her here. We know how to take care of her, right Daisy?”
“Yes, I know how to take care of her but who is going to be taking care of you?”
“Me? Well I have my own version of Thelma and Louise.”
The family was laughing when Myles came back into the room.
Winnie looked up. “What is it, Myles?”
Myles hesitated as he looked at his mother. “That was Jerome on the phone. Uncle Walker is dead.”
“What?” Viv gasped.
Winnieford said nothing as she reached over to take Viv’s hand.
“Dammit!” Grace jumped to her feet a little too fast. “Hmmm...” She grabbed her head in pain, then slowly sat back down.
“Take it easy, Love.” Jonathan took the cold cloth Daisy had prepared earlier then placed it on Grace’s forehead.
“I wanted to kill him myself for putting me in that damn steel box.”
“So it was Walker?” Jonathan asked. “Why didn’t you tell us?”
“Because I wanted to go back and finish suffocating his ass.”
“How did he die?” Viv asked.
Myles stared at Grace for a long time before he answered.
“He was suffocated with his pillow.”
All eyes turned to Grace.
AnnieMarie said what they were all thinking. “Oh my God, Grace Heather killed Uncle Walker. Now we are going to have to have a trial.”
Grace took the cloth from her head then looked incredulously at her sister. “I did not kill Uncle Walker....duh...I’ve been in the hospital all day.” She sighed. “I’m sorry, Aunt Viv, I know you loved your brother but Walker should have been killed at birth.”
“What happened, Myles?” Winnieford asked as Viv shed silent tears.
“It seems during her statement to the police Angelina Long confessed to killing him too. The police went to the rehab facility. They found him in his room, dead.”
“Whew, thank goodness. No trial for Grace.” AnnieMarie exhaled. “But he was family,” AnnieMarie sighed.
“Yes, well, there was that.” Winnie exhaled. “I suppose we will have to make arrangements to bury him.”
“He was my brother,” Viv cried. “I will handle it.”
“I will help you,” Winnie offered, “but I’m telling you right now, he is not going in the ground anywhere near Hepburn.”
“Put him with Walker Sr,” Daisy suggested. “He will kick his ass through all of eternity.”
Winnie smiled. “Yes, he will. I guess we better go claim his body.”
“No.” AnnieMarie stood. “There is no way in hell I’m going to let you handle arrangements for the man who was responsible for all of this crap. Come on, Aunt Viv, I will go with you. Where is he, Myles?”
“They will take him to the morgue,” Grace answered. “The Medical Examiner will have to confirm the cause of death.”
“Isn’t it ironic that this chapter of our lives is ending the same way it started?” Mike sighed. “The determination of a cause of death.”
“I think it’s poetic justice,” Myles replied. “Mike, can you go with AnnieMarie and Aunt Viv. This may be hard on them.”
“I will go to make sure that the son of a bitch is dead.” Mike followed the women out the door.
###
Winnieford sat at the table where she and Hepburn would start their day. The memories flooded her mind, as tears streamed down her face. All of that was taken away from her, the children and, dare she say, the world. The plans they had for their life together after the bank, after the children were married, moving forward in their lives. Greed took it all away.
She looked at Myles. “Is it midnight yet? I really need this day to be over.”
“It has been a hell of a day.” Grace Heather sighed as she leaned into Jonathan.
Winnie smiled at the telling action.
“If nothing else, this has proven to us that it is important not to waste time. Grab your happiness now, for tomorrow is not promised to any of us. This family has always put the bank first.”
Myles and Grace glared at her. “Oh don’t give me the family integrity first and foremost crap. That family refers to the banking employees and customers. I’m talking about when you go home. The family that greets you after a long hard day like this one. That is the family that sustains us.”
###
Myles looked over his shoulder at Chrystina. She was his rock, his everything. He took her hand that had been resting lovingly on his shoulder. “With all that’s happening in our lives, tomorrow is not promised to any of us.” He pulled her to stand in front of him. Took both of her hands in his. “I don’t want another day to go by without knowing you will be my wife.”
Myles pushed his chair back. The family looked on with wide eyes as he got down on one knee. He gazed up at Chrystina, whose eyes were filling with tears.
“Oh my,” Winnieford gasped as she watched on.
“Chrystina Price, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
So overwhelmed, she was unable to speak. She looked around the room. “Myles, it’s been a really emotional day. Are you sure you want to do this right now?”
“He was planning to do it this weekend anyway.” Grace smiled. “Girl, you better hurry up and say yes before something else happens.”
“I’m on my knees.” Myles chuckled.
“Oh my God.” Chrystina cupped his face “Yes, yes, I will marry you.” She kissed him. Myles stood as the kiss continued.
“Well I’ll be damned,” Daisy laughed. “A fight, a murder and a marriage proposal, all in the same day.”
“It’s a perfect way to end this day.” Winnieford smiled as tears streamed down her face. She held her arms out to Chrystina. “Welcome to our family.”
Grace whispered to Jonathan and asked, “Are you taking notes?”
###
Preston Long conducted the presentation before the BIT executives without skipping a beat. Cainan, Warren and Sydney worked diligently through the night to ensure Preston had everything he needed when he walked in the conference room.
Gina and Pam took the role Chrystina would normally have handled by greeting each of the executives by name, then strategically seating them throughout the room, next to DBT people who could answer questions along the way. Gary handled financial inquiries while Preston took all policy details.
Myles received a call at ten-fifteen indicating he was needed in the conference room. He asked Chrystina to request Jonathan to join him. They had left Winnie and Grace in the capable hands of Daisy and Aunt Viv.
Myles and Jonathan walked into the conference room.
Preston stood. “Mr. Dunning, Mr. Whitfield requested your presence.” He took a step back.
Myles put his hand on Preston’s back keeping him standing next to him. “Hello, Mr. Whitfield.” Myles shook his hand. “You remember Jonathan Michael.”
“I do. Mr. Michael, it is good to have you here w
ith Dunning.” Stanley nodded. “Gentlemen, Dunning gave an impressive presentation. The executives of BIT officially request Dunning Bank and Trust become our financial institution.”
Myles turned to Preston. “What are your thoughts, Preston? Should we accept?”
This was why he left Phase International, Jonathan thought as he watched the expression on Preston’s face. Myles could have simply accepted the offer by shaking Whitfield’s hand then called it a day. Instead he wanted to give Preston the honor. Handling the situation in this manner accomplished two remarkable things. It put Preston in a decision making capacity that could have a major impact on the agency as a whole and it also indicated his trust in the young man. People first. Jonathan smiled, acknowledging he was working with an organization that valued their employees.
“We should accept, sir,” Preston replied.
Stanley extended his hand. Myles looked at Preston.
Preston extended his hand. “Welcome to Dunning Bank and Trust.”
Cheers and applause went up around the room.
“Plan fulfilled.” Stanley shook Myles’ hand.
Myles nodded. “Plan fulfilled.” His heart swelled with thoughts of his father. “Preston will be your point person during the transition.”
“This calls for a celebration,” Chrystina announced as she walked into the room with two assistants following with bottles of champagne.
“This acquisition calls for a toast,” Jonathan called out as he guided Stanley to the tray.
Myles turned to Preston, walking him away from the crowd. “How is your mother?”
The expression on Preston’s face clearly indicated he was surprised by the question.
“The attorney you sent over yesterday had her moved to a psych ward for evaluation. What happens next depends on how that goes.”
“We will pray for the best results possible.”
“How can....” Preston hesitated. “How can you do that, Myles? She killed your father and your uncle.”
“We will have that conversation, but not today.” Myles put a hand on Preston’s shoulder. “You did an excellent job on this project. For now we are going to put our troubles aside to celebrate you.”