Chapter 10 Gary McNamara
"Can we all join hands", Eric asked once the waitress had delivered all the orders. Simon remembered how awkward he used to feel praying in public as a kid, as if all of Glen Oak didn't have he, his brothers, and sisters under a microscope already. He had shared this concern with Matt, Mary, and Ruthie once and discovered they all felt the same way during their teen years.
Simon felt Deena's warm hand clasp his on the left, her touch making his skin tingle as he reached for Carlos's hand. The Camden clan was so big that even without Matt, Sarah, and their boys the family's post-engagement celebration took up one whole room at Sadie's Bar & Grill. Looking at the smaller table to his right Simon saw that the little kids—presided over by Sam and David—were also bowing their heads. Once everyone had settled Lucy said the blessing.
"Dear God, thank you for this family, this meal, and the time we have together. Please bless Sarah and Rose and keep them close to you as they go through the miracle of pregnancy"—Simon stiffened palpably at the mention of Rose's name, why would Lucy mention his old fiancée in front of his brand new fiancée—"and bless Deena and Simon from this day forward as they begin life's journey together. In your name we pray, amen.
"Amen", they chorused.
Everyone had just begun to eat when they a strange smell filled the room. David dropped Savannah and Charlie's hands and plugged his nose.
"Kevvy farted", declared Savannah to the whole room
"Savannah!" her mother admonished flushing. "That wasn't very polite!"
"It was disgusting", put in Sam fanning the air. Annie glared at him. "What?"
"When and if Lucy needs parenting advice she will ask you for it."
"That's okay Mom", Kevin replied walking over and picking up his son. "Come on little man, Let's go to the bathroom so Daddy can get you a new diaper."
"Yo también," said Charlie. "I have to go too Uncle Kevin."
"All right", his uncle replied, trying unsuccessfully to shift Kevvy and the diaper bag to one side so that he could have a free hand for Charlie. "Uh can someone help me here?"
"I'll take him." Simon offered, taking his nephew's hand.
"Thanks."
"I'll be out here waiting when you're done", called Simon to the two closed stalls.
While he waited all Simon could think about was his talk with Ruthie. She was in such a rush to hang up the phone that it made Simon wonder if something was going on. The whole situation gave him a queasy feeling in the pit of his stomach.
Suddenly Simon was jolted out of his thoughts by a muffled ringtone version of "Sexy Back" by Justin Timberlake. He made a mental note to laugh about this with Lucy and the others when he was feeling less guilty but now was not the time to lecture his crazy brother-in-law on song choice.
"Kev your jacket's ringing!" he reported.
"You can answer it", Kevin called back from the changing station. "It's probably the Chief."
"Kevin Kinkirk's phone. No, this is his brother-in-law Simon Camden… He is…oh that's him right now," Simon said as Charlie and Kevin appeared, the latter holding his freshly laundered son who he gave to Simon in exchange for the cell phone
"Kinkirk here. Yes I'm a police officer, who are you? Oh hello Mrs. Clement."
"Yes I'm a police officer No good conversation has that sentence in it!" Simon halted, almost colliding with Charlie who was walking in front of him.
"Cuidado Uncle Simon."
"I'm sorry", he whispered, quieting the four-year-old with an shhh gesture and pointing to Kevin's phone. He tried to keep his expression neutral so as not to worry Charlie but in truth his thoughts were racing as he fabricated all possible reasons why Ruthie's exchange supervisor would be calling.
"Get the others", Kevin mouthed. Simon nodded taken aback by the dark expression that replaced his normal goofy grin.
"Let's go finish your dinner", Simon suggested trying to keep his voice bright for Charlie's sake as the three hurried back to the room where Deena, Lucy, and Mary were talking.
Kevin followed suit and the men's cloudy faces immediately alerted all the adults that something was drastically wrong. Deena rushed to her fiancé's side. An oblivious Charlie climbed up Deena's vacant seat, which was next to Mary's. Lucy took the baby into her lap, trying to search the troubled faces.
"Mom, Mary, Deena, Luce", Kevin beckoned the women outside leaving Eric and Carlos with the children.
"Oh my God!" Lucy whispered once Kevin had finished recounting Ruthie's situation as it had been told to him. "That little…that little…uh there isn't even a word bad enough!"
"I know we're all anxious to have our way with that Jake creep", said Kevin putting one arm around his wife's shoulder. "But we need to think about Ruthie right now. She needs to be here with her family where she feels safe. When she gets here we can have Matt look her over for any injuries but until then I think the best we can do is keep calm and pray."
"Whatever you want us to we'll do it", said Mary sincerely. Deena nodded in agreement.
"I'm glad to hear you say that", Kevin replied. "Mary do you think you could still use some of your old airport connections? That way Simon and I could get tickets for the first flight to Scotland. Ruthie only asked for Simon but if the Jake pulls any funny business I want to be there so I can personally put his ass in jail where it belongs."
Mary smiled. "Sure, I'll get you a Red Eye"
"I'll miss you", Simon whispered into Deena's ear. "But I really need to bring my sister home."
"I know and if you don't mind I want to come with you. Ruthie is practically my sister too."
"That's three Red Eye tickets then," Mary counted and soon they all heard her confirming the reservations from her cell
"That's all well and good but how are we going to explain this little trip to the husbands without Dad having a coronary?" Lucy wanted to know.
"Tell them the truth," Simon suggested. "Kevin and I are going to Scotland to kill a certain bastard and whoever wants to is more than welcome to join us."
"I'll do everything in my power to make sure he wishes he were dead," Kevin promised, kissing his wife's hair.
It was five in the morning and Ruthie had finally drifted off to sleep to the sound of beeping hospital monitors. Doctors were diagnosing various injuries in thick Scottish accents but her tiredness garbled their voices.
Mrs. Clement had said Ruthie was going back to Glen Oak. All she had to do was sleep away those last few hours somebody from her family would be there stay with her. That thought was comforting enough to make the hard hospital bed feel like a fluffy cloud.
"I really hope Kevin finds this Jake O'Brian guy soon", Simon remarked, when he saw his baby sister lying fragile and bruised in the bed. "Because I wanna pummel him"
"We all do", replied Deena rubbing his back.
Ruthie heard the scoot of a chair as somebody sat down beside her and smiled when the smell of Simon's cologne tickled her nose.
"Shhh, she's waking up."
Ruthie's mouth tried to form a greeting but her voice was scratchy from the sheer fatigue of the last twenty-four hours so she just beckoned the two further into the room.
"We're here Ruth", her brother's manner immediately became soothing.
"It hurts", she mouthed.
"I know." He gingerly brushed a curl out of her eyes. "You should rest your eyes now." She disregarded this and he couldn't blame her. This experience must have produced some awful nightmares.
Simon had never seen Ruthie like this. If only he could've gone with Kevin they would find that creep boyfriend of hers and pay him back in kind but that thought immediately exited his brain when Simon saw the trembling frame of his baby sister.
"She was so strong," he mused. "And that dipstick shattered her.
"She'll pull though honey," Deena whispered, her breath coming out in a gentle blow. She brushed a tear of her boyfriend's cheek with the pad of her thumb. "Ruthie is one of the strongest people in your family."
Simon smiled sadly. "Ruthie's is one of the strongest people I know."
"I'll leave you two alone," Deena, decided, "Can I get you anything to drink, Simon?"
"Coffee. How bout you Ruthie, you want some coffee?"
His sister shook her head. The look on her face broke Simon's heart. "Can you scoot over for me?" When she complied he joined her on the bed.
"He really hurt you didn't he, Roo?" Simon asked once they were alone. Simon already knew the answer was a resounding Yes but he was trying to get Ruthie to say something. Anything.
She just nodded.
"You found him", Simon pounced, as Kevin appeared in the doorway
Kevin shook his head. "But I will and when I get my hands on him man oh man…" he vowed cracking his knuckles.
This statement was probably meant to be reassuring but Ruthie clung to her brother nonetheless burying her head in Simon's shirt for protection.
"It's only Kevin sweetie", Simon said, wincing at the fear in her eyes.
"What did I do?" Kevin looked confused.
"I wouldn't allude to anything violent in front of her right now", Simon advised. "She's been through a lot."
Kevin nodded. "Okay", he agreed as Deena returned with coffees for the three of them.
"Are you sure you don't want any?" Simon tilted the cup toward his sister's open mouth. Ruthie accepted a small sip.
"I see you got her to drink something", remarked a doctor from the doorway. "That's some progress. You're her family I assume?"
"We're her brothers", Simon replied. "And this is our sister", he added when the doctor—who's name was Rae—looked skeptically at Deena. It wasn't technically a lie Deena would be Ruthie's sister in a year at most.
Rae shrugged dismissively as if she knew the truth but didn't want to press the issue. Ruthie saw that the nurse held only a wheelchair she bolted up. "I guess you're ready to go home", Rae laughed.
Ruthie bobbed her head excitedly. "Let's get you to the landing pad, the helicopter's waiting!"
Deep down Simon had a suspicion that the nurse wasn't telling them something and the expression on his brother-in-law's face showed that showed that the same thing was running through Kevin's mind
"You two go on", Simon said giving Deena the handles of Ruthie's wheelchair. "Kevin and I will be right there." He shot his fiancée a meaningfully look.
"Lets go see how cute the chopper pilot is Ruthie," she suggested
"You trying to make me jealous?" Simon pouted. Deena batted her eyelashes shooting her scowling fiancée an angelic look.
Once Ruthie was far out of earshot Simon and Kevin rounded on the doctor like two starving dogs on a piece of steak. "What the prognosis?" Kevin wanted to know.
Rae hesitated. "Well I don't really know. It appears to be several little injuries that have built up or gone untreated. I'm sorry to say that the rehab will be pretty painful. It may take her three or four months to fully recover."
"Three or four months." Simon repeated over and over in his head. "That's just great. What will I say to Mom and Dad?"
"You'll think of something", Deena assured him with a small peck.
"You got it easy bro," Kevin laughed. "Mom and Dad will be a total cakewalk compared to Lucy!" Both boys shivered
This was shaping up to be a long night for the Camdens. The remaining family members left a tip for the waitress at Sadie's without even finishing their suppers and trooped back to Annie and Eric's house. The kids were so excited to have a "sleepover" at Nana and Grandpa's but the adults knew no sleeping would be involved. Only David and Sam were old enough to realize that their sister was in trouble.
Lucy had called Chief Michaels to inform him that her husband wouldn't be at work the next couple of days. Eric had called Matt on the other line. Despite getting the call after midnight the eldest Camden immediately gathered his sleeping sons and (with the help of Carlos) transported a still bedridden Sarah to the living room couch all the while planning the demise of the man who broke his baby sister's heart, something Carlos, Lucy and Mary were more than happy to take part in.
"Jake era más feo que el culo de un mono!" Carlos spat taking a sip from his mug of cocoa. Mary who had become practically fluent in Spanish after spending last summer with her in laws laughed.
"What did he say?' Lucy whispered, an expression of sheer confusion on her face.
Mary whipped out her iPod touch out so Lucy would know not to repeat it in front of their parents. "Jake is more ugly than the butt of a monkey!" read the text.
Lucy cackled. "I wonder how long it will take my gorgeous husband to kick that lowlife's ass," she mused earning a glare from her father.
"Not so loud Luce honey you'll wake the kids up", Annie cautioned her daughter gently. The eight hours of time difference between Scotland and California meant it was after five in the morning in Glen Oak.
"And if you keep using that language I may have to wash my grown daughter's mouth out", Eric added sternly. That showed that serious he was, washing someone's mouth out was the Colonel's department and Eric very rarely agreed with his father's militarist idea of punishment.
Lucy sighed testily. "Oh like you weren't all thinking the same thing!"
"Actually no", Matt teased. "I only used the word 'gorgeous' in regards to my own lovely wife." Now all I have to do is say something that ego boosting when said wife is actually awake!" he thought. Sarah had never needed such constant reassurance when she was pregnant with James and John. Or had she? It was hard to remember two years back.
"That was hilarious Matt", the middle Camden daughter muttered pacing the area in front of the kitchen island.
"Sit down Luce", Mary advised. "Before you burn a hole in the floor."
"I don't think any of us will be able to sit still until Ruthie comes through that door," Lucy snapped and no one contradicted her.
"I think we all need to calm down," Eric said. "Bickering isn't going to make the Simon, Ruthie, Kevin and Deena magically appear on the doorstep."
Almost instantly the doorbell rang, Lucy sprinted to the living room.
"Wake up Vannah!" Lucy whispered shaking the little girl. "I think that's daddy at the door."
"Daddy an' Auntie Ruthie is coming home from 'cotland!" Savannah cried jumping up and down excitedly.
"Careful Vannah don't wake everyone…"
"What time is it?" Sarah grumbled from the couch.
"Else." Lucy finished lamely. "It's six", she replied turning to Sarah.
Carlos and Matt followed each taking his respective set of twins out of one of the wooden cribs. "Buenos días nenas", Carlos smiled setting his daughters down.
"Well now that everyone's awake I think someone get the door", suggested Eric laughing.
Mary, who was closest, nodded. Standing in the doorway was a black man in his late fifties. He had a crew cut and a face that, right this minute was perfectly serious. Kevin
"Chief Michaels", Annie said stiffly giving the old family friend a hug. "Come in."
"Powiceman Mikey", Savannah cried rushing into the foyer. Her father's boss swung the four-year-old up in her arms, forcing his features to contort into a smile.
"Hiya Savvy! I don't think your mommy is as happy to see me as you are", the chief guessed glancing at Lucy crestfallen face.
"No it's not that at all", Lucy defended quickly. "I was just expecting Kevin."
"He and Simon aren't home from Scotland?"
"No", Eric answered. "Why?" Michaels said nothing but angled his head toward the crowd of grandchildren sitting on the staircase. Annie caught his meaning
"Come on kids let's see what Nana can find for breakfast," she called shepherding the tiny children into the kitchen. Eric in turn led everyone else into the den offering his easy chair to the Chief.
"I have some news about that boyfriend of Ruthie's", Michaels announced.
Mary nostrils flared from where she sat on the loveseat. "If you're coming to tell us that he beat my baby sister to a pulp and she'll probably coming home right now in a full body brace, we know that already!"
"Amor let the man finish", soothed Carlos in a gentle voice.
"I'm sure if Ruthie was in bad enough shape for a body brace you would've heard from Kinkirk or Simon by now", the Chief reassured. "But that's not why I came. I'm here because a couple days after little Kevvy's birthday party, Kinkirk brought in a photo album from Scotland Ruthie had sent along with the little guy's present. The Jake boy in the pictures looked awfully familiar so I looked him up in the records. Remember Gary McNamara?"
"That guy from the animal abuse trial a few years back?" Lucy asked a light bulb of recognition going on in her head. That trial had been going on around the same time Lucy had been called for jury duty in a case where her middle school boyfriend had been the defendant.
"The very same. Jake O'Brian is just an older, brunette, contact-wearing Gary McNamara."
"What a sec," Sarah spoke up. "If it's true that this Jake guy has a previous record then why didn't you and the other cops go to Scotland and bust the creep before he even had a chance to lay a hand on my little sister?" asked Sarah sweetly giving Chief Michaels a glare that could wither any man's soul.
"Well he already paid his fine trying him again double jeopardy. Of course now we can try him for the offense of abuse. Hopefully we can get Ruthie to testify but it's going to be hard. A lot of times psychological side effects of this stuff can be worse than the psychical abuse itself."
Two weeks later
"Call me if you need anything else all right sweetheart?" Annie placed the lunch tray down. The smell of a steamy grilled cheese and tomato sandwich was mouthwatering but the teenager hadn't had much of an appetite since coming
Ruthie nodded mutely.
Annie bent own and planted a soft kiss on Ruthie's forehead, the only part of her daughter that wasn't bruised. Fury at the twenty-year-old lothario who caused all this bubbled in Annie's chest. At least Jake—otherwise known as Gary—had been kicked out of the Scotland program. "He's lucky his sorry butt was in a jail cell awaiting trial!" Annie realized as she loaded the dishwasher with a vengeance. Mrs. Camden would be more than happy to wring his neck herself. The front door opened and closed, and Matt could be heard climbing the stairs. Dr. Camden was here to replace the gauze that hugged his sister's four broken ribs. Annie let out a stray sniffle. As much as she cared for he eldest son, Annie wished his daily appearances were under happier circumstances.
Back in her attic room, Ruthie picked at slice of tomato finally rejecting it with a look of disgust and putting it to the side. She would've found it quite boring being cooped up but there was a perverse thrill in guessing how long it would be between shuddering spasms. Her ears perked up as she heard feet the staircase.
Maybe it was Simon! Besides being her favorite he was the only sibling whose presence hadn't become an annoyance because he hadn't visited at all.
It wasn't Simon but Matt who walked into the room and sat on the spare bed laying out ace bandage and other instruments. Ruthie lips twitched into a sad smile as she waved to him with her good arm, the other was resting in a sling due to her dislocated shoulder.
"Hey sis," greeted Matt with an attempt at his own bright smile. He had seen a lot working at the hospital ER but this one hit home. Ruthie seemed so small under the massive bedcovers her limp brown curls splaying across the faded Hello Kitty pillow.
"Maybe I could take the little ones trick-or-treating as a mummy," Ruthie said as her brother began wrapping.
Matt laughed remembering how hard it had been to get Ruthie to wear a costume one particular Halloween
Flashback
The third annual Glen Oak Community Church Halloween Carnival was that night and an electrifying thrill was coursing through everyone's veins in the Camden house. Except Eric of course who had hated Halloween since he was a ten-year-old child but that was another story for another time.
"Wow cute", Mary—who was dressing as a gun-toting cowgirl—appraised her mother's witch costume and nodded in approval.
"Thanks", Annie smiled. "Hey do you know anyone who could babysit tonight on short notice?"
"Babysit who?"
"Whom."
"Whom", Mary repeated. She had forgotten that Annie had majored in English Lit.
"You know whom, Ruthie! She refuses to leave the house without a costume and she absolutely hates everything I suggested…"
Mary saw her perfect night alone flash before her eyes. She had been planning it forever, and in a house of with seven people living in it that chance wasn't likely to come again any time soon.
"Mom?"
"…I can't stay with her I have to get back to the church…Lucy's already gone, you and Matt have your dance. Maybe Mrs. Horton can do it, I'll go call her."
"Mom", Mary interrupted, louder this time.
"What?"
"Let me try," said Mary eagerly. "I bet I can get her to wear a costume."
End Flashback
Ruthie smiled. "I remember that was the summer Lucy won the pumpkin carving contest. What did I go as again?"
Matt looked at her in shock as he wrapped the last of the gauze around her ribcage. "Don't you remember? Mary painted your face and put a mop on your head. You went as Happy."
"Oh yeah and Simon was so mad!"
"Speaking of Simon has he showed his face around her since you've been laid up?" Matt asked.
"Not that I know of", Ruthie replied. "Deena was up a few days ago and said they barely had time to do any wedding planning over the last week because he's been working so much."
Just then, Simon was bent over some bookkeeping in his office when a knock at the open door made him turn around. "Simon, working hard I see."
"Hi Mr. Marino, what can I do for you?"
Bobby Marino grinned, wrinkles appearing around his eyes. "Actually Simon I was just talking to an old friend of mine, singing your praises actually."
Simon looked at the floor his face reddening. "Really?"
"Yes my boy." Mr. Marino sat at the birch-wood table with a grunt and beckoned his employee other to him. "
In fact I have a proposition for you. I was just telling a friend, Russell Donaldson how you spent the last three months balancing accounts for me. Russ was interested; he needs to do some budget tightening because of layoffs in the area. It'll be a hard hit loosing your experience but we can carry on your techniques and Connecticut holds a lot of opportunities for you.
"Connecticut?" Simon cried in amazement. "Mr. Marino not that I don't appreciate what you are trying to say but I can't move to Connecticut. I have a fiancée to think about!"
His boss nodded sympathetically. "It would be a tough decision even if you were single, son. I'm not saying it would be easy by any means. Here is Russ's number. Think about it for a while and then decide. You've got real potential Simon."
"Thank you sir, thank you!"