Laws of Motion – Book 2
Written by: Ms. Maggs/Edited by: KJT
Chapter 34
Saturday – September 17, 2005
The Blakes
6:03 a.m.
Standing over Ryan as he slept soundly in his comfortable bed, Wendy lifted McKenna's toy trumpet to her lips and blew the loudest, most obnoxious wake-up call she could muster.
"Ahhhhhh!" Ryan flew out of bed screaming. "What the…"
"Morning!" Wendy cheerily greeted her panicked son. "Welcome to Blake Boot Camp, where you'll be spending every weekend for the next two months reshaping yourself."
"But I have football practice," Ryan replied upon catching his breath.
"No, you don't." Wendy stared down the boy. "Because you're no longer a student at Desert Mountain and therefore ineligible to play for them."
"What!"
"After our talk last night, I called Pastor Tobias. On Monday, you'll be starting your new school…Trinity Christian. He highly recommended it and personally called his friend, who is the principal there, to ensure a space for you."
"No way!" he protested. "Where's Dad! You can't do this!"
With great satisfaction she informed him, "Dad is at Wal-mart buying McKenna Barbie clothes, and you the navy blue trousers and white shirts you'll need as part of your uniform."
"He sold me out too!" Looking at his trophy shelf Ryan's heart sank.
"Playing football is a privilege, not a right. To be on the team, you have to keep your grades up…and your zipper." Standing firm, Wendy snipped, "Get dressed and be in the kitchen for breakfast in two minutes. You have hours of hard labor ahead of you today helping your aunt and Nick move into their new home."
"Are you serious?" he asked, desperately hoping it was just a scare tactic. "Mom, please tell me you're not serious."
"I'm as serious as an infected bite wound on an extremity."
"Dad told you! He said he wouldn't tell you!"
"He changed his mind when he learned about the other duplicitous things you've done recently."
Ryan's embarrassment skyrocketed. "I didn't ask her to do that to me, she just did it."
"Why didn't you stop her!"
Being mentally still half asleep he explained, "Because the all the champagne we drank made me so dizzy that I…"
"You drank champagne too!" Wendy snapped. "What else happened that you haven't told me!"
Afraid that she already knew the details from Nick and was trying to trap him, he told her the truth, "I puked on Celine's head when she was down there. Like three times, that's why she had to leave the wedding early."
"Two minutes!" Wendy barked while hustling out of the room. Halfway to the kitchen she cracked a smile at the visual of Celine getting coated in vomit. "At least something good came out this mess. I would have paid to see the little priss squealing over her three hundred dollar shoes getting ruined."
Nick and Carrie's Apartment
7:12 a.m.
"That wasn't me squealing!" Carrie informed Tawny as soon as she showed up in the kitchen. "Last night…the noises you heard…it wasn't me."
"Oh." Scratching her mussed blonde hair Tawny glanced over at Nick who was leaning against the counter. "Wow…you really sound like a girl when your toes are curling."
"It wasn't me either," he confirmed while pouring a steamy cup of brew. "It was the chick in the soft core flick I caught Carrie watching when she thought I was asleep."
"Nicky!" Carrie tossed her man a death glare.
"What?" he chortled after blowing on his hot coffee. "You expect me to let her think I squeal like a chick when in bed just to cover the fact you secretly watched soft-core last night? Hey, I'll gladly take a bullet for you, Darlin' but there are limits to my dedication. I'm not lettin' Tawny tell Greg I'm a femme."
Tawny placed her hand on Carrie's shoulder. "Sweetie, you're going to be thirty-one in a few months and you're not Catholic…you're allowed to watch soft-core without feeling guilty."
Hugging her friend Carrie said, "Thank you for the absolution."
Watching the women embrace Nick curiously asked, "What's it gonna be, Lezzies? Would you like me to make you pancakes or omelets?"
The Sanders Home
7:32 a.m.
"Muffins and Starbucks!" Becca merrily announced when Greg answered the door yawning. "Did you miss me, Hoj? Of course you did." After pecking his cheek she removed her Chanel sunglasses and strutted into the house. "Morning Mr. S! I've got a zucchini muffin with your name on it and here's a coffee just the way you like it."
"Thank you, Honey." Scott accepted the food and the fact that the nutjob was back in his son's life and there to stay. "I'll put some plates and napkins out on the counter for us." He hurried out of the living room sniffing the cup's contents and praying the drink's caffeine would rouse him.
While shutting the door Greg emitted a burdened sigh, "Just like old times, except now we're both married and my parents are getting divorced. That seems impossible."
"I know!" Becca declared while handing her friend his coffee. "It's a triple shot because I know you have a long day ahead of you."
"Thanks."
"You're right." Becca draped her arm around Greg's slumping shoulders. "It's crazy that your parents are divorcing and we're married. You and I are the unstable mental patients and your parents were always so steady and loving. That's why I hung out here so much…the happy family vibe." She grinned wildly. "I mean, other than to drive you crazy of course."
"Of course."
Patting her friend's pale cheek she sighed, "You look like shit, Hoj."
"I didn't sleep well." Around three he had a nightmare that sent his father flying into his room. They ended up falling asleep together watching Moulin Rouge and didn't wake until the movers called at seven for directions. "You, on the other hand, look fantastic this morning."
"I know!" She fluffed her hair while checking her appearance in the hall mirror. "I slept like a baby after having the best phone sex ever. Tony's voice is soooooooo husky sexy and what he said…uh oh, I'm getting turned on again just thinking about it."
"You should stop then." Greg cringed. "Because I really don't need to hear details because I have to work with the guy."
Wiggling her eyebrows Becca asked, "Has he said anything about me?"
"He's crazy about you, Becks," Greg replied after a sip. "He lights up when you call him. He's showing your picture to everyone."
"Really!" Oozing with happiness she hugged her friend. "Wow…I owe it all to you, Hoj! If you hadn't incited me to go off the deep end by getting me naked and then reading me the riot act, I never would have ended up going to Vegas to ruin your wedding, and if I hadn't gone to Vegas, I never would have met my dream man!"
Raising his cup of coffee Greg toasted, "Here's to me and my immature actions in your pool house!"
Becca tapped her coffee cup against his. "Amen!"
The Blakes
7:41 a.m.
"They're making me go to Trinity Christian," Ryan muttered in reply to his brother while scrubbing the bathroom floor with the toothbrush his mother had given him for the job. "All thanks to your big mouth."
"All I did was tell the truth, Ryan," Sean curtly reminded him. "I didn't make you sneak out and fool around with Celine. You knew that was wrong when you did it."
Scrubbing harder Ryan groaned, "The hypocrisy is that it didn't even feel that good when she did it. It wasn't nearly as good as me doing it to myself."
"You mean irony."
"Huh?" Ryan stopped his hellish chore for a moment.
"Hypocrisy is the feigning of beliefs. You meant to use irony because…"
"I'm going to use my fist to shut you up in a minute," Ryan snapped. "What the hell, Bro! I'm sharing my deep thoughts with you and all you can do is correct my grammar! That's so freaking annoying!"
"I'm sorry." Closing the door so their conversation wouldn't be overheard, Sean sat on the floor across from his brother. "Go ahead."
"I lost football." Ryan crashed against the bathroom wall. "It would be easier to accept if it had been the best night of my life, but…ugh."
"What did Celine do wrong?" Sean whispered, feeling naughty for asking such a thing, but too curious not to. "I mean…what did she do different than you to make it not good? Because from the three times I've done it, I can't really see how one could do it wrong."
"Three?" Ryan was happy to find something to laugh at on the crappiest day of his life. "You're keeping track, Bro?"
"Oh…um…is that not normal?" Sean nervously asked. "It's just…I keep track of everything I accomplish, so…" he gulped, "I'll stop."
The Sunset Motel
Tonopah, NV
7:53 a.m.
"Stop!" Sara shrieked when she stepped out of the bathroom and saw Flash poised on the bed sniffing her husband's ear. "He doesn't like tongue in his ear. Outside the ear is fine, but in the ear gives him the heebies."
"Sar…" When Gil turned around he was nose to nose with their hound. "How did you get up here?"
"He climbs on the bed apparently."
"That's not allowed." Sitting up he stared at the dog. "I'm new at this. I honestly never thought I'd be doing this dog ownership thing."
"Don't say 'ownership'," Sara directed. "I hate that…it makes it seem like he's property."
Gil nodded at Flash. "Forgive me if I offended you, now kindly get all four of your paws off the bed and don't return."
"Aww," Sara slid onto the bed and cuddled her dog. "He's still mad at you for licking his ass. Don't worry, one day it will be behind you. Ha…behind."
The ring of Gil's cell phone postponed his retort. "Grissom."
"Mr. Grissom, it's Becky Knolls up at Lakeshore Cabins."
"Hello, Mrs. Knolls. There wasn't a problem with the key, we just decided to spend the night in Tonopah and finish the drive in the morning."
"That's not why I was calling. I hate to tell you this, but there was a fire on your property last night."
"A fire at our cabin?" Gil bolted upright. "How bad?"
"Did you say fire?" Sara's heart rate quickened when her husband took her hand. "Gil…we were supposed to be there last night." As her mind raced with possibilities, the birthday girl feared she had awakened to a nightmare.
The Willows/Brown Household
8:04 a.m.
Bolting out of bed, Lindsay raced to the kitchen, where she was relieved to see Warrick sipping coffee and reading the paper at the counter. "Do you still want to adopt me?" she breathlessly asked.
Smiling at the frantic girl he said, "Do you think I slept on it and woke up with second thoughts?"
"Did you!"
"Of course not." Setting down the paper he pulled out the bar stool next to him. "There's no going back once you make a serious commitment."
Taking a seat she huffed, "If that was true, then the divorce rate wouldn't be sixty percent."
"Fair enough." Lifting his coffee mug he took a sip so he could think for a few seconds. "I don't know…the commitment between a parent and child is different than between a couple. A man and woman can get together for a bunch of superficial reasons, but a parent and child is always about love and it's not the kind of bond that breaks."
"Then why did Tawny's mom kick her out of the house? Or my grandma kick out my mom?" Lindsay shook her head. "I'm not convinced."
Warrick laughed into his mug. "Damn, I suck at this dad thing, don't I?"
"Good thing I said yes before this conversation," she joked.
"Wanna go out to breakfast with your old man?"
"Definitely," she replied through a huge grin.
"Let's go." Grabbing his car keys from the counter he asked, "Which buffet should we hit?"
"Don't tell my Grandpa, but I like The Mirage better than his places."
"The Mirage it is." He led the way.
"You know what sucks…no one will ever assume you're my dad when we're out together. Look at me…red hair, freckles and ghostly white. I mean sure, the recessive gene thing does happen, but come on."
Opening the front door Warrick laughed, "We can get t-shirts made at a shirt shop on The Strip. Mine can say 'Believe it or Not, I'm Red's Father' and yours can say 'The Black Dude is my Daddy'."
"No thanks," she chuckled. "But I do like the idea of you buying me something to celebrate."
He opened the car door for her. "Not an eight-hundred dollar purse."
"No, something in honor of the special occasion."
Whispering Pines Treatment Facility
Flagstaff, Arizona
9:01 a.m.
"I'm free!" Ellie yelled. "Even if it is only for four hours." To honor successfully completing twenty-one out of twenty-eight days of rehab, she was granted an off-campus visit under her father's supervision.
"Where would you like to go, Honey?" Jim asked his daughter who he couldn't remember looking this happy since she was a kid.
"Breakfast, then shopping, then lunch," she immediately answered. "I'm so sick of the food here and I need new clothes because I've packed on like ten pounds since I got here. I bet I'm a four now."
"Imagine that," Jim teased. "It's amazing what consuming nutritious food instead of poison will do to a girl." Opening her car door he grinned, "Maybe we could get you into a salon too." Her dyed fire-red hair was now accented by two inches of brown roots. "A hair cut…manicure…whatever you want."
"Maybe a nose piercing."
"I can handle that."
The Sunset Motel
Tonopah, NV
9:03 a.m.
"Feeling better?" Gil queried while watching his wife munch on saltines and sip 7up.
Nodding she said, "Morning sickness and terror aren't a good mix."
"Mrs. Knolls called back while I was out walking Flash."
"And?"
Unclipping the dog from its leash he happily relayed, "The Fire Chief is positive the fire was caused by a lightning strike during last night's storm."
"Really?"
"He pinpointed the point of origin and there was nothing suspicious." Taking a seat at the small table with her Gil softly said, "Think about it…if it was a hit, why would they have started the fire away from the cabin? They would have tossed something directly on it or in it, right? At minimum, they would have wanted to take out the cabin."
"Right," she nodded to help convince herself.
"Mike Rodgers may believe he's a god, but he can't control the weather, Sara."
"Okay." After a deep breath she said, "Now that I'm thinking clearer, tell me again how much we lost?"
"About a half an acre, and the side wall of the garage was singed. We're really lucky, it could have been much worse, Honey." Caressing her arm he optimistically said, "Hey, the good news is that lightning doesn't strike the same place twice, so we don't have to worry about it happening again, right?"
The Sanders Home
9:36 a.m.
Walking into Greg's bedroom, Scott said, "Becca…if I leave you here alone with Greg while I'm at the office finalizing the sale of my share of the practice, you have to promise me you won't drug him again."
Grinning at her pal, Becca teased, "If your son promises not to kiss me in the Jacuzzi, tear my clothes off, and almost have sex with me in the pool house, then I won't drug him."
"Deal!" Greg quickly agreed as he assembled the next cardboard box for packing.
"I took a Xanax this morning, Mr. S, so fear not…I'm chilled."
"Okay then." Scott nodded at his tense son. "You call me if you need me."
"I'll be fine dad."
"I'll pick up some lunch on the way back." Scott looked at Becca. "Sushi from Bonzai, okay?"
She answered with her order, "Rainbow roll, Negihama Maki and Kani Koma."
"Greg?" Scott prodded, hoping his favorite Sushi would entice him since the only thing he had eaten since the previous evening was a bite of muffin.
"I'll pass."
Becca immediately overrode him, "Get him some Dragon Rolls and a Mushroom Boat because he knows I won't eat in front of him if he's not eating, and I'm eating."
"That old trick doesn't work anymore," Greg grumbled as he stuffed his box.
Winking at Scott, Becca mouthed 'it will'. "Thanks, Mr. S."
"I'll see you kids around noon."
"Bye, Dad."
The Mirage Buffet
9:47 a.m.
After polishing off her orange juice Lindsay said, "So what do you like best? Pops? Dad? Daddy?"
"It's all good to me, so go with whatever you like." Checking his watch Warrick said, "The mall opens in ten, have you decided on your commemorative gift that's not an eight-hundred dollar purse?"
"I want a cat."
"A cat?" He shook his head. "Nooooo. That's not something we can do without asking your mom."
"Oh, come on…that's what makes this fun. It's one of those crazy things a dad and kid spring on the mom. 'Look, Mom! We bought a cat today!' And then she freaks."
The glimmer in her eyes went straight to his heart. "I wouldn't know about dad and kid tricks since I never had a dad."
"Then it's perfect!" Getting up she explained, "Because you can vicariously live the kid part through me as well as being the dad."
"Is there a pet store at the mall?"
"Pops, we can't buy a new cat." Grabbing his hand she yanked him out of the booth. "We have to adopt a slightly used one. Get it? Because if I tell Mom a heart-warming story about me adopting a cat to give it the same joy I felt when you said you wanted to adopt me, she won't be able to yell at me and insist we take it back."
"My daughter the con-artist." Placing his arm around her shoulder Warrick sighed, "You're a master manipulator."
The Sanders Home
9:53 a.m.
"Ugh." Becca stared at the framed photos of Bev and Greg in her friend's dresser drawer. "She put these here to manipulate you. Trust me…I know manipulation when I see it."
"Actually, she had them lined up on the dresser when I got here last night," Greg informed his friend. "I stuffed them in the drawer to get her out of my line of sight."
"Hoj…"
The beep of the alarm signaled a door or window had just been opened.
"My dad must have forgotten something," Greg remarked. "I'll go check. Do you want a water bottle? I'm parched."
"That would be great, thanks." Grabbing their senior year book from the shelf she plopped into a bean bag chair. "I'll take a stroll down memory lane and you can join me when you get back."
Grateful for her company during the emotionally difficult process, Greg smiled, "Only if you promise to be really snarky about the popular kids."
"I think I can manage that."
"I know you can," he chuckled. "Be right back."
When he reached the bottom of the stairs Greg froze. "Mom." She was standing in the foyer staring at the boxes already amassed in the living room. "You're not supposed to be here. Were you spying?" he snipped, realizing that she must have waited until she saw his father leave. "I can't believe you."
"No, I just got here a few minutes ago. I'm sorry, Greg," Bev sniffled as she lifted her gaze to her son's. "I had to see you, Honey. We haven't spoken in a week. I should have knocked instead of using my key…it was habit, but now that I'm here, please talk to me, Honey."
Feeling his defenses weakening Greg ordered, "You have to go."
"Please…just five minutes. Just listen to me for five minutes," Bev pleaded. "Or if you'd rather do the talking. Tell me how Tawny is…and the babies. How are you, Honey? You look pale. Are you eating? Is Tawny upstairs resting?"
When tears spilled over the rims of her eyes, Greg's stomach knotted. "Five minutes."
"Thank you," she squeaked.
"Tawny's great." Feeling cornered, he slipped by his mother and walked over to the couch, standing behind it. "We ended up having a CVS test done."
"What? Why?" Bev panicked. "What about the risk to the babies…"
"We're out of the woods," he assured her. "If something was going to happen, it would have happened by now. She's just taking it easy until Monday as a precaution, that's why she didn't come out here with me."
"And the results?" she gulped, fearing that was why her son looked pale and troubled.
"They're mine," he stated proudly. "And they're girls."
"Girls?" Bev's heart pounded in her chest. "Girls…I'm getting my little girls back as granddaughters." Rushing forward she begged, "Please promise me you'll let me see them. I already lost two girls in this lifetime, please don't cut me out, Gregory."
"Mom…"
"I know your father has told you horrible things about me…about what I did." Her rate of speech increased as her time dwindled. "I'm not the self-centered bitch he's making me out to be. I didn't manipulate you."
"I think this was a mistake," Greg said after swallowing the lump in his throat. "I'll call you in a few weeks and…"
"A few weeks?" Bev impatiently replied, "What if I had waited a few weeks to come home that day you tried to kill yourself?"
"Oh my God, Mom!" Greg shouted at her while grabbing his head. "You just got through telling me that you're not manipulative and then you lay that line on me! I don't believe you!" Outraged, he yelled, "Yes, when I was thirteen and confused, you saved my life, but that doesn't mean you're entitled to it! Stop trying to guilt me into forgiving you!"
Shaking, she stepped closer. "Honey, I never wanted to control you."
"Bull!" Gripping the back of the couch he raged, "That's bull and you know it! You manipulated me out of a loving relationship with my father! This whole week, every free moment, I've been thinking back and remembering ways you manipulated Dad and me apart."
"You're confused."
From the staircase, Becca announced, "I bet I can un-confuse him." When she saw Bev's shocked expression she snickered. "Surprise!"
"But, your car's not in the driveway," Bev remarked in a jittery voice as her panic intensified.
"I bought a new car yesterday…a little wedding gift to me," Becca told her nemesis. "I parked it in front of the neighbor's in case a moving truck was coming in the driveway today."
"Mom was just leaving," Greg said once his breath steadied. "Open the door for her Becca."
Glaring at her partner in manipulation Bev seethed, "You won't."
"Oh, yes I will."
"He'll never forgive you."
"I think he will," Becca snarled. "Because he'll realize that I was just another pawn in your game…just like he was…and your husband. We all have something in common, Bev…we've all been used by you."
Feeling secure enough to step out from behind the couch, Greg walked over to Becca. "What are you talking about?"
"Hoj, remember that movie, The Truman Show we saw together? The one with Jim Carrey?"
"Uh…" Moving his gaze between his mother and his friend Greg warily replied, "Yes."
Staring down Bev, Becca explained, "Truman is this ordinary guy, but then one day he finds out his whole life has been orchestrated. His life wasn't' a life at all, but a series of manipulated events with one person at the top pulling the strings and exploiting him while he's clueless. The master manipulator even hired actors to pretend Truman's life was real and they helped control his environment to make sure he didn't stray."
Shaking her head, Bev said, "He'll hate you all over again."
"Aww…how thoughtful, you want me to do the selfish thing to protect myself." In a Xanax-induced even-keel Becca calmly informed her, "While that's the current fashion for you, Bev, it's so last week for me. This week's trend…total honesty, and it's going to look great on me. I predict you won't find it in your size."
Watching the two women spar, while trying to make sense of the movie commentary, pushed Greg a little closer to overload. "Becca…what are you trying to tell me?"
Placing her hands on Greg's shoulders, Becca took a deep breath and confessed, "I started out as one of the paid players in The Greg Show. That first time I came to your house…"
"Shut up!" Bev blasted the girl. "How can you believe anything this psycho tells you, Greg! For God's sake, she drugged you two weeks ago to get into your pants!"
Grabbing Becca's hand, Greg rushed her around the corner into his father's office, locking the door behind them. "Finish what you were saying! The first time you came to my house…"
While Bev screamed through the door, Becca anxiously told the rest of the tale. "She bribed me to be your best friend. Those drama and voice lessons I used to take…my mom wasn't paying for them. It was the arrangement. I got the lessons in exchange for being your best friend…and I got to hang out at the house all the time and be a part of the family. She manipulated me…a thirteen year old mental patient with an absent father and a mother she knew didn't give a damn about me."
As his mother shrieked, 'don't listen to her' through the door Greg's mind raced, "But what about the makeover and the…"
"It was all part of the deal." She rattled off her duties. "I made sure no one at school bothered you…that you had someone to eat lunch with…go places with…I had to report back everything…even what you ate!"
"This is…this is insanity." Pacing his father's office he thought back to all their interactions. "My mother didn't buy me a friend, she bought me…what…a spy? A bodyguard?" Standing still Greg caught Becca's eyes. "What about the flirting and the teasing? The stuff we talked about in the pool house? How you knew I was hot for you during our high school years?"
Hating the pain she was inflicting, but knowing it was the right thing to do, Becca replied, "I wasn't allowed to be your girlfriend, Hoj."
His mother's accusations against Becca growing louder, Greg weakly said, "She told you that?"
"Yes." Tears spilling from her eyes, she replied, "Remember that time she came home when we were playing Boggle and found your messed up sheets?"
"You mean…" he gulped. "She went nuts and accused us of having sex. She was out of her head."
"She thought I broke the terms of the arrangement, and I wanted to, Hoj." Taking his hand she whispered, "I wanted to a bunch of times…remember a few days before that when we were at the beach…when we were a breath away from kissing and I pulled away."
Staring at the door that held his frantic mother at bay, Greg slid down the wall.
"After the Boggle incident I was scared," Becca knelt in front of him. "Bev had me freaked! So, I detached emotionally and just went along with the plan. Over time it got so warped…I got into it myself. I was mini-Bev. I ran on auto-pilot and she didn't even have to tell me what to do…I just knew what she wanted, and like her, I was afraid of losing you. Until she reminded me of this stuff last week I had it blocked. It's insanity!"
"I'm living in the freakin' Matrix," Greg muttered while trying to block his mother's wailing. "I have to be dreaming this one."
"Remember when your girlfriend suddenly broke up with you in college?" Wiping her tears, Becca confessed, "I told her I slept with you. That's how it was supposed to work, Hoj…you lust after me, but I don't let you have me; if another girl got close, I got rid of her. Bev promised me a job with her friend's lawfirm in return." Hating herself for being the psycho mother's minion, she sadly continued, "What Bev didn't count on was me getting my own life with Peter and leaving you to live yours. As luck would have it, you fixated on Sara and she didn't want you. Bev panicked when Sara got married, but you weren't talking seriously about anyone, so she figured maybe you were so dysfunctional by that point that no one would want you." Smiling, Becca said, "When you got Tawny pregnant, Bev freaked, but then she realized it was the perfect arrangement. Tawny didn't have a family and you didn't have any money…Bev could solve all your problems and have a new generation to control. She was thrilled."
"How much worse does this get?" Greg queried in a voice devoid of emotion.
"All that gay talk." Becca pointed to the door. "Bev's idea. Because if you were gay…she'd never have to worry about losing you to another woman. It's true, Hoj…your mom is a first-rate nutjob. I'll understand if you never want to talk to me again, but I don't regret telling you. Did you hear that, Bev! I told him everything!"
Staring at Becca, Greg gave a slight laugh, "I'm gonna wake up any second now."
"I'm sorry, Hoj." Becca pinched his arm hard. "You're not asleep…not anymore anyway."
He heard his mother's sobs grow louder still. "Could you um…call my dad?"
"Sure." As Becca rose to her feet, she felt Greg's hand wrap around her wrist.
"Thank you." Tears streaming down his cheek he whispered, "You finally did the right thing for me."
"Better late than never," she said with regret.
"Becca…" As hard as it was, Greg found the strength to quietly ask, "Is Robbie part of The Greg Show too? Or was he really my friend?"
"He's true blue," she assured him with a smile. "Bev didn't bother with him because she didn't see him as a threat. Robbie never did anything to try and change you or take you away."
"Okay, thanks." Flooding with relief, he released her hand, "Call my dad."
S.A.F.E. Haven
10:22 a.m.
"Pops!" Lindsay pointed to a a href black and white female cat listed as three years old and full of energy. "What do you think? Her name is Pinto…like the bean."
"She's cute, reminds me of a cat my grandma used to have."
"That's a sign." Waving at the shelter worker, Lindsay called out, "Out of the four you suggested, we'd like to adopt Pinto."
Alisa, the adoption coordinator, walked over smiling, "I think you'll be very happy with her, she's a real sweetie. We'll need you to complete some paperwork and like I said when you arrived, there's an eighty-five dollar fee to help us defray some of the costs of keeping our no-kill shelter up and running. You'll be given a four pound bag of food, a book, and a litter box." Pointing to the side door Alisa said, "We have a little store that has anything else you need or want, maybe while your dad fills out the paperwork, you'd like to take a look."
The shelter volunteer had no idea how significant a moment it was when Lindsay said, "You called him my Dad."
"Oh." Alisa worried that she had gotten it wrong. "I'm sorry, I thought he was your father because I heard you call him…"
"He is!" Lindsay clarified, and even though their paperwork hadn't been finalized yet she said, "He just adopted me, that's why we're adopting a cat. You're the first person to call him my dad."
"Aww." Alisa's heart melted. "Adopting a cat because you were adopted is the sweetest story."
Lindsay glanced up at Warrick. "We're hoping Mom feels the same way, right, Dad?"
The Sanders Home
10:31 a.m.
"Dad." With Becca at his side, Greg nervously spoke into the phone, "She's still out there…sobbing." Together they were hiding behind his father's bulky oak computer desk and shelves. "I don't know what to do."
Becca stared at the window she had made sure was locked before closing the shutters tight. "I'm scared." She gripped his arm tighter. "What if she tries to break in and kill me for spilling the beans?"
"I won't let anything happen to you," Greg assured his friend, while dreading the thought of his mother snapping into some sort of psychotic episode. "She's moving past anger," he remarked while listening to his mother's sobs weakening. "I think maybe she's calming down."
Scott announced, "I'm less than five minutes from home. Do you want me to call the police? Technically she's violating the terms of our arrangement and harassing you…not to mention disturbing the peace."
"No." The idea of his mother being hauled away in cuffs only tightened the knot in Greg's stomach. "I can't…"
"What was that!" Becca jumped upon hearing a thud just outside the doorway. "Is she breaking down the door!"
"Mom?" Handing the phone to Becca, Greg warily approached the door. "Mom…can we talk calmly now?" he asked while a new batch of tears formed in his eyes. "Not that I know where to even begin."
"Maybe she left," Becca loudly whispered. "Or do you think she's going to try the window? I locked it but, she could break it. I'm nervous, Hoj…she got too quiet, too fast."
Suddenly gripped by fear, he lunged for the lock, throwing back the door. "No." The bloody butcher knife on the hardwood floor snatched his breath as he tracked the trail of blood down the hall. "Call 911!"
"Hoj!" Becca yelled toward the door and then into the phone, "Mr. S…he ran after her."
"Becca!" Greg screamed. "We need an ambulance! Get out here!"
"Something's wrong," Becca panted into the phone while running toward Greg's voice. "Something's really wrong! He's asking for 911. I've got to hang up and call." Punching in the numbers she yelled, "Where are you!"
"The living room!" Unlike Daniel, his mother hadn't chickened out after the first slice, and Greg frantically worked to bandage both of her seeping wrists. "Talk to me, Mom!" She was on the couch, no doubt in an effort to re-create the moment, only this time the son was saving the mother. "Please! Stay with me," he sobbed while she grew paler. "Not like this." The cuts were deep and he pressed with all his strength to stop the bleeding. "Becca!"
The blood stains, and the sight of Greg rocking over his mother's lifeless body, left Becca too stunned to keep talking to the 911 operator.
"Are they on their way!" he yelled through tears, hoping to snap her out of her hysteria-induced daze.
"Y…yes," she finally answered on a sharp inhale. Then into the phone she whimpered, "Please hurry."
Sara's Honda Pilot
10:48 a.m.
"I can't wait to get there and see the damage for myself," Sara lamented while her husband drove as fast as the speed limit would allow.
"Since it's private property, not state forest land, we can have all the burned trees and brush removed," Gil informed her. "We'll replant…maybe even add a nice garden."
"Listen to you," she chuckled, "Little Gilly Sunshine. Where's the cynical man I fell in love with?"
"I'm trying on a new hat for my child."
Laughing she said, "I thought maybe your intimate moment with Flash, touched you so deeply that it changed you."
"Oh, he touched me deeply alright." After laughing with her he confessed, "It's bad enough I'll be an old man when my baby is born, I don't want to have the cranky personality of one. Look at the competition I'll be facing…Greg the Goofball Dad and Nicky the Wonder Dad. I need a niche, Sara, or I'll look pathetic next to them."
"I hear you," Sara sighed as she looked out the window. "I'll be bringing my kid to the park with Uber Moms, Carrie and Tawny."
"You know, maybe you should work on your 'Mommy voice' with Flash as a stand-in."
"What?" she snipped. "What's wrong with my voice?"
"Nothing, it's just when you talk to Ashley you sound…" he was trying to put it sensitively.
"Sound like what?"
"Uh…"
"I know what you're trying to say, okay!" Sara huffed. "You think I don't know that I sound like a foreigner who doesn't know the native language or dialect when talking to a baby. Tawny and Carrie they have that sugary Mommy voice thing down, but honestly…when I hear them talk that way, it makes me queasy."
The Blakes
10:53 a.m.
Ticking Ashley's belly button, Tawny playfully asked in her Disney princess voice, "How cute are you? Yes you! You're too cute, that's what you are. "
Sitting next to the couch playing Barbies on the floor, McKenna asked, "How long until the babies come out of your tummy, Tawny?"
"About six months, Sweetie." Tawny cuddled Ashley. "Do want me to read Cinderella again, McKenna?"
When the doorbell rang, the happy go lucky five year old rushed to the window to see who was there. "Mommy! Mommy! It's the little girl I met at church on Sunday! The one who wore the fancy dress!" Maybe she's gonna ask to play with me!"
In the middle of dusting, Wendy froze. "Oh God. I totally forgot about the playdate." They had arranged it after services last Sunday and had confirmed again on Thursday.
"I have a playdate! Really!" McKenna boomed. "Yay!" She rushed to the door, throwing it open. "Hi, Cassie!"
"Hi, McKenna!"
The little girls hugged like long-lost friends.
"Sorry," Wendy mouthed to Tawny as she hurried to the door to greet Lissa. "Hi! We're so happy Cassie could come and play today." Great…I'm hear wearing ratty jeans covered in dust and she's dressed head to toe in designer wear with the perfect manicure and updo. I probably stink too since I've been baking all morning. She's wearing five hundred dollar French perfume and I'm coated in Crisco. Then again, my husband didn't cheat on me with a hottie like Tawny, so why am I jealous? Although, some days, in exchange for a full-time maid and a nanny, I really wouldn't mind if he slept elsewhere a few times a month. "Come on in…I know I always like to take a look around before leaving McKenna to play with a new friend." After an awkward clearing of the throat she said, "You um…already know Tawny."
"Hi, Lissa," Tawny waved from the couch. "Nick Responsible Stokes insisted I rest here while they're moving so I wouldn't be alone." Thank God I'm wearing yoga pants and a plain pink t-shirt with my hair lazily thrown up in a ponytail instead of looking sexy.
Good Lord, she looks even sexier in work out clothes. "Nice to see you again, Tawny," Lissa politely replied, while breathing through the awkward moment, knowing it would pass.
McKenna rushed her new friend over to the couch. "Isn't she pretty? I think she looks just like my Aerobic Barbie!" She held up her doll dressed in the almost the same outfit Tawny was wearing. "Only Tawny is prettier and has bigger bumps up top. I think she's the prettiest girl I've ever seen."
'Kill me now' were the first three words to pop into Tawny's mind.
"McKenna, it's not polite to discuss a lady's bumps." Wendy jittered a smile. "Would you like some iced tea, Lissa?"
Cassie looked at the girl on the couch and then at her mother. "I think my mommy is prettier."
In that moment Lissa pledged to buy her daughter a Ferrari on the day she received her driver's license.
To break the tension between wife and ex-mistress, Wendy resorted to self-deprecating humor. "If you think you feel awkward…I'm not even in the running for a beauty title!" She was relieved when both women laughed.
Feeling bad, McKenna hugged her mother's thigh. "You're the best Mommy I ever had."
Western World Apparel – Flagstaff
10:57 a.m.
"Thanks for taking me shopping, Daddy." Walking into the store Ellie laughed, "I'm gonna git me some red cowboy boots so the next time I step in a steaming pile of horseshit courtesy of Cowboy Ren, at least I'll be stylin'."
From behind, a twangy male voice said, "Step right up, Miss Ellie. I've got just what you need." Ren tipped his hat when she turned around. "This would be my payin' job."
"No way."
Jim laughed at the irritation flooding his daughter's face. "Nice to see you again, Ren. Ellie, she can't stop talking about you when she calls me."
"So not true," Ellie groaned while heading for the wall of boots. "And for that comment, Daddy…I want the most expensive boots ya got."
Nick and Carrie's New House
11:22 a.m.
"Hey, Sis..." Walking up the driveway, with his father and Nick at his sides, Paul Blake teased, "What would you do if the movers lost all your shoes when they were driving across town?"
"Don't even joke," she laughingly replied while hurrying to the door for the first official entrance. "Oh, no."
"What is it, Sweetheart?" Nick approached swinging the keys. "Please tell me you're not really worried about your shoes."
"No." She pointed to the door. "You aren't allowed to carry more than ten pounds for another couple of weeks, but you're supposed to carry me over the threshold the first time we enter our new home."
Paul laughed from the belly. "My feminist sister is worried about some archaic tradition rooted in the days of 'marriage by capture'? Where's the video camera?"
"Actually…" Ken couldn't wait to share his version, "In Victorian times, it was considered un-ladylike for the bride to rush into the home on the wedding night because she would appear too eager to give up her innocence. Therefore, the groom had to take charge, carrying her inside and to the bridal bed. Caroline, since you're already pregnant, I think it's a little late to play the jittery virgin, don't you?"
"No, you both got it wrong." Known for being superstitious from time to time, Nick said, "The tradition was born from the fear of the bride trippin' over the log that held the straw flooring, also known as thresh, in place at the doorway of the cottage. Hence the term threshold. The groom would carry the bride so she didn't fall, because if she fell it meant the marriage was doomed to fail."
Laughing at Nick, Paul said, "I had no idea my sister was marrying Cliff Claven." Then he bit his tongue not to crack a Hal Nedbaum joke.
"I'll kick your ass at Trivial Pursuit any time, Pal," Nick retorted.
Paul nodded, "And as soon as you're fully recovered, I'll kick yours on the basketball court, Little Nicky."
"Boys!" Carrie broke up the banter. "We still have a problem here."
"No, we don't," Paul replied. "Dad will grab your feet and I'll grab your pits. Once we have you, then, Nick, can slip his arms under your back, bearing only the ten pounds he's allowed to carry, and together, we'll carry you." Winking at Carrie he said, "Think that will be enough to ward off the demons, Sis?"
"Yep!" Carrie took the keys from Nick's hand and unlocked the door. "Okay." Holding out her arms she giggled, "Catch me!"
"Careful of the baby!" the worried father-to-be warned as Paul caught Carrie and Ken grabbed her feet.
"Chill out, Stokes," Paul teased.
Once father and son had her steady, Nick placed his hands under his beaming fiancée's back to fulfill his part. "Are you ready, my feminist, non-virginal shackmate?" he said, getting into the spirit.
"Yes, I can't wait to fulfill this ridiculous custom that I'm too irrationally afraid of to shirk!" she told the trio holding her.
Paul shook his head, "We better not trip, because if the marriage doesn't work out, you two weirdoes will never find anyone else to handle you."
"You're a keeper!" Nick and Carrie simultaneously exclaimed, immediately upping Paul's feigned irritation.
"You go first, Son," Ken instructed.
"Dad, I have her head, if I go first then she won't see the house as she's going in."
Ken laughed, "As if she'll be looking at the house instead of Nicky."
Worried about his future father-in-law, Nick asked, "Are you sure she's not too heavy for you, Ken?"
"Are you insinuating I'm too weak?" the sixty year old blasted. "I'm as healthy as an ox, boy!"
"Sorry, Sir," Nick groveled, "I didn't mean to imply…"
"Hey!" Carrie jokingly yelled, "We're wasting time here!"
Huntington Hospital
Pasadena, CA
11:46 a.m.
"How long has it been?" queried Becca as she paced the waiting area in front of Greg and Scott. "I can't imagine dealing with all this today without popping that Xanax this morning."
They had received news thirty minutes prior that Bev was out of danger, that her wounds, while deep, had been made horizontally and off to the side, avoiding the major artery and doing minimal damage to veins.
While the doctor classified the episode as a classic cry for help and attention during a time of intense personal duress, Greg classified it as 'Typical Self-Centered Bev Manipulation'.
"Greg Sanders?" a forty-something woman in a conservative beige suit greeted as she stepped into the waiting area.
"Yes." Greg stood and cleared his throat. "That's me."
"Nice to meet you," she extended her hand, "I'm Dr. Dolores Owens from Psych. Your mother has listed you as next of kin, citing that she was in the process of obtaining a divorce from your father."
"Oh." Greg looked to his father. "Right. I'm her only living relative now."
"We're admitting her to Psych for the minimum required stay and then we'll take it from there."
"Yeah, I'm familiar with how all that works," he replied, thinking of himself and his recent experience with Daniel.
"She's asking for you," the Doctor warmly informed the mentally exhausted man before her. "If you follow me I'll direct you to…"
"Actually." Greg reached into his pocket for the note he had written immediately following the ER doctor's visit earlier. "I don't want to see her, but I would like you to give her this letter." When he saw the doctor's reaction he felt compelled to explain. "My mother is a master manipulator, Dr. Owens. I knew the problem was bad, but I didn't understand how bad until very recently." It was still hard for him to believe, and even harder to say it out loud. "Put it this way, my therapist back home categorized my mother's love for me as unhealthy. I was reluctant to accept that, but after the week I've had, I couldn't agree more. Frankly, some of things she's done over the years border on diabolical. Slitting her wrists today was just one more attempt to control me and I truly believe I need to practice some tough love here."
"I understand," the doctor immediately confirmed. "I know very little about your mother at this point and I'm not going to judge you, Mr. Sanders."
"Thank you." With that off his chest Greg said, "I'm really grateful that she's here. She has great insurance and millions of dollars in the bank, I know she'll be able to pay for the best care available and I hope she wants it. If there any problems with her insurance or finances feel free to call me and I'll work it out, but I don't want to interact with her until she makes significant progress."
"Okay," the doctor nodded. "Take care…all of you."
In shock over her friend's decision, Becca prompted, "Are you sure, Hoj? Maybe it's the shock."
"I'm positive." Turning around Greg took a deep breath. "If she really wanted to die today, she would have gotten in her car and driven off a cliff or checked into a motel and slit her wrists there. This wasn't about dying…it was making me feel guilty and obligated, but her plan backfired." After inhaling deeply again, he pushed out the breath and a smile. "As crazy as this sounds…for the first time in seventeen years I don't feel guilt or obligation concerning my mother. I feel…you know how they say 'the truth will set you free'?" His smile expanded. "That's how I feel…free, so both of you can stop worrying about me and feeling sorry for me."
Standing next to Becca, Scott slipped his arm around her waist and in a tender voice asked, "Who is this guy teaching me a thing or two?"
Beaming with pride Greg said, "Mom ruined a lot of things, but we still have plenty of time, Dad, so let's not waste any playing 'poor us'. Let's just do what we need to do and get on with enjoying what we have left of our lives. Lots of guys have it way worse than us…lots of guys don't have anyone…we have each other, I have Tawny and the babies on the way…" His emotions caught up with him as the shock continued to wear off. "Dad, you're going to have grandchildren who will need to be taught about proper dental hygiene. There's something to live for right there."
"You remind me of someone," Scott announced as he wiped his eyes.
"It's the crowd I've been hanging out with," Greg admitted. "Some of that speech was actually inspired by none other than Becca's husband…he hates whiners. He chewed my ass out at a crime scene one day when I was griping."
"Uh oh." Becca smiled for the first time since the ordeal with Bev began. "I better work on that then, because I really want to keep him."
Smiling at his father Greg said, "My attitude though…all the credit there goes to Tawny. Watching her make lemonade out of the shittiest lemons time after time changed my whole outlook on life. She gets so little credit from people, but for a girl who dropped out of high school, she's taught me everything I really need to know." Tears spilling, Greg softly said, "My kids are gonna have the best mom."
"Maybe Tawny could help me with my whining problem," Becca commented while crying with her friend. "I'm really sorry I was such a bitch to her, Hoj."
Scott embraced the moment of levity, "I think Tawny would jump at the chance to kick your ass into gear. She'll tell you like it is, Sweetheart."
Meanwhile, in the ER, Bev Sanders stared at the shocking note the doctor had opened for her and left on the table. "It didn't work."
Mom –
I forgive you for everything.
That said –
You need a lot of help.
Get some and work hard to get better.
If you do - one day in the future, we'll talk again.
Do it for yourself, or because you hope to see your granddaughters one day, but don't do it for me, because I'm fine. I've never been better actually.
Here's why –
Last Saturday, I married a woman who knows the meaning of unconditional love.
On Sunday I learned my father never hated me.
Today I learned there was never really anything wrong with me.
Two minutes ago I achieved freedom from the stranglehold you've had on me my whole life.
We both know that I was your puppet - the strings have been fraying - today the last one broke.
Know this -
I'll be pulling for you to get well.
I'll be waiting for you when the doctor assures me you've truly turned over a new leaf.
I still love you.
Greg
It felt fitting to Bev to be in a hospital bed, the place where Greg's umbilical cord was cut decades ago. Reality sinking in, she whispered, "My baby doesn't need me anymore."
Author's Notes:
In between the Greggo stress, the other characters were on the move. I wanted to make sure you didn't forget about others like Ellie and good 'ol Ren.
I hope you enjoyed it. :)
Thanks to:
KJT for her 'Simonesque' candor on the first 2 versions of this chapter. Something like "If I'm being completely honest…" LOL I'm very grateful!
Gail for her information on Cat adoption and the Safe Haven link and cat photo!
Next Chapter: Tahoe…San Marino…Vegas – it's a busy weekend. Posting: Late Saturday 4/8.
Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts,
Maggs