Chapter 35: Headaches, Heartaches And Hatred
The next morning Amy phoned in sick for both her and David. There were many questions asked, and she answered them as honestly as she could. But she knew they didn't believe her story. She then phoned Maxine.
"Hi ma."
"Amy, where are you? And where's Lauren?"
"We're at David's. He drank alot of alcohol last night and Victor got scared."
"Oh my god, is he ok?"
"Yes, everything is fine. I just thought I should let you know. I'm sorry I didn't leave a note, we were in a rush when we left."
"That's ok, at least you phoned me this morning. Do you need any help at all?"
"Not right now, but could you pick up the kids from school tonight and take them home. I may be back by then but I don't want to make assumptions yet. And maybe it would be better for Victor to stay the night there."
"Ok, I hope to see you later... but phone if you can't make it home tonight."
"I will try... speak to you later."
"Bye."
"Bye."
She rushed the kids to school, before returning to wait for David to wake up. She didn't have long to wait as he soon got up. "Ow, my head... Amy why are you here?" She had been sitting on the other side of the bed reading a book.
"Finally you're awake. I'll go get you something for your head."
"Ok..." David jumped up suddenly, and ran to the bathroom. Just making it to the toilet before he threw up. Amy heard him rinse out his mouth before stumbling back into the room and crawling under the covers.
"Feel better?"
"Sort of."
"Right, well if you're going to throw up there is no point in having something for your head."
"I don't think I am going to throw up again."
"We'll test you with some food first."
She soon returned with some dry toast and some water as well as something for his head.
"Eat this first and sip the water, don't take big gulps." He managed to keep it down without throwing up and so took the tablets. Amy took the tray from him as he lay back on the bed. While he had been eating Amy had gone and gotten a wet towel again, and as he lay there she held it to his head.
"That's better."
"Shhh, go back to sleep now." She didn't need to ask any more than that, as his eyes were already drooping, and he was soon fast asleep. She stayed by his side, running her fingers through his hair slowly. She grew tired after a while and lay where she was sitting. Closing her eyes she sighed. She had stayed up all night caring for David and making sure that the kids were sleeping peacefully. Finally she had a chance to get some rest for herself.
Amy woke up to the sound of ringing. She groaned and tried to get up, but found it hard to move, she realised David had wrapped his arms around her while she had been asleep. He was completely out of it and in her effort to get to the phone she fell off the bed.
"McClaren's residence."
"Hi, um, is David there?"
"Yes, but he's asleep right now. Can I take a message?"
"Um no, I'll just call back later."
"Can I say who is calling?"
"His mother-in-law."
"Ok, thank you. I will tell him you called."
"Goodbye."
"Bye." Amy walked back in to Davids room. He was laying right on the edge of the bed, about to fall off. She smiled, he looked just like a baby... a big baby. She tried to push him over on to the bed, but all he did was move over slightly. When she pushed him harder to fell onto him and he instinctly wrapped his arms around her, whilst rolling all the way over. Too tired to bother trying to get away, she settled down to sleep again, knowing that he would be loving this if he was conscious.
Four hours later, David woke up and found Amy in his arms. His head had stopped pounding, but he still felt slightly woozy. He tried to roll away from Amy, but she rolled with him. He smiled as he brushed her hair away from her face. He managed to slip his arm out from under her and he got up and watched her curl into a tight ball. He threw a blanket over her before going to make some coffee. He started to make some food when the phone rang, he quickly answered it, not wanting to wake Amy.
Amy uncurled on the bed and stretched. She sat up and closed her eyes as she took in the smell of a delicious meal being prepared. She slowly got off the bed and made her way to the kitchen.
"Ah, so sleeping beauty awakes." Amy smiled as she went over to the counter to get some coffee. "Hey, don't worry about that," he held her by the hips, moving her round. "I'll make you some coffee."
"No, no, I can do it!" She moved around, noticing his hands still on her hips. "I don't need you to make it."
"No, you looked after me last night, now I will look after you this afternoon."
She tried to move him out of the way, but he was too strong. He started to tickle her to get her to move away. She squeeled and fell into his arms. He stopped tickling her as she stood back up, they held constant eye contact as he lowered his head to hers. His lips touched hers, in short, sweet kisses. When she didn't pull back, the kisses became deeper, slower and longer. As they became more passionate, Amy's knees buckled beneath her and David picked her up in his arms so that he was fully supporting her. He swung her round, placing her in the counter. His hands began to roam her body, as she caressed his chest.
"I... David..."
"What?" His lips had moved down to her neck, his tongue caressed her neck, as he waited for her to reply.
"We... I..."
"Yes?" He pulled his head back and looked at her.
"We need to talk, I... if you had done something this stupid I wouldn't even be here."
"I am so sorry for what I did, but I need you." Amy looked away, but David turned her to face him again, "I need you."
She closed her eyes trying to block everything out, but her heart spoke for her before she could stop it. "I love you so much, I can't take it any more. I missed you. I missed having you with me in my bed, I missed having you to talk to and I missed being able to kiss you. I really want you... I really..." David leant forward and stopped her speaking. "I..."
"Stop speaking." They seemed to merge, not needing to breathe any more, holding each other close. Davids hands had settled on her hips as he concentrated on her mouth. Amy was stroking the hair on the back of his head with one hand as the other was holding on to his belt.
There was a knock at the door, and at first they ignored it but the person on the other side was persistant.
"I'll go get it." Amy jumped off the counter and started towards the door.
"No, we'll pretend we aren't here." He kissed her neck from behind.
"David, don't be stupid." The knocking got louder, as he held her. "David, come on." He walked with her to the door, they opened the door, but quickly slammed it shut again.
Standing on the lawn were several reporters and alot of pictures being taken. "The Danny Hawkins case must have been settled."
"What's your point?"
"They obviously found out I dropped it!"
"Ok,"
"And you are here, and you were the one who presided over the case."
"Only for a short while."
"They don't care about that. They will care about the fact that you're here with me, and you're the judge from a part of the trial, and I was the prosecuter from the case. They will think one of us corrupted the other."
"No they won't."
"Amy they will. One advantage of you being a judge though is that if we phone the police they will come quicker." Amy pulled a face before speaking.
"I'm going to have a shower. You phone them."
When Amy next walked into the family room there were three cops standing there.
"Judge Gray, we need to make a statement to the press."
"What for?"
"They are here because you two are together."
"That doesn't make any sense. We made up today, but... we were together before that."
"Then you were lucky before."
"Why though? I've dated other people..."
"It's not because of you Judge Gray. It's because of..." He looked at David. "Because you murdered your wife."
"He didn't murder his wife." Amy said through clenched teeth.
"In their eyes he did. Now they know he has a new girl, they want to... see if he's gonna do anything to hurt you."
"That's sick." David walked up behind Amy, slipping his arms around her waist. "You don't have to say anything, they will deal with it."
"But why are they... I don't understand."
"Honey, I told you that you were the first person I've gone out with."
"But..."
"Judge Gray is your response no comment?"
"What? Yeah." Amy walked away from David into the kitchen. David hid behind the door as he opened it for the cops to leave.
"Thank you, bye." He closed the door and went after Amy. He found her with her face in her hands. "Honey, are you ok?"
"Yeah," she looked up at him. "Just overwhelmed." David pulled her into a hug.
"Don't worry about it. One thing I am confused about... where is your protection?"
"What?"
"The cop meant to be protecting you."
"He's not meant to blow his cover, so he wouldn't get involved in this kind of thing."
"Oh, that's dumb."
"Yeah." She looked up at him. "I'm glad we're back together though."
"Me too."
"You were kind of funny yesterday!"
"I was?"
"Yeah, you would be so embarassed if you knew what you did."
"Well I don't ever want to drink that much again."
"I won't let you."
"So what did I do?"
"Do you remember opening the door?"
"No, I don't actually remember much apart from you being there."
"Ok, well after I sent Lauren to Victors room..."
"You had them in the same room?"
"Only while I was dealing with you. Anyway, you asked me if the reason I was here was because I wanted a bit of action. Then when I took you to your room, you tried to pull me on the bed. And then when I came back from getting you some water you were sitting in your boxers, saying you were ready for me."
David looked away, as if deep in thought. "So how did you end up in bed with me?"
"Well, I stayed up all night with you. Then after calling in sick at work, and calling my mom, and taking the kids to school, I was knackered. So after you woke up and threw up etc, I fell asleep after making sure you were ok and settled. You were completely out of it, because the phone rang, waking me up and your arms were wrapped round me but you didn't wake up, and I fell off the bed trying to get up."
"But I woke up with you in my arms."
"Yes well... thats because after I came back from the phone, you looked like you were falling off the bed. I tried to push you back on the bed, but you just moved a little bit. So I pushed you harder, and then I fell on you. You wrapped your arms around me and rolled over with me. I was too tired to try and get away again. So I just... fell asleep."
"Yeah, yeah. You were just too tired."
"Hey, don't make fun of me."
"I'm not." He kissed her gently on the lips. "I'm just glad that my drunken self got you back."
"Hahaha," she looked up at him and smiled as she reached up, pulling his head down. "Me too. Now we have both been jerks."
"Hey,"
"Nice jerks." He lifted her up into a bear hug and she screamed playfully. She struggled to get away, when they heard the door being banged on, it burst open and they froze.
"Judge Gray, are you ok?" David released his grip on Amy as she walked out into the family room. Several flashes blinded her as the reporters leered into the house through the open door, with the police pointing guns at her.
"Oh for gods sake." She went back into the kitchen. "You don't want to go in there."
"Why? What was that noise."
"The cops crashing through the door. With the reporters closly following them."
"What?"
"Yeah, as I said, you don't want to go through there." She picked up the phone.
"Who are you phoning?"
"My protection...duh." She laughed as David put on a sulky face.
"Sorry for asking!"
"He will get rid of them, and protect us from the others."
They were sitting on the couch watching tv.
"How are you getting home?"
"I told my mom that I didn't know if I was going to be home tonight. So I think I should wait them out... what do you think?"
"Sounds like a plan." David grinned.
"Uhuh, you like that idea do you?" Amy sat up and kissed him on the cheek.
"Yeah, more alone time." She straddled him and they looked into each others eyes, faces almost touching. David reached up and tucked her hair behind her ear. She kissed him again. He held her head gently as they kissed until it became more passionate, his hands wondered down her body, resting on her hips. He played with the edge of her shirt before his hands slipped under it. He ran his fingers around the edge of her bra, and Amy became very aroused. She slowly began to grind her hips against his, soft moans escaping her lips. David pulled his head back, "are you ready? For this I mean. You aren't going to stop me..." Amy nodded slightly before inserting her tongue in his mouth. He slowly stood up holding her to him, they stopped kissing and looked longingly into each others eyes. He made his way to his bedroom, and as he lowered Amy, she smiled.
Sometimes late at night,
I lie awake and I watch her sleeping,
She's lost in peaceful dreams,
So I turn out the light.
I lay there in the dark,
And the thought crosses my mind,
If I never wake in the morning,
Would she ever doubt,
The way I feel about her in my heart...
If tomorrow never comes,
Will she know how much I loved her?
Did I try in every way?
To show her everyday...
She's my only one.
And if my time on earth were through,
She must face this world without me.
Is the Love I gave her in the past...
Gonna be enough to last?
If tomorrow never comes!
'Cos I've lost loved ones in my life,
Who never knew how much I loved them.
Now I live with no regret,
The natural feelings for them
Never will reveal
So I made a promise to myself
Say each day how much she means to me
And avoid that circumstance
Where there's no second chance
Tell her how I feel
If tomorrow never comes
Will she know how much I loved her
Did I try in every way
To show her everyday
She's my only one!
If my time on earth were through
She must face this world without me
Is the Love I gave her in the past
Gonna be enough to last?
If tomorrow never comes
So tell that someone that you Love,
Just what you're thinkin of...
If tomorrow never comes...
David woke up and looked over at Amy. She looked so peaceful, so happy and content. More than she had been in a long while, ever since he'd known her. The moonlight shining through the window made him think about all the things in his life that had changed. He rolled onto his back, the old was slowly been replaced by the new. Maybe replaced is the wrong word... more moved to the side, not forgotten but stored as a loving memory.
"I miss you Kelly." He sighed, "I miss you more than life itself, and I hope you forgive me, but I want to move on. I need to move on."
He rolled back to Amy and wrapped his arms around her. Knowing what he had to do. Not just for Amy but for himself. Amy stirred slightly and he squeezed her and kissed her shoulder. "I love you Amy Madison Gray." She made no reply, so he closed his eyes and drifted off into a deep sleep.
David was first to wake again. He looked at Amy who had curled into a tight ball. Wishing he could sleep like she could, forget the past troubles and be in a peaceful place. He wrote a note and put it on the nightstand. Then he got in his car, stopping at a gas station to buy a couple of things before he continued to drive until all he could see was trees and fields, finally stopping by a field surrounded by trees.
He got out of the car, and sat in the middle of the field. He had with him a single pink rose. He closed his eyes and thought of Kelly. How their life had been, the way she laughed, how she looked on their wedding day, how proud of Victor she had been when he took his first steps. Tears rolled down his cheeks in a steady flow. He felt a breeze picking up, making the trees sway, branches hitting each other like waves in the ocean. He opened his eyes as he spoke;
"Kelly, my dear wife. I loved you with all my heart and thought that I would spend all my life with you. But, you were taken, and so my dreams were shattered. I miss you and will always miss you, but I need to move on, for both mine and Victor's sake. When the anger left, all I felt was pain, and when that seemed to leave I was left with sadness. With a hole, nobody could fill... until now. Amy... she lights up what was made dark when you left. Please forgive me, as I let you go."
He felt the wind around him getting stonger as he peeled off one petal and released it watching it fly off in the wind. He carried on peeling off the petals releasing the last few together. His sobs were shaking him, "I love you Kelly, I loved you. Now it is time to say goodbye... you will always be in my heart and in my mind." He stood up, "goodbye." He wiped his tears and made his way back to the car. "Goodbye."
As he reached the car the wind died down, as if it had never been there and there was silence in the trees again. A single petal had found its way to the car, and lay there on the hood. David didn't notice it and as he drove away the petal floated sadly to the ground.
Amy rolled over expecting to see David, but he wasn't there. She noticed the note and picked it up;
I had to say goodbye to someone,
Be back soon
I love you
D xxx
She smiled as she placed the note back on the nightstand. She decided to have a shower, but as she stood up she swayed. And decided on coffee first.
On her third cup of coffee she got up to go get a shower. But fell to the floor. Her vision went fuzzy, then flashbacks of Stu came fast and strong. She moaned as she held her head in her hands. She curled up into a tight ball, trying to protect herself from the visions. She rolled over in her effort to get away from them. "No, no, no. Stop it. Why is this happening to me? Why? Why?" They finally stopped and she stood up shaking. "What the hell was that?" She got in the shower and leant against the wall. The water was so hot it was scalding her, but she didn't notice. When she finally stopped shaking she got out of the shower. Wrapping a towel around herself she walked through into the bedroom. She felt exhausted, and as she sat on the bed tears sprang to her eyes. She lay back on the bed closing her eyes, she felt herself slipping away into a slumber.
David entered the house feeling lighter, he noticed the amount of coffee that had been drunk and went in search of Amy. "Amy, honey. Where are you?" He saw her on the bed, wrapped in a towel. He walked upto her. "Amy?" She didn't move, he touched her leg. "Amy, honey. Amy?" He shook her and she stirred slightly. "Amy, wake up honey." She moaned as her eyelids flickered. He sat next to her, and she slowly opened her eyes.
"Wh..." Her eyes closed again.
"Amy. Are you ok?" He asked concerned, he felt her forehead, but she didn't have a fever. She was a little pale and she looked exhausted.
Her eyes opened again. "I'm fine, just a little tired."
"I'm amazed you're not bouncing off the walls, the amount of coffee you drank. I don't understand."
"I just need to sleep."
"Are you sure you're ok?"
"Yes. I'm fine, just let me sleep."
"Ok honey." Amy moved round on the bed and David covered her with a blanket. "I'll be back to check on you later." She fell asleep straight away and David looked at her concerned. But left her to sleep.
A few hours later he went back to the bedroom and she hadn't moved. He sat next to her and gently caressed her cheek. She stirred and went to sit up. "How long have I been asleep?"
"A couple of hours now."
"It doesn't feel like it!"
"I don't think you're ok. I mean you have slept most of the day."
"I know, I just I don't think there is anything wrong. I just haven't been sleeping much lately. Not being able to relax and stuff so I guess it's catching up with me. You can't burn the candle at both ends forever!"
"If you're sure."
"I am."
"It's just confusing that you can fall asleep as soon as you close your eyes, when you had the amount of coffee that you did."
"I was obviously extremely tired. Don't forget I had like 2 weeks with no sleep."
"I will never forget, I hardly slept." Amy moved towards David. "I do worry about you Amy."
"I know you do, and I love you for it." She kissed him and then sat back. "God I hate feeling tired." David didn't say anything. "Who did you go say goodbye to?"
"Huh?"
"Who did you go and say goodbye to?"
"Oh, um... Kelly."
"Oh," She looked away.
"I didn't want to carry on... without saying goodbye. I had her favourite flower; a pink rose." He looked at Amy. "Now I am fully ready to move on." Still she didn't look at him. He lifted her chin. "Hey, don't be sad. I will always love Kelly but she is gone. I love you Amy and now we are together." He gently kissed her. "You sure you're ok?"
"Yeah, I'm fine... I should go home to Lauren."
"You sure you want to go home?" He ran a finger down her arm.
She smiled, "I have to. I have to go." He pulled her into a passionate embrace. "I have to go..."
"I'm sorry. After getting you back, I don't want to lose you so soon."
"I know... but I am exhausted."
"I thought you said you were ok."
"I am, but I am still tired. And what about Victor? He will be wanting to come home."
"I actually think that he would prefer to stay with you."
"What?"
"It would be his way of making sure we are together."
"Hmm, I'll be back in a minute." Amy got up out of Davids lap.
"I'll be taking a shower if you need me."
"Thanks." Amy walked into the living room still dressed only in a towel, and picked up her purse. Taking her cell phone out she saw she had two messages;
'Hey mom, me and Victor are having a cool time here, if you don't want to come home tonight, cause you're making up with D. We'll see you like whenever.' She smiled. Lauren was really growing up.
'Hello Amy, I take it you and David have made up. Hope everything is ok. The kids and I are fine. Don't worry about calling home. We'll see you when we see you.' Amy almost laughed through this message. Tact is something her mother seemed not to have.
She turned her cell off and placed in back in her purse. She went into the kitchen to make some more coffee, and as she was pouring herself a cup, two hands slipped round her waist.
"Hey, any more coffee and I think you will have to get some professional help."
"That's not funny, I need something to keep me awake."
"That's a bit insulting." Amy turned in his arms.
"You know I didn't mean that." She brought his lips to hers and whispered onto them, "You could keep anybody awake for eternity." Their lips joined and Amy wrapped her arms around his neck. David played with the edge of the towel before slipping his hand inside it. They sensed flashing lights and pulled apart slightly. Looking in through the windows were several reporters. David turned his back on them to protect Amy from any more shots. He stepped sideways until he could get her out of the kitchen. They got into the bedroom, but there were reporters at those windows too. He took her into the bathroom and sighed in relief.
"What the hell is their problem?"
"You may have just made it worse though."
"What?"
"Bringing me here into the bathroom." David seemed to take a minute before realising what she was saying. "Ok, I'm going to get you your clothes, wait here." He ignored the flashes as he walked out of the bathroom. Grabbing her clothes he went back in. "I've got a plan, it might not work, but it's worth a try." Amy nodded and started to get dressed. "We are going to drive. Till I can lose them. Depending when and if we lose them, depends on where we stay tonight."
"Right, lets go."
They ran out of the house, and jumped into David's car. They sped off with the reporters still trying to get in their cars. David went through several side streets and double backed several times.
"Should I be worried that you know how to do this?"
"No, you should be happy I do." He managed to get to the Gray's without any sign of the reporters. Amy kissed him before high fiving him.
"Nice one." She laughed as they quickly walked upto the house. She knocked on the door and Maxine answered it.
"Amy we weren't expecting you back here..."
"Well there was an intervention."
"What?" Maxine stepped back to let them in.
"Reporters... they think David is going to..." Maxine nodded in understanding.
"You don't need to explain... how did you lose them?"
"David knows how to drive really fast." She laughed at David, who suddenly looked embarressed.
"Yes, well I don't need to hear that kind of thing about the people my daughter is dating." Maxine walked away as Amy pulled David to her.
"I love you, and I hate anybody who tries to stop that." There was some noise upstairs and as they looked up they saw Lauren and Victor running towards them.
"Mom! You're home." Both of them wrapped their arms around Amy, pushing David out the way.
"Hey you two, feeling a bit left out here." David stood pretending to look angry. They turned to him and hugged him too.
"Well, this is nice. Maybe we should go away more often." David smiled at Amy.
"Why are you here any way Dad, we left a message on Mom's phone saying we were cool with you staying out."
"Um some reporters were making life hard." Amy quickly said. "Now, who wants to have some ice-cream?" Both Lauren and Victor ran into the kitchen screaming. Amy and David followed at a much slower pace, holding hands.
"I wish those reporters hadn't been there."
"Hmm."
"Cuz you looked very sexy in my towel." Amy smiled at him.
"Good things are worth the wait." David went to reply but they entered the kitchen.
"Dad, we have this thing all worked out. We think that you two should go on holiday, just the two of you."
"Why do you think that huh?"
"Well, you'd be away from reporters. It's what celebs do." Amy smiled at Lauren, trust her to find the need to mention celebrities.
"Well we can't really take the time off work Victor."
"Can't you just call in sick?"
"Done that already. Besides they won't believe us."
"Why?"
"Because if both me and Amy call in sick on the same day they will know that we aren't sick."
"How? Are they psychic?"
"Yes."
"Whatever."
"Don't whatever me Victor. Now do you want ice-cream or not?"
"Sorry dad, and yes please."
"Well get the tub out of the freezer."
David and Amy sat at the kitchen table and watched both of the kids scooping out the ice-cream into some bowls.
"Can we go eat it in the den?" Victor asked.
"No," David quickly responded.
Lauren looked at Amy. "David, if they're careful they can. I let Lauren eat in there." David nodded at Victor as he and Lauren disappeared.
"Sorry, I should have let you answer."
"It's ok, you have your rules and I have my rules." She smiled as he looked at her, and thats how they sat for several minutes.
"Do you want some ice-cream?"
"No, I don't feel like anything, thanks. You can have some though."
"Do you want to go to bed?"
"What?"
"Are you still tired?"
"No. I'm fine I just don't want any ice-cream." Amy lied.
"If you're sure."
"I am, stop worrying." She stood up and walked to the back door. "I'm going out for some air." David watched her leave, not really in the mood for ice-cream anymore.
He got up and went to the den. He could hear whispering and walked in. The screen was quickly turned off, and Victor stood in front of it.
"Dad. What are you doing in here?"
"And what do you think you are doing?"
"Nothing, we were, we were doing homework."
"On a sunday?"
"Yeah, what's your point?"
"Let me see the screen." He stepped towards the computer.
"Why?"
"Let me see it now!"
"I... it's... mom never makes me show her."
"Lauren if you don't show me the screen now..."
"You'll what?"
"You'll be grounded."
"Yeah right. You can't do that."
"I can and I will."
"No you can't... where's mom?"
"Getting some air."
"That's not fair, it's not even that important."
"Well than you won't mind me seeing it."
"I didn't mean that." David stepped upto the screen and reached to turn it on. Lauren kicked out the power cable.
"Right, both of you. You're grounded."
"What? No, you can't do that, mom won't let you."
"L, shut it. Do you want to have your allowance taken as well?" Lauren turned pink and looked away.
"Well, I think one week is long enough. Don't you?" Both Lauren and Victor nodded. "Oh and no computer, unless you are supervised and it has to be homework, no chatting or messing about." Lauren went to say something but stopped when she saw Victor's face. "Right, now into the family room. You aren't banned from tv yet, although that's only because I don't want to have to deal with you two moping about with nothing to do. Move it!"
David sighed, he could have handled the situation slightly better. But he was preoccupied with the way Amy was acting. There was something wrong and she wasn't telling him anything. He decided she had had long enough to cool off and headed towards the kitchen and out into the yard. She was sitting on the swing, and slowly pushing off the ground with her foot.
"Amy, do you want to be alone?"
She looked up, "no, you can sit with me if you want."
He walked over to the swing and sat down. Amy moved round so that she was leaning against him.
"Are you feeling any better?"
"A little bit." David stroked her hair away from her face, playing with her curls. "I'm still feeling tired though."
"You should get some more sleep, you need to keep your strength up."
"I do huh?" She turned slightly so she could face him. "Why would that be?" She leant forward so that her face was right next to his. David smiled and went to kiss her, but she placed a finger on his chin. "Not until you answer me."
"I love you and want you in every way." Amy grinned and kissed his nose.
"Thats sweet." She still had her finger on his chin. "Very sweet." She kissed both of his cheeks, then down the side of his neck. Moving back up to his ear where she lightly bit it. David wrapped his arms around her pulling her round into his lap so that she was no longer in control. He kissed her full on the lips, slipping his tongue in. Amy kissed back, enjoying the moment. They kissed for a long while, before finally moving apart.
"I have something to confess."
"What?"
"I grounded the kids and banned both of them from the computer. Unless it is homework, and even then they have to be supervised."
"Ok, what did they do?"
"They were in the den whispering, and when I went in they turned off the screen. They refused to let me see it, then when I managed to get to the screen Lauren kicked out the power cable."
"Wow, wonder what was worth hiding that much."
"So you aren't mad at me for grounding Lauren?"
"No, you couldn't ground Victor without grounding Lauren. Besides she is the one who kicked out the power cable."
"She's going to hate me again now."
"She'll get over it."
"I don't want her to have to get over it. I want her to like me... like..."
"Like Victor likes me?"
"Well yeah. It's not fair that he gets to call you mom and let you comfort him even if I'm there."
"Girls are harder." David looked away. "Awww, come on. She does like you."
"Not after I grounded her. She kept saying that I couldn't do it.I'm just glad that she didn't say I couldn't do it because I wasn't her father."
"That would have hurt you, and she knows that. Did you not think that that was why she didn't say it. Because she didn't want to hurt you?"
"I didn't think of that." Amy stood up, "Where are you going?"
"I'm going to have a shower and then go to bed, we have work in the morning." David pulled a face. "You have to go."
"I know, I just don't want to!" David got up. "It means I have to spend time away from you."
"Well, you can always come work in my chambers again."
"Don't you have to be in court?" He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close.
"Yeah, but I don't spend all day in court, we would be together while I do paperwork. And then of course there is lunch... we can have that together."
"Stop trying to make work appealing. The only thing I want to think of thats appealing is spending time with you in my arms."
"I could be in your arms in my chambers."
His right hand had strayed and was under her shirt, playing with the back of her bra. As he spoke he caressed her neck with his tongue and lips. "But I wouldn't be able to..." He stopped as the back door opened.
"Mom, it's not fair... oh... you're here." Lauren turned back into house letting the door slam behind her.
"See she hates me."
"She acts that way with me after I punish her aswell. It's nothing personal." She caressed his cheek, trying to comfort him. "Besides, it's me you should be worrying about."
"You told me not to worry about you."
"No, I mean worry about keeping me in a good mood." A hint of a grin appeared on his lips. "Now where were we before we got so rudely interrupted?" David lowered his head to her neck again. "Ah, that's right."
Maxine was surprised to find Lauren and Victor in the family room watching the news.
"Is there something I'm missing?"
"No." Lauren said bluntly.
"Why are you watching the news?"
"There's nothing else on."
"Isn't this high chat time?"
"Yes."
"Then why are you in here, watching something you don't want to watch and not in the den chatting on the computer?"
"We're grounded."
"Ok, so whats that got to do with the computer."
"Banned, unless we are supervised and it is homework."
"That's a harsh punishment."
"Don't tell us that. We know, the only reason we're allowed to watch tv, is because then we are out of the way."
"Do you want me to speak to Amy for you?"
"It wasn't mom."
"Who was it."
"Mr McClaren."
"Oh I see. Well this is mine and your moms house. So we make the rules."
"Well I'm sure mom is going to support his decision. I went to tell her, and he was with her. He has an advantage over us."
"What's that?" Lauren gave her, it's so obvious look. "Where are they?"
"Out in the yard... talking."
"Oh I see, ok well I'm going to be in the kitchen if you need me. Tell me if anything interesting comes on the news... ok?"
"Like what?"
"Something that could affect us, you know a really bad storm coming, local robberies. Something like that."
"Ok."
Maxine walked into the kitchen and started a pot of coffee.
Lauren and Victor were talking and not paying that much attention to the news till they heard a name that was extremely familiar.
"Grandma, do family members count?" Maxine walked into the family room.
"Do family members count for what?"
"Being on the news."
"What?" She looked at the screen and waited for the story to start.
"And in Hartford a Judge is dating a suspected murderer, a lawyer and family man; David McClaren. Two years ago Kelly McClaren was brutally murdered in her home, and the main suspect was her husband. Who had been working late but had no alibi. He was cleared with DNA evidence, but the murderer is still on the loose and McClaren is still the main suspect. Today he has moved on with a Judge Gray, who looks extremely scared of him."
Still pictures of David holding Amy in the air, one with Amy in a towel with a shocked look on her face, David dragging her out of the kitchen, taking her in the bathroom, dragging her out of the house and into her car, and one with the car screeching off.
Film rolling as the news reporter carried on speaking;
"Screams were heard coming from the McClaren residence and police broke in the front door, to see McClaren restraining the Judge. She insisted she was not hurt and that everything was fine. The police were than kindly asked to leave by the Judge's private detective. If there is nothing wrong, why would she have her own detective? What is going wrong with our judicional system today, Judge's dating murderers... what next?"
Maxine had gone pale, and was clencing her fists together. She looked at Lauren and Victor and saw they were both frozen. Victor was the first to move.
"My dad, he didn't. He told me he didn't. He didn't. He..."
"Victor it's ok. It's just some stupid story that they needed to fill a gap in their time slot. Don't believe everything that you read or see."
"But, they said, they said, and he said and I he..."
"Victor, trust me. If he had done it he wouldn't have been cleared. Family members are always the main suspects."
Lauren finally spoke up. "I can't believe mom is dating a..."
"Lauren, you say what you are about to say and I will ban you from the tv aswell. And don't forget your allowance can be stopped just as easily."
"WHY IS EVERYONE PICKING ON ME?" She stormed up to her room. Making sure that the door slammed as loudly as it could.
"Victor don't worry. I'm sure your dad had nothing to do with your mom's death."
"But you don't know for sure."
"Nobody apart from your dad knows that, and of course the killer."
"Could the killer come back then?"
"Um..." Not sure how to answer the question without lying or making him scared.
"Cause I don't want both my mom's to get hurt."
She normally hated the way that Amy built up Laurens hopes and dreams by lying to her and making promises that she couldn't possibly know that she could keep. But on this occasion she thought that it was a just cause. "I'm sure he will be caught soon, and then we will all be safe. He won't get to Amy, so don't worry about that."
"Promise?"
"Promise." Victor gave her hug before announcing that he was going to bed.
"Come on... we should... we... we... we... should..." Amy tried to get her mind to focus so she could speak, but David was making her weak at the knees with what he was doing. "We should... D...david..." He stopped.
"Yes?"
"We should... go back inside, if we carry on for... for much longer I will not be able to control my actions, and that would be dangerous."
"Why would that be dangerous?"
"There may be reporters around."
"I don't care." Amy laughed as she pushed him away.
"No, don't. We should go inside, David stop it." Amy twisted out of his reach. "No, stop it." She ran round to the side of the house hiding behind a bush. David chased after her and grabbed her when he got to her.
"You can't hide very well."
"I wasn't trying very hard." Amy was still laughing. David lifted her into his arms and kissed her to stop her laughing.
Somebody cleared their throat and they stopped what they were doing and looked around them.
"Would either of you like to comment the relationship between Judges and law breakers?" David lowered Amy to the ground.
"Get off my property now."
"Judge Gray, you've made quite a name for yourself. Come now, give me a few comments."
"Get away from me and my family."
"David McClaren what about you?" David stepped in front of Amy and towards the reporter.
"You heard the lady... get away from here."
"Or what? You're gonna kill me?"
"Get away now... and I did not kill my wife."
"David, come on lets go." Amy grabbed his hand and dragged him round to the back door. The reporter didn't follow them and they sighed as they walked in the door. "Why can't they just leave us alone?"
"They will do, it will just take a while... they did a similar thing when they found out I had a son. Don't worry, they will get bored after a while because there is no story."
"I don't want them to get bored, I just want them to leave you alone, to leave us alone."
Maxine walked into the kitchen, "Amy, have you seen the news?"
"Ma when exactly would I have watched the news?"
"Well you two were on it." She smiled at Amy. "You know you really shouldn't walk around the house kissing guys when all you're wearing is a towel Amy... especially when you have an audience."
"That's not funny ma."
"Really?" She chuckled.
"I'm serious."
"Yes you are!"
Amy buried her face in David's chest. "This is just not happening. Nobody is going to take me seriously in court. I worked so hard for their respect, and I already lost it once."
"Hey, hey. Don't be like that, everything will be fine. Just tell me who is nasty to you and I'll go beat them up for you." Amy looked up at him and smiled. "That's better."
"Thank you, that's sweet."
"You two... there were two kids watching the news in the other room. They saw it too. They saw everything. They heard everything that was said."
"What was said ma?"
"It took forever to get them to come back down and wait for you."
"What was said ma?"
"They were calling David a... murderer." David turned pale and ran out of the kitchen into the living room. "Amy... you really do pick them."
"Ma, don't. I don't need you giving me a stupid lecture. About something I already know, and have been told before."
"Amy, I just don't want you getting hurt."
"Then support me ma, don't put me down all the time. I'm sorry I don't live up to your standards sometimes, but you don't understand everything that I have been through."
She left in search of David. He was sitting on his own with his head in his hands on the couch. "Where are the kids?"
"They ran away."
"They what?" She sat next to him.
"They ran away... from me." He looked up at her. She pulled him into her arms as he was overwhelmed with sobs.
"It's ok honey. Shhh, I will go speak to them. Calm down."
"My own son is scared of me... I did nothing wrong, I did nothing wrong."
"Shhh, he just doesn't understand. He just doesn't know what to believe. Come now, you get ready for bed and I'll go speak to them." She stood up bringing David to his feet. Taking his hand she walked up the stairs. "I'll make it all better. Come now, come and I will look after you tonight." David was slowly calming down and he looked at Amy as she stood by Victors door. "Go, I will be back in a minute." David watched as she knocked and entered. His heart ached as he thought of the fear that had crossed Victor and Laurens faces as he had entered the family room. The way they had clung to each other as they slowly backed out of the room. The speed at which they had run up the stairs. He did as he was told and went and got ready for bed. Hoping that Amy would be able to sort everything out.
Victor was holding a baseball bat in front of him, standing in front of Lauren who was in the far corner of the room, crouching down. When Victor saw it was Amy he ran over to her dropping the bat. Amy wrapped her arms around him and waited for Lauren to come over so she could hug them both.
"Now what was up with the bat?"
"To protect us."
"What from?"
"A murderer."
"No murderer is in the house, the alarm will go off if they try and get in."
"They are already here. Waiting. Killed my mom."
"Well your dad will deal with them."
"I have no dad."
"Victor don't be stupid. Your dad didn't kill your mom. Some bad person did."
"You don't know that, you weren't there."
"And neither were you Victor. You can't just say something like that if you haven't seen it for yourself or you don't have all the evidence."
"But they said on tv, on the news. It has to be true." Lauren jumped in.
"No it doesn't. A similar thing happened when they found out that you were around Victor. They thought it was a big story, a suspected murderer having a son living with him."
"But, he didn't hurt me."
"And he's not going to hurt me. If I believed he was going to hurt you, Lauren or me. Do you think I would be with him?"
"No."
"Well then."
"But..."
"No buts, now get ready for bed and I will come tuck you in."
Amy left Victors room and headed for her own. She found David sitting on the edge of her bed.
"Honey, they were a bit confused. But I think I sorted it all out." He looked up at her.
"Really? They don't think I did it anymore."
"I don't think they do... I'd leave it till morning though before you speak to either of them." She sat next to him.
"All of this is why I moved away from Greenwich. I didn't want to have Victor living with all this."
"Honey, it will go away. Don't worry about all this. We will all be able to get on with our lives, but it may take a while. Now they have those photos they will just keep using the same ones over and over. So we can relax a little."
"I don't want to have to think about anything, about what I do and where I go. I just want to be free again."
"And you will be David."
"They spoiled our moment."
"What?"
"We were together, we made love and were building up to that again and they spoiled that. It's taken so long for you to be able to let me touch you like that after what happened and they ruined it." Amy put her arms around him.
"Look honey, don't worry about that."
"But we can't really here and... I hate reporters."
"Me too... well some of them."
"What do you mean?"
"Well my brother was one for a while."
"Oh."
"You knew that!" Amy kissed his cheek. "Come on, you need to relax. When you and me are together you don't have to worry about anything else."
"You know we could take a shower together again." Amy smiled.
"We have to wait until the kids are asleep... at least in bed." She got up and walked to the door. "I'm gonna go check."
Amy went into Laurens room, she was sitting on her bed reading. "Wow you can actually read." She sat on the edge of the bed.
"Very funny."
"What are you reading?"
"Nothing, just something for school."
"Not homework I hope."
"No." She lied, throwing the book off the bed.
"Well, time for you to sleep."
"I can't sleep."
"Well lock all your doors. And listen to some music with your headphones or something." She kissed her on the forehead and stood up. "Night noodle."
"Night mom."
Amy turned the light out and went to Victors room. She tried the door but found it locked. "Victor honey. It's me. Do you want me to tuck you in?" She heard the lock being turned and the door creaked open.
"Dad isn't with you is he?"
"No..." The door opened wider and Victor walked away from it.
"Good, cause I don't want him near me."
"Victor I thought we spoke about this. Your dad had nothing to do with your mom's death. Apart from working late when he could have been home."
"He should have been there to protect her."
"Well he wasn't Victor, don't you think he knows all this. Think of the guilt he must be feeling. He could have even taken his work home with him but he didn't. You can't just think of what he should have done. You have to think of what he did do."
"But I'm scared."
"Of what? Nothing has changed, you just saw some pictures of me and him and the news guy yapping on air. Your dad hasn't changed."
"I know, but he was... I don't know." Amy hugged him and kissed the top of his head.
"Now go to sleep."
"If I have a nightmare who will come?"
"I will, but you will have to leave your door unlocked if you want me to be able to get in." Victor looked thoughtful before he nodded.
"Ok." Amy flicked his light switch and closed his door. She went back to her room and stood in the door way.
"Ready?" David jumped up and walked over to her.
"Always!" He whispered in her ear. He sucked gently on her earlobe but stopped when he felt Amy's hand on his chest.
"We won't get to the shower if you do that here." She turned towards the bathroom taking his hand. As she turned the shower on he turned the lock on the door.
Alot of time had passed, and when they reached the bedroom they saw that it was nearly midnight. "Wow... that was a long shower."
"But very worth it."
"Definitely." They got into bed and David pulled Amy closer.
"Very worth it." The kiss they then shared was a long deep one. David's hands were roaming down her body.
"MOM... MOM." They stopped kissing but their lips stayed together. David's hand came to a rest on Amy's thigh. "MOM...MOM."
"I guess I should go get that."
"I guess you should." David moved back and sat up. Reluctantly, Amy got up off the bed. She entered Victors room and found him sobbing on his bed.
"What's up honey?"
"I had a nightmare." Amy sat on the bed in front of him.
"You don't normally call out. In fact you're usually asleep when you have one, and either me or your dad has to wake you." She pulled him into a hug and rubbed his back. "Do you want to tell me what it was about?"
"Dad, he... he... he hurt you." Amy stopped rubbing his back and pushed Victor back so she could look at his face.
"I told you, your father is not going to hurt you, me or Lauren."
"But he did... in my dream."
"But that's all it was. A dream, a nasty one yes, but still a dream. Now go back to sleep." Victor lay down and closed his eyes. Amy gently stroked his hair back from his face until he fell asleep. She turned the light off again and went back to David.
"Is he ok?"
"Yeah, just a bad dream that's all." She sat on the side of the bed, and David moved over to her.
"Are you ok?" He placed a hand on the small of her back. She turned to him and kissed his lips. She placed her hand on his shoulder pushing him back on the bed and as she did so she moved her body over him, so she was sitting on him. David was kissing back with great enthusiasm, resting his hands on her hips. Amy began to grind her hips against him and moaned as they kissed. David pulled back from the kiss. "Are you sure you're ok, I mean, well, you, they will hear us if you carry on." Amy didn't reply just leant back into kiss him. He pushed her back again. "Amy, will you answer me." She sat back on him.
"Why?"
"Because I want you to answer my question, what's wrong about that?"
"I am fine."
"Then why didn't you answer me?"
"Nothing I just want to forget."
"Forget what? You can't just use me to forget things, especially if you don't tell me what it is you are trying to forget."
"Just that Victor had a nightmare."
"What was it?"
"You... hurting me."
"I would never hurt you... not intentially."
"I know that, but I don't want to have to think about that. And Victor made me think about it. I trust you but it is hard when all I can think of is that you can hurt me."
"Amy..."
"I know you won't or at least I think I know you won't but still, it's now there in the back of my mind. I wanted to forget about it because I don't want to be thinking about it. I don't want to think about you in that role."
"Oh honey. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have got you to tell me." He raised a hand to her cheek.
"Well to be honest I still couldn't forget." David stroked her hair back. "I lo... love it when... when you do... do the ear... thing."
"MOM, MOM." Amy sat back. She covered her face in her hands.
"This is ridiculous." She got up and went into Laurens room. "Noodle, you always come in my room, why are you calling me?"
"I didn't want to go in with him there."
"Lauren..." Amy sighed and sat on the bed. "You need your sleep you have school in the morning and I have work."
"Can you stay with me."
"Only till you go to sleep."
"No stay with me, I don't want to be left unprotected."
"Mom." A quiet voice called from the door. Amy looked up.
"Victor honey. What's wrong now?"
"I can't stay asleep. I keep waking up."
"Come here. Move over Lauren." Victor sat on the bed and leaned into Amy, Lauren wrapped her arms around her waist. "Now go to sleep. Both of you." She watched as they closed their eyes and sighed when their breathing slowed. David appeared in the doorway.
"I thought you were taking a long while."
"They refused to sleep alone."
"Come here, I'll help you move them to your bed. There will be more room and than you can get some sleep too."
"Thanks." Amy loosened Laurens grip, and went to pick her up, but foung her too heavy. David struggled with Victor but managed, and then came back for Lauren when they were all in Amy's bedroom safely, Amy turned to David. "Where are you going to sleep?"
"Victors room I suppose."
"Ok, I will see you in the morning." She reached up to give him a quick kiss, but it turned into a long deep one. David picked her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist. As they paused for breath Amy sucked on his lower lip. Lightly biting it as she pulled back. "I love you."
"I love you too."
"I wish that shower had never ended."
"Mmmm, that would have been nice."
"The kids are asleep now, they think that I am with them."
"That's a nice thought honey, but if they wake up... we'll just have to wait a while." Amy looked away, she hated what was happening with the kids.
"I don't want to have to wait, we have work tomorrow and that means that I have to concentrate."
"I know baby." Amy went to kiss him again but he moved his head out of the way. "Goodnight baby." He kissed her forehead then lowered her to the ground.
"I love you..." She caressed his cheek, "so much."
"I love you too baby." He walked out of her room, leaving Amy with the kids.
"I hate this." Amy climbed into her bed and slowly drifted off into a deep sleep.
"David, you're up early." Maxine walked into the kitchen to find David dressed for work and cooking breakfast.
"Couldn't sleep?"
"Nope the bed wasn't very comfy."
"Yet you've been sleeping fine on it recently. Did you and Amy have another fight?"
"No, I mean last night the kids refused to sleep without Amy being with them, so I slept in Victors bed. They slept with her."
"Why..."
"The news report. Victor blames me. They're both scared of me." David kept his eyes focussed on the eggs as he spoke. Not wanting to look Maxine in the eye.
"Oh for heavens sake. They should know by now not to believe everything that is on tv!"
"But yet they do. Victor took a baseball bat to bed with him." David looked up to see Maxines reaction.
"I'm sorry that this had to happen now David. Just as everything seemed to be working out."
He cleared his throat. "How do you want your eggs?"
"Doesn't bother me, breakfast always tastes better when someone else cooks it."
"Yeah, ok."