Chapter Nineteen
"Do you think they'll miss us?" Lia asked as she tumbled with Danny into their apartment, trying to get as close to him as she possibly could. Ten minutes after he arrived she was saying a rushed goodbye to everyone and dragging him to the car. The drive home had been torture.
"No...I don't...Ow!" Danny laughed as they landed on the floor in a heap. "Lia – hold on a second."
She shook her head at him and kissed him into silence, her hands clawing at his clothes. "NO. I'm tired of waiting. I haven't seen you for days."
Danny stood and reached for her hands. Lia used the opportunity to practice her self defense techniques and trip him, bringing him down to the floor again."Damnit – Lia." He winced as he landed. "You're going to kill me."
He smiled up at her as she moved over him, the weight of her body holding him down. "No. I won't kill you. But I am just about to read you your rights." She said with a grin, pressing her lips to his in a desperate kiss.
"Really?" He asked as his hands inched up under the hem of her t-shirt.
"Yes." She said softly as her breath became ragged. Her legs straddled him as she captured both his wrists in hers, pinning his hands over his head.
She leaned down and placed soft kisses on his neck, her breath warm in his ear as she whispered. "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law."
"You're so beautiful, Lia." He replied with a smile, inhaling the scent of her hair. "I love you..."
At the sound of his words, her heart melted and she lost her hold on him. "Danny..." She said with a sigh as she moved to sit up. She shook back her hair and stared into his eyes.
"I missed you." He added, sitting up himself as he brought a hand up to caress her cheek, easing into a kiss slowly. He took his time with it, causing Lia to fight for her breath as he deepened the kiss and held her closer.
"Now - isn't that better?" Danny asked as he pulled back and gave her a smile. "Why are you always in such a rush?"
She didn't answer. In response, Lia dragged him to her, kissing him thoroughly. She moved to lift his scrub top off of him, still desperate to feel his skin under her hands. A pain shot through his side as he felt her fingers gliding over his skin. He should have known the way he'd fallen would leave a bruise.
He couldn't care less but still teased her as he captured her lips again. "And why are you such a bully?"
Lia settled on his lap as she kissed him back and began to peel her own clothes off, giggling when she felt his hands help her.
"I'm sorry. I was just so happy to see you. I thought you were working today. How did you get out of it?" She asked, her voice full of wonder as she pressed her body close to his.
"My new rotation started." He murmured as he ran his hands through her hair. "I wanted to surprise you. I'm off all weekend."
She pulled back sharply and blinked at him. "I'm off too." She gasped.
"Really?" Danny replied with a laugh. "I wonder how that happened."
"Danny..." She sighed as she melted against him, taking his mouth in a passionate kiss. "I'm telling you right now. Don't argue with me. We're not getting out of bed until Monday."
He held her tighter and ran his hands over her, the gentleness of his touch driving her wild. "Ummm. We're not exactly in bed yet, Lia." He whispered sliding his lips down the slope of her shoulder.
"Don't worry." She laughed as she dragged his mouth back to hers. "We'll get around to it."
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Ethan's cell phone rang and he rushed to answer it. He stood and moved to stand a few feet away from where Lynnie and Kate sat. Both of them were still sighing at the way Grant and Chloe and Lia and Danny left the party in a rush.
"Hello?" He whispered.
"Hey Ethan! Buddy. Listen. The shipment's coming in today. Will you be there to accept it?"
"Today!?!" His voice rose in panic. "I thought it was going to be here Monday."
"I know. We got it early." The voice on the other end sounded disappointed. "I thought you'd be happy."
Ethan looked over at Lynnie and sighed. He knew she was already suspicious. How the hell was he going to be able to get out of here without her going crazy. "God. OK. What time? It'll take me at least a half hour to get over there."
"5:00."
Ethan glanced at his watch and saw he could pull it off. "OK. I'll be there." It occurred to him that the guy thought he was doing him a favor. He shouldn't sound so ungrateful. His voice softened as he added. "Thanks a lot. I really appreciate your rushing."
"No problem." The man replied. "I'll see you then."
Ethan stared at the phone, as he heard a sweet voice calling out his name, catching his attention. "Ethan? Who was that?" Lynnie asked him.
All these months he'd had to hide the truth, but he'd always hid it in plain sight. He answered her truthfully, his voice apologetic. "It's the job at the farmhouse. I need to go and sign off on a lumber shipment."
"Ethan. It's Saturday." She said as she blinked back tears. "Don't they ever give you a break?"
He fought a smile. All this time she thought there was some crazy couple taking up every spare hour he had on unreasonable demands. The truth was – he was actually working for himself.
Every moment he could spare he was there, realizing a dream he'd long since forgotten. Before he'd left this earth he'd always hoped he could renovate a house like the one he'd had the good fortune to have found. He had visions of filling the place with furniture – every last piece of which he'd made himself. He spent so much time there because he was doing exactly what he loved. The most amazing thing about it all was that he was building a home for the only person on this earth that meant more to him than his work. My beautiful Lynnie. Ethan thought as he gazed into his eyes. He smiled as he realized how close he was to being finished. He couldn't wait to see Lynnie's face when it was actually done. He hoped and prayed she'd love it just as much as he did.
He leaned in to kiss her, hoping to wipe the frown off her face. "I'm sorry, Lynn. I'll come right back here after I sign it in. I promise."
"It's horrible how people take advantage of you. It's so unfair." She sounded furious on his behalf. "I don't know why you put up with people like that. It must be because you're much too sweet.
Ethan smiled. If she only knew...he thought as he kissed her again. "Thank you. But don't worry. It's OK."
"It's not..." She protested, her words lost on his lips. She knew that he would go. If he didn't he wouldn't be her Ethan. "I'll miss you." She sighed as he pulled away. "Hurry back."
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Quinn realized he had a perfect excuse to approach Billie. He had to talk to her about Ty. She had mentioned that she would speak to him about Ty and Ty only. He wasn't using the kid – really. There was truly something he needed to discuss with her.
He watched them together in the far corner of the yard. There was no one else close by which made him happy. The last thing he wanted was an audience on hand to see him grovel and get – most likely – shot down cold.
Quinn watched her with him, awed by how it was actually possible to see how much she loved the little boy just by looking at them together.
"Ty." Billie laughed as she crouched down and wiped at his face. He was such a sloppy eater. "Are you having fun honey?"
Ty nodded and tried to twist from her grasp. There were places he needed to go. "Billie. Ella's house is so cool. It's not as big as our old one but there's lots of stuff to do here. And the hamburgers are really good."
"I can see that." Billie chuckled as she fought to hold him still. His face was also smeared with ice cream and cake. "Tyler James. Listen to me. Don't eat too much junk." She scolded him.
Ty rolled his eyes at her and gave her a smile. "Oh don't worry - Ella's mom made me eat some salad too. She's really, really nice."
Billie nodded in agreement. "Yes – she is sweetie."
"TY!" Aidan called out to him. "C'mon..."
"I gotta go Bill. It's my turn." Ty said as he broke free of her grasp and ran off towards his friend.
He's so happy. Billie thought with a smile as she watched him go - hugging her arms around herself. At least I've done something right for once.
He hated to spoil the moment but knew he couldn't rest until he'd tried to make amends. "Billie..." Quinn said softly as he came up behind her.
The smile left her face as she turned towards him. "What do you want?"
Quinn looked at her sadly. "I wanted to apologize, but I realize you're not ready to hear it."
"It's not that – I don't care to hear it." She said, her voice laced with hurt and anger. She shook back her hair and stared into his eyes.
Quinn bit his bottom lip and nodded his head. "Fair enough. But you did tell me I could talk to you about Ty. I wanted to ask you about the trip to the stadium."
"What?" She looked at him in complete confusion.
"The Saturday after next. I was planning to take the kids down to the city. I do it every year. They get to run around the bases and meet the team before batting practice. Then we watch the game from behind the dugout." He gave her an easy grin. "I still have a few connections there."
Billie's mind spun. Ty would go crazy – not only to meet the team but to actually be on the field at Yankee Stadium. But a trip like that must cost a small fortune. Her voice was small and tears threatened to spill from her eyes. "How will you get them there?" She asked.
Quinn didn't notice her reaction right away. He was too busy admiring the way the skirt she wore showed off her legs. He grinned as he met her gaze again. "Oh. Of course, we'll fly. It's a lot quicker than the train."
She shivered, trying to calculate it in her mind. She had to figure it out. There was no way that Ty could miss this.
Billie started to shake – devastated at the knowledge that she was the one to blame if he couldn't go. "How much?" She asked, afraid of the answer.
Quinn realized now she was extremely upset. He fought the urge to grab her and hold her tight. It was his first instinct as he watched her. It was funny. He didn't even know where that came from.
"Billie?" He asked, confused by her question.
"I'm sorry..." She said as she looked into his eyes, tears falling slowly down her face. "I don't know how much I can give you right away – but you can't let that keep him from going with you. He'd be crushed if he was left out." She shivered as she tried to figure out a way to make it happen. "I can't ask your mother for another advance – she's been far too generous already but Chloe's dad said that I might be able to pick up a shift or two at his restaurant. If I can do that I might have enough by the end of the week."
"Billie? What are you talking about..." Quinn trailed off as he stared at her. He'd never seen someone look so lost.
She kept on, babbling through her tears. "I would have had some extra left over – but the rent was due and Ty needed new sneakers. His were getting too tight and he's been running around a lot. Plus the fee for his uniform...there's just not enough to spare."
It dawned on him she was worried that she couldn't afford to send Ty to see the game. He almost would have laughed at her if she wasn't so upset. Billie didn't need to worry at all. This trip - it was a gift he was more than happy to give to the kids on the team. Aidan and Ella had been spoiled by now but it always gave him a rush to see how the other kids reacted as they took the field. He could see Ty now and it made him smile just thinking of it.
His attention turned back to Billie, wondering how he could comfort her. He could see that this was something that must eat at her all the time. The desperation in her voice made him sure of it.
It humiliated Billie for Quinn to see her so vulnerable, but this was about Ty. She had to figure out a way for this to work. She looked up at him and pleaded, "Please. I promise you I'm good for it. I can pay you back a little each week – but you have to take Ty with you." Her voice broke a bit as she tried to convince him. "I'm sorry - I don't know what I can say to persuade you but just know that I'm not asking you for me - it's for him. Please. I can't disappoint him like that. My being stupid – it's done so much damage already. I know I already ruined enough of his life. I should at least be able to give him this."
Quinn gently held her by the shoulders and tried to quiet her. "Shh. Billie. Shh. Hold on. Of course he can go. I just wanted to let you know about it – that's all. You can relax. This trip won't cost you a thing..."
Billie shook her head violently. Her pride was hurt severely. "I don't need your charity."
"It's not charity..." He held her still and made her meet his eyes. "There's nothing to pay for. We fly down because I can take them on the Barrington jet. You see - my mom and my aunt were left with all sorts of things when my great-grandmother passed away. You'd never know it to look at them but they're worth a bundle." He could see her tensing up at the mention of money and tried to get back to the subject. "But that's not the point. This isn't anything extravagant. I buy a dozen hot dogs, some bags of cracker jacks and a cap for each of them and we're home before midnight. It's a tradition. I got a nice pay out from my contract – injury and all. And honestly, I have an excellent accountant so I've got a few bucks to spare. It's as much a treat for me as it is for them. It's my pleasure to do it."
She blinked back tears and blushed crimson, completely mortified. She deliberately removed his hands from her shoulders and stepped away from him, "I'm sorry – when you told me you were flying there I just thought..."
"I know. It's OK." Quinn said softly as he watched her try and regain control. He could see the wall that had just crumbled being built up again before his eyes. He'd never seen someone so shaken by something so simple. He couldn't keep himself from asking her – knowing it was the only explanation. "Billie - my God. Who did this to you?"
"I don't know what you're talking about." She shrugged him off. She wiped the tears from her cheeks and took a deep breath, hoping it would steady her. "Thank you for letting me know about the trip. Ty will be thrilled."
"Billie." His voice sounded almost stern. "I know I got my facts wrong but the little research I did do told me money shouldn't be a problem for you."
"It didn't used to be." She admitted as she turned to walk away. "Let's just say I wasn't as adept at managing my money as you."
Quinn reached out and gently grabbed her by the elbow. "Someone pulled a fast one on you – didn't they Billie?"
Anger replaced the sorrow she had felt just moments before. A fast one? She thought bitterly. Not quite. If it had been done quickly she was sure it wouldn't have been so painful.
She yanked her arm from his grasp and glared at him. "You want the story, Clark Kent? OK – I'll give it to you. Newsflash - Belinda Larson - college dropout - is a complete and total idiot. She thought she was in love and put her trust the wrong person. He stole everything she owned and more and now she can barely keep clothes on her nephew's back. The prospect of a field trip she can't afford puts her in a panic. There. Satisfied???" Her voice began to quiver. "Is that what you wanted to know? Should I expect a front page article on that in the paper tomorrow?"
As he watched her, as he heard her words he vowed to himself to find out who this guy was and make him pay. As the thoughts filled his head, Quinn knew it would make his sister happy. He knew Lia. If Billie had confided in her – which he was almost positive she had - he was sure she was already well on her way to tracking down the son of a bitch responsible.
"Billie..." He whispered. "Look. Hear me out. If you let me help you – I'm sure we can find him and get it all back."
That was the last thing she wanted. The past was the past – there was no way to repair it. She wanted to close off that part of her life and throw away the key. She wanted to forget how badly she had screwed everything up and just move on. Most importantly, she wanted to do that alone - just her and Ty. She didn't need anyone else. There was no one in this world she could trust but herself anymore.
"Stay away from me – Quinn." She warned as she turned her back on him and walked away. "I don't want your help. I don't need anything from you."
"We'll see about that." Quinn promised himself as he watched her go.
