Chapter 21
Ten Days Later and The Renege part I: Them pins, them needles
"Dad come on it's this way!" Carl cried out excited.
And he with his small hand set frimly inside his Sheriff dad's adult size one began to pull him hard towards their intended destination. And that in return had the man of the law pondering as well as having to wonder to himself.
"Now just how in the world son do you even know which way to go; especially since I just found out the address last night myself!"
Oh now that's an easy one dad! Your very apt little chap went online, keyed in the desired info and then-read-a-map! And that was back at Michonne's condo quite some days ago, almost at the beginning!
And the very patient parent along with his very clever little offspring after quite the long walk, now found themselves blissfully standing in front of a very tall, and rather exclusive looking building where Rénald and Bradshaw called home.
And what a trek that was after having come straight from their third family counseling session with a somewhat peaved and left behind Lori, coupled with what the two's feisty little son privately thought waay more than his perfered amount of blocks to have to walk (he was in a hurry after all), and then combined with the father and his boy crossing some of the most congested street corners ever!
And to say that that impatient little fellow was more than just a little enthusiastic would be a half truth, because the smart little stinker was also quite ecstatic too!
Yea...fi-nal-ly! thought happily a very pleased Carl Grimes.
And now all that they had between them to get to where they needed to be was a massive front wall of glass, and what were multiple, upon multiple, upon multiple floors straight up for their anticipated lunch date!
And guess with whom?
The one and the only Her, duh...their Michonne; both Grimes boys' most favorite person/female ever!
And them feeling that way about the young woman(which will never ever change no matter what) by no means meant a slighting of any kind, particularly towards their mothers, or definitely not anyone else that really matters to them...;hmmm maybee, maybe not!
It's just that from the very first moment that those two first laid eyes on the beauty, everything changed! And that was all for the better where Michonne instantly became the center of their whole universe. Which is quite a very special place held solemnly and tenderly just for her, and only for her by both the father and his son in their well captured hearts!
However before the truly in-love three had any one single bite of a midday meal, they'll first be taking a very short detour to Lance Amondè's for a quick little fitting. It had been the very loving, but also rather crafty designer's quite adamant request that both adults come in together. He was more than sure that at least one of them (probably no doubt Michonne) was in need of some more tweaking done to their individual garbs before taking them home.
And that the very conscientious Sheriff Grimes, with him wanting everything perfectly just right had not one problem with because glory be, the law man's a take'n the ever flawless Miss Rénald out on what's now a real date, to a very special affair; the ever snazzy Annual Law Enforcement Christmas Charity Ball.
And the party that beats all parties always finds itself solidly in a class all by itself...the most elegant as well as the most marvelous one to outdo!
Which without exception always never happens, because the lavish event is the ultimate end of the year extravaganza in all of Atlanta! And that's exactly what the very posh bash has been each and every last year since its concecption some thirty plus years ago!
And stunningly it's all taking place in just two whole days, which will be that coming Saturday evening at the equally ritzy St. Regis Hotel in Buckhead.
Oh what a perfectly delicious just desserts for the law man and young counselor's first time attending the event as a pair!
And oh what the quite proper vehicle to deliver that big old juicey slice of some poetic justice for a more than deserving Mike Rosslyn, and a quite fitting one as well in which he'll have to thoroughly chew on throughout the whole night, then slowly with a whole lot of difficulty swallow too the more than his share of self inflected displeasurement!
Which is exactly as it should be happening!
And if karma dictates what's fair. Then fate during the whole big night will do its deed impeccably well and cause the ex's vexation to be a worthy comeuppance! Seeing to it real good that the man with no other choice will just have to wretchedly watch the now undoubtedly forever thorn in his side, a mighty foine and quite exquisitely handsome Sheriff Richard Grimes, joyously enjoying himself with the beauty that was truly all once his. And also one in which the stink has deliberately trampled all over too!
Oh wow, now won't it be a night for them all to remember!
And hopefully that's more than just a fabulous one for the Sheriff and his Miss Rénald, while a nothing less than miserable touché and checkmate moment for an annoyed Mr. Mike! And that's each and every last time he begrudgingly looks their way. And one can only trust too that with every glimpse, it'll be a for real searer of his memory that the very extremely proud man will not be unable to unsee, nor forget everrr!
And just think, it'll all have been made possible by him and his undeniably unadvised stupidity!
Not only did Micheal show up at a former residence one Saturday morning straight out of the blue; uninvited in addition to naturally being unwelcomed too! Which he surely did know better than to do all while specifically having done it just for the added joy of just because he could!
And that was in order to purposely aggravate as well as spoil a once significant other's otherwise most perfect day!
A win-win all around for the imbecile!
And the reason; pride!
The fool just couldn't get over himself by leaving well enough alone and just let go! Not only had he losted control, but absolute control over Michonne period, which Micheal Rosslyn just could live with! And it was all the result of his own selfish designs!
However the wood rat's spur of the moment plans for ugliness (a big misstep on his part) ended just as it should have, and that's aptly awashed in misery along with an abundant amount of regrets; all his dirty deeds to deal with!
Because unbeknownst to the rodent at that specific moment in time, his former lover wasn't alone. Fortunately for the lovely, she had a champion there that was more than willing, and always ready to fight whatever or whomever posed a threat! And that would be tirelessly so no matter what and a very good thing too because...
Mike then as well now still is a determined foe!
And despite all that unnecessary despicableness of his towards Michonne, which not then, nor even past now will ever have a chance to fester for long, thank you!
And that's all because of an inherent inborn protective nature possessed by three serious men, one Sheriff Richard Grimes, plus the two Uncles Henry and Ellis who's stance is...You foolishly mess with any of our family, but certainly our children and women, you stupidly mess with us!
And because of that verity their girl, the absolute bane of that man's whole everything still smiles, and that's beautifully so in addition to being overwhelmingly happy with a big ole dash of being excited too!
Which Michonne cleary unquestionably was all around!
And that had been an ever real factual fact since the day Mike showed up all willie-neely with his deliberate intent to smell all over a girl and everything else, but especially so with his prompt and intentional extraction by those who's hearts she'll always have (the Sheriff, Terry, and Kal).
Yet what really capped it all off was the Sheriff's reiteration afterwards of his offer of them attending the Ball as a twosome if she still liked.
And that the baby girl definitely, explicitly sure did!
Not only can't the young woman hardly wait for the event to take place, but knowing when it does happen will have all been the end result of a rotten ex's dirtiness! And that reality will only make Michonne and Sheriff Grimes'entire night just that much more magical and certainly just that more memorable!
And a dog doodee filled time straight from the bowels of Hell for that Mike!
《▪▪▪▪▪》
"Dad, do you think that Michonne can see us from up there," questioned the Sheriff's boy pointing as they both stood looking up at the building looming before them.
"I don't think so Son. Miss Rénald is rather high up, and everything down here looks tiny from where she is," replied the boy's father looking over and smiling at his inquisitive child.
"What if she not even up there Dad, but still on her trip!" a suddenly worried Carl asked.
"Well if that's true then we'll just wait until she comes, OK! Because Miss Rénald promised we'd have lunch together, and our friend has never broken one, nor has ever disappointed you or me yet has she?" retorted the boy's reassuring parent. "You know what my boy, it wouldn't even surprise me one bit if the young lady is sitting somewhere up there right this minute, all patiently in one of those floor to ceiling windowed rooms waiting until we get up there to her."
Then Michonne's Handsome after a short bit of some deep comtemplating looked over at the law man again and voiced.
"And you wanna know what else Dad?" said the now jovially sparky seven year two month old, who after having digested a whole lotta sense spoken right, quickly forgot those worries and with confident gave his very wise dad an one hundred watt light bulb smile and ended with this...
"I bet that her office has the most fantabulous view ever seen too!"
And you want to know what else on top of that?
Michonne's Handsome wanted up there where she was and wanted up there now!
Because not only was the young woman's restless little bug on pins and needles because it truly had been long enough, but intrigued too since seeing the place where his special pal is employed, also had him wondering exactly what up there had to offer besides her!
And if the truth be told which it certainly was being done, Papa Grimes was also fighting that exact same battle since he also on pins and needles wanted up there sooner than later too! Except good ole Dad's eagerness was more on the down low and evidently cloaked.
And his being covertly reserved on the outside was just a tenuous mask at best, but still held at bay the real silent boat load of some rather hot exciting anticipation! And oh how close to the point of boiling over was it all, and that too had the handsome man desperate at his core.
Because his need to see that enchanting young woman pronto had become a full blown penetrating ache invading every last cell of his very fine self. It had been ten whole days since last laying eyes on the beauty hadn't it? And that certainly for the law man was just ten whole dayswaaay too many on top of it being waaay too long!
Then the longing man while still holding onto his thoroughly astute and quick-witted child's hand, smiled a broad smile as he freely allowed the now more than before hurried Carl take the lead once again! And quickly without any delay was being led happily the short distance through the front entrance of the very impressive building where their lovely Miss Rénald awaits!
《▪▪▪▪▪》
Thirty-five, thrity-six, thirty-seven...thought a super antsy Carl mentally counting off the level of floors in his sharp little mind. Then to the boy's displeasure the elevator just had to make yet another stop.
"Aw nooo! More people gotta get off! We're in a hurry here folks, times a wasting!" he wanted to stomp, but groaned instead channeling his grandpa Rich's attitude even though innocently enough, and kinda sort of silently, but certainly not hushed enough not to be heard under his seven year two month old breath!
"And I bet even more's gotta get on this thing before it's all said and done with, which will only just waste some more time...Mine and Dad's!"
And Sheriff Grimes having heard the precocious and impertinent little thing along with those getting off, wanted so much to give his boy that certain look to show him also his displeasure as well too!
But neither did he nor could he, and that was only due to junior's on purpose ingnoring the man. Because Mr. Smarty Pants, despite feeling that slight pressure given his small hand wouldn't even look up. And cared not too!
And why should MIchonne's Handsome do such a thing when the stinker surely wasn't dense, and neither did he need the hassle of anything or anyone else messing with his buzz of expectation of how it was all going to go down when he sees his Michonne after ten whole day!
And to Carl's great amazement, more didn't eeven get on! Then in addition to that unexpected miracle for sure...no more stops happened either!
Now with nothing else impeding their travel, thankfully the gleaming car did only what it could do, and that was to hurriedly without interruption take him along with his anxious parent closer and closer to their beautiful quarry.
And when the lift smoothly stopped, it promptly did so on-a-dime.
Finally, the boy and his dad were exactly where they should and wanted be more then anything else...the sixtieth floor! And with a light swishing sound the elevator opened its polished stainless steel doors to a bright spotless lobby. Then Michonne's Handsome with his dad still standing real close, having spyed his very special friend immediately began to grin from ear to ear, they both did!
There she is, thought the incredibly excited father and son duo in unison.
Yet the young woman standing allll the way down at the other end of the immaculate kept hall didn't see them; distressingly she was still too far away with her back to them. And the boy undoubtedly in quite the hurry wanted out now! It's been ten whole long days and that in the little one's book was just ten whole days extremely too long; especially starting exactly with the one he left her for home on!
And neither had it mattered one little bit to Carl either that while Michonne was away busy desposing witnesses for yet another upcoming case. She and he would talk quite some time over the phone nightly before the little munchkin went to bed. However on Saturday and Sunday the happy two did what Grandpa Rich called "chewing the fat" and that had been done twice each day for hours upon end; at least two!
Nevertheless and not even much of a surprise to any of them in the know (Michonne and the Sheriff) also knew with even that having happened, the lovely young woman in-person was always-always the excited boy's most favorite thingever, especially in this particular situation!
And that without a doubt is so because the very precious joy hugging on the realness of his most special girl tight, plus his needy eyes of blues squarely on the lovely Michonne is second only to none; a most definite very best scenario hands down without question! And absolutely never will the alternative of Carl just having to wait until the later on be an acceptable do to undertake, nor him willingly doing it all ever so placidly!
Then during all of that camaraderie, fellowship, and just hankering to see their girl was the handsome Sheriff Grimes placidly in the background as he took his far away backseat as usual. And the more than often natural odd man out it seems especially when it comes to his turn with the lovely young lady, just can't seem to do any better no matter what!
Specifically so in regards to their boy with him innocently (maybe) monopolizing Michonne time, which that ever familiar occurrence, just like all the times before while in Atlanta with her, or even on the way back home found himself either stepping asides or waiting! Which was all done happily or not!
And surprise-surprise (but not really) had been true once again during those last ten days also, where the law man even getting a chance, or him just keeping it while on the phone with his Miss Rénald was almost slim to none! And not surprisingly found himself having to politely get in where he specifically had to fit in!
Which certainly no doubt will always probably be a truth with his boy always, as well as when Cody and the pups are around too!
《▪▪▪▪▪》
"Dad can I go now, pleasee!" implored Sheriff Grimes intuitive little ball of energy as they stepped out of the elevator together. And that question was because the knowing father still hadn't let go of the lively child's hand, no not just yet! The law man had to first give his son a stern warning before the precious gem hurriedly took off running! Because Carl in all likelihood during that progress would probably just excitedly yell out with feeling their Miss Rénald's ever most precious name.
"Okay son remember, indoors voice only, just like back at my office," said his more than understanding dad as he looked his boy straight in the eyes.
Because the man knowing the pull all to well could see Carl forgetting!
And he too, just like their boy understandingly so would love nothing more then to just yell out the young woman's name with feeling himself! Specifically just in order to see the young beauty's face when she turns to look smilingly at him!
Oh how he's missed that, oh how he's especially missed her even more!
Then the law man's more than ready little boy, grateful for that direct little reminder and now the letting go of his hand, truly had been well on his way of doing exactly what his parent had thought.
And the little rascal with a smile said.
"Ok Dad, thank you."
Then the quite happy Carl quickly ran off. And then in lieu of calling their girl's name out loud with a great deal of feeling, just loudly whispered it so instead.
And a very attentive Michonne heard him and the sounds of those familiar footsteps.
Then she with a quickness, quickly turned smiling, and gave her Handsome as well as his sexy walking Daddy, exactly what both Grimes' had been almost completely void of since leaving for King County so many days ago. And that was the lovely young woman's full attention along with that glowing beam that's strictly all hers.
Albeit, even before either one could really reach the lovely and beautiful, some tall and rather extremely attractive man sporting a close trimed goatee, along with a sun kissed blonde "man-bun" came from out of nowhere interrupting the trio's reunion.
But was it an innocent move?
And who really gives a flying fig if it was or not seeing that either way he still walked up and said.
"Michonne can I please speak to you for a second, it's rather important that I do."
Annnd to say that that didn't sit well with the on pins and needles father and son would be an understatement for real and fo' sure! Because it really, really didn't!
And neither did Michonne's boys try hard enough at all not to show it either!
Because they did not!
And them standing there mean mugging the man while shrouded deep in their disappointment caused their loveliness to giggle a bit. While her bright retort to him with his back to her boys, still came with that high wattage smile that never failed to make his heart skip that extra beat was...
"Sure thing Marcus, but let me hug my handsome boy first."
And Marcus looking back non bothered, stepped aside.
And Michonne's Handsome having stopped just shy of her quickly ran full force into the now kneeling woman's waiting arms.
"I really missed you a whole lot!" Carl whispered in her ear with his head resting softly on his loving friend's shoulder along with his hug, and most importantly had remembered his dad's reminder too!
And Michonne with a whisper of her own hugged the child back even tighter and said.
"I've really missed you too my sweet, sweet boy, and that's a whole bunch while on a whole lot of pins and needles too!"
And they each hugged the other even tighter with some over exaggerated grunts too!
And Rick having to wait his turn as usual with just a little patience, impatiently did so with a suspicious eye; his two blues still dead-on that "Mr. Man" with his hair all up, smiling way too much, and now standing extremely too close, for probably waay too long while talking to their Miss Rénald at all!
And Andrea walking up besides the Sheriff didn't make things any better.
"You know what we call Marc there my good Sheriff, 'Sexy Bun Boy' and that's because he's so totally smokin hot with that Nordic Scandinavian thingy going on oh so strong! And pleasee don't get me started on those dreamy glassy hazel green eyes and that bod of his...just pure perfection all around if I do say so myself! And believe-you-me I certainly do...Mawah!" she said all animated and not so innocently so atall with that deliberate French Chef kiss sound for emphasis.
"He a true gift thatmy clueless Uncle Ray brought back from Sweden after one of his international law seminars over there. And almost every last female here thinks he hangs both the moon and stars at night, and surly wouldn't mind also dropping their panties either if the boy'd just wink their way. Butttt, there's not one iota of a chance of that everrr happening, oh no!"
Then Sheriff Grimes trying real hard to get over the "almost every female here" statement in addition to the young woman's brashness, led him with some apprehension to ask.
"An...and why not?"
Naturally Andrea thrilled beyond words that he had asked replied back almost gleefully and certainly so mischievously so, "Oh that's really simple mon capitan, Marcus over there is totally in love with our Me. That smile of hers had the man hooked day one!"
And the Sheriff knowing a thang or two about that became even more curious as he found himself wondering...nope uh-uh, him just want-ing like stank to inquire with every-thang in his law abiding soul if his Miss Rénald was one of those women, but didn't dare go there. Instead he just enunciated it this way.
"What about you Ms. Harrison?" did the rattled man start out with his pump, being as close to bold as possible, and that too went along side a big side order of some all piercingly blue eyed seriousness as he looked back at the now quite flushed young attorney.
"I mean do you think that way too? Just like those other ladies, the one who's willingly ready to rid themselves of underwear just over a wink?"
And the Rickster just looking at her that way, wearing that Estella original hand knitted slouch cap of his pushed back just enough off of his head, exposing just enough of those brown curls all temptingly quite perfectly so. Definitely was almost just waay too much for Michonne's bestie's constitution!
But he and it, in addition to the man sporting the most sexiest five o'clock shadow ever, in spite of him doing the wearing at noon all easily. And naturally with all of that goodness combined was just extremely too much stimuli for the healthy red blooded girl to handle without clearly losing her stuff all over the place, and happily especially over the Sheriff too!
Woozy, good fashion just had an overwhelmed Andrea really just wanting to swoon, but didn't and quickly corrected almost breathlessly, "It's 'Andrea' Rick, pleaseee!"
And Rick quick to oblige rectified, "An-dre-a."
Then the near light-headed young lady with a certain agenda took herself a very deeep breath, leaned in a bit closer and said.
"No siree bob, not like others still do! But if good old Marc over there was specifically someone else, we'd be cooking with pure gas while talking a whole different language, and playing a whole separate kind of ball game right here and now all together new my Good Sir!"
And with that a quite jolly Andrea almost to the point of skipping just walked off!
And that abruptness of hers left Sheriff Grimes with a look of confusion as well as a belly full of disconcertment too! Because not only was he left alone to figure out just what was meant by that baffling and cryptic statement of hers, but also filled full of dread too while hoping his Miss Rénald wasn't one of those others that the young attorney was talking about!
However that thought too was interrupted as the man caught sight of Her! The no longer occupied woman in question...Michonne. Who along with their boy was beautifully making her way over to the now smiley law man and huskily greeted.
"Hey there Sheriffff, long time no see," said she with that smile that seemed to always have a tendency to take his breath away. And Mr. Fineness trying extremely hard to recover could do nothing but just continue with the smiling back. And that caused Michonne's admiration for those adoring little laugh lines that smartly accentuates his mesmerizing blues to grow even more expeditiously so.
And dittos for those adorable dimples of his too!
Mercy, mercy, mercy, and some mo' mercy! And good gracious did she ever need it!
And those specific two things, among many other appealing ones as well about the pretty man standing looking back, just about drew the captured young woman in extremely way too deep.
And that was definitely to the point where the Sheriff's enamored Miss Rénald, with a very delicate hand almost absent-mindlessly with a purpose, near lifted it up to cup the mighty handsome face that she on their very first day apart, found herself hungrily missing!
And Mr. Rick Grimes captivated too, could do nothing but reveled in those lovely pools of hazel browns as he willingly bathe in them! And they radiating out a radiant gaze made the man in spite of himself feel absolutely and completely alive!
Oh was he ever so glad to be oh-so close!
And that in itself had Sheriff Grimes willing to acknowledge all too well that if given just the slightest chance to be that way forever, certainly would take it gladly and in turn be the most happiest man of a lifetime! And that was definitely without any question, especially the way his Miss Rénald was looking back at him right then and there at that glorious moment!
Just the mere thought of it all almost had Rick weak at the knees!
Hmmm, my goodness!
And quite obviously the enchanted pair exceptionally too close, just that quick forgot exactly where it was where they were at. And then just as quickly both were intentionally made aware of it by a rather gruff reprimand of "A-hem!"
Henry's one word reprimand that had better not be ignored or mistaken not as a reproof because that is exactly what it was! And they'd both best be cooling whatever was going on between the two, and that was right then and there! And that too was explicitly so while standing and being there all close like in that hallway of Rénald and Bradshaw; clients were about!
And then after that rebuke of sorts, the commanding man with a look that almost always matches, looked over at Carl with a smile and said.
"Come with me son, I have something to show you if it's alright with the Sheriff."
And Michonne with only a slight nod of her head let his dad know that it was all ok, and the law man with his own nod had Carl following their uncle happily into the man's vast office. Then immediately afterwards to Rick's amazement, but certainly not to his Miss Rénald's heard the seven year two month old's tiny but strong "Woow Uncle Henry this is sooo cool," and a "Thank you sir" too!
And Henry filled with an abundance of pure unadulterated pride upon hearing that, smiled even broader in spite of the image he rather liked keeping. He just couldn't help himself, history overwhelmingly was repeating itself, and that's certainly in a very good way which the ex Marine grateful was also glad to be witnessing yet again!
And it had everything to do with the boy's excitement and response which was nothing less than predictable and equally all too cute too!
Dare the quite pleased man smile a bit more while remembering even more!
Then a delighted Henry did and came to the conclusion that all four...his girls Michonne and Andrea when not too much older than the family's newest addition along with their Cody too, even though separate by quite some years from start to finish, still had the very same exact reaction when first coming face to face with the culprits,...a plaything and a sight which were both really second to none!
And that's how it's always been each and every last time since the beginning where that energized acknowledgement of delight and amazement has been the norm. And neither splendors could be justifiably ignore once inside that corner office of Henry's, with both things naturally battling hard for alls recognition! Because ever out front the very moment one entered in was the something else backdrop of the surrounding city. And the view which went on for miles was a totally magnificent cityscape that had only gotten more extensive and spectacular throughout the years.
Then there's the toy which just happens to be one of Henry's most prized possessions ever from his childhood, which was a humongous train and tracks set that he and his beloved grandpa Dennis Earl worked on from the time Henry was seven until he left for college. And now it's proudly taking up quite a big chunk of real estate in that rather large room where he got a great deal of important things done.
And fittlingly the whole thing came in from Texas just as lofty and imposing in it's own 26 ft. Mayflower movingvan, specifically as a office warming surprise right after the building that Henry now stands in had been finished. And not only did the man's trains have a new place to call home, but so did Rénald and Bradshaw!
And both came by courtesy of Henry's parents Mason Jamison Bradshaw and his wife Ester Miranda Rose Charles Bradshaw, with the building being their gift straight from the heart for the man and woman's only child, as well as his law partner Raymond Rénald, whom in addition to that was dearly loved by both as a son as well.
And Sheriff Rick Grimes entering the room with Michonne close by his side saw exactly what it was that had the boy so animated and now distracted.
He also knew too it was indoubitably possible that while all three had a lunch date to do, it was more than likely that he and Miss Rénald would be on their own alone for a very good long time.
Especially now since their boy currently preoccupied with a very expensive looking (powerful) telescope pointing slightly south west, amazed with wonder and also speechless could see the pilots and their cockpit crew, and sometimes even the passengers sitting in all kinds of planes as they landed and took off from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.