Chapter 18 – Bliss?
KPOV
"Babe, I have worried about this from the moment you told me you were pregnant, and I just want you to know that my only regret is that I didn't act sooner…" Elliot is going to tell me he's not ready for all of this – here comes the big brush off. He's going to leave me, I knew it! I cannot help the tears that begin to well in my eyes – these goddamned pregnancy hormones are just too much, so much for being aloof and impassive right now. He has been acting weird all week I should have seen this shit coming, I will not beg a man to be with me, pregnant or not – I will raise this child all by myself if need be, hell my mother raised us alone and my father lived in the house with us. Never trust a big dick and a smile.
"Look Elliot, I get it, you were not expecting this, you can just…"
"Kate!" He yells interrupting me and the dam breaks, as he takes a step moving so close to me that I can feel his breath on my forehead.
"Shut. Up. Kate." He almost whispers before taking my face in his hands and wiping my tears with his thumbs.
"Now. As I was saying before you so ruuudely interrupted me…I was worried because I never wanted you to believe that I was doing this…" He pauses before getting down on one knee and reaching in his pocket – pulling out a very familiar red box. Oh my god!
"…because you went and got yourself knocked up." I start to laugh cry and I could really care less how ugly I must look right now.
"Kate, you are the love of my life – you and Handsome Junior are the most important people in my life. I want you to be my wife and build a family with me. I love you Kate. Will you marry me?"
No laughing now, I'm really crying.
"Yes, yes." I manage between sobs. "I love you so much Elliot."
"Kate?" He says standing and tilting my face to meet his gaze.
"Yes?"
"I mean it when I say I love you Kate, you never have to worry about that. You don't have to be afraid, you're safe baby."
I nod my head, embarrassed by my insecurity and irrational doubt.
"You don't have to be embarrassed either, because if it is the last thing I do – you will know that you deserve to be loved and cherished. Understand?"
I shake my head before throwing my arms around my fiancé's neck, and holding on to him for dear life.
"Now, the woman at Cartier said that this rock almost guaranteed me very hot, very nasty engagement, grateful fiancé sex. She is an expert on these things you know." He says this wiggling his eyebrows, and I giggle like a school girl.
"Well, I think…" I turn and walk towards the bedroom, and crook my finger for him to follow.
"…I think it would be irresponsible not to listen to the expert."
….
Elliot and I had dinner with the Greys on Sunday – I knew they would be thrilled with all of our news and quite frankly I was in no rush to talk to my parents about our plans. Elliot informed me that he asked Ethan for my hand in marriage and not my father after he shared what happened on the Grace while we were all in California. While I found it odd that he had given some lame excuse about a business meeting he forgot I honestly did not mind one bit not having to spend the weekend under the gaze of his disapproving scowl, it was so much easier to look upon Carrick's welcoming smile knowing my child would have at least one loving grandfather.
Standing at the door of my parent's expansive manse is thoroughly depressing, I can hardly string together three or four happy memories from my childhood as they were so few and far between. My father seemed angry and sullen most of the time – he provided a wonderful life for his family in that we enjoyed all of the trappings of his success, but our life was devoid of any family intimacy. My father seemed miserable and as such, never spent much time with us as a family and when asked he would simply point out the material things he provided and tell us that we could not expect a father who is home by five in his favorite chair and slippers if we wanted to live the kind of life we had and have the things we have, with him only money and material things mattered. My father had come from humble means and since we had no connection with my father's family whom he left behind decades ago – there was no point to reference when it came to his sociology. My mother who came from old money is very kind and loving and doted on Ethan and I – I felt at times she over compensated for my absentee live-in father. I could tell however, from looking at old photos that they were once very much in love and for years I could still see that love and hope in my mom's eyes. I no longer see that hope – and with Ethan and I away from home her unhappiness is now unavoidably on full display, to Ethan and I anyway, I doubt my father has even noticed.
My father seemed to almost resent having a family and treated Ethan and I poorly – constantly pushing us towards his goals. He has never forgiven me for not becoming a part of KM – he had dreams for Ethan and I and we were to live up to them whether we wanted to or not. He practically disowned me when I told him about my plans for Elite – he called me flighty and simple minded, and complained that he had wasted money on my education. What I find strange is that for an astute businessman, he never seemed to ponder that the reason neither Ethan, nor I wanted any parts of KM was because he was a complete asshole who attempted to bully both of us into a career we had no interest in.
In spite of our horrible family dynamic I longed for my father's love and acceptance which always escaped me, and in spite of how loving and supportive Ethan had always been, I still longed for his approval. I now know that my father is aware of my pregnancy, I guess this whole thing is a formality for my Mom's sake. I understand that Ethan threatened our father within an inch of his fiscal life if he fucked this up and my father would be a fool to act out in front of Cheryl and Cameron, though I can tell she is fully aware of the asshole that is Eamon Kavanaugh, and while she and my nephew are front and center for the obligatory family occasions I get the impression that if she never had to darken our parent's door again it would be just fine with her.
"There you are!" My mother greets beaming a lovely smile that screams thank the heavens for an evening where I don't actually have to speak to your father. I have no idea how on earth she does this.
"Hi Diane, you look lovely this evening." Elliot greets. I know he is not just kissing her ass either, Elliot barely got in the car the first time he met my parents before telling me my mom was quote smoking hot. I responded by telling him that if he ever used a certain acronym to describe my mother I would crush his balls with my bare hands and he turned beet red.
We are all seated around the table and I decide that there is no time like the present, the first course has been served and I nudge Elliot to let him know I am ready to tell my mom, seeing as how she is the only one at this table that does not know about the baby.
"Mom? Elliot and I have some news." I purposely leave my father out of the equation and Elliot gives me a look that says 'what the hell?' He does not believe that we should antagonize my father, but he has no idea that Ethan and I have decided on how this whole thing will go down tonight and that my father is a non-factor in all of it – his behavior towards Elliot has been down right deplorable and I can afford him no more courtesy. Thanks to my brother and my loving fiancé, Eamon Kavanaugh no longer holds my emotional well-being hostage in the den of his hatefulness.
My mother looks at me hopefully and then looks down at my left hand which until this moment I purposefully kept hidden on my lap.
"Oh Katherine! Elliot! I'm so happy for the two of you. Elliot welcome to the family." She beams before getting up and giving both of us a warm hug.
Both Ethan and Cheryl congratulate us and Cameron gives Elliot a high five.
"Eamon?" My mother questions, turning to my father whose only response was a mumbled grunt.
"What?" He grumbles. Jackass.
"Do you have something to say to your daughter and our soon to be son-sin-law?"
"No, not really." I interrupt because now is the perfect time to insert more awkwardness.
"Mom, we actually have more news to share." I turn to look at my fiancé giving him the go ahead.
"Diane, everyone. Kate and I are expecting a baby."
My mother's eyes widen and fill with tears.
"Oh Katherine, you are going to make an amazing mommy."
Now I'm crying. Damn hormones.
"You really think so?"
"Absolutely sweetheart – you are so nurturing and caring." She says smiling as Cheryl hugs me tight and congratulates me before doing the same to Elliot.
"Kate, you will be great as a mom." Ethan says. "I cannot wait to meet my niece or nephew." My father makes the mistake of inserting another grunting noise at this moment.
"What was that?" He says to our father.
"Ethan let it go." Elliot attempts to interrupt.
"No, I would like to know what that little grunt was all about as well…Eamon?" Uh. Oh. My mother has never called my father on the carpet like this. Shit just got real.
"Are you not going to congratulate our only daughter and her fiancé on their engagement and pregnancy?"
"What is there to say? She got knocked up by a construction worker, bravo!" He states while slowly clapping, sarcasm dripping from every connection of his palms. "Are you expecting me to pay for a wedding or do you need diaper money?"
Before anyone can speak up, my mother jumps in with both feet.
"Oh Eamon, you will pick up the tab for this wedding, even if you are not the one writing the check."
"What the fuck is that supposed to mean? I don't have to pay for shit! He did not ask my blessing to marry my daughter – is that not the way this shit show is supposed to work?"
"Since when have you been so concerned about the way things are supposed to work Eamon?" My mother says staring daggers my father's way.
"Am I missing something?" He smirks.
"No Eamon, you are not missing a thing."
"Look Diane, whatever is going on with you…"
"Shut up Eamon!" Everyone at the table sits in stunned silence. I have never heard my mother raise her voice. Ever.
"Diane, it really is okay…" Elliot attempts to soothe. I touch his hand and look into his eyes, so that he understands that this train is running off the tracks and it cannot be stopped. My mother needs this.
"Oh Elliot dear, it really is not." My mother takes a sip of her bountiful Cabernet and continues.
"Elliot, my children think I am oblivious to my husband's cheating and disrespect. They think I don't know about the latest strumpet who accompanied him to New York or any of the others." I glance at my father who is practically green around the gills.
"I fell in love with Eamon my freshman year in college. He was my first and only…everything. Once upon a time he treated me like a princess. But money and influence have changed him into an entitled, angry asshole who has treated my children poorly for far too long." My mother turns and eyes both Ethan and I separately and mouths the words I'm so sorry, before turning her attention back to Elliot.
"I just could not get past that boy I fell so in love with, that I devoted myself to so completely…" she says looking forlorn. Oh Mom.
…So I pretended to be happy and naïve and oblivious. Thirty years is a very long time. And I am tired, no…I'm exhausted." My mom takes a deep breath.
"Eamon, I had your belongings packed earlier and delivered to your condo downtown, just after you arrived here – your little trollop no doubt has been trying to reach you to ask what exactly is going on – so you don't have to keep pretending not to feel your phone vibrating in your pocket – we can all hear it. She is likely panicking because that thirty year old she's screwing usually stays over on Wednesday." My father's mouth gapes open in shock, clearly this place was his little secret, or so he thought – and it sounds as if he's not the only one with secrets.
"Diane, I don't know what you're talking…" he manages to spit before my mother puts up her hand to stop him mid-sentence.
"Save yourself the embarrassment of continuing to lie Eamon…it's over…" She is interrupted by the doorbell.
"Elliot would you get that please?"
"Sure Diane." He says rising to answer the door, squeezing my shoulder as he leaves the room. My father just stares as my mother remains impassive, waiting for Elliot to return.
"Eamon Kavanaugh?" Says a gangly man who walked in behind Elliot who has now taken his seat next to me again.
"Who the fuck are you and what are you doing in my house?"
"You have been served." The man states and leaves the room, without another word or backwards glance.
Eamon peruses the paperwork placed before him – over the years he has read through plethora of complex contracts and right now he is putting Evelyn Wood to shame speed reading for the broad strokes.
"This is rich!" Is Eamon's smug response to being served divorce papers and before the second course no less. My mother does not respond to his comment or smug demeanor, she just gets down to business.
"I believe you will find my terms fair Eamon…as you…"
"Adultery!? Intentional infliction of emotional distress!? What the fuck is all of this?" He angrily interrupts, as my mother exhales in annoyance at the interruption.
"Eamon, I need you to calm down and watch your tone in front of my grandson, his name is Cameron by the way – since you never even acknowledge his presence when he visits. I also need for you to consider that if I know about the condo that I may be privy to other secrets as well – I may have been a homemaker for many years Eamon, but I am also a college graduate with a degree in business admin. Okay, so when that sinks in I need for you to consider that this home, our other two homes, and fifty-five percent of our cash and stocks is rather generous of me considering you and I had no money when we married or, more importantly a prenuptial agreement." My mother outlines with an icy coolness, I did not think was possible for her. Go Mom!
"Eamon?" Ethan interrupts, drawing his attention his way.
"Kate and I planned to confront and out you to Mom tonight, but yeah, this is better. So, in the words of Bill Maher…New Rules! If you do not agree to sign the papers, agreeing to all of Mom's terms, and get out tonight, I will sell Mom your shitty company for a dollar. You don't mind do you brother-in-law, I mean I know I promised to sell it to you?" He says to the shocked expression of my mom. Elliot raises his hands in surrender as his only response – he must feel so uncomfortable right now, Elliot for once is completely speechless.
"I will explain it all to you once he leaves Mom – Kate and I had planned this all out, I had no idea you would go all in and tell him to kick rocks before we got a chance." He laughs as Elliot gives me a quizzical look and I give him a wink.
"Listen Diane, we can talk about this…"
"What would you like to talk about Eamon?" My mother says with stoic resolve.
"You don't want to do this."
"Well you are right about that, I do not want to do this." She says motioning between the two of them.
"It's over Eamon. Now run along to the city, surly Donna must get lonely when you spend your nights here…oh wait, she's not alone. Well, just run along then."
The look on Eamon's face is priceless.
"Diane, you are taking everything…"
"Be glad I'm not taking everything Eamon, but if you keep talking – I just might. As far as KM goes, my children and I will discuss that as a family and decide what is best from here and reach out to you with our decision. Now, get the fuck out of my house." My mother offers casually. "Pass the peas sweetheart." She says to me, ignoring Eamon as he storms out of the room.
"Sorry Cam, Nunu said a nasty word."
Turns out my mom had hired a private investigator about a year ago and began the process of gathering all of the ammunition she needed in order to divorce Eamon and basically take everything in the process. She explained that she will be selling the condo where Donna lives as well – she is twenty-seven by the way.
Mom informed Ethan and I that she is selling the house and buying Christian's place in Escala, when he and Ana move into their new home next year, she stated that she needed some place to build good family memories – the house held a lot of negativity for her and she wanted a fresh new start. While Eamon was at work she had all of the doors, including the garage doors reprogrammed and all of the locks and alarm codes changed, a new state of the art security system that included cameras was also installed. When my father arrived home tonight he had no idea he had not actually opened the garage door – as my mom had flipped the switch from inside, once he was settled inside she had David her CPO move his car out of the garage and take his pass-card for the community gate from the center console.
Elliot offers to tear down the house and build her a new one and she declines the offer. She wants a brand new life and that included moving out of and leaving The Glades behind.
….
CPOV
"I cannot believe how much was done while we were away Christian! I'm so excited." Ana says grinning from ear to ear.
"Well I knew El would make this a priority – and it looks like his guys have really gotten to work."
The foundation has been poured for our new home and it is huge. I have seen the plans and the 3D renderings, but seeing the progress that has been made is an entirely different experience. Ana and I have been standing in the middle of the foundation for the house referring to the drawings and trying to visualize what will become of this magnificent space.
"I love you Ana. I have never been happier…no let me rephrase that, I have never been happy until now. You're my air."
"I love you so much Christian. Every day with you is better than the one before it, you are all my dreams come true."
We take pictures of the foundation from all angles as well as the surrounding land – we are documenting the progress and plan to make an album once we're completed. We took extensive photos of the house before demolition and El made sure to document the preservation of the marble, tiles and woodwork. Ana wanted all of this saved for our family and especially our children – she wants a timeline of our entire lives together – it warms me from the inside to hear her talk about plans to make a family with me. If it were up to me there would be babies right here and now, but I won't be upset by the idea of a year or two of having Ana all to myself.
"Sir?" Taylor interrupts our dream house construction bliss after I noticed him taking a call in the distance – the look on his face is grim.
"Yes, Taylor – what is it?" I ask mildly annoyed by the intrusion.
"We have a problem Christian." Christian? Oh shit!
….
SPOV
"Okay, so we have all of the items sorted for the clothing giveaway tomorrow – I could not have done this without Ana, Mia and Kate – those women are a godsend." I still cannot wrap my mind around how Lillian keeps track of all that she does, hell I get tired just listening to her talk about her schedule for the week on Sunday nights.
"Baby, I need you to take it easy – let me take you away for at least a weekend – you pick the date, we need this."
"Luke, there are so many people who depend on me…"
"I depend on you…" I interrupt.
"You have to remember to put yourself and us on the list as well. Baby, you don't fall asleep at night – you pass out! You wouldn't even eat if I didn't hound you about it. I need for you to take care of yourself, because now that I have you I canNOT live without you." I say with all sincerity.
"Luke, honey, I'm sorry – I cannot live without you either. It's just…I have been given so many opportunities and I want…no I need to give back in order to be worthy of those opportunities and gifts – especially you." She says laying her hand on my cheek. I am a grown assed man – I do NOT get mushy.
"You deserve every good thing that has come your way because you are a beautiful woman, both inside and out. You are selfless, sincere and the most amazing human being I have ever met – I wake up every single day in awe of you, grateful that someone like you could want me. You have wonderful friends like the Greys and Kate because you too are wonderful and kind." She starts to tear up and I swear if she…I stop her by pulling her into my arms and kissing her passionately, pouring all my love into the kiss.
"Wow." Damn right baby.
"Wow is right. Now let me get you home so that I can have my wicked way with you and watch you pass out underneath me, because of me for a change."
"Luke!" She whisper yells, looking around as if someone else is here in the salon with us, while slapping my chest playfully. She's blushing like a teenager.
"What!? Too late to be shy now baby, I've seen you blush…all over. Let's go."
"Let's go." She parrots, giving me a shy wink.
After we lock the office and set the alarm, we head out through the back of the salon to Lillian's parking spot.
As soon as we open the door all hell breaks loose.
I instinctively push Lillian behind me as I see Adina standing in front of us holding a gun, attempting to aim it at Lillian. Her hand is shaking and her finger is on the trigger. I cannot fully make out everything she is saying – but her clothes are in tatters and she looks as though she has not bathed in quite some time, she's screaming obscenities at Lillian and before I can comprehend what she is saying I feel a sharp pain, I feel Lillian's hands wrap around me from behind and we slide to the ground as I hear her screaming my name, before darkness takes me.
….
LPOV
I never thought I would see her again – especially not in the state she finds herself in today, but it seems it was only wishful thinking. After all that she put me through one would think she would have accepted her fate and just gone away, I always felt a bit ill at ease with my new life and perhaps my trepidation was more about fear than I believed in my consciousness. Adina looks horrible, if I had to guess I would say she is homeless. Though I take no pleasure in her obvious suffering there is something divinely poetic about her circumstance.
When Luke and I stepped out of the salon – before I actually heard anything Luke forcefully shifted me behind him, essentially pinning me between his body and the back door of the salon.
"You fucking BITCH! I have nothing – you took everything from me!" Adina looks absolutely feral and…crazed, but before I have the time to even consider the irony of her words, I see the flash of the muzzle of the gun and feel the impact as the bullet strikes Luke.
Adina looks at the gun as if she is somehow surprised this happened, as though she believed that the gun was otherwise purposed. She drops the gun and runs away, I am unsure as to why she didn't finish us both off, I really felt like our lives were over. I am screaming at the top of my lungs as I slump to the ground with Luke's weight dragging me down.
"Stay with me Luke, baby – I need you. We need more time."
I want to sob, but I have no time for tears right now as I apply pressure to his wound while digging into his pocket and pushing the emergency button on his cell phone. It takes forever it seems for help to arrive and Luke has lost consciousness, though I continue to talk to him willing him to come back to me – if my words had the power to heal we would be lying on a beach right now on our little getaway – I promise to make that happen baby. I have never been more terrified in my entire life – not terrified of Adina or what she might do to me – this is the first time since Dad's passing that I have allowed myself to depend on another person so fully – Luke means the world to me, I cannot lose him.
I called Taylor to let him know what happened and not only is he here but the Greys are all here in an astounding show of support for Luke, and for me.
With Carrick by my side I recount not only what happened outside of my salon tonight – but also a brief synopsis of my life with Adina including of course her time as my stepmother. I further explain that I had not heard from her in months since her ouster from my childhood home and life. I also learn that Luke had had her surveilled for a while, but she had gone off the grid and was last seen more than three months ago. I realize that this was around the time Luke started making sure that he was around when I open and closed the salon – he said he did it because a lot of robberies occur during this time when business owners are vulnerable, and to a degree we follow predictable patterns easily detectable for those with nefarious intentions. While that was all true, I now understand that he knew Adina disappeared and wanted to protect me without scaring me half to death.
Luke is still in surgery and while I want to make sure that Adina is taken down for once and for all – my mind is on and with Luke. I can barely concentrate on the questions being asked of me, and thanks to Carrick I don't have to suffer these questions for too long.
"Gentlemen, Ms. May has been through challenging circumstances at best this evening, I believe you have enough to go on for now – right now Mr. Sawyer's well-being is our top priority – so if you have any further questions please contact me so that Ms. May can concentrate on her boyfriend." Carrick instructs while handing his card to the shorter of the officers, I think his last name is Wallace.
"Absolutely, we will be in touch if we require any more details." He states as they take their leave.
….
"Lillian, Luke is going to be brought down to recovery very soon – he's still in post-op. The surgery went well, the bullet did nick an artery in his chest, but the surgeons were able to repair it. The bullet's trajectory fortunately was upward, we think because of the height of the shooter and recoil…"
"Mom!" Christian interrupts. "Please speak English, you lost us at trajectory."
Grace blushes a deep crimson. Thank god Christian interrupted, I had no idea what Grace was talking about either – Grace is standing next to Luke's two surgeons whom she asked if she could speak to us about Luke's condition because they might get too technical.
"Sorry Lillian. Adina's height, along with the kick from firing the gun forced the round upwards above Luke's heart, where she was likely aiming and into the area between his heart and collar bone. Even though the artery was damaged it was repaired – the pressure you put on the wound and the excellent pre-op treatment he received from the EMTs helped tremendously."
I let out a breath I didn't even realize I was holding – Luke is going to be fine.
"His shoulder blade absorbed the round and for now we have decided to leave it in place…" Continued Dr. Simon, the orthopedic surgeon.
"He will require rehab and will likely be in quite a bit of pain initially, but he is in such great physical condition, we anticipate his recovery to be seamless."
"When can I see him?" I ask no one in particular.
"His vitals are being monitored and he should be brought down to his room within the hour." Grace states with a bright smile.
"Oh thank you. Thank you, so much." I say shaking hands with the two surgeons after which I pull Grace in for a grateful embrace.
….
I sit here watching as Luke seems to be fighting to wake up – he is frowning in his sleep and moving his head from side to side slowly. I take hold of his hand – praying silently for our hearts to connect.
"I'm here Luke, you can rest – you're going to be fine." I stand, lean over him and kiss his lips gingerly, and his response is a small but satisfied smile. He knows I'm here.
….
***Trigger warning – violent assault and death (mostly inferred) ***
Adina five months ago
"What do you mean I can't withdraw the money in that account! That's my money."
"Ma'am please lower your voice, we received a court order for the funds associated with your accounts and those funds have been frozen."
"I will fucking sue you for this!"
"Ma'am I am going to have to insist that you leave as you are causing a scene." I will show this bitch a scene.
"I don't give a fuck if I am causing a scene!..." The next thing I know I am being removed from the bank and threatened with police intervention for trespass if I attempt to enter the bank again.
I have one hundred dollars left in my purse, after I paid for gas to drive to the bank. I am still wearing the same clothes I wore the day I met with that bitch – she sat there whining about her life, she looks like she's done pretty fucking well to me. If it's the last thing I do I will get my money back, all of it. And I'll make her pay. I first have to sell all of my things – or should I say what those bastards left me, I have had to drive around in this damn moving van for days now, hell I've been sleeping in the back of a goddamned truck, but at least it has air conditioning.
Today's visit to the bank was the last straw, I went all the way to Portland hoping that branch would not be sullied by the Grey influence, boy was I wrong. I try to find a new parking spot every couple of days – as a moving van sticks out like a sore thumb, I'm sure someone must be looking for it by now. I won't be able to afford many more of these I think sipping my Caramel Macchiato as I leave Starbucks headed to my…oh shit!
"No! No! Wait!" I scream running towards the tow truck driver, I wasn't even inside that long – I had no change for the meter.
"Look lady, you parked in a tow away zone, read the sign."
"I'm sorry I didn't realize where I was…"
"Tell it to the judge lady." He smirks handing me a form with the info on where to pick up the truck.
"Wait, please, all of my things are in the truck – it's my only transportation."
"Lady! Show up at the location, pay the fine and you get your truck. Simple."
"Please. Is there some way we can work this out?" I try to turn on the charm – this used to work for me, once upon a time."
"Seriously?" He laughs, and climbs into his truck before shaking his head from side to side in disgust before pulling away. With everything I have left.
As he pulls away I notice the sign.
No Parking
Tow Away Zone
Fine $500.
Later that day I wander into a dive bar, I might as well drink. As I sit at the bar a decent looking man asks if he can join me at the bar, leaving what looks to be his five work buddies at a nearby table. He looks to be in his late thirties early forties, probably works an okay job, he's wearing a suit, not one like the ones worn by Lillian's newfound friends, but he's clearly not broke like that fool I supported for years on end – to think I thought that brat was the biggest leech I had to deal with. What the hell, at the very least I can get a few free drinks out of this.
"Hi, I'm Carl."
"Adina."
….
My eyelids are so heavy. I can barely open them – what the hell? Where am I, I wonder as I take in my dank and drab surroundings. I don't remember anything accept for meeting…what was his name?
As I gingerly sit up I ache all over – it's then I realize I am in a shitty motel room and I am completely naked, covered in a scratchy cheap bedsheet. I move to the edge of the bed and begin to fully examine this hideous room and ultimately the horror of my current circumstance. The room is littered with empty beer and Vodka bottles, empty cigarette packs and…and condom wrappers.
My inner thighs are bruised and there is evidence that while there are condom wrappers everywhere, someone did not use them.
I stand and shakily make my way to the bathroom, where I shower as best I can – this isn't the type of place that provides luxurious shampoos and body wash. I am covered in bruises and I can only be somewhat grateful that I was either drunk, drugged or both during whatever horror I endured last night.
Once I'm dressed l look for my purse and to my shock and dismay discover that in addition to my one hundred dollars, I have one hundred more, with a note.
Nice to meet you, thanks for the rides.
I peek through the curtains and see a motel sign in the distance, with a sign underneath.
Rooms - $75 per week
Months later
"Listen Donna, or whatever you're calling yourself this week, either you pay the hundred and fifty you owe for the past two weeks or you're out of here."
"But I don't have money. Is there anything I can…"
"Look! One sloppy, below average blow job only gets you one week stay at Chez Rathole – darling you need to find yourself a shelter – this is a business."
I scoff at this – a business, I could have the police raid this roach motel and shut him down with one phone call. Nothing but junkies and whores occupy this place. If things were different I would not be caught dead in a place like this. This is all her fault.
"Please just give me a chance to get the money…" I plead before he cuts me off again.
"Sweet cheeks, it's not gonna happen, you had a good thing going for a while there, you entertain your guests I get my rent –that's how this works."
"I can't…I can't do that any…" I sob.
"Not my problem." He states coldly.
"Hey, watch the door for me while I take my morning constitutional and I'll pay you thirty bucks, huh?"
"Sure Bobby."
As I stand defeated behind the desk I notice a towel under the counter – maybe he's hiding money there I think. I lift it to find a hand gun which I quickly slip into my purse, maybe I can pawn it. I take off before he returns from his morning dump. Asshole.
….
The morning after Luke's shooting (Police radio communication blaring in the background)
"Mr. Grey? This is Detective Wallace."
"I am calling to let you know we have located Adina May, and she is deceased sir."
"Her body was discovered by fishermen floating in Portage Bay this morning…Yes, we are not certain but it appears she may have jumped from the Ship Canal Bridge."
"No, there is no trauma to the body, it looks like she drowned. We'll know more when the coroner completes his report."
"Yes, she was identified by the photographs you provided in your email. And she was wearing the same clothing shown in the surveillance video of the shooting from the salon."
"No problem. How is Mr. Sawyer doing?
"That's great news – well tell them for me that Mrs. May is no longer a threat."
"You're welcome Mr. Grey. Have a good day."