.

Chapter 118

Marcus

Edward

"Oh ...!" said Evelyn Carter merely.

She had understood the meaning of this gesture.

On the one hand, she thought reproachfully about how Marcus could have concealed THAT from her. This age difference. He had only ever talked about 'parents' in general, but never mentioned that Leah's father was relatively younger. She had never expected to now be standing in front of a boy who was as old as her own son. On the other hand, Evelyn pondered what to make of our touching. Her husband's strict views ran through her head. I now realized that he was not as naive as Becky's father. He didn't persuade himself that his children were too young for physical love. Even with Jules, he was very realistic about this, and he was aware that sooner or later she would have this experience. He was merely of the opinion that ribaldry of any kind was absolutely inappropriate in public. Thereby, holding hands was already considered one in his world view and belonged in the intimacy of the private bedroom. Furthermore, Evelyn tried to figure out what she should all together think about it.

She looked to her son, whom our affection no longer tangent.

She looked at Leah, who only ever spoke of her father. Even so few minutes ago, she had naturally said that her dad had driven her here.

She looked at Carlisle, who merely smiled encouragingly at her.

She looked at Maggie and Jules.

However, they looked just as confused as she was.

Evelyn breathed a little easier.

She was apparently not the only one who had been deprived of this trifle.

Marcus impressed me once again with his intellect.

He broke the tense silence with a guileless question, "So how did Jake's game go?"

"Until we set off, we were in the lead. And quite clearly!" I explained.

He commented with a nod.

He was pleased to hear that, but it caused him a certain amount of headache as the captain of his team. If both Jake and himself continued to win every game as they had been doing, they would face each other again in the finals. A thought that both displeased and pleased him!

Maggie's cellphone rang.

Her boyfriend wondered where she was and further stated that he was about to meet 'his boys' but would not be late.

Maggie didn't tell him for the time being that she was at the hospital with the rest of her family, so as not to worry him. He couldn't do anything anyway, so she didn't need to spoil his good mood.

"Ma ... you might want to tell Marcus and Jules what was in that letter. Why you were so ticked off!" Maggie said after she finished talking.

I heard their deliberation and suggested a change of location beforehand. No one was seriously injured and thus all could leave the hospital. I said that there were certainly more comfortable places than this small sterile room. Besides, everyone here - the 'humans' of us - should be hungry by now.

Not to mention the wolves!

Bella recognized the intent in my proposal and invited the Carter family to our home.

The family had some things to discuss with each other and I wanted to get a possibility to look at Mr. Carter's attorney's brief in full and not just hear some bullet points in Evelyn's mind.

Everyone agreed.

Carlisle handed two more prescriptions to Marcus.

I chuckled again.

One actually had a painkiller written on it. He read the other one, smiled contentedly - while wincing because of his painful bruises - and demonstratively held the note in front of Leah's eyes.

Strict bed rest and personal all-round care from a nurse you trust!

I gave Leah a reminding punch on the shoulder!

She was already thinking about how this care would look like with her. How she would pamper him from head to toe.

She bit her lower lip and looked at me caught.

And slightly red in the face.

We spread out between the two vehicles.

My BMW with Bella, Jules, and Evelyn.

Maggie drove Marcus' bus, where he had apparently lain in pain on the way there. He laid down in the back seat more than he sat, and Leah, of course, sat with him.

I helped Marcus get in and later out of the car and supported him a bit on the way.

Leah could have too, of course, but his family wouldn't understand why Leah was physically capable of supporting her nearly six-foot-tall and athletic boyfriend.

We sat down in the dining room.

Marcus wasn't sure if he would get up from the sofa again once he was sitting. In addition, this way - despite the preparation of dinner - we were all able to talk.

I handed Marcus two ice packs, a glass of water and the painkillers we had already fetched from the hospital pharmacy. Then it got a bit crowded and confusing at times with us.

Jazz was the first to come.

I had expected that, after all he had maneuvered Bella's Honda back to us.

He announced that our team had won the game and that Bella's motorcycle was running like on rails. She should step on the gas more often with the machine, it needs that in between.

I looked at him evilly.

Hopefully Bella didn't take him at his word!

He introduced himself to the strangers, playfully made fun of Marcus's fall from the stairs, but immediately took away his pain as compensation.

Marcus smiled with relief and breathed deeply.

For the first time without pain. He very much hoped that Jazz would stay longer.

Then soon also came Esmé, Rosalie, Becky, and Emma.

Emma ran right into my arms and also told me that Jake had won.

I introduced Esmé as my mother, Rose as my sister, and Esmé chatted directly with Evelyn, after asking and explaining at length how Marcus was doing.

Emma unfortunately wanted to get off my arms again. She wanted to crawl onto Marcus' lap, which was not such a good idea today.

Ever since he had saved her from a fall at breakfast, Emma had been quite enthusiastic about Marcus. A statement that I had merely commented with rolling eyes.

So, she took Becky instead and first explained to him in detail that he wouldn't have a chance against Jake. Nobody would. Only her daddy, maybe.

Becky agreed unequivocally.

The two girls were in complete agreement on that.

I joined Bella in the kitchen, who was actively supported by Leah, but whom I now relieved so that she could take care of her boyfriend.

I pulled my angel - finally again - into my arms and kissed her persistently.

"Why did you take Emma to the game anyway?" my angel asked, which reminded me to still let David know we were back home.

"David wanted some time!" I purred in her ear.

"For what?"

"To spoil his wife a little. Sonya came home without the boys," I explained.

"Parental leisure time! I could also use that again!" she kissed intoxicatingly over my lips.

Me too, I thought. Continually, there was something going on here. We hadn't had a whole day to ourselves in such a long time. Thereby for me it was not about lying in bed the whole day. Whereby, I would also have nothing against it. I just wanted to spend time with my angel. Talk to her about God and the world, see her laugh, read her the wishes from her eyes, enfold her in my arms, experience or discover something with her. I should not complain! My beloved lay in my arms every night. My children were happily in love. As parents, there were no significant complaints from us at the moment. I had found a true friend and loved his family as much as he loved mine. My goddess in my ... Oh yes, I already mentioned that.

I hugged Bella to me, sucking in her flowery aroma.

Soon, my angel. Very soon we would have a day to ourselves. My preparations were already underway!

David took his time until he actually picked up Emma.

My chances that he simply forgot Emma at our house were slim to non-existent.

He greeted everyone, visibly in a good mood. He patted Marcus on the shoulder in a chummy manner, which made him cringe despite Jazz's assistance.

"There is quite a bit going on with you guys!" he noted after kissing Bella, greeting me, and nibbling on the food.

We just nodded and briefly explained the circumstances to him.

Bella asked how Sonya was doing. She had not seen her since the weekend.

I really asked myself what Bella was doing all day. I had thought as Sonya was not working that Bella would certainly spend some time with her. Apparently, I was wrong about that.

"Very good!" however, David only answered with a mischievous smile.

Bella understood the answer even without hearing his thoughts.

He got - like Leah earlier - a punch in the neck.

With him I had also talked in more detail about my gift. Also about the fact that I only knew about Sonya's small tattoo because of him. The birth dates of her children in Roman numerals - directly under her heart.

Last but not least came Jake.

On time for dinner. Wolves had to have something like an internal GPS signal with an alarm clock for this.

He dropped his bags at the coat rack and two girls ran up to him.

Becky and Emma.

Becky let Emma go first, because David was only still here with her because she really wanted to tell Jake how great he had played.

He picked her up, got a kiss and Emma made it clear again that no one could hit him.

"He does," Jake said, however, pointing at Marcus.

Emma began to ponder.

Looked cute. Her seemed to just realize that she had never seen Marcus play.

"When he has his next game, I'll show you how good he is," Jake promised.

Emma nodded decisively.

So David and Emma disappeared, and Jake was finally able to greet his girlfriend in a befitting manner.

This kiss lasted a while. The two got only casually that my family was saying goodbye.

"Stay for a while!" Marcus desperately looked at Jazz but he went anyway.

I really felt sorry for how Marcus had to suffer from the multitude of his injuries. And the pain was immediately visible to him again as soon as Jazz was out of reach.

After Jake and Becky were able to tear themselves away from each other, we were greeted by him, and each received a quick kiss on the cheek before he sat down at the dining room table.

We talked about the game.

I listened to Evelyn Carter's thoughts in the meantime.

It had been busier than average here in the past hour, and she reflected on what all she had seen. Affection. Ubiquitous unabashed affection between very different people. Jazz, who simply hugged Bella. Esmé, who hugged Leah in greeting and got another kiss on the cheek, as well as from Bella and me. David kissed Bella on the mouth. Emma's open-hearted nature. Jake extensively greeting his girlfriend. Marcus and Leah, who had now returned to their usual intercourse in the house, kissed again and again, held hands or tenderly stroked each other's faces. The love between Bella and me. She wondered. On the one hand, that obviously no one found it unseemly. On the other hand, that she also did not mind being a witness to these caresses. It seemed natural. And honest. She discussed with herself the views that her husband had preset. Thereby I made a sad discovery. Evelyn had subordinated herself to her husband and completely forgotten who she actually was. The achievements of feminism played no role in this marriage. I had thought that the times when this was the rule were long gone.

Meanwhile, I explained that I had a special nutrition plan and therefore did not eat anything now. The reason for this was a rare form of diabetes associated with an immune deficiency, which is why I was relatively pale and cold.

"But no, I could easily live to be a hundred and twenty-three years with this!" I reassured the three unenlightened guests, while everyone else smirked.

I had one arm hanging over Bella's chair and was gently stroking her back.

I reminded myself not to overdo it with that and not to slide into the back of the neck to tickle her lovingly. Otherwise, Bella would forget to eat. Or to breathe. Or both.

"So, father called!" meanwhile, Marcus got to the point after the table was cleared again.

Evelyn swallowed.

"Not him. I got a letter from his lawyer," Evelyn corrected. "He wants to sell the house and is giving us until the end of the month to clear it out. Anything left in the house on the next first will be disposed of."

"What?" asked Marcus and Jules at the same time.

"But that's already next week!" followed up Marcus.

Evelyn nodded.

That's why she was so freaked out this afternoon.

I said that this was certainly not legal and asked if she had the letter with her.

She handed me a crumpled writing from her purse.

I ironed it reasonably smooth and began to read it aloud, since Marcus was interested in its contents as well.

This man was crueler than I had imagined in my wildest imaginations. He not only wanted to sell the house, but he also didn't want to give a cent of the proceeds to his wife and their children. The divorce he considered only a formality, whereby he mentioned not to be liable for maintenance. The children were no longer toddlers, so Evelyn could take care of her own living expenses.

Evelyn had tears in her eyes.

Tears of despair.

Jules tried to comprehend the words in their entirety, while Maggie and Marcus were inwardly seething with rage.

"Mrs. Carter. Will you allow me to present this pamphlet to a lawyer?" I inquired.

"What good is that going to do? This is from a lawyer," she meant.

I smiled indulgently.

Evelyn lived in a world where the husband was the law. She would believe his every word, as long as he made it even remotely convincing.

"I can assure you that not a single word in this letter corresponds to the truth," I began to say. "From what I know, you've spent the last few years taking care of housekeeping and raising children."

She nodded.

"Your husband cannot seriously expect you to be able to make a living on your own overnight. This is not only devoid of all reason, but also of any form of good manners!" I said firmly. It was a bottomless insolence and an insult to her fulfilled marital duties to deny her alimony. Shameless! An impertinence unequaled.

Marcus and Maggie agreed with me, calling their father an ass, scum, and the like.

Bella quenched my inner anger about it. With just a gentle hand on my cheek. I looked into my beloved brown almond eyes and relaxed.

"But there is something else that needs to be clarified with your husband," I continued calmly now. "Your husband is liable to pay alimony! For you, until you enter into a new marriage or waive payment due to your own earnings. And for the children - until they have fully completed their education. Maggie. You will certainly already be in the workforce" I asked.

"Yeah, sure. I've been working for three years," she confirmed.

As a publisher's reader, I gathered from her thoughts. She had an excellent degree in philology - i.e., in media management and linguistics - and additionally even graduated with a minor in publishing economics and business administration. I was impressed, already knew Marcus' extensive plans, and was genuinely curious as to what Jules was aiming for in terms of a study-combination.

"I am not aware how the financial situation of your marriage is and it is none of my business. But Marcus's previous plans will be costly. And Jules will also certainly want to go to college," I added for consideration.

Evelyn nodded as she realized that she couldn't do this financially on her own at all. Unless she won the lottery.

"He can't request you to leave the house on such short notice as was demanded in the pleading. A sale of the joint property is certainly entitled to him. However, this is also accompanied by the division of the proceeds, insofar as a marriage contract between you does not state otherwise."

I breathed a sigh of relief.

There was no prenuptial agreement.

"In addition, there is your current living situation. From what Marcus told me, you are temporarily staying with your sister and Marcus and Jules are staying with Maggie ... Unless he's here," I smiled.

I flashed over briefly in my thoughts the past two weeks.

Marcus' life took place in Portland. School, his friends, his work at the diner, and his athletic activities were all there. It was the same for Jules. So the two stayed in Portland after school and didn't go back to Saco until later in the day. It wasn't until the evening that he stopped by Leah and also stayed mostly overnight. It was a pleasant situation for both of them. It gave them both time for other things, but they still saw each other every day. And most of the time it ended that he stayed here.

We talked for some time about the whole situation and together we calmed Evelyn down.

She had existential fears.

I asked again if she would agree to contacting an attorney.

"I don't think I can afford it. A lawyer like that is pretty expensive," she reflected.

"Don't worry about that," I replied immediately, pretty much downplaying a standard attorney's fee.

I scanned the letter and emailed this to Mr. Corbin, with sufficient additional information about the Carter family.

Evelyn had been watching Leah and Marcus very closely throughout the evening.

What her son looked like. How outspoken he dealt with his girlfriend. She had never seen that before. Maggie was also surprised - joyfully - by Marcus' open-hearted manner. Of his acquired reticence as far as physical closeness under parental supervision was concerned, there was hardly anything left once Leah had lured him out of his reserve. And he was happy with that.

"Can I ask you something personal?" I turned to Evelyn.

She nodded.

"Marcus told us that your husband was a bit ... headstrong ... regarding physical contact in public. May I ask how he came to that opinion?"

"My husband is from Colorado Springs," she began to say, feeling uncomfortable dryness in her mouth and sipping on her glass.

My family, meanwhile, looked at me in confusion for a moment, as if they weren't sure if that could somehow suffice as an answer for them.

"One of the most conservative cities in the country, characterized by a mega-church and military installations. Feminism, anti-war demonstrations, the hippie movements and the like have arrived there - if at all - only very delayed," I explained.

Evelyn nodded in agreement.

Marcus thought about it.

The answer was not enough for him. Not by a long shot!

He leaned forward against the table, clenched a fist under the tabletop, and wanted to say something, but I held him back for a moment.

"Get Jules out of here!" I asked my children inhumanly quietly. She didn't have to witness with what inner rage Marcus was about to snap at his mother. She was no longer a little girl at the age of fifteen, but it might still shock her a little to see how one intended to accuse her mother. In addition, a short delay would possibly calm Marcus down a little.

"Your blouse took it pretty hard with your fall down the stairs," Becky said promptly after Jake whispered something to that effect to her.

She stood up and held out her hand to Jules in an inviting manner.

Jules grabbed her and pulled herself up from the chair by it, as she was also suffering from some contusions.

"Come on. We'll see if we can find a replacement for that," Becky said cheerfully and the two of them went up the stairs.

'Was that you?' I heard Marcus ask in his thoughts.

I nodded.

'Thank you!'

He waited a moment until the girls might have disappeared into a room in his opinion.

"Is it part of good manners in Colorado Springs to beat up your kids, too?" asked Marcus, who had actually relaxed a bit as a result of the brief interruption.

Nevertheless, the anger could not be ignored.

Evelyn was startled and looked biasedly at the glass in her hand.

"Marcus!" Maggie jumped up from her chair.

She understood that he was furious, but did he have to snap at her mother like that? As if it was only her fault?

Leah said nothing.

It wasn't her fight, but she gently put a hand to Marcus' cheek and drew his fanatical gaze to her. He calmed down immediately as he drowned in the chocolate of her loving eyes.

Leah was far less surprised than I had suspected. She sorted out in her head the many little hints he had made to her. He had never expressed it so clearly, but to whom did one tell such things voluntarily? Although I knew his thoughts, the extent had not become clear even to me, although we had talked extensively in private last week.

I felt an icy chill run down my spine as I now caught fleeting glimpses of many different situations in Marcus', Maggie's, and Evelyn's thoughts.

I put a hand on Marcus' shoulder to express my compassion and my understanding.

His phase of truculence had been in reaction to his father. Marcus had received very many - sometimes very brutal - beatings at the hands of his father, sometimes for no apparent reason. To punish him for something, to remind him of his upbringing, to illustrate his paternal power. Marcus knew no explanation why his father was always so insensitive to him, of all people. He had asked his father, but never received an answer. To his sisters, on the other hand, he had not made this antiquated conviction as clear as to him. He had never raised a hand against his daughters. Therefore, Marcus looked towards his mother - besides the vicious flashes in his eyes - with extraordinary interest. The mother who had allowed it. Who had never stood in the way of her husband to protect her son, who had also once been a little boy.

She guiltily raised her gaze to her son.

"He lost his father in the Vietnam War. He was five years old then. His mother was a typical housewife, as was expected of a decent woman there in the sixties. Alone, without a man, she was lost with her son. So, she remarried. A war veteran. However, this one treated her quite badly. He saw her as an object of utility. Cook, clean, do laundry, be at his service at all times ... and willing ... If she was not, she got to feel his anger. Whether your father was there or not didn't matter to this violent man ... He had to watch how his mother was beaten up and used ... The fact that his stepfather had absolutely no hesitation in becoming violent in front of a young boy and demanding his conjugal rights left its mark on your father. He understood that this was not the right way to conduct a marriage ..."

She held herself tightly to her daughter's hands as she told her husband's story. Her voice trembled more with each word.

To give Evelyn a little breather, I continued to speak, which I realized from this behavior. Because in the other thoughts I heard, her speech only caused confusion. One was generally concerned, but it was no answer. Neither to Marcus question of the excessive chastisement, nor to my in-depth question of the lack of affection.

"You mean he went from one extreme to the opposite extreme. He saw how his stepfather, without any sense of shame, was attacking his wife and wanted to change this for himself, but then he overshot the mark, which resulted in the strict rejection of physical closeness. He forbade not only himself any physical contact with the opposite sex among witnesses, so as not to be considered such an inhuman in any case, but also his son."

She nodded affirmatively and looked at her son.

"That you could become such a man like his stepfather was, he wanted to prevent at all costs. He was never beaten by this man, and he saw it as the key to his purpose."

Every psychopath had something that drove him! It didn't matter how disproportionate, illogical, or just sick one thought a behavior was, in the end everyone had their very own and personal reason for their actions, even if no one else could comprehend it.

We were silent.

No one knew what to say about it. Everyone pondered the many words of the past minutes. Tried to understand the meaning of the action, but no one was successful with it.

"You never stopped him," Marcus muttered to himself.

"No," his mother murmured, on the verge of tears.

She recognized her own guilt. It had happened as long as Marcus could remember, and no one would be able to make up for it.

Marcus lifted his gaze to the side.

To Leah, whose hand he held and who still looked at him very gently. He mobilized all his strength and pulled Leah onto his lap.

He didn't care how much the bruises and contusions and wrenched bones mutinied against him. He wanted to feel Leah in his arms. Her warmth, her love. His whole past life was so unimportant. He could not change any of it. Important was only now! Here and today!

Marcus, of course, stayed with us while his mother and sisters said their goodbyes.

I drove all three of them to Maggie's apartment, where they would also stay tonight, and Jake took Becky home.

The weekend only started for the two tomorrow.

When I returned home, Leah was already waiting for me. She was still sitting at the dining table with Marcus and my personal angel.

"Your answer earlier?" Leah began to ask. "Does that mean you plan to pay Mr. Corbin?"

"Of course!" I said, and my Princess took me in her arms.

"We ... can't ... accept that!" Marcus decided, however.

Tormented as he rose from his chair.

I smirked inwardly.

Due to his numerous bruises, he had not succeeded as resolutely as he had imagined.

"Yes, you can!" I objected. "What your father is doing is wrong."

"How would ... you ... know that?

"I'm old enough to have not only studied medicine!" I only answered.

My angel smiled delightfully.

I sat down next to her on a chair, pulled her sideways onto me, and gave Bella a soulful kiss on her temple.

I explained my motives to Marcus in a little more detail.

With such behavior, his father insulted his mother. The sacrifice with which she had raised the three and subordinated herself to him. I had not exaggerated when I said that not a single word corresponded to the legal facts. That he had found a lawyer to draw up this pamphlet for him in this form surprised me. And it was precisely this injustice that I wanted to protect him and his family from. It was a personal need for me to literally rip Mr. Carter's ass for his impudence!

Marcus gave in and thanked profusely.

Jake and Leah were still making their rounds.

But Jake went upstairs as soon as he was there again.

He still wanted to make an urgent phone call to a star.

Leah was helping Marcus find the long way to her room and I was carrying my angel on my hips to our bedroom.

In the hallway, goodnight was wished on all sides and the doors flew shut.

I let myself - as I did this morning, with Bella on top of me - fall across the bed.

"Where were we interrupted this morning exactly?" I inquired.

"We had less on then though," Bella reprimanded me playfully, propping herself up on my chest with her warm little hands.

"That can be changed ..." I said and caressed her forbidden sweet lips ...

Thank you for reading!