Chapter 10- Accident
Philip's POV
Keeping you safe is a fulltime job, Andrea. I have helped you move out of your filthy apartment. I got your trash boyfriend to move hours away. I deleted all the facebook messages he sent you, until you finally blocked him on your own. I have paid off your credit card and student loans.
I take you to Florida to watch all three nights of Amy's play. We go out to dinner with your parents at their favorite Mexican restaurant. I pay for everyone's meal. I take you, Amy, and Penny to Disney World. We had an amazing time.
Your mom and sister love me. Your dad is a bit more protective. I get it. I would be the same way with Penny.
I am a thirty- nine year old man with a child. Not exactly the perfect match, for his beautiful twenty four year old daughter,who is graduating from Law school. He even mentioned Shane, so I guess he met your family at some point too. Your dad is a cop. So obviously he respects Shane for being on the force.
I talk to him about my four years in the military and he seems like me a little more. Though I could understand why he'd like Shane more, I am probably trying too hard because I want your family to love me. Plus Shane is closer to your age. I know the fifteen year age difference upsets your dad. Anyone could see his distaste for me.
I hear him talking with you on our last night in Florida. We are about to head back to the hotel, and the two of you are drinking tea at the kitchen table.
"He seems really nice, Andie. I just hope you are with him for the right reasons. Not financial," he says, believing my money is the reason she is with me.
"I do like the fact that he provides for me. But it's more than that dad. He looks at me like I am an angel. Not to mention his daughter Penny. I love her so much. I did plan on marrying Shane but marriage wasn't what he wanted," she says truthfully.
"Why don't you talk to him one last time? He called me last week in tears and guys like him don't cry unless it's real. Just give him a call. Give yourself closure, before making any long term commitments that involve a man who has a daughter," he says making his case for Shane.
"Shane decided to move away on his own. He wanted to focus on his career. So I moved on with Philip. I am happy and I want you to be happy for me too," she says, still sticking up for our relationship.
"If he makes you happy then I'll support you. No questions asked. But I do think you should wait a little bit longer before getting married. Get to know each other first. Wait till you are a little older. You've got your whole life ahead of you," he suggests.
"Dad, I am almost twenty five. I really want to have a baby before I am thirty," she says, giving him a kiss on the cheek. We said our goodbyes but I am bothered your dad doesn't like me.
Don't worry Andrea, I will win your dad over. He will see that no one will protect you like I can. Your sister and I have already formed a friendship. I am so happy that at least most of your family loves me. I should have known your dad would take longer to warm up to.
I am trying so hard to focus on work, when you text me a picture of you and Penny at the mall. You send pictures of you two at Build A Bear, eating ice-cream, and getting your nails done. I am so proud that the two of you are bonding. Penny has been through alot losing her mother. I know you are slowly starting to become her new mom.
And it's healing for the two of you. Because I know you long for a child. The one you aborted.
Penny has been missing her mother. It's filling a void for both of you.
I am almost done for the day, when Michonne shows up at my office. Why is she here? I thought closing my laptop.
"Michonne, I was about to head home. I didn't know, you knew where I worked," I said looking up from my phone.
"Your family owes a chain of grocery stores. Wasn't hard to locate the address of your home office," she says, rolling her eyes at me. I know she is an artist for a living and I can see white and pink paint on her jeans. Andrea told me she is having a show next weekend. I knew Andrea model for some of the paintings, much to my displeasure.
"What can I do for you?" I asked,looking into her brown eyes.
"I want you to break up with Andrea. I know what you did to Shane," she says, not backing down.
"I've got nothing to hide. I don't even know Shane. Never met him in my life," I said knowing that she knows something.
"You know his boss, the chief of police Martinez. Shane told me he was pressured to take this new job by Martinez. Seems convenient his boss is your golfing buddy and he suddenly gets transferred to another police department right after you met his girlfriend," she says leaning on my desk.
"I have known Martinez since high school. We've been friends for years. Even if what you are saying is true, which it isn't. You have no proof," I said, ready to kick her out.
"Actually, I do. See I was able to access public records and I know that you brought Shane's house as soon as he put it on the market. Why would you do that unless you were trying to speed up his moving process? So if you don't dump Andrea on your own, I am going to tell her everything I know. And I am sure I can find out more," she says proudly.
"I am not dumping Andrea. She is not going to believe you. I buy houses all the time. I actually rent them out or sometimes resale them for a profit. Obviously,you have the wrong idea about me. I am just a guy trying to do right for the people I care about," I said feeling frustrated.
What if Andrea did believe her? I knew they had been friends for years, why would she believe me over her? With Andrea's dad Micheal already disliking me, how much more could go wrong before Andrea started questioning why she is actually with me.
"Well, I am telling Andrea regardless. Maybe, she'll believe me or not. I know you are obsessed with her. And I don't want you, anywhere near her," she says leaving my office.
I find myself following Michonne. I needed to stop her somehow. I am walking in the parking lot following her.
"Michonne, you don't need to tell Andrea anything. Just come inside and we can talk this out. Name your price. I have got more than enough," I said as she got in her car. Michonne says nothing but drives off in her ford Mustang. I find myself immediately driving after her. She is driving really fast, not paying enough attention. Traffic in Atlanta is no joke, I know she sees me in the rear view mirror.
I am so mad, I am ready to kill this nosey bitch. I am probably going to kill her. How did she find out all this information? I speed up, getting closer to her vehicle but not behind her yet. I honk the horn at her, causing her to look in my direction. She is driving too fast trying to beat me to the house. She wanted to find Andrea before I did. I needed to find Andrea first, but I do believe I could probably talk my way out of this situation. The only problem is Michonne wouldn't stop attempting to break us up. I really needed to get rid of her.
Michonne is still a couple cars in front of me driving way too fast, when she turns right into another car. One wrong turn was all it took. Looking at the wreck I know she probably didn't survive. I pulled into the other lane as the police officers and firetrucks started showing up to the accident.
Well,she wouldn't be saying anything to you, I think quietly to myself. I needed to get home and far away from this car crash. Sadly, I am stuck in traffic for a while. When I get home, you are waiting Andrea. You pull into your arms and my lips find yours. I make love to you,knowing your best friend is dead.
"Sorry it took so long to get home. There was a really bad wreck on the highway," I said holding her closer.
"I hope everyone is okay," she says not knowing anything yet.
Later that evening Maggie calls to let you know about the car accident. You confirm that Michonne is dead and I hold you for hours while you cry into my arms. I didn't mean for her to die but I wasn't unhappy that she was out of the picture. I know you'd be sad for awhile but we'd get through this together.
And just like Shane, you would be better off without Michonne.