Loving Munroe

by Danelle Nelson

  “Nate?”

  “Jesus Christ, Vanessa! Where the hell have you been?” he screamed angrily into the phone. I pulled my own device away from my ear in response.

  “What’s your problem?” I scoffed, “I’m with my dad, what’s up?”

  “They released Matt from jail this evening. I got a notification on my phone. He made bail.”

  Shit. “I’m home, I’m with dad. You know Matt isn’t going to touch me here. He doesn’t even know where I am.”

  “I know. Tim’s losing his damn mind though. You need to call him.”

  “Okay, seriously? The man knows my fucking telephone number, Nate. Why hasn’t he called me. Why in gods name do I have to call him?”

  “He’s been calling you all night.”

  I put the call onto speaker and checked my missed calls, sure enough, there were twenty from Tim. “Oh.”

  “Now that I know you’re okay, call him. I’ll talk to you in the morning. Let Dad know that Matt’s out.”

  “Yeah, I’ll tell him. I love you, Nate.”

  I hung the phone up and called Tim. “Vanessa,” his voice cracked with emotion.

  “Hey Tim… I apologize for not answering earlier, I’ve been spending time with my Dad and left the phone in my room.”

  “I don’t care about that,” he sounded panicked, “Matt made bail. I don’t know how, but he did.”

  “I know, Nate called. I’m safe here.”

  “When are you coming home?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “You weren’t serious, were you? You didn’t really quit?”

  “In all honesties, I moved.”

  “You what?”

  “I moved back home. I’m moving back home, I should say. I can’t continue this, Tim. I feel smothered, I feel trapped. And on top of it all, you brought her to our sanctuary. To our home,” I choked back tears.

  “Vanessa, please. I didn’t bring her there, you have to understand that. I haven’t meant to smother you, I’m only trying to keep you safe.”

  “Matt’s been in jail though, Tim. What were you saving me from, exactly?”

  “From him! He could have gotten out at any moment, and we’d find out when it was too late. I couldn’t risk your life like that, Vanessa. You’re my world, my everything.”

  “I’m sorry, Tim. I’ve got to go.” The tears were running freely down my face, as I was unable to stop them. I needed to see him face to face, I needed to talk with him about this in person. Not over the phone. It was too impersonal.

  “Don’t, please don’t hang up.”

  “I’ve got to go. I’m safe here with Daddy. He’ll keep me safe. I’ll need to come back to New York and pack my things, get them shipped this way. I called a few moving companies but its too expensive. I’ll call you before I come. We can sit down, talk over coffee or something.”

  “When?”

  “I don’t know. A month or two?”

  “Ok… I’m sorry, Vanessa. For everything.”

  Chapter nine

  I woke the next morning ready to eat. It was only seven, but I couldn’t sleep any longer. I found Daddy in the living room, sitting down in front of the T.V with his morning coffee.

  “Good morning,” I poured myself a cup before joining him on the couch.

  “Hey sweetheart. How’d you sleep?”

  “Great! It was nice being in my own bed. Nate called me last night, Matt’s out of jail, he made bail.”

  “What?” His voice skyrocketed, and he set his coffee heavily on the table in front of him.

  “It’s okay, Daddy. He doesn’t know I’m here. I don’t know how he made bail, but he did. We’ll deal with everything else as it comes.”

  “This is ridiculous! I need to make some phone calls.” I watched as he stormed his way into the kitchen, picking up the landline and frantically dialing. “Sargent, this is Willy Fox from Millers Landing. I need to speak with you about Matthew Globstin.”

  I listened to my father’s angry conversation while I finished off my cup of coffee. From what I could tell he’d deciphered who’d bailed him out, as Matt himself didn’t have the money. He sat down next to me a few moments later, a new cup of coffee in hand, the other virtually forgotten.

  “Do you know who it was?”

  “A woman named Lacy Stevens.”

  I felt the blood drain from my face, my limbs going numb, “Are you sure they said Lacy?”

  “Do you know a Lacy Stevens, Vanessa?”

  “I don’t know her last name, but I do know a Lacy. She’s a friend of Tim’s.”

  “Get him on the phone, now.” I nodded, grabbing my cellphone and calling Tim. I handed my dad the phone and waited. “Tim? This is Willy, Willy Fox, Vanessa’s dad. Listen, I just got off the phone with the police department out there, they stated a Lacy Steven’s bailed Matt out of jail. Do you know a Lacy Stevens, Tim?” he paused momentarily, “Are you questioning my detective skills, son? Are you thick in the skull!”

  “Daddy!” I gasped, holding back a laugh.

  “Lacy Stevens, that’s right. That’s exactly what I said,” he paused, allowing Tim to speak, “I understand, mm,” he looked over at me, “I see. Okay, I’ll talk to you then.” He hung the phone up and handed it back to me.

  “What did he say?”

  “Doesn’t know her.” His entire attitude had changed in an instant.

  “What’s going on?”

  “Nothing,” he shook his head, taking a sip of the coffee.

  “Daddy, you can’t lie to me. You’ve never been able to, you know that.”

  “I’m going to call him back after lunch. Let’s go get breakfast, huh?”

  I raised an eyebrow, then shrugged, “Sure.” I was too hungry to say no. I’d put up a bigger fight after I had a meal in me. “Let me just go get ready,” I stood and made my way to my room. I hurried and changed, throwing an oversized hoodie on and some black yoga pants. My hair was in a messy bun, good enough for Sally’s. When I arrived back in the living room Daddy was already out in the car, so I grabbed my small purse and phone and headed out.

  Instead of finding my father in the car, though, I found Tim standing on the front lawn. A large bouquet of flowers in hand. “Vanessa,” he walked forward, causing me to freeze.

  “Tim,” I outstretched my hands and grabbing the roses. “These are beautiful.”

  “I know you wanted space, but I couldn’t give it to you, I’m sorry. I love you, Vanessa, I love you with everything I’ve got. I can’t let you slip away, not now.”

  My heart jumped out of my chest. I wanted to scream it back, I wanted to run into his arms. I restrained myself, though. “Is Lacy Steven’s the same Lacy we’re in this position because?” I had to know.

  “Yes,” he lowered his head, “I don’t even know how she knows him. Matt.”

  “Why would she do that?”

  “I don’t know. When she showed up to my house I let her in so I could tell her how serious we were. That I loved you, I told her I loved you. She freaked out, tried to kiss me, tried everything in her power to prove to herself that she was still relevant. When it didn’t work she stormed out. I was going to tell you right away, but Mr. Collin’s called me in the elevator that morning. I had to handle the deal and figured I’d be okay to wait until lunch. I’m so sorry, Vanessa, for everything. But I love you. I love you so much.”

  I couldn’t resist, I leaped into his arms, which caught me with little effort. Our lips met, and I buried my sorrow and frustration into him. “God damn you, Munroe. I love you, too,” I whispered, as the tears escaped.

  “Please don’t cry,” he wiped my tears away.

  “What do we do now?”

  “We don’t do anything. I’ll set Terry to work in New York, figure out exactly what Lacy is up to. He’s got old army connects.”

  “Please put someone on Nate,” I realized he was alone there, with Matt on the loose.

  “Already done. Had them pick up tabs on him late last
night when I found out he’d made bail. No one’s going to touch you, and no one is going to touch him.”

  “Thank you, Tim. Nate’s my everything,” I shuddered at the thought of him being harmed.

  “I know,” he kissed my forehead gently. “Let’s go get that breakfast though, huh?”

  “You’re coming to Sally’s?”

  “Promised your father I’d have you there within ten minutes.”

  “Then we’d better get going.” A sleek SUV sat on the curb in front of the house, “Does that thing follow you around or something?”

  “It’s a rental.”

  “Where in the heck did you find that at,” I raised an eyebrow. Millers Landing was a bit too small and back country for a sleek SUV like that.

  “I’ve got my ways.”

  “Are you sure you told him ten minutes? I’d like to take you in my bedroom, now,” I licked my lips.

  “Oh, there will be time for that. Only not in your bedroom. I’ve rented a hotel room,” he squeezed my ass, pulling me inwards and kissing me once more.

  “Mmm, I could get used to that,” I whispered, while biting his lip.

  “That’s only a taste.”

  We got to Sally’s within our ten minute time frame, the small restaurant sitting a mere mile away from the house. My father was sitting in our usual booth, Mary-Lou seated beside him. They were both grinning as we entered, waving their hands like we didn’t know where they’d be. “Hey Daddy,” I smiled, “Mary-Lou.”

  “Sweetheart, Tim, we’ve ordered already.”

  “Sounds great,” Tim responded. He reached his hand out and shook my father’s hand, before turning to Mary-Lou and shaking hers as well. “I’m Tim. Tim Munroe.”

  “I’ve read about you online. Quite a prodigy,” Mary-Lou exclaimed.

  “Ah, yeah, my story seems to be everywhere now. Anything you have questions on? Not everything you read is true, fortunately.”

  “Oh no,” she exclaimed, “I’m just so happy to see my Vanessa smiling, is all. She sure was gloom yesterday.”

  “Mary-Lou!” I shook my head, “I was not gloom.”

  “Oh, she was gloom alright. Had us all feeling the heartbreak. Care to explain that, Tim?” My father asked.

  I hid my head from embarrassment, “It was all a large misunderstanding, Sir. Lacy, Lacy Stevens, is an ex-girlfriend of mine. She showed up at my house and I allowed her in so that I could tell her we’d never be. That I loved Vanessa. It upset her,” he shook his head. “I’m having my security look into the Matt issue as we speak, hopefully I’ll figure out what the hell is going on here within the next few hours.”

  “Does she know him?”

  “No, not that we know of. The only connection we can think of is his connection with Vanessa. Why she’d go to that extent though is beyond me.”

  “You think she’s trying to harm me?” I questioned.

  “It sure appears that way,” Daddy replied.

  “That’s insane! Why would she want something like that?”

  “Love makes a woman do ungodly things, Vanessa. Things we wouldn’t normally dream of doing,” Mary-Lou pointed out.

  “Does she love you, Tim?” I’d never thought of it before, I’d never quite connected the dots.

  “Yes,” he replied quietly.

  “But you’ve never even brought her home,” I replied, confused.

  “You can love someone without them loving you in return, sweetheart,” Daddy chimed in.

  I guessed it was true, you technically could love someone without their love in return. She’d thrown such a small tizzy in the beginning though, surrounding our relationship. I’d figured after six-months she’d gotten over it and moved on. It appeared she rathe went into the shadows planning her revenge.

  “Am I the only one that’s fearful of the woman’s life?” Matt was insane and unstable. He couldn’t be trusted around any woman.

  “I don’t fear for her life, I fear for yours. Two minds seeking revenge are better at results,” Daddy shook his head vigorously.

  “Revenge,” Tim rolled the word around his tongue, toying with the idea, “I’d never thought of it, revenge. Does she believe she’ll win something if she harms you?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t think its this extreme, though. I mean come on, what will she gain from this?”

  “You’re being naive, Vanessa,” Daddy shook his head, “You’ve always seen the better in people. This is serious.”

  “I know that it’s serious. I understand that. I just don’t understand why.”

  “Sometimes why is out of our control, sweetheart.” Daddy turned his attention back towards Tim, “What are you going to do to keep her safe?”

  “I’ve already got security on her twenty-four seven. She’s at home with me when we’re not at work. I’m not going to let her out of my sight, sir.”

  “Wait a second. You can’t keep me locked away! I’m already feeling trapped, Tim, this is going to make it worse!”

  “I’m not trying to smother you, Vanessa, but there’s no way in hell I’ll let you out of my sight now.”

  “Smothering her isn’t the answer,” my father agreed, “Security details on both houses twenty-four hours a day and a personal escort to and from work. Unnecessary outings are out of question until he’s put back where he belongs.”

  “I could deal with that,” I nodded. “I’ve got to be able to go home when I’m feeling crowded. If I feel crowded. I think if we’re open with our communication it shouldn’t be an issue. I’m sorry I didn’t verbalize what was going on before.”

  “Don’t be sorry. I didn’t ask, either. I saw something was going on, and I ignored it,” Tim replied.

  “Are you okay with me going back to New York, Daddy?”

  “You did tell me to remind you what you’d be missing,” he laughed, “I’ll be okay, sweetheart. Mary-Lou here is taking great care of me.”

  Chapter ten

  I watched the pale blue Sally’s sign disappear behind us as Tim drove towards the small airport. He’d arrived on his private jet, which was waiting to take us back to New York. My father seemed to like him, agreeing with his plans on keeping me safe and offering his own police advice on the matter. He’d warned us both to stay clear of Lacy, whatever explanation we thought we’d be getting wasn’t worth our health.

  “I have this sinking feeling that you won’t be leaving Lacy alone,” I mumbled as the blue sign faded from view. The small, sleepy town of Millers Landing passed by the darkly tinted window, my old familiar life leaving me once more.

  “I don’t know,” Tim replied honestly, “It depends on what all Terry finds.”

  We drove by the small elementary school that I’d gone to as a child, the old wooden playground was worn by the weather, but still structurally the same. “I went to elementary school here,” I mumbled.

  “This town is small, I didn’t realize you came from such isolation.”

  “Isolation?” That was odd, “There are four-hundred thousand people that live here, Tim, it isn’t a ghost town. My graduating class had three-thousand students.”

  “I don’t mean isolated, like that. It came out wrong. I mean, it takes ten minutes to drive from east to west, and another ten to go north to south. You have to remember that I grew up in New York City, the Bronx. A place that you have to take trains and subways to get around.”

  “Oh,” he was right, this place was small, “It was nice though, growing up. Nothing bad ever happened,” I shrugged.

  “A tight knit community is exactly the type of place I’d like to raise our children.”

  “Our children?” The statement had caught me by surprise, causing me to peer over in his direction.

  “One day,” he smiled. He grabbed my hand and gently squeezed it, “Not anytime soon though. I’d like to keep you to myself a bit longer.”

  My stomach turned, but I didn’t respond. I simply nodded, attempting to take in the words and feel the joy embracing my soul. I�
��d never thought of having kids, but with Tim I thought of everything. I thought of marriage, of a life growing old and grey. I had avoided the children dream, seeing his work ethic and his cleanliness, I just never thought he’d be up for it—and I was okay with that.

  “You’re quiet. I hope my thoughts aren’t scaring you.”

  “No, I don’t know why but I’ve been preparing myself these past six months for the possibility of no children. They just didn’t seem feasible with your work ethic.”

  “You think I work too much for us to have children?”

  “Yeah, I do. You’re working fifteen-hour days lately. Hell since I took the job. Even when we’re at the apartment, you’re constantly on conference calls and responding to emails.”

  His face contorted, but he didn’t respond. Now it was my time to worry. I hoped my own words didn’t hurt his feelings. It was true, though. “I do get wrapped up in work,” he finally agreed. “I promise that when children come, I’ll lessen the hours worked. You’ll not want to be home alone all the time I suppose.”

  “What do you mean, be home alone? Why wouldn’t I still be working?”

  “What would be the need? Even now its unnecessary. If there are children, it’s highly unlikely that I’d allow you to continue on with the company.”

  Jesus, “You’ve got to be kidding me. Tim, you can’t tell me if I can work or not, and you sure as hell won’t fire me from my own job! How dare you,” my face heated and I pulled my hand away. We pulled into the airport a moment later, coming to a stop in front of a large private jet. “Is this yours?”

  “Yeah, bought her five years ago,” he stepped out of the car and walked around, opening my door and helping me out. I angrily shuffled towards the plane, an older gentleman was standing outside to welcome us aboard.

  “Welcome to the falcon, Ms. Fox. Mr. Munroe, Abby has your quarters ready and as soon as your settled, we’ll prepare for takeoff.”

  “Thank you, Alex,” Tim replied, leading me inside. The jet was beautiful, everything you’d imagine with it being owned by a millionaire. The seats were made of soft black leather, a beautiful embroidered TM sat in gold on the headrests. The windows were covered with maroon curtains instead of pull-down plastic shutters, and the chairs faced each other with a small wooden table between each row. There were three rows total, two to the left and one to the right, which housed more seats around it. Near the end of the plane was the stewardess’ quarters, along with a small bathroom and what appeared to be an office or bedroom.