Rising Up: Finding Me book 1

by J J Harper

  "Fuck! She's gonna skin me. Let's go." He turns all his equipment off and meets me at the door. "Hey, how come Ben Johnson was in your office?"

  "I've given him a job, he has a real knack at sorting out computers and databases, he can hack a PC like no-one else I've seen and I know some good guys. He's a pretty cool guy and it seems that he liked Imogen and was trying to warn her about Williams before he got fired. It will be good for her to have another familiar face around her. He's looking to move in with Austin so you'll be neighbors."

  "As long as he is happy with being her friend but I saw how he looked at her." I'm scowling at the memory.

  "Oh for fucks sake Mason, she's what seven months pregnant with your child and is right now trying to sort out a home for the three of you and that fucking horse you've bought her. There's no damn way that's a dog, have you seen the size of its feet?

  Jeez! But Ben seems to have his head on straight and has a strong belief in what's good and what's bad, he'll be good for my company, you're just jealous that he's a good looking bastard!"

  That makes me laugh and we head off out to my girl. I talk about my plans for a party for Ginny's birthday and Luc is up for it too. "Have you heard from Theo lately? I don't think he's been in touch with Imogen for a week or so, but I know you've become friends."

  "Yeah, he stays in touch but he has gone quiet, I'll give him a call tomorrow. He wants to open another therapy center here so he may just be bogged down with all of that, are you concerned about him?"

  "Not really, I just got thinking and wondered if he would fly back for his parent’s trial. I wouldn't be surprised if he had."

  "I hadn't thought of that, I'll call tonight instead. Anyway we're here now so go give that girl of yours a hug before your mom gets her claws out." He laughs.

  "It's not fucking funny, my mom is definitely a force to be reckoned with when she's pissed!"

  "I know dude, that's why I'm laughing."

  I see Ginny as we pull up and she starts to walk over to me while my mom stands at the bottom of the porch. "Hey babe, I hear you've had a rough day." After promising to be with her from now on I kiss her hard, I don't care if my mother is watching. I'm gonna kiss my girlfriend exactly how I want. Letting her go I walk over to my mom, I can hear Lucas taking the piss but I know this is gonna be a tough conversation.

  "Hey Mom, have you had a good day here, what do you think of the place, it's going to be great isn't it?" I try to act cool but I know I'm in for it.

  "Mason I'm disappointed in you, you should know better. I sure as hell raised you better. Imogen is exhausted from trying to get everything done just right in the short time she's been given. This pregnancy is hard on her, hell it's hard on any woman but she's got so much going on you should never have asked this of her."

  "I didn't think it through Mom, I just wanted her to stop working and spend her time enjoying watching her ideas come to life. I never wanted or expected her to take on every aspect of it and I thought she would just come home and we would talk things through and make all the final decisions together."

  "Well Mason that's not how it has worked out, her phone doesn't stop ringing with all the suppliers calling her. She was sat with her head in her hands when Lucas got here, and when he called me and asked me to bring lunch out I realized that you hadn't made up a lunch for her to bring. You know she wasn't coming to me until after the kitchen guy had been, and it's a good job I did come over because he was here for two hours so at what point in your head had you planned for Ginny to eat.

  That baby isn't going to get any bigger just on your wishes. Look at her Mason, I mean properly look at her, you are so damn lucky to have her but unless you want her to be on bed rest till this baby is born, you need to take some vacation from work and get your ass out here where it should be. You bought this place, you want it to be finished before your baby is born and you're the one sat fifteen miles away in your air conditioned office while your pregnant girlfriend is out here working her heart out for you.

  So that stops now. It's time to step up to your responsibilities, now I'm going to be here with her while you get your desk cleared and if you have any cases due in court then you need to call me or Imogen stays away from here. Don't make me have to have this conversation with you again Mason."

  "You're right Mom and I'm sorry, thank you for everything you have done for us, not just today. I don't think I would have got her back if you hadn't helped her. I will sort my desk out and I will be with her for as long as I need to be. I love you Mom." I reach down and hug her hard, listening to her whispers of encouragement.

  "Okay, now get your girl home and pamper her, she's too damn good for you." My mom laughs and tries to swat me around the head.

  "You're never gonna reach high enough Mom!" I walk her back to Ginny and see them embrace before she gets in her car and drives away. “C’mon babe, let's go home and talk this through." I kiss her softly and take her to the car.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Imogen

  I can't believe the difference having Mason with me has made, the work has sped up since we can be running different areas at the same time. The kitchen and bathrooms are going in right now and the floor goes down at the end of the week.

  "Mase, I'm going back into town I need to organize the delivery time for the curtains and pick up a few other things." I'm shouting over the noise of the fitters.

  "You’re doing what? The curtains? Oh, you mean drapes." He chuckles.

  "Curtains, drapes whatever you want to call them, I need to sort it out. And stop taking the piss. Make sure you watch Phoenix, he's started to chew anything left lying around." I blow him a kiss and go to the car. Lacey and Dane are following behind me.

  The trip doesn't take too long, so I manage to see Tamsin and Amber for half an hour between their classes. "God, it seems ages since I've seen you two!" I flop into a chair in the coffee shop. "What's going on, anything new?"

  Tamsin sniggers and nudges me. "Amber's in luuurve!!"

  "Oh my God Tammy, stop going on about it." Amber turns to look at me. "It's just that I'm still seeing Leighton and it's going really well. He's a great guy and I haven't had much experience with nice guys, so while Tamsin sits here and takes the piss I'm just happy to be with him! She’s just jealous and won’t date Lucas!" She is laughing and doesn’t quite catch my eye so maybe she knows too.

  "That is so not true! I am not jealous and I will date someone when I’m good and ready. Nobody I’ve found yet is good enough." We both raise our eyebrows at her.

  "Okay Tamsin, that's up to you but he really is one of the good guys, and be honest with yourself, when was the last time you actually saw him pick up a girl? Because I know for sure he hasn't been with anyone for a long time now. Maybe you should give both of yourselves the benefit of the doubt."

  I sit back and let my eyes rest on her for a while longer, just to remind her that I remember them leaving my place together, she does take on a very slight blush and then take a sip of my coffee and pray that no-one tattles on me to Mason, but one little latte is not going to send the baby in to caffeine frenzy.

  Not long after I say my goodbyes and start to make my way back to my car. My arms are full of bags, I couldn't resist buying a few things for little Cookie.

  Waiting at the intersection for the crossing to go green, I get jostled from someone behind me and get pushed into the road just as a car comes screaming around the corner and makes no attempt to brake. I feel Dane's hands on me pulling me out of the way at the very last moment, but I trip over my dropped bags and fall heavily on the floor. My head hits the ground hard and I clutch my hands to my stomach to try to protect the baby then I black out.

  Only a few moments later I'm awake again and Lacey is helping me to my feet. "Imogen, do you want to be checked out at the hospital? You've had a nasty knock on your head."

  "Has anyone called Mason? I'll get him to take me." I look around before trying to stand up.

  "He's on h
is way now, are you okay to walk? We can go and sit at the coffee shop to wait, I'll get you a glass of water." Lacey takes my arm and walks me back to the shop.

  It's fifteen minutes before Mason comes storming through the doors like a tornado. "Shit Ginny, what the hell happened?" He sits next to me and pulls me into his arms. "I can't trust you to just go shopping without you nearly getting yourself run over. How are you feeling?" He turns to Lacey. "Did she hurt herself?"

  This pisses me off. "I can answer that question myself Mason I am not deaf or stupid, please talk to me." I cross my arms over my chest and glare at him. But just to wind me up even more he just laughs.

  "Yeah but, babe, you never tell me the truth, so I'm asking the woman who is supposed to be protecting you." He turns back to Lacey. "So what went on?"

  Lacey tells him everything including something I didn't know, that Dane managed to get the number plate of the car and has gone back to Lucas with the details. He also saw a couple of familiar faces and wants to get the CCTV recordings.

  "Is that all really necessary, I was jostled and fell just as a car was coming, you're not going to tell me that those two seemingly separate encounters were connected? It was just bad luck and bad timing. I really think you are making too much of it."

  "Then it won't matter if we check it all out then, will it." He smiles and pecks my mouth. I know when I’m being placated.

  "Fine! Can we go home now? I banged my head and I'm tired." I look around. "Where have all my shopping bags gone?"

  "I've got them Imogen don't worry." Lacey smiles and reaches down to the floor.

  "Oh good, thank you Lacey. You have been very kind to me. Come on Mason, I want to go home." I stand up and hold out my hand.

  "We will babe, after we've had you checked out by a doctor." He smiles at me and I know by the look he's giving me I won't be able to get out of it.

  "Whatever, but I want pizza tonight! And ice cream." Okay maybe I am being a bit childish.

  "Anything you want babe, it's yours, so get that sweet ass out of here and in to my car. And maybe then you can explain why your lips taste of coffee."

  Shit! I'd forgotten about that. I look over at him and he's looking very smug. "Whoops! I may have had a small latte when I met Tamsin and Red for half an hour. It was only a small one, I promise."

  "Ginny it’s okay, a coffee now and again is fine, it was the complete caffeine addiction you had before we knew about Cookie that was a problem. I know your love of margaritas has had to be put on hold so I appreciate your sacrifices and I promise to make it up to you with ice cream tonight. I love you babe."

  “I know you do and you know I love you too. What did you get up to while I was out nearly getting myself killed?" I know I'm trying to make light of it when really I am beginning to believe someone is still out there trying to get rid of me, I just wish I could work out who.

  After a long wait at the hospital where Nancy, Jim and Beth all turned up to keep us company, Austin was out of town but he called to talk to me. I’m getting tired of telling people what had happened and start to fall asleep against Mason's arm when my name was finally called. Mason followed me through and after a thorough check on me and the baby I am finally allowed to go home and rest. Something I'd being trying to do for hours now.

  "Why did your family come to the hospital?" Mason is driving me home and I'm so tired I can hardly keep my eyes open.

  "Why wouldn't they? They were concerned about you, they love you too y'know." He sounds just as confused as I do. "I'm surprised Lake and Luc didn't turn up too. Wouldn't your family have gone?" He stumbles as he realizes what he has just asked.

  "Mason, my family couldn't care less about me. I would go home black and blue with taped up ribs and my hands splinted and they never even commented other than to ask what I'd done wrong this time. I can't get used to your family's concern, it’s just that I'm waiting for the rejection to start when they realize I'm probably not worth the bother." I sink back further in the comfortable leather seat and close my eyes trying to let sleep take over my body.

  "Imogen you astound me, you are so brave and strong but yet you still don't trust that you are worthy of mine or my family's love. Why do you doubt how important you are?"

  I open my eyes and look over at him, his beautiful face is lined with worry. "Because Mason, you are the first person I have met who has paid me any serious attention, all my life I have been either at best ignored or at worse humiliated and hurt. But you and your family talk to me like my answers are important to them, that my opinion matters to them.

  It's like living in a bubble that I keep waiting to burst and leave me alone again. I am trying to believe in myself, to build my confidence but each time I knock down a few of the walls that surround me and I start to trust that I am worthy of your love, something happens to wipe it all away again, because if this accident today turns out not to be just that, an accident, it proves that there is somebody out there who doesn't think I deserve to have a good life where I'm loved and valued and the walls go straight back up again."

  "Oh Imogen, babe. What else can we do to persuade you to understand how important you are and that I am never going to let you go. I love you, my family loves you and we are not letting you go. Ever. If this turns out to be more serious than we hoped, then we will sort it and get rid of the threat, you will always have me protecting you and keeping you safe because darling, you are more than worthy of my love, and I will spend every day making sure you understand that. I hate watching you punish yourself for other peoples’ actions."

  Mason has parked the car back at the apartment and I don't seem to be able to summon the energy to move, I start to pull myself together and reach for the door handle but Mason has it opened and is reaching out to take my hand. "Come on babe, you don't need to think any more, let's get you settled in bed."

  I suddenly panic. "Where's Phoenix? We've been gone hours. Shit Mason, where is he?"

  "It's all right babe, Tamsin and Amber have him, and I’ll get him as soon as you're settled in bed."

  "No, I want to get him first, he'll be worried." I walk briskly inside and wait for the elevator looking over my shoulder. "Hurry up Mase."

  He chuckles as he walks towards me. "Jeez Ginny, if you're like this over the dog what are you going to be like when we leave Cookie for the first time?" His arm goes around my shoulders and pulls me towards him and we step inside the elevator.

  "Why would we be leaving the baby?" I don't like the sound of that, I look at him all puzzled.

  "Babe, we are going to want to go out some time, we are not going to spend the next eighteen years sat at home, and you know my mother will be pushing us out of the door so she can spend time being the doting Grandma."

  "We'll see Mason." I lean in to kiss his neck, and scrape my teeth across the skin below his ear.

  "Stop that Ginny, you are not well enough for any of that tonight, let's get the dog and get you in bed sleeping." He runs his hand down my back and cups my backside gently squeezing. "Let's see how you are in a couple of days."

  Mason

  With Ginny asleep in bed I wander through to the kitchen and grab a beer from the fridge. Walking through to the front room I see Phoenix is already settled on 'his' end of the sofa and I haven't got the energy or heart to kick him off.

  I'm staring rather than watching the TV when my phone rings, startling me. "What's up Lucas, what have you found out?"

  "Are you still up? We want to come round."

  I can hear the urgency in his voice which immediately unsettles me. "Yeah, but Ginny's asleep so you'll have to be quiet, I'll open the door."

  Moments later Lucas walks in with Lake and Ben and none of them look happy. "Okay, you all look seriously pissed so what's going on?" I sit back down next to the dog and start rubbing his ears as small comfort to what I know is not going to be good.

  "It wasn't an accident. The car was being driven by Lauren and I believe that the person who pushed her was this woma
n." He pushes a print out of a woman I've never seen before.

  "Who is this, I've never set eyes on her before, what has she got to do with Lauren?"

  Ben starts to speak. "She's called Celia Montgomery and she was Williams' PA for years and knew exactly what was going on with him and Ginny."

  "Then why the fuck did she let it carry on, how involved was she?" I'm up again and pacing now. "Have you spoken to the cops?"

  "I have and they have already picked up Lauren for further questioning, and looking for this other woman." Lucas is rubbing the back of his neck as the tension rolls off him. “I think this other woman is the one who has been watching Imogen."

  "But what the fuck for? He's dead for Christ's sake, what benefit can she get from hurting Ginny?"

  A voice from the hallway startles all of us and Ginny is stood in the darkness. "Because Celia Montgomery is also Celia Montgomery-Williams. She is or was Jake's mother and seemingly wants her revenge." She turns away without even a glance at me and walks back to our bedroom.

  I turn to look at Ben. "Did you know that? Shit!" But he is shaking his head.

  Lucas' cell buzzes from his pocket and turns away to answer it. I look back at Lake and Ben. "When are you two flying out?" They are both heading to the UK for the trial.

  "Tomorrow morning, and shit Mase I wish I could stay but I've got to work with Imogen's British attorney, and Ben here is a witness. He has to testify that the Reids knew about the covert contract."

  "We haven’t seen or heard from Theo for a while, do you know if he's gone back too?"

  "Yeah, he has, he told Luc, he said he needs to see his parents one last time, I think he's been trying to get to visit them."

  Luc turns back to us. "They've got Celia Montgomery at the station and are questioning her right now. Although so far she has refused to speak. Look I'm going to check out the CCTV footage again and see if there is anyone else there we know and I haven't spotted yet. Mason, get some sleep you look like shit." He bumps fists with me and leaves.

  "Is it any surprise? My girlfriend nearly gets killed today! Look I'm gonna crash. I hope your flight is good and call me when you get there Lake." I accept the pat on my back from my cousin.