She opened the door for him and he was shoved into the room. Christ, he thought, it was a firing squad, and poor Holly was the one blindfolded.
After Dwayne sat down next to her, the meeting resumed. There were several men that eyed him, but none of them asked what the hell he was doing. Dwayne was glad for that, because he wasn’t sure how he’d answer them. Opening the notebook in front of him, he read the first line and looked at Holly. She just nodded at the man standing up with a face as red as a fresh apple.
“I don’t see what the problem is, Ms. Addington. Your husband would have approved of this move, and you’re just holding up the progress of our business. You need to make a firm decision and then—”
“I’ve told you my decision three times now, Burt, and I’m sticking by it. And my husband would not have agreed to taking all that farmland from the growers and turning it into a shopping mall. He would be rolling over in his grave should I even consider it.” The man huffed at her. “There are farmers there that depend on that land for their livelihood. You cannot expect them to be all right with this.”
“I still don’t see where the problem is. It’s land that you own, and there is no reason whatsoever that it should be just lying there with a few tomatoes growing on it for some family to have a bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich whenever they want one.”
Dwayne wanted to say something, but he wasn’t sure he was in any position to say a word. This was a meeting that he’d been literally tossed into, and he didn’t want to lose his job on the first day. Holly kept poking him in the leg and he stood up. Not sure how he got to his feet, he just stood there—he’d only meant to move away from her poking finger—but once he was up, everyone stared at him. Burt asked him what the hell he was doing there.
“I work for Holly the same as you. But I have a question for you, sir. You said that you thought that families were only growing tomatoes so that they could have a BLT. Correct?” Burt didn’t answer him, but he did roll his eyes. “I’ll take that as a yes. Where do you think the food comes from that you had for breakfast this morning? I assure you that it didn’t just show up at the grocery store.”
“I don’t think that, you idiot. Sit down before I sit you down. Christ, now we have teenagers coming in here and talking at meetings. I tell you, Holly, I’m ready to sell my shares and—”
“Sell them, then.” Dwayne went to the paper that was hanging on a wall as he continued. “Sell your shares and get out of here. I’m sure this meeting would go a great deal better if you weren’t spouting shit you have no idea about. Farmers put the food on your table, every single day of their lives. They don’t get time off for holidays, they don’t get paid unless someone decides to purchase their crops that they don’t put up for themselves. A paycheck doesn’t come to them if they sit in meetings and bluster about how things aren’t going their way.”
Dwayne drew a bushel basket on the paper. Then he drew what he hoped looked like a tractor. Putting the price on the tractor that his father had wanted for years, he put the price of corn under the basket. Then he turned to the room.
“A farmer needs equipment every year to be able to feed you. As you can see by what a bushel of corn costs compared to a tractor, they need a great deal of corn to even be able to purchase the tractor. Then there are other pieces of equipment that will go with it—a seeder, something to plow the ground then cultivate it. Each of these add to the price of the tractor. Some farmers are several hundred thousand dollars in debt before they even put their first seed in the ground.” Burt said this wasn’t a meeting on the price of corn. “Oh, but it is. You want to take possession of the land that these farmers use. What do you think will happen to them once you do that?”
“They’ll have to find other jobs. What do I care? We need to cultivate that land so that we can put in more stores for people to spend money in. I don’t know if you realize this or not, but this company pays your salary.” Dwayne told him it was the farmers that did that. “And just how do you figure that? You really are a moron, aren’t you?”
“You’re a nasty prick, but we’ll talk about that later. If you take the land from these people, they have no income. Correct?” Burt said that it wasn’t any of his business if they had money or not. “You don’t think so? Well then, who will be shopping in your stores if they have no money? And if there are no farmers to put the food on their tables, they’re going to have to have it imported. It’ll cost more, and that will have to be part of the price you pay at the stores. People will no longer have the disposable income they had before. The farmers will have to pay back the hundreds of thousands of dollars on a job that pays nothing much more than minimum wage. After that, they’ll need, perhaps, some help from the government. Food stamps will be used more than before. Your taxes, the salary that you had coming in from Holly here, will be used to pay for the stamps, as well as the insurance that they’ll need because they can no longer afford to purchase it on their own. The banks that they borrowed the money from, they’ll have to go bankrupt then because—well, they have several million dollars in debt that they can’t collect on. Your taxes will go for that as well. You have to understand, Burt, that there is a trickle-down theory in all of this. Just by taking one farm away, you will affect everyone from the janitor at the schools to the teachers that aren’t being paid, as there isn’t enough income in the towns to pay them. Everything has an effect on everything. You just aren’t getting that. And also, you ever call me an idiot or a moron again, I will tear you apart and bury you under a sidewalk so that you’re never heard from again.”
Dwayne sat down and felt like a fool. When Holly patted him on the leg, he wanted to bolt to the bathroom. He’d just made a fool of himself, and he hated himself for being rude to the other man. There might have been more talk, but Dwayne was too busy beating himself up about what he’d done. He was sure that he’d be unable to show his face around here again.
Chapter 8
Raven was enjoying herself. She’d been to Columbus before, several thousand times, she’d bet, but this was the first time she’d ever looked around. She’d been working so hard that she’d missed seeing the world around her. And being with Sawyer, she saw things through his eyes, like they were both exploring a new city that they had only just discovered.
They bought things for Molly and Grandma. Raven could tell that Sawyer was checking price tags for things, and he usually ended up at the clearance rack before they left the shops. She didn’t mind. To be honest, she shopped like that too. Finding the best bargain was what kept her and Molly in clothing year round.
They didn’t so much as eat, but grazed things they thought they’d like. There was a street fair going on, one she’d wanted to attend for years but hadn’t had the time. Today was a perfect day for it. They collected bags like it was a race. Ate strange foods and drank exotic drinks.
By the time they got back to the hotel they were exhausted. Taking a nap seemed like a great idea, and she stretched out on the bed with Sawyer. Almost as soon as they were comfortable, she could have sworn that she was sound asleep.
Raven woke up screaming out a climax that startled her. The mouth on her pussy was devouring her, and she wanted so much more of it. Sawyer said that he’d have his turn with her, and he was making short work of making her feel like she was getting more than she had given him.
Sawyer massaged her thighs, her buttocks, as well as her breasts. She needed him inside of her, and no matter how much she begged him to take her, he only continued to eat her. Every time she came, Raven was sure that it was going to be the last that she could have. But as Sawyer continued to take her, the need that she had seemed to be more. She wasn’t getting enough from him. When she finally had more than she could suffer, because she felt that she was, she yanked his hair up and looked him in the face.
“Take me now.” He shook his head. “You either take me now or I’m going to kill you. I’m sure th
at it won’t go over well with your parents, until I explain to them how you left me hanging.”
“You’re in heat.” It took her befuddled mind several minutes to get what he was saying to her. “As a cat, it’s stronger, and if I take you now, you’ll carry my child.”
“I’m on the pill.” He told her that it wouldn’t work on her. That as a cat, no meds would work on her unless she took major amounts of them. “You’re telling me that if you fuck me right now, I’ll carry your child. And it matters little that I’m taking precautions.”
“Yes. I was going to talk to you about it, but you looked so delicious laying there all naked and warm. I didn’t want to—”
“Take me, Sawyer. Give me your child. Please.” Sawyer told her to be sure. There would be no turning back. “I want your child. I want us to raise all of our children, including Molly, to be good responsible people. Please, I want to have your baby.”
Sawyer crawled up her, tasting her skin, kissing her in places that she felt were not erotic. Her navel, the underside of her breast. Even her ears and the lobes that were a part of her. When he kissed her, taking his time, making her feel like she was a part of him, Sawyer slid into her and gave her the feeling that she was home, that there was no other place that she wanted to be than with this man.
As they made love, he was gentle with her this time, telling her how much he loved her. How he worshiped everything about her. When he moved finally, Raven cried out, her body coming in a short burst of releases, and she told him how much she loved him.
“And I love you, my dearest wife.” He continued to stroke the inside of her, watching her face, seemingly deep in her eyes. When he took her mouth again, this time with more savagery, she came so hard that she had to hold onto him. Then he came.
Raven knew that he was different this time. His body bowed back from hers, his arms taut with strength. His cock didn’t pound her this time, but stilled in her so that she felt the moment that his seed connected with her womb.
Nothing in her life could have prepared her for the oneness of their lovemaking. The child that they created was made from love. Raven held him to her, crying for the overwhelming feelings that she was having. Sawyer told her over and over again that she was his, that he belonged to her.
After waking up from their nap, they decided to leave in the morning. They had a lot of things going on, and Raven was looking forward to going back to work. Dinner was their first thought, however, and they decided to celebrate with a large dinner. By the time they found one that they thought would be good, it was nearly nine o’clock.
Her ringing phone had her groaning. Sawyer asked if he could take the call from her mom when she told him who it was. As she got ready, listening to him answer the phone, Raven decided that they’d have a lot of celebrating to do soon, and she couldn’t wait to tell Molly she was going to be a big sister.
“Hello, Merriam.” While she couldn’t hear the other end of the conversation, she could almost guess what her mother was saying. She’d be demanding to speak to her about now. “I’m sorry, but she’s currently not taking any calls from you. However, if you’d like to talk to me, I’m all ears.” Sawyer put it on speaker phone just as she was ready to take the phone from him when he laughed. “I’m sorry, my dear mother-in-law, could you repeat that please?”
“I said that I’m not speaking to you. That I wish to speak to my only child. You put her on this phone right now. I’ll deal with you later.” Sawyer told her no. “Did you just tell me no? I’ll have you know that I’m not some tart that you screw around with. I’m—”
“Yes, yes, I know, you’re an Addington. You’ll have to remember that your last name means squat to me. Now, as I have said, Raven is currently busy, but I’ll be glad to answer your questions.” Mother cursed at him, something that she’d not done in a long while. “My my, I can see now that you have a mouth on you. Not that it matters. It doesn’t change the fact that you’re not speaking to your daughter. We’re having a wonderful honeymoon, and I won’t have you messing around with our fun. And just for you, Merriam, I’ve just made an exception to our little secret. You’ll also be happy to know that we’re going to make you a grandma again. Perhaps you can refrain from pissing this one off so much that they refuse to speak to you.”
“Raven Addington, you had better answer me. I know darn good and well that you’re listening in on this call with the moron you think you married. I need to talk to you. You are not going to have this man’s baby. What are you thinking? And your father has filed for divorce, and I want you to talk him out of it. You and he have always conspired together, so you should be good at doing this for me. It’s the least you can do after all I have suffered from you and your stupidity.” Raven looked at Sawyer and smiled at him. “Raven? I swear to you if you don’t answer me, I’m going to—”
“I can hear you, Mother. If you think you’re going to get any brownie points with me by calling my husband a moron, then you’re sadly mistaken. You’re also mistaken when you say I’m not going to have this baby. Believe me, I will. And I’m not talking Dad out of anything. In my opinion, he should have done this long ago.” Mother cursed again. “What do you want? I’m having a good time, and I don’t want to have you spoiling it for me. Speak up, then leave me alone.”
“Is this because I smacked that illegitimate child of yours? Raven, you have to understand what sort of pressure I’ve been under of late. You would know if you were to pay any attention to me. But I guess that’s the way it goes. You made your mistakes, Raven, not I, and taking this man as your husband, you have to know that it’s not going to last. You’re going to be bored with him almost before the ink dries on your license. Break it off now and speak to your father for me, and I’ll try and get along with that child.”
“Her name is Molly, and there will soon be two children.” Mother huffed, then said Molly was a common name. “I guess you would know all about common names, wouldn’t you, Mother? Dad told me that you were nothing but a waitress at a gambling establishment when he found you.”
“That is not true, and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t spread such lies about me. I’ve had a hard enough time keep up appearances for what you’ve done to the family name without you going around and spreading more of your silly gossip.” Mother took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Now, about this meeting that you’re going to have with your father. I’d like to be there, but I can understand why I shouldn’t be. I don’t want anyone to make a scene, and I’m sure that your father will. He has no regard for how much we must make our names flawless. You talk to him and tell him that I’m the backbone of our marriage, and that he needs me to be there for him. I can just imagine the house now. He’s more than likely fired all the people that I hired, and has redone all the rooms to suit himself.”
“You’ve only been gone from his life...well, I was going to say only a few days, but you’ve been out of his thoughts for a lot longer than that, haven’t you?” Mother huffed at her again. “I’m not going to do anything you’ve said. You’re wasting my time and your own if you think I’m going to do anything for you.” She asked her why not. “Well, for beginners, you slapped my daughter and then me. I don’t think that is very endearing, do you?”
“You needed it. And so did that child of yours. I swear, Raven, you have no idea what it’s like to be me.” Raven told her that she was glad for that. “What a thing to say to me. Why, I’m the only reason that you’re still a member of good standing at the club where I go. Not to mention, I’ve been looking for you a good husband, one that doesn’t wear cowboy boots to the dinner table. You should be thanking me rather than putting me down.”
“I’ve never asked you to do those things. And just a reminder, I’m already married, and plan to still be married long after you’re dead and gone. As far as being a member of your club, Mother, I canceled my membership a long time ago. You, I’ve noticed, fit right in wi
th the women there. All of them are snippy fools that only think of one thing, and that’s how much money their husbands make for them to spend.” Mother said they were her best friends. “And that is exactly my point. You’re all alike. From your ‘Let me talk to the manager’ haircut to the way you order people around when you think you’ve been slighted somehow. Well, I’m over it. And so you know, now that I’m married, I plan on staying away from the place forever. I won’t have dinner with you there. No more luncheons, nor will I be attending any more of your little bitch sessions there. I’ve better things to do with my time than to snip at Patty Joe Bangles, or whoever isn’t at the table, on how she wears her hair now that you’re all sheep and have the same hairdo.”
Looking at Sawyer, who looked like he was ready to bust something to keep from laughing, she cut her hand across her throat for him to hang up. Her mother was still talking, but she no longer cared. She wanted her to leave her alone now that she had someone in her life that treated her with respect and loved her.
“My dear, can you tell me what a ‘I want to talk to the manager’ haircut is?” He laughed harder. “All I can see is a bunch of women standing in line at the returns counter looking like clones of each other and saying the same thing— ‘I want to talk to your manager’ —in a monotone voice that sounds the same with all of them.” She told him it was just like that with her mother’s friends. “I guess I need to pay better attention to haircuts now. I’m assuming that you don’t belong to the club for that reason.”
“No, I don’t belong there because I was paying to be a member yet I never went there. It was just easier to go to lunch or whatever in town rather than to drive there and have my membership inspected every time. Not to mention, they have a dress code that I never seemed to meet.” Sawyer asked her if she ever tried. “No. Why should I? I was paying them to allow me to eat there, then pay dues every year and not get a thing from it. Just so I could say that I belonged? No thanks. Are you ready to go eat?”
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