by Debbie Zello
Gareth looked back at the master from the top of the stairs. His wide smile was even more evident as he thought about how he and Cheri had christened both the bed and the copper tub, in style. He had one more phone call to make as soon as he was alone. A wedding surprise for the woman he loved so much.
They walked back to Cheri’s cottage spotting the paper on the chair outside. “I wonder who left this.” Cheri said.
“You don’t get the paper?”
“At the office but not here,” she said picking it up and uncurling it. The headline read.
Local Attorney Caught With Pants Way Down
The article below was an overview of the hearing on Monday. It continued with a synopsis of the exposé that was broadcast last night. The last thing was a quote from the district attorney saying he is starting an investigation and considering formal charges against David. “He’s going to kill me,” Cheri whispered.
“He’ll have to get through me first,” Gareth said, gritting his teeth.
“No, he’s too smart for that. Head to head, he knows you’d win. He’ll snake around and find the under-belly. My weakest point, my kryptonite.”
“You know him better than I do. So how do we protect you against him?”
Cheri looked over Gareth’s shoulder to see the same process server walking around the corner of her house. He smiled and said, “I might be able to retire early just on my fee to serve you. I’m guessing I have a few more coming.”
“Let me guess, Grand Jury?”
“Wow, you must be Karnack or something. You’ve been served,” he said smiling. Cheri took the papers and read the top one. Grand Jury summons for next Wednesday. She opened her door and went inside with Gareth right behind her. “What does this mean?” he asked.
“The DA is looking into David’s personal and business dealings. I have inculpatory evidence. They want all of the data that Len and the team discovered.”
“That’s no problem. We’ll deliver it to them wrapped up in a nice bow.”
“They’ll return an indictment. He’ll be arrested, arraigned and make bail. He’ll spend maybe twelve hours behind bars. They’ll make him surrender his passport and freeze any and all accounts,” Cheri said, schooling Gareth on procedural law.
“Will he be able to practice?”
“I doubt it. He’ll probably be temporally suspended pending the outcome of the trial. With no money coming in he’ll have to sell the house. I actually feel sorry for him,” she said looking worried.
“Are you crazy? He tried and almost succeeded in making you take your life. I can’t wrap my mind around this whole thing. All I want to do is pack you up and take you back to California with me.”
“I have clients with important things happening in their lives. I have appointments with them to help them with their problems. I can’t just leave. Even though everything I want is with you and every one of my cells is screaming to leave. I can’t,” she said, putting her head in her hands.
“Okay. You’re not staying here. It’s too isolated. So, here are the choices. We move you into some kind of extended stay hotel where there are people around. You talk to Piper and see if you can stay there. Or you move to an apartment and get a gun and learn how to use it.”
Chapter Twenty
“You have such beautiful breasts,” Gareth said, nuzzling them. He loved to give them the attention he felt they deserved.
“Thank you. I’m thrilled you like them,” Cheri said, giggling.
“I love them, love you,” he said, beginning a leisurely stroll kissing down her body.
When he reached her hips and began to widen her legs, Cheri sat up resting on her elbows and said,” Gareth stop!”
“What’s the matter?” he said, looking up, concern all over his face.
“David didn’t…he didn’t.”
Gareth moved back up her body, laying her down until he reached her face. He looked in her eyes and said softly, “What do you say, we don’t worry about David anymore. What he did and didn’t do. What he liked and didn’t like to do. What do you say that we decide what we like and don’t like?
“I like to do this. I like to see what it does to you. If you don’t like it after we try it, tell me and we won’t do it again. Or I’ll change it until you do like it.”
Cheri smiled at him then kissed him deeply and said, “Okay.”
Cheri had to go into the office on Wednesday. She had appointments and a closing in the afternoon. She kissed Gareth good-bye at her car, wishing she could stay and spend the day walking on the beach and making love.
It was just as well that Cheri had to work because Gareth had a list of things to do. He was having a sophisticated alarm installed in her cottage by the sea. He also had a ring to buy in Boston.
Cheri walked into her office to see a bouquet of flowers on her desk. Beautiful pink and white roses with baby’s breath. The card was from Piper and her family. “Thank you, Piper. They’re lovely, and I appreciate the support.”
“We knew you didn’t do anything like that. You’re incapable of treachery and deceit,” she said.
“Not to mention stupid and far too trusting of one ex-husband. A lesson won hard and with much ado. I was served with a summons yesterday. The grand jury has been seated and they’re looking into David’s affairs.”
“Wow, he’s in big trouble now.”
“Huge. I don’t see how he’ll get out of doing time. The evidence against him is pretty solid.”
“I watched the thing on TV Monday night. It was bad, really bad. I don’t know him but after watching that I don’t want to ever know him,” Piper said, with disgust.
“Gareth is worried he’ll try something with me. I think he might, too. He doesn’t want me to stay at the cottage anymore. He says it’s too isolated.”
“He’s right. You could stay with us for a while. We have the extra bedroom. I’ll talk to Ben and I’ll have to do some straightening up. All of the junk tends to get put in that room.”
“I don’t want to be any kind of a bother. It could be months, Piper. I’m going to go to a hotel.”
“Wait until I speak to Ben. I know he’ll feel better if you’re not alone. He doesn’t trust David anymore than Gareth does.”
Gareth contracted for the security system. Cheri’s little cottage would be a fortress when he was done with it. He even asked about mounting machine guns that could pivot to cover the perimeter of the house. The sales clerk laughed until he realized Gareth was serious. “We don’t have anything like that, Mr. Marshall.”
“Too bad. Now you understand what I’m looking for.,” Gareth said, in all seriousness.
“You said two doors and ten windows, right?”
“That’s right.”
“Around eight hundred square feet?”
“Yes.”
“What exactly are you trying to protect? Do you have valuable paintings or something?”
“A woman. My woman. The most precious woman in the universe. Do you get the picture?” Gareth said, raising his eyebrow.
“Yes, sir. I got it. Loud and clear. When I’m done with her cottage they’ll need a small army to get inside,” he said smiling.
“Perfect,” Gareth said, shaking his hand. He left the security shop feeling much better about leaving her alone. Gareth knew that even if she were living somewhere else the draw of the cottage would be too much for her to stay away. She needed that beach. Needed to hunt for her treasures. It was part of her being. It was her refuge from the world.
Even if he exacted a promise from her to stay away from it, it would be a promise she couldn’t keep. So, he wouldn’t ask it of her. His next stop was the local police department.
Gareth had already spoken with the DA handling the case against David. He was aware of the pressure David put on Cheri. Gareth told him about finding Cheri ready to end her life. Gareth explained the scene after the judge dismissed Cheri from the proceedings. The DA agreed that she was more likely than not, in da
nger from retribution. However, with the state of finances in his department he could not get her any personal protection.
Gareth wanted to explain everything to the local police and just ask that they patrol the cottage and her office with some regularity. The sergeant agreed that she needed to have an eye on her as much as possible and his officers would keep her on their radar.
Gareth strolled into Cheri’s office just before lunch. Piper almost swallowed her tongue when he introduced himself to her. “Hi, you must be Piper. I’m Gareth Marshall,” he said extending his hand to her.
“Hi. I’m glad to finally meet you,” she said, shakily.
“I was hoping to take you two lovely ladies to lunch,” he said smiling.
“I can’t speak for Cheri but I’m going with you,” she said getting up from her chair and walking into Cheri’s office. “Your hunk is here. And your descriptive skills suck! That is not just a nice looking man,” she whispered, folding her arms for emphasis.
“What does the hunk want?” Cheri asked, delighted with Piper’s appraisal of her man.
“He wants to take us to lunch. Are you done? Because we are going!”
Gareth escorted the two women to the small sandwich shop down the street, with his arm around Cheri the entire way. The trio talked about everything and yet nothing, staying clear of any discussion of David and the impending hearing and subsequent trial.
As the trio walked back to the office Gareth asked, “Do you want to pick out your ring?”
“No. I accept whatever you offer.”
“Yellow or white?”
“White, please,” she answered. Her set with David was yellow gold and she didn’t want anything that looked like that.
“Okay, white it is. I’ll see you tonight,” he said pushing them through the door. “Nice to meet you, Piper.”
“You too, Gareth. Thanks for lunch,” Piper said smiling.
“You’re welcome. I love your boss, by the way.”
“I’d have to be blind not to see that, Gareth. What’s more, she loves you right back.”
When Cheri got home there were rose petals frozen on her porch. The petals continued into the cottage and through the living room to the bedroom. She followed with a huge grin on her face. On the bed was a beautiful black lace dress, black stilettos and a note.
The limo will be here at six.
I’ll be waiting.
I love you, desperately.
Gareth
It was five-fifteen. Cheri took the fastest shower she had ever had. She fixed her hair and applied her make-up. The dress fit perfectly and she looked lovely in it. She had just finished when she heard a knock at her door.
Walking out from her bedroom, she saw the driver in his tuxedo smiling at her. She opened the door and he said, “You look lovely, Miss Winslow. Mr. Marshall is a very lucky man, if you don’t mind my saying.”
“I don’t mind and thank you.” He offered his arm and she took it. They walked to the car and as he opened the door she asked, “What is your name?”
“Walker Johnson but please call me Joe,” he replied placing her in the car and shutting the door. He walked around to the driver’s side and got in. Buckling his seatbelt, he said, “All set, Miss Winslow? Are you buckled, after all, safety first?”
“Yes, thank you, Joe.” As he drove, Cheri looked out the window. Even in the dark, she could see they were headed north. “Joe, where are we going?”
“To Orleans, ma’am.”
“What’s in Orleans?”
“Mr. Marshall, I believe,” he said looking in the rear-view mirror at her. She smiled, knowing he wasn’t going to divulge any plans Gareth had. When they got close, Cheri knew where they were going. She had been to the Academy of Performing Arts many times before. Sure enough, he headed right into the parking area, pulling up right in front of the building.
Joe got out and came around to open her door. “I believe you’ll find Mr. Marshall inside. I hope you have a lovely evening. I’ll be right here to drive you home,” he said opening the door to the building for her.
“Thank you, Joe.”
“You are most welcome, Miss Winslow.”
As soon as she walked past the lobby and opened the door to the theater, she could hear the music. Before her on the left side of the stage was a string trio, playing a lovely song. To the right was a beautiful table for two with flowers and candles on it. Gareth was at the end of the aisle in a black tuxedo looking incredibly delicious himself.
Cheri steadied her nerves so she could walk without falling down the long aisle to him. When she got close enough to speak without yelling she said, “A little over the top, Mr. Marshall.”
Shaking his head, he replied, “It’s just perfect, like you.” Cheri walked into his arms and kissed him. He kissed her back with all of the warmth he could muster. Then he dropped to one knee, holding her hand, he said, “Not knowing who to ask, I finally asked Piper for your hand. She said ‘Yes’ by the way.
“I have never felt so alive and so loved before I met you, Cheri. I know it’s completely crazy for us to have a relationship when we live on opposite coasts. But I love you and won’t even dream of spending the rest of my life without you. I want you with me. I want to take care of you and love you the best that I can, for the rest of my life. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Cheri looked at him and smiled. She said, “When you touch me, I think maybe things could be possible. When you hold me, I think things are possible. When you kiss me, I think all things are possible. When you make love to me, I’m certain that everything is not only possible, but in fact is a reality. I don’t honor you by marring you. You honor me by asking. I love you, Gareth, and I will love being your wife. So yes, I’ll marry you.”
Chapter Twenty-One
They enjoyed a delicious dinner. The music was lovely. The ride home was delightful, sipping champagne and making out like a couple of teenagers. Joe was completely discreet, closing the window between him and the couple to give them privacy.
Gareth had found a striking ring for Cheri. Not that it was important to her but it was much larger than the ring that David had given her. Everything Gareth gave her was larger than David. The ring had an Asscher cut two-carat stone in the center with four smaller Asscher cut stones on each side. She loved it.
The evening was the meaning behind fairytales. The last few miles Cheri leaned her head against Gareth’s shoulder and closed her eyes. Joe pulled up in front of her house and got out to open the door for the two lovebirds. They bid him goodnight and walked around to the porch.
In the sand right in front of the stairs was a dead cat. It was obvious it had been poisoned as it had a large amount of foam oozing from its mouth. “Oh my God! The poor thing! Who would do this to a defenseless cat?” Cheri shouted.
“I don’t know. You go inside and I’ll get a shovel and bury it out front,” Gareth said.
“There’s one in the storage shed. Put it between the Weisman’s and here. That way it won’t be near our wells. Thank you, Gareth.”
“You’re welcome. I guess this counts as husband training.”
“You don’t need any training. You’re perfect already.”
Gareth got to the shed where Cheri stored her tools and other items. When he went to open the door, he noticed a note taped to it. It read.
YOU’RE NEXT
Gareth took out his phone and called the police. Gareth reported to the dispatcher exactly what had happened. She told him a patrol car had been dispatched and not to touch anything until they got there. He stepped over the dead cat, up the steps and into the cottage.
“That was fast, “Cheri said walking over to him for a hug.
“Cheri, the police are on their way here. I found a note on the shed door when I went for the shovel. The cat wasn’t an accident. Someone did this on purpose,” he said, comforting her.
“David. I can’t picture him doing this but somehow I know he did.”
“If not him, someone connected with him. Maybe an employee or something. They all stand to lose their jobs if he’s disbarred. People do strange things when pushed.”
“The poor cat. Leave it to him to ruin such a lovely evening. If I stay here, I’ll never be free of him. I guess I’m going to be a California girl after all. I have five months to sell my practice. I’ll start tomorrow,” she said with a sigh.
“I can’t say I’m not happy, but are you?” Gareth asked, just as the police arrived.
“I’m happy with you and I’ll grow where I’m planted,” she said smiling.
“God, I love you, woman,” he said kissing her. “You stay in here where it’s warm. I’ll talk to the police.” Gareth walked out to show the officer what he had found. First the cat and then the note.
“This just went to another level, Mr. Marshall. It’s now a creditable threat. We’ll have the note analyzed. They’ll go over it for prints, watermarks on the paper and that sort of thing. I doubt they’ll find anything,” the officer said.
“I’m sure he’s much too smart for that. I’m here until Friday of next week and then I have to go back to LA. I’m trying to get her to move in with a friend,” Gareth explained his plans.
“That’s good. She shouldn’t be here alone. We can’t arrest him on the suspicion that he killed the cat and left the note. But I can ask a friend of mine on the Boston force to stop by and ask a few questions. That will either stop him or make it worse. Is he the kind that scares easily?”
“I don’t know him really. But from the mind games he has perpetrated on his ex-wife, I’d say no he doesn’t scare at all.”
By the time the officer left, Cheri was ready for bed, wearing a light blue, short, silk nightshirt with a matching robe. Gareth stilled when he walked in and saw her. Her dark hair flowed over her shoulders curling just below her breasts. “What’s wrong?” she said, with concern in her eyes.
“Nothing that we can control. I’m just captivated by you. I have a half dozen love songs playing in my head,” he said, sweetly.
