Lana laughed, but they turned to tears and intense and Paula pushed her chair closer to Lana.
“I’m trying to be strong, but I don’t know how to stop from dying inside,” she sobbed, leaning her head on Paula’s shoulder.
“It’s gonna be OK. It’s why I’m here, it’s all gonna be OK.”
Paula spent the rest of the night explaining to Lana the ramifications of what her mother had done. She had a lawyer prepare to serve her mother papers along with the video evidence of the blackmail. Lana sat up and shook her head.
“I don’t know what you have, but Kim threatened to show evidence in court of Maureen using her pull to get Kayden out of all his past legal trouble. She said she’d put him away if I showed my face there Paula. I can’t risk that,” Lana replied.
“What a bitch!” Paula exclaimed. She grabbed her cellphone and started texting someone at lightning speed. “I’ll have Taylor look into it. We will just have to be extra careful when we get there. No worries.”
Paula reached into her expensive briefcase and pulled out an envelope.
“Take a look at this,” she said and slapped it down on the table.
Lana wasn’t sure what was in there and was kind of afraid to open it.
“Go ahead. I want to show you how much of a monster my mother can truly be.”
Lana picked up the envelope and pried apart the metal tabs. She pulled a stack of photos out and looked down at them. Dropping them on the table she looked up at Paula in horror and almost fell out of her seat.
“Let’s get you packed,” Paula said and stood from the table. Lana was still not believing her own eyes. There was Rachel, in New Orleans—very much alive and well.
18
Maureen was in the grocery store pushing her own cart for a change, grabbing the ingredients to cook her son one of his favorites, shrimp scampi. She hadn’t cooked in so long she wasn’t certain how good it would be, but was sure he’d love it either way. She was relieved for the first time in a long time. Her son was finally becoming the man she’d always needed him to be, and she was that much closer to being able to retire. The papers needed for Kayden to take over Capshaw Realty were all drawn up and the only thing that was left, was for him and Kim to say “I do.” Once that wedding was over, he was free to sign on the dotted line.
Kayden hadn’t been behaving the same, since Lana finally left. It was very apparent that his heart was still broken, but it had been a month now. In her opinion, he needed to hurry up and get over it already. Honestly, she thought the situation was just a fling, and hadn’t realized how much he really loved her. Not until she saw him on the floor of the house crying on his knees.
Perhaps she could’ve left well enough alone and let him marry the girl, but the influence she had over her son, didn’t sit well with Maureen. She needed to be able to keep a finger on him and the projects Capshaw was involved with and Lana being in the picture wouldn’t have allowed that. What she did, she did to preserve her family. It just had to be done, she convinced herself.
When Kayden hired the private investigators Maureen paid them off to ensure Kayden never found her. They would always return with some story that made it almost impossible to track her down. Lana actually made it easier for this to happen by not returning to work right away. Besides, if he really wanted to find her he could, and Maureen took the fact that he accepted what the investigators told him, as a sign he was getting over her.
Pushing her cart to the checkout line she caught a glimpse of a Page Six magazine and picked it up smiling. Boy did he and Joel look like Vince when he was younger. She threw it on the conveyor belt along with the rest of the items she needed for the dinner. Tonight would be a good night. The restoration project was complete and Aunt Mae’s would be opening tomorrow. A few of her media connections were coming into town to cover the story of how Capshaw was returning to its roots—at least for this project, she said to herself. It was all almost over.
Earlier that week, Kayden wanted to take a trip to New Orleans to spread Rachel’s ashes, but she talked him out of it—several times already. Maureen knew eventually he’d take the trip whether she approved or not, but Rachel wasn’t visiting New Orleans, she lived there now. It was tough trying to convince her to leave her life behind, but Maureen made up some story about Kayden, prison and legalities—the poor woman ate up every word. She also didn’t protest the one and a half million dollars that appeared in her bank account either.
Maureen would have to coordinate for Rachel to leave town temporarily, when she finally allowed Kayden to spread the “ashes”. She had to make sure those loose ends stayed tied. The checkout girl smiled as she scanned the groceries and Maureen smiled back at her.
“Hello, did you get everything you wanted?” she asked.
Maureen flashed her that million-dollar smile and thought of her plans since she arrived in town.
“I most certainly did,” she replied. One more day and she’d be back in New York and couldn’t wait a second more.
***
As Lana boarded the private jet, she was worried about how the night would end. She still wasn’t sure how deep Kim’s claws had sunken into Kayden yet, and hoped she wasn’t too late. It would be easy to convince him of Maureen yes, but if he rekindled his relationship with Kim, everything could be for nothing. Lana could visit Hamby all she wanted, but without Kayden in her life to enjoy it with, it simply wouldn’t be worth it.
She sat down in the plush leather seat next to Paula who was already sipping a glass of white wine. One of the flight attendants closed the airplane door, as the other brought the bottle over to Lana, but she held her hand up in protest. After the night in the club, she was doubtful she’d ever drink again. The doors to the cockpit were closed and the plane began rolling forward. As the jet sped up, she closed her eyes and said a silent prayer for a safe flight. One way or another, her life was about to change again and the anxiety was making her nauseous.
***
Kayden stood from the dining room table where Maureen and Kim sipped wine after dinner. He picked up the plates and took them to the kitchen, neither of them attempting to help. He thought about the last time he had a shrimp dinner, when Lana made it for him. She still occupied the house, although she wasn’t there. He placed the dishes in the dishwasher and leaned against the counter watching his mother and Kim talk about the latest reality show on television. They’re both so empty, he thought, as the dishwasher began its cycle.
He stuck his hand in his pocket feeling the engagement ring he bought Lana. He didn’t trust leaving it anywhere in the house, not with Kim always snooping around, and he didn’t want to think what he’d do to her if he ever came home and saw her wearing it. To keep the “what ifs” at bay, he opted to keep it close to him at all times.
As he twirled it around in his pocket and watched Kim laughing the annoying way she did, he knew there was no way in hell he was marrying her. Kayden didn’t give a damn what she posted in Page Six or how his mother felt about it. At first, he agreed so he could stick it to his mother by getting the family business, along with his inheritance, leaving him free to find Lana as well as have the financial means to fight his mother. But the thought of going through a wedding with Kim, was too high a price to pay. He would face whatever consequences he had coming his way. He knew it was now or never and started walking over to the table to sit down and end the cackle fest they were having.
As he sat, Maureen looked at him and recognized the expression on his face—it meant something was up. Keeping her composure and trying not to reveal her worry, she took a sip of her wine, smiled lovingly at him and sat her glass back down.
“What is it dear?” She asked as sweet as she could.
Kim watched them both still grinning ear to ear and poured herself another glass of wine. As Kayden opened his mouth to speak his cell phone rang. He reached into his pocket and pulled it out—it was Taylor.
“Excuse me,” he said and stood from the table.
He walked upstairs leaving them sitting there and Kim glanced at Maureen now, panicked.
“Who do you think it is?” she asked, taking a big sip of her wine.
“I’m not sure, but I wouldn’t be worried,” she replied, pouring herself another glass as well. “Maintain your composure Kim. You must never give away your position, no matter what you think the other person may know. Stay calm.”
Kim nodded her head in agreement and took a much longer sip of the wine this time. She had done everything Maureen asked of her and nothing seemed to be working with him. She took every opportunity she could to cook for him or flirt with him, even pretend to be interested in his feelings about Lana and even that didn’t work. If he didn’t marry her, she’d be a laughing stock back home and wouldn’t be able to show her face anywhere. She couldn’t let that happen—her life would be over.
***
Kayden stood in Lana’s old bedroom, staring down at the bed as he talked to Taylor and he was livid. He had asked Taylor to hire an investigator to search for Lana in his name, after he suspected his mother was involved in his own failed attempts. He was right as Taylor was successful and had just updated him on Lana’s whereabouts as well as an incident that occurred at a nightclub a few days earlier. Kayden couldn’t think, or couldn’t breathe. All he wanted to do was grab his keys and head for the family jet at the airport. He knew he couldn’t do that without his mother ruining everything he’d been working for. He had to play this smart.
“And what happened to the guy?” he asked through gritted teeth.
Kayden paced the room and it appeared to be spinning in all directions. He had to go to her. Taylor explained he was currently in jail in Miami and that Lana was OK and released from the hospital with no injuries.
“At least now I know where in Florida she is,” Kayden replied, his face softening. He sat on the bed and thought of her laying in a hospital room all alone. Just like Rachel. It seemed that whenever he took one step forward he got knocked back thirty.
“Make sure he doesn’t make bail. I owe you one Taylor,” he said and hung up the phone.
In an instant, the huge weight he’d been carrying around was lifted from his shoulders. He stood and walked to the huge window overlooking the garden below. He was going to take control and bring his girl back home to Hamby where she belonged. Taking the ring out of his pocket he looked down at the stone and imagined her hand in his.
“I’m coming for you baby,” he said, and put the ring back in his pocket.
***
As Kayden walked back down the stairs, Maureen held her breath not sure of what to expect from him. Kim glanced up at him, then Maureen. She straightened her posture in her chair trying to match her idol’s stature. Kayden sat down, picked up his glass of wine and stared into the fireplace. It took the will of God for him to not go ballistic in their presence.
“So dear, what was it you wanted to say earlier? What did Taylor want, is everything OK with the contracts?” she asked.
“Everything is just fine mother,” he forced out, “Last minute details is all.”
Maureen studied him as she could always tell when her son was lying. She couldn’t tell if that was the case right now, and it bothered her. After all, she hadn’t given him much reason to be honest with her lately. He sat so confident in his chair and his body language looked of a man in complete control. He definitely had changed a lot more than she even realized until this moment. Kayden’s temper was very short nowadays as well, so she decided to proceed with caution.
“What about? If you don’t mind me asking,” she replied sheepishly.
“They just wanted to know if it would be OK to send someone from the firm for the grand opening. Of course I told them yes,” he lied, a smile as phony as Maureen’s on his face.
“Oh yeah,” Kim interrupted, “The more the merrier. I mean, without their work for KDN and Capshaw Realty, there would be no grand opening,” she said while reaching over to touch his hand. He removed it and picked up his drink, then stood from the table. He turned and walked outside on the back porch closing the door behind him. Kim looked at Maureen and breathed a deep sigh.
“He hates me,” Kim said after the door was closed.
“He’ll learn to love you again. Just don’t push it. Don’t be desperate. Let him notice you.”
Maureen got up from the table and walked outside on the porch, leaving Kim at the dining room table. I’m not desperate, she thought to herself, her face furrowing in aggravation. She was pretty and knew it. She could have any guy she wanted—almost any guy that is.
Kim looked outside and watched Maureen stand next to Kayden, like they were in a member’s only club that she wasn’t invited to. She knew she couldn’t walk out there and join them. It would just piss him off even more. Standing from the table she walked over to the fireplace and stared into the flames. I’ve worked my ass off to earn my place in this family, she thought to herself.
Having no parents of her own and very little family, she felt closer to the Capshaws, than anyone else in her life. Being used as a pawn in Maureen’s scheme only benefitted her if the plan worked. She threw the wine glass into the fireplace and stomped off to her room. One way or another she’ll make him realize why he needed her. She had no other options, this was it for her. It was do or die time. Kim stalked into “her room” and flopped down on the bed. She opened her laptop and clicked on a file on the desktop named “Kayden”. In it, were all the police reports of Kayden’s DUI’s, the judges, that were in Maureen’s pocket, and the email trail she stole from Maureen’s personal accounts. She hoped it didn’t have to come to this, but if there was one thing she learned from Maureen, it was to take no prisoners.
***
Outside on the porch, Maureen wrapped her scarf around her shoulders and leaned her head onto her son’s shoulder as they stood looking over the town below. He wanted to instantly move, but resisted the urge.
“What’s going on up there in that head, son?” She asked quietly.
“Just excited for tomorrow and Aunt Mae is anxious to get back to work. The towns fire alarms have been going off non-stop since the kitchens been closed,” he both joked and lied.
As cool and collected as he was on the outside, he was raging inside. He wanted to confront her and ask her why she did what she did, but knew he’d only be met with more lies. He’d play her game until she was out of town for good and he’d be free to do what was necessary.
“Hattie-Mae Smiths cooking has surely been missed.”
A few moments of quiet passed between them and Maureen turned her head to him.
“Have you given anymore thought to getting a ring for Kim?”
She knew this was a sore subject, but needed to keep him talking in the event he revealed more than he was letting on.
“No mother I did not, and I do not plan to buy one.”
“Kayden, how will it look to others if your wife doesn’t have an engagement ring or a wedding band?” She asked, seriously surprised at his answer.
“Frankly, I don’t care how it looks,” he replied, with a calm and even tone. “This is a marriage I’m being forced into. This is your requirement. I don’t love nor like her, but because it’s the only way I can move on with my life, I’m doing it.”
He lied to her face without a flinch. He was getting better at this than he thought. “So, it’s OK, I’ll jump through the hoops. I’ll marry her, but only because I don’t want to see the company my father built turned into a joke,” he said, and that part was the truth. “If she wants a ring, she can buy one herself.”
Maureen didn’t know what to say back to him. He was serious and she doubted anything she would say would change his mind. This worried her now as she wasn’t sure if Kim would even be able to do what was needed of her. That Lana girl had totally changed her son’s DNA.
“But you loved her once Kayden. Surely those feelings can’t all be gone,” she replied, grasping for hope. It was all sh
e could get out and not very convincing even to herself.
“Once upon a time I did, and then she slept with my best friend while I was hospitalized and needed her. She doesn’t care about me mom. She never did.”
“She made one mistake. You can’t hold it against her forever.”
“That’s funny. I recall saying something similar a few years ago,” he replied and walked away from her into the grass.
That stung. She didn’t know what to say. Kayden took another sip of his drink feeling rather liberated, then he turned to her now, a slight grin on his face.
“Why do you like her so much is the real question?”
He honestly wanted to know. There wasn’t a whole lot to Kim other than physical looks and it didn’t matter how pretty someone was if they were ugly inside.
“She may not have been there for you after the accident, but she was there for me when your father died.”
Kayden’s face softened as he remembered how much of a wreck his mother was during that awful time. He and Kim were very over at that point, but she did stay by Maureen’s side almost every day. They became good friends because of it and but it annoyed Kayden to have to see her all the time.
“I understand that mother, I do. But it doesn’t make someone a good person or wife either. How is it fair to force me to marry her? Why her? Why someone who doesn’t care about anyone other than herself?”
Maureen was at a loss for words again and couldn’t find a worthy rebuttal. She thought about his words and knew he was right. Kim wasn’t the best choice for her son on a love, level. It was the one thing that kept her marriage to Vincent all those years fresh and exciting, the true love they shared for one another. As she searched her mind for words, she could find none and felt a small pang of remorse. Kayden shook his head and started walking towards the door, past her where he disappeared inside.
She stood there on the porch and smiled as she recalled him saying that he understood why she liked Kim. Understanding was the first step to accepting and sooner or later he would learn to trust her again. She walked inside the house closing the doors behind her, new hope for Kim in tow.
Crashing Into Me (Crashing Into Me #1) Page 17
