The Big D

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The Big D Page 15

by Brittany Crowley


  “That’s one of my restaurants she ran into the ground. I guess another one went out of business.” He seems sad and its killing me.

  “Have you thought about getting the space and reopening?”

  “Nope, it’s tainted now. I’m moving forward.” He smiles down at me and kisses me on the lips.

  We all file into the restaurant sans photographers which surprises the hell outta me. We have some very notorious people with us that usually have the pap’s chasing them down. I see Eli slip a wad of cash to the hostess and it all clicks. Privacy can be paid for apparently.

  Thankfully, when we all take our seats I’m not near Candy or Woody. Not for Woody’s lack of trying. He declared we’d be dinner buddies and Grant declared he’d punch him in the ball sack. But subtly, no one heard him but me and Cally.

  This may actually be pretty great. Brent is hilarious and the youngest of the Donovan clan at 21. I found out he’s been with the same girl since high school but right now they’re doing the long distant thing because she’s in her last year of college in North Carolina. He’s also in his last year of college and he lets me in on his little secret. He plans to propose at her graduation in a few months.

  My romantic heart can’t take the overload. How freaking sweet? Grant overhears the whole thing and grunts.

  “Aggie, if they get engaged before we do… it’s not happening. As the oldest I’ll be getting married first.” He puffs out his chest like it’s a competition.

  “Oh please, take me to the nearest chapel. I’m not marrying you because of some stupid sibling rivalry.”

  “You know it’s not about that.” He mumbles as our food arrives.

  My plate has nothing I ordered on it. I went for the surf n’ turf but what’s in front of me is a garden salad. Grant flags down the waitress when I tell him.

  “Excuse me Miss, she didn’t order this. She wanted the surf n’ turf.”

  “That gentleman at the other side of the table told me you changed your mind and wanted a basic salad, dressing on the side.”

  “Well, he was mistaken. If you could bring me what I ordered that’d be great.” Once the waitress leaves I turn back to Grant. “Crunch wrap supreme is going down! Can you believe that? Who the hell changes someone’s food order?”

  “Calm down baby. Your food will be out soon and you’ll feel better once you eat.”

  “I’m freaking starving! A salad? What a joke!”

  I look over towards Woody who must have been watching me because he’s already looking my way. The death glare should scare the hell outta him but all he does is smile then look at my cleavage.

  “If that motherfucker looks at your tits one more time…”

  “He thinks I’m lactating already. He asked me in the car.”

  “He what?” Grant yells as I try to shush him.

  “Grant honey, what’s got you so upset?” His mom questions.

  “Please.” I beg. “Don’t ruin my first dinner meeting your family.”

  “Not like it already hasn’t bombed with that asshole.” He looks towards Vicki. “Nothing mom. They got Aggie’s order wrong, not as big a deal as I thought.”

  Everything goes back to normal once again and I’m waiting for another bomb to drop. It comes when the waitress finally brings me my damn food.

  “Excuse me, waitress!” Woody yells and has all our heads turning. “I told you that she wasn’t allowed to eat that garbage. Your tips in jeopardy here.”

  “Woody, she can eat whatever the hell she wants and it’s not like you’re planning to pay for everyone’s dinner. I suggest you keep your mouth shut.”

  “Grant!” Cally yells as Woody announces to the table, “Pregnant women shouldn’t be eating red meat or shell fish.”

  And that’s when all hell breaks loose. Grant launches himself across the table and takes Woody to the ground. He didn’t stand a chance. It takes both his brothers plus his father to get him off the scared shitless hippie.

  While all this is going on and I’m looking on helplessly and silently hoping Grant gets a good shot in. What? He just outed my pregnancy to the whole table! A table full of people I was planning on impressing before we announced my pregnancy and they thought I was trying to trap him.

  I see movement in my peripherals and see Vicki taking a seat next to me with tears in her eyes and I’m not sure what’s coming my way. I’m either going to get a you homewrecking slut speech or a welcome to the family we’re so thrilled speech.

  “A baby?” She covers her mouth with her hands. When she gets a hold of her emotions she pulls me in for a hug and cries on my shoulder. I don’t think I cried that much when I found out and I’m the one who’s pregnant.

  “We didn’t want to say anything until we went to our first appointment on Monday. We don’t know much beyond the fact that all my tests were positive.”

  “My goodness. I’m gonna be a grandma.” She’s silent for a beat. “A cool grandma.” She’s still holding me tightly when I look across the table and see Grant trying to rip through the men in his family to get to Woody.

  “I need to go help.”

  “Let that weirdo get what’s coming to him. Maybe now Cally will realize what a douchebag he is. I mean honestly, hitting on a pregnant woman in front of his girlfriend’s family. The nerve!”

  Cally leaves with her boyfriend and Grant finally calms down. Then the whole evening turns towards our bun in the oven. To say the family’s thrilled is an understatement. Being here with Grant’s family nearly brings me to tears because I never had this growing up. No siblings, no loving parents. It’s been me and my Mimi for so long I’ve never had the chance to be around a family in their element.

  When we’re walking to the cars after the bills been paid, we all take the one car back because Cally took the other one.

  “Eli, we’ll have to take some time off around when the baby’s due. There will be a baby shower to plan, delivery and lots and lots of shopping. Oh, do you have any ideas for the nursery? If it’s a girl we should do a French theme. We could fly out to Paris and look at the décor. My interior decorator would be over the moon to help you.”

  “Mom, ease up would you. We just found out we’re pregnant and she’s skittish when it comes to money. You will be involved in everything, I promise. Just chill a little.” He chuckles.

  “You ruin all the fun.” She pouts.

  “I’d be thrilled for you to help me with the nursery. I don’t have that much family though so a baby shower isn’t necessary.”

  She gasps about to say something but Grant stops her. “Slow.”

  I feel a hand on my shoulder and turn around to see Eli smiling at me. “Congratulations. We’re thrilled to be grandparents if you couldn’t tell from my better half.”

  “Thank you. This baby’s going to be truly loved.”

  I place my hand on my stomach meaning every word. I’m thankful, so thankful that me and this baby are going to be welcomed into this family with open arms.

  WHO WANTS A BIDET?

  “It looks like your right at twelve weeks.”

  “Twelve weeks! How the hell have I missed this?” I question in a panic. “I’ve had alcohol these past three months.”

  The doctor chuckles and explains to us that most alcohol consumption, unless in excess, usually isn’t a problem. If I did the math right, the day he picked me up from the police station is when the baby was conceived. Thank god it wasn’t before all that drinking.

  She asks us if we want an ultrasound and I jump at the chance with a “hell yeah!”

  Seeing the baby on the monitor is surreal and makes this feel real. Our baby with arms flailing and little alien head was chilling on a monitor. For as long as I live I’ll never forget Grant’s face when the heartbeat played throughout the room.

  We leave the doctor’s office with instructions to get prenatal vitamins and a suggestion to get a baby book to know what’s going on throughout the pregnancy.

  We’re walking d
own the sidewalk when it all hits me. “It’s happening, we’re really doing this.” I’m looking at the picture of our baby with tears in my eyes.

  “I love you baby, of course this is happening.” We start walking again when he links his arm through mine. “Which brings me to selling the condo. It’ll be more practical to get a house right outside the city.”

  “Can we afford it after you lost half your restaurants?”

  “I told you not to worry about money. We’re fine.”

  “Okay, but I should get a job after the baby comes.”

  He places his finger over my mouth. “Do you want to stay at home with the baby or hire a nanny? I know I’d prefer you home with our baby, but if you want to work I’ll fully support you.”

  “That’s something I can decide when the baby’s a few months old right?”

  “Absolutely.” He kisses my forehead. “I lined up a meeting with the realtor this afternoon to start going over our wish list so they can start sending us some listings.”

  “Oh! Maybe we can find a place that has a pool? Or a finished basement.”

  He looks at me trying not to laugh. “Those are on your wish list? Not a bidet or walk-in closet?”

  “Ew, who wants a bidet? Not me!”

  “Okay, I’ll make sure we don’t get one. I have a business lunch if you want to join me? It’s with Charles. Or I can meet you at home later and have the realtor come there?”

  “I’ll head home. I’m tired and could go for a nap. Tell Charlie I said hey.”

  “I’ll drop you off before I leave for lunch.”

  “No need, I can get there.” I get up on my toes and place a kiss on his lips. “I’ll see you in a few. Can we go for a picture frame tonight? I want to frame this sucker and display it everywhere. Maybe make copies and send one to your mom and give one to Mimi.”

  He looks like he’s going to argue but decides better of it. “See you later baby, of course we can. The realtor should be there between one and two. I may be a few minutes late.”

  “I can handle her. Also, I want to get over to Mimi’s and tell her about all of this as soon as we have time. She’s gonna shit, she’s wanted a grand kid since I was 12. Oh, we can give her the framed ultrasound picture and that’s how we’ll tell her!”

  Grant plants one last kiss to my lips before I start walking in the direction of our condo.

  After my walk home I’m ready to crash for a few hours, but set my alarm so I don’t miss the realtor showing up.

  Once my head hits the pillow I’m dead to the world.

  ***

  Knock, knock, knock

  I jump out of bed unsure what’s going on. When I hear the knocking again I look towards the clock and see it’s only noon. Whoever’s pounding at the door must be giving it their best because usually I can’t hear a knock at the door from the bedroom.

  I quickly run my fingers through my hair and head for the person still banging on the door. When I open it, I’m met with a beautiful woman who I’d say is a few years older than me.

  “Can I help you?” I smile.

  “Is Grant here?”

  “No… can I help you?”

  “I’m Carissa.” She says it like I should know who she is, maybe I should and that has me concluding...

  “Are you the realtor?”

  “Yes, yes I am. We have an appointment, right?” She looks me over.

  “He told me it wasn’t for another hour, but come on in. Grant’s going to be a little late. He was under the impression you weren’t coming until after one.”

  “Silly me, I must have written down the wrong time.” She walks in and studies the place. Hasn’t she seen it before if she sold it to him to begin with?

  “Would you like something to drink? Water, soda?”

  “A diet soda would be great.”

  “How long have you been in the realty business?” I yell from the kitchen.

  “A while.”

  When I come out with her soda I notice she has a framed picture of Grant and I in her hands.

  “You make a lovely couple. I’m assuming it’s serious?”

  “I’d hope so if we’re planning on buying a house together.” I laugh and a look moves quickly across her face. If I didn’t know any better I’d say it was almost jealousy.

  Don’t even tell me this is another chick he banged in his manwhore days. Can’t be. He knows better than to bring one of his groupies around me.

  “Should we start without him? He mentioned something about a wish list. Maybe you can help me out so that I don’t sound like such an amateur when we go over it with him. If I tell him all I want is oversized windows he might roll his eyes.” I laugh.

  “Sure. Do you have some paper?”

  Hmmm… unprepared. This realtor doesn’t seem like the type of business woman Grant would go for. But who am I to question it. She may be awesome at what she does. When I’m reaching for a notepad and pen in the kitchen my phone rings.

  “Hey baby, how was your nap?”

  “Great until the realtor woke me up from it.” I laugh as a yawn slips out. “She’s here now. Apparently, she wrote the wrong time down.”

  “That’s impossible. I just got off the phone with Jane and pushed it back a little so I’m not late.”

  “What? Jane? Carissa’s here right now.” I peek around the corner and don’t see her anywhere. Then I hear the door slam and run to it trying to figure out why she ran out so fast?

  “Weird, she just left.”

  “Lock the door, I’m calling 911. I want you to go lock yourself inside the bathroom and don’t unlock the door for anyone except me. I don’t care if they say they’re a police officer.”

  “Grant, you’re freaking me out.”

  “Do it Aggie, now!” He yells through the phone.

  I run to the bathroom and lock myself inside unsure of what’s going on. We hang up when he says he needs to talk to the police and my hearts beating double time. It doesn’t stop until Grant bangs on the door for me to open up.

  He pulls me into a hug then holds me at arm’s length looking me over. “Are you okay? Did she touch you?”

  “No, she was here maybe fifteen minutes. What’s going on? You’re freaking out.”

  “Come on, you need to talk to the police.”

  “The police are here? This seems a little overboard don’t you think?”

  “It’s not. I’ll explain it all to you.”

  Exiting the bathroom, we walk down the hallway to the living room where we’re met by several police officers. They all say hello and ask me to explain what happened. I do as I’m told and tell them about the banging on the door and Carissa claiming to be the realtor.

  “Is this the woman that was in here?” The officer holds up his phone with a mugshot.

  “Holy shit.” I mumble because it’s her. Well, the picture looks like it was taken a long time ago because she looks like a teenager and has brown hair instead of the red I saw earlier.

  “She’s changed a lot, but yes. That’s her.” I study the picture further and gasp when I realize why she looks so familiar. “I’ve seen her before.”

  “What do you mean you’ve seen her before?” Grant growls.

  “After we first… met. She was in Lace of Desire buying some lingerie for her boyfriend. She was asking me questions and her hair wasn’t red, it was blonde.”

  “What kind of questions?”

  “It was so long ago. I think she asked if I had a boyfriend or if I was in love. I remember she stood out to me because she was in the store for quite some time. It was the day you sent me those shoes.” I look over towards Grant.

  “We’ll need you to tell us what’s changed her appearance from this photo please.”

  When I’m done Grant goes crazy. “Fuck. What the hell guys? You didn’t feel the need to tell me she was out? She’s been following me around for a long fucking time if she showed up at her work!”

  “It could have been coincidence.”
>
  “This is going to make me seem like a hussy, but I didn’t even know Grant’s name at that point and we had never been out in public. Only at my grandmother’s house.”

  The officer’s look towards each other, then back to Grant. “The prison didn’t notify us Mr. Donovan.”

  “What are we supposed to do? God knows how long she’s been out and she’s already been stalking me for months! This is unacceptable. We need to reinstate the restraining order today. I can’t trust she’s not after Agnes and the baby.”

  “As far as we know she’s undergone therapy and counseling…”

  “I don’t give a fuck! She was in my house when I wasn’t here with my pregnant girlfriend! She’s changed her appearance and is clearly looking for me. She could have hurt them! If you don’t do something so help me god…”

  “Everything’s going to be handled. We’ll call the prison and figure out where the disconnect was and get working on the restraining order. Lie low and make sure your doorman knows not to let her in the building. That’s the best we can do right now Mr. Donovan.”

  Grant shakes their hands and walks them out of the condo. Nothing I’ve heard makes me feel any better. It makes me feel like there’s a whole lot of information I don’t know and I’m terrified to find out what it is. Prison? She was in prison! I’m thinking the worst when Grant comes back in the room.

  “Carissa Locke starred in my first film with me. Or she was supposed to. We were both 17 and new to the industry. I’ve been around it my whole life but it was her first ever taste at celebrity. She was so naïve and latched onto me right away. I was with Michelle already so I wasn’t looking for a relationship.”

  He takes a seat next to me and inhales a deep breath. “It started small. She kept showing up everywhere I was and figured out my address. I was still living with my parents so she’d show up randomly and my mom or the housekeeper would tell her I wasn’t home. She started getting weird so I decided to keep my distance. It was the best bet.”

  “When we were on the movie set she was glued to my side and started acting like my girlfriend. She played my love interest and it didn’t help matters at all. We’d have a kissing scene and she’d run with it. Show up in my trailer waiting to take it further. One afternoon I got back from a grueling stunt scene to find her naked. At that time, I point blank told her it wasn’t going to happen between us. That night she slit her wrists trying to commit suicide.”

 

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