Wild Ride

by Rebecca Avery

  “My stomach… it feels like I went over a hill too fast or like the excitement I feel when I ride on the bike with you sometimes,” she said, looking at him.

  Turning to Chuck he said, “Call Dana.”

  Chuck pulled out his cell phone and placed the call and explained the issue to Dana. Then looking at Lilly in amazement he said, “She says it’s probably just the baby moving…”

  Lilly looked stunned for a moment and then looked at Bobby. The man smiled down at her and it seemed to soften his whole face. She’d never seen him wear anything other than a dark scowl but the look he was giving Lilly… she understood the interest women seemed to have for him. He was a handsome man, not in the way that Chuck was, but more of a dangerous kind of sexy.

  Reaching out Lilly took hold of his hand and guided it to her stomach and they shared a look. After several moments the clerk provided four room keys. Grabbing up their bags in one hand and tossing the straps over his shoulder, Bobby took the room key in the other.

  “We will see you in the morning,” he said, taking Lilly’s arm and guiding her to the elevator.

  Chuck gave Meredith a knowing look and then grinned at her before taking their room key. He also gathered up their bags and then guided her to the elevator as well. Bobby and Lilly moved to the back of the elevator and stood staring at each other.

  Detective Sanders and Becca followed them all into the elevator and after the door closed behind them he turned to Chuck.

  “Want to get a drink in the lobby in about an hour?” Detective Sanders asked Chuck.

  Looking down at her, he grinned and winked then said, “Sure, but I’d like to turn in a little early myself. A long day of riding after a dry spell tends to wear me out.”

  Bobby snickered and Lilly’s face flushed before she gave Meredith an understanding smile. It appeared that Chuck and Bobby shared a similar fondness for doing and saying inappropriate things. Smiling up at Chuck she said, “I enjoyed the ride and I’m disappointed that you got off prematurely.”

  Laughter filled the elevator by everyone except for Becca, who stood closest to the door. Becca stood facing it with her cheeks blazing and a faraway look on her face. When they reached the floor where their rooms were located they all parted ways after Chuck said, “We will meet you in the lobby in an about an hour, Greg.”

  The evening was fun though Becca sat silently looking as though her mind was somewhere else. Chuck and Greg talked non-stop about motorcycles, the paint jobs Chuck had coming up and the incident at her home where the two men had died.

  Amazingly enough, Chuck supplied Greg with more details about what really happened rather than the story that had been given to the local police and news media.

  Seeing the questioning frown on her face, Chuck said, “Becca told me once that she would stop me from ever saying anything incriminating. I’m guessing that extends to my friends as well… even Dickie.”

  Becca blushed again and looked away. The woman looked positively uncomfortable and leaning to Chuck, Meredith whispered against his ear, “Is she ok?” Chuck merely shrugged.

  “Was Dickie in the military or something?” Greg asked. “You said he had combat type skills?”

  “I don’t know… I was kind of kidding about the combat stuff but he’s obviously had some sort of martial arts training or something,” Chuck replied, shaking his head in amazement.

  Detective Sanders looked thoughtful for a moment and the conversation seemed to finally die down until Chuck implied he was ready to call it a night. After paying their tab he led her from the bar back up to their room.

  The following evening found them in New York at a hotel. They had made good time and decided to all have dinner together before the weekend hit.

  Becca suggested a restaurant and after they were settled in at the hotel they would be staying at for the remainder of the trial, they headed to dinner. Entering the restaurant she spotted Lilly, Bobby, Dana, Tommy, Sherri, and Dickie sitting at a table that had four additional vacant seats.

  Heading over to them, she was surprised when Chuck scooped the tiny infant girl up out of her car seat.

  “There’s my little diva… sing it girl,” he cooed at the baby.

  She sat next to him and watched as he gave the baby his undivided attention while those around him talked. The baby was content to stare at him and from time to time would make a humming noise. Dana seemed relieved that Chuck had the baby and focused on joining in the conversation.

  When Greg and Becca entered the restaurant Dickie stood and offered Becca a chair right next to his. She eyed him warily but sat down. Smacking Dickie gently on the back Greg said, “Can I have a word with you?”

  It was the first time Chuck’s attention had been diverted from the baby. He eyed first Dickie and then Greg. Greg waved his hand at Chuck as though indicating it was not about the two men’s deaths. Though they were all being stared at by other patrons in the restaurant, especially Chuck, she felt relaxed around this group.

  They all appeared comfortable as well, though Becca still seemed very tense. Getting up, Dana made her way over and sat in the seat Dickie had vacated as he and Greg headed over to the bar. She turned to Becca and touched her shoulder lightly and said, “Are you ok? You’ve been so quiet this whole trip…”

  Without warning Becca burst into tears, pulling her napkin out from under her utensils and attempting to cover her face with it. Something was really wrong, the woman seemed so… in control most of the time.

  She and Lilly scooted back at the same time and made their way over to where Becca sat. Sherri also extracted herself from the table and made her way around to where everyone had gathered.

  “Let’s get her to the restroom,” Lilly said, looking around at the people sitting at nearby tables who were unabashedly staring.

  Dana helped Becca out of her seat and they all headed to the women’s restroom leaving the men sitting at the table with their mouths hanging open. Upon entering the room Dana put her arm around the petite woman’s shoulders and held her while she cried. Lilly made a cool, wet compress out of the paper towels hanging from a dispenser on the wall.

  Sherri dug around in her purse for some tissues. Deciding this was not a time for intrusion Meredith made her way over to the door of the restroom and prepared herself to request a few moments from anyone looking to enter.

  After a few minutes Becca’s sobs subsided and she looked around at them. “I’m so sorry… I don’t know what came over me,” she choked out.

  “Bullshit… something’s obviously wrong or you wouldn’t be crying your heart out right now. There is only us in here and I guarantee every one of us has had a moment like this at one time or another. We’ll listen if you want to share… sometimes it helps,” Sherri said matter of fact. “And because we’re women we can keep a secret.”

  “I uh… I’m being stalked by a former client,” Becca gushed. “My life no longer seems to be my own. My brother insisted I take a leave from my law firm and is worried sick about me and refuses to let me out of his site. I’m somewhat of a controlling person and right now nothing is in my control and I just…”

  “Can’t take it anymore?” she offered from her spot near the door.

  Becca looked at her and said, “No… I can’t take it anymore! I’m going positively mad and it’s only been a little over a week since I received the first threat. This crazy man has effectively put a stop to my life as I knew it. I’m angry and frightened all at the same time. I should be working and heading up my non-profit groups and instead… it’s like I’m in hiding.”

  Silence followed her outburst for several minutes until Lilly said, “Sometimes when things seem out of control you just have to go with it. Think of it as a vacation from your life or an adventure. When all that stuff happened with my first husband and the investigation, I felt like everything was out of control and I voluntarily went into hiding…so to speak.”

  Lilly glanced at Sherri with a warm smile and then continu
ed, “That was probably one of the best decisions I ever made. I asked a man once where to go from that point… that place in my life where the path seemed to split, and he told me it was a chance to choose a new path. Maybe this is fate’s way of letting you make some choices in your life. Making the choices you can make and letting go of those you can’t is kind of like taking back control.”

  “My brother has been digging into Richard Long’s background all morning and based on what he found, he’s decided to hire the man to protect me,” Becca finished in a whisper. “Of all the people… why him?”

  Lilly, Sherri and Dana exchanged confused looks amongst themselves.

  “Chuck is right Becca, Dickie does have some sort of training… Rambo like skills. Maybe with him helping to look out for you at least you won’t have to be so afraid,” she offered skeptically.

  Becca chuckled through her tears and said, “The man is insufferable. Does he have no sense of what is considered personal space?”

  Lilly and Dana exchanged an enlightened look and then looked at her with a grin. Squeezing her tighter Dana said, “None of them seem to fully grasp the effect they have on women.”

  “Oh I don’t mean like that… I’m not interested in him… that way,” Becca quickly attempted to clear up the misunderstanding. “He just… intimidates me with his size when he stands in my space… that’s all,” she stammered.

  The door opened a slight crack and she quickly turned back to the entrance to block the person’s view of Becca and said, “Could you give us just a few minutes please?”

  Dickie stood just outside the door with a serious look on his face and after a moment said, “They sent me to make sure everything was ok. I’ll just wait right out here then… take your time. ”She pushed the door closed and turned back to the group of women. Lilly giggled and soon the rest of them joined in. It was as though the conversation had conjured the man himself. They offered more words of encouragement as Becca wiped the tears from her face as best she could and re-applied some makeup.

  As they headed out of the restroom Meredith was amazed to find Dickie standing but a few feet from the bathroom door.

  His long legs were spread apart and his arms were clasped together behind his back. She’d seem him stand that way before at the Bama Bike Fest but in light of recent events it no longer seemed odd, but understandable. Dickie had more than some martial arts training… he seemed positively lethal at times.

  He followed the group of women to the table where nothing else was said about Becca’s outburst. The evening progressed with no further issues and by the time the night ended even Becca had relaxed and appeared to be enjoying herself.

  When they made to leave Becca turned to Chuck and said, “I was wondering if you’d like to join me tomorrow afternoon. I have a friend who owns an art gallery affiliated with Christie’s, which is an auction house here in New York. I am going to take the painting you made for me to show him but don’t worry, I have no intention of selling it. I only mean to show him and get his assistance in framing it.”

  “That would be badass!” Chuck said. “I’ve never been to an art gallery or museum. I’ve always wanted to go and see one but…”

  “Fine… we’ll meet in the lobby at two o’clock and ride together. I’ll set it up,” Becca said with a smile.

  “Do I need to dress up and shit?” Chuck asked skeptically.

  Covering a smile with the back of her hand, Becca shook her head. “No, Chuck… just come as you are. I doubt he will pay much attention to what you are wearing.”

  The following afternoon the group all met in the lobby of the hotel. The only ones missing were Tommy and Dana who had opted to meet them at the art gallery. Stepping outside the hotel, a limo waited along the street right out front.

  Becca walked to the rear of the limo carrying the painting Chuck had given her and waited. The driver got out of the driver’s seat and opened the door for her. Turning back to where they stood she said, “Are you coming?”

  “Sweet!” Chuck said, grabbing her hand and nearly dragging her to the waiting limo.

  The ride to the art gallery seemed to take forever due in part to traffic but Chuck appeared excited just to ride around in the limo.

  Stopping in front of the art gallery pulled him out of his fascination with the mini bar and built in television. Looking out the window he smiled and then glanced at her. What she’d give to know his thoughts right now.

  Entering the lobby of the gallery they were met by Tommy and Dana who was carrying the baby. Chuck glanced around and then went immediately to Dana and smiled at baby Melody.

  The baby actually smiled back and began to kick her arms and legs. Chuck took the baby from Dana and seemed to relax once he held her.

  He walked over to an extremely large painting that hung against a wall and looked at it, talking the whole while to the baby. A tall man approached them and kissed Becca on the cheek before introducing himself as Daniel and shook their hands.

  Chuck seemed to be in his own world and completely ignored the man while he walked from one painting to the next continuing to talk to Melody.

  A few people who looked like money roamed around gazing at the art as well and would move away from Chuck as soon as he approached. She could only giggle at him as he was such a contradiction… a tattooed gangster with a baby.

  “The gentleman wandering the gallery is the one I spoke to you about,” Becca said, pulling the painting out from a pillowcase she had covering it. “And this is the piece.”

  The man made a show of gasping and placed his hand over his chest. “It’s exquisite!” Her thoughts exactly.

  Taking the painting carefully from Becca, he continued to study it closely.

  “He’s truly had no formal instruction in fine arts?” Daniel asked Becca.

  “No, in fact he only recently took the high school equivalency tests in an effort to obtain his GED,” Becca replied.

  “Extraordinary. Is he a savant?” Daniel asked.

  “I don’t believe so… he’s very personable and… normal once you get to know him,” Becca laughed.

  “This is a rare and special work of art you’ve been given Becca… surely you know the exceptional quality of this piece,” Daniel gushed not taking his eyes off the painting.

  “Actually, as versed as I am in the value of certain types of art… I am at a loss on the value of a piece like this. I was hoping you could help me on a value for insurance purposes. As for the special quality… it is special… very special… to me,” Becca said quietly.

  “I would like to get another assessor to have a look at this piece. Wait here, please,” he said before disappearing down a hallway carrying the painting.

  Looking around she found Chuck still contentedly walking about the gallery pointing out pictures to Melody and talking to her, completely unaware of the uproar he’d created.

  A few minutes later Daniel returned followed by another man who was now carrying the painting. As they approached Daniel pointed to Chuck and said, “That’s him, there.”

  “And who is the owner of this piece?” the man asked Daniel.

  Daniel introduced the man as Cameron Saint James a co-owner of the gallery. Cameron shook hands with Becca and said, “Are you interested in selling the piece?”

  “Oh no… I just need to get an idea of the value for insurance purposes,” Becca explained.

  “Are you sure you don’t wish to sell? I will offer you top dollar for the work and am very interested in meeting the artist,” Cameron asked again.

  “No, I’m certain… it was a gift and I simply adore it,” Becca said.

  Handing the painting to Daniel, Cameron said, “Take this for framing immediately. Kingwood will look lovely I think.”

  After Daniel walked away with the painting, Cameron turned back to Becca, “What can you tell me about the artist?”

  “Well he’s… he’s…” Becca started and then looking perplexed said, “Would you like to meet him now
?”

  “Most definitely and I will be taking care of any fees incurred to frame the splendid piece just for bringing him to us first…” Cameron said more as a question.

  “Yes, I thought immediately of letting Daniel see it. We just arrived back in town yesterday and your beautiful gallery was our first stop,” Becca smiled at him.

  “I’d like to perhaps negotiate an agreement with your… client?” Cameron said. “Would you be the attorney handling those negotiations on his behalf?”

  Snickering Becca said, “I’m not sure… why don’t you let me introduce you to him first. I’ll return shortly.”

  Taking her arm, Becca led her away from the rest of the group and once they were out of earshot she said, “Chuck’s life is about to change in a big way and from what I understand you are a part of his life now so you should hear this as well.”

  As they approached where he stood he took baby Melody’s arm and waved it at her. He was grinning from ear to ear like a small child on Christmas morning. He was not only hot but adorable standing there holding Melody.

  “Do you see all these paintings?” he asked incredulously. “This place is the shit! I could just wander around here for days and still see new things.”

  “Chuck, I’d like to introduce you to the owner of this gallery. He enjoyed the painting you made for me so much he’d like to meet you,” Becca said as Greg caught up to them.

  “Me?” Chuck asked in surprise.

  “Yes, and I’m guessing he’s going to want to see some more of your work. Do you have any other paintings that you would be willing to show him?” Becca asked.

  “Well I have a bunch in my closet at the apartment but nothing here…” he said.

  “Is there someone who could possibly ship them overnight?” Becca asked.

  “Well, Carla and Gran are the only ones still in Florida who have a key… but Gran’s got Gretchen and can’t really get over there anyways. Carla is busy with the boys but I guess I could ask her,” Chuck explained.

  “They need to be shipped in a special way so I will take care of calling her and asking. How many paintings do you think you have and are they all the size of the one you made for me?” Becca asked.