“Dalton what the fuck are you doing smashed in the middle of the day in Chris’s hot tub in your underwear?” he asks.
“Hot tub PARTY!” I exclaim standing up flinging my arms and water in the air whilst still holding the bottle as his eyes increase in intensity and for once I don’t give a shit.
“Well shit me, she wasn’t doing anything that fun when I left her, although I have to say, now it’s my kind of party,” says Chris as he comes onto the deck.
“Put your fuckin’ eyes back in your head and get me a towel,” Jonas says with a pointed look at his pal.
“No towel. No towel....PARTY! Let’s celebrate. I’m going to be the aunt to a whore’s alien offspring. More drinks!” I take another slug from the bottle and stumble back causing a rip tide in the bubbles of the hot tub.
“Fuckin’ Jesus,” Jonas says looking at Chris, “tell me you didn’t listen to her and call the others?”
“Nope. Neely gave me the heads up that she was heading into meltdown but she had a work thing she couldn’t get out of, Lottie is MIA and Flo is at school, so I brought her here where I could at least supervise it.”
“What!” I scream. “You haven’t called the others? OK...Party for three, hang on that’s what I already do according to your...whatever she is. Oh well, at least the ratio of the gathering is appealingly in my favor,” I shrug and laugh at them.
“That’s it, hand me the towel, I’ll take her back to mine and get her sobered up,” Jonas decides.
“Errr No. As in hell No. As in you can fuck off.” I’m starting to let my dramatic side take over proceedings here.
“You know how this goes Dalton. You’re coming with me whether I have to drag you or not,” he says seriously.
I chuckle and put on a Robocop impression and start saying “dead or alive you’re coming with me.” It’s a terrible impression, but to me it’s hilarious. He moves towards me “Keep your fuckin’ whore loving hands off me, I can manage,” I shout and I take a deep breath as I place my hands on the side of the tub and negotiate it by shoving a leg over it. I end up straddling the hot tub like a bucking bronco. “Whoa....yee ha, ride em cowboy,” I say swinging a lasso arm in the air.
“I’m almost tempted to get her camera, that’d make a great photo and I could probably make some serious cash from it,” says Chris.
“Chris fuckin’ walk away. I’m barely keeping a hold of my temper as it is,” says Jonas as he grabs hold of me and helps me out. “Why the fuck didn’t you call Neely and demand she get her ass here?”
“Because Neely is the size of a grasshopper and mauling a drunk Dolly is no mean feat,” he replies.
“OK. Come on let’s get you home,” Jonas then wraps me in a towel and picks me up so he’s cradling me in his arms. He then starts striding across the back field like I weigh nothing.
“I don’t live this way. I don’t live this way,” I panic a bit but then it hits me. “Oh are we are going to the lake? I don’t really want to Jonas I’ve done that recently remember, but I suppose I am dressed for it.” I then lean around the back of him and shout “BYE CHRIS. LOOOOOVE YOU.”
“Quit fuckin’ shouting you’re gonna make my ears bleed woman,” Jonas snaps.
“Where are we going Jonas? I need my clothes and my camera, Chris and I are supposed to be taking drunk photos.”
“Yeah yeah, later OK.”
“Hey, what’s all this building stuff? I didn’t know Chris was building another house on the land. Wow...It’s gonna be pretty but I bet it’s noisy in the morning though for you, can you hear the banging from the hunters cabin?” I start laughing to myself then “No talking about banging that’s already got you in a pregnant pickle.” I laugh again at my own joke whilst Jonas just keeps moving towards the cabin trying to ignore me and my drunk ramblings.
He opens the door and it’s sparsely furnished because it’s just one huge room apart from a clever hidden bit at the back that contains a toilet and shower. It has a few simple kitchen units, a sink, a fridge, a bed, a couch and a TV. That’s it. His clothes are on a temporary rail along the wall and he has a few photos on the TV, one of him in his unit and one of the family at one of the Griggs summer BBQ’s. There is also one of me that was taken years ago; I’m looking back over my shoulder laughing, I think Neely took it when she was messing around with my camera and being a fake photographer shouting out stupid runway cues.
“Hey! When did you steal that? I wondered where it had gone.” Last I had seen it was on a unit in my house with some other random pictures. Jonas doesn’t answer me or acknowledge the question because he’s concentrating on making coffee. After he’s put the pot on he gets some old clothes and throws them at me, they’re an old t-shirt and a pair of track pants. Both are too big but I can’t sit around in my underwear so I shuffle under the towel taking the underwear off and putting the clothes on, but keeping my balance is proving a challenge and Jonas is ignoring me and continues making the coffee. I’m tired by the time I’ve completed it so I just leave the wet underwear in a pile on the floor. I slump down and feel the material of the clothes, it’s soft and leaning down to feel more of it means I take a smell of them too, they smell like him; amazing. In a blink I go from a party drunk to a depressed drunk, the quick sobering of where I am hits me and makes me feel sad so I lie down on the couch, turn and face the back of it, away from him. I’m on the edge of sleep when he comes over with a cup of coffee for me.
“Coffee Dalton, come on drink up.”
“Hhhmmm. No. Tired.” He perches on the edge of the couch and his ass is resting against the middle of my back as he starts to shake me into action, but I’m not really bothered about coffee. His shaking slowly turns into stroking and he’s gently running his hand from the middle of my waist, over my bum and down my thigh. It’s not sexual, it feels comforting and caring, he does this for a while and I drift in and out of a relaxed coma state when I hear “I’m sorry Dalton. You’re everything to me, but I have to do the right thing by her.”
I don’t think he knows I can hear and I’m sure he isn’t expecting a reply but still I say “I know. You’ve always been my… everything and what you’re doing now just proves that I was right about you all along.” He stops stroking my side in surprise I think because I answered him back.
“You’ll never know how much I wanted this with you,” he says gently.
“It’s better if I don’t know it, I’m not sure I’d survive hearing it,” I reply.
“Sleep it off Dalton, I’m here to look after you. Always here.”
This conversation is getting me nowhere apart from upset that I’m missing out on what I’ve always thought would be my future and sleep seems like the sensible option to take.
I awake the next morning in Jonas’s bed and I’m still in his clothes, he must have carried me over here at some point. I’ve slept great but feel like Ringo Starr is having a drum practice in my skull.
“Morning,” is all I hear from the other side of the bed.
“What, how and why am I in your bed?”
“You can’t sleep on that couch,” he replies.
“Thanks but that doesn’t explain why I’m in your bed and you’re in bed with me.”
“Because if you can’t sleep on that couch I certainly can’t, I’m bigger than you remember?” he says rubbing his hands over his head and down his face. “Relax, nothing happened Dalton, don’t panic.”
“I’m not. Well OK, yeah I was but...” I don’t finish the sentence because the cabin door swings open and Tits is standing there looking pissed off.
“Well fucking hell, it seems I wasn’t that far wrong about you and your brothers, Dolly.”
“Don’t be stupid Letitia,” says Jonas on an exasperating exhale.
“Stupid...fucking stupid. Her underwear is in a pile on the floor, she’s in your bed, she’s wearing your clothes and you’re not bloody wearing any...and I’m being stupid?” she screams. I have to hold my head at this point, the shouting
hurts because Ringo Starr seems intent on matching his beat with her screaming. “That’s right, hold you head in shame you fucking disgusting cow.” I don’t have any energy to respond to her. “So this is why you didn’t come to work last night? I’m schlepping my pregnant ass around a bar and you’re getting your rocks off with her.” Her arms are flailing round and she’s randomly pointing at Jonas or me. It’s more drama and I don’t need it, so I climb out of bed and head for the not really a bathroom area when I hear “Letitia, you’ve the wrong idea, she was at Chris’s drunk and I helped her out, so calm the fuck down. It would be none of your business anyway; I’ve already told you I will do the right thing by my baby but there is no future for us as a couple. I will take care of my responsibilities and I will be a Dad to my kid, but not a husband to you.”
“And now I know why. Well I’m not standing for this shit, you can’t use me and then dump me,” she throws back.
“There was using on both sides, we both knew what this was,” he says. This is getting uncomfortable so I just round the corner of the toilet wall, go round them and out the door she’s left open.
I make it to Chris’s ranch and he’s having coffee on his deck. “Morning Dolly, you OK?”
“Can I have my clothes and my purse? I need to call a cab and head home.”
“I can take you,” he offers.
“You stay put, I can get a cab,” I say.
“It’s no trouble, honestly. I am taking you home.”
“OK, thanks.” After I’m changed and in the pickup I ask him what I already know “Why did you let him take me back to the cabin?”
“You forget I know you and I’ve lived through you and your feelings before.” It’s a gentle reminder of our history together.
“That doesn’t explain why you let him take me back to his fucking cabin.”
“Hey, don’t take your shit out on me. I thought you two needed to talk and you being slightly smashed gave me the opportunity to make it happen.”
“You called him didn’t you?”
“I’m not gonna lie to you, yes, I called him. I know how you feel about him, how you’ve always felt about him,” he says gently.
“It was none of your business.” I’m trying to be forceful, but I’m struggling to put strength behind my words.
“The thing is Dolly, I know how he feels about you.” I don’t want to hear this when I’m not in any position to do anything about it. “He deserved to know before he made any decision about his future with Letitia.”
“No. The thing is Chris, if you hadn’t done that he’d be looking at a future with a family, a blood family. Something he’s not got and always wanted and you’ve only confused him and made him give that up.” It’s an exasperating yet truthful answer from me.
“No. I didn’t Dolly. He’s not gonna saddle himself with her for no reason.”
“It’s not no reason, she’s having his pissing BABY!” I shout back at him.
“People raise children separately all the time. Jonas will do what he wants. Don’t you see it? He wants you.”
“Well it’s too fucking late. If he wanted me he wouldn’t have hidden his return from me, he wouldn’t have picked up with his pussy pony and gotten her pregnant. I’m done with this shit. It’s too late.”
“But...” he starts.
“But nothing. I’m not going to open up old wounds and then be expected to watch him play happy families whether they are together or apart. It all hurts too much. I need some time away to think about where I see myself in the future. Thanks for the ride.”
We’ve finally pulled up at mine and I climb out of the cab and he says “Dolly, don’t make any crazy decisions, it will all work out.”
“Yeah, Chris it will, like it always does and I’m always on the losing side. When do I get to be the winner? Until then I’m out of here. I need space.”
Closing the door I head into my apartment and feel a little bit better about my decision to get away, the shit I’ve put up with over the last few days has justified it as far as I am concerned. I’ll recuperate today with some sleep, fluids and headache pills, pack my bag and head to city early. I’ll do the meeting with Mig and his Art Director and then see where I’m at, but one thing is for sure, getting some space can’t make my life any worse.
A few hours later, I’ve refreshed a bit, thrown some things in a bag and am just checking I’ve got all my laptop bits, camera bits and cables when there is a knock at the door. I was hoping to avoid everyone and just disappear but that clearly isn’t going to happen and when I open the door I’m presented with Sheriff Roberts.
“Sheriff Roberts, what can I do for you?”
“Miss Frobisher can you accompany me to the station please? We’ve received a complaint regarding a recent altercation between you and Miss Brunel.”
“WHAT?”
“Dolly, I’m sorry to have to do this, but she wants to press charges, can you come with me please?”
“What? OK. I’ll get my shoes, please just give me a minute,” I say back dumbfounded.
Chapter Twelve
Things become a bit of a blur. Tits was at the station when I got there and was just finishing signing her statement. It seems Neely was wrong, she doesn’t need the cardboard finger space and can sign her own fucking name.
I’d called Neely before I left the house and told her where to meet me. I’ll be honest, I’ve never be in any trouble that required legal counsel before, but clearly there is a first time for everything. Neely sat with me as I made my statement and it felt good to have her at my side even if legally she couldn’t represent me. After two hours of telling them what happened, well my version at least and them contacting a couple of people from the supermarket and Chris to verify my version of events, my fate was decided. They decided I was to be charged with a misdemeanor assault first offense or “simple assault.” I was told that this could carry a jail term, but as it was my first offense, I had a good standing in the community and there was witnessed provocation I escapaed away with a written note being put on my now newly created criminal file. They took into account that I had made a mistake, let things get out of hand and my temper had the better of me.
Sheriff Roberts and Neely told me on the quiet that I should dismiss this and that he had to be seen to act fairly even if he was pissed that he had just wasted time writing up someone for a supermarket bitch slapping, but I still couldn’t get past the fact that I was a criminal. It upset me and that made Neely livid, I think we were both still shocked that she’d done this.
I was officially a criminal. Me.
Once again I found myself asking how I got here. Looking for the silver lining, I was thankful that I had a packed bag at home, I was really going to get out of here for a bit now. I could also extend my trip, I had a bit of time until I needed to come back and cover the Mayor’s Day Festival and finish the tourist brochure for the deadline.
I also just happen to walk out of the interview room just in time to hear Tits shout “What do you mean that’s it? She attacked a pregnant woman.”
“Miss Brunel, as I’ve already explained, a witness confirmed your part in provoking Miss Frobisher and it’s her first offense. I suggest you let the matter rest,” warns the sheriff.
“Outrageous,” she hisses as she stomps her foot.
I’m still heading out the door when Jonas strolls up the front steps. “Dalton, what are you doing here?”
I’m not even going to answer him.
“Are you fucking kidding me, are you really fucking seriously asking that Jonas? Maybe you should march in there and ask that pregnant fucking tramp of yours the same question. Come on Dolly.” Neely is mad and makes to lead me around him as Tits comes out of the station door behind us. It’s then that he realizes what she’s done.
“Tell me you didn’t Letitia. You’d better have not done what I think you’ve done.” He’s looking at her and he’s starting to shake with rage.
“Jonas, I’m within my
rights to press charges for assault, she could have harmed our baby.”
“For FUCK’S SAKE. You had her arrested, what is the matter with you?” He’s talking slowly and directly to her and even I can tell she will not waiver in her resolve. I wonder why I am the only one who is scared of his potential reaction when he gets like this.
“Jonas, I want things to go back to how they were, let’s just put this behind us. I need this on record in case there are any problems with the health of the baby and you should be supporting me.” Jonas leans into her, he’s towering over her when he speaks in a quiet and threatening manner “Let’s fuckin’ clear this up. I don’t want you, you were a convenient fuck and you filled some gaps in a few lonely nights when I didn’t want the bother of cleaning up after a hand job. I have no idea how I managed to knock you up but thank fuck this child will have one normal parent, me. I dread to think what would happen if it was relying on you for the next eighteen years. Keep this jealous shit up and I’ll be demanding that paternity test I hinted about in my office. You better hope your dates add up when I see that ultrasound, which I’ve now decided I’m gonna be at.” Her face is paling in color, she definitely wasn’t expecting that reaction from him.
“I also don’t appreciate a random phone call from the sheriff’s office from you asking for a lift home; clearly this is a game to you, so I will remind you, games and manipulation, Letitia, are not on and that’s what this is to you, a game. So let’s get another thing straight, keep trying to play me and I will bite back. You have been warned. For the last time, there is no us. There’ll be you and our child and me and our child, there will be no us and our child.”
I can’t remember the last time I heard him say so many words, as much as I can’t believe I’ve been dragged into this shit and now have a criminal record because of it, I almost feel slightly sorry for her. The way he is giving her this military debrief is harsh and publicly humiliating but then I remember who she is, what she’s capable of and what she has that I don’t and my sympathy dissipates.
Fostering Love (The Soul Sisters Series Book 1) Page 13
