Stronger Than Ever (My Best Friend)

by Ancelli

  “She lied to me.” He ran his hand through his hair.

  “Maybe she didn’t know who the father was.”

  “You always try to see the good in everybody.” He kissed her on the cheek.

  “What are you going to do?” she asked him.

  “Nothing. She’ll contact me.”

  “Will you be all right?”

  He pulled her close and kissed her. “I will. See you later, sexy. I love you to infinity and beyond.” He laughed.

  She laughed back. “You’re so silly, but I love you more than you’ll ever know.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Jason’s cell phone rang. The number on the screen was his private investigator. “Hello?”

  “Hey, Jason, it’s Patrick.”

  “Hey, what’s up?”

  “I’ve continued to dig into your wife’s assault. There was something off to me. I felt like he didn’t act by himself. Do you know a Kimberly Carter?”

  Jason’s heart sank when he mentioned Kimberly’s name. “Yes.”

  “Jason, Mrs. Carter is related to Bobby Kidd.”

  “What the hell are you saying?” Jason picked up his keys and walked out his office door.

  “Mrs. Carter arranged for your wife to be assaulted by her cousin. She paid him to kill her, but he told the authorities that he couldn’t take someone’s life.”

  “Why would he tell the cops this now? Damn it, Patrick. We spent time with that bitch.”

  “He spoke because he’s afraid his cousin is going finish the job. He said she’s unstable, and he also took a plea bargain. The cops are looking for her as we speak. Jason, you need to find your wife.”

  “I’m on my way now. She went home early because Jeremy isn’t feeling well. Fuck, man, I let her back into my life. She has a little boy.”

  “I’m looking for her. I’ll call you back as soon as I know more, Bye man.”

  He drove up to their driveway and saw Kay’s car. He ran up to the house. The door was wide open and he could hear Jeremy crying. He looked around the living room. “Kay, Kay,” he yelled. Jeremy kept crying. He ran into the nursery, but he wasn’t in his crib. His cries were coming from the closet. Jason stalked to the closet and opened it. To his relief, Jeremy was wrapped in a blanket on the floor of the closet.

  “Okay, baby. Daddy’s home. It’s okay…everything is going to be okay.” Kissing his cheek, he looked down and found a note.

  Jason, if you’re reading this that means something went wrong. I saw it in her eyes. Jason, I love you so much. You will always be in my heart no matter what. Please tell our kids every day how much their Mommy loved them.

  “No…” he whispered, staring at the piece of paper in disbelief. He got teary-eyed. He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and called Officer White. “She took my wife!” He explained everything he found.

  “I’m on my way, Mr. Anderson.” Officer White said.

  He then dialed Patrick. “She got her, and there’s nothing I can do.”

  “When?”

  “I got here too late. Jeremy was in the closet, crying. Kay knew something was wrong. She kept him safe. I want to get out and look for her, but where? Where?”

  “I will find her, Jason. Kay will be okay. I got to go. I’ll call you.” Patrick hung up the phone.

  He looked at Jeremy, now sleeping in his arms. “Mommy is going to be all right. She has to be. She’s part of me.”

  He looked down at the floor and spotted blood.

  ***

  About an hour earlier

  Kay checked on Jeremy again. His fever was low, but seemed stable. She was reassured because at least he was still eating. After she fed him, she’d given him medicine and put him down to sleep. The medicine always put him to sleep. She smiled, looking down on her sweet angel. “You’re getting so big. Every day you look more and more like your daddy.” She smiled.

  There was a knock at the door. With a strange premonition, she left his room and went to answer it. She looked through the peephole and it was Kimberly, pacing from side to side. She had anger written all over her face.

  She banged on the door, yelling. “Kay, I know you’re in there. Your car is outside and someone at your office said you came home. I’m not leaving until you talk to me.”

  Kay walked backward. She couldn’t hide. Kimberly knew she was there. “I’ll be right there, I’m getting dressed.”

  She ran to Jeremy’s room, wrapped him in a blanket, kissed him, and laid him in his closet on the floor. She knew he would be out for a while. She grabbed a piece of paper and scribbled on it, then kissed Jeremy one more time and said, “I love you.” She got up and closed the doors to the closet.

  She thought of calling the police, but what would she say? I think…no. Kimberly hasn’t done anything.

  She swung the door open. “What’s your problem?”

  “Are you alone? Where’s your son?” Kimberly asked, forcefully passing her to get in.

  “I didn’t invite you into my house.” Kay turned angrily.

  “I need to talk to you. Where is your son?” She looked back at Kay.

  Kay left the door open. “He’s with his grandmother. Why are you asking?”

  The woman just stood there, looking at Kay.

  “Look, Kimberly, I’ve had a long day. Get out of my house. Jason is not here. I don’t have time for your shit right now.” Kay opened the door wider.

  “Well, you’re going to make time for me. I’ll talk to Jason later.”

  “Get the fuck out!” Kay yelled.

  Kimberly reached into her bag, pulled out a gun, and pointed it at Kay. “Oh, I’m not going anywhere, bitch. You took something dear from me and my son, and I’m taking yours.”

  Kay just stood there in shock, not moving. She was thankful she’d given Jeremy some medicine. It meant he would stay quiet.

  “Jason was mine until you seduced him. He would’ve never left me for a black woman, especially one like you. You seduced him and told him you were pregnant with his baby, but both of us know he’s not the father of your bastard daughter. You knew that Jason would leave me. Since I’ve known you, you’ve wanted what was mine.” She practically vibrated with anger. “You better be thankful your son is not here.”

  What is that supposed to mean? She just stared at Kimberly.

  “My son was deprived of a father because of you.”

  “I didn’t ruin anything between you two. You did that by yourself,” she said, staring her down.

  “Get away from the door and have a seat or I’ll shoot you.”

  Kay followed her order and kept quiet. She couldn’t risk the life of her son. The house phone kept ringing. Jason left a message.

  “Kay, answer the damn phone. I need to talk to you, it’s important!”

  She also felt her cell phone, in her pocket on vibrate, but she ignored it. She hoped she would be able to use it later.

  “Let me answer the phone before he thinks something is wrong. He knows I’m home,” Kay pleaded. “I don’t want him to be worried.”

  “No, you’re not talking to Jason. Since I can’t take your son, you will do. You’re going to pay and once you’re gone Jason will come back to me.” She strode over to Kay. “Get up, bitch. We’re going for a ride.”

  “Why are you doing this?”

  “Get up!” she yelled

  Kay, afraid Kimberly’s out-of-control shouting would wake Jeremy up, stood uneasily. Kimberly hit her on the face with the butt of the gun. She grabbed her mouth to try to stop the bleeding.

  “If you try anything, I will kill you on the spot. Walk to my car.” She pointed her gun toward the door.

  Kay walked out of the house, and Kimberly made her get into the driver’s side. “You’re driving.” Kay tried to put on her seat belt, but Kimberly stopped her.

  “Oh no, no seat belt for you, just in case you try anything.” She put on her own seat belt and held the gun to Kay’s side. “If you try anything, you’re gonna pa
y.”

  ***

  John and Amy walked in the house, hand in hand. Jason was still seated in the same place, holding Jeremy in his arms, while the police took pictures and scanned his house for clues.

  “Jason,” John called out, but he didn’t answer. “Jason, are you okay?”

  “What kind of fucking question is that? No I’m not okay. A freaking lunatic has my wife.” Jason stared at John with anger. “And there is nothing I can do.”

  “Sorry, man, I didn’t mean to upset you.” John seating himself next to him.

  “Jason, let me take Jeremy home with me,” Amy offered, trying to take the baby.

  “No. He’s all I have from Kay right now.”

  “If they find her, Jeremy can’t go with you. I promise you if you let me take him with me he will be safe. Jason, I promise. We’ll ask the police to watch the house.”

  Jason handed her the baby, but not before kissing him. “I promise I’ll bring Mommy home. I love you.”

  Amy took the baby while John went and spoke to the police. “I’ll take care of him, Jason.” She headed out the door with a uniformed cop following her.

  “Jason, I need you to get yourself together and be strong. I know you think you don’t have the strength but she needs you. Where do you think Kimberly would take her? I mean you guys used to be close.” John placed a hand on his friend’s shoulder.

  “I don’t know. She always came over to my house. John, if she hurts Kay it will be my fault for allowing her back in our life. I knew something was off with that story about her son. I should’ve followed my instinct.” He got up. “She was going to hurt my son over a breakup that happened fucking years ago.”

  “I spoke to the police. They’re doing everything they can do to find her. He also said you can leave. I think we need to take a drive.” He gave him a suspicious stare. They both got up and headed out the door.

  Walking toward the car, Jason’s cell phone rang. He looked at the caller ID. It was Kay. He scrambled to answer it. “Hello, baby. Tell me you’re okay.”

  But there was no answer back, all he heard was Kimberly yelling.

  ***

  Kimberly opened the door and pushed Kay inside.

  “If you try anything, you’ll regret it.” She turned to lock the door.

  Kay pushed her hands in her jacket and touched her cell phone and pushed the first button, hoping it was the number one key, then pressed the talk button. At that moment she was thankful she’d memorized her cell phone without even knowing it. If she catches me, oh well. I’m in trouble either way. Kimberly turned back around and Kay slowly removed her hands.

  “Jason was supposed to be my husband. We were supposed to have children together, not you. He was going to take care of me. He treated me different. With him I felt special. He didn’t use me. No one has ever treated me like him. You don’t deserve him.”

  “Jason is special.”

  “If you aren’t around, he’ll love me again.”

  “Kimberly, we can’t help who we love. We love each other no matter our skin color and differences. God made him for me, not you, and I know that must hurt. I’ve been there where you are now, but I survived. You have your son to live for,” Kay said with sincerity.

  Kimberly laughed. “I never wanted Jacob, but he’s here now, and God didn’t make you for Jason. That’s a joke. When Jason broke up with me, I went into a deep depression, and my parents had me committed. While I was there I met someone, and to make the long story short, I got pregnant. My parents disowned me, and they didn’t want anything to do with my baby. When I went to Jason to tell him I saw you making out with someone, I was already pregnant. I was hoping to seduce him and later on tell him that I was pregnant with his baby, but he shut the door in my face. After that ordeal I had my baby, and tried my best. About a year ago, I arranged for my cousin to assault you. He was supposed fuck you up, but at the last minute he backed out. He messed up my plans. When I found out you two had separated, it was my time to act, and yes, I lied, but now he thinks that Jacob is his son, nothing will keep us apart. Especially since you’re going to be out of the picture.” Kimberly stared at her coldly. “Because of you, my future was destroyed. I don’t have the man I love and I have a kid I don’t want.”

  “It was you? You sent someone after me? What have I ever done to you? That man almost raped me.”

  “He was supposed to kill you. You took away the only man I ever loved.”

  “You think that’s really going to work? You just told me that Jacob is much younger than we thought. Jason will eventually find that out.”

  “By the time he does, it will be too late. He will already be in love with Jacob, like he is with your daughter.”

  “He doesn’t love you,” Kay whispered.

  “But he will, in time.”

  “If you didn’t want your son, why did you have him?”

  “I don’t know.” She paused, looking like she was thinking. “I had him because I needed someone to love me for once, and that he does. I used him to get help and money from men. But now, I’ve finally gotten back the one person I really love.”

  “How could you not want that precious child? And even so, you could have given him up for adoption to parents who would love him.”

  “What are you, a fucking therapist? It’s none of your business. Jason will love him for the both of us.”

  Kay had to get help, she looked out the window and saw the sign. “Why the Lease Inn?” She changed the subject, trying to give anyone on the other end of cell phone clues.

  “This is all I can afford,” Kimberly replied.

  ***

  “I know where they are. Drive to the Lease Inn. Call 911,” Jason shouted, still listening to the call.

  They pulled up to the inn. Jason recognized Kimberly’s car, parked in front of room forty-nine. “John, stay here until the police show up. She wants me.” Jason raced out of the car.

  “Wait for the cops!” John yelled, but Jason was already at the door.

  Jason knocked on the room door. “Kimberly, open the door. It’s Jason.”

  Kimberly was surprised but she eventually opened the door and pointed the gun at him. “Get in.”

  Jason entered, walking toward Kay. “Baby, are you okay?”

  Her face was still bleeding from where Kimberly had hit her before. “I’m fine. Why are you here?” she asked, staring at him.

  “This is not a fucking reunion. Get away from her.” Kimberly pointed the gun.

  Jason got up and moved. “Kimberly, let her go. You have me now.”

  “No, she’s the reason you’re not with me and our son.”

  “Stop the bullshit. I know he is not my son. I had a paternity test done. She’s not the reason I left you. You are.” He was trying to antagonize her, so her focus would shift from Kay to him.

  She started shaking. “You bastard! I’m going to take her away from you.” She aimed the gun shakily at Kay.

  “Kimberly, she didn’t do anything to you. I did. Shoot me.” He moved in front of Kay.

  Kimberly stepped forward, yelling, “Move, Jason.”

  The door was pushed in and there were cops everywhere.

  “Put down the gun!” Officer White ordered, aiming his weapon at Kimberly.

  Kimberly pulled the trigger just as Officer White pulled his, shooting her in the chest.

  “Kay!” Jason cried, holding her where she’d fallen in his lap.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  One year later

  Jason stood at the gravesite with flowers in his hands. “Not a day goes by that I don’t think of you,” he said. “It’s been a long time since I visited. I want you to know that I will always love you and I took your advice. I fought for my family.” He bent down and placed the flowers next to the gravestone.

  He walked over to his car, took a moment, and drove off.

  ***

  Jason pulled up to his driveway, noticing all the lights in the house were off. He
turned off the car, got out, and open the back door. Picking up his suitcase, he walked to the front door. Once inside, he dropped his suitcase and noticed flickering lights coming from their bedroom. He smiled and rushed upstairs. When he pushed the door open he was in awe. There were candles and red rose petals everywhere.

  “Welcome home, baby. I missed you.”

  Jason’s smile got bigger. “I missed you more, my chocolate.” He turning around, staring at his beautiful wife dressed in a black silk teddy, showing him just enough.

  Kay walked up to him, putting her arms around his neck. “How was Indiana?”

  “I helped mom take care of all the legal loose ends, and I finally went to my grandfather’s grave.” He kissed her on the neck. “Where are the kids?”

  “Mmm, I like it when you do that. Your dad took them for the evening.” She massaged the back of his neck.

  “How did the teacher conference go for Jacob?” he asked, pulling away to stare at her.

  “It went well. Jacob is doing so much better. He’s talking more and socializing with the other kids.”

  Jason shook his head, remembering. It had been a long year, in which Kimberly had been found mentally insane, and placed in a mental institution. She’d spent months recuperating from the gunshot to her chest. Kay’s injuries from that same shooting had been, mercifully, and minor.

  When Kimberly pulled the trigger, Kay had pushed Jason out of the way and the bullet had grazed the side of her head. Then, days later, the state had contacted Kimberly’s family about Jacob, but they didn’t want anything to do with him. Because his birth certificate didn’t list his father, the state had no choice but to place Jacob in foster care. Kay had convinced Jason they should adopt him. None of the things Kimberly had done were that little boy’s fault, and Kay knew how it felt not to be wanted. It had taken several months to convince the court, but with the help of his parents, but they finally got to adopt him.

  “No more talking about the kids. Tonight is all about you and me,” she whispered.