The Beginning After

by Kiersten Modglin

  “Oh,” she said, the words hitting her hard. “Oh.”

  “The baby died too. It was,” he cleared his throat, “it is the hardest thing I have ever had to deal with. When Sarah and the baby died, my whole world ended. I was depressed, I started drinking, I was ready to let my whole life fall apart.”

  “Clay—” She held her hand out for him though neither of them moved.

  “But I didn’t. Eventually, I moved past it. I never got over it. I still think about both of them every single day. I was, I was so excited to be a dad, you know?” he said, tears forming in his eyes. He cleared his throat, wiping his eyes quickly so she wouldn’t notice. She pretended she hadn’t. “But it happened. And it’s done. And then I got this chance to…to avenge them in some way. To catch the person responsible. I’ve already told you this part, but I wanted to tell you again, to set the record straight. When I initially started making contact with you, it was because I needed information about Beelzebub, because I believe she is the one responsible for my wife’s death. But that isn’t the case anymore, it hasn’t been for a very long time. I’m interested in you, Peighton. Completely. And I want you to know and believe that.”

  “Is that all?” Peighton asked, tears collecting in her own eyes.

  “Should there be more?”

  “I thought there would be, the way you went on.”

  “Not really. I just want to make sure we start this out with transparency. Honesty is important to me. Do you have any questions?”

  “How did she die?” she blurted out, a question that had been on her mind. “I’m sorry. Is that okay to ask?”

  “It’s okay,” he said. “She was in a car accident.”

  “A car accident? I thought you said she was murdered?” Peighton blurted out, feeling disappointed. It wasn’t that she hoped it would’ve been something terrible, but she’d imagined every possible scenario in her head and a car accident hadn’t been in the running.

  “She was.”

  “How could you possibly know that?”

  “She was run off the road. They thought it was by a deer first, but there were tire marks on the road that indicated someone else had been chasing her. There was no way to know for sure, no witnesses, no damage to her car that couldn’t have been caused by the impact. The case was closed quickly. I even believed it was an accident until I received the message from Beelzebub saying she was sorry.”

  “But couldn’t that have meant she was sorry for your loss? Why do you assume she meant she was sorry because she had caused it? That seems farfetched, Clay.”

  “Because I never told Beelzebub who I was. I told her I was married and that was it. She didn’t know anything about me…or so I thought.”

  “Meaning?”

  “I don’t believe Beelzebub is as much of a stranger as I did when we first began talking. I think she knows me. It could be someone at the precinct or around town. I believe whoever it was…she wanted Sarah out of the way, and she made it happen.”

  “But then, if that’s the case, why would she kill Todd too? And more than that, it’s been two years since Sarah, you said. So why would she just now strike again?”

  “For all I know, they aren’t her only two victims. And, I don’t know why she chose Todd. Maybe you were the target and Todd got in the way.”

  She frowned, biting her lip.

  “What? You don’t believe me?” he asked, though his face showed he knew the answer.

  “I want to,” she said. “I don’t know, this just all seems…insane. And extremely farfetched. And maybe you just need something, someone, to blame for her death. I can’t blame you for that. I want the same. I don’t want to believe Todd’s death was an accident because that just makes it worse somehow. It’s not fair that he’s gone but somehow it seems less fair that he’s gone for no reason—an accident. That,” she placed her hands square on her chest, “kills me. But no matter how much it hurts, it doesn’t make it any less true.”

  “How do you explain Beelzebub then?”

  “Why can’t it be just a strange coincidence?” she asked, her eyes searching his. She stood, walking to him and taking his hands in hers. “Clay?”

  “Yeah?” he said, though his eyes were a million miles away.

  She took his face in her hands, forcing him to focus. “Todd’s death was an accident. No one else was home when he fell. He was alone. No one could have hurt him.”

  “Do you honestly believe that?”

  She pressed her lips together, sighing. “I have to,” she said softly.

  He took hold of her hand from his cheek, pulling it to his lips and kissing her fingers. “I hope you’re right.”

  “But you don’t think I am?” she asked, reading his face.

  “To believe you would be to give up on everything I’ve spent two years working on. I’m not ready for that yet.”

  “Okay,” she agreed. “Is there anything I can do to help you become ready?”

  “You can kiss me,” he told her, leaning his lips toward her.

  She moved forward, pressing her lips into his, his stubble scratching her chin. She ran her fingers across his strong jaw gently, feeling the pulse in his neck. He pulled her to him, his hands around her waist. His lips traveled to her neck, biting and kissing his way across her skin. He pulled away, his lips red, his eyes begging for more.

  “Should we go inside?”

  She nodded, not able to speak, and grabbed his hand to pull him into the house. She closed the door, twisting the deadbolt. Once they were inside, free from prying eyes, she turned to him, pressing him up against the wall. Their lips met once again, softly at first, but growing more ravenous with each kiss. He held her tight, turning so that she was pressed firmly into the wall. The bumps of the popcorn wall dug into her back, but she couldn’t move. He pinned her arms up above her, smiling at her devilishly. His lips traveled from her cheeks to her ears, jawline to collarbone. He kissed her delicately, his hot breath on her chest. His hands dropped hers from the wall, beginning to tug her shirt off of her shoulders.

  She moaned as his tongue slipped in between her breasts and pulled her shirt the rest of the way off in one swift motion. Her heart pounded in her chest, her breathing growing quicker. Her hands found his chest, nearly ripping his buttons off in a hurry to remove his shirt. Once his shirt was open, she stuck her hands inside, her fingers scraping his back. The heat from his body nearly burned her cold skin. She pressed herself onto him, their bodies molded together, as he moved back up to her mouth.

  He lifted her up, carrying her to the couch and sliding on top of her, his hands fumbling with her pants. She lifted her butt up, allowing him to remove the remainder of her clothes. He looked her over, his eyes lighting up with pleasure as she reached to undo his belt. She sat up as he leaned down, their mouths meeting again.

  “You ready?” he asked, as she pulled his belt off, reaching for him.

  “Yes,” she begged, the only word she could muster.

  “Look at me,” he demanded, his hand under her head as he slid inside of her. Their eyes met, her dark brown locked with his blue-green, and she knew right then how far gone she was. Damn, she cursed mentally, both out of pure ecstasy and utter frustration. She was in love with Clay Nealson.

  Twenty-Nine

  FRANK

  Frank stood outside of the house. He’d spent all night tracking Kyle’s cell phone, watching it never leave Isabel’s house, before he realized what must’ve happened. Within minutes of tracking Isabel’s cellphone, he found the address where Kyle must be hiding out. A day’s drive later and Frank was standing in Nolensville, TN at the home of Peighton’s mother and step-father.

  He knocked on the door, preparing himself for what would be an awkward conversation. He hadn’t told Peighton where he was going. He didn’t want to get her hopes up if this, like the other plan, turned out to be a dead end. After his conversation with Isabel last night, he knew more than ever how important it was to get Kyle home and make
sure he was safe.

  The door opened cautiously. The woman who stood before him, Peighton’s mother, had aged significantly since he last saw her.

  “Hello, Elaine.” He smiled at her politely.

  “Frank?” she asked, “is that you?” Her face lit up, her arms outstretched.

  “In the flesh,” he told her, reaching for a quick hug.

  “Two of my boys in one house? On the same day? How did I get so lucky? What on earth are you doing here?”

  He pulled back. “I came to bring Kyle home.”

  “Oh, is he done visiting? I wasn’t expecting you. Where’s Peighton?”

  “She doesn’t know I’m here. I didn’t want to get her hopes up if he wasn’t here.”

  She stepped back, allowing him to come into the house. “Why on earth wouldn’t he be here?”

  He walked in, looking around the grand living room. This house never failed to take his breath away. He looked at her with an uneasy feeling in his stomach. “Because no one knew he was here in the first place.”

  Elaine stared at him, her face changing from confused to angry within seconds as she seemed to understand. “Kyle!” she yelled up the tall staircase.

  Frank watched as a door above the banister opened and Kyle appeared. “What is it, Grandma?” He stopped suddenly as he laid eyes on Frank, his face guilty.

  “Kyle, you told me your mother knew you were here,” Elaine said accusingly. “Get down here now!”

  Kyle hung his head, walking slowly down the stairs. Frank watched him descend, his face hidden. When he reached the bottom of the staircase, he looked up, flipping his hair out of his eyes. He was silent, waiting for someone to begin the lecture.

  “Well?” Elaine asked. “What have you got to say for yourself?”

  “I don’t know,” Kyle mumbled. “I’m sorry?”

  “You’re sorry?” Frank asked, rubbing his chin. “Do you know how worried we’ve been about you, Kyle? How worried your mother has been about you?”

  “How mad is she?” he asked.

  “She doesn’t know I’m here,” Frank told him. “You’re going to be the one to tell her when I take you home tonight.”

  Kyle shook his head. “I don’t want to go home.”

  “There are a lot of things I don’t want to do, Kyle. But it doesn’t always matter. I’m taking you home to your mother, no arguments.”

  “That’s right,” Elaine agreed. “I would’ve never let you stay here if I’d known you were lying to your mother about being here. You will go home tonight and apologize to her, Kyle. How could you do something so foolish?”

  “I don’t know,” he said angrily, “I guess maybe I’m just stupid.”

  “Kyle, no one said you were stupid. What you did was stupid, yes, but you are just a teenager, dumb decisions come with the territory, bud,” Frank said. “Now, go pack your bags. We’ve got a long drive ahead of us.” He touched his shoulder, ushering him toward the staircase once more.

  “I’m not going, I said,” Kyle said forcefully, jerking out of his grasp. “You can’t make me. You aren’t my dad.”

  Frank grabbed hold of his arm, staring at him with a hard expression. “I’m not your father. You’re right about that. But, kid, I’m damn near the closest thing you’ve got. And I’m telling you I’m taking you home to the only parent you have left. And you know what, that sucks, it does. But your mom…she’s a good mom. She is. And I know that you’re a kid and hating your parent is all part of it, but god, Kyle, just give her a break. She loves you. At least you still have someone who loves you that much. Not everyone is so lucky.”

  “What do you know, Frank?” Kyle asked. “You have no idea what you’re talking about. Why are you even still here? Dad’s gone. Just leave us alone.” Red-faced and fuming, he turned and ran up the stairs, slamming the bedroom door as he disappeared behind it.

  Frank turned, offering her an apologetic look. “I’m sorry you had to see that.”

  “No need to apologize to me, sweetheart. Peighton was just the same when she lost her father. It’s all part of the process, I’m afraid.”

  Frank nodded. “I’m going to check on him.”

  Elaine grabbed his arm. “I am sorry about Todd. I know how important he was to you.”

  “That’s very kind of you,” he said to her, touching her hand.

  “It never gets easier, losing the ones we love,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m thankful Peighton has you to help her through this.”

  “Oh,” he said, caught off guard. “I’m not sure I’m doing any good. She’s a strong girl.”

  “Yes, she is,” Elaine agreed. “She’s always had to be. Strong or not, it’s good to have someone to lean on. I always thought the three of you, your relationship, was strange. I never understood how you fit into their marriage so well. But it’s times like this I’m so thankful you did.”

  “It’s my pleasure to be there for her,” he said softly. “It’s what Todd would have wanted.”

  “Is she…is she doing okay?” she asked. “My husband couldn’t get off for the funeral and, well, you know we don’t talk as often as we should. I just want to know she’s okay.”

  “She’s okay. She misses him. We all do. But she’s holding her own.”

  “Have you been staying over?” she asked, her eyebrows raised. “Keeping her company?”

  “I don’t think that’s necessary. She’s doing fine. I think it’s important that she learns how to be on her own. She knows where I am when she needs me.”

  “You’re a good friend to her.” She smiled.

  “I’m going to check on Kyle now,” Frank said, awkwardly changing the subject.

  “You’ll let her know I knew nothing about this, right?”

  “Of course,” Frank said, rushing up the stairs. He got to the door, half expecting it to be locked, and was surprised when it opened with ease. Kyle lay on the bed, his face buried in a pillow. “Kyle, we should talk.”

  He didn’t respond, not bothering to move. Frank walked closer, shutting the door behind him and sitting down on the edge of the bed. “Kyle,” he said again, touching his leg softly.

  “What?” he asked, rolling over and crossing his arms over his chest.

  “What is this about? You’ve never been mad at me like this. Did I do something wrong?”

  “No,” he said angrily.

  “Then what’s going on, bud? Why are you here?”

  “Because I needed to get away from it all.”

  “Away from what all?”

  “Mom. You.”

  “Not Isabel?”

  His eyebrows raised. “You know?”

  “I know she helped you get here, yes. What I don’t know is why.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” he said firmly.

  “Of course, it does, Kyle. You have no idea how worried everyone is about you.”

  “How worried Mom is, maybe.”

  “Yes, your mom. Me too.”

  “I’m surprised she wasn’t too busy with her new boyfriend to notice me missing.”

  “Now that’s not fair,” Frank said defensively. “You need to take it easy on your mom, Kyle. I know you don’t like the idea of her dating anyone else, she was supposed to be with your dad forever. I get it. I can’t imagine how hard it is for you. But it doesn’t mean that she loves your dad any less. And it certainly doesn’t mean she loves you any less. It just means that she’s trying to find something to make her happy. And as sad as she is, she deserves that, don’t you think?”

  Kyle shrugged. “What about me? What about what will make me happy?”

  “What will make you happy?” Frank asked.

  Kyle sat up, looking as though he were going to say something, but stopped. He shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “No. What were you going to say?”

  “It doesn’t matter,” he said.

  “Who says it doesn’t matter?”

  “I don’t know,” he said, shaking his head. “Why does
she have to like him?”

  “Clay seems really nice,” Frank said. “What is your problem with him?”

  “I just don’t like him.”

  “No reason?”

  He shook his head.

  “Well, I don’t believe that, but I won’t push. When you’re ready to talk, you know I’m here for you, right?”

  He shrugged. “I guess so.”

  “I am,” Frank said. “I’ve been here for you your whole life. You don’t get rid of me that easily.”

  “Why can’t you just marry Mom?” he asked, his eyes full of hope.

  “What?” Frank asked, his heart skipping a beat.

  “Don’t you love her?”

  “Of course I do, Kyle, but it’s not that simple.”

  “Why isn’t it? If she can’t be with Dad anymore, I’d rather she be with you. At least we know you.”

  “You’ll get to know Clay too. Or anyone else she decides to date.”

  “It’s not the same,” Kyle said. “You’re family. Dad would’ve been okay with it.”

  Frank let out a stifled laugh. Seeing Kyle’s hurt face, he dropped his happy expression. “No,” he blurted out. “No, Kyle. That’s not going to happen. And it’s not because I don’t love you or because I don’t love your mom—because I do. More than anything. But she’s like my sister. I don’t think of her that way. I could never think of her that way. I’m sorry, bud. I didn’t know that was something you had even thought about, let alone wanted.”

  Kyle’s face fell. He laid back down on the bed again. “Whatever.”

  “Let’s get packing, okay? We can talk more on the way home.”

  “I don’t want to talk anymore,” he said firmly, sliding off the bed and throwing open his bag. He tossed a few shirts into it, grabbing a phone charger from the wall.

  “Don’t be like that. Just because I won’t marry your mother doesn’t mean I’m not going to be around constantly. Just like usual.”

  “So, you aren’t moving?”

  “I, um, well…that’s not decided yet.”

  “In other words, yes,” Kyle snapped, closing his bag firmly.