“So, WHAT? You’re saying he deserves to go to jail? That he’s some kind of monster?” she yelled back.
“No...no that’s not what I meant. It’s just…well maybe he needs some help, a support group of sorts to work through the anger,” I tried to reason. “I mean it’s not the first time he’s attacked someone and it got out of hand.”
I hadn’t meant to mention her step dad, but she had pushed.
“You have no idea what you’re fucking talking about Ally. Of all people, I would have thought you would have understood.”
Her face was a mask of agony and anger. I felt terrible and stepped towards her, but she held up her hand.
“I only know what I see, no one has ever bothered to tell me what really happened and why he is so angry,” I started, “I know prison can change a person, but Jason has a lot of rage that’s been bottled up for years, so please explain it to me so that I can understand,” I begged.
I could see her wrestling within herself, trying to gain control of her emotions.
“It’s true, Jason did kill my stepfather. But it wasn’t in cold blood. He was defending me.”
She took a deep breath and began to relay in detail the horrifying events that led up to the death of her stepfather and the traumatic events afterwards. I listened in shock and horror at the deplorable acts she had endured.
“You see, Wallace had taken a special interest in me about the time I turned fourteen. I didn’t think much of it at first. I mean it made me a little uncomfortable. But everyone was always talking about how he was such a wonderful man for taking Jason and I in as his own and how much his family had done for this town. I felt like I couldn’t complain. It started with little things he did at first. He would rest his hand on my thighs. Sometimes his hand would slip and he’d act embarrassed and apologize. Creepy things, but if I tried to say anything to Mom, she would tell me I was making things up and being ungrateful.”
At this point she had begun pacing the room, wringing her hands as she continued.
“Then one night, it escalated…”
I just stood there listing in horror as she told me what had happened that dreadful night, when Jason had taken matters in his own hands. I was shocked and angry, angry at Wallace for being a pig, angry at myself, angry at Ally for never having told me, or anyone else for that matter. As she told me in detail what Wallace had done, and how Jason had found him with her and lost his mind, my heart melted. All this time he had to live with the fact that he had killed someone, someone who clearly deserved it.
Jason was angry, and rightfully so. And maybe the way that other jackass at the bar acted when he pulled me onto his lap had triggered Jason’s anger.
Tears were streaming down my face too now, how could I not have known? How could I have not been there for my best friend during the worst time in her life? She not only lost her brother, but her mother, and her innocence all in a very short time. I felt selfish. But most of all, I felt ashamed. I should have known better.
“Jaime, I’m so sorry,” my lips trembled as I spoke. “I know it’s hardly enough to make up for not being there for you, or judging Jason so harshly, but I am truly and terribly sorry.”
It literally felt as if my heart had been shredded into a million pieces, the immense emptiness and sorrow that ransacked my insides, were like a tornado leaving only destruction in its wake.
She gave me a wan smile and then we flung our arms around each other, holding each other as we both cried for what seemed like ages. Eventually, sniffling we both drew back, and I was the first to speak.
“Where is he being held?”
“He’s being held at the County precinct. I don’t even know if they will grant bail,” she replied, her lips still trembling with emotion.
“Well let’s go and find out. I was there that night, I can attest to the fact that he was attacked first.”
With no time to waste, we rushed to Jaime’s car, she was in no state to drive, so I drove and we made our way to the precinct, as fast as the speed limit would allow us. The whole way there, I couldn’t help but revisit the past. Now that I knew exactly what had happened, little things I never bothered to remember, surfaced. The times I used to stay over at Jaime’s place, and how she always insisted that I don’t leave her alone. The little things I never bothered to pay attention to, like when Wallace would casually smacked her bottom when we were in the kitchen and how she used to swat his hand away angrily. It all made sense now. And the more I thought about it, the worse I felt. I just hoped that it wasn’t too late to set things right.
Ally
On our way there I was hopeful that they would have to let him out on bail because I was a witness in his defense. However, my hopes were soon dashed the moment we walked in. The vile matriarch of the Walters family was already there making a huge stink. She was telling anyone who would listen that Jason should be remanded to the custody of the state penitentiary immediately.
She lost it even further when Jaime and I walked in. “What do you think you are doing here?” she demanded. “You can’t help your vile brother now. He’s proven to everyone what I already knew. He is a monster that deserves to be locked up.”
Before Jaime could respond, I stepped in front of her and I wasn’t going to lie, but getting in Mrs. Walter’s face felt pretty damn good.
“I was there last night, Gladys,” I said purposely using her first name instead of addressing her with respect, “Jason was acting in self-defense. Those men attacked him first, after they got handsy with me and he asked them politely to leave.”
“Lies, it’s all lies! You probably already spread your legs for him, you wanton trollop,” she responded with spittle flying.
A giggle burst forth, startling everyone watching the scene including myself. But I couldn’t help it. Who still uses the word wanton or trollop?
“My relationship with Jason is none of your goddamn business. And it still doesn’t change the fact that I was there and I know what I saw, along with dozens of other patrons, including Mac.”
Gladys opened her mouth to speak but one of the officers stepped in between us. From the name on the badge, this was Officer Kristoff.
“Ladies, nothing is going to be settled here by yelling.” Looking a little nonplussed, he turned to address Gladys. “Now, Mrs. Walters, I understand your personal feelings in this matter, however we cannot forego the law and Mr. Armstrong’s right to due process.”
I smirked smugly at her from behind his shoulder. But, he wasn’t done either.
“And you, young lady. I will take your witness statement but I will warn you that should it be found that you are providing a false statement to protect him, you will be subject to the consequences.”
Feeling defiant, I replied hotly, “I am not lying and I’d be willing to take a polygraph test regarding the validity of my statement.”
I could see the shock and surprise behind Gladys’s eyes, but she quickly contained herself. “It’s a case of he said, she said. Besides, where is this supposed weapon you both speak of? Nothing was found on any of the men involved. I bet you are just making that up.”
Before things could get further out of hand, the officer ordered us to apart. Gladys was escorted out and I was taken to a back room to give my statement. Jaime sat in the waiting room until it was over. By the time we were done at the station, it was time for me to go to work. I didn’t feel much like working that evening. Thankfully, business was slower on Sunday nights. Mac could tell something was up and finally cornered me in the stock room and after a moment of browbeating, I spilled everything.
She stood there and listened as I confided in her about all the events that had led up to today. Once, I opened my mouth it was like a floodgate. I told her about Jason and me, the pregnancy, the arrest, and Jason’s prior conviction, which funny enough she knew all about. When I mentioned Wallace’s name and what he had done to Jaime, Mac turned white as a sheet.
“Meet me at the precinct tomorrow a
t 9, we have a certain matter to settle,” she said icily.
“Uh… okay, but why?”
She didn’t say a word, simply shook her head and walked out. I sighed and rested my hand on my stomach. I didn’t look pregnant, but I knew that in no time, my belly would be showing and everyone would figure it out. I was going to have to tell Jason and Jaime sooner or later.
***
The next day, Jaime and I drove to the station. We were both anxious to know what Mac was planning, and by the time we got there, she was already waiting for us. The look on her face was one of pure determination.
We followed her up to the counter. She asked to speak with Officer Kristoff, that she had important evidence in the case against Jason Armstrong. An Officer Maynard happened to be walking by and snorted with derision.
“Don’t tell me we have another girlfriend, willing to testify on Jason’s behalf. That boy must sure get around a lot.”
Mac directed her steely gaze towards the arrogant officer, “I would be very careful what you say to me Brett.”
Jaime and I both looked at each other wide-eyed at the mention of his first name. The officer seemed taken aback too.
She didn’t let up, she steamrollered on, “I know all about you. We wouldn’t want the truth about the little mishap with Old Man River’s brand new tractor to come to light now would we? If I am not mistaken, there is no statute of limitation on theft and destruction of property in our lovely little town, is there?”
Officer Maynard didn’t bother to respond. He just turned and stomped off, but not before we could see the flush of red creep up his neck under his uniform. Mac turned back to the officer at the desk and repeated her request to see Officer Kristoff.
We only had to wait a few minutes before Kristoff came to the front. “Yes, ma’am, I understand you have information on the assault case against Jason Armstrong.”
“It’s more than that. I have proof that he was acting in self-defense,” she replied calmly.
“And you are?” the officer asked.
“My name is Mac. Mackenzie Roberts. I own the Hennigan’s bar where the assault took place and was working there the night of the incident.”
“I can take your statement, but understand there are six other witnesses who state Jason was the offending party.”
Mac reached into her bag and pulled out a disc. She handed it over to the officer. “Here is a copy of the surveillance footage from the cameras inside my bar. There are six separate cameras, with plenty of angles to show that not only was Jason not the aggressor, your complainant is lying. There was in fact a weapon that he used to attack Jason with from behind. I am sure he also failed to mention that prior to assaulting Jason, he also assaulted one of my waitresses,” she explained. She pointed toward me at that last statement.
“Let’s have a look then,” said the officer. We followed him back into an interviewing room where he cued up the disc. After only a moment, six different camera angles appeared on screen.
“If you fast forward to midnight, that is right before the altercation began,” Mac instructed.
Officer Kristoff did as he was told and then we all sat back in muted silence as we watched the events unfold. I heard Jaime gasp when I was thrown against the table and again when the man came at Jason with the knife.
The incident only took a matter of about 10-12 minutes in total, but that night it had felt like it had lasted forever. At the conclusion of the video, Officer Kristoff cleared his throat. Looking somewhat abashed, he turned to us and said, “It looks like an apology is in order. Based on the clear evidence of the tapes, I can see without a doubt that Jason was acting in self-defense. I will be requesting his immediate release.”
“I think it should also be known that at the time of the assault on Ally, she was with child. So, the man in the video should be charged not only with assault to her and Jason, but to her unborn child.”
A pin drop could be heard in the room as all eyes went to me. But Jaime’s were the only ones I connected with. I hadn’t wanted the news to be shared this way, but I understood why Mac did it. She was just trying to protect me.
“Is this true, Ally?” the officer asked me.
Swallowing hard, I nodded. “Yes, sir,” I mumbled.
“We will need to get some more information from you in order to process the assault charge, but that can be done at a later date.”
He left us in front of the station, while he went to process the paperwork for Jason’s release and I could hardly look Jamie in the eye.
“Is it true?” Jaime asked me gently. “Is it Jason’s?”
I simply nodded, as I hugged my arms around my waist.
“Does he know?” she asked
I shook my head. “No, I just found out for sure yesterday morning. The only person I told was Mac, and she sort of bullied me into it.”
There wasn’t much to say after that. Jaime was going to stay at the station until Jason’s release, while Mac took me home.
Exhausted by the events of the day, I flopped down on the couch and quickly fell asleep
It wasn’t until I felt a pair of gentle hands brushing the hair back from my head that I finally woke up. It was still light outside but only just. I blinked the sleep from my eyes and realized that it was Jason who was tenderly stroking my hair. He was sitting on the ottoman across from me with a big grin on his face.
I sat up quickly and threw my arms around him in a fierce hug. He laughed as he hugged me back. Tears welled up in my eyes as he pressed his lips tenderly against mine.
“I’m so sorry Jason,” I sobbed.
“Shhh, shhh. None of that matters now,” he cajoled. “What matters is that you, Jaime, and Mac saved me. All charges were dropped and my probation hasn’t been violated. I’m a free man again.”
“Thank God. I was so scared for you,” I replied.
“I’d rather talk about something else,” he smiled while looking down at my stomach.
I blushed immediately. “Isn’t there something you need to tell me?”
I smiled shyly. “Err…yes. Um, well…” I stuttered but I couldn’t get the words out. Even though I knew the he already knew, I still couldn’t get it out.
“Ally, there’s nothing I would want more,” he assured me.
I looked up at him surprised. But all I could see was genuine love and excitement is his face.
“Really, you’re not mad? I wasn’t trying to trap you or force you into having a family. I swear.”
“Ally, don’t be ridiculous. I’ve had the hots for you since forever, now, it seems I’ve trapped you.”
“You mean…” I said with a trembling voice.
“I want us to be a family,” he whispered as he took both my hands in his, “I want to do this right. Time waits for no man. I know that better than anyone. Will you let me be there for the baby? And you? I promise I will do any and everything to make you both happy. You have my word.”
I looked at him with eyes wide and my heart literally drumming against my chest. A few weeks ago, he was nothing but a memory, and now suddenly he was sitting in front of me asking me to be with him.
“Yes, yes, I’d like that,” I whispered.
“Yes!”
It was Jaime who came bolting into the living room leaping onto Jason’s back, “I swear, if it took you two any longer to make-up, I would have done it for you!”
All the stress of the past few weeks, or rather years, had simply vanished in the blink of an eye, and we all broke out in laughter. Jaime was ecstatic to become an aunt, and Jason couldn’t stop pressing his ear to my stomach.
***
THE END
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A Family By Valentine
Lucy
“What am I going to do?” Lucy asked in a voice high with desperation. She paced the small living room of the apartment she s
hared with her four-year-old son Jacob.
“Call him,” her brother Chris advised softly from the other end of the phone receiver held to her ear. “You’ve kept this from him long enough. Do you have any idea how hard it was keeping it from Mom and Dad?” he demanded.
Lucy laughed hysterically. The mere thought of rich, famous Seth Landers finding out he has a secret son would make huge headlines and that was the main reason she’d kept it from him. She didn’t want her son exposed to that kind of life.
“You never should have kept this from him,” Chris admonished and she rolled her eyes at the years’ old argument.
“I never should have told you,” she snapped and instantly felt guilty. It wasn’t Chris’s fault that she’d fallen for her brother’s gorgeous best friend from college. She’d met Seth a little over five years ago, while she, herself, was only a college sophomore.
Seth had come back to town to act as best man in Chris’s wedding and after one alcohol-hazed night, he’d left Erie, Pennsylvania, and Lucy in his rearview mirror. The town wasn’t affected as much as Lucy – she’d been pregnant with Seth’s child.
He’d gone on to sign with the St. Louis Cardinal’s professional baseball team and now had a recurring multi-million dollar contract. He loved his high-rolling, celebrity lifestyle and the spotlight it gave him. He’d gone on record numerous times saying how he wasn’t the type to settle down with just one woman and he adamantly claimed not to want children.
Lucy, a straight-A student who loved nothing but studying and collecting books, couldn’t stand the thought of her son being used as cannon fodder for some money-grubbing newspaper or tabloid trash. So, she’d kept Jacob’s existence a secret.
It had worked fine for four years now.
Chris inhaled deeply on the other end of the call. Having moved to San Francisco, California shortly after getting married, he kept in constant contact with his little sister. Ever since she’d gotten pregnant and refused to reveal the father, her parent’s had virtually disowned her. They’d died in a freak car accident a month before Jacob was born. Chris was the only family she had left.
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