“I had one the first time, and look what happened.”
“Good point, so did I.” He paused. “You really want to do this?”
She nodded. “Absolutely. I have a big backyard. We can have everyone there.”
He caressed her face. “You name the date, I’ll be there,” he whispered.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Mart frequently ate dinner with Kelly and the boys, only spending the night when they were with their father or at Sharon’s.
Mart called shortly after David left with the boys one Friday evening. “Is the coast clear?”
“They’re off with their father.”
“Still want me to come over?”
“Do you even have to ask?”
“I guess I still can’t believe you want to be with me,” he admitted.
“I can’t believe you’d think that.”
They came up for air Saturday afternoon, going to a late lunch and a movie before returning to her house. They stretched out on her couch and watched the evening news while he massaged her feet. Kelly threw her head back and moaned. “God, that feels fantastic!”
“And that’s with our clothes on.”
She laughed and looked at him. “You don’t get serious very often, do you?”
“Life’s too short to be a grouch. I have my moments.”
She watched him knead her feet. She felt a little guilty that, in this area at least, she couldn’t truly reciprocate where he could enjoy it. “Do you ever get mad you’re in a chair?”
He shrugged. “I can’t change it. I’d be lying if I said I’m glad I’m in a chair.” He thought about it. “I’m lucky. Like Denny, I don’t know anything else. I can’t imagine spending your life walking and then suddenly having that taken away from you.”
“That’s a good attitude.”
“Oh, geez, we’re not going to have a Jerry’s Kids moment here, are we?”
She laughed. “No. I was just wondering.”
He changed feet, drawing more contented moans from her. “I get more upset about the stupidity of other people dealing with me, I guess, rather than my situation. I don’t have anything to bitch about. It could always be worse. I have a beautiful woman who, for some reason, has lost her mind and agreed to marry me.” Kelly laughed, and Mart continued. “I don’t have to worry about cathing or anything like that. I have a great life and a supportive family. I’d be wasting it if I sat and bitched and moaned about what might have been. I was the lucky one.” He looked down and his voice grew sad. “My twin sister died in the wreck.”
“What?”
“I don’t like to talk about it.” He looked at her. “I’m sorry, I should have told you sooner. It was sheer luck I lived.”
She wanted to ask him more, but her house phone rang. Mart was closer, glanced at the handset. He scowled and handed it to her. “Is that David’s number?”
She answered. “Hello?”
“Mom, can you come get us? Right now?”
She sat up. “Paulie, what’s wrong?”
“Dad’s being a jerk.”
“What’s going on?” In the background, Kelly heard Denny yelling and David’s angry voice. A woman, probably Beatrice, trying to calm them down.
Paulie kept his voice low. “Dad said something about Mart. I told him he couldn’t talk about him like that because he’s going to be our stepdad. Then Dad called Mart a cripple, and Denny started crying. I started yelling at Dad and he sent me to my room. Denny started yelling at Dad not to talk like that about Mart, and they’re still yelling at each other. Dad’s been drinking.”
“I’ll be right there. You hang tight. Call my cell if it gets too bad, and call 911 if he tries to lay a hand you guys.”
She hung up and looked at Mart. “I’m sorry. I have to go get the boys.” She got up, but he caught her arm.
“We.”
“What?”
“I’m in this too. I’ll drive. You’re too upset.”
He was right—she wasn’t alone anymore. Considering the fight was about Mart to start with, he had a right to go.
She nodded. “Okay.”
She found her purse and pulled on jeans and sneakers, her hands shaking as she tried to tie them. In the van, she repeated what Paulie told her.
Mart set his jaw, his face an angry mask. “Oh, David said that, did he?”
“Please, Mart, you’re a bigger man than he is. Don’t get into it with him in front of the boys.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t.”
She gave him directions. The drive only took fifteen minutes. Yet another thing that angered her—David lived so close and made little effort to see the boys more often.
Paulie and Denny waited on the front walk with their backpacks. Paulie grabbed Denny’s and headed to the van. Mart unloaded to help Denny. David lumbered outside, Beatrice trying to calm him.
“Let them go, David. They’re upset,” Beatrice pleaded.
“I’ll be damned if I’m going to let them think he,” he pointed to Mart, “is a better man than I am.”
He’s really drunk, Kelly thought.
Kelly walked up to Beatrice, Mart right behind her. “How much has he had to drink?”
Beatrice paled. “Too much.”
She nodded. “Boys, let’s go home.”
Kelly turned. David broke free of Beatrice’s grip and staggered after her.
“They’re not going anywhere until tomorrow,” David roared. He clamped his hand on Kelly’s shoulder, roughly pulling her backwards. She stumbled and fell to the ground.
Suddenly, David was flat on his back, Mart’s hand on his throat.
“If you ever lay a hand on her or the boys again, you son of a bitch,” Mart growled, low enough the boys couldn’t hear, “I’ll fucking kill you.”
Shocked, Kelly tried to process what had happened. She didn’t know how Mart put David on the ground without coming out of his wheelchair.
David’s eyes widened in surprise and shock.
After a moment, Mart removed his hand from David’s throat, leaving him coughing and gasping for air. Mart took Kelly’s hand, helped her to her feet, and led her back to the van.
“You boys buckled in?” he asked.
Dazed, Kelly didn’t know how much the boys saw, afraid the police would come after Mart for assault.
* * * *
Mart’s hands stopped shaking a few minutes after leaving David’s. He’d never tell Kelly how close came to beating the crap out of David. The only thing that stopped him was boys. Otherwise, he’d be in jail for assault.
And it would have been well worth it.
He couldn’t let the jerk think he could get away with that kind of stuff. Especially not in front of the boys. Maybe now David would back off, show Kelly some respect, and not just see him as her “crip boyfriend.”
Mart glanced in the rearview mirror. The boys were quiet, obviously upset. He didn’t think David would retaliate, as drunk as he was, but Mart didn’t want to return to Kelly’s yet.
Mart made a wrong turn. “Home’s the other way,” Kelly said.
“We’re not going home.” He drove for a few minutes and pulled into a Cold Stone Creamery. “Who wants ice cream?”
The boys, temporarily distracted, raced into the store ahead them. She pulled Mart aside. “What happened?”
“I was behind him. When he grabbed you, I rammed into the back of his legs and caught his throat on the way down. It’s an old trick I learned in college.” He smiled. “Sure you still want to marry me?”
She kissed him. “My hero. I’d be stupid to say no.”
* * * *
Kelly was afraid deputies would be waiting at her house, but her driveway was empty except for the Element. Beatrice had left a voicemail on the house phone.
“Kelly? Look, I’m sorry. David’s passed out now. He’s not going to try anything else. Whatever happens, I’ll back you up. David had no right to go after you. Please tell the boys I’m sorry. Thanks.”
Kelly saved the message and hit replay, then handed the phone to Mart. He listened and hung up. “Well, answers that question.”
The situation finally hit Denny. He sat on the living room floor, channel surfing, tears rolling down his face.
Kelly started to go to him when Mart put a hand on hers, shaking his head. “Paulie, can you go help your mom?”
Mart wheeled over to Denny and joined him on the floor while Kelly led Paulie into the kitchen.
She sat him at the table and made him a mug of hot chocolate. “Want to tell me what happened?”
He took a sip. “Dad had no right to talk to us like that. I wanted to hit him.”
She looked at the table. David didn’t drink a lot when they were married. The few times he did drink excessively, he was a mean drunk. Not physically violent, but she didn’t let him hang around long enough to find out if he could be.
“I’m sorry this happened.”
“I’m not. Maybe now Denny will see what a jerk he is. I hate going over there. I don’t want to spend time with him. The only reason I go is because Denny wants to go. I don’t want Denny going by himself.”
“Are you afraid he’ll hurt Denny?”
“Not hit him. Just say mean stuff like he did tonight.”
“Does he do that a lot?”
He shook his head. “Not usually. I overheard him talking to Beatrice about Mart, calling him a ‘crip’ and all sorts of garbage. I hate my father. He doesn’t care about us.”
She reached over and touched his arm. “You’re a good brother. I don’t tell you that enough, but I am so proud of you for sticking up for him.”
Paulie took a sip of his cocoa, his tears welling. “Dad doesn’t care about Denny. He doesn’t even care about me. He tries to impress people. He only cares about how many points I scored in a game. That’s all he asks me. He doesn’t care about school or Denny’s sports or anything. Why can’t he be like Mart?”
They sat in silence for a while. “If you don’t want to go over there any more, we might have to get the lawyer involved.”
“I don’t want to go, but I need to talk Denny into not going.”
“Wait here.” Kelly peeked out the kitchen door. Mart sat on the floor, Denny curled in his arms. Mart nodded to her, and she sat next to them, stroking Denny’s hair.
“Honey? Are you okay?”
Denny sat up and sniffled. When he saw her, he started crying again, reaching for her. She held him as Mart put his arms around both of them.
“He was so mean, Mom. Why’d he have to be so mean?” the boy sobbed.
“I don’t know, sweetie.” She rocked him, leaning against Mart for support.
Finally, Denny sat up and wiped his face. “Do I have to go back?”
She shook her head. “Not if you don’t want to.”
Paulie walked in from the kitchen. “I’ll tell him. I don’t want to see him again. He’s a jerk.” He sat in front of them. “Listen, Squirt, we’re too good for him. We don’t need anyone but Mom and Mart.”
Denny looked at them and quietly asked, “Why doesn’t he want us?”
Kelly hunted for appropriate words. “It’s not your fault, honey. It’s not that he doesn’t want you. Your father has… issues.”
Mart snorted. “He doesn’t have issues—he has a whole subscription.” He looked at his watch. “God, I didn’t realize what time it is.”
“You’re not leaving,” Kelly said.
“Kel, I—”
“Mart, please stay,” Denny piped up. “Please don’t leave.”
Mart looked at the boys and back to Kelly. “Guys, I need to talk to your mom. It’s been a long day. Why don’t you get ready for bed?” They left. “Kel, I thought we were going to wait. I mean, we’re going to be married soon.”
“I don’t want to be here alone in case David shows up.”
“I think I should sleep on the couch.”
“At this point, it doesn’t matter. David has Betty Boop living over at his house.”
“Beatrice.”
“Whatever. The boys know we’re getting married. It doesn’t matter.”
“You’re sure?”
She nodded. “I’m sure.” After the evening’s events, she’d never been more sure of anything in her entire life.
Mart followed Kelly into Denny’s room. “You’re going to stay, right?” Denny asked him.
“Yes, buddy, I’ll spend the night.”
“I don’t want Dad to hurt Mom.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t let him hurt anybody.” He patted Denny’s shoulder. “Get some sleep. We’ll practice tomorrow, okay?”
“Okay. Good night, Mom.”
She kissed him. “‘Night, honey.”
Mart followed Kelly into Paulie’s room. She sat on the edge of his bed. “Are you okay?” she asked.
“Mart, promise me you’ll never be a jerk like my dad.”
“Paulie, please don’t be bitter,” Kelly said.
“Mom, he’s a jerk. I’m not going to quit saying it until he quits acting like it.” He shook his head. “He’s just a big jerk.”
She kissed him. “Go to sleep.”
Mart patted him on the shoulder. “See you in the morning.”
With the living room to themselves, they resumed their positions on the couch. Mart motioned for Kelly to put her feet in his lap.
“I didn’t get to finish this. I think you need it now more than ever.”
“You’ve got that right.” She closed her eyes and tried to relax. “I hope David isn’t stupid enough to show up.”
“If he’s passed out in his living room, he probably won’t be going anywhere until morning.”
They waited another half-hour before going to bed. After all the stress, they curled up together and she quickly fell asleep in his arms, feeling safe and protected. He fell asleep listening to her deep, slow breathing.
The next morning, Kelly awoke with Mart beside her. He was still asleep, and she studied him in the early morning light. Every muscle of his upper body was lean and defined. He wasn’t bulky, but he was solid. With the sun struggling for purchase through the blinds, Kelly saw how he could put David on the ground. David was a large man, but he didn’t work out, and he was soft, slow. Mart’s hands were large and powerful, with long fingers that…
A pleasant tingle ran through her at the thought of what those fingers could do to her body. He was so strong, and yet tender and gentle.
As if sensing her attention, he opened his eyes. “Morning, beautiful.” He kissed her. “How long have you been awake?”
“Just a few minutes.” She traced his tattoo with her fingers. She could make out the shape and color of the entwined vines, with a stylized USA worked into the design.
“I can’t believe I get to wake up next to you,” he said. “Do you have any idea how much I love you?”
She smiled, kissing him. “That makes two of us.”
He grinned. “You love you, too?”
She gently shoved him. “You know what I meant.”
“And I get to tease you like that.”
“Well, I get to tease you like this,” she said, reaching down and showing him.
He responded instantly. “That’s hitting below the belt,” he whispered.
“No, this is.”
He closed his eyes and laid back, letting her have her way. He tried to be quiet, but at the end he moaned softly as his hands tensed and clutched at her shoulders and he wrapped his fingers in her hair. Finally, he relaxed and drew her up into his arms.
“God, you are amazing,” he whispered, still breathless.
“You’re not so bad yourself.”
“You have no idea.” He kissed her neck, working his way down to her breasts, her belly, further. She pulled a pillow over her face, not trusting herself to be quiet as he teased her, giving her release when he didn’t think she could take any more. She was still trembling when he gathered her into his arms and curled around her
.
Kelly must have drifted back to sleep, because the next thing she knew, Denny knocked on her bedroom door.
Thank God I locked it. “What, honey?”
“Can we go out to breakfast?”
She glanced at Mart. “Okay with you?” she whispered.
He nodded.
“That’s fine. Let me have some time to wake up and get dressed, okay?”
“Okay.” Pause. “Mart, can you help me adjust my brakes before we go? They’re messed up. I think my dad bumped them getting my chair in his car.”
Kelly and Mart giggled, feeling like a couple of high school kids.
“I’ll look at them for you before we go,” he called out.
“Okay. Thanks.”
“We’re busted,” he whispered, sending her into yet another fit of giggles.
“Well, they have to get used to it sooner or later. Maybe I should thank David for acting like a jerk and speeding things up.”
“Does Hallmark make a card for that? ‘To my asshole ex-husband, thank you for royally screwing up so my fiancé and I can spend the night together in the house with the kids.’ Sounds like a winner to me.”
She laughed, unable to hold it in. “You’re terrible.”
“That’s not what you were moaning a few minutes ago.”
“I wasn’t capable of coherent speech a few minutes ago.”
He lightly traced her jaw with his fingers, making her shiver with anticipation. “I plan on spending many long, wonderful nights keeping you speechless,” he whispered.
Heat exploded deep within her. She kissed him, pressing against him. She rolled on top of him. He was ready, and so was she. They tried to be quiet. Before long, they were slowly rocking together, muffling their moans with each others’ lips. He tensed inside her, but she wasn’t there yet.
She whispered in his ear, “It’s okay—go ahead,” and he moaned against her neck.
He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. “I’m sorry—I owe you one.”
“I’ll hold you to it,” she teased.
“That’s a promise I can’t wait to keep.”
Mart pulled on a pair of shorts and went to make coffee while Kelly started the shower. Denny sat in the kitchen and watched him.
“What’s up, buddy?” Mart asked.
“Do you love my mom?”
Cross Country Chaos Page 22
