VEGAS follows you home

by Sadie Grubor

  "Well, who the hell is going to tell her the truth?" she snaps and narrows her eyes on him. "She deserves to know. This is probably the only time we will be able to talk without Damon around."

  Taking a deep breath, Scarlett composes herself.

  "Rebecca had depression issues. Apparently, she'd grown up with them, but Damon wasn't aware of her condition when they became involved. Rebecca was very embarrassed about the medications she needed to take and kept it very low key."

  Scarlett pauses, looking to Hugh for what I assume is support. My already raw nerves send the prickly skin feeling over my body.

  "Damon didn't find out until DJ was born," Hugh adds.

  Scarlett's hand tenses on my leg.

  "She suffered severe postpartum depression after his birth. Still, it wasn't until DJ was almost three months old before Damon found out. Years of practice made her good at hiding."

  Having never experienced post-partum depression, I only knew what the baby books had told me.

  "What happened?" I barely choke out the question.

  "Damon arrived home early one afternoon to surprise Rebecca. He had taken over the company not too long before DJ arrived, so he often worked long and late hours." Hugh took a breath.

  "When he got home, he heard DJ screaming. He rushed to the nursery, but DJ wasn't there."

  My stomach knots.

  "Damon scrambled around their home, trying to find him. He finally located him on the floor of a hallway closet."

  Gasping, I cover my mouth.

  "Momma?" Alex questions. He looks up from the ripped and scribbled papers around him, concern on his little face.

  Getting myself back in check, I smile at him. "It's fine, buddy. What did you draw?"

  He holds up two ripped pieces. "Draw dis."

  "That's so wonderful. I'm so proud." I blow him a kiss.

  He smiles and goes back to scribbling. I watch him for a minute before looking back to Hugh.

  "Where was Rebecca?" I ask.

  "After Damon picked DJ up and tried to calm him, he got concerned that something happened to her." Hugh pauses, his brow furrowed.

  "He found her in their master bathroom taking a bubble bath and drinking straight from a bottle of Vodka. She had put him in the closet to silence the crying and screaming," Scarlett finishes.

  "I assume they would have gotten her help though, right? I mean, they were married when she…was in the accident." I glance between Scarlett and Hugh, unsure of who would answer me.

  "Yes," Hugh answers. "Damon immediately got her help, took time off from work to be with her and support her, but eventually he had to return to work. He runs the company. So, he hired a nanny to help Rebecca throughout the day and alleviate some of the stress."

  "She seemed better for a while. I mean, from what I saw of her, she seemed perfect with DJ and Damon — happy and content. I suppose she was just too good at hiding things," Scarlett sighs, heavily.

  "Rebecca did show improvement, but she didn't ever really get better. In fact, other conditions began to surface, like extreme jealousy and paranoia. Damon tried to speak with her doctors in hopes they could help her. And the doctors tried. Damon and Rebecca went to couples therapy where they tried to address the issue, but it never resolved anything. It was like she didn't want help."

  "Then why were they still married? Why wasn't she hospitalized?"

  "She was good at hiding it," Scarlett repeats. "It looked like she was improving, even Damon thought so. Then Damon discovered she was having him followed because she believed he was sleeping around. She fired the nanny because she was sure the woman was trying to steal her family. And Rebecca's drinking became worse. Damon hired a nurse to live with them, but Rebecca was good."

  Alex climbs up into my lap and lays his head down. Soon, his little arm stretches out to touch the gold bangles on Scarlett's wrist. Just as I'm about to pull his hand away, she slips them off and hands them to Alex.

  "Her medication and alcohol weren't a good mix," Hugh continues. "Damon was out with clients the night Rebecca decided to put DJ in the car and drive after drinking heavily. She was trying to track Damon and his mistress down." Hugh's eyes begin to water. "That's the night we lost them."

  "DJ wasn't even supposed to be with her." Scarlett sniffs. "Damon always tried to secure DJ's safety when he wasn't going to be around. DJ was supposed to be with Heidi and Damon Senior that evening, but when they arrived to pick him up, Rebecca was already gone."

  Rubbing Alex's back, I absorb the information — this tale of sorrow and pity.

  "Olivia?"

  My gaze focuses on Hugh.

  "For years, Damon has been in therapy to deal with the loss and guilt. He became obsessed with what he could have done to stop the accident and how he should've taken more precaution and better care." Hugh drops his head. "Then he grew angry and repressive. There was nothing but work and home. He's lived like a workaholic hermit."

  I open my mouth to speak, but Hugh beats me to it.

  "Until now." His eyes meet mine and hold my gaze.

  I close my mouth.

  "He's different." Scarlett rubs my leg. "The deep sadness isn't there. He talks about a future, instead of being obsessed with the past. Damon is like the man I knew before."

  "He's become almost like the man he was before Rebecca," Hugh adds.

  "I feel horrible about his past and I am sad for your entire family, but I am not a bandage to be applied. So, I'm not sure what you are trying to accomplish here."

  "Oh, Olivia, no," Scarlett protests. "I'm not trying to convince you to be with him. Hugh and I completely chewed his butt out when he told us about what was going on with you. We were shocked about the tracking down, the marriage, and the existence of Alex."

  "I thought he was delusional about your son," Hugh interrupts. "That he was latching on to you because your son resembled DJ and you were his way to save them." He pauses.

  "That's not the case, Olivia. This is," Hugh motions between Alex and I, "something completely different. He's different, better."

  The opening of Scarlett's door stops me before I can argue further.

  "Sorry, that took longer than I expected." Damon casually strolls into the room and surveys our expressions. "What's going on?" he asks, his eyes narrowing on Hugh.

  "We were just talking," Hugh states without turning to look at Damon.

  "About what, Hugh?" Damon growls.

  "Nothing." I stand and walk over to pick up Alex.

  "Hugh…" Damon warns.

  "We discussed things you should have already told her." Scarlett stands and moves next to Hugh protectively.

  "It's not your place to discuss anything with her." Damon stalks toward Alex and I, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me to his side.

  I try to wiggle free, but he digs his fingers into the flesh of my hip. I quickly abandon the idea of getting free.

  "She deserves to know about the events leading up to you invading her life, Damon," Scarlett snaps.

  "Mind your own damn business, Scarlett," Damon snarls before walking us from her office.

  Nothing is said until we reach the elevator.

  "I'm sorry they dropped all of that on you."

  I pull free of his embrace.

  "It's fine. You had plenty of opportunity to discuss it with me, but you didn't."

  The intensity of his stare could be felt without looking to confirm.

  "Olivia, my past no longer matters. All that matters is my present and future." He moves to stand in front of me, cupping my chin.

  "This will be over when I leave at the end of the week," I respond, a bit too breathlessly.

  He smirks and the elevator dings our arrival to the lobby. The doors slide open to an immaculate glass lobby.

  "Come," Damon takes my hand. "My father and Heidi are waiting for us."

  Damon tugs us along to a silver four-door car waiting at the curb. We drive in uncomfortable silence for thirty minutes before entering
a street lined with homes of grandeur tucked away behind gated entrances.

  We turn at one particular wrought iron gate and proceed through after Damon enters a code. Once parked, we both exit the car and I retrieve Alex from the backseat. Damon gets the toddler bag before escorting us toward the large, stone house. Before we take more than two steps, the front door opens.

  "Son," a handsome man with salt and pepper hair greets Damon. "I'm glad you've arrived. Heidi is going on non-stop about when to serve lunch and whether I think our grandson will like her."

  He pulls Damon into a one-arm hug and then turns his attention to Alex and me.

  "This is Olivia and Alex," Damon introduces. I silently thank the stars for not being labeled his wife this time.

  "Welcome." Damon Senior smiles broadly. "It's quite a pleasure to meet the both of you. Please, come in."

  Stepping back, he motions for us to enter. Damon guides me into the house with a warm hand against my lower back.

  The house is large, open, and the mahogany staircase the focal point of the entryway. Hardwood floors shine so clean, I am sure I could check my reflection in them.

  "Damon!"

  I look up from the floor to see a tall, model-esque woman rushing toward Damon. Her long blonde hair shines like the floors and curls flawlessly around her picture perfect face and sculpted eyebrows. When she smiles, I immediately recognize Damon's half-brother, Hugh, in her features.

  "I'm so glad you're here." Her long, thin arms wrap around Damon, squeezing him tight.

  Damon returns the embrace, lifting her off her feet.

  "Heidi," he coos, "it's always a pleasure to see you."

  When they pull away from each other, she turns toward us. Her eyes stop on Alex.

  "Oh my," she gasps, placing a hand on her chest. "You look like your daddy, don't you?"

  Stepping closer, she brushes her fingers over Alex's cheek.

  "May I?" she asks, looking to me as she reaches out for Alex.

  "I don't think he—"

  Just as I'm about to tell her about his shyness, Alex surprises me by going into her arms without hesitation.

  "He usually doesn't take to people so fast," I mumble, mostly to myself.

  "Heidi is a natural with children. Always has been," Damon Senior explains.

  She carries Alex off into the next room and I follow slowly.

  "Look, Damon, he has the Knyght eyes." Heidi turns, showing Damon Senior.

  When he leans in for a closer look, Alex buries his face in Heidi's shoulder, causing her to snuggle him and Damon's father to laugh.

  "He definitely has the same unruly hair as his father." His father looks to Damon with a smile.

  Damon slides an arm around my waist and pulls me close to his side. Pride pours off him and contentment tries to creep through my body.

  Heidi continues moving, leading us through a set of double doors to a dining room with seating for eight. The amount of food on the table can probably feed double that amount.

  Damon's father pulls out a seat for Heidi, who sits with Alex in her lap.

  "I can take him," I offer.

  "Nonsense." Heidi shakes her head. "I am not giving him back until I absolutely have to." She smiles, warming my insides. It's no wonder Alex took to her so quick.

  Damon pulls out my chair and tucks me into the table before sitting to my right.

  "Are you planning on any more little ones?" Damon's father asks as he takes a seat.

  I'm unable to respond, choking on my own saliva.

  "Not at this time," Damon answers.

  I snap my head to look at him and narrow my eyes.

  "Damon," I hiss.

  "I'd like three more," he continues.

  My mouth pops open and Damon looks at me with a smirk.

  Oh, he better be messing around with me.

  "Three seems to be more than Olivia is planning." Damon's father chuckles as he hands his plate to Heidi. "I'm sure you'll be able to convince her, though."

  What the…?

  Heidi begins to make his plate, even taking food from the dishes right in front of Damon's father, before handing it back to him.

  Without a thank you, he picks up his empty wine glass and holds it out to her as well.

  Heidi pours his wine and hands it back to him, then does the same for his water glass.

  What the hell is with this guy?

  "Are you going to eat?" Damon's question pulls me from the feministic rant I'm about to spew forth.

  "Sorry." I force a smile. "I spaced for a minute."

  "Allow me." Damon takes my plate and begins placing food on it.

  I can't help but catch the disgusted look on his father's face. Apparently, in the world of Damon Senior, women are meant to serve men and not the other way around.

  When Damon returns my plate, I make sure to smile smugly before I start eating.

  Yeah, take that you chauvinistic brat. My inner feminist does the running man.

  Lunch conversation revolves around medical talk and investments. Heidi dotes on Alex, while serving her husband.

  "So, have you thought about a proper wedding now that you have things handled?"

  At Damon Senior’s question, I look at him with wide eyes.

  "I'm afraid we won't be having any more ceremonies," I respond quickly, hoping to deter the conversation.

  Damon's hand comes to my thigh, lightly squeezing. I wish his touch didn't affect my body.

  His father cocks an eyebrow.

  "Really?" His attention turns to his son. "I would think you’d want to include your family in this, Damon."

  Opening my mouth to speak again, a stronger squeeze to my thigh silences me. The rougher touch sends fiery sparks between my legs and I begin trying to peel his fingers off.

  "Olivia isn't one for large ceremonies or being the center of attention. So, I'm afraid we've decided against the idea of another wedding."

  "That's a shame. It would have been nice to get all of the family together again. We rarely have everyone in same place." His father shrugs and extends his empty wine glass to Heidi. Without batting a perfectly curled lash, she pours him more wine.

  After lunch, we retire to a large sitting room. Heidi returns Alex to me and hurries out of the room. Just as I'm about to ask if she is okay, she returns with boxes.

  "We picked up some things for Alex." Heidi places the silver wrapped gifts on the floor.

  Alex slips from my lap onto the floor with her.

  "You didn't have to do that," I say, trying not to sound unappreciative.

  "Of course we did!" Heidi exclaims cheerfully. "He is our only grandchild…" She quickly stops and glances to Damon, apologetically.

  Damon tenses for just a moment before giving her a genuine smile. His eyes move to Alex and the rest of the tension melts from his body.

  "It's our job to spoil him." She offers Alex one of the gifts.

  He eyes the shiny paper before pawing at the box.

  "Mine?" he asks, sitting down to tear into it.

  "They are all yours." Heidi scoots next to him and helps peel away the wrapping paper.

  The boxes are stuffed with clothes, toys, and books. Of course, Alex seems to find the empty boxes more amusing than the gifts inside. Heidi, Damon, and Damon Senior all laugh, enjoying my little boy.

  "You used to do the same thing," Damon's father announces with a broad smile.

  I swallow the large lump of emotion forming in my throat.

  We chat a bit longer, mostly about Alex, before Alex is fast asleep in Heidi's lap.

  Damon leans over, bringing his lips to the shell of my ear.

  "He seems to truly like Heidi. Don't you think?"

  I grind my teeth and nod, darn well knowing what he's getting at with the comment.

  "That should put you at ease about our date tomorrow." The warmth of his breathy words caresses my skin, causing a shiver.

  He moves away, returning to his seated position. I look up at him, taking i
n his smug smile.

  After visiting for a few hours, Damon and I give our thanks and head back to his apartment. Alex, worn out from his day of introductions and playing with Heidi, sleeps for the duration of the ride, waking in Damon's arms while riding up the elevator.

  "Idee," he yawns, looking around.

  His inquiry only cements the fact that I cannot back out on date nights.

  "You will see her tomorrow, buddy," Damon answers, rubbing Alex's back. His smugness doesn't go unnoticed.

  Clearly, I need another way out of this marriage. I see no sign of Damon fulfilling his end of this agreement.

  Once in the apartment, Alex wiggles, wanting down. Damon sets him on his feet and he walks around the apartment, exploring and rubbing sleep from his eyes.

  "You hungry?" I run my fingers through his sleep-mussed hair.

  "Yep," he responds, more energetically.

  "What do you want to eat?" Damon asks, squatting down to his level.

  Alex scrunches his face in concentration and then looks up at me.

  "What if I surprise you?" Damon pats his shoulder, stands, and walks toward the kitchen.

  Alex watches him walk away for a moment before following after Damon.

  The sound of cabinets and pans breaks my attention from Alex. My eyes shift to Damon, who is moving around the kitchen.

  "What are you doing?"

  Looking over his left shoulder, he answers, "I'm going to make dinner for you two."

  "You don't have to do that. I can cook dinner."

  I step further into the kitchen and he practically shoves me out.

  "It's fine. Take Alex up so he can play."

  Hesitating for a moment, torn between helping or letting Damon cook for us, I finally take Alex by the hand and lead him to the living room.

  Digging out a couple of his new toys and turning on cartoons, I set Alex up on the living room rug to play. While he's distracted, I make calls to both Mercedes and Felicity to check in on things.

  Mercedes is more interested in what Damon's place looks like, how his family reacted, whether we were humping good and properly, and if he has any single brothers. Felicity, on the other hand, focuses on whether he’s being nice, if his family was accepting, if there are any signs of psychotic tendencies or mental illness in any of them, and whether I need money for an escape.