“I’ll start on it Monday when we return, the rest of you can start the next day.” I always build the prototype. Of course, this prototype won’t be sold. I have customers who only want item number one in the collection, but it’s not going to be available. From there, my other carpenters make their own, and the differences can be seen in each individual piece. It’s what sells our product.
After John leaves, I call down to the design house, and Diane picks up right away. “Di, is Holland in yet?”
When I don’t hear the industrial machines in the background, my question is answered. Holland has those machines going almost the entire time she’s at work. Her sheets have become our best-selling product from our design house. She makes impressive thousand thread count sheets individually for each order. We earn almost five hundred in profit for the sets. It’s been a huge money generator.
“Um, no, she called in sick about a half an hour ago.”
I’m out of my seat before I hang up.
“Irene,” I call out to my secretary. “I’ll be gone for the rest of the day.” I’m out the door before there’s a reply.
All my calls to her are going to voice mail. Inching up the incline to my place, her SUV is where it was parked this morning. I bypass my regular spot near my own house and leave the truck close to the garage. Taking the steps two at a time, I knock hard and loud on the door. “Darlin’, you okay?”
“Come in.” It’s loud, it’s Holland after all. I’m across the threshold of the door and faced with Holland at the long island separating the galley kitchen from the dining room. Her eyes are puffy and she’s staring at an envelope. She hasn’t raised her head to acknowledge me.
“What are you looking at?” I ask.
I sit next to her, but far enough away that I can’t read what it is. She scoots it over to me and as if a cold chill falls on her apartment, a shiver overtakes my body.
“It’s what Scott’s been reduced to. A check. A measly couple hundred thousand. It’s all I have and once I cash it, I’m admitting he’s never coming back.” Her hands are on her head and I can’t see her eyes now, but tears fall on the countertop.
My hand visibly shakes when I push it back toward her. I understand her hesitation and reluctance. “Darlin’…”
“Please don’t say it, Maguire. I know it won’t bring him back regardless of whether or not I cash this. He’s been gone for four months. This is the final nail in his coffin. I just…”
I reach one hand to her shoulder. It’s then she falls into my arms. We’ve been careful for months to avoid as much contact as we can. It’s this unspoken and unwritten rule we waver on. Her hair is in her eyes and my shirt’s already soaked with tears when her cries increase with each sob.
After my breakdown yesterday and with the check still yelling at me from across the room, I’m lost in an episode of Guy’s Grocery Games when my phone rings.
Looking down at the screen, I smile. It’s Teagan. I never know what’ll come out of her mouth. Bracing myself, I answer, “Hello.” I’m cheerful, as peppy as I can be.
“Girl! What’s popping? Fuck, I missed you yesterday. I mean, Diane is nice, but she’s old.” I internally laugh because Teagan is missing what many people have—a filter. “So, you puking? Have diarrhea? Fever? What the hell are we dealing with?”
She finally stops, letting me speak—I think. “Um, none of the above.”
“Ah, you’re too much of a goodie two shoes to play hooky. So, what gives, little mama?”
“Call it a mental health day…”
The line is silent. Teagan continues after a couple seconds. “Come on, girl, you gotta give me more to go on than that.”
The truth is I’ve bonded with Teagan. I’m private, but I can share with her. “Yeah, okay, okay. I got Scott’s life insurance check. And it was then I realized it’s the last thing I’ll get with his name on it. It’s my last link to him.” The tears begin to fall. I’m so tired of crying and crying and crying some more.
“Ah, shit bags in winter—that’s a tough one, Holls. I’m so fucking sorry.”
“Yeah, but I need the money. I hate cashing it though—when I do, it’s over. And it seems even more real than it had when Scott’s body was delivered back to the States.”
“Holls?” Her tone changes, it’s softer. “You know, the check isn’t the last thing you have of him.” I look down at my stomach, she’s right.
“Well, listen to me—I’m a Debbie Downer. I know you didn’t call me to get all depressed.”
“Well, no, but I’m your friend, Holls, and I’ll listen to you being Debbie Downer all day long if it’s what you need.”
This is why I adore Teagan so much. I close my eyes to savor her words, her vow to me as my friend. Plus she’s as real and sincere as she is hilarious. “Thanks! I appreciate it. So, tell me the real reason for this call,” I probe.
“Josh and I are going out for the night. Wanna come with? We’re staying local, so the choices aren’t many. I mean, I know you can’t drink, but we can play pool and hang out.”
“Um, sure—who’s going?”
Maguire’s company is small. About thirty people in all and it’s pretty even age-wise, except there’s only four of us under the age of thirty.
“You remember Jase, right? Josh’s mighty fine hot brother home from medical school? He couldn’t keep his eyes off of you last time.” I choke on air and start coughing. “Hey, I may not be into men, but I still know a good-looking guy when I see one.”
She’s not wrong about Jase. “Are you going to leave me like you did last time if you find someone to take home for the night?”
“Ah, do I even have to answer you, little mama?” she teases.
“No, you whore, you don’t have to answer me,” I come right back at her.
“You know me well already. Now get on your dancing shoes and let’s get ready for a fun night.”
I’m in the garage, looking for the painting Scott and I created one time at a wine and paint night. The memory assaulted me after I had just watched House Hunters. The newlyweds on the show had their own paint and wine portraits hanging on the wall. I couldn’t let it go. After finding them, I search the entire garage for a hammer. For a man who is a carpenter, it’s the one basic tool I thought he’d have in his workspace.
Walking toward the house, I hurry toward Maguire’s since I need to take a shower before I meet Teagan and Josh tonight. Knocking on the door, I let myself into the living room. But some noise behind the kitchen catches my attention. I walk toward the master bedroom. It’s cracked. I’m about to rap on the door to let him know I’m in the house. Through the slit is a mirror, that reflects his image. I still. I can’t think because, in the reflection, he has his very erect member in his hand, sliding it up and down. The moans and groans have me wanting to see more, for there to be more. Oh, shit, what am I saying? I can’t even call his thing what it is. This man is my father-in-law and I can’t refer to his thing as anything but his member. But I become wet. So wet, I want to shove my fingers down my pants. But I don’t.
I continue to stare until his strokes stop and he calls out, “Hello?”
I run down the hall and don’t stop until I get to my own home and lock the door behind me. What have I just done?
Chapter 24
“Hello,” I call out. I look up and the door is cracked. I thought I shut and locked that motherfucker. Hell, there’s really only one person it could be. And shit, from her vantage, she would have been able to see me from the mirror. I grab for my phone to call her. It goes instantly to voice mail. Shit, not that I should be ashamed, only it’s her face I always imagine near my cock as she sucks me off, her purple ends falling all over my naked body. Moving over to the text function, I type in an angry and short way.
Me: Darlin’, were you just here?
I stand to look at my window as she slips through the garage door. Shit, and she’s running. It’s not something s
he should be doing five months pregnant. I keep on texting her without a response. After an hour, a beep from my text alert comes through.
Darlin’: No, I’ve been home all day.
Fuck, the little brat is lying to me. Well, I can handle many things, but we’re adults, let’s get this out of the way. I don’t want her ignoring me as she watched me jacking the beanstalk and all. I step out of the front door, making my way to the garage, I’m at the door, almost banging on it. But she doesn’t answer. I grab for the extra key and help myself into the house. The music is wafting through her apartment, one of those fucking emu bands I hate.
“Holland, come on, we’re going to talk about this like adults.” I don’t hear her, and I work my way down the hall, now concerned.
I pass the hallway bathroom, to her own bedroom, where the door is shut. Knocking on her bedroom door, I hear an “oh, fuck” behind it.
Pulling it back gently, she’s flushed. And she should be, when I saw her almost running across the driveway, she’d been going faster than she should. Or, maybe she still has these blushing cheeks due to what she’s seen.
“Sarge, seriously, you make yourself way too at home in my place.”
I don’t hold it in, not for a second. “Yeah, says the woman who was at my house, helping herself inside.”
Her hands are on her hips. “I told you I was here. I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Yeah, I’m sure you didn’t get a good show either. Hope you enjoyed it.” I wink and leave her breathless.
I still can’t get over what I had witnessed. And more so, he confronted me about it. I lied and didn’t even feel remorseful.
I’m putting on a little makeup and trying to find something that fits my protruding belly. I’ve bought a couple maternity outfits, but nothing is really my style. I’ve been living in larger leggings and shirts I’m able to pull off the racks at Target.
I decide on a pair of purple paisley leggings and a long black sweater dress. It would typically swallow me, but now with the baby bump entirely taking over my stomach, it’s undeniable I’m pregnant.
I’m through the front door, heading down the steps. Opening the entrance to the garage, I bump into Jase. “Oh, wow, Jase, hey. I wasn’t expecting you.”
He takes one look at my stomach and I realize his brother has not shared the happy news with him.
He attempts to act all normal as if he’s not noticed. It’s like having a unicorn between us. It’s that obvious. “I hope you don’t mind me stopping by. Teagan mentioned you were coming, and I thought I’d offer to be the designated driver this time…”
I point to my stomach. “Yeah, as you can see—I have designated driver status for the next couple months.”
Now he’s staring at me—at it.
“Um, I’m sorry, I’m a dick. You pregnant was the last thing I expected…” He rakes his hands through his thick, blond hair. “Fuck, nothing is coming out right.”
“Yeah, I get it. Believe me, it was the last thing I was expecting, too. To bury my husband and then find out I’m carrying his baby—I’m still working through it.”
He opens his mouth to speak and nothing comes out.
“Jase, I get it. But friends, we promised to be friends. So, if you’d like to drive, sure, I’d love to hang out with you.”
“Hell, Holland—you’re one hell of a woman. After I’ve acted like an ass and all.” He whips a piece of hair from his eyes as a big gust of wind hits us both. It has all of a sudden gotten a little colder.
I give him a little smirk. “Hey, it’s okay.” I link my hand through his. “Lead the way.” His car is parked in front of Maguire’s new workshop, which is almost completed. I try not to think of him, especially when gravel crackles under the tires of a car, making its way up the road. Jase is helping me into his BMW when Maguire opens the door, a scowl on his face, locking onto my own gaze while Kat gets out of her vehicle.
We’re at a different bar, one of the three in town. This place, different from last time, is a pool hall with a dance floor. Josh and Teagan are dirty dancing. Every time they go to the bar to get a drink in between the “sets”, they are surrounded by many girls. At this point, everyone in the bar gets that Teagan is into girls, just like Josh.
I’m shooting pool with Jase as we stare at the many women surrounding the dancing duo. “Do you think they do this to get some?” I ask.
“Oh, fuck yes. Those two are so alike. Players and two peas in a pod. They just happen to both love boobs.” I’m laughing and we’re the only two in the whole place who are sober. But it hasn’t hindered me from kicking his ass at the pool table.
“Hell, Holland, you’re good at this.” He’s lost three games already.
“Yeah, it’s one of the many upsides of being married to Scott. We went out almost every weekend to shoot pool.” With one mention of Scott, he’s quiet. “I know your brother was close to Scott, did you know him?”
He shakes his head. “I didn’t know Scott well. Josh was torn up over his death. I actually came home to find him on the Parrish dock, drunk. The crazy motherfucker was lucky he didn’t fall in and drown. For six summers, they hung out until there was this girl who took up all Scott’s time.” He says the last part, humorously. “Josh almost flew out for the funeral. Did you know that?”
“No, why didn’t he?”
“Um,” Jase begins as his color changes to a ghostly white. “Our dad died five years ago. It was sudden and it was hard. Josh found his body. After that day, when we watched our dad’s coffin lower into the ground, Josh swore he’d never go to another funeral again. The sight haunted him.”
We’re still in front of the pool tables when a group comes over and asks if we’re done. We walk toward the bar and sit at an open top table with just Cokes in our hands.
“Hell, Jase, I had no idea. Josh never talks about it.”
“He never will.” He looks up in time to catch Josh and Teagan waving at us, telling us bye. “It figures, those sluts,” he begins, looking at his watch as I do the same.
“I hate to do this.” I yawn. “But, can you take me home? This baby is draining me.”
He stands, taking my hand. “Sure, Holland. Anything for you.”
We’re pulling up the gravel drive when I notice Maguire in the distance, close to Kat’s car, giving her a hug. I’m glad we missed the kiss.
I’m just getting out of Jase’s BMW and somehow the jerk has walked over from his house to the garage by the time the car stops.
“Holland,” he begins, opening the door for me. “Glad you decided to come home.”
Jase is out of the car. “Hey, Maguire.” He must not have heard Maguire’s condescending words. “Would you like me to walk you upstairs, Holls?”
I’m about to answer when Maguire does this for me. “No, she’s just fine.”
I stare at the jerk in front of me and walk away, crossing in front of the car and giving Jase a big hug. “Before you go back to school after the holidays, let’s do this again,” I say. “You’re a good friend, Jase.” I open the garage door, attempting to shut it in Maguire’s face. This doesn’t stop him. He’s behind me on the steps when I use my keys to open the door.
“I’m not in the mood to talk, you big jackalope,” I begin and when I shut the door, he puts his stupid foot in the way and because he has his combat boots on, I know it doesn’t hurt him. “Look, it’s late and you’ve pissed me off, Sarge. Leave the lecture for tomorrow.” My voice is louder than it usually is. Not that I’m quiet by nature, but I hope he understands how mad I am.
He walks in with no regard for my wishes. “So, that’s that? You’re moving on?” he demands.
“What? And you’re one to talk—fucking someone just to get some? You have no right questioning me.” I’m on my way to my room. When I turn around to him, he’s on my tail. We are inches apart and I push him. “And how dare you question me when it comes to Scott. Fuck no, I�
�m not moving on, you asshole. Jase is a friend and I need one right now. And it’s the truth.”
He pulls on my wrist and brings me closer to him. “Oh, do you want the truth, is that where we are? The truth, Holland, because I think we both know the truth, right here—between us.”
I push him again. “No, Sarge, I don’t want the truth. Don’t ever bring it up again, you feel me?”
His eyes physically wince. “Crystal clear, Holland. Crystal fucking clear.”
After our fight from last night, the image of Maguire pleasuring himself is still playing in my mind. Hell, I miss sex, so much. After trying to get him out of my system watching some of my shows on DVR, I decide I need a bath. My en-suite doesn’t have a tub, and I grab the bath salts and all I need, letting the water fill the tub in the hallway bathroom, leaving the door wide open.
I put my earbuds in and the sounds of Brendan Urie floats through my head. But even Panic! At the Disco can’t remove the up and down movement of Maguire riding his own cock as I only dream of. I’m in my own world, but even as in the zone I’m grabbing my vibrator I’m glad I brought in with me. I’m dreaming of Maguire’s mouth on my clit, I sense eyes on me. I sit up immediately, removing my earbuds in time to hear the creak to the front door alerting me someone was watching. I pop up faster than a pregnant woman should stand in a soapy tub. Pulling a towel to me, I run to the front window. Maguire is still on the gravel, approaching his house. With my phone in my hand, I watch Maguire slip through the front door.
Me: Were you over here?
And what can I say? I did the same to him.
Maguire: No, I’ve been over at my house all day.
And just like that, he lies, like I did.
Chapter 25
I wake to Christmas morning. It used to be one of my favorite holidays. I couldn’t bring myself to put up a tree. I still have all of our Christmas decorations downstairs in the garage with the rest of Scott’s stuff I’ve not had the heart to sort through.
Like Father Like Son Page 15
