EXONERATION (INTERFERENCE) (9 page)

All eyes were on me, including the venomous glare from Parker. “Snowball’s…” he was breathing hard now, too angry to continue.

“Rebecca! What the hell’s going on here?” my father shouted.

“Rebecca?” my mother
asked, staring at me sadly.

“Um, he’s Snowball’s vet,” I s
ighed and looked down.

“Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Brigham, Parker,” Shane said, stepping right up to the table.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, knowing I was in huge trouble.

“I wanted to see Shannon,” he said, hugging her close.

“Can I see the kittens?”

“They um, they went to the shelter to find a good home. But, I have a brand new puppy that I’m taking care of. I thought you might want to come and see her.
She has to be bottle-fed. Can you help me with that tomorrow after school?” he looked up at me for approval.

When I didn’t respond, he said, “It shouldn’t be a problem now that everyone knows I’m back.”

My father stood up, preparing for a fight. “Get the hell away from her!” he yelled, reaching for Shannon.

“Grandpa, Shane’s my friend!”

This calmed him down a bit and I finally came to my senses. “Um, Sam, would you take Shannon to the play room, please?”

“But, I want to stay with Shane!”

“I’ll come see you before I leave. I promise!” he smiled and leaned down to hug her.

“The hell you will!” 

I grabbed Parker’s arm, holding him back. “Wait until Shannon’s gone.”

“You knew he was back…you knew!”

Once Shannon was out of ear shot, my father glared at Shane and said, “Get out!”

“Not until I’ve worked things out with Rebecca…about
my
daughter,” Shane said calmly.

“GET OUT NOW! You don’t belong here!”

“Hmm, maybe that was true before, but now I’m a respected vet…and as of today, a member of the club.”

“The hell you are! And, if that’s true, you won’t be for long!” my father stood up and shouted for one of the managers of the club.

“GET OUT!” Parker yelled.

“Is there something wrong, Mr. Brigham?”

“This…
man
…doesn’t belong here! He’s causing trouble!”

“Hello, Evan. How are you?” Shane said,
calmly shaking the man’s hand.

“I’m fine, Dr.
Ramsay. How are you?”

“Well, evidently, I’m not welcome, but I only need a minute.”

“Of course you’re welcome here. Can I get you anything?” he asked, smiling at Shane.

“HE’S
NOT
WELCOME HERE! Have him removed! He’s making a scene!” Parker shouted.

“Um, Mr. Hayes, I’m afraid you’re the one that’s making a scene. He’s just standing here. Let me know if I can be of some other form of assistance.” The manager walked off.

“REBECCA! Explain…him!” Parker ordered, venom seeping from his skin.

“I’m just here for my daughter! I’m not here to cause trouble.”

“Now’s not the time, Shane,” I said.

“Why not?
You were worried about them finding out that I was back. Now they know…problem solved!” He was angry with me. I could see it, feel it. But, unlike my husband and father, he kept in total control.

I sighed, knowing I was in for a very long night.

“Get the hell out of here!” Parker ordered.

“Hmm, well, you obviously can’t have me thrown out since I’m a respected member…a gold member, and um, I don’t think you can have me arrested…this time, so I’m going to say what I have to say…and then I’ll leave!”

“What do you mean, arrested?” I asked, standing up as well.

“Nothing!
He’s lying…again!”

“What do you want
Ramsay?” my father barked.

“My daughter!
Well, I want your daughter too, but that’s her decision,” he said, looking right at me, making me blush bright red.

“Well, you can’t have either!” Parker said.

“I can’t force Rebecca to leave you, but you can’t keep me from my own flesh and blood.”

“The hell I can’t! You’re a convicted felon,
Ramsay. You have no rights!”

“Funny thing about that…seems all charges were dropped! Of course, it was too late for an early release, but I guess it’s some vindication.”

“What are you talking about? What charges?” I asked, completely confused.

“Nothing!”
Parker said, “Now, tell him to leave!”

“Not without setting up a schedule. I want to see her! And, I want her to know who I am! These terms are non-negotiable!”

“LIKE HELL! Get out!” my father seethed, trying to force his voice to stay calm so as not to draw any more attention to himself or his family.

“I’m going to pick her up from school tomorrow. I’ll bring her home to you by six-fifteen. I’m assuming, now that the cat’s out of the bag…so to speak, this is okay with you?”

I nodded, not knowing what else to do.

“Like hell!” Parker shouter and lunged at Shane. Shane stepped back, making Parker land face-first on the table next to us.

He quickly turned back, lunging again, but Shane was too quick for him. He grabbed Parker by the arms, holding him close. He was calm when he spoke to Parker, “Self-defense…rule number one in the slammer!” He let Parker go, but was watching him carefully.

“I’m sorry, Rebecca. This isn’t how I wanted it to be…but I didn’t know what else to do.
I want…my daughter! I’ll bring her home on time. I promise not to tell her who I am…without you. Is that okay?” he asked, looking me right in the eye.

I nodded and he walked away.
I watched as he walked down the hall toward the children’s game room to keep his promise to his daughter.

The tears were silent, “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.” I said it to everyone, but I knew I really wasn’t sorry. I also knew I was in for a huge fight.

“That’s it? That’s all you have to say? You
kissed
…him!” Parker spat.

“He kissed me,” I said, softly.

“Rebecca! How could you?” my mother asked.

“He’s Shannon’s father. He has rights.”

“He doesn’t have any rights where you’re concerned. You’re my wife!”

My father stood up and grabbed the check off the table. “It’s time to go home. We’ll take Shannon and keep her. He won’t dare try to get her there!”
             

“NO DAD! He’s her father! He loves her! He can see her if he wants!” I stood tall.

“You don’t have to be afraid of him, Pumpkin. I’ll take care of him again.”

I looked at my father, “What did you say?”

“I said I’d take care of him.”

“No Dad, you said you’d take care of him
again! 
What does that mean?”

“Nothing.
It doesn’t mean anything. I just meant he won’t be bothering you anymore.”

“What did you do?”

“He got what he deserved. Let’s go home Rebecca!” Parker said, pulling on my arm.

I looked at my father and then my husband. They both looked guilty but neither of them would say anything.  I looked at my mother.
“MOM?” She looked as confused as I was.

“I want to know what you did!” I looked at them both.

“Don’t look at me like I’m a criminal. He’s the thief!” Parker said.

“What did you do?”

“NOTHING!”

“Pumpkin…”

“Don’t call me that! Tell me what you did?” I was yelling now.

“Rebecca, calm down. All we did was tell you a little lie to protect you,” Parker said.

“What lie?”

“We knew where he was…at first,” my father said.

“What?”

“We knew he was arrested. We just didn’t want to upset you.”

“Upset me? I was beyond upset! I love…loved him!”

“Yes, I know, and we didn’t want you throwing your life away waiting for a man in prison!”

“We? Who’s we? And, it was my life! It should have been my decision.”

My father glanced at Parker, looking very guilty.

I turned to face my husband and said, “What did you have to do with this?”

“I told your father about the thievery, that’s all.”

“But, how did you know? What did you have to do with it?”

“I didn’t have anything to do with it. What do you think Rebecca?”

“I’m not sure what to think anymore. How would you know anything about it?” I asked.

“I told you, I didn’t have anything to do with it. I just heard that he’d been caught stealing…and I wanted to protect you!”

“You’re lying. There’s something you’re not telling me!”

“No, I’m not. Your dad offered him the money, Rebecca!
He took it! I found out he was stealing and I told your dad. Of course, he denied it! He said he was borrowing it…likely story. He was caught stealing…on tape, Rebecca! We were only protecting you! But, he’s a thief…and he took a pay off! A pay off to leave you and never come back!”

I stared at them both, not sure what to say or believe. “I’m going to get Shannon and then I’m going home!”

“Rebecca, we have to talk!” Parker said, following after me.

“I think you said enough.”

I walked away, grabbing Shannon and heading to the car. I pulled out my set of keys and buckled Shannon in and got in the drivers’ seat. Parker followed after me. “I’m going home Parker. Since you’re so tight with my Dad, you can sleep with him, tonight!”

I slammed the car door and drove off.

My parents dropped him off about an hour later, no doubt having spent that hour planning how they were going to get me to believe more lies.

The house was cold when I got home, but it was a lot colder for Parker. I refused to speak to him and when he showed up at my door, I shoved a chair under the doorknob and told him to leave me alone. I cuddled in bed with my daughter and told her I was playing a game with Daddy. She thought it was fun, and she talked excitedly about going to the clinic the next day to work with Shane.

“Mommy, why do Daddy and Grandpa hate Shane?”

I looked at her and said, “They don’t…just go to sleep now, okay?”

“They were mad at him. Daddy said you knew he was back. Back from where?”

“I um, I wanted to talk to you about…Shane.”

“What about him?”

“You like him, right? He’s good to you…nice?”

“He’s great! We had so much fun at the park. He pushed me on the swings and we fed the ducks bird food. He said people feed the ducks bread, but it’s not good for them, so he brought bird food, or duck food to give them good trients,” she grinned.

“That’s
nutrients
, and yes I’m sure he’s right about that. Um, well, I sort of…knew Shane…a long time ago. We were…friends.”

“Was he your boyfriend?”

I nodded. 

“Is that why Daddy doesn’t like him?”

“Um, that’s part of it.”

“Oh. Well, I like him. He’s nice and fun!”

“So, then how would you like to spend some time with him…a couple days a week…or so?”

“Are you coming too?”

“No, Honey. But, you get to do stuff like go to the park and help him at the clinic. Is that okay?”

She nodded. “I like Shane, but I want you to come, too. Why did you kiss him?”

“I didn’t…” I was stunned. 

“I saw you kissing. Is that why Daddy’s mad?”

“He’s not…yeah, that’s part of it, too. Shane and I…well, we were engaged to be married. But, he um, he had to leave, so I married your dad, instead.”

“Oh. Can I have some ice cream?”

I actually laughed and started to tickle her. “It’s too late for ice cream, but how about we watch Cinderella?”

“Nope, I want to watch Tangled!”

“Tangled it is,” I said getting up to start the Disney film.

A Surprise from an Old Friend

“Is it true?” Jillian asked me the next morning. We weren’t planning on meeting, and I was a mess when she knocked on the door at 9:15.

“I um, I wasn’t expecting you,” I said.

“Were you expecting Shane?” she asked, giving me a grin.

“What? NO!”

“Oh, well…can I come in, then?” she asked, holding up a bag of some form of pastry in her hand. I assumed she’d planned on staying for a while, so I stood back and opened the door, letting her glide past me.

“I um, I’ll start some coffee.”

She watched me for a while, not saying anything. Jillian had grown up a lot. In fact, she had fallen in love with a wonderful man who didn’t have a penny to his name. But, he loved her and the second they met, her entire attitude changed.