Facing Me (24 page)

Here’s
to you Ms.
Chesterfield.

*Aiden*

“Get your ass in
the ‘Burban,
Cam
.” I grumble rolling the wheelchair back to the nurse.

“Stop treating
me like an invalid and I will,
Aiden
.” She grounds out. “I’m
fine.   Don’t make me kick your ass to prove it.  I didn’t need
a wheelchair, I was grazed by a bullet in the side, not the leg.”

“It’s hospital
policy, get over it.  Don’t get all feisty, it just makes me hard and
you’re in no shape for a spanking, yet.” I toss out, hoisting her in my arms.
“Now, since you demanded to go meet my mother, and even talked the doctor into
giving her approval, I suggest you behave.” I scold, settling her into the seat
before sliding in next to her.

Before Cam was
released, Henry drove Mack, Daisy and Grayson back to the bus to rest. 
There was really no threat now that Tad, Jackson and Dustin are now in custody;
Henry was a bit more at ease letting them stay on the bus while we make the
trip to see my mother before we head back to Nashville.  We are scheduled
in the recording studio in the morning, and every day up until the ‘
Rock
For A
Cure Fest’
.  Hunter will fly out the day
after, and if the doctor approves, Cam and I will be joining him, even if she
doesn’t know it yet.  I need to do something, and it’s only fitting to do
it there.  Cam settles herself against me, dozing nearly immediately. 
My arms surround her, adjusting my leg I pull her into my chest.

“Damn, I’m glad
all this drama is over.  Shit, I can’t believe Tad had that shit slipped
in my beer.” Hunter groans from the front seat when we exit the highway. “To
think if I hadn’t run into the Ladies’ room when I saw you two makin’ the beast
in the hallway…” He shudders. “Fucker, I’ve told y’all my poop chute is a
no-go.  You two totally saved my ass.” He laughs, “Literally!”

“Your asshole
needs a support group.” Henry teases. “No one said that Tad planned to
de-virginize your rear-access.”

“Don’t patronize
my asshole, he’s sensitive.” Hunter huffs, turning toward the window.

“Just like you,
everywhere you go you’re makin’ a stink.” Henry chuckles, turning us onto the
road for the prison. 

Instantly, my
heart starts thumping in my chest at the thought of seeing my mother. 
I’ve not seen her once since I was eight years old.  I have so many things
I want to know, so much I want to say to her.  Tell her all she missed out
on with us.  I want her to know everything that she can never be a part
of; all because she chose not to be a mom who protected her boys.  Cam’s
fingers lace with mine. “It’s okay.” She whispers, sitting up to meet my eyes.
Those blues meet mine, instantly calming me as the ‘Burban pulls into a parking
spot.

***

By the time we
walk into the visitors’ room, my nerves are back the moment I see her. 
Looking up, she blanches a bit, watching the four of us walk toward her. 
Hunter sits closest to her, before Cam and I take the seats on the other side
of the table. Henry walks over and shakes the guard’s hand. “Thanks for
accommodating us with the extra visitor, really appreciate that.”  He
says, the guard just nods in return.

“You boys look like
your father.” The words are like a slap to the face, making me wince painfully.
“Who’s she?”

“I’m Camaron
Allen, it’s nice to meet you Mrs. Chesterfield.” Cam says shaking my mother’s
hand.

She just laughs.
“I never married Thomas.  That bastard didn’t give any of us his
name.  I’m Nancy.” She replies, before looking to me. “So, you’ve got shit
to say, say it.”

I take a breath,
of all the things I want to say to her.  Years of anger, resentment, that filled
me start to dull and I feel only the need to know one thing. “Why?” I ask, “All
I want to know is why.  I love Cam with everything I am, and I could never
hit her, or any children we may have.  Why did he do it and why did you
let him?”  Cam’s fingers squeeze mine in silent support as I wait for her
answer.

“I never wanted
anything to do with him.  When I was fourteen years old, Thomas Waggoner
decided he wanted me.  His father was a governor; Thomas thought he was
entitled to whatever he decided to take.  When he raped me and I ended up
pregnant, I was forced to be his kept whore.  Every time I tried to leave,
he found me, raped me, beat me; well you can imagine.” She explains, her hands
trembling as she tries to light a cigarette.  Her brown hair falls around
her face, hiding her eyes. “By the time you came along, Aiden, I was so weak.
 I would’ve slit my wrists if it hadn’t been for you boys. I just wanted
out.” She adds, blowing a plume of smoke out.

“Anyway,” She
continues when no one speaks. “Thomas would come and go, he had a wife and
children of his own, you see. He came to me first, always me first, take what
he wanted; tied me up, gagged me, and then.” Her hand shaking so hard, she
nearly drops her cigarette.

“That’s when he
went after us.” Hunter bites out, finishing her sentence for her.

She nods. “Then
Henry moved in across the street and things changed.” I watch her look over and
smile at Henry, who blushes. “The day Hunter broke his window with that damn
Frisbee, everything changed.  Henry knew things were bad.  He came to
my rescue more than I ever deserved.  That night, I plotted to leave.”
Henry walks over, placing a hand on her shoulder, encouraging her to finish. “I
was going to leave, start over with you boys and give you the lives you
deserved…the life we all deserved.  Henry had made plans to get us all out
safely.   We were going to be a family.”

“You were
puttin’ that tow hitch to my mother?” Hunter exclaims.

“Stop being a
shit.” Henry growls. “No, I was not puttin’ anything to your mother.  I
helped your mother, asshole.”

“You two adored
Henry; sending you there for the night was a no-brainer, while I packed. 
That is, until Thomas showed up while I was packing.” She shudders.

“Oh God,” Cam
sighs.

“Henry ran over
when he heard us fighting.  We never expected you boys to run over too and
when Thomas lunged for Aiden, I grabbed the whiskey bottle and swung. 
Thomas fell, somehow hitting his head on the end table and that was that. 
That bastard never even saw it coming.” She says, taking another draw off her
cigarette. “It may have been the only good thing I’ve ever done in my life,
other than having you two.  That bastard was beating his wife and other
children too.   She’s been to see me a few times.  Bitch thanked
me too, even sends me money and everything.  Real classy broad if you ask
me.”

“Why didn’t you
report the abuse?” Cam asks, shaking her head.

“You think that
anyone would’ve believed me with the clout his family had?” My mother laughs.
“Shit, I’m lucky I didn’t get the goddamn chair for killing that son of a
bitch.”

“Shoulda got the
Nobel Peace Prize.” Henry bites out. “Once we talked out the story for the
cops, I took you boys with me and we got the hell out of Georgia.  Nancy
called the police and took a plea bargain Thomas’ father arranged so he could
look like the forgiving soul.  Asshole probably beats his wife too.”

“I’m sorry I
didn’t stand up for you boys sooner.  My only regret in life is that I
didn’t fight harder for us.” She chokes out, a tear running down her face.

Reaching across
the table, I take her shaking hand in mine.  The fact that she went
through just as much as we did, if not more, crumbles me and I can’t help but
hurt for her too.  He was cruel enough to go after us while she heard, but
could do nothing: she was just as helpless as we were. “We’re alright, Mom.” I
smile.

She sniffles,
looking at Cam then at me. “Yeah, looks like you are.”

“They lettin’
you out soon, yeah?” Henry asks, patting her shoulder.

“In a week or
so, gotta half-way house set-up ready for me.” She answers. “You let us know if
you need anything Nancy, I’ll get you my numbers.” Henry says, as we stand up.

“All I want is
my boys’ forgiveness, even if I don’t deserve it.” She says, squeezing my hand
again.  Hunter reaches over covering our hands with his. 

His eyes meet
hers, and he smiles. “You’ve got that mom.”

She chokes on a
sob and nods, “You know you always were such a protector.  So strong, my
fearless Hunter.  I’m very proud of both of you.”  Standing, she
slides her hand free. “I’ll be in touch once I’m settled, boys.  Thank you
for coming, it means everything.”  Then the guard leads her through the
door away from us.  This time though, when she turns her back on us, I
don’t feel loss like I had as a child.  It feels like a new
beginning.  I’ve faced the demons of my past, so to speak, and yeah, there
is still the shit there that hurts, but the ache is dulling. 

“I’m proud of
you, Aiden.” Cam says, kissing my cheek. “That had to be hard.”

“Yeah,” Hunter
nods, looking at me seriously. “You’ve really figured your shit out,
brother.  Now, it’s time for me to man the fuck up, I guess.  Let’s
get back to Nashville, I’ve got a concert stage waiting and a Tiger Lily in
Vegas to chase.” He laughs loudly, “Get it?  I’ve gotta
chase
Chase!”
 

“It’s about damn
time you grow some balls, man.” Henry blurts as we leave the room, making Cam
giggle.

Ignoring Henry
completely, Hunter wraps an arm around Cam’s shoulder, then his other around
mine. “Come on you crazy kids, once we are back on the bus I’ll get the
computer.   I can be ordained to perform your ceremony.  It will
all be settled by the time you two sort out details, I heard ya talkin’ in the
hospital this morning.  Who gives this pussy to this cock? Cam’s gonna come.”
Hunter sings through the hall. “Cam’s gonna come.”

Looking over at
Cam, I grin. “You sure you wanna marry into this shit?” I ask with a wink.

“I do.” She
replies, beaming a smile.  That very same smile from the first night in
New Orleans, that makes my fucking knees weak. 

The End… or is
it?

OF COURSE IT
ISN’T

More Shaft is
coming!

 
Summer
2014, Get ready!  Hunter is more than ready to tell his story!

Hunter
Chesterfield has it all, or so he thinks.  He lives his life by the seat
of his pants; well, when he is wearing them that is.  Being the
self-proclaimed front man for the band ‘Shaft’ has its perks and Hunter, or
Cunter, as he is affectionately called, exploits them.  Living for the
three Bs: Bitches, Booze and Bacon, and not always in that order, Hunter is the
life of the party and an attention whore.  Watching one of his best
friends fall in love, and then his brother, he starts to wonder if he isn’t
made like them.  Maybe he isn’t made to fall so hard for someone that no
one else appeals to him or his insatiable sex drive.  Women are just
pieces of ass to him.  Frisbees that he can throw away, once he is
done. 

No one says ‘no’
to Hunter Chesterfield’s charm and advances, no one makes him feel ‘less
than’…no one except one woman.  The only woman he can’t stop thinking
about.  Chase.    

Watching Grayson
and Aiden nearly lose the women they love, stirs something in Hunter that he
never expected: longing.  He needs to know, to see Chase face to face and
be sure.  Can what Hunter thinks he feels be real?  Is he even
capable of being with one woman?  Adding the temptation of all the women
on tour and the possibilities of a long distance relationship, he has more than
his fair share of doubts.  Leopards can’t change their spots right? 
So, naturally, when Chase used the ‘L’ word, he pushed her away. 
Dismissing the only woman to ever warm his bed more than once, all because she
deserved more than what he was able to offer.  Now, he questions
everything and all he can think about is talking to her, laying it all
out.  But, is it too little too late?  Can the appearance of another
woman change Hunter’s way of thinking and his ability to love altogether? With
the band blowing up, becoming more and more popular every day and preparing to
release their album, the media latches on to anything and everything.  Of
course, everything is big news when Shaft is on tour.

Acknowledgements

I can’t possibly
thank everyone. There just are not enough pages for me to go into detail the
way I would like.  I do hope that you know how much I appreciate each
reader, blogger, author, etc that has opened a page and their hearts to
Shaft.  I would not be doing this if it weren’t for each of you who love
my characters, nor would I want to be.

Thank you to
Asli Arif Fratarcangeli for yet again fixing my grammatical blunders. 
(The readers thank you even more! LOL)  Rachael Orman for my amazing
formatting and all you do with Dreams Come True Promotions. 

The Original
Shaft Groupies, Shaft all started with you ladies.
Because of you ladies
and your support for a crazy idea I got one night reading posts in
Controlled.  Beta is one ‘B’ word that Hunter or I will never use to
describe you; because you ladies are so much more than that. Brain-stormers,
Partners in Crime, amazing friends, that’s more like it.   You keep
me from deleting really good stuff, or knowing when I need to fix where my
thoughts are wandering to. <3
  Jenn
, Chelsea,
Carol, you three have laid claim to your guys and I am just glad someone loves
them as much as I do.  LOL.

The Graphic
Goddess, Jenn, I can’t thank you enough for all you do.  The teasers you
make, quotes you find, and every technological thing I ask you about that,
without your help, would have me in the corner rocking in
fear.       

Katheryn Kiden,
thank you for sharing
Thirty Ought Six
and the greatness of Evan and his
‘
Gungasms
’ with me and allowing my characters to come together with
yours.  It’s a hell of a party in our heads lady!  My Controlled
family, and the Dirty Fam you ladies know how much I love all of you and
consider you some of my greatest friends and you know me better than
most.  Thank you for embracing me for what I am and who I am with no
judgments. Nothing but crazy sisterly love!  Wendi, Rebecca, Jilly, Sav,
KK, and MK, you ladies have been one of my constants our chats have become
infamous!  BAHA! 

To my family, my
babies, and last but not least, my husband; all your encouragement and support
mean everything to me.  The days I am so stressed over a deadline or stuck
in my head with my characters, you know just what to do.  Whether it’s to
make me laugh or leave me alone to my own devices.  <3
<3