Waves of Reckoning (The Montclair Brothers) (12 page)

“Today’s going to be so exciting! How do you feel, Elissa?” Renee noticed she wasn’t eating or drinking anything, so she poured her a glass of orange juice and handed her a bagel.

“Oh, no thank you,” she said bashfully.

“Eat it,” said Sean, as he lifted the bagel to her lips.

She smiled and took a bite, and then began to sip on the orange juice. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“So here’s the plan,” announced Vincent. “We’re going shopping, and I know how much you ladies hate doing that,” he joked. “We need to fill up a house today. We won’t have anything delivered until we get the keys. The sale hasn’t gone through, but we’ll counter any offer that comes in. Unless the owner backs out, it’ll belong to Elissa. If that happens, we’ll just find her another one.”

“Let’s get going!” Emma said excitedly. Jacob smiled down at her and held her close.

After the dishes were placed in the sink, Renee put on a light jacket and slipped her shoes on. She felt Tyler watching her, so she turned to meet his eyes.

“Come here,” he whispered as he took a couple of steps towards her.

She stood up on her tip toes and pulled his face down to hers as he whispered, “I’m so in love with you.”

Renee could tell that he wanted to say more, but he didn’t. She knew that Tyler was worried about her going to see Robert, but even if she had to sneak out of the house, she was going. Besides, once he saw how much peace she’d gotten out of going to the prison, he’d be happy that she’d gone.

At the furniture store it quickly became clear; the girls definitely had different tastes than the men. Elissa stood by quietly while the guys picked out dark, masculine furniture, and Renee couldn’t help but notice the concerned look on her face.

“Elissa,” Renee whispered, “Do you like this set?”

“It’s okay. I’m not the one paying for it, so they can choose whatever they’d like. I’m just grateful for what they’re doing,” she smiled awkwardly.

“Okay,” announced Renee. “You guys go over to the kid’s section. The little ones are boys, so you can go to town on their rooms. We’ll handle the rest of the house.”

“Wait. Why?” asked Tyler.

“I love you, it’s true, and I value your opinion. But Elissa has to live in this house, and she should have things that are cheerful…not drab like your house…” Renee gave Tyler a stern look.

“Does this mean that you plan on giving our house a make-over?” he asked nervously.

“Well, pretty much.” She gave him a loving shove, and waited until he walked away.

“Elissa, what’s your favorite color?” asked Renee, after the guys were gone.

“I like spring colors, especially green,” she answered softly.

“Let’s go find some green, then,” Renee said. Emma smiled and hooked her arm in Elissa’s.

“Do you want leather or fabric?” asked Emma.

“I think fabric. Leather seems too cold. But it has to be durable fabric and something that’s easy to clean.” Elissa let the first laugh of the day escape her mouth.

When a saleswoman approached them, Emma asked her to direct them to some brighter living room sets. As they followed her, they suddenly stopped in their tracks when Elissa gasped.

Renee followed the direction of her gaze. Elissa began to move slowly towards a spring green furniture set that had light blue and green flowered pillows as accents. The tables were a light oak with rounded corners, and there was an area rug that accented the set perfectly. Renee watched her slowly sit down on the sofa, and run her hands across the fabric.

“How much is this one?” Elissa asked. Her eyes were wide.

“It’s—” The saleswoman was quickly cut off.

Emma hid the price tag. “It’s priced at, It. Doesn’t. Matter. Dollars. Right, Renee?”

Renee grinned widely. “Do you like this one?”

“Yes, but it looks expensive. The material…” Elissa lifted a pillow and held it.

“It’s easy to clean and care for. This fabric is amazing, plus we can have it stain-guarded for added protection.” The sales woman said she’d be right back, saying she needed to grab a form.

“Do you like everything here? The rug, the tables and curio cabinet…the lamps?” Renee had to admit that she adored the set as well.

“I do, but a couch is plenty for just the three of us.” Elissa stood up, trying to see the price tag in Emma’s hands.

When the sales lady returned, Emma immediately spoke. “We’ll take this whole set, including the rug. Add on the vases, and the artwork. This chair, does it recline?”

“Yes, it fully reclines. With the purchase of this set, you’ll get a free flat-screen television. Would you like to look at stands?”

“Yes, we would,” Renee smiled. We’ll also need a few bedroom sets.”

Two and a half hours later, Jacob handed the woman his credit card. The men had picked out their dream rooms for the boys; it was as if they’d spent the last couple of hours re-living their childhoods.

Elissa began shedding tears before they even reached the exit.

“We have another stop,” smiled Sean. “Appliances.”

“Oh, no!” Elissa protested. “Please, you guys have to stop this. It’s going to take me forever to repay you!” she wept.

“Gas or electric?” asked Tyler.

“Electric…right up your alley, Bro,” laughed Vincent.

Tyler gladly paid for the new refrigerator, stove, microwave, and the washer and dryer set. “The hot water tank, furnace, central air unit…how old are those things? How about the roof? Are the windows any good?” He asked his brothers.

“Uh…” Vincent mumbled.

“I’ll check on those tomorrow, you knuckleheads.” Tyler laughed and took the realtor’s card from Sean. “Elissa, when the sale goes through, we’ll get in there and have it all fixed up for you. You’ll have to pick out paint colors and that sort of thing, with Renee and Emma. According to popular belief, us guys aren’t any good at that stuff,” he lovingly stared at Renee.

“I don’t know what to say,” Elissa whispered.

“The first BBQ’s at your house,” laughed Tyler. “Sean can chop veggies or something. He sucks in the kitchen.”

“You’re such a pinhead,” laughed Sean.

Renee knew exactly what Elissa was feeling. She’d been showered by love from this family in more ways than she’d ever imagined. It was time for her to start treating this young woman like a sister, just as she did with Emma. The family wasn’t just growing, it was becoming more blessed. Renee was elated that she’d been able to help Elissa today, but something was casting a shadow on her heart. It was the same gloomy shadow she felt darken her soul every single time she thought about Robert.

Chapter 12

R
obert glared at
Dr. Lucy Atkins from across the Cheap-Ass table. The lunch trays were going to be delivered soon, and he doubted the Stingy Guards would save his tray for him. Today was Monday, which meant spaghetti and meatballs, with a small piece of garlic bread. His stomach was already growling, and he wanted nothing more than to devour today’s lunch. But
noooo
! This Ugly Doctor was going to hold him hostage until lunch passed, on purpose.

“I’m Dr. Lucy Atkins.” Ugly Doc didn’t even bother to shake his hand. “Let’s get started. I’m going to turn on the camera as well as the recorder.” Robert glared at her, while she aimed the camera correctly.

“I’m starving, and the clock’s ticking,” he scowled.

“Do you know why you’re incarcerated, Robert?” she smiled at him, and he wanted to wipe it off her face with the bottom of his orange shoe.

“Do you know why you’re here, doc?” laughed Robert.

“Yes. I was asked to psychologically evaluate you.”

“I’m crazy. I have schizo whatever. I don’t belong here!” he yelled.

“What makes you believe you have that illness?” Ugly Doc wrote something down and then looked back up at him. Her lips seemed to be constantly puckered, which made Robert want to mimic her.

“I see and hear things that aren’t there. That’s the symptoms. Why are you asking me this crap? I’ve already been ‘
evaluated
.’” He glared at her and then busted out in laughter.

“I’m not so sure that you’re schizophrenic, Robert. What other symptoms do you think you have?”

“I talk to myself. Well not to myself, but to those voices in my head.” Robert looked at her with a serious expression, while trying to remember the symptoms he’d read about in a book from the library cart.

“Why do you want to go to a psychiatric hospital?” Ugly Doc stared at him. Her eyes were beady.

“So I don’t have to be kept in a cage, like an animal. Scrap that answer. I meant to say, I deserve to get help in a non-threatening environment.”

“Are you hearing any voices other than mine right now?” She was writing even faster. Robert wanted to grab that notebook and see what she’d written. Doctors were all liars.

“No. I mean…yes. It’s the devil’s voice.”
Telling me to slit your stupid throat,
thought Robert.

“I see. What happened to the aliens?” Now he knew the two doctors had been talking. What a bunch of losers.

“There are devils amongst the aliens,” said Robert as he smiled with approval over his quick thinking. “Devil aliens. Look doc, I have the symptoms. Give me my diagnosis, so I can be moved!” he demanded.

“How do you know that your symptoms are indicative of schizophrenia?” Doc Puckered Lips looked at him smugly. Robert wanted to claw her cheap glasses off.

“The book said so!” he screamed, causing him to get a warning from the guard.

“Well, it seems to me like you’re missing a few diagnostic criteria, Robert. What if I told you that schizophrenics will draw circles in the air with both arms, and change their names? Or, that they normally don’t see or hear aliens or the devil, but rather the sound of their mother’s voices? What would you think then?” Ugly Doc stared at him from over the top of her glasses. Robert wanted to smash them up into a ball.

“I
do
hear my mother! I’m done talking to you! If you ever come back here, you better know my real name, or else!” He stood up, pushing the table into Puckered Lips and shook his fist at her. As he left the room with the guards, he lifted his arms high in the air, and began moving them in circles. “I want some spaghetti!”

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Vincent couldn’t wait to step out of the courtroom and turn his phone on. He’d asked the realtor to contact him immediately if she heard back from the owners of the house, and he hoped to have great news waiting in his voicemail. Vincent listened to his messages, and then took the business card from his wallet and returned the realtor’s call.

“That’s the lowest they’ll go, Mr. Montclair. It’s still five thousand less than the asking price,” she said.

“Tell them we’ll take it!” Vincent was so excited. He’d finally be able to give Elissa her very own home. He immediately called Sean to tell him the news.

“Hey, Vin. I’m in a meeting right now with Ty, going over my monthly report. Can I call you back?” Vincent couldn’t help but notice the serious tone in his brother’s voice.

“Yeah, call me back. But Sean, you don’t do anything but slack. I hope that’s in your report.” Vincent laughed and hung up the phone before his brother could respond. Vincent knew that Sean really busted his butt, just like the rest of them.

After fighting his way through rush hour traffic, Vincent finally made it back to Montclair Pharmaceuticals. As he walked by Elissa’s office, the door was closed, but he heard muffled sobbing, coming from inside. He knocked softly before opening it, and watched as she quickly wiped the tears from her cheeks.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” he asked as he pulled up a chair and sat down beside her.

“Emma drove me by my parent’s house so I could pick my car up. They’ve had it towed, and I have no idea where to. I know you bought me a new one, but I’ll have to transfer my plates, and there’s stuff in the trunk and glove box that I have to have. My children’s baby books are in the back, and some other things I didn’t want my parents to have access to. What am I going to do?!” she cried even louder.

“Give me a minute, Elissa. We’ll get your car back.” Full of anger, Vincent left her and headed straight towards Tyler’s office. He tapped on the door, and waited for his brother to open it. Sean was sitting on the sofa with papers spread out on the table.

“Woah, who took a dump in your Easter basket?” asked Sean as he stood up and walked towards Vincent.

“When you guys are finished, we need to take a drive to visit Elissa’s obnoxious parents. They towed her car. Hopefully they didn’t destroy her things that were inside of it.” Vincent watched as Sean walked to the table and tucked the papers into his brief case.

“Seriously?” asked Tyler dumbfounded. “They’ve got balls.”

“I’ll drive,” said Sean as he led them out of the office. Vincent could easily read the look on Sean’s face. When he meant business, a quiet resolve showed across his face and in his voice. Someone was going to pay.

They stopped by her office and told Elissa to go home with Emma. “Do you have your keys?” asked Sean.

“No, I forgot to grab them at the house. I’m such an idiot…” Her cheeks reddened.

“Listen, Honey. We’ll take care of this, okay?” Without saying another word, Sean headed out the door with his brothers following close behind.

When they arrived at her parent’s house, Sean knocked on the door, while Tyler and Vincent stood out of view. Vincent agreed that the presence of all three brothers would most likely cause Elissa’s parents to keep the door closed. Luckily, her father answered the knock.

“What do you want?!” he yelled.

“I’m here to pick up your daughter’s car keys, and to find out where you had it towed to.” Sean kept his voice calm, which totally impressed Vincent.

The man shrugged at Sean. “I called the cops. They towed it.”

“You called the cops?” Vincent watched as Sean’s fists clenched. “Well, we’ll go get the car out of impound. I’d like the keys now, please.”

“Get off my property!” The man started to slam the door in Sean’s face, and before Tyler and Vincent could get to him, he pulled the man out onto the porch by the scruff of his shirt.

“Sean! Easy, there.” Tyler had his hands around Sean’s fist, trying to get him to release the guy.

“Give us the keys,” warned Vincent. “If you don’t, I’ll make a phone call and have your daughter publish her life’s story in the paper. Would you like that? Do you think all of your neighbors and relatives would like to know how badly you’ve treated your daughter and grandsons? Give us the keys, or your life will go from zero to hell after Wednesday’s publication.”

The three men towered over the man and glared at him. Suddenly, he ran inside the house and grabbed the keys. Vincent heard him jingling them all the way to the door.

“Here! You tell that bitch if she ever comes back to
my
house, I’ll have her arrested!” he threatened.

“Okay,” began Sean. “And if you ever cause her another moment’s grief, we won’t be so kind.”

“Remember our faces,” said Tyler. “You don’t ever want to do anything to make us come back here.” He snatched the keys from the man’s hand, and the three brothers stepped off the porch, while the door was slammed and locked behind them.

Vincent called the impound lot and carried on a short conversation before hanging up. “The car’s there. Let’s go get it out.”

On the way, Tyler began to grin. “So, you know the publisher of the Southfield Eagle?”

“Nope, but it worked!” They busted out laughing and continued to the impound lot.

Once they recovered the car, Vincent opened up the trunk. It was empty. He opened the glove box and his stomach twisted into knots.

“What’s up?” asked Sean.

“They took everything from inside. She had baby books and things that were valuable to her, stored in the trunk. Even the glove box is empty…” Vincent had no idea how he was going to break the news to the poor girl.

“Let’s go get her things,” said Sean as he turned back towards his SUV.

“Hold on a sec,” said Tyler. “There’s no way in hell he’s going to open the door for us again.”

“He’s right, Sean. He’ll probably call the police if we show back up there,” said Vincent. “Wait a second…Tyler, call Emma and see if she’s up to doing us a favor.”

“She’s going to kill the man,” said Tyler. But he got out his phone and called her.

Vincent looked at him cautiously when he hung up the phone. “Well?”

“She said she’ll go, but fair warning. It she gets in any kind of trouble, we’ll be at fault. Regardless, get ready to pay bail money and the stupid jackass’s hospital bill.”

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Emma pulled up to the curb, a few doors down from Elissa’s parents’ house. She shut off the engine, and then took a few slow, deep breaths. “You can do this,” she said out loud. “Don’t yell, don’t hit him. Don’t yell, don’t hit him,” she chanted as she got out of her car. While she was walking towards the house, she began to smell smoke. It was coming from the creep’s back yard. Even in heels, Emma could run like the wind, something she’d learned while being hunted by Robert. She followed the smoke to the backyard. Elissa’s dad was standing at a burn barrel with stacks of things on the ground.

“So help me God. If you put one thing in that barrel, I’ll stuff you inside of it. Better yet, how about if I torch your damn house?” Emma was seething and had lost all composure.

“Get off my property!” he yelled.

Without another word, Emma walked over to the pile and lifted it. Next to it was a cardboard box filled with baby shoes, pictures, and other knick knacks.

A woman’s loud voice sounded from the back door. “Leave! I’m going to call the cops!”

“Go ahead and call the cops, but I’m leaving with all of Elissa’s things.” Emma began sliding the box out of the yard with her foot, while she carried the books and other things.

The woman charged off the porch and raised a hand at her. Emma dropped the stack in her arms and grabbed the woman’s wrist. “I haven’t beaten the hell out of anyone since I lived in Miami. It’ll be fun to get back down to basics again. Now, unless you want your ass beat in front of all your neighbors, I highly suggest you back off. Don’t let this dress fool you…”

Elissa’s mother quickly withdrew her hand, and gave Emma dirty looks, all the way to the back door. She yelled at her husband to come inside, and then the door slammed loudly. Emma smiled as she pushed the box and carried the stack to her car. Once inside, she got out her phone and called Tyler.

“I have her things. I’ll bring them to Vincent’s house.” She was out of breath and brimming with anger.

“How did it go?” he cautiously asked.

“Well, I’m not going to get a Christmas card from them. I’ll meet you there.” Emma wanted to get out of this neighborhood as fast as she could. Her heart broke for Elissa and those two small boys.
How can anyone mistreat the people they’re supposed to love?
She asked herself. Her thoughts soon turned to her father, Brian, Renee, and the Montclair men. She couldn’t help but think that surviving abuse helped you to find your real family. Their group was together for a reason, and she’d always felt that way. Now it was Elissa’s turn to be invited in, and Emma would welcome her with open arms. “Yeah, assholes,” said Emma as she left the subdivision. “You two, stupid individuals, picked a fight with a village! Good luck with that!!!”

When Emma reached Vincent’s house, she pulled up in the driveway. As she opened the passenger door to remove Elissa’s things, she saw Jacob walking towards her. “Perfect timing. You can carry this stuff in for Elissa.”

“Baby, you can’t go around being Billy Badass on people.” He wrapped his arms around her.

“I didn’t do any such thing. I did get Elissa’s things back, though.” She smiled proudly.