Autum's Lost (A letting go series) (10 page)

“Flower, if you know something bad, you need to tell Addison. I know you promised Autum and certain promises can be kept but this sounds like something that could help Addy.” Clarissa’s tears fall on her father’s shirt and she wipes her eyes and clears her throat as she sat down on the bed.

“Please don’t be mad at me Mumma Addy. I was just doing what Autum asked of me.” I take her hand and give it a squeeze.

“Of course sweets. There is only one person that I am or will be pissed at, and it’s not you. Okay?” Rissa nods her head yes and takes a deep breath to begin.

“It was this past Valentine’s day. Autum, Kirk, Henry and I went out for dinner. You made the reservations to the restaurant remember?”

I nod my head yes, Autum wanted to do something special for Kirk and then decided she wanted Rissa and Henry to go as well. The restaurant was thirty minutes away and was one of the many arguments Curt decided we needed to have.

“Well after we dropped the boys off home we had to stop and get gas, and that’s where we saw him inside, but the problem was, in the car wasn’t you.” Clarissa looks away and shakes her head. “He didn’t see us. I looked over at the Bitch Barbie in the car and asked Autum who the slut was. Autum’s face was red and she simply said ‘not my mom’. We waited until he came out and was walking across the parking lot and that’s when you’re brave daughter attacked like a viper.”

“What did she say Rissa?” was all I could choke out.

“She went thermo nuclear on his ass.” A small smile crossed her face. “She asked him what he was doing with some second hand skank, instead of a class act like his wife. And she looked right at skanky when she yelled wife.” Clarissa starts laughing and a tear ran down her face. “He didn’t see her coming Addy, the look on his face was priceless. The best part was when Autum walked right over to the car opened the door and told her to start walking her
skank ass home!” At that Clarissa was in laughing crying hysterics on the bed. “I loved her so much Addy. She didn’t give a fuck what the repercussions were.” She looks over at Michael “Sorry for the F-word daddy, but that’s how she felt.” I was crying and laughing as well.

Michael walks over to me and wraps his arms around me. “She was amazing because her mother is.”

I look over at Clarissa and she is smiling from ear to ear wiping her tears from her face and does a little happy clap and gives me a thumbs up. I start laughing and shake my head. “Well that explains why they both came home at the same time that night and she wouldn’t speak to him. I assumed it was because of the argument they had about Kirk and her spending so much time together earlier that evening.” As Michael lets go of me I wonder why Autum never told me. She usually told me if something about her dad was bothering her.

“Clarissa, she never did say anything to me. Do you know what was said between her and her dad?”
Fucking bustard, he knew I might find out that his own daughter caught him. Well Addy it’s clear how much you both mattered to him.

“Autum asked him what the fuck he was doing with some randy skank.” She looks over at Michael, “Again Daddy, Autum’s words not mine.” Michael gives a head nod of
okay.

“What did Curt say?”

“He was giving some really lame excuse and Autum wasn’t buying it. She called him out on his behavior on all sorts of stuff that was going on between you two.” She looked away at that last sentence. “I’m sorry to be telling you this right now.” I walk over to the bed and sit down next to her and take her hand.

“It’s ok Rissa I really need to know. Go ahead, continue.” I urge her on.

“He said that he was taking her home because she was drunk at the bar and he didn’t want her walking.” Clarissa starts laughing. “That’s when Autum told him that he was lying his ass off and that if he didn’t tell you what happened she would and she wasn’t going to sugar coat it. She also added that he had been an absent husband and that his number one casualty was his wife.” I was still holding her hand flexing my fingers in and out. Trying to hold my rage in when Michael interrupts my thoughts.

“Flower, why don’t you go tell Grandma Susie that we will be out in five minutes, okay?”

Clarissa gives me a big hug. “Autum was always in your corner Addy. She never let anyone speak badly of you and she hated Curt for what he did to you.”

“Thank You for telling me that Rissa, I know it was hard. Autum would be proud to know that her best friend was here for her mom.” Clarissa gets up off the bed and goes to the door.

“Just so you know Mumma Addy, I would do the same thing for you.” She looks over at Michael and smiles “Only, I think I won’t have to do that since someone awesome has stepped in.” She winks at me before she walks out. I look at the door and a small smile escapes from my face. Michael comes over to me and sits down by me.

“She is right you know, someone awesome is looking over you, Addy.” I laugh once.

“Easy there ego.” Michael looks at me with a confused look.

“Ego?”

“Yes, Ego, as in egomaniac. It’s not very becoming of you Mr. Crestmoore.” I smile teasingly. Michael takes my hand and starts to kiss my fingers warming everything in the bottom half of my body.

“Well it’s hard being awesome,” as he starts to suck on fingers one at a time, “But I think you have no arguments, yes?”
My body is in hyper drive now and thinking rational is out the window.
Man Addy, his tongue is exquisite, look at the sucking motion… hmmm two can play at this game…ugh not helping inner voice.

I grab his hand and lick every one of his fingers back. I then suck every one like they are covered in chocolate, even making a popping sound after each one. Michael’s eyes are closed and his head has fallen back. I look down and he is rock hard.
Hahaha Addy look at what you did, you naughty girl
. I hop off the bed and a shocked Michael’s head sits up. I smile at him

“Time for dinner.”

I turn and in one motion open and then shut the door with lightning speed. I hear a laughing Michael behind the door say, “Little Minx”

Michael all but begged me to stay with him while I was sorting things out with the lawyer and the Police mess that I had on my hands. But I declined his offer, assuring him that I would call him daily and he co
uld come over to my parents’ house when he wanted. Of course that was two weeks ago and he has called every morning since, plus Clarissa and him, have come over every night.

It was the last day of school for Clarissa and she was excited for the lifeguarding job she landed at the city pool for the summer. I was just packing the rest of my stuff to go back home when my mom came into my old room that I was staying in.

“Looks like you are all packed sweetie.”

“Yep, I am ready to get back to the house and start packing
asshat’s stuff up so I can get it in storage or over to his parents’ house.” Mom looks at me with loving concern and nods her head.

“So, Michael changed the locks on the house?”

“Actually he had new locks and deadbolts installed, a keypad installed on the garage door, and the sliding glass door removed with a patio door in its place. He wanted to install a security system but I said no.”

“Why on earth would you say no to that Addy? That sounds like a great idea.” Mom looks a little irritated.

“Because Mom, I have no idea if I am staying there. I still think a smaller place for me would be better.” Mom starts tapping her foot and chewing the inside of her mouth. If I know anything, it’s when Susan is pissed….Yep, she’s pissed.

“I will not say anything if that is your wish sweetie but.....” She stops tapping her foot and sighs heavily. “I know Auty would want that house for you. Get all of his shit out and start over. Bust down some walls, install a pool or a hot tub. Paint the walls and have a painting party.” I look over her with a shocked look. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Have you been talking to Jess?” I ask. Mom tilts her head to the side.

“No dear, why?

“Hmmmmm, because she brought up the painting thing a couple weeks ago. And she is just devious enough to plant such ideas in your head without my knowledge.” Mom starts laughing.

“No dear, she hasn’t said anything at all about painting.” She shakes her head and looks up at me and smiles.
“She did say some things but they were all Michael related.”

“Oh, I am sure she did. She is his biggest fan.” A small smile escapes from my mouth.

“Sweetie, you know I agree with Jess all day long when it comes to Michael. That man loves you to bits.” I walk over to the bed to sit down next to my mom. I put my head on her shoulder.

“I know he loves me mom, I love him too, more than I want to admit. Do you think I am rushing into things with him? I can just hear the gossip mongers now.” Mom puts her arm around my shoulder and hugs me tight.

“Fuck them Addison Mire!” I sit up straight and look right at my Mom with my mouth open, she NEVER uses the F-word. EVER. “Shocked? Well my dear I have news for you. I loved you the minute I found out I was pregnant with you. Watching you grow was a delight. You were such a head strong girl, full of sass and didn’t let anyone get one over on you.” She swallows hard. “That was until Curt came along. He was an asshole from the get go. You fell hard for him. He picked at you from the beginning. He did it slowly so you never noticed it, but I did. I’d hoped that you would see what a chauvinistic ass he was eventually. But when you came home from your junior year in college and said you were engaged, well let’s just say I wasn’t thrilled.” She looked at the ground and was holding her hands in her lap. “He took you away from everybody Addy, broke you and your spirit, and until Autum was born, I didn’t think I would ever see my sassy girl again. Autum gave you your life back. She gave you everything you were missing but didn’t know was gone.” Tears are now streaming down her face and mine. “I see it with Michael, the way he looks at you, the banter you have with him. The love this time around, is real, it’s true and so, yes, I say fuck them. Fuck the gossip mongers and fuck all the haters. You deserve happiness, your spirit deserves happiness, and it’s one only Michael and Clarissa can put back together.”

My head is in my hands and I am trying to hold back my tears but failing miserably. My Mom rubs my back and I sit up and take a deep breath and hold her hand.

“I love you so much Mom. I know that I lost myself with Curt.” I laugh at myself. “There were days that I just wanted to take Auty and run. Go away and pretend that he never existed. But that meant I would lose you and Dad. I could never do that to you guys,
and,
Autum would have missed out on your frisky chicken.” I wink and laugh at my Mom who is now wiping her eyes and laughing as well.

We drag the suitcases out into the kitchen and my cell rings with Jess’s ringtone.

“Heeeelooo.” I say with drama

“So, guess w
ho I ran into today.” Jess says sassily

“I don’t know Alex, can I take ‘Jess’s guessing game is dumb for 100.”

“Daytona, that’s who, and that bitch had the nerve to actually talk to me.”

“Number three of the five sluts huh? What did that skank want? Wait! You didn’t actually talk to her did you?” My pulse starts to race.

“You bet your sweet ass I did, meet me at your house in thirty minutes so we can discuss.”

“
Alrighty then twat, see you there.” I hang up and my Mom is shaking her head and smiling.

“Jess I take it?”

“Yep, she is coming over in thirty minutes to my house for a girl chat. So I better get going.”

“Sounds good sweetie, come over on Sunday with Michael and Clarissa, we are having a BBQ, and invite Jess and her family too.” I hug and kiss her goodbye.

“Will do Mom, Love you.”

“Love you the
mostest sweetie.”

As I pull into my driveway I see Jess’s Escalade but no Jess.
Hmmm Addy this looks like Michael’s handy work.
I go to put the key in the locks but of course they are already unlocked. I walk into the house and hear Taylor Swift’s ‘I Knew You Were Trouble’ blaring from the sound system. I start laughing immediately because that is just so Jess to be playing a song like that.

“Bitch, I’m home.” I yell over the speakers. Jess pops out from the pantry
.

“You are slow.
Seriously, why do you drive like Miss Daisy?”

“Because
smartee, I like my car and my face. So I do all that I can to keep them from any accidents.” Jess looks at the cut on my face that is almost healed but will leave a small scar. “This,” I point at the cut on my face. “Wasn’t a fucking accident, and if I wasn’t half dazed from being thrown against the wall, I would have castrated his ass.” Jess comes over and hugs me.

“Michael will kill him if he comes within a mile of you. He almost did that day. Skyler’s nose is almost healed from getting bashed by the brute of Michael.”
I smile.

“Yes I apologize for that, battle scars are a bitch. But we are stronger because of them.” Jess nods and smiles.

“Michael felt so bad for hitting Skyler, that he bought him season tickets to the Brewers. I thought that was a little over the top but you can’t say no to that man. Well you can.” Pointing at me. “But no one else. I wonder why that is Addy?” Jess tilts her head and raises her thumb and finger to her chin like she is pondering something.