Discovering Pride (Pride Series) (28 page)

“You think he really wants you? You’re just a stepping stone, a distraction.” She waved her arms, not caring who saw or heard. “He could never stay here, this is all below him. I mean, just look at this place.” She waved her arms again. “Do you really think he could live in a place like this for too long? With someone like you? I’m warning you, stay away from him, he needs some time to realize that this isn’t what he wants. We’re going to move to Philadelphia, where he’s going to be the director of a very large and prestigious hospital. We have a large mansion that’s just waiting for us; we’ll be married this fall.” She stepped forward putting her face so close, that Lacey could see the specks in her blue eyes. “You think he would stay here with you? He’s done with you! What we have is forever! You’re just entertainment, something to warm his bed. You’re just another slut, a notch on his bed post.”

Lacey had listened quietly and patiently through the woman’s rant, but with the last statement, she found her hand raised and before she knew what she’d done, a loud slap rang out and echoed in the room.

Jennifer stood with her hand over her left cheek, a shocked look on her face. Lacey took a deep breath.

“If you’re done, you can leave my restaurant, you’re not welcome back.” Lacey turned and without looking back, walked into the back rooms shaking. It had taken every ounce of courage not to argue with the woman. she’d acted like a spoiled child who wanted what the other kids had, nothing more.

She didn’t deserve Lacey’s time. So why was it so hard to get the vicious words out of her mind?

Less than half an hour later, Jennifer walked into Aaron’s offices again. This time, she didn’t wait patiently in his office; instead she screamed and cried until he came out of a patient’s room concerned that someone was seriously hurt. When he spotted her standing at the front door with Betty desperately trying to calm her down, he knew there was no stopping the scene that would follow.

“She hit me!” Jennifer screamed. She was holding her left check that was a mean shade of dark purple and extremely swollen.

Betty piped in. “Who hit you?”

Jennifer didn’t even glance at the older woman before screeching out. “That whore Lacey Jordan. She hit me in front of everyone in that garbage pile she calls a restaurant.” Jennifer ran forward and threw herself at Aaron’s chest, weeping deeply into his shoulder.

M
egan had enjoyed a quiet day at home with her new son Matthew. Todd had woken early with a phone call and a needed trip into the office. With the promise of a family lunch at the restaurant, she’d been enjoying having Matthew all to herself. This was to be her first real outing with the baby. Looking into the rear view mirror at her little bundle strapped in his car seat made her smile.

She enjoyed dressing her little man in one of his new jumpers. This was Matthews second car trip since returning home yesterday and so far he looked like he was enjoying it.

She had to change her clothes only once, because Matthew had decided he wanted to upchuck on her first shirt, she was now wearing her back up choice. With him tucked into his car seat and sleeping quietly she pulled into the parking lot of the Golden Oar.

Turning off the engine to the Jeep, she turned around to watch Matthew sleeping in the car seat when a woman with long blonde hair came running out of the restaurant doors. She looked around frantically, then she walked over to a slick silver car and when she opened the door, she put her face right down into the door frame and proceeded to violently strike her face three times with her own door. Megan was so taken back by the woman’s action she never once thought to stop her.

The woman just kept opening and closing the door to her own face until her left check was swollen and red. Megan could see the large purple mark on the woman’s face as she drove away.

Having come from abuse, years of it, by the hands of her ex-husband she’d witnessed first hand the horrors of being slapped around. But, for a woman to do this kind of damage to herself, just confused Megan.

She must have sat there for about five minutes thinking about what she’d just seen; finally she heard a knock on her window. Todd stood just outside the Jeep smiling at her, when he opened the door, she jumped out and said.

“You will never believe what I just saw.”

Aaron was having a hard time calming Jennifer down. It appeared she’d called his parents, because not two minutes after she came running in both of them ran in his office doors. He had just gotten Jennifer into one of his empty rooms to take a look at her face, when they stormed in.

“
We need to call the police.” His mother said after seeing Jennifer’s swollen face. “This is outrageous! Bradford, get the local sheriff a call now. I want this woman charged.” She rushed over to Jennifer’s side holding her hands in her own.

Aaron found it funny that not once in the last few minutes had his parents asked him about his bruised and swollen face.

Aaron wasn’t sure what had happened at the restaurant, but he couldn’t believe Lacey would have done such a thing. While his parents pampered over Jennifer, he excused himself and called over there to find out what had happened.

After talking to Todd for about five minutes, he slammed down the phone. He was as angry as he’d ever been. He tried to calm down. He even took several cleansing breaths as he made his way back to the room where his parents, Jennifer and now the local sheriff, Robert Brogan, was. He was standing there writing notes on a small pad, when Aaron walked in, the officer looked him over.

“Dr. Stevens, may I ask how you got that black eye and fat lip?” He took a step in front of Jennifer.

Obviously, Aaron could see the connection the man was making.

“My face has nothing to do with what’s going on here. But, I can tell you this,” He touched his eye. “I received these last night from two different people and no.” he held up his hand when he saw what the officer was thinking. “I don’t want to press charges.” Aaron walked over to his parent’s side and looked at Jennifer.

“Before you go any further in this investigation, I believe there are a few people in the front office that would like to speak to you.” Sheriff Brogan looked up from his pad with a questioned look.

“It does pertain to what transpired at the Golden Oar.” Aaron left it at that. Both the Sheriff and Aaron’s father followed him into the waiting room, which Betty had cleared out waiting patients after rescheduling every appointment for the following day.

Megan sat holding Matthew; Todd, Iian and seven other people were crowded into the small room all standing protectively around Lacey.

Sheriff Brogan approached and nodded at the brothers. “Afternoon Lacey, I hate to do this, but that young lady in the other room wants to press charges. Unless I have witnesses saying otherwise,” he looked at the group of people. “I’m going to have to take you to my office to get this matter cleared up.” he began walking towards her.

“You will do no such thing!” Everyone looked around the room to see who had spoken.

Megan stood up holding little Matthew in front of her. She turned and quickly but gently handed the baby to her husband. Then she walked over and stood in front of Lacey, shielding her.

“What I’ve witnessed today is the information you need.”

Fifteen minutes later when they walked back into the small exam room, Elizabeth was still coddling
Jennifer, whose face had turned an even darker shade of purple. She held a small ice pack on her cheek.

“Elizabeth, I think it’s time we left.” Aaron’s father said harshly. Without waiting for a reply, he walked over and grabbed his wife’s hand then walked her out of the room as she sputtered questions.

“Miss Andrews, some witnesses have stepped forward with more information as to what happened at the Golden Oar. No charges will be pressed against Lacey Jordan at this time. I’ll file this report as negligent. If you have any further questions, please feel free to call our offices.” He handed her a card and without anything further, walked out of the office.

“What? What just happened? I want that woman in jail where she belongs. What are you doing?” She stood and started to follow the sheriff.

Aaron reached over and grabbed her arm. “No! Jennifer, your games won’t work here. Someone saw what you did.” The simple statement stopped her.

“What I did?” she asked yanking her arm away from him.

“How you did that.” he pointed towards her face. “You must be very desperate to do something like this.” He crossed his arms over his chest.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I got this from her.” Jennifer pointed to the open door. Lacey stood just outside looking in. “I’ve told you what happened. Ask anyone in that place, they’ll tell you. She hit me.” Her voice had gotten louder and it came out as a screech.

“Someone saw you Jennifer. It’s over, go home. For God’s sake, get out of my town.” Aaron walked out the door and grabbing Lacey’s hand said softly.

“Come on, Lacey, let’s go home.”