LOVE LIFE and VOWS (17 page)

Ryan stood there speechless. He knew she was right. There was nothing he could say because he was going to follow through with his plan. The best he could hope for was at some point to get to know his daughter so that she wouldn’t think he was a complete monster.

Vicky shook her head and turned away from him, “Come on honey...we’ve got to go.”

Angel put her toys away and ran over to Vicky, “Okay mommy.” As they were about to leave Angel turned around, “Mommy! Forgot to say goodbye to the nice man.” She ran back over to Ryan with a big smile on her face, “Bye.”

Feeling somewhat guilty, Ryan smiled back, “Bye little princess. I will see you again soon.”

They opened the door to leave. Jason watched as Angel came out of the room, followed by the court supervisor, and finally Vicky. Ryan stood in the doorway looking around as if he were looking for someone.

Angel’s face lit up when she saw Jason. She called out to him as she ran into his arms, “Daddy daddy!”

Jason bent down to pick her up and kissed her on the cheek. Vicky walked up to him as well and gave him a tired smile. Jason kissed her softly on the lips. “Take Angel and go to the car. I need a word with Ryan.”

Vicky looked panicked, “Jason, please don’t do anything…”

“I promise I’ll behave. I just need a word. I won’t do anything to land us on the cover of the papers.”

She hesitated, before taking Angel and doing what he asked. “Don’t do anything to land yourself in jail either.”

The court supervisor left immediately after the meeting was over. Once Vicky and Angel were almost out the door Jason calmly walked over Ryan.

“Can I have a word?”

Any sensitivity Ryan had for Angel was completely gone when he looked into Jason’s face. “I don’t have anything to say to you. I’ll see you in court tomorrow.”

Jason pulled Ryan up by his shirt and pushed him back into the party room and closed the door. His voice was deathly quiet as he spoke, “You piece of shit. If you were looking for the photographer you hired to take ‘family’ pictures or should I say the money shot…I got rid of him.”

Ryan could see the rage in Jason’s eyes. As long as the door was open Ryan felt safe. Now that it was closed, he was nervous. There was nothing like a man who thought he was losing everything. That person would be capable of anything. He struggled against Jason to release him. “Let me go. Real men fight in court only thugs use their fists.”

Jason’s grip was like steel. After Ryan’s comments, Jason couldn’t hold back. And, like lightening…Jason hit Ryan so hard in the face he fell backwards. But, Ryan was quick on his feet and got up off of the floor. He swung at Jason and missed. Jason charged him and knocked him into the wall and onto a table.

Whatever was on the table went flying in a million different directions. Ryan did his best to try and fight back but he was no match for Jason. He was hit with iron blow after iron blow before crying out to Jason to stop. Jason grabbed Ryan by the throat. He held him so tight Ryan couldn’t breathe. So, he clawed at Jason with both hands trying to get Jason to release his grip.

Jason ground out in gritted teeth, “The only thing that keeps me out of prison for killing you is Angel. I love that little girl. But, you need to know that
I
know you’re a bastard. I get it…it’s the Governorship you want. However, you’ll be an important person in Angel’s life when she gets older. The games you think you’re going to try to play…don’t. Because if you do anything to hurt her or Vicky…there’s no place in this world not even Hell itself where you’ll be able to hide from me.”

Jason released Ryan’s neck and smoothed out his wrinkled shirt before walking out of the party room.

The past couple of days with Jason had been probably the most honest they’d had since being a couple. It wasn’t so much about the passion which was always under the surface but they talked about their hopes, joys, fears, and everything else. They talked and talked and talked some more.

As much as they wanted time to keep still, there was nothing they could do to keep Friday from coming. It was here and they had to face whatever might come. And, they would. Jason was no longer pretending that he could control this situation and Vicky could show her fear without being concerned that Jason would try to control something he had no control over. The comfort came in knowing that whatever happened they would face it together as partners.

Vicky was finishing with Angel’s hair when Jason’s parents arrived to their suite. Shortly after, Aunt Shirley arrived.

Considering the hearing was about to start in a few hours, Jason and Vicky seemed happier and calmer than they’d been in months. They found reasons for a simple touch here or a touch there when one or the other was near.

That wasn’t lost on anyone in the room.

Jason whispered something into Vicky’s ear and it caused them both to share an intimate moment and smile.

John, Miriam, and Shirley observed from across the living room. Miriam whispered to them, “My son’s got that twinkle back in his eyes.”

Shirley was thankful because things had been so tense between them for the last few months and this was a welcome surprise. “Yes, that does look like a twinkle in both of their eyes.”

“It certainly appears like it.” John directed his last comment towards his wife, “And...
they
figured it out all on their own. I had no doubt about it.”

Miriam gave her husband a playful smile, “I can admit the one or two times you were right. This
might
be one of them.”

Shirley’s cell phone buzzed, it was the phone call she’d been waiting for. “I’ll take this in the kitchen.”

Angel was still sitting in the chair playing with Pita. She’d put some barrettes on the bear while Vicky had been styling her hair. “Daddy…daddy…do you like me and Pita’s hair?”

Jason picked Angel up and she wrapped her arms around his neck. He admired the teddy bear, “You did a good job on Pita.” Then he looked seriously at her as if he was studying her hair. “But I think your hair is more beautiful.”

Angel gave him a smile that warmed his heart, “Love you daddy.”

“Love you too baby girl. Nothing and no one will ever change that.”

The emotion in the room was thick. Vicky’s heart was full watching Jason with Angel. She was also grateful for the knock on the door to interrupt it. It kept her from crying in front of everyone.

She went over to the door, “I’ll get it.”

When she opened the door Sandra was on the other side. She walked into their suite, “Hey everybody.”

A warm greeting was returned by everyone.

Vicky looked at her watch. “It took a little longer than I thought to finish Angel’s hair. I’ve still got to change. I’ll be back in a bit. Sandy can you help me?”

“Oh…yeah, sure.” Sandy put her things down and followed Vicky into their bedroom. Once inside Sandy closed the door behind them and sat on the bed.

“How are you doing?”

“Well, I’m weirdly at peace and terrified about this hearing today. You know it’s been Angel and me against the world for a long time now. The thought that I could lose custody…I just haven’t been able to wrap my mind around that. But, win or lose, I’m going to have to deal with Ryan for the rest of my life. No matter how much I wish he wasn’t her father…he is. The one thing that gives me solace is that no matter what, he can’t erase me out of her life. I’ll always be there fighting for her.”

“If I haven’t told you, you’re an amazing mother…and friend.”

Vicky’s eyes misted “Thank you Sandy. Thank you for loving me through the pain and always having my back.”

Sandy dabbed at her eyes too. “We’ve come a long way haven’t we? You remember the day we met?”

“Are you kidding me? Yeah…you scared me half to death. I’d never worked in customer service before and I thought you were going to fire me for sure after dropping those calls.”

Sandy laughed about that day, “I thought about. I was thinking to myself, I don’t want Joshua to see this exotical looking girl. I knew he was going to be sniffing up behind you just like all the other women he was chasing. I would have loved to have seen his face when he found out his competition was the CEO and owner.”

“My goodness…I was not looking to date him or anyone else for that matter. Ryan had done a number on me.”

“Then, you do understand what I’m feeling right now about Franklin? Vicky, I just need some time to lick my wounds and get my soul together. But, I’m happy that you and Jason seem like you’re getting things back on track. That’s good to see; gives me hope. ”

Vicky dressed in front of the mirror as she spoke and a soft smile spread across her face, “Let me just say you were right. Jason and I finally had a well over-due conversation…about everything. There were so many misunderstandings and both of us trying to deal with…so much on our own. The bottom line is we both want our marriage to work and we’re committed to doing everything we can to make that happen. Can you help me zip this?”

Sandy walked over to zip her dress. She was really happy for them. It reaffirmed that sustained love between two people was possible. She was also a little solemn because just because love was possible, it didn’t mean it would happen for her. She’d hoped Joshua was it and then, she’d thought Franklin was it too. In both relationships, she gave of herself only to have it thrown back into her face.

Even though Joshua claimed to want her back Sandy knew he didn’t understand love; that love was selfless. He was anything but selfless. And after tasting what she thought was love with Franklin, she could never go back to anything less.

Vicky saw the sadness on Sandy’s face from their reflection in the mirror.

She spoke softly, “Sandy, have you talked to him?”

Their eyes connected in the mirror, “No.”

“You should. There is love there. I know it…I saw it.”

“Maybe. I don’t know. I’m just so tired of fighting for men to love me. Damn it…either you do or you don’t. Right now, I’m focusing on me. There…all zipped.”

Vicky hoped that just as she and Jason had managed to work their way through a rough patch…that Sandy and Franklin would too. But, she had to put those thoughts on the back burner for now. It was time to leave for court.

At the same time that Vicky and Sandy were coming out of the bedroom, Franklin arrived. Like a magnet his eyes immediately found hers. But, she quickly turned away from him.

The energy in the room had changed dramatically and it was more than the tension between Franklin and Sandy.

Vicky looked from face to face, “What’s wrong?”

Jason cleared his throat, “John Lucas just called. There’s been a change. The judge wants to see you in his chambers in the next hour. He is going to meet us over there. And, she requested that Angel is in attendance as well.”

As good as it felt to beat the hell out of Ryan, it was in the back of Jason’s mind that it could hurt their case.

*****

The ride over to the courthouse in the limo was over too fast. Jason held Vicky’s hand tightly the entire way over. It was comforting to him and her.

“I’ve been waiting for the right moment to give you something. I think now would be good.”

She looked at him curiously, “What?”

Jason reached into his suit pocket and pulled out a velvet box.

“I bought this the same day I bought Pita for Angel. There was just so much going on I didn’t want you to think I was giving it to you because of Bridget.”

Vicky accepted the box and opened it. Her eyes sparkled, “Jason…it’s beautiful. Can you put it on me?”

Jason took the necklace out of the box and put it on her. “I know I can’t physically be with you in the Judge’s chambers but know that I’m with you in spirit. I’ll always be with you.”

Vicky touched his face before slowly pressing her lips against his.

They ended the kiss when the car pulled up in front of the door. He touched his forehead to her before whispering into her ear, “You know I can have the jet ready to take us anywhere in the world on a moment’s notice?”

Vicky gave him a shaky smile, “Tempting but I love you too much to let you do that.”

A moment later, the car door opened.

*****

Jason, Angel, John and Miriam, Shirley, Franklin, and Sandy were all in a private waiting room. Vicky and John Lucas had only been in the Judge’s chambers for about ten minutes but it felt like ten hours.

Sandy was coloring with Angel. However, she could feel Franklin’s eyes every time they landed on her. She did her best to ignore him. Except for one time when they made eye contact. His half-a-smile made her stomach do a little flip.

No. She wouldn’t return it. Sandy wanted no part of the classic ‘let’s be friends bullshit.’ He hurt her and they were over. She’d made a lot of decisions about her life and as soon as Angel’s custody fight was over she planned to discuss them with Vicky.

Franklin hadn’t seen Sandy since that night after they left the hospital. He kept sneaking glimpses of her. He’d hoped the need to see her, talk to her and be with her with be less with time. So far, it hadn’t and he hadn’t felt as alive since they’d been together.

The kind of passion he shared with Sandy was unrealistic. He needed a sturdy relationship. April wouldn’t demand that he give her more than he was willing to give at least not emotionally. As long as he spent time with her she was fine. Franklin felt safe with April.

Sandy made him feel things, hope, and want things. And, for what? To be disappointed, humiliated or even worse abandoned like his mother did him? If he really unleashed his inner feelings what would it look like? What if he turned out to be like his father? He couldn’t risk it.

It was safer this way for him...and for her.

*****

Vicky was sitting in the Judge’s chamber next to John Lucas. Ryan Carter was sitting next to his lawyer Ms. Abernathy.

His lawyer seemed pretty agitated, “Your Honor, I don’t’ understand why this meeting in your chambers was called?”