Melting The Ice (2 page)

Chapter Two

Ava loved driving her little sports car on the winding, curvy roads of West Virginia.  The Vanquish had been one of her more extravagant purchases, as many had felt the need to point out, but she didn’t give a damn what others thought.  If a woman with over $100 million in assets couldn’t blow half a million dollars on an Aston Martin Vanquish, who could?  Ava had several vehicles besides the Vanquish, but the powerful sports car had been the most recent and expensive vehicle purchase.  There was also a Cadillac Escalade EXT, a Range Rover Sport and a Jaguar XK parked in her multi-car garage.  She had been waffling on the whole sports car thing until she had ran across the Aston Martin on the internet.  It was the most badass car she had ever seen.  From the sleek, deep gray metallic exterior to the luxurious leather interior it had everything she had ever imagined in a luxury sports car.  Macy and Lena hadn’t batted an eye at the cost of the vehicle.  Of course, Macy had purchased a Ferrari and Lena had bought a Lamborghini so of course they didn’t think the Aston Martin was too pricey. 

God, it felt good to be back in West Virginia…she had been gone way too long this time.  After getting rid of the young stud, she had quickly packed up her belongings and headed for the airport and the first plane in the line of several before finally landing in Charleston almost thirty-six hours later with layovers.  They had, at one point, discussed pooling their resources and buying their own private jet in light of the money they collectively spent on airfare.  But none of them were fans of small planes and rich as they were, they weren’t willing to shell out the asking price for one of the bigger planes.  Lena was absolutely terrified of flying and drove whenever possible.  When driving wasn’t an option, getting her on a plane was a long, torturous affair.  Several tranquilizers and a few alcoholic beverages to wash them down usually accomplished the feat; only problem with that was when the plane landed on the other end getting her
off
the plane. 

Ava smiled as the high stone walls of their compound came into view.  They’d anted up the money to buy 150 acres in a remote area near their hometown and created their own gated-community.  The original plans had not included stone walls, electric gates and security personnel, but between the press and the constant soliciting of funds from them for everything from charitable donations to get-rich-quick schemes, the security had become necessary for them to have any semblance of normal lives.  It was a very picturesque area and everything inside the walls belonged to them.  They had named their compound “The Shambles” because that’s how they had all jokingly referred to their lives prior to the money.  As of right now, there were three massive mansions completed; Ava’s, Lena’s and Macy’s, and another massive residence separate from theirs that had been built by their boys for when they were home.  With all of them off at different colleges, God only knew when one of them would roll in and whom they would have with them; hence the separate residence. 

She pulled up to the closed wrought-iron gates with “The Shambles” scripted across the top.  The gates swung open in response to the remote sensors installed in all their vehicles.  There was a discreet keypad for the few people that were allowed entrance without using the intercom system that connected them directly to their gatekeeper/caretaker, Mike Morrison.   She waved at him as she passed through.  Mike was a retired military police officer that was paid well to live in the richly-appointed gatehouse and control who came in or out of the compound.  Turning up the long drive to the left, she grinned broadly at the first glimpse of her house.  Her home was the dream house she had always wanted.  The massive custom built cedar and river rock showplace perched on top a large hill.  There were decks on the various levels and huge expanses of glass everywhere.  She parked her Aston Martin in her ten-bay garage behind the house beside the rest of her toys.  Her iPhone started chiming as she was unlocking the back door into the kitchen connected to the garage by a breezeway.  When she fished it out of her pocket she saw that it was her son, Jameson.

“Hey Honey!  How’s my baby boy?”  She greeted her twenty-one year-old “child”, a smile wreathing her face while she deactivated the alarm system and dropped her keys and purse on the slate countertop in the restaurant quality kitchen.

“I’m good, Mom.  You in Cancun yet?”  He asked in his soft, deep voice.  It always amazed her that he sounded like a grown man despite the fact she still felt like he was a small child.  Apparently, that feeling wasn’t going to change any time soon.

“No, I’m actually in West Virginia.  I haven’t even brought in my luggage.”  She said with a laugh, flipping through the pile of mail left for her by the housekeeping staff that came several times a week.  “It’s taken me over twenty-four hours to get here from Maui.”

Jameson chuckled.  “I don’t even want to know what you were doing in Maui.  I’m actually surprised you’re in Dub-V.”
             

“And why is that?” The question was asked absently while she continued sorting through the enormous pile of mail.  Her son snorted in disbelief. 

“You’re kidding, right?  Ever since I went off to LSU, you’re rarely at home.”  Ava thought about it for a minute and realized he had a point.  “Is something wrong?”  She hesitated before responding, not sure how he would take the news regarding his uncle.  After a moment she mentally shrugged and decided to tell him the truth since he would most likely hear about it anyway.

“Your Uncle Joey is causing your Aunt Macy some trouble over the money.  He is trying to claim a percentage of our lottery winnings.”  She listened to Jameson blow off steam about his uncle for a few minutes before interrupting.  “I wanted to come home and offer support and besides, I’m tired of jetting all over.  I just want to come home and chill for a while.  Is that okay with you?”

“Of course, Mom.  I was just teasing.”  Jameson said with a laugh before pausing for a few seconds.  His next words came out in a rush.  “The thing is I have a friend that is coming to stay there for a little while.”

“What?  Where?”  She asked, surprised by her son’s revelation.  Jameson had brought his roommate, Chase, from college home with him on several occasions and he often visited Chase’s family in Connecticut on school holidays.  “Is it Chase?” 

“No, it’s actually his older brother.”  She didn’t know a lot about Chase’s family.  She had met his parents several times and a couple of his brothers at different visits to the college.  The Secords were a large, boisterous bunch.  Chase was the youngest of five brothers.  Ava had met brothers three and four, the twins Carey and Caden on her last visit.  The older two brothers didn’t live at home anymore.  Ava couldn’t remember their names but one was married and had kids and one did something with sports.  When Jameson didn’t say anything else, she immediately became suspicious.

“What’s going on Jameson?”

He hesitated before answering.  “He had a bad break up with his girlfriend and just needs a place to relax for a while where no one will bother him.  It’s no big deal, Mom.  I was just going to let him stay in the Barracks.”  All the boys referred to their quarters as the “Barracks”.  “You don’t mind, do you?”  She pondered the situation for a few moments, wondering how much trouble it would be to have a guest.  Oh well…Jameson’s friend was a grown man and wouldn’t even be staying with her so how much trouble could he actually be? 

“No, I don’t guess.  When is he supposed to be here?”

“He should be there sometime tomorrow.”  Jameson answered.  “Thanks Mom.  You know how good the Secords have always been to me.  It’s the least I can do for Chase’s brother.  And who would look for him in Dub-V?”  She went instantly on alert at that question.

“Why would anyone be looking for him, Jameson?”  She asked in confusion, her son’s words setting off alarms.  “What aren’t you telling me?”

“Nothing!  I just meant his ex wouldn’t be able to stalk him there, that’s all.”  Jameson said with a laugh. “You are the most untrusting woman I’ve ever met.”

“Thanks.  I’ll take that as a compliment.”  She responded dryly.  “Is he flying or driving?  Do I need to send a car or someone to get him or what?”

“He’s flying and he will have a rental so you don’t have to worry about that.  I gave him the GPS coordinates to get there.  Can I give him your IPhone number so he can call you when he’s close?”  Jameson inquired.

“Yeah, that’ll work.  Tell him to let me know when he gets in and I’ll make sure someone is around to greet him and get him settled.”  She said with a weary sigh. 

“Thanks, Mom.  I appreciate this.  It’s only for a few weeks.”

“A few weeks?  I thought you meant a few days.”  She said incredulously.  Her suspicions were immediately aroused again.  “Are you sure there’s not more to this story?  What grown man with a job can just take off for a few weeks?”

“Mom…would you stop being so suspicious?  He has a job that allows him to be off during the summers and the ex-girlfriend is really getting annoying.  Listen, I gotta go.  Chase and I are meeting up with some friends and they’re here.  I love you.  I’ll talk to you after Cian gets there.  Bye!”  The connection broke.  She sat there in a daze, wondering how she got roped into these things.  Now she was stuck with Chase’s brother for several weeks.  At least he would be staying in the Barracks and she wouldn’t have to deal with him much.  She called her mother next.

“Ava?” her mother’s voice came over the line loudly, causing Ava to wince.  Lora Talbot had never gotten the hang of cellphones and thought she had to talk at an almost ear-piercing level to be heard.

“Hey Mom, guess where I am.” Ava said as she set down at the kitchen table to gaze at the lush green landscape outside her windows.

“God only knows.” Lora grumbled. “Tahiti?”  Ava burst out laughing.

“Wrong answer.  I’m home.” Ava held the phone away from her ear to keep from being deafened until her mother had calmed down.

“It’s about time.  It’s been months since I’ve seen you, Honey.” Lora happily started making plans for a big welcome home dinner before Ava interrupted her.

“Mom, I don’t think it would be good idea for us to have a family dinner right now.” She quietly relayed the particulars of Joey’s lawsuit to her mother. “I’m afraid I would kill him with my bare hands if I got that close.”  Lora let out a long, tired sigh.

“I hate that money has come between you all…” Ava cut her off with a loud snort.

“Money didn’t come between us.  Him treating Macy and the kids the way he has come between us first, then that
thing
he married and finally his greed in going after money that doesn’t belong to him.” Ava hated talking about Joey because it always ended up infuriating her.  She resigned herself to her mother’s defense of Joey but was pleasantly surprised with her mother’s disappointed agreement.

“I know.  I just wish things could be the way they used to be.” Ava knew her mother was talking about more than just Joey and his ignorance.  Lora was still a little bitter about her own divorce from Ava and Joey’s father, Ben.  They had been married for 30 years before divorcing 10 years previously over Ben’s infidelity.  The divorce had left Lora financially devastated despite having a good job.  Having never been responsible for bills or upkeep on the house, Lora’s life had changed dramatically for the worse culminating in her losing the house and barely struggling along.  Ava had been able to alleviate all of her mother’s financial troubles when she won the money and had built her a large Victorian-style home to her specifications in town.  Thanks to the winning lottery ticket, Lora would never have to work again or worry about a bill.  Ben had remarried and Lora had a long-term companion, Ron, but things were still pretty dicey when her parents came into close contact.  Lora had stated on more than one occasion she wouldn’t ever remarry and so far had stuck to her vow.  They chatted for a few more minutes with Ava promising to visit in the next couple of days and ending the call.  She hit the speed dial button for Macy.

“Hello?”  Macy’s voice came across the line as Ava headed back out to the car to carry in her bags.  She had considered having live-in staff at one time or another but in the long run, it was much better to have her privacy than to have someone always on hand to fetch and carry.  Ava had taken care of herself for far too long for the money to change that and in the last few years, she had learned to value her privacy.

“Hey, I just got in.  Where are you?”

“I just dropped Maddie off at Mom and Dad’s.  I wasn’t expecting you this early.”