Reckless (38 page)

“I’m not here to talk about us Rebecca,” Ava said.

“Well, then why are you here darling Ava?”

“Like I said I got your letter, and now I am here as you requested. So you tell me, why am I here?” Ava said as I glance at Ava suspiciously.

“Really? Oh Ava, if you help me I will be forever in your debt. I didn’t realize you were going to be so kind, I thought you were here to gloat. I am sorry, but you can understand my harshness. I always knew you had a good heart despite your husband.” She said, glancing my way while I laugh at her. “You just wouldn’t believe what they have done to me here. They took everything from me, my home, my clothes, my jewelry and my cars. It’s been horrible and now I am in here with all these scary people. It’s torture, pure torture.” Rebecca wells up with tears.

I shake my head at the rotten actress. She continues for some time, talking about her routines and what she has to do and what she has to eat. She rambles on and on forever about the same things. I keep glancing over at Ava to see when she is going to stop her but she never does. “Ava this is …” I said to her before she hushes me.

Rebecca smiles at me under her hands clearing her watery eyes, “So, you’re going to help me Ava?”

“Even if I wanted to help you get out of here Rebecca, I couldn’t. My husband made that demand before I came out here, and he is the only one that can. There is nothing I can do and I am certainly not going to make him do anything he doesn’t want to do.” Ava spoke so smoothly and so calmly, I wonder if she isn’t about to shoot Rebecca between the eyes at any moment.

“You bitch!” Rebecca stands up and I follow suit, hovering over Ava protectively, but still Ava remains calm. “You act like you are so self-righteous but all the while you only wanted to come out here and rub it in, watch me suffer. You deserve everything I did to you!”

Ava stands and leans around me, “All I wanted - was the apology you promised me.” Ava walks out with her head held high. I look back at Rebecca’s shocked face, happily.

I escort Ava back to the car, kissing her with pride, “I have never been more proud to call you my wife.” She smiles at me, “I thought for sure you were going to give in to her.”

“She hasn’t changed at all. She still blames everyone else for her problems. No matter what I think about what you and Ethan did, you didn’t force them to take the drugs or even lose all their money.” She sighs, “I wonder if Joel is the same, maybe we can …”

“Absolutely not!” I yell, enforcing my demand. “Not even close to the same situation Ava, Rebecca is crazy but Joel is on a whole other level. He’s angry as hell, and in way deeper trouble than he was originally. I will save you the trouble, I am sure he is blaming everyone but himself. And he certainly has no reason to be nice to you and even less reason if I am there.” She nods and I am relieved that she settles into her seat calmly and without arguing with me any further.

Our flight was right on time, both of us anxious to get back home, me even more so. My mother is taking Lillah and Jayden for the night, allowing Ava and I some personal time together for the first time since we brought Jayden home. My mother is suppose to wait until we get back so we can see them one last time before they leave and then it will be only us and I can’t wait. I have been staring at her all day, her breasts, her legs, her lips, they have all been torturing me throughout the day. Ava nearly runs inside to see our children before they leave. I am not far behind her, preparing for Lillah as she leaves her mother’s arms to run and jump into mine. My mother hands Jayden over to Ava and she quickly nuzzles our son like she hasn’t seen him in weeks rather than hours. It is wonderful to see, especially after everything she has been through. I kiss Jayden on the head, then swing Lillah around in my arms causing her to giggle but as soon as I round the corner I see Dillon sitting comfortably, too comfortably as he munches on some of our food.

“What are you doing here?” I asked him.

“Hey Sean, how’s it going?” I stare at him confused and a little annoyed.

“Dillon, so good to see you again.” Ava walks over to hug him as he smiles his goofy smile at me over her shoulder.

“I’m good, thank you. I thought I would come see the new addition and I must say he is one good looking boy. Obviously gets his looks from his mother.” The bastard said, winking at me.

“Thanks for stopping by Dillon, it will save us the time in sending you an announcement but I am sure you have a flight to catch?” I wave him on.

“Nope, I’m good,” He said, sitting back comfortably.

“Well then you must stay for dinner,” Ava said as I glare at her.

“I would love to,” Dillon said happily, nodding in my direction.

“Wonderful. Now if you will excuse me I need to go feed my son before he goes.” Ava said before leaving the room.

“Sure,” Dillon watches Ava walk off until he finally meets my eyes, smiling at me a little too much.

“Sean, let me go get Lillah ready to go while you spend time with your friend,” my mother said as she picks up Lillah from my lap.

“He’s not my friend,” I said after her. “Did you tell her we are friends, is that how you got in here?” Dillon puts his hand over his heart, seeming shocked by my response. “Don’t play that game with me.”

“Damn Sean, I make an effort to stop by and see you and this is how you treat me? You really need to work on your friendship skills,” Dillon said, continuing to munch and relax.

“
We
are not friends!”

“Sure we are, with everything we have been through together. You like me. Don’t lie, I know you do.” I cringe, rubbing the sudden pain in my head. “So does Ava breast feed?” My eyes narrow at him. “That’s hot,” he nods, smiling.

“Do you want me to hurt you?” I asked him.

“I’m just saying. And damn Ava got her body back quick, well except the,” he makes a motion toward his breasts. “They seem a lot bigger, that’s got to be a plus, huh?”

“Are you suicidal Dillon?”

“No, why?” His confusion makes me worry about his sanity.

“Don’t you have a girlfriend or something in New York to annoy? Why are you here bothering me?”

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

“No, I mean I …” He sighs, looking perplexed suddenly as he leans forward and hangs his head. I hesitate to say anything, not knowing if I really want to know or not. “Sean, I …”

“What?” I finally said, impatiently.

“Damn your worse than a girl, just spit it out already,” I said, checking behind me to make sure I don’t get myself into trouble.

“I need your help, Sean.” I look back at the suddenly intense form avoiding my eyes.

“What did you do? Do you need a lawyer? Because you can’t afford the ones I know.”

“No, I don’t need a lawyer.”

“You got Taylor pregnant, didn’t you?” I assumed.

“Who? Oh, no. I just…” He stands up, pacing around the room, gripping his head and sighing. “Hell, I don’t even know why I am here. This was a stupid idea. I’m sorry Sean, I don’t know what I was thinking.” He grabs his coat and starts out the door.

“You already told Ava you would stay for dinner. If you leave now, she’s going to think it’s my fault. So, at least stay until after that so you don’t get me into trouble.” He nods and sits back down, silently and solemnly.

We all said goodbye to my mother and the kids… even Dillon. I suddenly feel like I have adopted him or something, the way my mother fussed over him. Dillon makes polite conversation throughout dinner but is noticeably stressed. I get many concerned glances from Ava, but all I can do is shake my head as I study him for any clue as to his problems.

“Well, how about I clean up so you boys can go and talk in the living room?” I shake my head at Ava, dreading that possibility.

“Thank you, but I really should probably get out of your way here. Thank you for dinner. Are you sure you don’t need any help cleaning up?” Dillon asked.

“No, I’m good, but Dillon if you don’t have a flight out tonight you are more than welcome to stay here.”

“Thank you, but I really need to go,” he said.

“If you need to,” I said rushing Dillon out of his chair.

“At least let me wrap up some food for you to take with you.” Ava insists.

“Okay.” Dillon halts instantly at the offer of free food.

Ava jumps up smiling as Dillon leaves to wait in the other room. I help her clean up and then feel a smack to the back of my head. “Ow! What was that for?” I asked her as she gives me a dirty look.

“Go talk to him,” she said.

“I tried, but he doesn’t want to talk about it.”

“Yes, he does Sean.”

“What do you want me to do Ava, beat it out of him? Although, I wouldn’t mind trying,” I laugh but she doesn’t. “I’m just kidding.”

“Go!” She points in Dillon’s direction.

I let my head drop back as I reluctantly go find the young annoyance. I walk in on him standing around with his coat under his arm. I walk up behind him and grab hold of the back of his neck. “Come with me.”

“Hey, what the hell?” Dillon cried out as I drag him into my office.

“Sit down!” I point to the chairs in front of my desk as I shut the door behind him. “Now talk.”

“What do you want me to talk about?” He asked.

“Dillon, I am not going to play games with you. Now tell me why you are here or I will kick you out and deal with the wrath of my wife later.”

He instantly sits up and takes a breath, “My father is real sick. I had to move back to North Carolina to take care of him and his business.” Dillon suddenly jumps up with excitement. “I came up with this really great product Sean. I think you will love it, and with your new son it will be wonderful if you could … well, if you could endorse it for me. I have a sample in the car. I can leave it with you and Ava and you guys can try it out. I know you will love it, too.”

“You know I don’t endorse products Dillon. No matter how great it might be, I don’t want to get into that business.”

Dillon sits back down, defeated. “Sean please, I am begging you to consider it, just consider it. You are my only hope right now, otherwise I have to lose everything to a man I hate.” Fisting his hands, he fights for his words before looking back up at me, “My whole world depends on this product succeeding Sean. Please.”

 
“You obviously want me to help you with something Dillon, but I’m not even going to consider helping you until I know everything.”

He hesitates, again struggling with his words. “It is really a long story Sean.” He said. I huff, letting him know I am not budging until he talks. With a long sigh, he sinks down into his chair. “Do you remember that girl? The one I told you about … Dani?”

Dillon causes me to sit forward when his eyes rise to meet mine. He looks scared and worried for the first time since I have known him. “She is the girlfriend you never saw again, the one whose father took her away in the middle of the night?” I asked, recalling his broken-hearted story.