Sexy Girls (26 page)

^{I nodded.}

^{“Oh, it's all screwed up. Now, I can't believe I did it. That bitch, Jill, and asshole Jack, worked me over when I was super jealous and mad. I was a big stupid jerk.”}

^{I said, “In some ways I wish I didn't find out the truth.”}

^{“Stevie, I wanted to tell you before. But, I didn't want to go to prison. Now the story's been told. Please tell Cyndie that I'm sorry.”}

^{I could only shake my head.}

^{Red pleaded to me. “Okay, how can I help your plan?”}

^{“I'll explain in a minute but I want to say that there's no way we can make things right. Andi's dead and we can't bring her back. I'm trying to live with that. Jack's dead and we can't change what he did. You and the Grayson's will need to live with that too. Your story answers my questions and confirms what I guessed. I've decided to let it all go, all that is, except for one last thing.”}

^{“What's that Stevie?”}

^{“I need you to agree to give a sworn statement about everything you just told me.”}

^{Red looked confused. “Okay, but you said you were letting it all go?”}

^{“I am. I don't think you'll actually need to give the statement or testify.”}

^{Red was still puzzled. “I don't understand.”}

^{I made things clear. She loved the plan. It would be a way to help Cyndie and Edie.}

^{Five minutes later, Red walked off the beach to another hotel's parking lot, got in her car and drove off. That's the last time I saw her.}

 

^***

 

^{Friday morning, June 18, I took a taxi to the airport. A great weight lifted from my shoulders with each step I took down the wing to the plane that took me on to Philadelphia. My second Colorado and Florida adventures had changed my life.}

 

 

 

^{Had I travelled less than five days? It seemed much longer. The world changed for me while I was away and it would change even more in the coming months. I arrived in Philadelphia before noon, drove my Miata directly to downtown Wilmington and spent the afternoon with my attorney. When Walter Hines smiled and nodded I knew he supported my plan.}

^{Hines surprised me. With his grey hair, large old-fashioned styled glasses and slightly worn suits, I underestimated him. He was sharp and handled Eve with straight-forward, unwavering strength.}

^{Walter contacted Eve and reviewed what we knew and what we believed. He informed Eve that Cyndie Myst and Edie McCall were about to file a civil suit against Robert and his daughter, Jill, for malice, oppression, willful and wrongful death, wrongful termination and several other charges as we had proof of their liability and criminal behavior.}

^{Alternatively, Hines offered to stop any further action if Grayson paid Cyndie and Edie a million dollars each in an out-of-court settlement. Plus, we wanted Grayson to accept the terms of Andi's will.}

^{Eve said to Walter, “You're crazy Hines. I know Stevie Garrett has come up with this bizarre theory and somehow convinced you that this is true. It isn't and I can't believe I'm listening to this.”}

^{Hines calmly replied, “Eve, you must not know what happened in Colorado the last few days. It concerns Jill. It also involves Robert. Tell him we will have a sworn statement from Red Sable, Jill's co-conspirator. Please pass the full contents of my message to Grayson. Let Grayson explain reality to you. He has one week to decide or we'll countersue citing his marital misconduct and illegal activities.”}

^{We knew that Walter's polite reply unnerved Eve. Still, she said they would need two weeks to consider as Grayson was in Acapulco on a photo shoot for the next ten days. Eve promised Walter Hines that she would make this her top priority when he returned.}

^{Walter replied to Eve, “You'll want Robert back in the United States much sooner than that once you hear the news.”}

 

^***

 

^{I walked into my home shortly before dinner and found my best friend waiting for me. My God, Cyn looked good! She wore black leggings and a mock-turtleneck shirt. Her lovely black hair trailed down her back and she wore ankle-high boots.}

^{For the longest time we didn't talk but just kept holding each other. I was home.}

 

^***

 

^{After dinner, we called Edie in California. I put her on my speaker phone so I could explain Red's story to both women at the same time.}

^{Edie knew instantly it was true because it explained everything.}

^{Cyndie found Red's version of the truth hard to believe and had to repeat back to me the highlights to make sure she understood, “According to Red, she started it all because she was super mad at Andi. Red told Jill about my affair with Andi. That's when Jill saw her opportunity. First, Jill threatened to tell Andi about Robert's affair with Giselle. Then, Robert agreed to pay Jill a million if she could prove Andi was having an affair with me. Robert was both a victim and a criminal. Do I have it right?”}

^{“Yes, you do, Cyn, except, as you told me, Jill already knew about your affair as she saw you and Andi together. Red's key contribution was that she planned the Sexy Girls night at the Kimmel Center. Jill took the plan to the next level with Jack's help. Jack did the filming and they both blackmailed Robert and Andi. I could see that Red felt terrible. But, she'll have to live with that.”}

 

^***

 

^{My future began the next morning. My best friend moved back to her apartment in Philadelphia. At the same time, my lover caught the first non-stop morning flight from Los Angeles. I picked her up at the airport at 5 p.m.}

^{Running to me through the security gates, she said, “Oh, Stevie, you're here.”}

^{“Yes, of course I am.”}

^{That's when we shared our first kiss. Then, she leaned back so she could look me in the eyes. “God, I love being held by you!”}

^{“I love holding you, too.”}

^{“I want you so much. Oh, I'm sorry, Stevie. I'm being my bold self.”}

^{“Don't stop.”}

^{She winked at me. “Are you sure?”}

^“Yes.”

^{She asked, “Are you really free?”}

^{“Yes, I am.”}

^{I smiled.}

^{She smiled back and said, “Oh, God, this is great. Do I finally have Stevie Garrett all for myself?”}

^{I answered with a question, “Do you want me after all these years?”}

^{“Want you? I don't stop thinking of you.”}

^{I said, “We've waited so long.”}

^{“We sure have. OK, total confession; I dream about you, Stevie.”}

^{“Do you?”}

^{“Yes, I hope you understand.”}

^{I said, “I do. Believe me. I've dreamed of you a lot, ever since we saved Andi.”}

^{“Really? God, that's so long ago.”}

^{“Yes, it's always the same dream. But, it was never the right time, you know?”}

^{She said, “It's the right time now.”}

^{That's when I kissed her again and whispered in her left ear, “Yes, it is our time.”}

^{Edie McCall said, “I'm desperate for you.”}

 

^***

 

^{We're in my bed. I'm looking at the ceiling and thinking of this little beauty asleep on my chest. She is so light. She is a woman child with boundless energy. Her petite body is so lithe, so athletic, and so different from the others. Yet, so incredible! And, we fit so well together. We're not like most human couples. Not like the previous women in my life. No, Andi and Cyndie were such Amazon-like women, with their long legs, and arms and bodies. Eve and Dee Dee were smaller women, but Edie is smaller still. We're like some animal species where the male is much larger than the female. Because of this, I feel very protective toward her; I know life is so precious and fleeting.}

^{Wow! It was like a dream come true for her. God, it had been a long time coming! I am blessed.}

^{A little later, she wakes. I felt this need to get everything out immediately as I wanted no secrets or surprises.}

^{In a too-serious tone, I said, “So, how are things with you?”}

^{She laughed. “I'm fine, and, you?}

^{“Oh, Edie, I mean, this is real, right?”}

^{“Very real, Stevie.”}

^{“Do you feel like I do?”}

^{“I feel great.”}

^{“Do you think we could make a bi-coastal marriage work?”}

^{Edie smiled. “Do you know what you just said?”}

^{“Yes, can this work?”}

^{“No, not that. Are you really asking me to marry you?”}

^{I paused, nodded, and said, “Yes, I guess I am.”}

^{“Then, say it?”}

^{“I will, I want to, but my mind is racing. I admit I am in love with you Edie. But, what I mean is, I want this, but you're an actress, living in LA and Tucson. I'm an investigator living in Delaware and working in Philly. How do we make this...”}

^{Edie put her finger to her mouth and whispered, “Shhh…just ask me and we'll figure it out.”}

^{I stopped talking. Smiled again and said, “Edie McCall, will you marry me?”}

^“Yes.”

^{“Really?”}

^{“Yes, Stevie, I want you. I love you. I've loved you for years. I will go where you are. All the rest doesn't matter. I want life with you.”}

^{I said, “Thank you. I love you, Edie. But, are you sure?”}

^{“Yes. Believe me.”}

^{“OK, wow! What about your career?”}

^{“I'll do the movie and then, we'll see after that. But, like I said a week ago, that doesn't matter. You come first. I want to be with you for the rest of my life, wherever you are. I've got lots of money in the bank and you're pretty well off, too. Plus, it looks like we're about to get more. We'll keep my mountain cabin for vacations when my dad's not using it. And, we have the beach house. But, Stevie, that doesn't matter. We'll go where we want. If money gets tight, we could sell both of those and I'd be happy living in your Wilmington home. But, I don't think we'll need to.”}

^{“OK, but when can we get married? You're about to film the movie?”}

^{Edie laughed, “Boy, this is some day to remember. First, we make love like two animals in heat. Then, you want to know how we'll make a marriage work on two coasts, before you even ask me to marry you. And, now, you want to know; when's our wedding day? You don't fool around, Mr. Garrett!”}

^{“I guess I don't, do I?”}

^{“No, you don't. But, you've made my dream come true. It's everything I wanted. It's all I thought about since you called me yesterday. I just didn't think it would happen on this trip, let alone in the first four hours after I arrived.”}

^{“I'm sorry.”}

^{“Don't be, unless it's not what you want?”}

^{“No, it is. I've had this recurring dream of you and me, off and on, for a long time. And, now, over the last few months, I'm having it almost every night.”}

^{“Really, tell me about it, Stevie.”}

^{I did. Edie listened intently. When I finished, Edie said, “That's so amazing. I dream and think about that time and you, too, a lot.”}

^{We smiled at each other for a while.}

^{Then, Edie broke the silence. “I love you, Stevie.”}

^{“I love you, Edie. Do you want children right away?”}

^{That's when Edie sat up I bed. “You are something. Did someone tell you all my dreams?”}

^{“No, they didn't. But, we're not getting any younger. At least I'm not. You're gorgeous and look like your 25. But, I'm 37. If we're gonna do it, we better start soon.”}

^{Edie quickly smiled, dropped into a familiar character, adopted a southern accent, and used her acting skill. “Why, Mr. Garrett, you are the bold one! You're making my little head spin. What would my daddy say if he heard you talking like that?”}

^{I joined in the fun. “I'd ask the Colonel for his daughter's hand in marriage, Miss Edith.”}

^{Edie got serious again, “I will marry no one but you, Mr. Garrett. You deserve to have a wife who lives for you, which is what I will do all my life.”}

 

^***