Chapter 19
19
A black limo pulled into the driveway of Keith Mason’s house in California. A moving truck was parked in front of the main entrance to his house, and several burly men were walking back and forth. What the hell? She didn’t have that many clothes. Keith stomped through the door with his phone to his ear. Simon picked up on the second ring. “Are you back in Cali?”
“Yes, and there’s an eighteen-wheeler here. The prenup says she only gets her personal items. This house was completely furnished when she moved in. You need to put a stop to this now!” His chest heaved with anger. He’d been screwed over in a divorce before, and he wasn’t about to let it happen again.
“Keith, calm down. She’s only supposed to take her clothes, shoes, purses, and old inventory from her previous company. But don’t forget, the boys will want some of their things at their mom’s new place.”
“I’m not furnishing her new place. She can buy them new furniture with the two-mil sitting in her bank account.”
“I’m on my way. I’ll call her attorney en route.”
Keith walked through the house and saw cabinet doors ajar, TVs missing, and closet doors left open. Two men were walking out of the laundry room with the washing machine. “Stop. Put that down. That does not leave this house.”
“Mr. Mason, we’re just doing what Mrs. Mason told us.”
“That belongs to me. If you remove it from this house, you’ll be accomplices to theft.”
The men sat the washer down where they were and stared at the furious man in front of them. Keith didn’t bat an eye before he turned and took the stairs two at a time.
“Samantha! Where are you?”
Samantha Mason stuck her head out of her walk-in closet. “What are you doing here?”
“Making sure you don’t take what doesn’t belong to you. You get your personal items and anything you brought into this marriage.” He narrowed his eyes. “And we both know that was nothing. This house was furnished before we were married. The boys can choose what they want at your house, but since Kevin is at college, most of his clothes are with him. That leaves Sam’s clothes.” He pointed toward the stairs. “The washer and dryer do not belong to you.”
“It’s a washer and dryer, Keith! You can afford to purchase new ones. I don’t have anything!”
“You have two million dollars. Furnish your own house. That’s not my responsibility. You’re the one who cheated!”
“Keith! Samantha! I’m coming up!” Simon’s voice came from the stairwell.
“Up here! She’s trying to steal stuff!” Keith fumed.
Simon followed the voices and stood inside the doorway to one of the largest owner’s suites he’d ever seen. The walk-in closet where Samantha was still standing was bigger than someone’s bedroom. “Your attorney is on her way, Samantha. Please don’t make me call for a deputy to be here and for Keith to approve everything put into that truck outside.”
“I asked them to load things that Keith doesn’t use. I don’t think he’s ever washed a stitch of clothing in his life. The maid does it.”
“There still needs to be a washer and dryer here for her to do the laundry,” Keith said between gritted teeth.
Simon cocked his head. “Your personal effects, Samantha. Anything that you brought into this marriage.”
Samantha propped her hand on her hip. “Do I get the treadmill you gave me for a Christmas gift, or does that belong to you too?”
Keith rolled his eyes. “It was a gift to you, so it’s yours. Don’t make this harder than it needs to be.”
“Samantha!” Kathy Carpenter’s voice rang from downstairs.
“Up here, Kathy! Keith is being difficult.” Samantha glared at Keith.
Kathy was amongst the group in a matter of seconds. “What’s the problem?”
Simon handed her a signed copy of the prenup dated over twenty years ago. He pointed out the verbiage to Kathy. “You weren’t in the picture then, Kathy, so let me show you what Samantha agreed to. Just because they bought furniture together when the boys were born doesn’t mean she gets it. It became part of the house. Now, I’m sure, if she wants their cribs, Keith will not keep her from taking them. Am I right, Keith?”
“She can have the baby furniture. At fifty-five, I’m not planning on having any more children.”
“That depends on the age of your next wife,” Samantha said with a smirk.
Keith cut his eyes toward her. “But she cannot have anything else that wasn’t a gift to her , that includes the furnishings currently in the house, the computers, the washer and dryer , kitchenware, linens, all of it.” He turned on his heels. “I’m going to direct the men downstairs to replace my washer. Then I’m going out to that truck, inspecting what’s already in there, and require them to put the TVs back where they found them.” At the top of the stairs, he turned toward the group again with sadness in his eyes. “God,” He looked at the ceiling. “I never thought we’d be at each other’s throats like this, Sammi. I did everything I could to protect us from this moment. I truly wish you’d done the same.”
Keith sighed as he reached the bottom step. Another love lost, another chapter of his life ending. He wondered how he’d portray a man in love in his upcoming film. The movers in his den rested against the doorways as they stared at him. “Gentlemen, my ex-wife has asked you to take things that don’t belong to her.” He pointed to the washer still sitting on his hardwood floors. “Such as that. I need you to put it back and reconnect it. I also need to see what has already been put on your truck. If it isn’t her personal effects, you’ll need to unload it and return it to where you found it. I’m sorry for the inconvenience, but her actions are extreme.”
A man who resembled a red oak standing in the Petrified Forest stepped closer to Keith. “I’m sorry about this, Mr. Mason. Of course, you can see what’s in the truck. We had only moved the heavy stuff first. Exercise equipment.” The man showed him a clipboard of items loaded on the truck.
“Where’s the television that belongs there?” Keith asked as he pointed to where the missing TV belonged.
“That’s it wrapped in that blanket there.” The man indicated the object leaning against the wall.
Keith looked the list over. “I want a copy of this signed by you and Samantha.” He looked at the empty wall in his den. “And my TV put back up.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you for not making us unwrap everything we did this morning.”
Keith nodded and walked outside. He slipped his hands into his hip pockets and strolled to the edge of his property, where he could see the Pacific Ocean in the distance. Where did he go from here? Would he ever want to date again? Would he ever trust himself regarding other women? Three strikes, you’re out, right? He was down to one left. What had he learned? His cynical side said there was no such thing as true love or soulmates. The side that saw the forever love his parents had told him that his soulmate was still out there. He just hadn’t met her yet. Blue eyes came to his mind, and he shook his head. Maybe it was too late for him. He thought about the character he was about to portray. He didn’t want to be like the schmuck in the movie.