Chapter 19
Shamed
Lynn
I hopout of the shower still smiling from ear to ear. I haven’t stopped singing since the water started to wash over me. As I go to put on my dress from last night, the doorbell startles me.
I grab one of the robes I saw in the bathroom and head to see if Trevor forgot the key or something. It’s a bit fast for Matthew to be here. Then again, depending on who drove, it’s not impossible.
I laugh to myself when I realize I don’t know where the front door is yet. I find myself heading in the wrong direction and turn to go the other way.
I find another staircase to head upstairs and to the foyer. Through the door glass, I can see a frazzled looking Jess. I rush forward and unlock the door to pull it open.
“Jess, is everything okay?”
“No, Daddy was arrested. I called Uncle Brad like he told me to, but I got voicemail. I don’t know what to do.
“I was already on the way here to drop off his truck. Maybe I should keep trying Uncle Brad. This is so crazy,” she sobs.
“Come on inside. Don’t worry. We’ll take care of this. He’s going to be fine.”
He’ll be fine, but they might have to bail me out once I get my hands on that woman. After all she’s done, she would do this to their children. From what I’ve heard, it’s not like she would take them and take care of them if something were to happen to Trevor.
Just as I go to close the door, Elise pulls up in another SUV. Matthew, Wilson, and Maggie are all with her. Matthew steps out of the SUV with a concerned look on his face.
Wilson is looking around the property, I’m sure assessing what plan he’ll need to implement to keep us safe and prevent anyone from sneaking onto the property. I can’t even think about that right now. I need to get dressed and get to Trevor.
“What’s wrong?” Matthew asks snapping into action.
“Last night when we arrived at the Monroe ranch to see Trevor, we found him choking his ex-wife,” I start.
Matthew frowns. I know what he’s thinking. He’s not a fan of domestic abuse and doesn’t tolerant men putting their hands on women.
I shake my head. “He had just listened to “Words that Kill” and realized she sent me the letter he wrote to her. Everything that broke us apart was a lie. He snapped, but Jess and I arrived in time to calm him down.
“He went out to shop for food for us and to make breakfast. Jess just arrived to tell me he was arrested. I have to get to him. He has babies that need him,” I rush out.
“Where are the kids?” Elise asks.
“They’re home. I mean, Bam and Scoot are home. Snacks is still with Nanna. We don’t live that far. I was going to call an Uber back after I dropped the truck off,” Jess says as she comes up behind me.
“Give me the address. I’ll go get them. We don’t need any other problems,” Elise says.
“Good thinking,” Matt says. “You go on and get dressed. I can’t say this is a great idea, but I know you. This is what you want to do.”
“Oh God, thank you,” Jess breathes as her phone rings.
Maggie is already dragging my suitcases toward the door. Seeing this, Matthew takes them from her and hauls them into the house for her. I wave for him to follow me so he can place them in my room.
Maggie is hot on our heels. Jess is speaking a mile a minute as she follows us. However, I believe she’s moving on autopilot.
“Okay, I’ll meet you there. Thanks, Uncle Brad.”
I turn to look at Jess as she hangs up. She looks to be on the verge of tears. I’m shaking with rage.
“Uncle Brad says Daddy’s lawyers are still in town and they will take care of this. What if she ruins our family more? She’s such a liar and a bitch. Daddy has done nothing but take care of us and love us.
“Shoot. I want to strangle her my darn self. How can she be this way? She has to be stopped.”
“Here put this on. We’re going Olivia Pope-meets-Whitney Houston in Bodyguard,” Maggie says pointing to the clothes she has laid out for me.
“I’ll step out and see what I can find out,” Matt says.
I don’t think twice. I grab the clothes and start to dress. Once I have the gray slacks and navy-blue silk blouse on, I slip my feet into the satin navy-blue heels.
I get the Bodyguard reference as I pick up the lightweight hooded navy-blue cape. This should do to conceal my identity. I toss it on, not wanting to waste any more time. We rush from the room.
“I’ll fix that head in the car,” Maggie says as she rushes after me.
I couldn’t care less at the moment. My appearance is the furthest thing from my mind. Jess pulls Trevor’s truck into the garage as Elise pulls up in the SUV.
She hops out with two of the cutest little boys. They look so much like Trev when he was their age. Jess ruffles their hair and pulls them each into a hug, one by one.
“We’ll be right back. You guys don’t give Miss Elise any trouble, all right?” she says.
“Is that LG? What’s she doing here? How do you know her?” The youngest-looking one asks with awe in his eyes.
“She’s a friend. I’ll tell you more later, but we have to go,” Jess says quickly as the rest of us pile into the car.
Maggie pulls a towel and water bottle out of thin air and begins to spray my curls and brush through them. I sit nervously biting my nails. I can’t believe this is happening. I wish he would have just stayed in bed with me.
* * *
Trevor
This is so embarrassing.I was cuffed in the grocery store where I go to shop for my family every week. Then I was shoved into the back of a squad car.
All because of my damn temper. I have so many regrets as I sit in this jail cell. This isn’t going to hurt anyone more than it will my kids.
This is something I tell my boys all the time never to do. The guilt and shame are about to choke me. In my rage, I hadn’t been thinking.
Now, my kids could lose the one parent who cares, and I might lose out on that business deal. Not to mention, I’m sure things with Cakes will be over because of this.
She has an image to protect. She’s worked so hard to build her career. My behavior is unacceptable.
“This can’t be happening,” I groan into my hands.
I woke up this morning with so much hope for the future. I had hoped that if things went well with the boys, we’d all be able to live in the house together in a month or two. I’ve been renting a place not far from my family’s ranch.
After leaving Donna in the house we were raising our family in, I found a place I could make a home for my four kids. A home filled with love.
Donna has pushed my buttons plenty of times over the years, but I’ve always kept my temper in check. As I think about Jess seeing me like that, my heart breaks. I would never want someone to do that to her.
“Monroe. Looks like you’re getting out of here,” an office calls, causing me to look up.
He looks bored and frustrated as he unlocks the ceil to hold the bars open. My face turns crimson as I recognize him from the home I built for him and his wife.
They were just starting their family. He was so happy and proud to be building her a home. I still remember the huge thank-you basket he sent to the office.
At the time, he thought Tom and Ann ran the company. I had been the foreman on the project, or at least I was to anyone outside of my family who knows I own TAB.
I stand and go to walk out. He pats me on the shoulder as I walk by. I turn to look him in the eyes.
“I wanted to choke her too. She’s a piece of work. I remember you.
“My wife still talks about how kind you were and how you made the process of building a new home so much easier on us. Especially with her carrying our baby.
“A lot of guys come through here and they’re the lowest of the low. Then there are guys like you. Keep your cool, Monroe. Don’t let anyone change who you are in here,” he says and points his finger into my chest.
I nod, not able to speak. I remember how emotional his wife had been about every detail and decision she had to make. I also remember how embarrassed she was about it.
I did my best to help her and show her kindness. Having a home built from the ground up is daunting for anyone. A woman in her condition deserved some grace.
“Your attorneys are upstairs. They asked for a private room to talk to you. Not sure why, but the media has been camped out front for you.”
I pull a sour face. I know why. Donna wants to embarrass me and Cakes.
I won’t allow it. If I lose the deal, I’ll live with that. However, I’m not okay with Lynn’s career being destroyed because of me.