Chapter 5 The Shadow of Maureen #2
LANA AND KAYDEN pushed through the barrage of reporters and flashing cameras and shielded their faces from them as best as they could.
There wasn’t an ounce of patience in her body for answering questions, and she just wanted to get back to Paula’s to have a good cry and sleep the hellish morning away.
Paula, Sam, and Taylor were right behind her when Paula stopped to answer questions from the press.
Lana and Kayden got into the waiting SUV first, and Veronica and Rupert got in with them.
Lana broke down on her mother’s shoulder as Vincent and Kayden held onto each of her hands.
“How is this possible?” Lana wailed, soaking and ruining her mother’s blouse with tears and mascara.
“I don’t understand,” Kayden replied, “What the hell is the First Offender law?”
“And how could your lawyer accept it without you knowing beforehand?” Rupert added, confused.
“I don’t know, but I’m sure as shit, gonna find out,” Kayden replied.
“It’s not fair! Six months of probation for trying to kill two people? It makes no sense. How can the Judge think that’s fair to us?” she bawled.
“I don’t know,” he replied, his face twisted in anguish.
“Is that all you have to say?” she yelled.
“I don’t know what to do here, Lana! Tell me what you want me to do and I’ll do it,” Kayden replied, flustered and upset.
“You can’t blame him, honey. Everyone thought this would go to a trial. No one saw this coming,” Veronica said, stroking her daughter’s head.
“I’m just so angry!” She sat up and wiped her face, then turned to Kayden and hugged his neck. “I love you, I’m sorry. I’m not mad at you,” she whispered.
“I know, baby, it’s going to be OK. I love you too,” he whispered back as he held her in his arms.
Lana stared out the side window as fresh tears slipped down her face and watched Paula and Maureen on the steps of the courthouse.
PAULA PLANTED HER heels on the courthouse steps, a reluctant bulwark against the blinding frenzy of flashing cameras and a symphony of reporters shouting over one another.
The air crackled with the pop-pop-pop of strobes.
Maureen, her face a rigid mask of aristocratic steel, and Heathcliff, his expression grim, his jaw tight, flanked her on either side.
Paula raised a hand, her voice strained but steady as it cut through the din.
“At this time, we have to admit we are... profoundly disappointed with the result of today’s proceedings.” She took a steadying breath, her eyes scanning the rabid crowd. “We ask that you respect our family’s privacy at this moment, to absorb what just occurred.”
The reporters, like sharks scenting blood, ignored her request and surged forward, hurling questions like stones.
"Maureen, what are you feeling right now?”
“What do you have to say about your future daughter-in-law’s reaction?!”
"What does Kayden say?!"
They went unanswered. Heathcliff put a firm, protective hand on Maureen’s back, shielding her as he plowed a path toward the second waiting black SUV. Maureen held her head impossibly high, her gaze fixed forward, refusing to acknowledge the chaos she had, in part, helped create.
When they finally piled into the vehicle, the heavy doors thudded shut, cutting off the noise and camera flashes with a jarring finality.
A deafening, suffocating silence filled the cabin.
No one said a word as the truck pulled away from the curb, leaving the trail of reporters, still snapping photos like frenzied piranhas, behind them.
HERDED ON PAULA’S multiple sofas in the living room, the lot of them sat in silence while Maureen and Paula made tea in the kitchen.
Rupert and Veronica were side by side with Mr. Smith and Aunt Mae, speaking amongst themselves.
Kayden cradled Lana on the sofa in front of them as she lay her head on his shoulder in silence.
No one said much because they didn’t know what to say.
The atmosphere was more like a funeral instead of the victory they had thought the day would end in.
Sam and Carmen were at the end of the semi-circular couch next to them and didn’t say anything either. Kayden hadn’t mentioned anything about Sam being there, and Lana thought that was a good thing. The last thing she needed was the two of them getting into it in front of everyone again.
“I still don’t understand how the state could accept that type of plea deal. No jail time at all?” Aunt Mae asked, shaking her head.
“Kim wins again,” Lana replied.
“Baby,” Kayden put his arm around her.
“Don’t,” she shrugged him off and got off the couch.
As much as she was trying not to lose her temper, it was hard. She wanted to punch something, do something, but she felt hopeless—again. Carmen followed her into the kitchen to keep her company. Sam shuffled on the couch next to Kayden, visibly uncomfortable.
Sam didn’t like the guy, but hated that he and Lana were getting beaten down the way they were. He shook his head in disbelief and took a sip of his bourbon. Heathcliff peered over at Maureen, and something stirred deep down in his stomach. She had something to do with the circus in that courtroom.
He knew the woman very well, and it wasn’t like her to roll over and accept anyone getting away with anything against her family, let alone attempted murder.
Maureen carefully entered the living room, balancing a tray of teacups and a silver pot with boiling water.
She set it on the coffee table, and Kayden leaned over to make a cup.
He kept his eyes on Lana, who was in the kitchen, elbows leaning on the counter, staring into nothing.
“You’re quiet, Maureen,” Heathcliff broke in, causing everyone in the room to look at her. Her cheeks blushed beet red, which gave her away.
“I’m just as shocked as everyone else, I guess,” she lied.
“I don’t buy that for a minute, mother,” Paula added now, watching her mother’s odd reaction. “Taylor said any lawyer worth his cheap suit would have had to get permission before presenting any plea deal agreements.”
Taylor glanced over uncomfortably and reached for his cup of tea.
“What do you mean?” Maureen replied, feigning ignorance.
“You’re such a bad liar,” Paula argued.
Now, the entire house was so silent you could hear the trees rustling outside the lanai. Maureen looked at them all, scanning their waiting faces, then caught a glimpse of Lana’s horrified face and froze.
Kayden caught the look on her face and stood up.
“Did you cut her a deal?!” he shouted, holding the hot cup of tea in his hand.
Taylor stepped in, stopped him from getting too close, and took the cup away.
“I knew it,” Lana finally said, the realization hitting her with the force of a physical blow. “It’s the only thing that makes sense. You… you pulled strings, didn't you? You agreed to that plea deal!”
“Oh my God,” Carmen gasped, placing a hand over her mouth, the words a choked whisper.
Maureen flinched as if she'd been struck. Her breath came in short, desperate heaves as she began to stammer, her eyes darting wildly between her accusers. The pressure of everyone’s gazes, their unwavering, horrified stares, felt like a physical weight crushing her chest. She couldn't take it anymore. She was caught. Again.
“I had to,” she blurted, the words dissolving into tears. “You don't understand, I had to!”
“My God!” Aunt Mae exclaimed.
Lana shook her head in disbelief. “Why? Why did you have to?” she chided.
“She threatened to blackmail me if I didn’t help her. She has evidence against me. That’s the truth,” Maureen admitted, barely getting the words out, wringing her hands together as their horror-filled faces stayed planted on her.
“Blackmail about what?” Kayden asked.
“I can’t discuss it now. We can talk about it later,” she replied, her attempt to sound in control failing.
Her eyes darted down at Heathcliff, and if they were literal darts, she would have impaled him. He’d pay for putting her on the spot, but the look on his face was new to her. He looked betrayed and exhausted with her, but also… disappointed.
“Oh. We will,” Kayden commanded.
“You can’t discuss it? After everything my child has gone through?!” Veronica was up on her feet in a second, her hand sailing through the air and smacking Maureen on the face.
Maureen stood shocked, holding her face as Rupert retrieved his wife and led her away.
“OK, let’s go. Lana, we’ll be at the hotel,” he said, leading Veronica out of the house.
Sam and Carmen followed behind them, but he kept his eyes on Lana as if he didn’t want to leave her behind.
“What kind of mother are you?” Veronica yelled through the open front door before it closed behind them.
Everyone stood in silence, watching Maureen stand in shame; no one pitied her. Lana walked out of the kitchen and stood eye to eye with Maureen.
“How could you? I’ll never forgive you for this, Maureen. Never.”
Lana stormed out of the living room, and seconds later, the audible slam of the bedroom door echoed through the quiet house.
“Well, I have a kitchen to get back to,” Aunt Mae chimed, standing to her feet.
She and her husband saw themselves to the door, and Taylor followed suit with Heathcliff right behind them.
“Where are you going?” Maureen asked.
“I need some time to think about this relationship, Maureen. I don’t know how to be with someone who would do this to her own kid, time and time again. If you would do that to them, what in the hell would you do to me?” he asked.
She didn’t have a word of a comeback for him, just more guilt and remorse as he closed the door behind him.
Kayden had already started for the room he and Lana shared, and Paula averted her eyes as she headed upstairs.
Maureen stood alone in the living room, the well-deserved slap stinging her face, and looked around the vast emptiness.
She lowered onto the couch and sobbed. The last thing she wanted to do was tell the truth.
Lying was becoming harder than it used to be.
She never planned on telling Kayden the truth about his father, because that would mean telling him the truth about everything, and she couldn’t do that.
Ever. She had to keep it buried, even if it meant being hated, because that secret was only the tip of an enormous iceberg.