Chapter 9 #2
There were only twelve dollars in it, thinking that she had paid for everything with credit cards, she was able to close her account and get on with something else that was finished up.
Just one more thing to mark off her list of things to take care of.
She decided that she didn’t want the car as it, like the things in her apartment, was tainted; she was glad to be able to click two more things off her list of things to do.
By the time she was home again, it was nearly six.
Penrod had been home for about an hour, and dinner was ready.
She was suddenly starving and needed to eat.
As they were sitting down to dinner, he told her about his day and how he’d gotten his desk cleaned off.
She’d told him what she’d been able to do and thought that they both had had a productive day.
At least that’s what she was going to keep telling herself.
She hated having to deal with her mother’s shit, but at least she was getting it done.
They retired to the living room, and she felt herself dozing off.
It had been a long day, and she was glad that it was nearly over.
After falling asleep for the third time, she told Penrod that she was headed to bed.
He said that he’d join her, and they ended up making love again in a soft and gentle way. She loved this man so much.
Waking the next morning, she was in bed alone.
She’d not realized until she’d gotten out of the shower that it was later than she’d thought.
Penrod had left her a note in the bathroom about how he wanted her to sleep for a while, and she smiled.
It felt like it was the first time she’d had a reason to smile in some time.
Today, she was going to see her mother and get that over with.
Tomorrow, her mother was headed to prison to serve some time until her trial was heard.
They had to make sure she was healthy enough to be there, and now that she’d healed, it was time for her to move on.
As soon as she saw Penrod at his desk, it was all she needed to boost her confidence up enough to face her.
It wasn’t going to be pretty, and she wasn’t looking forward to it, but at least she was behind bars, and she’d not be able to hurt her.
“Hello, mother. What is it you want from me? I thought that you made it perfectly clear that you don’t need me in your life when you tried to kill me.
” She snorted and said that if she wanted her dead, she would be.
“I don’t have time for this. Tell me what you wanted to see me about so I can go home. ”
“I want the deal that you offered me.” She asked her what deal. “Where you take care of me for the rest of my life. I want you to have to pay all you make in taking care of me. You’ll also pay the bail money to get me out of here.”
“There is no bail for you. You shot a judge.” She waved her off and told her that there was always bail to be paid for things like this.
“Apparently not. And the deal is voided when you tried to kill me. I wouldn’t pay you to have your hair done right now.
And it looks like a rat has been nesting in your head. ”
“Take that back. As soon as you pay my bail, I’m going to take you for every penny that you have.
And that supposed husband of yours. What do you think about him shooting me?
I’m betting that you two had a wonderful fight over it.
” She told her that the only thing that they fought over was the fact that he had not killed her.
“You’re in a mood. What’s wrong with you?
And don’t think that I didn’t get you to tell me that you’re going to get me out of here either.
I think you having to support me will go a long way in having the judge forgive and forget about what happened in the courtroom. ”
“Doubtful. You shot him, too.” She said that she wished that she’d gotten to kill him too for sending her off to prison. “I’m glad that you’re going to be in prison. It’ll make me sleep better at night knowing that you’re not out doing me harm.”
“What makes you think I can’t do you harm from prison?
I have all kinds of contacts.” She asked her about the car instead of getting into it with her about the contacts she supposedly had.
“That was the best thing I ever did with all that money you gave me. You’re going to be paying those credit cards off forever. ”
“No, I won’t. I canceled them all and made arrangements to pay a lesser charge than you put on them.
I was able to pay them off with the money that I won in the lottery, too.
” She asked her how fifty bucks was going to pay off anything.
“I have about thirty billion dollars at my disposal. I won the lottery that was the biggest there was in history to date.”
“You lie.” She said nothing but let her think about that. “You’re an idiot if you think that I’m going to believe you when you tell me shit like that. That was about a year ago now.”
“Six months and counting. I did win, and you know what? The money that you charged to those credit cards isn’t even going to make a dent in what I have with Penrod.” She asked who that was. “The man who shot you. My husband.”
“You’re a liar.” Realizing that she’d had enough of her mother for the rest of her life, she decided to leave. “Where are you going? I’m not finished with you. We still have to discuss what you’re going to do about getting me out of here.”
“I’m not going to do anything. As I said before, I like you being in prison. You have the life you deserve, and I’ll be happily married and someday have lots of children.” She told her that she forbade her to have any children. “Like that means anything to me.”
She felt better when she left. Perhaps it was a cleaning of her soul that made her feel better.
Whatever it was, she was glad now that she’d come to see her.
She wouldn’t go and see her again; there was no way that she was going to do that, but she’d think about this day for the rest of her life and feel good about taking a stand against a bully.
Because when it came down to it, that’s what her mother was. A bully who tried to kill her.
~*~
Audon was glad to be home. He was going to go to bed and sleep until he wanted to wake up, then perhaps take a long nap to feel better about getting a good night’s sleep. He was just going through his mail when he heard from Gilman. He knew that he’d be the first person to welcome him home.
“Did you have a good showing?” He said that he’s sold all but one piece, and he might still sell it as he’d left it behind for the next showing.
“Good for you. I’m glad that you’re home.
I’ve missed you. I’ve gone over the house that you were looking at, and I can say that it’s not going to need any electrical work in the near future.
I might put in more plugs if you were to redo the kitchen, but that suits you just fine now, you said, and I’d not tear out walls to put them in. ”
“Good to know. I’ll put an offer in on it tomorrow.
I was just headed to bed.” He told him he was sorry to have kept him from it.
“No worries. I needed to unwind a little more anyway, and talking to you about the house did just that. One more thing off my list of stuff to take care of. Thanks for that.”
“I don’t mind doing that.” He thanked him again. “I was wondering if you dated anyone while in France? I don’t know that you would have had time, but I thought I’d put that out there.”
“I didn’t have time. I did have dinner with my agent, but that’s not going to come to anything.
She’s as old as Mom and is happily married to the man of her dreams. I believe she has grandkids, too.
” The two of them laughed. “Really, I’ve not thought about dating in weeks.
I have this project that I’m excited to get back to, that’s been rolling around in my head for weeks now.
I’ve almost got it all set up. All I need to do is get it set to paint, and I’ll be feeling better about it. ”
“I know you lose sleep over things like that. I’m glad you have an outlet for your artwork.
I love what I do, too, and I feel better when I can help out the family with projects, too.
I’ve gone over Penrod’s house and found that his outdoor outlets are perfectly fine for use.
He was worried because they looked so worn out.
All I had to do was change out the outlets, and it was just fine for what he has a use for it.
I think he wants to put up trees on his front deck at Christmas time. ”
“That sounds nice. I have that wrap-around porch at the house I’ve been looking at, and I think I’m going to do the same.
I might even just put in white lights and leave them up year-round.
Mom and Dad do that when they have the porch lit up; it looks fantastic.
” Penrod agreed with him. “It makes it look more welcoming, too. I love that. And since you have the best lawn ever, I’m going to be getting ideas from your front entrance. ”
“Go for it. I’m having Mac’s firm do the upkeep of the lawn.
It takes them about five hours to keep it looking good, and I’m so glad that they do it.
Well worth the money to pull into the driveway and see that.
” He told him that it was nice to pull into the yard like that.
“I get a good family discount, too, so that makes it worth it.”