Chapter 2 #2
While she tried to remember everything that had been done to her, she didn’t pay attention to what was going on around her.
She would look up on occasion, when she heard her name being said, but she didn’t really care.
Today was the day, or she was going to know why not.
As soon as her attorney poked her in the arm, she looked at him.
Dazed for a moment, she didn’t know where she was or what she was doing, much less who the man was sitting next to her. ”
“The judge wants to know what your plans are when you get out of here.” She said that she was going to ruin this town. “I’m pretty sure that’s not what he wants to hear. Just behave yourself and tell him you’re going to be a good citizen when you’re released.”
“I’m not.” He rolled his eyes, and she tried to hit him.
“Damn it all to hell and back, I’m going to make you pay for that.
” She stood up when told and looked at the judge.
He asked her again what her plans were when she got out of here.
“I’m going to talk to Lisa about giving me my grandson.
And if she doesn’t, then I’m going to take him.
He should have been mine in the first place.
She no more knows how to raise him than a circus animal does.
And he’d be a better man, too, than with that Savage fellow. ”
“Your grandson is now a Savage. He’s quite proud of the fact that he’s been adopted.
What are your plans concerning that?” Her attorney, she never learned anyone’s name that was beneath her, pulled on her elbow.
Looking at him, she asked him what the hell he wanted.
“You’ll watch your language in my courtroom, Mrs. Manchester, or I’ll have you in jail for a lot longer.
I might even send you to something bigger this time since everyone at the stationhouse is sick of you telling them what you’re going to do to them. ”
“Then there won’t be any surprises when something befalls them.
” She was quite proud of herself in having something to say.
When he banged his gavel on the table in front of him, she jumped a little.
“Today is the end of my ninety days. I want out so that I can make a few heads roll. It’s the least you can do after making sure I wasn’t able to do my duty by them in the first place. ”
“You’ll spend another ninety days in prison this time.
Until such time as you can learn to control your temper they you’ll keep getting ninety days until you either die or learn that you can’t go around hurting people when they don’t do as you wish.
” She told him no. She wasn’t going to do that.
“I happen to be in charge of what goes on today, not you. You’ll be remanded over to the prison today, and I hope you learn something. ”
“The only thing that I’m going to learn is your name so that I can take care of you when I get out.
” He asked her if she was threatening him.
“No. Of course not. I’m telling you like it is.
You’ll be the first with his head to roll, and I’m going to enjoy every second of it.
When are you going to learn that I’m in charge of myself and that you need to get your head out of your ass and let me do what I do best, and that’s get what I want. ”
“One hundred and eighty days for threatening a sitting judge, ninety more for cursing in my courtroom. Would you like to go for more?” She started to open her mouth, but her attorney stood up and started talking about the stress she was under.
“I don’t care if she’s having a bad day.
I’m going to sentence her to years now if she gets mouthy with me. ”
~*~
“Your grandmother ended up getting five years in prison for mouthing off to the judge.” Lisa asked Davy if he understood what she was telling him.
For a seven-year-old, he was pretty smart, but he might not understand what was going on with the judicial system.
“It means when you’re twelve, she’ll be ready to get out if she learns anything. ”
“I hope she doesn’t.” She had the same feelings but didn’t voice them to her son. “I’m glad that she’s not around. When that nice police officer told us what she was planning to do to us, I don’t want to ever call her grandmother again.”
“They’ll make sure that she doesn’t get out.
And in the meantime, you’ll be safe here in this house with Brenin and me.
” She rubbed her belly and thought of the child that was there.
They’d not told Davy yet that he was going to be a big brother, but she hoped that he’d be happy.
“You should be getting ready for when your dad comes home. He said that the two of you were going to be working on the project you have due together.”
“I know. I’m ready for him.” Davy sat down at his desk chair and looked at her. “I’m afraid of her. She’s not nice at all.”
“I know, sweetie. But like I said, it’s going to be a long time before she gets out.
They’ll keep her locked up, too, if she doesn’t change her ways.
” He nodded, but she wasn’t sure that he was getting it.
“How about we have a snack before your dad gets home? I know that I could use some cheese and crackers.”
While they ate their snack, she thought about all the things that had happened since she’d met Brenin.
Not only was she happily married, but her son was safe, and she wasn’t working as hard as she had been.
True to his word, he’d not only kept them safe from Janice, but he’d provided them with a safe home and a good life.
She loved Brenin more than she had ever loved her first husband, David Manchester.
After their little snack, Davy made his way up to his room.
He had finished all his homework but for the project that he had going, and that was something that the two of them had been working on for two days.
It wasn’t due until Monday, and it was only Thursday, so they were making it perfect for school.
She thought for a second grader, that he’d done a great job on his diorama.
Brenin reached out to her just as she was going to work on her paperwork from school.
She’d been grading papers for them for the last two years, and it was good money as well as easy work.
“I’ve heard from the attorney we hired to get back the money that Janice stole from you.
The fact that she took all his pension is against the law, too.
Anyway, the banks are cooperating for us, and you should have the ten million dollar policy money returned to you in eight to ten business days.
” She said that was good. “I thought so as well. It might take a little longer for you to start getting his pension, but as soon as it’s final, that’ll come to you as well.
You’ll be able to quit working if you want to. ”
“I still might hang onto grading papers. It keeps my mind busy, and I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t have anything to do with my time.
” He said that was the real reason that he worked too.
“I know. You told me that you get into trouble when you’re lazing about.
I can’t imagine you being lazy because you keep busy so much, but I do understand that. ”
The two of them talked about dinner because it was the cook’s night off, and decided that they’d go to the burger joint in town to get some dinner.
Neither one of them liked to cook, but it was the cleanup that they hated more.
As soon as the connection was closed, she decided to finish off what she had to do and take a nap before dinner.
Next month, they were all headed to Disney.
She was so excited that the entire family was going that she couldn’t wait.
It would be fun for the adults who had never been, and she was sure that Davy and Trevor, Skye and Cassian’s son, would have a lot more fun with a lot of people going with them.
She and Davy had gone the last three spring breaks, and they had so much fun.
After her nap, it was time for Brenin to come home, and she was excited about that.
He would need to change after getting home, but they’d be on their way as soon as he was ready.
She was suddenly starving and called for Davy to get dressed so that he’d be ready to go as well.
He came down in his new jeans—he seemed to be growing out of everything lately—and tennis shoes.
She smiled at him when he got to the bottom of the stairs.
“Your shoes look like they’ve seen better days. We’ll have to get you some before we go to Disney.” He said they pinched too. “All right. Tonight, while we’re out, we’ll look into getting you some new ones. There is no point in you hurting when you don’t have to.”
“Thanks, Mom.” They ended up in the living room together when Brenin came home. After giving him a kiss and a hug from Davy, he ran up the stairs to get changed. He said he’d not be but a few minutes, and she believed him. He could shower and change in no time.
After getting their meal and new shoes for Davy, she ended up getting him two new pairs to wear, they headed home. Davy had school in the morning, and she had papers to grade yet. Brenin told them about the woman that he’d met about her sister’s will.
“I have a feeling that she’s not going to have a good time with her sister.
” She asked what he meant. “They’re triplets.
And I’ve never met three sisters who were less alike than they were.
Serenity and Helen, the one who died, had the most in common, but Beth is a troublemaker.
I look for them to be at it from now until she goes back to her home state. ”
“That’s too bad. You said that Helen died of cancer, is that right?” He said that she’d had it in her bloodstream. “It must have been hard for the two of them to take that. Perhaps that’s why she is such a troublemaker, she’s stressed about her sister dying.”