Chapter 35
Chapter Thirty-Five
T his was like a bad movie plot that was getting worse at every turn. Scarlett couldn’t believe she was sitting across from Ezra’s mother, a shrewd businesswoman. She had hoped to never see her again, but if Alberta could shed some light on why Bella was attacked, then she’d hear her out.
“To answer your question,” Alberta said to Antonio, “I want to do everything I can to make sure Theodore is held accountable for trying to kidnap your daughter.”
Good, she’s acknowledging Antonio as Bella’s father .
As Bella got older, Scarlett would make sure she knew more about Ezra and Cynthia, but her feelings toward Ezra’s parents were the same. She didn’t want them anywhere near Bella.
“How do you know Theodore is behind the attempted kidnapping? More importantly, why should we believe anything you say?” Antonio asked.
Scarlett could hear the skepticism in his voice, but at least he hadn’t shut the woman down. Then again, that probably had everything to do with Mr. Jenkins. He wouldn’t have changed his schedule for this woman unless he believed she knew something.
Antonio glanced at his father who hadn’t said much in the last few minutes. “Do you believe her?” he asked.
His dad nodded. “I do. She has documentation, recordings, and pictures to support what she’s saying.” He slid over several photos of Theodore at a restaurant talking with an older man. “I wanted to give you two an opportunity to hear Alberta’s story.”
“I don’t blame you for not believing me. I haven’t given you reason too,” Alberta said, not seeming slighted in the least bit. “But everything I’ve shared with you is the truth. Les Allen, the guy in the photo with Theodore at the restaurant, is a fixer of sorts. He’s done much of Theodore’s dirty work over the years and has a lot to do with why Theodore is not in jail yet. They both have a law degree and have masterfully skirted around the law for years.”
Scarlett glanced at the photo of the two men huddled across from each other in a restaurant booth. If she’d seen either of them on the street, she wouldn’t have categorized them as criminals. They looked like harmless businessmen discussing their next deal.
“The recording your father has is a copy of the conversation that the two men had at the restaurant. They were discussing the kidnapping and how it fell apart.”
“I don’t understand,” Scarlett said. “Why? Why would he try to have Bella kidnapped?”
“Money. Theodore is broke. I didn’t tell him when I found out we had a granddaughter. My mother was right in keeping you two a secret. I wouldn’t want our crazy lives to spill over onto you guys in any way. But when my mother died, Theodore thought I would inherit the bulk of her estate. As you know, I didn’t. According to that recording,” she nodded to the small recorder in front of Mr. Jenkins, “Theodore not only knows Bella is his granddaughter, he knows she inherited my mother’s estate. In the conversation he had with Les at the restaurant, he calls Bella by name and refers to her as his granddaughter.”
“My God,” Scarlett said, her head spinning from this information.
“What was his endgame?” Antonio asked.
Mr. Jenkins lifted the recorder off the table and held it up. “According to the recording, to kidnap Bella and demand a ransom.”
“This is unreal,” Scarlett breathed. “What type of lowlife would put a child through that type of trauma? It’s hard for me to reconcile in my mind that Ezra was the product of someone who could do something so heinous. Your son was so kind, thoughtful, and loving. He was an amazing man. Yet, his father just tried to kidnap a child.”
Antonio slid his arm around Scarlett’s shoulder and placed a kiss against her temple. She was so grateful to have him in her life. He’d been her rock throughout all of this, and it scared her to death knowing she could’ve been going through all this alone.
But Cynthia …
Scarlett would be forever grateful for Cynthia. In her own way, she had masterfully pushed her and Antonio together. Surely, she hadn’t known what the outcome would be, but Scarlett was grateful for her, nonetheless.
“So what happens now?” Antonio asked, glancing between Alberta and his father.
“Now it’s in the hands of the authorities,” Mr. Jenkins said.
“Theodore is probably being arrested as we speak,” Alberta added. “Him and everyone else who was involved.”
Scarlett nodded and thought about the guy who had tried to take Bella. He was just a pawn in all this, but she hoped he rotted in hell.
“Wait, Alberta what’s the other wrong that you’re trying to right?” Scarlett asked. She hoped this woman wasn’t going to ask to be in Bella’s life because that would be a solid, NO.
“I wanted to apologize to you for the way I treated you months ago. It sounds like you really cared about my son.”
“I did, very much so. I just hate he never knew about Bella, but he would’ve loved knowing she and Cynthia had a relationship.”
Alberta nodded. “I’m glad you allowed my mother an opportunity to get to know her great-granddaughter. I’m sure it meant the world to her. Ezra was her everything, and when he died, a part of her died too.”
“Yeah, I know.” Scarlett thought about how much of a blessing Cynthia had been, and her generosity would change Bella’s life forever.
Silence fell over the room until Scarlett asked, “Are you planning to contest Cynthia’s will or Bella’s inheritance?”
Alberta shook her head. “No. For one, I know my mother well enough to know it’s ironclad.” She smiled sadly. “And two, she left me more than I deserve. She gave me her forgiveness by way of a letter. She said a lot of things that we both should’ve said before she passed away.”
“I’m sorry for your loss,” Scarlett said.
“Thank you, and I’m sorry for yours. Despite the way I behaved, I could tell that day you were at my mother’s house how much you truly cared for her.”
“She was one of my best friends,” Scarlett admitted.
Alberta glanced down at the table. “Then you knew how sharp she was. She must’ve found out that I was separated from Theodore and planning to divorce. In the letter she left me, she told me if my divorce was final within six months after she dies, there would be a sizable inheritance waiting for me.”
Shock rocked Scarlett and she couldn’t help but chuckle. “That sounds like something she would do.”
Alberta grinned, and it transformed her features. Scarlett could see so much of Ezra in his mother’s face.
“She might’ve been pissed at me for the last twenty-five, thirty years, but her unconditional love shined through.” Alberta shook her head and this time she smiled fondly. “She always said she and I were like oil and water, but we were more alike than she thought.”
“I can see that,” Scarlett said. “She was very sharp and listening to you today. I can totally see some of Cynthia in you.”
“I know I don’t deserve to know or spend time with Bella, and I’m not asking to. But can you tell me about her?”
Scarlett smiled. She didn’t know if she’d ever trust Alberta to be around her daughter, but the least she could do is tell the woman how amazing her granddaughter is.
“She’s a lot like Ezra…”
* * *
Hours later, Scarlett sat on the sofa, toed off her house shoes, and tucked her legs beneath her. She laid her head back and stared at the ceiling. What a day . It was ten o’clock at night, and her mind was still whirling over everything that had transpired in the last fifteen hours.
The visit to the police station. Learning who was behind the attempted kidnapping. Getting to know Ezra’s mother. All of it felt as if she’d fallen into an alternate universe. Never in a million years would Scarlett have thought this could be her life.
“I think tonight calls for something stronger than wine,” Antonio said when he strolled into the family room carrying two glasses and a bottle of Hennessy.
So exhausted from the day’s event, neither of them had felt like cooking, and they’d opted for ordering a pizza. Of course, Bella had been thrilled. According to her, pizza was her favorite meal. Add that to eating it in front of the TV while watching a Disney movie, and she’d been the happiest kid in town.
Now that she was in bed, they could finally sit back and unwind. Alberta had been correct, Theodore and his accomplices were in jail. Scarlett could now breathe. She’d probably still be on edge for a while, but at least the people who tried to destroy her world were behind bars.
Antonio set the liquor bottle and glasses on the table, then poured them each a drink. When he handed Scarlett one of the glasses, she smiled. Memories of the last time she’d drank hard liquor came to mind.
Talk about coming full circle.
“Does this moment remind you of anything?” she asked Antonio as he sat on the sofa and pulled her against his side.
He chuckled. “Yeah, it was about six or seven months ago, and the beginning of when you changed my life forever. Actually, that’s not true, I think the beginning was when you invited me to travel to Miami with you and Bella.”
“I bet you’re sorry you said yes,” she said with a laugh.
He kissed the side of head, and Scarlett snuggled deeper into him.
“On the contrary. Who knew that would be the start of something amazing? What a ride, baby. In seven months, you have changed my world for the better in every single way.” He held out his glass. “Here’s to many, many more adventures with you,” he said, and she tapped her glass to his before taking a small sip.
“Tony, I never thought I could have a life like you’ve given me.” Scarlett sat up and set the glass on the table before turning to him. “I love you more than I thought I could ever love a man. I can’t even imagine my life without you.”
“Same here, baby,” he said and tossed back the rest of his liquor, cringed, and then set his empty glass on the side table. “Now, come here.”
Antonio lifted her to his lap, and Scarlett wrapped her arms around his neck just as he kissed her sweetly. This man. This incredibly sexy, sweet, and gentle man was all hers.
As he kissed her, his tongue tangling with hers, and his large hand caressing her body, Scarlett couldn’t help thinking that she was the luckiest woman in the world.
When the kiss ended, she cupped his cheek and smiled at him. “You were right.”
He frowned. “About what?”
“About being able to make me fall in love with you. I didn’t think it was possible, but you proved me wrong and now I’m crazy in love with you Antonio Jenkins.”
They kissed again, and Scarlett knew this was just the beginning for them. They were going to have an amazing life together.