A Tattered Love (33 page)

“Oh my god, Molly!” He yelled. “Abby, find out exactly where it is. I can be in New York in three to four hours. It’s not that far from here. I need to make a phone call to her mom. I need to find out if she knows where Molly is.”

“I’m on it; I’ll call as soon as I know.”

He ended the call and immediately started dialing Tracy, Sabrina’s mom.

He walked in the other room to talk to her. I made my way back toward the fridge to put away the things I had taken out earlier for dinner. I suddenly lost my appetite, and I thought I would just settle for something small like a salad. I wasn’t feeling too hot and just wanted to lie down. I headed off toward my bedroom and lay in the bed. I tucked myself in under the covers and opened a book I was told to read in order to relax by Abby. I didn’t think Abby read books until recently, and she couldn’t stop talking about this book called Taming the Bachelor by MJ Carnal. She swooned over it and begged me to read it. I guess this was perfect timing because I know Dustin will be leaving me soon to find Molly.

Dustin came and found me all tucked under the covers reading my book. “Hey, baby, are you ok?” He scooted in next to me on the bed and wrapped his arm around me.

“Yeah, just wasn’t feeling too well, so I came in here to read. What’s going on with Molly? Do you know any more about what’s happening with Sabrina?” I asked with a concerned look on my face.

Dustin looked at me, but I could tell he was worried about this whole situation. He said in a very calm voice, “Sabrina's mom doesn’t have any information. I have to leave to go get Molly. Then I have to go home with her and go to court, and try take over custody. I don’t know any more about Sabrina's situation right now, and frankly, I don’t care. My number one concern right now is to get to Molly and bring her home. I love you, Riley. Please know that. I’m going to be back. I will be here for you and the baby. Just give me a couple weeks baby.” He took my hand and kissed it gently then fiddled with my engagement ring.

“Dustin, I completely understand. Get Molly and bring her home. I can’t wait to spend time with her. Just be back before little Jordan is born, please.” I looked at him with a grin spread across my face. I bit my lip waiting for his reaction.

“Jordan!” He got excited. “Jordan?” He questioned. “I love it, it’s a perfect name! When were you going to tell me this awesome name?”

“Right now,” I laughed. “I’m glad you like it, too. I love you, Dustin. Can’t wait for you to come home to me, baby.” I leaned toward him and planted my lips on his, softly. He deepened the kiss and ran his hand through my hair wrapping a strand around his finger.

“I’ll call or text you every second of the way. Don’t you have this baby until I’m back here, sweetheart.” He kissed my temple then back to my lips sending a jolt between my legs.

“As soon as you get back, you owe me.” I took his hand and placed it between my legs with a sly grin across my face.

“Definitely, baby.” He squeezed my leg and let out a grunt. “We’ll have the rest of our lives.” He kissed me and slid off the bed.

A tear almost came to my eye as I hated to see him leave again. It was time to start thinking of what was going to happen next. I don’t know the full details on Sabrina, and what the hell happened but I couldn’t wait to hear about it. I’m nervous for Molly being here full time, and I know that also means we’ll have to look for a bigger place in the future. This two-bedroom wasn’t going to cut it. Unless I can convince Grams to let us knock down another wall and add one since the baby’s room is fairly large. Or they could just share a room until we figure out what we wanted to do. Of course I may be jumping ahead of myself not knowing if Dustin will get custody or not, and what type of situation Sabrina will be facing.

It’s hard to realize that being twenty-five years old is going to consist of having a four-year-old daughter and now a baby boy. Time had me grow up fast, and I knew God wouldn’t put anything in my path that I couldn’t handle. Things are finally starting to look up. I couldn’t be happier about Dustin and me, and our little family.

Dustin

I rented a car and arrived in no time in New York. I was pretty sure I wasn’t prepared to hear the things I was about to hear. I couldn’t wait to see my baby girl, and I had been waiting just a little over an hour for them to bring her to me. I was told social services had taken her, and its taking some time for them to return her to me.

“Are you Dustin Boyd?” an officer approached me.

“Yes, where’s Molly, my daughter?” I stood up anxiously.

“She’s on her way here. She’s pretty shook up about all this. We may need to question you as well on some things as we’ve been told you just came out of a custody battle.”

“I’ll do anything you need. I just want my daughter. What the hell happened here, sir?”

The officer looked at me and sighed, “Sabrina Marten has been arrested and taken into custody for embezzlement. I can’t share any more with you at this time, but it’s not looking too good for Sabrina.”

“Embezzlement? She stole money?” I laughed.

The officer leaned to me and said gently so only I can hear, “A lot of money. The amount of money that’s going to get her put away for a long time no matter who her lawyer is.”

I was shocked. There were no words to express how I was feeling. Sabrina? My baby momma stole money? Stole a lot of money? I didn’t know what to think of all this. I just wanted to see my baby, and hold her and tell her everything was going to be ok.

“Daddy!” Molly screamed and ran to me with open arms.

I bent over and picked her up and swung her around. I held her close to me and kissed her head. “Hey, baby, I missed you. Did you miss me? You ready to go home?” I tried to sound happy for her. I was happy, but I was also sad for her, because of what Sabrina had done. This wasn’t going to be easy to explain to her.

“I missed you, Daddy. I miss Mommy, too.” She frowned and hugged me tighter. “Where’s Mommy, Daddy?”

“We’re going to go home now and figure things out. Everything is going to be ok.”

Abby booked my flight for Molly and me to go home to Cape Cod. I took Molly, and we left right away. I didn’t want to keep her in that environment any longer. She was glued to me the whole flight. She kept saying how scared she was that I’d be leaving her, too. I told her it would never happen, and that I was going to take care of her. After she settled down, I opened up to her about Riley and how she would have a new baby brother. She got so excited and could barely contain herself. Once the plane landed in Boston, I texted Riley.

To Riley: ‘Hey baby, the plane landed in Boston. I’ll be back at the apartment soon. I called the lawyer before we got on the plane, she sent in for an immediate hearing and order of protection against Sabrina until we know what’s going on. You won’t believe what I’ve heard so far. Love you and miss you. ~D’

Abby picked us up at the airport, and Molly had fallen asleep on the ride home.

“So what in the world is going on, Dustin?” Abby asked worried.

“The officer told me Sabrina got arrested for embezzlement. I don’t know the exact details, but I don’t think she’s going to be able to get out of this. The Officer said she stole a lot of money.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me! Sabrina had stolen money, but was throwing a huge fit about Riley and her family? What the hell is going on there?”

“I don’t know. I contacted Mrs. Brazelle, so I’m hoping we can get this solved quickly in court so I can get back to Riley with Molly.”

“You’re going to move out there, aren’t you? I took time off work so I can go out there too, when the baby is born and help if she needs it. I want to be there for baby Jordan’s birth!” Abby looked over at me and smiled.

“Yeah, I want to move out there. I think it’s best for Riley, Molly and me. Riley is still kind of freaking out about my Mom, and how that all went down. I think it would be a great new beginning for us. I’m glad you can come out there and be with Riley when the baby is born. She’ll love you for that.”

“Yes! I already spoke to Gram and let her know that Galena and I are going to take Riley out for a girl’s night to celebrate her engagement and the baby.”

“Riley will love that. You’re a great friend to us both. We really appreciate you and everything you’ve done for us.”

“That’s what friends are for, Dustin. Evan is the same way. He just works crazier hours then me. He’s trying to get off work, too.”

The car flew onto the highway taking us to our destination. Once Abby dropped us off, and I got Molly in the apartment, I took a small nap myself. It had been one hell of a trip, and one hell of a nightmare trying to figure all this shit out. It will all work out, though. I was just waiting on a call from my lawyer. I decided to text Riley again.

To Riley: ‘Hey, took a nap, waiting on the lawyer to call. How are you? Molly is still sleeping she must be exhausted, she’ll probably sleep the rest of the night.’

From Riley: ‘Poor girl, she probably is wiped out. Wish I was there with you babe. I’m all right kept myself in bed for quite awhile. Seth came over to cook dinner for me and keep me company.’

To Riley: ‘Well once the hearing takes place, I’m bringing Molly out there right away. I’m buying boxes tomorrow and packing up my apartment. I’m thinking the end of the week we’ll drive up there. Abby is coming too.’

From Riley: ‘Abby is coming! I’m so excited. That sounds like a good plan. I’m going to go back to sleep now, I love you, so much.’

To Riley: ‘Goodnight my fiancé. Love you too.’

I tucked Molly in her bed and kissed her forehead. Poor girl really was out like a light. She should get a good nights’ sleep, that’s for sure.

Morning came and went, and I cooked Molly breakfast. Simple scrambled eggs and toast is what she wanted. I turned on the news and there it was once again, Sabrina Marten as the main headline. The newscaster went on saying “Sabrina Marten charged with three counts of embezzlement from her former company Top-o-Line Imagery. Top-o-Line Imagery has yet to make a statement but we’ve heard that she stole approximately $200,000 dollars over the course of four years. Things aren’t looking too well for Ms. Marten who is from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. What we do know is she will most likely be serving time. Top-o-Line Imagery is a powerful company and will get what punishment they seek.” The story faded and the news continued. Was I hearing that right? My ex-girlfriend stole almost a quarter million dollars over the last four years! Who was this person, and why in the world had I not seen that happening? My cell phone rang. I looked at the display it was Mrs. Brazelle.

“Hello?”

“Dustin, please meet me at the courthouse in two hours. Bring Molly, as well. This will be over sooner than we thought. I’m 99% sure we will win this now.” She sounded very serious.

“All right, we’ll be there in two hours.”

I ended the call.

I got Molly dressed and ready, and we headed to the courthouse. Our case was quick, and the judge awarded me full custody on the spot. If only it could have been that easy the first time around, but I couldn’t complain. It was over. It was finally over.

We learned some time later that Sabrina pleaded guilty and would most likely be serving ten years in prison for three counts of embezzlement. I had thought about going to her trial, but I decided against it. Molly kept asking about her mommy, and I would just say that Mommy couldn’t talk right now. I needed to figure out what I would tell her, but I was hoping that I could figure that out with Riley’s help. I'm sure in time I would take Molly to visit her mommy and maybe talk to her on the phone. But she needed time to adjust right now.  Sabrina had put her through more than a child should have had to endure.

I called my job, and I told my boss I quit. I didn’t have time to give my two weeks’ notice and he was upset over that, but he understood my situation. He said he would still write a letter of recommendation for me, if I needed it.

I bought boxes, and Molly and I packed up the apartment together. Evan and Abby came by a few nights to help. I was happy because they were able to spend time with Molly, too. Molly just adored both of them.

I decided to write an email to my mother. With all the thoughts spiraling in my head, I felt this was the best way to let out my emotions.

I read it over several times to be sure I said what needed to be said:

Mom,

Are you happy now? Have you seen the news? Did you fucking see the news? Yes, I swore at you, I’m that mad. Did you happen to see the criminal on it that was charged with embezzlement? The same criminal who is going to be spending ten years of their life in prison for stealing close to a quarter million dollars? Did you see that, Mom? Huh, some people these days, right? You’d think that with all the help there is in this world, they could have gone a different route. Maybe even asked their rich parents or rich in- laws for help. I mean, I could come up with several other options than stealing from the company a person works for. Oh, you think she didn’t do it? You think it’s just a scam? You think maybe it’s possible she is being committed for a crime she didn’t do? What do you think, Ma? I know what I think, I think sometimes people need to be given a chance, and I’m sticking to my story. Maybe someday you’ll be able to look at Riley and say hey, that’s my daughter in law, and I’m proud of her for carrying our grandson, Jordan. What a predicament, right? Let’s all call Riley a criminal and bash her family that’s trailer park trash, right, Ma? Well, well, well, look who is the criminal now. The one you chose to back up instead of your own damn son.