From the Heart: Romance, Mystery and Suspense a collection for everyone (17 page)

He brushed her away.

“I will not leave and you’re not getting custody of Trevor
. I’m his mother and no court will take him away from me.” She was like a rabid animal that wouldn’t back down.

“You don’t give a crap about Trevor; you spend no time with him. You never have. For God’s sake Crystal, just go. I’ll be generous with my settlement. You’ll want for nothing.”

She shook her head with such steely control. “No Brad, you’re my husband and she can’t have you.”

So it wasn’t just the money. The pieces of the puzzle were dropping into place. Hold your cards closer to your chest. She knows things she shouldn’t. But how? He paced the kitchen, turning his back; a cold sweat broke out. When he turned back and glimpsed her smirk, he knew. There was a traitor in this midst. He didn’t know who, or did he? “Trevor will be starting his therapy again as soon as I can arrange it
, and you’ll not interfere!” He took a few steps toward her. “My lawyer’s drawn up the paperwork for custody and the order for divorce. If you continue to fight me, you’ll get nothing. I’ve been very generous in my settlement and offer for spousal support. This offer I’m making is one time only, so if I were you, I would do some serious thinking.” Brad needed to leave now. He had work to do, not just at the ranch. But to overturn every rock and find out whom the traitor was. He bundled Trevor in his coat, and carried him out the door.

He put Trevor in the truck and drove to where the men were working, a downed fence at the west end of the property. He dragged his cell phone from his pocket and dialed the number programmed in his phone.

“Hello.” The soft musical voice had always given him hope.

“Hi Mom, is Dad there? I really need to talk to him.”

Chapter Thirty-Four

Monday morning brought sunshine in the warm spring air. Walking into work, she was still wistful from her time with Brad. She must have jumped a mile when her boss
, Jake, strode up behind her.

“I need to have a word with you
, Emily. Can you come to my office?” His tone was chilly.

It was then she noticed Suzanne
, one of the other workers, behind the till, awkwardly averting her eyes. Emily followed Jake into his office.

“Shut the door please.”

Her hands trembled and it felt like jumping jacks bounced around in her stomach. She wracked her brain. Did she do something wrong? Jake sat on the other side of the desk, his tightly clasped hands folded in front of him. “I’m going to have to let you go.”

The floor fell out from under her. If he had sucker
-punched her, it would have hurt less. A confusing haze spun around her, as she sucked in a deep shaky breath, maybe she didn’t hear him right. She stared into his closed-off eyes. Then he visibly colored as he awkwardly leaned back in his chair, glancing down at his hands before meeting Emily’s gaze. This didn’t make any sense, just last week he called her into his office, praising her for what a great job she was doing. He’d even given her a two dollar an hour raise; what could have happened between then and now? She couldn’t for the life of her figure out what she’d done wrong.

“I… I don’t understand,” She somehow managed to get the words out, asking, but feeling gutted; her face flushed with hurt and humiliation.

Jake was now having a hard time looking at her. When he finally did, he gritted his teeth before looking over at her with a sympathetic appeal in his eyes. “I’ll give you a great reference, but I’m in a bind.” He splayed his fingers in front of him. “I had a call from one of my largest accounts and they threatened to pull it unless I let you go. It was some problem they had with you.” He shook his head and raised his defensive voice when Emily tried to appeal. “I’m just a small operation and if they pull it, I won’t be in business anymore.”

Emily was struck dumb as to who would want to do this to her. Leaning forward, furious at the injustice, she was determined to have all her questions answered. “Who was it that wanted me fired?” There was no way she was going anywhere until she found out and personally addressed it. It had to be a misunderstanding.

Looking away, he closed his eyes. “Emily, please. I don’t want any trouble and I’d rather not say. I don’t want to be dragged into the middle of this.” But his shame was changing into agitation.

“No, dammit it’s not okay, I demand to know. No, I think I have a right to know
,and if you won’t tell me, I’ll contact the labor board or a lawyer if I have to, and drag your ass through court for wrongful dismissal.” She knew she’d gone too far with that last one, but she couldn’t hold it back. She was being screwed over.

“Okay you want to know, I’ll tell you, it was Brad Friessen and there’s no way I can afford to piss off a guy like that.” Standing up
, Jake was furious as he pointed to the door. “Now get out.” Trembling with anger, he held out her check and waited impatiently for her to take it. Emily herself shook as she reached for the check, struggled for breath and tried to still the ringing in her ears. The implication of such a betrayal weighed heavily, how could he? She struggled to hold it together as she walked out past the customers, Suzanne, and she prayed no one else she knew. She fought to suppress the tears as she hurried back to her rental house. The whole time her mind swam with images of Brad. The questions, the pain, how this man, in less than forty-eight hours, had gone from making passionate unprotected love to her, to this. It just didn’t make sense.

She cursed everything she could upon him, and then upon all men. She wanted to hate him. Only it didn’t feel right after everything they’d shared. His confession, what Crystal had done. That was not a man who didn’t care. One who would then turn around and try to gut her entire existence. No, the Brad she knew would never have done anything that despicable. Her head was driving her crazy with that voice playing devil’s advocate. He’d let her leave his home, but he’d explained that. Then there were the problems with Crystal, after all he’d let her stay. But then she was his wife. Even if she disappeared and abandoned her child, she’d no interest in being a mother to Trevor. She dropped her head in her hands as she raged, trying to make sense of what happened. It was beginning to drive her crazy. He confided in her about why Crystal was still there
, and legally his hands were tied. Or had he just said that, for her benefit? She wanted to scream, she was so confused, none of this made any sense as she stormed up the walkway to the small house she rented. Unlocking the door, she went in and closed it tightly behind her. Tossing her purse down on the leather couch, she sank down beside it. The burgundy cloth covering the easy chair was so worn it was beginning to fray along the seams. Slowly scanning the room with her eyes, the toys were scattered by the green plastic tub. The crayons and coloring book littered the chipped, wooden coffee table.

She leaned back, feeling gutted, her breath shaky. She couldn’t fight the tears and didn’t try. She was a messy crier and let the keening go. “Can things get any worse
?” Her thoughts wandered to Katy, and what they were to do. Of course, the severance pay from Brad had been very generous, but Emily needed a job or the remainder of that money would evaporate in short order.

She took a deep breath trying to still the hiccup and crying jag. She grabbed the box of Kleenex and blew her nose. Talking to anyone, they’d know she either had a cold or was crying. She just sat there and listened to the sound of the clock tick away. Then she knew what she needed to do. Her motions were almost robotic as walked to the door, and then froze when her hand touched the knob. She backed away, strode into the kitchen and grabbed the telephone. Before she allowed herself to think about what she was doing, she dialed the number. It rang just once before it was picked up and answered by that sugary sweet voice. Emily felt her stomach sink. Hang up. She heard it but she didn’t listen. “I would like to speak to Brad, please.”

There was a long pause on the other end, before Crystal coolly asked, “Who’s calling please?”

Bitch, she thought to herself, she knows damn well whose calling. “It’s Emily. I’d like to speak with Brad please, now.”

“My husband’s not available at the moment. He’s downtown picking up our tickets. We’re getting ready to leave on a holiday together. It’s kind of celebration. I’ll tell him you called.”

There it was another knife in her back. What the hell was he doing, had he really just slept with her all night, with his son in the next room, and then gone home to her and reconciled. A vacation, are you kidding? She looked at the phone and her heart sank, she couldn’t believe he’d do this to her again. “Could you ask him to call me, it’s important.” She tried to keep the shake from her voice, but she failed miserably. Before she fell apart completely, she ended the call.

Laying her head down on the counter, she closed her eyes as she was unable to stop the sobs welling up inside. It felt like a vice had suddenly been squeezed around her chest and she allowed the pain to escape. Her knees gave out and she sank to the floor, letting go of everything she’d held together for so long. She cried, praying the pain swelling in her heart, threatening, in that moment to destroy her, would disappear. All the while cursing herself for being so stupid to allow this man to do this to her, again. As she sat there on the floor, long after her tears had dried up, she felt empty, like she had been pitched headfirst into an emotionless void. And it was then that it hit her, how she’d given herself so freely to him, opening herself up to this man—to Brad, in a way she’d never done before.

Chapter Thirty-Five

His father was Rodney Friessen. He was established, hard-headed and respected. To reach out and call him was, for Brad, admitting he’d been wrong. But he was—wrong, that is. In the end, he swallowed his pride and sought the help he and Trevor needed. It had been a bitter pill to swallow. His Mom had picked up the extension after listening on the sidelines for half an hour. To his daddy’s credit he never once said, “I told you so” or “you should have listened to me.” Instead, he listened without judgment, and then offered his help and some solid advice for a viable plan to resolve this situation, which meant removing Trevor from this acidic environment. Telling his parents Trevor had autism had been heart wrenching. His mother cried but his father remained silent. Then they both said they would be on the next plane back to Seattle.

Two days later Brad picked up his parents from the floatplane he’d chartered from Seattle. They’d not seen Trevor since he was a baby, so he was unprepared for their welcome.

“Brad, where’s my grandson.” His mom, Becky, was short, gray-haired, plump and flowing with life. She hugged him and then bent down to Trevor who stood hiding behind Brad’s leg. She took his hand and talked to him. She pulled a wrapped present from her handbag, which he grabbed. His “eeks” and squeaks were quiet for the first time, as he unwrapped two hot wheels cars and an Elmo talking book.

“Cool gifts, Mom.” Trevor seemed to think so too, as he sat on the grass and played with the first car he unwrapped.

His father was a tall man with short-cropped gray hair and deeply etched lines on his face. He hovered behind his wife, hesitant, the awkwardness still there. It wasn’t until Brad extended his hand that his father reached out and pulled him into his arms instead. Their conversation was stilted at first, until his daddy pulled him aside to let him know they were prepared to stay as long as it took.

The plan was for Trevor to return with his grandparents, to Baja. He would stay with them until Brad resolved this battle with Crystal.

On the drive back to the ranch, his Mom told him of a lady she hired who had experience with autistic children. From the minute Becky got off the telephone with Brad, she’d researched autism, the therapy Brad told her about and how best they could help Trevor. She was glued to Trevor the entire ride back and insisted on walking the ranch before taking Trevor in.

When Crystal saw his parents arrive, she stumbled on the porch.

Becky cooked dinner. The conversation around the table flowed from the cattle, the dairy contract, and then to Trevor. His father was masterful, charming, when he wanted to be, and ruthless. But it was his Becky who suggested Trevor come and visit. Crystal was hesitant, but his father cornered her with his charisma, leaving her no room to maneuver. Right after dinner, Rodney produced a letter of consent. Brad signed it first, and then passed it to Crystal. He noted her reluctance as she glanced at the phone. But Becky soothed her ruffled feathers and had her sign before she could find an excuse and change her mind.

Brad’s parents left in the morning, with the signed consent for customs and their grandson, Trevor.

“You call me as soon as you get things squared. Your Mom’s right on top of what needs to be done for Trevor. So you focus on what you need to do.”

“Thanks again, Daddy. And I’m sorry, I should have listened.”

“It’s done, but you call me if you need help.”

To have that support was like a return to the fold. For the first time, he felt his father had his back.

The fight with Crystal escalated the moment he returned home.

“You railroaded me, you and your parents. I never should have signed that letter.”

Brad smiled as he walked out the door.

*
·*·*·*

Brad was finishing a ham and cheese sandwich when Crystal strode in, dropping her leather coat on the chair and dumping her purse on the table. She kissed his cheek. “Surprise.” She dropped two tickets on the table.

“What’s this?” He picked them up and opened the flap.

“The Cook Islands, I booked us a beachside resort for ten days, nothing but sunshine, beach and being pampered, you and me.
” She traced her long painted nails up his arm.

“You’re unbelievable.” He pushed away his plate, threw down the tickets and walked out.

He was determined to do this right and heed his lawyer’s advice to walk away from a fight. It was hard, especially the way she goaded him. He phoned Keith again and yelled. “Hurry and get me that court date. I want her out of my house.”

Brad cancelled
Crystal’s credit cards, emptied their joint bank account before removing his name from the account. It was now solely hers. And he left firm instructions with the manager of the Bank; she no longer had access to any of his funds.

She’d stormed into the house when he was in his office. She’d thrown her purse at him, then a book
, and anything else she could grab. “You asshole, I was in the city shopping for a new pair of shoes and my card was declined. Do you have any idea how embarrassing that is, I tried every card and each one was declined. The manager was called and she took my cards and cut them up.”

Brad leaned his head back and howled. He laughed so hard tears leaked out. “I’d have paid good money to see that, baby.”

Of course, she grabbed his jade bookend and launched it at his head, he ducked thank goodness, and the glass unit behind him shattered.

Of course, the very next day Brad’s lawyer received a very angry call from her lawyer. A demand for maintenance for his client or they’d be suing him for damages. It was going to get nasty.

“Brad, listen to me, she’s already seeking full custody of Trevor. But now according to her lawyer, she’ll rescind this if you agree to drop the suit to divorce her, and reinstate her credit cards, and full access to your bank account.”

“Keith, she’s dreaming. I’m done with her; I’m not giving her nothing.” Brad squeezed his cell phone as he stomped out of the barn.

“Let me finish. It gets worse. According to her lawyer, Crystal’s alleging undue cruelty to Trevor through this ABA therapy treatment you started. It seems they’re able to track down some experts who’ll cite recent claims that it leaves these children not only robotic, but also scarred with devastating long-term effects, like a syndrome similar to what veterans from the war suffer.”

“I’m going in the house right now and I’m throwing her out. Trevor’s with my parents. Let her fight me from somewhere else.”

Keith shouted so loud Brad lifted the phone away from his ear. “I told you before to cool your temper. You do a stupid ass move like that and I guarantee you’ll spend the night cooling your butt in a holding cell. And I’ll leave you there. Then she’ll have a restraining order against you by morning, before you get out of lockup. The locks will be changed on your house and she’ll have a fast track to gaining full custody of Trevor.” When Brad hung up, ice water could have flowed through his veins. He shoveled out a few horse stalls before he’d calmed down, and then he called Keith back. “Listen Keith, you mentioned something about some experts who said this therapy for Trevor causes some war vet syndrome.”

Keith let out a heavy sigh. “Brad, there was a court battle in Canada a few years back. A group of parents took the government to court to obtain medically necessary treatment for their autistic children. The court battle went to the Supreme Court of Canada. In the Auton case, The Supreme Court in BC dismissed the information Crystal’s using from these experts as not valid, yet it was still published. Your Lovaas ABA therapy has been proven genuine, so we’ll use her theory against her. But the judge may be swayed by her interest as a mother torn, not wanting the therapy, by all the perilous misinformation that’s out there.”

“Listen up, Brad. I’m going to warn you again, because she knows what buttons to push to set you off. Control that temper of yours, be smart, think before you say anything, and above all call me if you’re not sure.” That last remark had brought a slight smile to his lips. Keith knew him well, too well sometimes.

“Plan B, I’ve hired a private detective I used to work with in Seattle. I guarantee you he’ll dig and find any deep dark secret and skeleton we can use on Crystal.”

Brad kicked at a pile of manure. “Keith, something’s been bothering me—Crystal coming back when she did and knowing things that were going on at the ranch she shouldn’t have. I don’t know, it’s as if she’s got someone on the inside feeding her information.”

“I’ll get Byrd, my guy in Seattle, to check it out.”

Brad stared at the house he loved with such venom. “Thanks, Keith.”

He pocketed his phone and grabbed a rake. “May as well clean out the rest of these stalls.”

* * * *

Two weeks and three days had passed since he last touched Emily. He should have called before now. If nothing else, to tell her how much he cared.

Keith called and he raced into town. They spent hours strategizing. When Brad left, he was distracted, but he didn’t miss the small brunette who gasped, ducked her head and attempted to walk around him. “Whoa, Em, what are you doing?” He reached out and grasped her arm. But she yanked it away and when she raised her head, he was rocked by the blazing fire that seeped from her eyes. “Em, are you okay? I know I should have called.” Whoa, if the sparks flying from her were any indication, she was madder than a nest of angry hornets.

“Well, funny you should ask. Just answer one question for me. What kind of kicks do you get by pulling that kind of crap on me? How could you, Brad? What did I ever do to you?”

He was stunned by her hostility. Her eyes had taken on a deeper hurt, as if she hated him. His gut twisted when the tears popped out in her eyes. “Look, Em, I’m sorry I didn’t call, I have no excuse. You’ve been on my mind almost every minute of the day. I just didn’t know what to tell you, I’ve been fighting to keep my head above water with this divorce and custody of Trevor. I just didn’t want you getting dragged into the middle of it.”

The look she gave him at that moment, Brad wondered if she’d ever speak to him again. Then she dropped her eyes and shook her head, and stepped around him to walk away. And then changed her mind, stepped into his space, tilting her face up to his, with all the fire and fury blazing in her eyes. “Your divorce? Are you kidding me, you sure have a funny way of showing it. Have a nice holiday, Brad?” This time when she stepped back, she was walking away.

It was pure instinct to grab her arm. “Whoa, just a second. What the hell are you talking about? What holiday?”

She rolled her eyes at him. “Don’t play games, Brad. I really thought you were different; that you were someone with values and integrity. What hurts more is how you could have done that to me. You know how hard I’ve been struggling and it hasn’t been easy finding another job.”

Okay, now she really had him confused, and he felt a sticky sick feeling expand inside him like a ball being pumped with air. A few curious people milled around. They were getting loud. Brad took hold of her arm and pulled her with him to his truck parked ten feet away. He yanked open the door. “Get in now.”