The Mitchell Family Series BoxSet 1-4.5 (84 page)

By the next morning, she was all Conner talked about. The weird thing was that she had left before we woke up. Miranda was worried something had happened, like Conner was being an asshole, or maybe he tried something. Once she went into work, Amy acted like nothing happened between them, so Miranda dropped it.

In the past few months, Conner had seen Amy at our house quite a few times. Her husband was an alcoholic. He’d been married three times and I have no idea how they ever got together. She was a nice girl, with a good head on her shoulders. She cared more about other people than she did herself.  She was older than us, probably in her early thirties, maybe late twenties. Her hair was always a different color, but this week it happened to be a red. She had a cute body, but compared to Miranda, nobody was ever that pretty to me.

For some reason, Conner seemed interested in the lady. I don’t know if Miranda got it, until he went in for that haircut. He looked like a fucking moron, walking in there and standing behind Amy as she bent over to dust up some hair on the floor. He waited until she turned around to speak. “Hey, Beautiful, you think I could get my hair trimmed?”

After her initial shock of him standing there, she put her hands on her hips and cocked her eyebrow. “Your sister is fully capable of cutting that head.”

He sat down in her seat anyway and turned it to face her. “I reckon I’d rather have you do it.” He removed his hat and smiled, showing off his dimples like he was trying to charm his way into her pants.

I let out a low chuckle just watching him fail. Miranda put her hands over her stomach and took Iz into the back to clean up the ice cream mess on her face.

“I don’t have time to cut it.”

Conner looked around the shop. It was closed for lunch and he already knew it. “It won’t take long.” He shot me a look reminding me that I was staring. I turned around and faced my wife’s station, focusing on her hot picture that displayed her license. I loved seeing Miranda’s name listed followed by the name Mitchell. Making her mine was one of the happiest days of my life.

I leaned my head back in the chair and tried to relax, while my fool brother in law continued to basically beg for a haircut.

“Come on, Beautiful, just a quick trim. I don’t bite, well at least not unless you ask me to.”

I could tell he was on her last nerve, but I stayed out of it. “You’re a pig, Conner Healy. Stop calling me beautiful.”

“Why? It’s the truth. I think you’re sexy as hell.”

Shoot me now! He was about to get the shit slapped out of him.

“Well, let me remind you that I’m married.” I didn’t have to look behind me to see she was probably standing in front of him with her hands on her hips.

“You’re so pretty when you get all roused up. It’s just a haircut, Sweetness. Surely you’ve cut other sexy men’s hair before.”

Did he ever give up?

“Fine one haircut, but you’re paying double for getting on my nerves,” she teased.

I watched in the mirror as she approached Conner. He was laughing at his higher cost for a haircut. Amy shook her head and ran her hands through his hair. He stared at her face, waiting for a reaction. “I bet you imagined runnin’ your hands through it, haven’t you?”

Damn! I would have gotten smacked by now.

She took a huge chunk in her hand and jerked his head back. “If you don’t cut it out, I’m going to shave it all off.”

Conner quickly reached his arms around her and pulled her up against his body. She stood there, not letting go of his head. “When are you goin’ to stop fightin’ this?”

“There is no
this
!” She took her hands and moved them from him then back to her.

I couldn’t see Amy’s face, but Conner licked his lips and didn’t let go of her. He stood up, causing her to back up. He leaned in toward her ear. “Maybe next time then.”

Conner nodded to me with a big grin on his face as he walked out of the salon. I turned to look at Amy, once he was gone and she shook her head and walked into the backroom.  Miranda came out a few moments later, just as the door signaled someone was walking in. We both turned to see if it was Conner, and my heart dropped.

Heather came walking into the salon. She was dressed like her normal slutty self. Of course, her stare was on me, and I knew Miranda recognized her immediately.  “I’m here for my one o’clock. Is Amy around?”

I looked toward Miranda and pulled Izzy into my arms. She never took her eyes off of Heather. “Amy, your appointment is here.”

Heather approached me and didn’t stop until she was close enough to touch Izzy. “Hi, what’s your name cutie?”

“Isabella Mitchell, but my daddy calls me Izzy.”

Heather looked from Izzy to me. She purposely looked at me for a longer amount of time. “What a pretty name. I bet you love your daddy.”

“He’s my best friend besides Noah, but he’s my cousin and we can’t get married.”

“Is that right. Well, I think I know Noah’s Mommy.  Is her name Van?” I hated that she was doing this and I was ready for Miranda to pounce. I needed to get them away from this bitch, but pissing her off could cause a real issue with my wife.

“She’s my aunt. She’s real pretty.”

Heather stood up straight again and looked right at Miranda. “It’s funny running into you today of all days.”

Miranda put her hands on her hips. “And why is that?”

Heather looked down at her nails while she spoke. “Well, wasn’t today the big appointment?”

And there it was….the sound of my wife’s heart breaking all over the tile floor.

Miranda turned blood red and looked from me to Heather. “How would she know that, Ty?”

“Honey, I can explain.”

Miranda grabbed Iz out of my lap and started walking toward the door. “Save it!”

I brushed past Heather as I chased down my wife. “You’re a fucking bitch, Heather.”

Before Miranda could get out the door, Heather put her two cents in. “It was only a matter of time before he called me. He always calls me.”

I froze.

Miranda went flying out the door, while I chased after her. She was getting Iz into the car and shut the door. Conner was across the parking lot heading in our direction. “Baby, please let me explain.”

“Explain? Explain how you lied to me? How you call her? Was that who called last week during lunch? Save the bullshit Ty. I should have believed everyone when they said you could never change. How could you do this to our family? Why couldn’t I be enough for you?”

“You’re wrong. I swear to you that nothing happened….I” Before I could say anything else, I was being shoved into the side of the car. “Tell me why I just heard what I heard.”

I knew he was referring to Miranda accusing me of cheating. “It’s not what it looks like. I swear on my children, Conner. I never touched that bitch. I’d never cheat on Miranda.”

“How did she know then Ty? How would she have known about the test?” Tears poured out of Miranda’s eyes and she covered her face to hide her sadness from me. I reached for her, but got stopped by Conner’s forceful arms.

“Because her brother is the one doing the test. I had to track down her first to get his help. I swear Miranda. I didn’t tell you because I was afraid you wouldn’t trust me. I never touched her. I hate her. I just didn’t want to tell you on account of you getting yourself all stressed out. I planned on telling you as soon as I had the test in my hands.”

I turned to Conner. “Man, I swear to you. I have never even considered being with anyone else. Your sister is my entire reason for happiness. I’d never cheat on her.”

Conner looked me directly in the eye and I didn’t look away from him. Miranda cried harder and finally climbed into the backseat. “You can fix this yourself, Ty. You of all people know how jealous Miranda can be. Do this shit at home. We’re causin’ a scene.”

I didn’t give a damn who saw me. My pregnant wife was hurting and it was all my fault. I knew I should have just told her the truth.

God Damn it!

Conner and I sat in the front seat, while Miranda’s sniffles filled the backseat. We got about five minutes from the house before Izzy started asking questions. “Daddy, why is Mommy crying?”

“Because Daddy hurt her feelings.”

“Why did you do that?” She asked.

“Because sometimes people do things without thinking them through, Honey. I didn’t want Mommy to be sad.” It was the truth, this was killing me.

“I don’t want Mommy to be sad. Say you’re sorry, Daddy.”

“I did, Honey. Mommy just needs some time to calm down. Everything will be okay, I promise.” That was a lie. I didn’t know. I hoped that something this trivial could be worked out, but Miranda was pissed and I was afraid of what she was going to do.

Conner parked the car and took Izzy inside. He nodded at me, giving me a warning to work shit out. I opened the door and leaned on it, hoping Miranda would step out. She stayed in the car, avoiding eye contact with me. I knelt down on the ground next to the car and tried to grab her hand. She pulled away quickly. “Don’t touch me.”

“Nothing happened.”

She looked at me with such hate. “Why? Did she finally tell you she didn’t want you? Did you finally get rejected, Ty?”

I shook my head and grinded my teeth. “No! She didn’t fucking reject me. I never wanted her. I went to her house to track down her brother. I explained what I needed and after she got in touch with him, I left. I can’t fucking stand her, Miranda. How can you look at me and think so quickly that I would cheat on you?”

“You’ve done it before. With her!”

“Not with you. I’ve never even looked at another woman since we’ve been together. I don’t need to.”

She put her hand up in front of my face. “Save your bullshit excuses. You lied right to my face. I asked you and you lied.”

“You asked if I cheated and I told you the truth. I never fucking cheated on you, baby. I swear.” Once again I tried to grab her hand. She pulled away.

“If you had nothin’ to hide, then you wouldn’t have had to keep it from me.”

“I kept it from you because I knew you wouldn’t have let me go through with it. Do you honestly think if I had another choice, I wouldn’t have taken it. You know how much our daughter means to me. I had to do this, even if I did it behind your back. Saving her was my first priority. If you hate me for that, then I’m sorry. I love you more than I have ever loved another woman. I’m not interested in anyone else, ever! I would fight for you every single day and give my life to make sure you and our children were taken care of. I know this hurt you, but how do you think I feel sitting here seeing you doubt me? It fucking hurts Miranda.”

“You fucked up, Ty, not me.” She got up and started walking away from me.

I chased after her. “You’re right. I fucked up. I don’t regret it though, because it may have saved our daughter.”

“Our daughter Ty, not your daughter. The decision should have been both of ours.”

I threw my hands up in the air. “Tell me what to do? How do I make this better?”

She opened the door to the house and put her head down. “Leave me alone, for starters. I’m not ready to talk to you and I’m not sure what to even say.”

“Baby, please. I’m sorry.”

She slammed the door, leaving me standing there. I knew walking into the house would have just pissed her off, so I headed toward the barn. When I couldn’t find Harvey, or his alcohol stash, I sat down on a bale of old hay and just sulked.

I should have known Heather would sabotage my life. Her lies had caused a wall to be put up between me and my wife. Hell, I didn’t even know if she would ever trust me again. It hurt so much.

My phone vibrated in my pocket and I pulled it out, hoping it was Miranda.

Hello?

Ty, it’s me, Van.

Guess she called you.

Please tell me you didn’t do it.

I never touched that bitch. I swear to God. I’m not that person anymore, Van. Heather’s a lying bitch. I needed her to get her brother to help me. I swear.

I was hoping you would say that, because I already told Miranda to forgive you.

You what?

You’re not the same guy from college, Ty. Your love for them is beautiful and I can tell that they mean the world to you. I don’t think you should have kept it from her, but I get why you did it. You just need to understand that she’s hurt right now.

Does she know you’re talking to me?

Yeah, she loves you Ty. She’s just pissed. Give her some time and everything will be okay.

I’ve been sitting here wondering how I was going to live if I lost her.

When you really love someone, you get past it all. Just let her breathe. You know you get all clingy.

Don’t hate on my kindness.

Don’t worry, I still think you’re an asshole. An asshole that I love very much and don’t want to see fighting with his wife over a dirty skank.

I love you too. Thanks, Van. I really appreciate you being here for both of us.

You’re my family. We stick together, no matter how tough it gets, right?”

Right.