Chapter Twenty-Nine
Beth
Beth was going stir-crazy. She had spent the last two weeks secluded in either the bedroom or the living room. She wanted to feel the sun on her face. So deciding it was time to head outside, she headed for the back door.
“Where are you heading?” Devin’s voice stopped her.
“Outside. I’m going to go sit by the pool for a while,” Beth told him.
“Is that a good idea?” he asked.
“Devin, if I don’t get out of this house, I am going to hurt someone.”
“I just don’t want you to overdo it,” he explained.
“I understand that, but I doubt sitting outside will overdo anything.”
“Want me to go with you?” he smiled, kissing her cheek.
“If you have time, you can,” she smiled back.
Devin had been running around like a chicken with his head cut off since they got home from the hospital. Dealing with the aftermath of the shooting, fielding calls, and answering question after question, he barely had time to sleep in the last couple of weeks.
“I always have time for you,” he told her. But before they could get to the door, Diesel called them to a stop.
“What is it?” Devin asked, irritated.
“Beth’s mother is here,” Diesel stated.
“My mother?” Beth asked. “What the hell is she doing here?”
“I don’t know. Do you want to find out? Or do you want me to do it?” Devin asked her.
“Shit!” Beth grumbled. “Let’s go.”
Walking into the living room, Beth came face-to-face with her mother. She had not heard from her since the party at her parents’ house. No call to check on her after the shooting, no call afterwards. And now, she was standing in Beth’s living room.
“What do you want?” Beth asked her.
“Elizabeth!” her mother chastised. “That is not how you speak to me.”
“Oh really? And how am I supposed to speak to you?” Beth countered.
“With respect. I am still your mother.”
“Genetics. Jonathan was still my father, yet he had his mistress shoot me in the heart. Thankfully, she was a bad shot!” Beth fumed. “Say what you need to say, and get out of my house.”
“House? This is not a house. This is a clubhouse for biker trash,” her mother remarked.
Beth had already had enough. She would not allow her mother to disrespect her home. Stepping into her mother’s personal space, Beth lowered her voice, “Understand one thing, this is MY home. If you enter that door,” she said, pointing to the front entrance, “You will remain respectful to me and everyone else here. Am. I. Understood?” Beth demanded.
“You will not speak to me that way!” her mother screamed in her face.
“Diesel, show Mrs. Andrews the door,” Beth said, still glaring at her mother.
“Do not touch me,” her mother spat in Diesel’s direction.
“Ma’am, you can either go willingly, or I will carry you out. Either way, Beth has spoken. Her order will be followed. So, choose,” Diesel replied coldly.
“I am not finished talking to you, young lady.”
Beth let out a long sigh. Her mother would never get it. “Diesel, carry her out.” Beth turned to walk back the way she came.
“Elizabeth! Don’t walk away from me!” her mother bellowed. “Don’t touch me!” she continued to shriek. “Elizabeth! Please! I need money. The State froze all of your father’s assets. I have nothing.”
Beth stopped. Looking back at her mother, she said, “Not my problem,” then continued out the back door. She could still hear her mother screaming for her to return, but Beth was done.
What kind of parent didn’t check on their child when they were near death after a gunshot wound? Who the hell did that? she thought. Her mother, that’s who.
“Are you okay?” Devin asked when he joined her outside a few minutes later.
“I am now. This sun feels fantastic.”
“That’s not what I am talking about, and you know it.”
“Yes, I’m okay,” she sighed. “At least I will be,” she amended.
“Just so you know, because there are no secrets between us, I wrote your mother a check for five thousand. That should help her until she can find a job. I knew if she was put on the street, you would be angry with yourself.”
Beth wanted to be angry with him for going against her, but she couldn’t be. That was the type of man Devin was. Always ready to help someone in need. He did it during his military career and still continued the same acts of kindness today. It was one of the things she loved about him. But she wouldn’t let him off the hook just yet.
“She didn’t deserve it,” Beth replied.
“Maybe not, but whether you like it or not, she is still your mother,” he countered.
“Again, genetics,” Beth retorted.
Before Devin could reply, Diesel joined them outside. Flopping down in the chair across from Beth, he glared at her.
“What?” she asked.
“That woman,” he said pointing the direction of the house, “Is fucking crazy. Has she always been that way?”
“Crazy? No. A bitch? Yes,” Beth answered honestly.
Growing up, life was always about presentation. Beth was a senator's daughter. At any given time, she was expected to play the part. Like a southern debutante. She hated it as a child, and she definitely hated it as an adult.
“Well, she was escorted to the gate. Bitched about only getting five grand. Kept saying she couldn’t pay her bills with only five thousand, much less pay off her husband’s debts.”
“What debts?” Devin inquired.
“I don’t know and I don’t care,” Beth responded.
“I do. If his debts are illegal like most of his other shit, I don’t want the collector to think they can come after you for repayment,” Devin countered.
“I’ll call Banjo. Maybe he can find something,” Diesel said, standing and walking back inside.
“Are you ready to go in?” Devin asked, seeing Beth yawn.
“I think so,” Beth exhaled.
Placing her hand in his, Beth let Devin pull her from her seat. Her wounds were healed, but sometimes she would move the wrong way and it would still hurt. The doctor told her it would be months before she was completely mended. Beth wished it would hurry. She had a wedding to plan after all.