Chapter 14
I finally got started on my next piece of work, I worked all day on Monday, until Rhett got home, he was so tired that soon as he had food he went to bed. He kept telling me that this week will be intense training and next week will be a little more relaxed as Terry doesn’t want his body to burn out on him, which I was happy to hear because Monday night Rhett looked beat. He kept telling me to come to bed with him, but I know Rhett well enough to know that he would not be sleeping, so I told him that I had some work to finish off just so he would go to sleep. That night I did write a lot, and even got to send the first draft off to Ed to double check it for me. Noah called me in the morning to let me know how the appointment went, and the big news of what they are having, and I could not be happier, I was right there having a boy. I have already bought a few things for the baby, I heart London onesies, but now I want to pick up a few boy outfits.
Yesterday I wrapped all my gifts, I got to show Rhett them, he said they were all really nice but didn’t really look at what I brought. Every gift is now wrapped and under the tree.
I went with Helen to work, as I wanted to see how Chloe was doing, as I didn’t speak to her at the weekend. I was surprised when she wasn’t sat by the window, to my surprise she wasn’t even in the room. So instead I looked around the building to see what else was here, it reminds of a college campus, not like I know what they look like, but when I took Noah when he first went to college, I’m sure this is what it looked like. Helen was telling me about the children she is looking after, she didn’t go into detail about them because that would get her in trouble, just how hard she was finding one of them and is thinking of a way to help him. As I listened to her talk about the centre, how it has helped a lot of children, I think back to my conversation with Ed, and if I want to study this.
Chloe finally got back, she went out shopping with the girls, she looks so happy, a smile of a girl that has finally learned to enjoy life. She thanked me a few times for talking to her, and telling her about my past and showing that anything in life can happen, it’s up to you what you do with the situation in front of you. When I told her that I wouldn’t be in for the rest of the week as I had to study, she was shocked that I had taken that step, when I explained to her that it is something that I want to do for myself. She said that she has always wanted to work in marketing, and might look at some colleges to study it, Helen said that she would help her, which made Chloe even more excited to do this. I was so happy that I was able to help Chloe, I couldn’t stop smiling that this girl just needed someone to show her the way.
We went out with Jay and Amy later in the night, Rhett wasn’t in the mood to go out, but Jay kept telling him that it’s important for her to like him and me. I felt sorry for Jay and spoke to Rhett about going. Rhett wasn’t happy with me either about it, but I think he needed a night out. I have to say Amy is really nice, Rhett already told me she was nice, and I agreed with him when we both said she is too sweet for Jay, but just seeing her smile around him was so cute. He really does like her, and I really hope that it all works out for him.
“You ready yet,” Rhett walks into the bedroom, “no because your still in that,” he points my outfit, legging and a loose sweater.
“We are going to the pub, I don’t really need to dress up do I?” I ask him, closing my mother's journal and stare at Rhett pulling out the chair to sit down. “I’m just going to change into my jeans, and we can leave,” I say, playing with the loose leather on the journal.
“Got any more work to do?” Rhett asks, taking a sip of his beer.
“No, when Ed sends the piece I sent him back if everything is good then, I just have to study for the exam in February.” I give him a smile. I told Rhett about my conversation with Ed about studying to be a social worker, he thought it was an excellent idea, as he knew that it was the thing that I really liked when I helped Chloe.
“Have you made a decision about what you are doing next?” Rhett asks.
“No, and I’m not going to yet, I might not even pass the first time, I mean half the stuff goes over my head,” I start laughing, “how are you feeling today?” I ask him, he looks better than the last two days.
“Good, Terry’s training is slowing down now. Are you okay?” Rhett asks, taking my mother's journal from me, “you think smiling at everyone will foul us, but I think I know you better than that by now.” He gives me his sexy grin.
“Nothing is wrong with me, just wanted to feel close to home for a moment,” I take the journal from him, “Christmas is in a few days, so I thought I would read one of their Christmas’s,” I say, leaning back in my chair putting my legs across his.
“Well don’t forget to write about our first Christmas, because there are so much more to come,” pulling me off the chair so that I sit on top of him, “I’ve wrapped your gift and it's under the tree,” Rhett says, kissing me neck.
“It is?” I ask with excitement.
“It is, your one of them, aren’t you? The ones that shakes the gift to see what it is?” Rhett starts laughing.
“No not really, but it my first gift from a boyfriend, so of course I'm going to be excited about it.” I tell him, bringing my lips to his, I softly brush them across his, “So even if its crap, I’m gonna love it.” giving him a kiss, Rhett moves his hands up my legs, then stops as the doorbell goes off.
“Get your jeans on, and meet me downstairs,” He says as he gives my ass a slap as I walk away from him.
“Go get the door,” I shout back as I get into the walk in closet, to grab a pair of jeans.
Walking into the sitting room, I see Rhett talking to his lawyer, he seems happy, relaxed good news I hope. “Hey sweetheart, I’m a free man,” he waves the paper in his hand to show me.
Smiling I walk over to him, “then we do have to go out and celebrate,” I lean over the couch to give him kiss, “no more drama from her,” I say, hoping it is the last we hear from her. Putting my coat and scarf on, I turn to Rhett saying bye to his lawyer, Rhett gives me a smiling, “it feels good not dating a married man,” I start laughing at him.
Rhett laughs at me, as he gets his coat, “can’t wait to tell everyone,” Wrapping his arm around my shoulder, “let's go.” He sounds so happy, I know this was really playing on his mind, and now that this is over with he can relax.
* * *
Sitting at the table, just waiting for Jay to join us then Rhett can tell them all the good news, he has told Helen ad Terry that he has good news, Helen keeps looking at the door and if it’s not Jay she swears to herself, which makes me laugh.
“About fucking time,” Helen shouts at Jay walking over to the table, “sit down, Rhett has something to tell us,” Helen tells him.
“Can I get a beer fir…”
“No, I really want to know what it is?” Helen shouts at him, making me laugh even harder, Jay looks over at the bar and asks Grant to get him a beer.
Jay pulls out a chair, “you’re pregnant,” Jay says smiling at me.
“I’m not pregnant,” I reply quickly.
“I thought that was the news, I was getting so excited,” Helen says, leaning back into the booth.
“Sorry mom, now I think my news isn’t as exciting if that's what you were all thinking,” Rhett looks around the table as they all nod their head, “well my divorce is finalized,” Rhett says feeling a little shit about the news.
“About time the bitch signs the papers, and that is good news, not fantastic news but good.” Jay says thanking Grant for the beer, “So this means we don’t have to see the bitch again?” Jay asks.
“I hope fucking not, Rhett can finally put the shit behind him,” Terry says, drinking the last of his beer.
“Rhett it’s really good news, I was hoping to find out I’m going to be a grandma today but, I suppose this is good news too,” Helen looks at me through her wine glass.
“Wow, guys, put the pressure on us why don’t you,” I look at them all, turning to Rhett. “I think it's the second best news this year,” I tell him giving him a quick kiss.
“Second?” Rhett asks.
“Yeah, knowing I’m going to be an aunty beats this, sorry.” I lean on his shoulder.
Kissing the top of my head, “want a game of pool?” He asks me.
“Sure,” I get up and walk over with him, “sorry no one got excited about your news,” I smile at him, I feel bad for him, he was so excited about it, and it got pushed to the side.
“Well at least when we do finally tell them we are pregnant, we know how they will react,” Rhett pulls me in for a kiss, “but I swear when that day comes, it will be the best news of my life.” Giving me a wink, he gets the pool table ready for us.
“Good to know you won’t freak out when that does happen,” I smile as him taking the first shot, “you really are shit aren’t you,” I tell him pushing him out the way to take my shot.
As I lean on the table, I feel Rhett’s weight on top of me, “maybe someone can teach me,” he whispers into my ear, “I’m a good student.” Biting my earlobe.
Leaning on me, I turn around leaning my bum on the table, “Well I’m a terrible teacher, so I think it’s best you stick to fighting,” I tell him.
I look over at the table, Amy has joined them they are all laughing about something, “so does my family pass?” Rhett asks, leaning his arm on me.
I turn to Rhett, “Yes, I’m very happy with your family.” I reassure him, “You guys really do look after each other don’t you?” I ask.
“Yes, and now you’re one of us too,” he smiles, “them three over there brought me out of a dark time in my life, I owe them more than I can ever repay, so Miss Parker, you playing or not?” Rhett asks me.
“Are you ready to lose?” I ask him moving out the way for him to take a shot.
“I already know that I’m going to lose, sweetheart,” Rhett says making me laugh, he really is not good at all, no wonder Jay wanted a new partner.
Rhett lost which we were both not surprised with, leaning on the table, I look around to see that everyone has left, it’s just us left, Grant and Whit are both sat at the table. I know we came late but didn’t think everyone would leave this early, looking at my watch, maybe it’s not that early eleven, I bet everyone has to go to work in the morning.
“You not training in the morning?” I look over at Rhett, we should get going for him to sleep.
“Yeah, but Terry hasn’t yelled at me yet, which means I might get another lie in,” pulling me closer to him, “so now that I have a little extra time what can we do?” Rhett asks while kissing my neck. I hear the door open behind Rhett and he jumps up, and stands in front of me, turning around my heart speeds up as I watch Zach walking over to us.
Terry and Jay walk over to us, while Grant stays close to Helen and Amy, “I thought I made myself clear last time,” Rhett shouts at Zach, Jay pulls me closer to him, patting Rhett’s back to let him know he’s here and got me, Rhett takes a step forward.
“You did, but you see the thing is, my dad, told me a few things, and that little princess behind you ran away from us, and now we would like her back,” Zach says, and my whole body shivers, Jay felt it too, as he pulls me in tighter. I want to throw up, I want to run again just to get away from them, but my feet stay stuck to the ground.
“You have to go through me first, and if that happens which I doubt it will ever happen, you have to get through them,” Rhett points behind him to Terry and Jay. “But let me tell you one thing right now, you don’t look at her, or even think about her when this fight is over, you got your second shot at me because you used her, but I tell you so you know it won’t happen again.” Rhett stands right up close to Zach's face, “because if you do, I will tell everyone what you did to her, and how you got your rematch, and we both know that will be the end of you.” Rhett says pushing him back.
Zach starts laughing, “you really think that you can beat me again,” he turns around and looks at Helen, “your son, thinks he can beat me again,” still laughing Zach turns to face Rhett and stops dead in his laughter. “I’ve come here today, because I found out the best thing to play with your head, at first I thought it was her, and it still is, but she talks to you and can calm you down. So I thought long and hard what do I need to do to get into Rhett’s head.” Zach stops, and I look up at Jay, who’s watching Terry, who’s watching Helen, “then it hit me, keep your enemies close but keep your enemies, enemies closer.” Zach opens the door to the pub, and the air in my lungs get stuck there when I see CeCe walking in, she’s smiling, that bitch walked to the other side to hell.
It’s like everyone but me knows what is about to happen, as Terry rushes to Rhett’s side, Jay turns me to face him, cupping my face he kneels down so his face to face with me, “what is about to happen, is not going to be good…” Jay takes a deep breath in and looks over at Helen, I can’t help but look over as well, and she nods to Jay, making him turn back to me, “his demons are coming.” Jay whispers, and my legs go weak, and it’s taking all my power not to throw up right now, my body is shaking. If these three are this worried about whoever is about to walk through that door, what the fuck should I be thinking.
“You bitch,” Helen shouts towards CeCe, “you will pay for this, I will find a way to make you PAY!” Helen screams the last word, and my body a trembling.
What the hell is about to happen?
“So I found out that there are only a few men that can get inside Rhett Johnson’s head, so I thought I would let them come for a visit.” Zach opens the door to the pub, and I watch three men walking in, big men about the same size as Rhett and Terry.
Rhett looks back at me, and the worry on his face is all there, his eyes burning me as he looks back over at them, Jay still holding me tight.
“Not seen you in a long time Rhett,” one of them says, and Rhett’s body tenses up, “I bet you remember us.” He adds taking a step closer to Rhett, making Rhett take one back.
First time I have ever seen him take a step back from someone, I watch them all clearly as they walk closer to Rhett, Terry stood next to him, whispering something in his ear. Their eyes move to Jay then me, and they stop there staring at me.
“So this is the women, that has the magic to stay with…”
“Stay the fuck away from her,” Rhett shouts making me jump, “your problem is with me not her,” Rhett tells them, which makes them look away from me.
“We don’t have a problem with you, we sorted out the problem a long time ago, remember Rhett, do you remember that night?” One of the others asks him.
Rhett says nothing, but Terry steps forward, “get the fuck out, before a fight breaks out, which we all know won’t end well. So fuck off, and Zach you just be ready for next weekend.” Terry pushes him away.
I watch the three men leave first laughing as they exit the door, Zach’s eyes are looking at me as he walks out, blowing me a kiss just as he comes out of sight. My eyes move to CeCe slowly moving past Rhett, but he grabs her arm and pulls her close to his face. I see Grant getting off the chair and locking the door, oh shit what is happening.
Rhett pushes her to the floor hard as I hear the thud as she hit the floor, “You bitch, you know what you have just done?” Rhett shouts at her, no one is trying to stop him, whoever they were, these three know that CeCe deserves wants is coming to her.
“I know what I did,” she stands back up, “I told you, Rhett, if I can’t have you then no one can.” She looks to me, as Jay walks me to the table where Helen is sitting. “It was always meant to be us, Rhett, you and me, until the end. You know that I can’t survive without,” she takes a step closer to him, “you saved me, helped me, and I know that you love me,” She says grabbing hold of his t-shirt.
“You have really fucking lost it,” Rhett tells her.
I watch her for a moment, just looking at Rhett, her body trying to react to him, and then it hits me. Rhett came to her rescue, so she sees him as being her guardian angel. She can't do anything without him, she doesn’t love Rhett she just sees her obsession as love.
Grabbing her hands, “do you know what you have done telling him about them?” Rhett asks her again.
“I didn’t tell him anything, I would never do that to you, you know that all I told him where the names and how they can help get in your head,” CeCe tells him, pleading with him.
“In my head, you fucked with my head,” he grabs her by the neck and pushes her to the wall, “you have fucked with my head one too many times. I want you to never, and I mean never come near me again,” Rhett says I watch CeCe trying to fight for air.
“Someone stop him!” I yell looking at everyone, who is just watching this.
“She brought his demons here, she…”
I cut Helen off, “I don’t fucking care if she brought the devil himself,” I run over to Rhett, “hey, look at me,” his eyes move to my face. “Let her go, come on your not a man that hurts women, let her go.” I plead with him, I had CeCe behind gasping for air, Rhett moves away from me, and flips the table to the other side of the room. He won’t even look at me.
“Thank you,” CeCe whispers through gasp of air.
“Fuck you bitch,” I turn around to her, “everyone in this room wants you dead for what you just did, and just because I stopped Rhett doesn’t mean I don’t want that too,” I tell her looking back over at Rhett, still not looking at me.
I go to walk away when I hear her talking, “you know that sooner or later he will have to tell you, and I know that you are too much off a bitch to stay with him after, I have a good idea of your past, and a girl like you…”
She stops talking as my fist connections with her face, grabbing a handful of hair I pull her head up and then crash it on the table, and then just like Rhett did I grab her by the neck, pin her against the wall.
“Bitch you have no idea what I’ve been through, but know this, I’m not leaving, no matter what his past is, I’m not leaving. So like my boyfriend said if I ever see you again, I swear to God the next time, I won’t let you walk out of here.” I tell her, letting go of my grip around her neck. I have been in fights before a lot of fights, but this is the first time I have really had to stop myself from hitting her more.
CeCe walks past me, and I hear the door shut behind me, I turn around and look at Rhett who’s looking this way but not staring at me. Terry walks over to him, and Jay walks over to me.
“Hey, you okay?” Shaking my head, Jay grabs my hands to stop me pulling my band, “Terry’s going take Rhett back home, Helen and I are taking you, give Terry some time to see how he is in the head.” I nod as I have no words, no I have the words, but none of them are coming out.
Helen walks over to me and wraps her arms around me, and tears fill my eyes, Jay wipes it away. Helen pulls away from me. “We will leave in a bit, give Terry some time to see where Rhett is head wise,” she looks over at Jay, “what are your plans tonight?” She asks him.
“Cancelled,” He answers and then walks over to Amy, he’s cancelling plans with her.
I sit down, closes my eyes and put my head on the table. I just want a moment to myself, just thinking about what happened tonight has me freaked out. I feel Helen rubbing my back comforting me, I hear a chair pulling out, which means Jay has joined us again.
“You ready to go?” Helen whispers to me.
“No, but I suppose I should,” I say lifting my head off the table, I give them both a very poor smile.
Walking into the house, we are met by Terry, I look around for Rhett but he’s nowhere to be seen. “He went to bed,” Terry tells me, nodding my head, “I’m not going to lie to your sweetheart, he’s not in a good place at the moment,” Terry tells me, I take my coat off, and hang it up.
“Jay is going to stay over,” turning around I look at Jay, “we don’t think he’s going to have a good night,” she tells me.
“When we say not a good night what are we talking about, hitting, waking up screaming or panicking someone is hurting me, what are we talking about?” I ask them, and all I’m getting back from them is silence, biting my bottom lip I nod my head to myself, walking away to the kitchen. I would say this is the perfect time for a drink, but I can’t do that, grabbing the milk out of the fridge, I decide to have some hot chocolate, “would you guys like something stronger?” I ask them as they follow me in.
All three of them looking at me like I’m about to break, I would say they should, but I’m staying strong, there is a part of me that wants a drink, but there is a bigger part of me that wants to show myself that I’m stronger now.
“I can make some,” Helen grabs the hot chocolate from the cupboard, she looks at Terry and Jay, putting a mug in front of her, I walk over to the table. I feel a headache coming, putting my head on the table, I try to zone everything out, “I can’t believe she did that to Rhett after everything he has done for her,” I hear Helen say.
“I’m going to get him to stop with the payments as well, I mean he’s not his real dad, so it should all stop, any contact he has with her stops now,” Jay says.
I feel a hand on my back, “Hey sweetheart,” I hear Terry’s voice, he starts rubbing my back, “I promise everything will be okay, I’ve spoken to him, but at the moment he’s in no head space to talk.” Lifting my head of the table, “he didn’t even speak to me, it’s like he shut us off.” Terry looks over at Helen and Jay talking, “the demons came to him, and even though they didn’t threaten you, in his head right now, he thinks they did, his fear…”
“Terry,” I stop him, he’s trying so hard for me to keep a straight head about Rhett, “I understand when I saw Zach and his dad in the hotel I broke down and didn’t talk to anyone, I left too remember. I just have to wait this out, and I know once it’s all over, everything will be all right.” I tell him because I do believe we can work this out after. When I saw Zach come to the hotel, the first thing I did was drink and then run away, so I do understand where Rhett is right now. The only difference is I spoke to Ed, Rhett’s shutting himself off from everyone.