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“I just wanted to thank everyone,” I say to my employees when I get back to the site on Monday. “For working hard and getting everything done in my absence. I really appreciate you guys keeping everything on track.”
Everyone nods and one of the men speaks up.
“Did they catch whoever really killed Stanley yet?”
I shake my head. “Not that I’ve heard of. He was a good man and hopefully they find whoever killed him soon.”
I head to the office to get the change in plans I want to review with one of my employees when a shadow darkens my door. When I look up and see who it is, my face darkens right along with it.
All the rage I felt when I saw Miller in the courtroom feels no less now that I’m no longer being set up for something he knew I didn’t do. I have to grab the back of my chair to keep from wrapping them around his neck as he looks around my trailer, smirk still on his face as if he didn’t try to ruin my whole life. Doesn’t matter to me that he failed. He tried, and I have to convince myself that’s not enough of a reason to walk around this desk and fire my nail gun into his neck.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” I growl.
“Came to see what you look like now that you’ve shed the jumpsuit,” Miller says.
“Do you know what I’ve been working on with my lawyer since I got out of that jumpsuit? A harassment lawsuit against you.” His face goes red with anger. “In fact, I think he should have left the courthouse from filing it just a few minutes ago.”
“You think I don’t know that?” He spits, then tries to regain some type of composure, visibly calming himself. “Nothing happens in this town that I don’t know about. I know all about your little lawyer going down to the courthouse an hour ago, thinking he can take me down. It’s not just me though, it’s the whole police force you’ll be facing, and that’s not going to happen.”
It dawns on me why he’s here. He found out about Terry being at the courthouse, maybe even knew it was to file a lawsuit against him, and got scared. Terrified, if he came here knowing the risk having any contact with me brings. And he thought he’d come here to...what? Intimidate me? Reason with me?
Even with anger that’s just one wrong word or move from boiling over, I still smile. Smirk really. “So that’s why you’re here? You’re shitting yourself because you know your world’s about to come crashing down around you now that everything you did is coming to the light?”
His face twists. “You don’t know what you’re starting boy.”
“Boy?” I laugh, cutting off whatever he was about to say. I walk around the desk, closer to him as I begin talking. “This boy just beat the murder charges you helped cook up against him. Remember that the next time you even glance in my direction,” I get in his face. “Boy! Now get the fuck out of my trailer.”
“We can let bygones be bygones,” he says through clenched teeth. “You stop that lawsuit in its tracks, and you won’t have any more problems from me, from anyone.”
I back up, utter astonishment rushing through me. I could almost laugh if I wasn’t so shocked at the audacity of this asshole. Coming here, asking a favor of me. Of me. Like he hadn’t done his damnedest to destroy everything I’ve worked so hard for.
“You tried to take everything from me. My freedom, hell my God damn life if I’d been found guilty of something you and I both know I didn’t do. How fucking dare you come here offering me some bullshit truce because you realize just how deep in your own shit you are. Everyone is seeing you for exactly who you are now, a crooked ass cop, and really just a fucked up human being, and you want me, me,” I shout, the anger bleeding through. “The person you painted as a fucking killer, to come clean up how people see you? The fucking nerve you walked in here with to even ask me that.”
“Listen Damir...”
I scoff. “Oh it’s Damir now? Not criminal, scum, piece of shit? Damir huh?” I walk over to the door and open it, the sunlight spilling in. “For the last time, get the fuck out of my trailer, off of my site, and away from me. If I suspect you’ve even been thinking of me, I’ll be letting my lawyer know. I better not fucking set eyes on you again until it’s time for me to testify against you this time.”
He takes a step, but towards me, not the door. “If you fucking think I’m going to sit back and let you tarnish my career...”
“Go ahead, finish that sentence so I can tell my lawyer how you threatened me. I dare you.”
His eyes narrow, hatred in them, a muscle ticking in his jaw as he stares hard at me. Some type of common sense must hit him because he begins walking, pass me, out the door, down the steps of the trailer. I stand in the doorway and watch him until he’s completely off of my site. And then I quickly call Terry to let him know what happened.
“You really do need to move,” Terry repeats again. “This asshole really has it out for you. He’s not going to stop Damir. Him coming there shows he still thinks he has some type of power to throw around.”
“And what’s to stop him from just fucking up my life wherever I move?” I shout, slamming my hand down on the table. “What good is filing the lawsuit if it just seems to make him realize he has nothing to lose?”
“It’s worse here, he has much more sway here than he will anywhere else, because this is where he works, where the other officers think they know him, and took his word for things, like the bullshit he told the detectives. That won’t be the same anywhere else. And we filed the lawsuit to take away the badge he’s been using to get away with everything. Once we take away what that badge gives him, he’s got nothing.”
“I know, I know. Sorry.”
“It’s okay. I get it. You have every right to be pissed. But just don’t let it make you do anything stupid.”
“I know. Thanks.”
My line beeps, and I pull it away from my face to look at it.
“Mariah’s calling on the other line. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Bye.”
I click over and hear the longest groan.
“Uh, Mariah?”
“I feel like death warmed over,” she says hoarsely. “I had to leave work and come home.”
“You sound like the undead.” I chuckle. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t even know what you call these.” She groans. “Cramps, baby pains, punishment for all my sins.”
“That bad?”
“Worse. I don’t know if I should call the doctor or not.”
“If it’s bad enough to make you leave work, I think you should call.”
“Right. Okay, I’m gonna do that then.”
“Let me know what she says and as soon as I can leave here, I’ll bring you anything you want to make you feel better. Or... Whatever the doctor says you can have.”
“Okay. Bye.”
I hang up, immediately texting my mom to see if what Mariah feels is normal. But in typical Evelyn fashion, she doesn’t text back, she calls, offering to drive two hours just to bring Mariah some Tylenol. After I tell her I’m waiting for Mariah to tell me what the doctor says and promising to call her with any news, she lets me go.
Mariah texts that the doctor said they’re most likely growing pains and to bring some Tylenol, loads of chocolate, and ginger ale just as the developer walks into my office. After thanking him for his patience and updating him on the progress, I tell him that things will get done even more timely now that I’m back in charge.
“You’ve done good work, despite the setbacks you’ve had,” he says.
Setbacks. That’s a nice way to put it.
“Thanks. It’s been really nice working with you. It’s nice to build something where the developer actually wants the best put into his buildings instead of cutting corners everywhere possible.”
“I try. Not that my pockets thank me for it.” He chuckles. “I’m looking for somewhere to put my next development. Like this one, but a couple of townhouses in that one, still having a park and pool for the residents.”
A light bulb goes off in my mind. “What would you think about building one about two hours from here?” I ask.
“What do you have in mind?”
“Where my parents live, a huge plot of land just became available. I don’t know how much the land is going for or anything, but it would definitely be big enough for what you’re talking about.”
“And you would be open to that kind of drive every day?”
“It’s time for a move and having work already waiting for me there would make it that much easier.”
“Well get me the details, and I’ll look into it.” He shakes my hand.
I stop at the pharmacy before I go home and find Mariah curled up in a ball on the couch.
“Baby,” I rush over to her. “Is it worse? Are you okay?”
She just groans, moving only her head so her eyes meet mine.
“I have Tylenol for you. Let me get it and some juice. I’m be right back.”
I shake out two pills and pour her a cup of ginger ale. She sits up slowly and takes both from me.
“Can I rub your belly or something?” I ask.
“I don’t think that would help,” she answers.
“What can I do?”
“Let me use you as a pillow and watch movies while the Tylenol kicks in.”
“You got it.”
I sit beside her, and she moves down the couch until she’s laying her head in my lap. She puts a movie on while I stroke her hair. Her snores reach my ears not even ten minutes into the movie. I smile as I look down at her, leaning forward to kiss her cheek while my hand leaves her hair and goes to her belly.
Every single time my hand settles on the small bump, it feels like the first time. I still can’t believe we’re going to have a baby, but I guess I should have noticed the clues, or would have been able to if I had been able to touch her and see her without plexiglass between us. The moment Liam blurted out the news, everything changed. I knew we had to move so I could be here for my baby and not sitting in prison for something I didn’t even do.
Then I knew I needed to propose to this woman. To make her my wife and let her know she means more to me than all the world. I’d spent the past few days racking my brain for a way to surprise her and ask and was coming up blank. But in speaking with the developer today, I think I’ve finally come up with an idea.
When Mariah tries to shift and get comfortable, I pick her up and carry her to bed, tucking her under the comforter before I undress and take a shower. Then I get to do one of the things I missed the absolute most while I was behind bars. I bring my body as close to Mariah’s as possible before wrapping my arm around her middle. Tucking my face into the side of her neck, inhaling the smell that is uniquely her, I close my eyes and go to sleep.
I wake up alone, but smile when I smell bacon. Walking into the kitchen, I lean against the wall and watch her, dancing to some tune in her head as she pours apple juice into two cups. My quiet chuckle draws her attention to me, and she gestures dramatically at the plates.
“Breakfast is served.” She bows.
“My mom must have really been doing a number on you.” I laugh.
“She did show me the simplest, almost dummy proof, way to make bacon. In the oven for fifteen minutes. As for the pancakes, they were frozen and I popped them in the microwave.” She grins.
“Well thank you. Trust me when I say I will never complain about anything you cook after that jail food.”
“Good to know. Come on. Eat.”
“You’re feeling better?” I ask.
“Much. That Tylenol worked quickly. How was the movie?”
“I was busy looking at you honestly. Didn’t watch much of the movie. Couldn’t really hear over your snores anyway.” I chuckle.
“Snoring is a symptom of pregnancy.”
“So what was your excuse before?”
Mariah kisses me and leaves before I get in the shower. As soon as I’m dressed, I head out to a place I’ve been to a few times since getting released. John’s house. I always come in the morning, knowing his wife will be at work and his daughter at school, and put an envelope of money in the mailbox. I can only hope it’s enough.
John called me the day after his family received the first envelope, asking if it had come from me, but I feigned ignorance. It still doesn’t seem like he buys it, but I know if I admit to giving the money, he’ll insist on paying me back. The way I see it, I’m the one paying him back for the kindness he showed me when he didn’t have to.
When I get back in the car, I take out my phone to call my dad, hoping he can help me set some plans in motion. For the future. The only future I’ve been able to see ever since Mariah became unconditionally embedded in my heart. A wave of anticipation settles in me just thinking about everything coming together, and what comes next. Now, I just need Mariah to love everything as much as I do.
