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Chapter 114
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I met with the cleaning crew the next morning after getting Bitsy and Jon off to school. It soon became apparent that I was in the way, so I headed to Reed's office. The phone rang minutes after I sat down."Reed Tyler's residence. May I help you?""Is this Jaycee Shumway?" an older man asked."Yes. May I help you?""This is Lawrence Morgan, Mr. Tyler's attorney. He wanted me to contact you and arrange a time for you to sign a few papers.""Umm, I'm not sure I understand.""Could I come to the house to meet with you at noon?""Well, umm, sure.""I'll see you at noon, Miss Shumway."Wow, so formal, and I had no idea what was going on. I also couldn't contact Reed to find out. I settled into my chair to add more figures to the spreadsheet. The more I discovered about Reed's finances, the more uncomfortable I became. Yes, he lived nicely, but he didn't flaunt itat least not the kind of money I'd discovered. We were no longer talking millions.Shit.I was sitting in the house of
Completion Chapter 116
Michelle Browning followed me inside the apartment. Her assistant, Julie, behind her. Bitsy was excited until she saw who was with me. My heart ached for both Bitsy and Jon. Michelle had never been anything but kind to us; she gave us the trailer. But her predecessor and the months Bitsy and Jon spent in foster care were not good memories."How are you, Bitsy?" she asked kindly.Bitsy hid behind me holding my leg. I could feel her little body tremble, and more than anything I wished we never had to go through an interview like this again.Michelle understood Bitsy's fear and turned to Jon, asking the same question."I'm good," he answered stiffly. His long black hair obscured most of his face and he didn't move it aside. Jon looked down and my heart clenched even more. I would never be able to erase those months that CPS took them away and the fear that it would happen again.Michelle turned from Jon and focused on me. "How is school going?"I took a breath. "With our new living
Completion Chapter 117
I survived my first week in Reed's employ. I also passed my written and driving tests with little difficulty. I now had a driver's license and not just a state issued identification card. The picture was awful, but I didn't care. The three by four inch card gave me a sense of freedom I'd never had.Maggie was waiting at the house when I returned from the motor vehicle department. She handed me a remote to one of Reed's other cars. It was a black Cadillac Escaladebright, shiny, and new, worth more money than I'd made in my entire life. It was parked next to my old trailer and was in the garage when we moved in. I checked the registration just in case Reed pulled a fast one on me, but he'd purchased it six months before I tried to burglarize his home. I was afraid to drive it, but figured I needed to get over that fear.I was just leaving the garage, forgoing the temptation to take it for a drive, when my phone sounded. Reading Reed's text made me smile.Congratulations. I know you pa
Completion Chapter 118
I worked the Saturday afternoon shift at Tasty Burger and then stayed with Bitsy that night while Jon went out with his friends. One of them had a car and Jon promised to wear his seat belt, not let anyone drink and drive, and if there was sex involved to cover up. I ignored all his eye rolls.There was a city curfew and he managed to get in with two minutes to spare. We didn't need any trouble, and CPS would find out if he was caught by the cops. The next morning, I gathered our laundry. Jon was sleepy and grumpy; he sat on the couch while Bitsy ate a bowl of cereal. I picked up the basket and carried it to Reed's house to wash.I started the first load and heard the front door open when I walked toward the front of the house. Expecting Jon or even Bitsy, my mouth dropped open when I saw Reed standing there. He looked exhausted, rumpled, and absolutely delicious. I was wearing my oldest threadbare sweatpants and a tight secondhand t-shirt that said "whales blow" on the front under a
Completion Chapter 119
We were back in Reed's bed, his arms around me, my back to his front. His breath blew over my damp hair across my neck. I listened as his breathing slowed, and he fell asleep holding me. We needed to talk. I had so much I wanted to say, but he needed sleep. I'd seen the exhaustion in his eyes. We could talk later.His tightening arms woke me up. His stomach growling made me laugh. I could feel him hard against my back."I'm hungry." His rough, sleepy voice was precious."There's a frozen lasagna in the freezer that I can heat up."He turned me so I was on my back and moved down my body while he spoke, "That's not what I'm hungry for."How could I not laugh? I'd heard his stomach. "You're such a liar.""Okay, so I'm hungry for two things. Stay still or I'll tie you down.""What if I want to be tied down?"He did what I least expected. He stood and pulled me off the bed. After opening a dresser drawer, he handed me one of his t-shirts. I wasn't sure what just happened."If I'm t
Completion Chapter 120
Bitsy stayed the night at Maggie's on Friday and Jon was going out with his friends. He did his laundry and packed his bag for our trip before he left, but I needed to wash for Bitsy and me and then pack for us too. I had a hamper full of clothes and was almost to Reed's front door when a shiny, very expensive car pulled up. It didn't take any imagination at all to figure out who the impeccably dressed woman stepping out after the driver opened the door was.Oh my hell.The glare she gave me should have turned me to stone. I looked about the same way that I had when Reed surprised me when he showed up Sunday. Mrs. Tyler could have stepped from a fashion magazine. Every died-brown hair in place, her skirt and blouse perfectly adorned with refined jewelry, and her face having been through subtle tightening, so, God forbid, no wrinkles marred her well-moisturized skin. I stood waiting for the attack."I've come to speak with my son. I'm assuming you're hired to do-something and forgot
Completion Chapter 121
I waved over Bitsy and Jon and then we followed Beverly down the long ramp to the plane."You can place your bags in the overhead compartment or under the seat in front of where you'll be sitting and then I'll introduce you to the captain."We quickly stored our bags and I noticed the wider seats and more luxurious accommodations in the front of the large plane. Reed continued to take care of us.Beverly knocked on the open cockpit door and the captain turned. "Welcome to my plane. I'm Captain Montague. Reed told me this is your first airplane flight and a certain young lady might want to see the controls and ask a few questions."Oh God, how could I not love Reed Tyler? Bitsy's questions started up again, but this time almost every one was answered. Jon and I got situated in our seats, him across from Bitsy and me. The captain finally explained to Bitsy that the cockpit door had to remain locked and closed during the flight and it was time for her to find her seat. With a shiny se
Completion Chapter 122
I didn't even breathe, just spoke. "Your mother came to see me."He dropped his hand. "Ah fuck. I'm sorry. I should have known and warned you. I can only picture what she would do and say. Were Jon and Bitsy there?"Of course he would worry about them too. That was Reed. "No, and I'm glad. Jon could handle her, but she would have scared Bits.""I've dealt with her for years, Jaycee, and I can tell you she'll lie and manipulate to get exactly what she wants."I gave him a slight smile. "You mean you don't have a fianceé heading into town?"He lifted his hand again and smoothed my hair, using his other hand to trace my lower lip with his finger. "I want a fianceé, but that's a talk for later. What else did she say?"My heart rate picked up, but I refused to give into what Reed offered. "It doesn't matter what she said. I know a little about your family history. I know your mother married your dad for his money." I reached my hand up and covered Reed's. "I know your dad died loving
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