Read Until the End of Time Online
Authors: Melanie Schuster
Until the End of Time (38 page)
The fact that she meant them on some level wasn't reason enough for her to lash out like that. She finally moved to the kitchen to prepare some tea with a big jolt of brandy. No, bourbon. She needed to sleep that night and there was no way that she could, feeling the way she was.
Ungrateful, stupid, hateful wench, that's what I am
. She castigated herself in French while waiting for the kettle to boil. Suddenly she laughed at herself, scorn ringing in every ragged peal. "That ‘attitude of gratitude’ lasted about 12 hours, didn't it? You don't deserve to be happy, you stupid wench," she sobbed as the near-hysterical laughter turned to sobs. She was crying so loud that she didn’t hear the door open or even feel the cold air that blew in with it.
Ungrateful, stupid, hateful wench, that's what I am
. She castigated herself in French while waiting for the kettle to boil. Suddenly she laughed at herself, scorn ringing in every ragged peal. "That ‘attitude of gratitude’ lasted about 12 hours, didn't it? You don't deserve to be happy, you stupid wench," she sobbed as the near-hysterical laughter turned to sobs. She was crying so loud that she didn’t hear the door open or even feel the cold air that blew in with it.
Suddenly Andrew's arms were around her and he was holding her the way she needed to be held. "Andy. Oh Andy, I'm so s-sorry," she sighed as she clung to his strength.
"Baby, so am I. I really, truly am," he said softly.
Taking a last hiccuping breath, she turned her face to his for the tender kiss they both needed so badly. Even after the kettle started wailing, they continued the sweet, healing kiss.
Chapter Twenty Two
After their rapprochement in the kitchen, Andrew and Renee were able to talk about the events of the past few days. Renee went first, explaining to him what had transpired on her momentous trip to Cleveland. Andrew was astounded to hear about her mother's machinations regarding her father.
"Yes, Andrew, I apparently come from a long line of high-strung, erratic women. All this time while I was thinking my father was dog emeritus of the canine brothers, the gold standard by whom all other dogs will be measured and found wanting, he was in Georgia working his fingers to the bone for that harridan. And Andy, I haven't even begun to deal with the guilt,” she added ruefully.
Andrew didn’t pretend that he didn’t know what she meant. She and her sisters had all but ignored their father's existence over the past ten years out of loyalty to their mother. To find out that he was in fact the injured, innocent party was to call into question their own humanity. It would take a lot of healing and a lot of love before any of them felt right about it. He nodded understandingly and pulled her closer. They had moved to the sitting room of her suite and were cuddled up on her sofa under a Pashmina throw.
"Baby, I’m truly sorry you, your sisters and your dad got such a raw deal, but I think you’ll be able to work it out. Just talk to him and re-open the lines of communication, that's all you can do to get back on track," he said reasonably.
Renee sighed and then went on to tell him of Pearlie Mae's pistol packin' mama act which made him laugh out loud.
"So Pearlie Mae thinks I should defend your honor, hunh? I would have loved to have seen her with that gun," he cracked, thinking of Renee's dainty, impeccable mother with a sidearm.
"No, Andy, you wouldn’t have enjoyed it a bit. She might have taken a shot at
you
for not taking a shot at the slime bucket," she reminded him tartly.
you
for not taking a shot at the slime bucket," she reminded him tartly.
That was when Andrew had to enlighten Renee on the events of Wednesday morning when Bailey was given his walking papers. Renee was more interested in the reactions of his brothers and Clay to the news of her molestation.
"Andy, I know it's ridiculous, but it makes me feel dirty and ashamed, even today. I just don't want your family to think any less of me," she murmured, looking down at her lap.
Andrew immediately turned her face to his so that he could look directly into her eyes. "Baby, they think
more
of you, not less. I told you that Pop figured out that something was up and barged into the meeting we had last week. And I had to explain everything to him," he began. At her gasp, Andrew touched his lips to hers very gently. "Baby, he cried when I told him what had happened to you. He loves you, just like Donnie and Alan and Andre and Adam and Clay and Martin too, as near as I can figure. He plays it pretty close to the chest, but he is genuinely fond of you. He was the one who had the foresight to hire that detective," he reminded Renee. "And by the way, I didn't know you went with my baby brother to his prom," Andrew remarked.
more
of you, not less. I told you that Pop figured out that something was up and barged into the meeting we had last week. And I had to explain everything to him," he began. At her gasp, Andrew touched his lips to hers very gently. "Baby, he cried when I told him what had happened to you. He loves you, just like Donnie and Alan and Andre and Adam and Clay and Martin too, as near as I can figure. He plays it pretty close to the chest, but he is genuinely fond of you. He was the one who had the foresight to hire that detective," he reminded Renee. "And by the way, I didn't know you went with my baby brother to his prom," Andrew remarked.
Renee's eyes grew soft at the memory. "I had forgotten all about that," she said softly.
"Well
he
didn't. He adores you, Renee. My whole family does. Everybody thinks that you were extremely brave and one hell of a woman to go through all of that alone. And every single one of them wants a piece of that scum-bucket's ass. Especially Pop. Man, back in the day, he would have had him bumped off in a New York minute," Andrew said reflectively.
he
didn't. He adores you, Renee. My whole family does. Everybody thinks that you were extremely brave and one hell of a woman to go through all of that alone. And every single one of them wants a piece of that scum-bucket's ass. Especially Pop. Man, back in the day, he would have had him bumped off in a New York minute," Andrew said reflectively.
"Andy! You're exaggerating!" Renee admonished him, but she derived deep enjoyment out of the idea that his father cared about her.
Andrew just raised an eyebrow and said, "Okay. Believe what you want to believe. But remind me to tell you a few things about Pop from back in the day," he said mildly.
Suddenly Renee remembered something. “Andy, that detective Martin hired…what did he do with Donovan Bailey?”
Andrew snorted. “As near as I can figure, told him to get the hell out of town. Told him that Detroit was an extremely unhealthy place to be and suggested he get on the next thing smokin’ outta here. He didn’t call the police because he knows how important it is to keep a low profile on this, but I have to say I wish he had. At least there would be a police record if anything else happens.”
Renee took his face in her hands and assured him that nothing else would. “Donovan Bailey isn’t
that
crazy. After getting pimp-slapped from behind, I think he’ll turn tail and leave. He always was kind of a prissy bastard,” she said confidently. Later, although she would not have thought it possible, she fell deeply asleep wrapped in Andrew's arms. Andrew lay awake for some time, contemplating the difficult days that lay ahead. But he knew without question that he would do it again, if he had to.
In a New York minute.
that
crazy. After getting pimp-slapped from behind, I think he’ll turn tail and leave. He always was kind of a prissy bastard,” she said confidently. Later, although she would not have thought it possible, she fell deeply asleep wrapped in Andrew's arms. Andrew lay awake for some time, contemplating the difficult days that lay ahead. But he knew without question that he would do it again, if he had to.
In a New York minute.
***
The next day it was apparent that things would not blow over easily. The wire services had picked up on the story and it seemed that everywhere one turned there was another story about Cochran/Deveraux and their seemingly high-handed treatment of the beloved Donovan Bailey, the golden boy of the media. There were varying reactions within the concerned parties. Andrew and Renee were furious, but Donnie was remarkably sanguine about the whole thing.
"Look, we have a dossier on Donovan Bailey about two inches thick and he is going to keep his mouth shut about this or be very, very sorry. Some very unsavory things can come to light about his past, which is something he’ll want to avoid at all costs. Clay's people are getting ready to do some spin doctoring that’ll make us come out smelling like a rose garden in June, so don't worry, okay?"
Renee was sitting in her private office at Urban Oasis while Donnie was outlining his plans. The fact that he seemed so cheery and energized was unnerving to Renee and she told him so. "I am just not used to my baby acting like some ruthless corporate shark," she admitted.
Donnie, damn him, just beamed. "Yeah. Ain't it cool?" he said happily.
Men
. They got excited over any old macho thing, her sweet Donnie included.
Men
. They got excited over any old macho thing, her sweet Donnie included.
Andrew was just as agitated as Renee. He didn’t want her to be continually concerned and upset about the mess, and it seemed that every time a television was turned on there was a clip of that slime bucket in his prime, plus some pious newscaster adding his two cents. The reports that really galled him were the ones that included pictures of him with his perfect family, including a sweet faced wife and some children that Andrew thought privately looked rather snivelly. He kept that to himself as he knew it was his own unreasoning prejudice that made him feel that way. At the moment he was in his father's study in the big Palmer Park house he had grown up in. In answer to his father's question, he assured him that Renee was fine.
"She was mad at me for telling everything, as I knew she would be, but we're talking at least. She's concerned about how you all feel about her now and she's really nervous about facing everybody tomorrow night. But she's fine," Andrew assured him.
Renee had already invited the family over to decorate the tree and was loath to cancel the party, although she was a bundle of nerves. It angered Big Benny to think of her in that state and he once again offered his opinion that Bailey needed to be shown once and for all that he couldn't mess with a Cochran woman.
"I'm telling you son, the man needs killin' bad. I couldn't sleep a night on this earth if somebody laid a hand on your mother. Or Martha. I wish a son-of-a-bitch would touch my Martha," Benny fumed.
"Pop, your blood pressure," Andrew reminded him. Luckily, Martha, his father's lovely fiancée came into the study with a tray of tea.
"Ben, I could hear you all the way down the hall. Try to stay calm, baby. The boys are taking care of everything. Just drink this tea and listen to Andrew for once," she scolded gently.
"I hear him, I hear him," Big Benny said irritably. Sniffing at the tea, he reluctantly took a sip. Tea was his least favorite beverage, especially the herbal variety, but Martha would never let him drink in the afternoon. Andrew grabbed the remote control and switched the station as yet another sensational blurb pealed out regarding Bailey's ouster.
"Okay, that's my cue to leave. I've got to get back to the clinic for a few hours. See you both tomorrow.
"Give Renee my love," Martha said as Andrew kissed her goodbye.
As soon as she left the study to see Andrew to the door, Benny snatched up the cordless phone and hit speed dial. "It's me," he barked. "What the hell is taking so long?"
***
"Uncle Renee! Uncle Renee!" The arrival of Alan and Andre with their wives and children momentarily erased the anxiety Renee had been suffering. The children were devoted to her, especially little Drew.
“
Where you been, Uncle Renee? You ain’t been to see me in a long, long time,” he accused as he accepted her kisses. Renee gulped and was about to try to answer him when his mother, Faye stepped in.
Where you been, Uncle Renee? You ain’t been to see me in a long, long time,” he accused as he accepted her kisses. Renee gulped and was about to try to answer him when his mother, Faye stepped in.
“
You
haven’t
been to see me,” she corrected with a smile. “And get down off poor Uncle Renee before you break her neck.”
You
haven’t
been to see me,” she corrected with a smile. “And get down off poor Uncle Renee before you break her neck.”
Drew reluctantly loosened his death grip on Renee’s neck and allowed her to set him on the floor, but he didn’t budge from her side. He looked up at her with such adoration that she got a lump in her throat. Just then, Andrew appeared next to Renee and put his arm around her waist.
“
Hey, shorty. You aren’t trying to steal my girl, are you?” he asked with a serious look. Drew looked to be considering the matter. He loved his Uncle Andrew, but he was crazy about Renee.
Hey, shorty. You aren’t trying to steal my girl, are you?” he asked with a serious look. Drew looked to be considering the matter. He loved his Uncle Andrew, but he was crazy about Renee.
“
Well,” he said slowly, as he eyed his favorite uncle and his beloved Uncle Renee “we can
share
her, I guess.”
Well,” he said slowly, as he eyed his favorite uncle and his beloved Uncle Renee “we can
share
her, I guess.”
He was obviously loathe to give up that much, but sharing was something all little children understand, albeit with reluctance. So the three of them made their way over to the Christmas tree and watched as Alan and Andre put on the last strand of lights. This was the job everyone hated and they did the best, primarily because they did it fast, accurately and considered their contribution over. For the rest of the night they would do nothing but eat like young horses and sequester themselves in the basement with ESPN. The hard work, as they called it, was taken over by the other guests.
Donnie had brought his usual date, Aneesah Shabazz who was home for the holidays from Stanford. She was a beautiful full-figured woman with an elaborately braided hairdo and incredible dimples. Adam’s date was his business partner and best friend, Alicia Fuentes, a stunning African-American/Cuban woman with a numbingly high I.Q. and a great sense of humor. She and Adam were busy tying on the myriad of brocade bows while the children doggedly hung ornaments at their eye level which would give the tree a lopsided effect that Renee and Bennie always corrected after they went home.
While everyone was busy trimming and gossiping, Renee went into the kitchen, ostensibly to check on some food related issue. In reality, she was going just to get away for a moment. She leaned against the work island in the middle of the kitchen and took a deep breath. Everything was going surprisingly well; she had anticipated being awkward and ill at ease among the Cochrans’ now that her deepest secret was practically front-page news. But she had felt nothing but affection and support from the moment the guests had started arriving. With a profound sense of gratitude for being with such understanding people, she was about to make sure that the buffet was well-stocked when first Faye and then Tina entered the kitchen. She didn’t have time to wonder what was up when they each took an arm and led her into the breakfast room.
“
Renee,” Tina began, “we’re not going to pretend that nothing has happened. Obviously, the Cochran men have told all,” she said ruefully. “But we wanted you to know that we’re here for you. I know, better than anyone, how you must be feeling and all I can tell you is it will get better.”
Renee,” Tina began, “we’re not going to pretend that nothing has happened. Obviously, the Cochran men have told all,” she said ruefully. “But we wanted you to know that we’re here for you. I know, better than anyone, how you must be feeling and all I can tell you is it will get better.”
Renee stared in amazement at Tina, a slender, dark-skinned woman with a short curly haircut.
How can you possibly know?
Tina made a slight grimace and sighed. “I know because it happened to my sister when she was a freshman in college. The circumstances were different--she was accosted by a stranger and beaten quite badly, but the end result was the same.”
How can you possibly know?
Tina made a slight grimace and sighed. “I know because it happened to my sister when she was a freshman in college. The circumstances were different--she was accosted by a stranger and beaten quite badly, but the end result was the same.”
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