Red Tape (20 page)

I curled up in a ball on the shower floor and wept until I had no tears left. Then I crawled into bed and slept for two days.

Chapter
24

A year had passed since the traumatic events in my life. Frita O’Donnell and Lorraine Paso were both found guilty during their trials and were sentenced to a very long time behind prison walls. It was stressful to testify against them, but my parents hung in there with me, encouraging me, making me feel less afraid.

Bonnie recovered from her injuries after a few long and difficult months. She eventually quit her job at Sunshine Township, as did I. Rodney had taken a disability retirement last I heard. I was trying to get on with my life.

It was Christmas morning and my almost two-year-old was opening the presents Santa left for her under the tree.

“You forgot one, Mandy. Let’s go in the kitchen. Santa left another present for you in there.”

Mandy ran into the kitchen. When she got there, she froze with her eyes wide and her smile even wider. Her present, complete with a big red bow, was wagging his tail and barking at her.

“Puppy!” she yelled.

“Yes, baby, that’s your puppy. Santa brought him for you.”

Santa partly brought him for me too. I wasn’t afraid of my own shadow any longer, but I decided I wanted a family companion…and watchdog, anyway.

“He’s a German Shepherd. What do you want to name him?”

“Snicues.”

“Snickers? Okay, that’s a good name.”

The phone rang.

“Merry Christmas!” It was my mom.

“Merry Christmas, Mom. Mandy says Merry Christmas too!”

“How does she like the puppy?”

“She loves him! She named him Snickers.”

“Are you coming over today?”

“We wouldn’t miss it.”

“Bring the dog.”

I dressed Mandy in her pretty red and black dress. “Pittie,” she said.

“Yes, you are, sweetie. Mandy is very pretty,” I told her.

I loved that she could talk and communicate more with me since she was a little older. She was the center of my world. If it wasn’t for her, I didn’t think I would have been able to make it through the post-traumatic stress. She gave me a reason to keep going, keep living. I had been in counseling for the past eleven months and my psychologist said I was ready to stop the sessions and get on with my life.

If there was any good that came out of my horrible experience of working at Sunshine, it was that I had gotten my wish. I was suddenly a stay-at-home mom. Bonnie, Rodney, and I each won a $500,000.00 settlement from the town for their failure to maintain a secure working environment. This was plenty of money for me to be the full-time caretaker of Mandy until she was at the age to start school. Still, there was something missing. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my life. Did I want another job? Or to go back to school to study something else? Or to meet a nice man to date? There was a lot I needed to figure out.

We drove over the bridge to my parents’ house. The island was starting to make a comeback from last year’s dreadful storm. Many businesses were back up and running. Everything was starting to look bright and shiny new. Time heals all, I supposed.

“We’re here!” I announced.

“Me-ma and Pa Pa?”

“Yes honey, we’re at Mom Mom’s and Pop Pop’s house. I bet they have more presents for you!”

“Yay!”

My parents had finished their remodel of the entire downstairs six months ago. It was nice. They added granite countertops, hard wood floors, and top-of-the-line appliances. The smell of turkey and stuffing filled the air when we walked into the door.

“Smells good in here,” I said.

My parents made a big fuss over Mandy in her dress and since the patience of a child her age isn’t the greatest, they let her open her presents before dinner. We sat down to eat. I was barely able to spoon the mashed potatoes onto my plate when my mother started.

“You know, Chelsey, it’s been a year.”

“I know, Mom,” I said with a condescending tone.

“I know you don’t want to hear this from me again, but you need to get out of the house and have a social life again.”

“My psychologist says I’m fine.”

“Yes, fine, but you don’t have a life.”

“I have a life. I have Mandy to worry about. And I have a dog. That’s all I need.”

“I just wish you would take care of yourself too. Taking care of yourself doesn’t mean you won’t be taking good care of Mandy.”

“I do take care of myself. I never missed a counseling session.”

“You know what I mean. You don’t go out with friends, you don’t date, and you basically don’t leave your house except to come here.”

“I don’t feel much like going out these days.”

“You’re not the same Chelsey that you were before the ordeal.”

“I don’t know if
that
Chelsey is ever coming back, Mom.”

“We’re just worried about you.”

“Don’t be.”

“You know Jose and Stephanie are having a New Year’s party. Why don’t you and Mandy come?”

“Mandy goes to bed by eight and Snickers needs to be let out. You know I can’t go to a New Year’s party.”

“The party starts at seven. You can bring the dog here and leave him in his crate. Just go for an hour,” she pleaded. “If you are having a good time, then we’ll take Mandy home with us and we’ll take care of the dog so that you can stay and enjoy yourself.”

“I don’t know.”

“You haven’t seen any friends in a year. Getting out will do you good. Just go for an hour with us.”

“If I say I’ll go, will you leave me alone and never bring up this subject again?

“Yes, okay.”

“Fine then, I’ll go. I’ll meet you here a little before seven.”

* * *

I arrived at my parents’ house at six forty-five on New Year’s Eve. I decided to wear the little black dress that I had bought over a year ago when I went shopping with Bonnie. I never had a chance to wear it, so that seemed like a good occasion to dress up. I knew my parents were just looking out for me. I did want to get out and start enjoying myself again. It was time. I deserved to take pleasure in the little things again, like friends. I was nervous because I hadn’t seen Tex since
that
day and I didn’t want to discuss or think about Mr. Triggers ever again.

My father met me outside. I tried to hand the crate containing Snickers to him without messing up my dress. He put Snickers in the house for me so I didn’t have to unbuckle Mandy. Five minutes later, my parents jumped in their car after giving Snickers some water and a treat. I followed them in my car to the party. Tex answered the door and gave me a giant hug. “We’ve missed you,” he said.

“I’ve missed you too.”

He took our coats and pointed us toward the food. I was relieved that Tex didn’t say anything about Sunshine or the dreaded day I didn’t wish to discuss. Mandy waddled over to play with another toddler who looked to be a year older than she was.

“Go ahead, go get something to eat, I’ll keep an eye on her,” my mother said to me.

My dad struck up a conversation with Tex and I headed toward the food. I poured myself a nice large glass of homemade sangria. I had forgotten how good Stephanie’s sangria was. I checked over the delicacies on the table.

“The bratwurst is awesome,” I heard a voice say.

I turned to look and there was a handsome man standing next to me with brown hair and hazel eyes. He was probably about my age, but had a cute, boyish appearance to him. “I’ll have to try that,” I said.

Stephanie called out, “Hey, Lance, your son is trying to eat the soap in the bathroom.”

“I’ll be right back,” he said to me.

He chased after the three-year-old that my daughter had been playing with and then returned.

“Your son is adorable,” I said. “That’s my daughter he’s playing with.”

“Yup, that’s my boy; already chasing the pretty girls.”

I smiled. I looked at Lance’s hand. No ring. Maybe this was going to be my lucky night. I spotted Bonnie running toward me.

“Chelsey!” she said. “I missed you so much!”

She gave me a huge embrace. “I missed you too!” I said.

I
had
missed Bonnie. I hadn’t kept in touch with anyone too much after the ordeal I had been through. I didn’t want to do much of anything except pay attention to my daughter. The moment I had thought I might never see Mandy again, I had made a promise, that if I had gotten out of that situation alive, I would spend every free moment of my time with her. As a result, I didn’t spend much time maintaining my friendships. I knew I had to change that. I didn’t want to become an overbearing, smothering parent. I was thrilled to reconnect with Bonnie and rekindle my previous friendships. I made a New Year’s resolution to start a fresh new life in this upcoming year.

“Where’s Jayce?” I asked.

“He’s on call at the hospital tonight, so he couldn’t come.”

“That’s a shame. Where are the kids?”

“They’re with my in-laws.”

Lance walked away to say hello to another couple walking in the door.

“Who’s the hottie?” Bonnie asked.

“I don’t know. I heard Stephanie call him ‘Lance’ but I haven’t had a chance to talk to him much.”

“I didn’t see a ring on his finger.”

“Neither did I and I haven’t seen him with a date yet,” I said. “It really is great to see you. How are you feeling?”

“Oh, I’m just fine, I’m all healed up, good as new.”

Bonnie and I spent the next hour catching up. By that time, my parents were ready to take Mandy home with them. I decided to stay and spend a little more time with Bonnie. I went over to say good-bye to my daughter. I gave her a big hug.

“You have fun at your sleep-over with Mom Mom and Pop Pop,” I told her.

“Mandy loves Mommy,” she said as she waved to me.

“And Mommy loves Mandy!” I said.

A few minutes later, the little boy ran up to me.

“Hi. What’s your name?” he asked.

“I’m Chelsey; what’s your name?”

“My name is Kris. Where did Mandy go?”

“Mandy had to go home to go to sleep.”

“Are you her mommy?”

“Yes, honey, I’m her mommy.”

“Will you be my mommy too?”

“Oh, sweetie, I don’t think your mommy will like that very much. I’m sure she wants to be your only mommy.”

“My mommy died.”

My heart broke. I felt so bad for this little boy and I wasn’t sure what to say.

“I’m so sorry, sweetie. You must miss your mommy very much.”

“I’m looking for a new mommy.”

“How about we play a game,” I said, trying to lift his spirits and change the subject. We played with some toys for a little while, then he curled up in the corner of the couch and drifted off to sleep. I grabbed the afghan that was folded over the back of the couch, covered him with it, then tiptoed away. I hadn’t eaten yet and the sangria was starting to go to my head.

I found Stephanie in the kitchen, putting out more food. I grabbed an appetizer.

“That’s a mini Beef Wellington,” Stephanie pointed out. Stephanie always outdid herself with food when she threw a party.

“It’s delicious,” I said.

“I saw you playing with little Kris over there.”

“Yeah, he’s a cutie. Do you mind if I ask what happened to his mother?”

“Oh, she died during childbirth. It was a high-risk pregnancy. I’m not sure exactly what happened, but she had health issues before she got pregnant. High blood pressure, I think.”

“So sad! He never got to meet his mom. And his father never remarried?”

“Look at you, out on the prowl. I knew you’d like him.”

“I’m not out on the prowl, exactly, and yes, I did find him attractive. I wouldn’t mind talking to him some more.”

“You’ll get your chance. He’ll probably stay until midnight so long as the little one stays asleep.”

I was on the lookout for Lance the rest of the evening, but he knew so many people at the party. Everyone kept pulling him away to talk. He was a social butterfly and I was more of a wallflower. We enjoyed a few stolen glances at each other across the room, but never got a chance to talk again. It was nearly midnight. My eyes were heavy and I knew I had to get home soon. I was used to going to bed early in the evenings and this was late for me.

I gathered my purse and coat and headed into the party room where the countdown had begun. I was looking for Bonnie to say good-bye. “Ten, nine, eight,” everyone chimed in together. “Seven, six, five…” I felt a hand on my shoulder. “Four, three, two…” I swiveled my head around to see who it was. “One. Happy New Year!” I felt a warm, sweet kiss on lips and strong arms wrapped around my waist. It was Lance. He was a good kisser.

He whispered in my ear, “Happy New Year. I don’t even know your name.”

“Chelsey,” I said. “That was a nice surprise.”