The Broken Road (16 page)

“It’s me. Lauren’s asking for you and we’re about to make some cookies. Do you want to join us?” Jen’s voice said. I could hear Lauren in the background singing loudly.

“Sure. I’ll be right over.”

Putting off grocery shopping to make cookies with my god-daughter was a no-brainer. Fifteen minutes later, I pulled into Jen’s driveway. Lauren rushed out to greet me.

“Auntie Megs, come on! The cookies are waiting,” she cried, leading me into the house. “Momma, Auntie Megs is here!”

“So I see. Hey Megs,” Jen said. She handed me a glass of wine and whispered, “You will need this to keep up with her.” Laughing, I followed them into the kitchen where a cookie workshop had been set-up. Cookie dough, sprinkles and cookie-cutters were spread on every available surface.  “Matt was called to do a surgery, so it’s just us girls today.”

“Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s make some cookies,” I said, laughing at Lauren’s infectious smile.

While we made the cookies, Jen and I chatted about old times. Our conversation was as general and typical as one would have with a three-year-old in the room, until Lauren threw me for a loop.

“Aunt Megs? Where’s Uncle Shane?” she asked, as we were making the cookie dough.

“He’s at work. He’s going to be sad that he didn’t get to see you.”

“Mommy and Daddy are married. Are you going to get married to Uncle Shane?” . Children can ask the most innocent questions that are the hardest to answer. I paused, trying to answer.

“Um. I’m not sure. It’s too soon to tell. I love your Uncle Shane though,” I replied cautiously. I obviously was not about to go into detail with a child. She seemed to accept my response and I felt I dodged a bullet. Once the cookies were in the oven and the kitchen was cleaned up, we put on a Disney movie for her in the playroom. Jen and I thought we were in the clear to talk about more adult topics, when she wandered in with another question.

“Auntie Megs. Are you going to have babies?”

Where does she come up with these questions? “I hope so. I hope I have a little girl, just like you,” I hedged.

“You should. So I can play with her,” Lauren replied matter-of-factly.

“Oh yeah? Are you going to clean her diapers too?” I asked, tickling her belly.

Giggling, she said, “No! That’s what Daddies are for!” I laughed along with her, but now the seed was planted in my mind. I did want kids. I wanted a little girl of my own. Did Shane want kids? Add that to the list of things we need to eventually discuss. I could see Shane with a baby. He was so good with Lauren. My thoughts wandered to what our potential child would look like. Would she have my hair? His eyes? I was lost in the fantasy that I didn’t hear the oven timer go off.

“Cookies!” All thoughts of new playmates went out the window as Lauren scrambled for the kitchen.

“Her babysitter is having another baby. She’s due in a few months. So, of course, Lauren has babies on the brain. She has been demanding a baby brother or sister for the last year,” Jen explained. That made sense.

I chuckled. “Yeah, I’ve been waiting too. So get working!” Jen and Matt are wonderful parents, but haven’t had much luck with having another.

“Next year, hopefully,” she replied, taking my hint and laughing along with me. After taking a package of cookies, I said my good-byes and headed home. The rain had given way to a sunny day. It was time for Penny to go out so I leashed her up and headed down the street. We were enjoying the walk when my cell phone rang. I didn't recognize the number, but answered it anyway.

“Hello?” I said. 

“Megan. It’s Tommy,” a voice from my past said. My stomach dropped. I had not heard from Tommy in a long while and normally it’s via text. This was not like him.
Something’s not right.

“Hi Tommy. What's up?” I asked wearily.

“I’m in the area and was wondering if I could stop by,” he said. My gut dropped. I don’t know why, but this was a bad idea. Call it female intuition or something, but this didn’t feel like a social call.

“I thought you were in New York. What are you doing back here?” I asked slowly.

“Oh, I’m working on a case. Are you free this evening? I’d like to stop by and say hi.” His cool and calm voice had me suspicious. I immediately thought of the federal case my Uncle Bob is working on. Could Tommy have something to do with it?

“I have a few things to do tonight. Can I take a rain-check?” I hedged. The prospect of seeing Tommy tonight didn’t give me the warm and fuzzies. Not to mention Shane’s reaction when he hears that my ex-fiancé is in town.

“Please Megs. I promise I won’t be there long. I’ll even bring dinner. You still love sushi right?” he pleaded.  Seriously? Dinner with Tommy? This is getting weird. I don’t know what’s going on, but it can’t be good if Tommy’s asking to come over. I reluctantly agreed and gave him my address.

“Great, I’ll pick it up on my way over. I’ll see you at six,” Tommy said cheerfully and hung up. I just stared at my phone. This is crazy. The whole conversation had my guard up. I looked at my watch and realized it was only three-thirty.
Great, only two and half more hours to stress.

I prolonged our walk as much as possible. I tried to enjoy the beautiful weather but Tommy’s impending visit was bothering me. The conversation in itself made me feel uneasy. Eventually we made it back to the house and I puttered around the house. I washed the dishes and did a load of Shane’s laundry, all the while not focused on the task at hand. I was trying to kill time until Tommy arrived. The feeling of dread weighed in my stomach. I’m not sure why, but a visit from an ex-fiancé from out of the blue doesn’t scream fun times.

I laid on the couch, flicked on the TV, and was barely paying attention to the news when the doorbell rang. I quickly checked my watch. Six o’clock on the dot. Tommy was always on time. I opened the front door.

“Hi. Come on in,” I said, standing aside. He looked the same, maybe leaner. Tommy was very tall and lanky, with green eyes and short light blonde hair. He must have come straight from work, as he was wearing standard federal agent uniform, black coat and pants with a gray button-down shirt.

“Hi Megan. You look great, as always,” he said, leaning in for a kiss. He aimed for my lips, but I quickly turned my face so he got my cheek instead. I feigned a cough and gestured him in.  He chuckled hollowly at the lack of warmth in my reception.

“So, what brings you here?” I asked, leading him into the kitchen. Lucky for him, Penny was outside. Tommy was highly allergic to dogs. I debated on keeping Penny in, just so he would leave quicker, but decided I did not want to be a bitch.

He set down the food and took off his jacket. “I was in the area and wanted to see how you’re doing. This is okay, right?” he asked, raising his eyebrows.

“No, it’s fine. Just not like you,” I replied, taking plates and chopsticks out of the cabinets. I set them down. “Beer or soda?”

“I’ll take a soda. I’m going back to the office after this,” he said, settling into a seat. I brought over two cans of soda and sat down. I selected a tuna roll and added soy sauce. This whole situation was strained and awkward. I don’t know much about his new life in New York. In fact, I don’t recall much of his life at all.
Huh. It’s amazing what a great relationship and mind-blowing sex can make you forget.

“Oh, Emily and Samantha give their regards. Samantha got accepted to William and Mary. Emily is about to graduate from The Juilliard this spring. Folks are good. How are you?”

This formality crap is getting old, I thought. “Mom and Kyle are good.” We sat in silence for a while, each of us testing the waters with mindless questions. I finally got fed up with it and bluntly asked, “Really, Tommy. Why are you here?”

“What? Can’t two friends get together for dinner?” he asked innocently. I rolled my eyes. I dated him for three years. I knew when he was full of crap.

“Yes. Two friends can get together for dinner. But we’re talking about us – and it’s not like we’re close friends. This is not normal,” I shot back.

“I’m just worried about you. I haven’t heard from you in a while. I wanted to make sure you were alright.” He busied himself with the soy sauce.

“So you came all the way out here? We rarely talk as it is, don’t you think a text message or a call would have been better? I don’t mean to sound like a bitch, but be real with me. What’s going on?” I insisted.

Tommy sighed. “I am helping Annapolis PD and the DEA on a big case, Megs. I figured that since I was in the area, I’d just stop by. Honestly, nothing is going on. I am worried about you though. You may not think so, but I do care about you. I just want to make sure you’re good,” he said sincerely. The moment he said “big case,” my interest piqued. What big case was he talking about? Uncle Bob’s federal case? Or something else?

“Tommy. I appreciate your concern. But really, I’m fine. Things are going well. I really don’t need you to check on me,” I replied, picking up a piece of eel.

“If you don’t need me to check on you, then whose bike is out front?” he demanded.

Bingo. I knew this would come up. I rolled my eyes. “Shane Turner’s. He moved in a few months ago.” I mentally dared him to react.

“Shane Turner, huh. Are you two together?” Tommy inquired, his eyes widening innocently. That irritated me. It wasn’t his business to know who I was dating.

“Why do you ask?” I asked, my eyes narrowing.

Tommy leaned back in his seat and put his hands behind his head. “I’m just curious and a little surprised. He’s not doing so well for himself. He’s bad news Megs. You should really pick your friends better.”

I immediately became defensive. “And how do you know this, Tommy? Are you checking up on all my friends too?” I asked. I could feel my blood start to boil.

Tommy leaned towards me in his chair. “I'm not checking up on your friends, I’m watching out for you. Did you know that Shane has a record a mile long? Possession of Cocaine and Marijuana; Intent to Distribute; Breaking and Entering; Grand Theft Auto? Did you know that he is on the DEA’s radar? You shouldn’t be hanging out with him, Megan; he's going to drag you down with him,” Tommy replied, seemingly annoyed that I questioned his motives

“What the hell are you talking about Tommy? Shane did that crap years ago; he has been out of jail for a long time now. What is the point of bringing it up now?” I asked, standing up to look him in the eye.

“It wasn’t a long time ago, Megan. The last time he was arrested was almost a year ago. If you don’t believe me, have Kyle look it up. You don’t know your boyfriend as well as you thinks you do,” Tommy pleaded, as he tried to hold my hands.

I jerked my hands away. “How dare you! You have no reason and no excuse to be meddling in my life. None. It’s none of your damn business who I see or who my friends are,” I yelled.

“I’m making it my business, Megan. Did you know that your man is hanging out with Reggie Cruz, a murder and third in line to one of the biggest drug cartels in the world? Did he tell you that he deals for the same cartel? Is this something you really want to get involved with? What would your Dad say if he knew you were living with a drug dealer? How would your mom feel if her baby girl was thrown in jail because she was living with a felon? Guilt by association and facilitating a drug deal are real offenses, Megs. Are you going to throw away your life for him? For nothing?” Tommy yelled back. His face was turning bright red and veins were popping out of his head.

“You stay the hell out of my business. Get the hell out of my house Tommy!” I yelled, my hands clinched in fists.

Chapter 15

“HEY! What’s going on in here?” yelled a voice behind me. Shane had walked in, obviously from the shop. He had grease marks on his jeans and shirt and looked exhausted. “What the hell are you doing here Tommy?” he asked. He clenched his jaw and fists and looked as if he was going to throw him out.

“I’m leaving. Think about what I said Megan.” Tommy picked up his jacket and brushed past Shane. Shane glared at him as he walked out, then came over to me and put his arms around my waist.

“What was that about?” he asked, searching my eyes. I couldn’t speak, I was too furious, so I just shook my head.

“Megan, tell me. What’s wrong? What did he do?” he lifted my chin up with his finger so I could look at him. I need something, anything, to dissolve the doubt that is growing. I pulled his face to mine and kissed him hungrily. Taken aback at my aggressiveness, he eagerly responded.  I ran my hands under his shirt, feeling his muscles ripple with excitement. He gently pulled away.

“Not that I don’t love this reception, but tell me something. What is going on? What did he say to you?” he asked, his voice husky.

I had to verify the truth. That was the only way I could handle it. “Tommy said that you were arrested almost a year ago on distribution charges. Is that true?” I asked.

Shane sighed. “More like last year. It happened before you moved back. I guess I never told you. I was with this guy, Monroe, and he had about seven grams of coke on him. It was more like guilty by association. I’m not doing that now. I’ve left that life.” He tightened his grip around my waist.

I believed him. God help me, I believed him despite a nagging feeling in my gut, planted there thanks to Tommy. “I'm just making sure. He told me that you were still dealing. That you’re on the DEA radar and is worried that you’ll drag me down with you,” I said quietly.

Shane’s steel gaze hardened. “Tommy needs to shut his damn mouth. It’s not a big deal. I got arrested and made a deal with the prosecutors. I served my time, did community service, and now I’m free. Adrian gave me a job and I have been straight ever since. I would never put you in that sort of danger. Tommy needs to keep out of our business.”

I nodded, relieved. Tommy was trying to cause unnecessary drama. I wasn’t going to believe him. However, the feeling that Shane was lying wouldn’t go away. I shook it off and let Penny inside.

“Hey, look at me,” I said, as I walked over and put my arms around his waist. “Tommy’s just causing trouble. I believe you. I know you’ve done better for yourself. You have me now, so of course you’re better,” I half-joked.