SWNOVELS Acts of Salvation: Chapter 12
It’s been a whirlwind couple of weeks. The only good thing that’s happened as of late is the fact that Dr. McCreepster went on his yearly mission trip, performing reconstructive surgery on children with cleft palates in South America. Maybe he isn’t so bad…
In any event, his trip means that there haven’t been any additional tent sightings and I’ve been able to collect my pay without drama.
The same could not be said for poor Bella. Her dad was shot while on the job and is now in a coma. I know that life-threatening injuries are a very real possibility when working at a private security firm, but the reality of it actually happening is still shocking.
And to add insult to injury, not long after, William dropped her ass like a sack of potatoes and went back to his psychotic ex.
Fucking men. The root of all evil if you ask me.
Anyway, this is why I find myself outside of Bella’s California home, waiting for her to answer the damn door. She and her twin brothers are staying here while her father is being cared for at a local hospital, which is good, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss her.
After five minutes of waiting, I decide it’s time to make a call.
The line rings, and rings, and rings…
“Woman! It’s about time you picked up your phone. Open your damn door, already.”
“What? Why? Are you here?” Bella sounds as confused as my abuelita with her remote.
“Yes, bi-atch. And I just cleared the million security guards you have surrounding the house, so let me in.”
Bella opens the door, squealing in delight at the goodies I’ve brought for her. I’m holding up a bottle of tequila in one hand and a pint of ice cream in the other.
“Oh my god, Cassie! How did you get here?!”
I step across the threshold, thrusting my gifts into her hands before embracing her in a bear hug. “An airplane. A little birdie told me you were moping around here like some pathetic excuse of a woman. And that my friend, is unacceptable.”
It’s true. William’s sister, Ashley, called me after picking up Harper last week. Said Bella was a sorry sight, so clearly I had to come to the rescue. That’s what besties are for.
“What, I’m not allowed to grieve the loss of a man—A man who I thought was the love of my life?”
Bella’s words have me whirling around like the Tasmanian devil. “First of all, that man was not the love of your life. The love of your life wouldn’t just abandon you like that for some psycho bitch who is a terrible mother.” I wave a finger in the air while pursing my lips. “Second of all, no. You are not allowed to grieve that piece of shit garbage of a man.”
“Okay. So what do you propose I do then?” she asks, a small smile lifting at the corners of her mouth.
“You put your badass woman panties on and put yourself out there again. Literally. Go put on your sexiest panties and meet me out here in thirty. I’ll watch the boys while you get ready for dinner. I made the four of us reservations at this new restaurant in Malibu right on the water.” I open my arms wide, spanning an imaginary oceanfront view. “The fresh air will do you good and it’s about damn time you do something outside of the house besides visiting the hospital.”
We’ve made it to the kitchen and it’s absolutely gorgeous. It’s coastal chic, with white marble countertops, and a sea glass backsplash that is simply stunning.
Bella lets out a long breath of air before shoving the ice cream into the massive stainless-steel freezer. “Okay. You’re right.” She turns and begins walking out of the kitchen, “I’ll be ready in thirty. Make yourself at home. If you need anything while I’m in the shower, just ask the boys. They’re in the media room at the end of this hall.”
“Okay, take your time. That hair is going to need all the help it can get. When’s the last time you washed it?” I bellow after her, partly joking, partly not.
“Ha. Ha. I get it. I’m a hot mess.” She disappears into a room, leaving me to my own devices.
Cocktail time it is.
We’ve made it to the restaurant, managing to snag a table in their open patio overlooking the surf. The smell of the salt water is refreshing compared to landlocked Dallas and I can’t help but smile.
“I loooove Malibu! So many fun places to eat.” The pre-dinner cocktails have lifted my mood and my tone ends up resembling something similar to that of Barbie’s. Note to self, switch to water.
Rightfully so, Bella shoots me a death glare. “I know you’re trying to help, but could you tone down the happiness just a bit. It’s making me want to strangle you, and we can’t have that. Who will care for the boys if I’m locked away on murder charges.”
“Well, that escalated quickly,” I murmur, shooting the boys a side glance as they giggle. For two seven-year-olds, they’re pretty sharp.
“I know. Sorry. Couldn’t help it.” Bella squeezes her eyes shut as she takes a sip of her drink.
Poor girl. She’s in bad shape. I need to do something to snap her out of this funk, STAT.
“I met someone.” I blurt out before thinking things through. Sure, by ‘met someone’ I mean casually flirt, but she doesn’t need to know the specifics.
“Oh my god, Cassie! That’s amazing!” Her cheerful face tells me I’ve done something right, even if it is bending the truth slightly. Bella reaches for my hand, squeezing it in a death grip. “Tell me everything.”
“I’m not telling you this to rub it in your face, Bella. I swear there’s a point to this conversation.” I purse my lips, scrunching them to the side as I try to figure out what in the hell I’m going to say. “A while ago, I met a man who I thought could be the one. Things were progressing rather quickly and then all of a sudden he dropped me like a sack of potatoes, leaving me destroyed.”
That much is true. She just doesn’t know that this man is her uncle.
“How in the hell did I not know about this?” Bella shoves at my shoulder in disbelief.
“You had a lot of stuff going on. I didn’t want to add to your worries. Anyway, the point is I didn’t let myself wallow. I got right back on the horse and ended up meeting an amazing guy.” Again, I use the term ‘met’ loosely.
The gentleman in question is my Krav Maga instructor who I’ve been seeing the past couple of weeks. My paltry tube of pepper spray left a lot to be desired, so I signed up for a course at a local gym. Lucky for me the instructor happened to be a hottie with a penchant for vertically challenged women.
He’d been asking if I wanted to join him and his buddies for drinks after class but I’d shot him down every time. But I think Bella’s sorry state is deserving of an outing.
I shoot Bella a mischievous smile. “I think it’s time for all of us to hang out. What do you say? Want to meet my new beau and his bestie?”
Bella squints at me, her eyes narrowing into thin slits. “Are you trying to set me up and disguise it as a meeting with your new boyfriend?”
“Who me? I would never. I just thought you wouldn’t want to feel like a third wheel is all.”
“Uh huh. Sure you didn’t,” Bella says sarcastically. “As tempting as your offer might sound, I think I’ll have to pass. I’m definitely not ready to put myself out there again. Now if you’ll watch the boys for me, I have to go to the ladies’ room.”
“Okay, but we’re resuming this as soon as you get back.”
She might think she’s done with this conversation but it’s far from over. “She thinks she’s got it all figured out, doesn’t she boys?”
Both boys snicker before going back to their private conversation—something having to do with Minecraft.
A buzzing sound draws my attention. Looking around, I see that Bella’s napkin is vibrating on the table. Removing the piece of cloth I see she’s left her phone out.
Picking it up, I’m able to see who the caller is. The picture that lights up the screen is that of her uncle, Ren—instantly causing me to panic and drop it back on the table as if this were a game of hot potato.
The phone stops vibrating but resumes its taunting two seconds later. By this point, the boys have caught wind that something’s up. Like something straight out of The Shining, they both look up at me in unison and demand for me to answer the phone already.
Figuring it must be something important since he’s dialed back to back, I hit answer before I lose my nerve, “Hello?”
“Hello… Cassie?” Ren’s masculine voice elicits a visceral reaction, causing me to visibly shudder.
“Yes, this is she. Bella stepped away for a second. Can I help you with something?” It takes everything in me to keep my voice calm when internally I’m about as freaked out as a priest at a wet T-shirt contest.
There’s a long pause and I’m not sure if Ren’s hung up or he’s just as shocked to be on the phone with me as I am him.
“Ren, you still there?”
“Um, yes. Yeah, I’m still here.” There’s fumbling on the other end of the line before he continues. “I was calling to let Bella know that Aiden is awake. Can you please let her know that she and the boys are needed at the hospital as soon as possible?”
His words shut down all other emotional faculties, and all I’m able to feel is rainbows and sunshine. “That’s amazing!” I blurt into the phone while bringing a hand to my heart. “I’ll let her know as soon as she gets back to the table.”
“Thank you, Cassie. Take care.” The line goes dead and I’m once again brought back to the reality of our situation and how awkward it is.
Screw it. With news like we just received, there’s no room for sadness. It’s time to celebrate and be merry.
Cin cin, motherfucker.