Ray was a nervous wreck by the time he had gotten to John F Kennedy airport in New York. One of his connecting flights had been delayed for almost a whole twenty four hours, putting him in New York around 2 p.m. He had taken a cab from the airport. Ray looked around at all the SUVs, sports cars, luxury cars, and a limo or two with horror. “Damn. What a shitty place,” Ray said with deep frown. Surely, Ava didn’t prefer the smog filled, horn blaring, and the dirty looking city over Townsend – with its picturesque views and open space for miles where you had some room to roam. The cab driver laughed. “Welcome to New York, cowboy. Yeehaw! Considering what you said it’s your first time here.” “It is.” Ray answered flatly.And hopefully my last. Jesus. And he didn’t appreciate the cab driver’s dig at him. So what if he wore a brown Stetson. Surely, other people in a city of millions had one too. Ray couldn’t understand
Two days later . . . Ray was at home in the study. His curiosity had gotten the best of him two days ago. So, he had looked up his heart’s desire online. What he really wanted to know about Ava was in The New York Times, which cost him an online subscription to the obscenely large website.He was in awe as he read Ava’s past. From being with some big time real estate VP’s favorite girl to being humiliated not once but twice thanks to her mother and some jerkoff named Derek Dawson. He had even read and looked at the pictures of her in the society pages going here and there. And he actually read the Wikipedia page about her. He was surprised she had one but it was because she had been a model. The page had noted the covers and companies she had modeled for. Ray had also glossed over business articles about Lester Bartholmew.The most recent article concerning Ava was about a big birthday party her father was throwing for her at some New York venue. Anyone who is
“Son of a bitch!” Lester Bartholomew shouted with everything he had as he slammed the glass bottle of brandy into the fireplace - an eight-hundred-dollar bottle of brandy at that. “Lester, please!” Ava’s mother implored. Ava was too busy standing by the door of the den. She had rushed over there when her father began to fly into a rage. “Please, my ass! I’m going to kill -!” He stopped – all a bluster. He whirled around, his eyes finding Ava’s. “Who the hell am I going to kill, Ava?” “No names!” her mother cried to her. “What!” Lester roared. “We’re not telling you until you calm down,” her mother said sternly. “Look at you. You’re all red in the face, and you had sprung out of your wheelchair. This can’t be good for your health.” “You know what’s not good for my health, Whitney? A pregnant daughter who isn’t married!” he bellowed. “Daddy, please, stop. You’re going to hurt your
Three days later . . . Ava had said to hell with Ray two days ago. She had called him twice a day for three days. Now she was done. Unless the man was sick in bed, there was no excuse for him not picking up the phone or returning her messages. Now she knew she was in this alone. “You’re not alone, darling,” Catherine soothed. “I’ll help you as much as I can. And what about your family? My god you have more siblings than I do. I’m sure they’ll be supportive and understanding. And your parents –” Catherine’s face contorted. “Well, your siblings will be extremely helpful, I’m sure.” Ava snorted. “I think they will be but I have to tell my parents eventually. Unless I want my growing stomach to do so.” Ava and Catherine were leaving the New York Country Club. They had just had lunch. “Besides, I think my mother knows something is up. She couldn’t help but mention that it looked like I had gained a pound or two four da
Three days later . . . “For the love of God, answer the damn phone!” Jesse demanded harshly. “No!” Ray yelled. “If it was important, she will leave a message.” Ray’s cell kept ringing with Ava’s name on the caller ID. Ava Bartholomew’s name on the caller ID. “Her last three messages said that she needed to tell you something that she couldn’t leave in a message. You know what? Fuck it,” Jesse hissed and reached for Ray’s phone. Ray collided into him, stopping him from answering it They wrestled for the cell phone in the stable’s office until it stopped ringing. “Shit, Ray!” Jesse spat out with disgust as he let go of him. “Call the girl back!” “No!” “Why?” “There’s nothing left to say. She’ll thank me for cutting her loose as time goes on.” “Time has gone on, Ray. Almost eight weeks. I can’t believe you’re going to keep hanging around here act
The next day . . . Catherine had been a dear and spent the night at Ava’s last night. Ava couldn’t handle being alone last night because of the trepidation of her test results. And she didn’t want to take a cab to her father’s estate. She had preferred staying home. So, Catherine offered to spend the night. Ava had been grateful yet concerned about what Cameron would say. “As long as I’m happy he’s fine. And it would do him good to miss me for a while,” Catherine had said with a smile. “Besides, he won’t be lonely. Angela and Harold will be there.” So, Catherine had the maid at the Townsend townhouse pack her an overnight bag and the Townsend driver brought it over. During the pre-amnesia days, Ava had a cook who prepared meals for her in advance to last her a few days. Ava would just have to warm it in the microwave. Now, Ava knew how to cook for herself, so she didn’t need the chef anymore. She surprised Catheri