5

The next few days were basically a repeat of the days previously before. When they got home, there would be a mail truck waiting with more bins each time. Every day for nearly a week. Thousands of letters all for David but addressed to her. Money in nearly every one of them. By the time they had gone through them all, there were fifteen thousand dollars in the other bin that they had put the money in.

“This is ridiculous,” Deanna said as she looked at it. “First off, we can’t keep it in here or anywhere in the house.”

“Well, what should we do with it?” Max asked as he moved through the house after he had placed Henry upstairs in his bed for the night. She had done the same with Michelle a few minutes before. “Did you talk with the lawyer?”

“I did, and all he could say was it wasn't really harassment because he didn’t give out the address,” Deanna said with a huff. She was fed up with her brother and whatever game he was playing. Things were not right, and though she had been tempted to read one of the letters, she knew she couldn’t. “Because of the fact he gave the lawyers address with my name, since I am a client, even they can’t go after him for harassment. Someone had to tell him how to do this. We know he is sick, but he isn’t all that smart. That is why he must have kept the girls at my parent's house because then they could tell him how to do things, so he didn’t get caught.”

“You think your parents were more involved than just on the sidelines?” Max asked.

“Samra said when I went to Winter Haven that my mother gave her to David. She had to know. Not only that, I mean, but this is also too planned out. Too organized. One thing David is not is that. I have to wonder if my mother prepped him for this.” Deanna said out loud for the first time, and she knew it was the truth. Her ears needed to hear it, and she nodded.

“Sweetheart, you do realize what you are saying, right?” Max said.

“Oh, please, Max. The simple facts aren’t going to really matter in this. It only makes sense if someone was helping him. My mother and father are dead, my brother, who is my real father killed them, I mean it isn’t hard to understand the truth that they helped him. For some reason, though, they kept him from getting to me too much, but that was his goal. If David ever got out Max, he would come for me now that they aren’t there to stop him.” Deanna said softly as she looked up to him.

“Like that is ever going to happen. Your parents might not be here, but I am.” Max said. “You and the kids are safe here with me.”

“I said he would try. Not that he would.” Deanna giggled as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close to him.

“That still doesn’t come up with an idea of what to do with this money,” Max said. “You’re right, though. We can’t keep it here.”

“We should give it to someone,” Deanna said.

“But who?” Max asked. He knew she wanted to give it to someone David had hurt, but there were so many people that they could make a mistake and hurt feelings by giving to just one person. Larissa’s mother wouldn’t allow her to have the money. She was controlling every movement the girl made, and Ulie wouldn’t be able to get it either. They were the survivors of David’s last attack. Samra had no use for the money being in Winter Haven for the rest of her life. The only other two people were their children Henry and Michelle. The results of the attacks caused by David on Deanna’s cousin and sister.

“that is the problem,” Deanna said with a sigh. “No one wants the money. I don’t. I don’t want the kids to have it either. It seems so wrong. My cousins can’t have it. I guess we could give it to the kids he had with Cheryl. I mean, they do need something to pay for the therapy of having him for a father.”

“Cheryl wouldn’t take it,” Max said softly. “She wants to distance herself from the whole thing as much as possible.”

“So again, we are left holding the bag,” Deanna said as she shook her head. “I still don’t know why he is doing this. It is bugging me to one end. He knows there are so many charges against him. There is no possibility that he can get off, so why the money? He has a public defender. What the hell is he really doing?”

“I guess that is the million-dollar question, my love,” Max said as he picked her up and brought her to bed. “For now, can we not think about David. I have some other things in mind.”

“Max.” Deanna chuckled in the room. “Not right now.”

“Sweetheart, we have to get to bed soon. I have classes tomorrow, and you have to write a paper.”

“I already wrote the paper while I was supposed to be working for some hard professor.” Deanna said with a smile, “He only pretends to be difficult, though.”

“Oh, really? I heard he was really hard to please,” Max said with a smile forming. “Maybe he just really likes you.”

“No, I think he is a closet, sweetie,” Deanna said as she reached up and kissed him softly.

“Only when you are involved,” Max said softly as he kissed her back. “However that doesn’t change the fact I have a class to give tomorrow and a phone meeting with the new academies.”

“Max, I know you are busy tomorrow. I just don’t think I can fall asleep right now. Go  ahead without me.” Deanna said.

“Like I will sleep then.” He grumbled under his breath. “I don’t foresee that working out too well.”

“Max, just go to bed,” Deanna said with a smile. “I will be in a little bit.”

“Deanna, I don’t think you quite understand how this works now. I can’t just fall asleep without you there. Kind of like Henry and bear. He won’t go to sleep anywhere without that bear.” Max said chuckling. “He is rather attached to it now.”

“So what you are saying is I am your bear?” Deanna asked with a laugh in her voice.

“Yes. I am man enough to admit I am rather attached to you as well like our son is with his bear.” Max said. “Plus, you are going to stay up and make yourself sick thinking of David. Then you will have a nightmare. Deanna, I know you. I won’t let you fight the monsters in your head without me by your side.”

“Max, I really don’t understand you,” Deanna said as she shook her head.

“There isn’t really much to understand, my love.” He replied with a wink. “I didn’t know what this whole thing should’ve felt like until you walked into my office that day a few weeks ago. Then it all hit me.”

“What exactly do you mean?” Deanna asked as she looked up to him.

“You walked into my life, and I was instantly aware of things I wasn’t before. Well, I was aware of them, but they never actually bothered me. Everything about your situation bothered me. I wanted you safe and happy, preferably in my arms. It was all-consuming, and it still is.” Max said as he helped her to her feet. “Now a nice warm shower and maybe a back rub. This time I mean a real one, and you should be ready to relax enough to let me hold you all night and get some rest.”

“Max,” she said with a smile as she knew he wouldn’t give up.

“Sweetheart, you have to pace yourself. Nothing is going to be easy when dealing with him, and I am afraid that this is just the first of his head games.” Max said, “this isn’t going to be fast or easy. Justice moves slowly. The problem is that during that, he will be able to play his games.”

“So, basically, I have to let him,” Deanna said.

“You have a choice, Deanna. You can let his games get to you, and then he has you where he wants you, or you can listen to me, and I can have you where I want you.” Max said, and she looked at him.

“I choose you.” She said as she looked at him and smiled.

“Good choice.” He whispered as he picked her up and helped her with relaxing for the night. Life was not going to be easy, but she knew she had someone there who was trying to refocus all the bad into something good. They had the kids to focus on as well. Deanna knew this was going to be a long haul in the end, but with Max by her side, she would be ready to face whatever thing David tried to throw at her.