One Final Kiss

Chapter One:

Bill sat on the bench and waited. He said nothing and stared ahead.

We’ve been trying to find you alone, his father began. We have things to discuss.

Janet reached her hand and touched his arm and he jerked away from her.

Don’t you ever touch me, he seethed.

You should learn some manners, his father said and moved closer.

You should learn to stay dead, Bill responded and stood up.

You need to hear what we have to say, his father said.

No, actually, I don’t.

You should listen to your father, Janet said.

It took every bit of his self-control not to kill her.

What do you want? Why come after me at my job? Do you want me destroyed? Beaten down? Broken? Bill glared at his father and shook his head. You’re so wrong. None of that matters. What matters is something you could never understand. You can take away everything I have earned and it won’t matter. I love my wife and my children and there is nothing you or this piece of garbage can do to change that.

He took his phone out and looked at his father as he dialed.

Who are you calling? His dad stood up and approached him.

Bill pulled out his gun and pointed it at his father. Get the fuck away from me.

His father froze and Bill spoke on the phone.

If you could get someone here to help me, that would be great. I’m outside the range. Thanks, he hung up and stared at them.

You shouldn’t have done that, Janet said.

I think on the scale of regrets, yours ranks at the top, he said. You’re a disgusting excuse for a human being and a disgrace as a woman.

William, you don’t understand, his father said.

That’s for sure.

You don’t know the truth, Janet said.

He turned and faced her, truly looking at her for the first time. You have some nerve showing your face near me, let alone speaking to me. It would be very easy to snap your neck and not lose one second of sleep over it. You tortured my sister. You tried to kill my wife. You murdered Nate. You have no right to live in this world and breathe the air John worked so hard to protect. You make me sick.

Janet stared at him but said nothing.

Bill shook his head and looked at his father. So how did you get out? Who did you pay off?

No one. We didn’t do anything wrong, he said.

Bill put his gun away and crossed his arms. So what is this, some kind of sick family reunion?

Not quite. Chris smirked. You had so much potential. You’re strong, or at least you were, but you had too much of your mother in you.

I’m done with this, Bill began to walk away when his father grabbed his arm. He was ten years old again and scared. He wanted his mother. He wanted everything to stop. He needed to move forward.

Hey, what the hell is going on here? Jack ran up and saw Chris holding Bill by the arm. He recognized Janet and felt his blood boil. He was glad Mike had called and told him Bill needed help.

Bill was surprised to see him, but thankful. Apparently my dad decided to make up for all the birthdays he missed.

Jack looked at Chris. Take your hands off of him.

Chris let go and Jack stood in front of him. You okay? he asked Bill who was behind him.

I’m fine. I think it’s time I went home, Bill said.

William, we need to talk to you, Janet spoke to him and Jack worried he might take Bill’s gun and shoot her himself.

The police are on their way and you both can rot for all I care. I’m done with you; I’m done thinking about you and wondering what made you this way. I have a family and they mean the world to me. You are dead to me and will remain that way, no matter what you do.

Chris looked at him and Bill continued.

Do you know what this person did? You were a drunk and an abusive asshole, but do you know what she let happen to my sister? Do you have any idea of the sick torture she went through and the scars she is forced to live with? How could you do that? How could you know about it? How were you capable of that?

He was on a roll and Jack let him talk, knowing this was cathartic.

And why? What did she or mom or I do to make you this way? What happened to you that made you look at this piece of trash and think she was worth all of our lives? Why were we not enough? Bill glared at his father and hated that his eyes filled with tears. You faked your death for years; for what? You spent my teen years being a miserable bastard and then when I leave you suddenly buy a clue? It doesn’t make sense.

Why not?

Because you aren’t smart enough, Bill said and smiled. You’re the idiot.

His father’s hand crashed across his face and Bill tasted blood. Jack stepped up but Bill shook his head, stopping him. That’s all you know how to do. That’s what a man is to you, isn’t it? Someone who beats others into submission? he looked at Janet.

Does he hit you, too? he walked up to her. Maybe you wear the pants in the family and you beat him, I don’t know, he smiled. But something is clear to me.

His dad waited and Bill continued. I know why she chose Nate and John over you. They were men and you are a pathetic excuse for a human being.

Don’t you speak his name, Janet said as she stood up to him.

Who? Nate? The man you killed? Or John, the man you destroyed? He laughed. Get a life or die, I don’t care. I’m through, he turned to walk away when his father spoke.

I took the pictures. I followed her for months and everything was set until you and your mother fucked it up. It’s your fault that everything went so wrong.

Bill stopped and Jack moved to face Chris. You need to shut up.

Barbie was the ticket out for us. All she had to do was cooperate and then we would get her money. Your mother got wind that something was happening and she tried to stop it. She spooked them and everything went badly. Once they had their way with her, it was too late to go back. She needed to die and your mother needed to forget. She just needed to die.

Bill looked at Janet. When you found her in that filth, how could you leave her there? How could you turn your back on a naked, terrified and tortured 18 year old girl? If you ever loved John, how could you do that?

Any normal person would have died. She should have died. She should have given up, Janet said, no emotion on her face.

We were worried about your mother, but her dementia came and it was like a gift. She was too far gone to know what was real and what wasn’t. I had to fake my death before anything could be tied back to me. It took years for me to prepare and then you came home and once again, you fucked it up.

I enlisted. That did it, didn’t it? That brought mom’s issues to the surface. John came back in her mind and she realized once again what a loser you were. That’s why you hated my choice, Bill realized what he never saw before.

You don’t understand anything, Chris said.

Jack looked up as the police walked over to them.

Bill handed the officer his phone. I recorded everything. I think you’ll find sufficient reason to put them back in jail.

Chris and Janet smiled. Not so fast. There is a huge piece of this puzzle you’re missing. It’s actually a good thing Jack is here. There’s a part of this equation you have all missed.

Bill looked at Jack and they both turned around and walked away, leaving Janet and Chris alone with the officers.

Chapter Two:

Jack walked into his house and saw Brittany and Tommy there with Naomi. Stephanie breathed a sigh of relief when she saw her husband.

How is he? Brittany asked, clearly worried.

He was amazing. He handled those two idiots like a pro. I’m sure they said some stuff before I got there, but he let them have it and more importantly, he didn’t let them get to him, Jack walked over and sat down next to Stephanie.

I should have been there. I don’t understand how they can still be doing this, Brittany sighed.

Apparently, Chris filed a complaint with the Army against Bill for intimidation, Jack began.

What? Tommy asked as they all looked up in shock.

The Corporal doesn’t believe it and Bill didn’t seem too worried, but it’s certainly disheartening. Bill’s father is a piece of work, and Janet deserves to rot in hell.

Brittany looked at Jack. Did she say anything else? Did they shed any light on what they want?

Jack sighed. They told Bill your attack was his fault.

Brittany put her head in her hands and Tommy put his arm around her. Hey, don’t get worked up about this, please, he said softly.

He’s my brother, Tommy. He had to grow up with this monster and he continues to be tormented. He can’t blame himself. He was only 14 when I was attacked.

Jack nodded and looked at Stephanie who encouraged him to continue. Apparently they wanted your money. Your mom figured out something was happening and she tried to stop it, and disrupted the plan. His dad said they were worried about her saying something but her dementia came on suddenly and they didn’t have to worry about it. Chris told Bill his mother’s dementia was a gift.

Brittany rubbed her hand and Tommy shook his head. We have to do something.

Bill recorded their conversation and gave it to the officer. They took Chris and Janet back to jail and there will be a bail hearing tomorrow. I can’t imagine they will be released, Jack said.

Did she say anything about Josh? Stephanie asked hesitantly.

Jack took her hand in his. No. They wanted to tell us more after the cops came, but it was enough of their garbage. We left and it doesn’t matter. Nothing they can say will do anything to change our happiness. We all need to move on.

The four were quiet and thinking about what was said. It was time to move on, but there were too many holes. They needed to know the full story.

Brittany looked at them. I will be at the hearing tomorrow and I will make sure they are both remanded. Bill will not deal with this again. This is my fight and I intend to finish it.

*******

Julie paced while she waited. She was full of anxiety and fear and even though Jack called and told her Bill was on his way home, she knew something big had happened and she simply wanted to hold him. Jack told her Janet and Chris had been there and Julie could only imagine what garbage they had said to him.

David and Josie were asleep and she had cleaned up a little, but so much of her mind was focused on getting her family back in order. She felt better health wise than she had in such a long time, but nothing mattered if her husband was in trouble. She finally heard his car in the driveway and her heart raced.

Bill made his way into the house and he saw Julie standing there, waiting. He met her gaze and she ran into his arms. He held her and she hugged him tightly. After a minute she stepped back and held his face in her hands, seeing his red cheek. She knew he had been hit. He took her hands in his and smiled.

I’m okay, he said softly.

She felt her eyes fill and he shook his head.

No tears. Everything is going to be okay. Come on, he took her hand and they walked into the family room where he sat down. He pulled her gently next to him.

I love you, she said softly. I was afraid when you didn’t come home. I don’t want to be afraid anymore, Bill. I want us to be happy and move forward. I want you to be happy.

He looked at her and smiled. I am happy. You and our children are all I need. I can’t change the past and I can’t change who my father is, but I can choose to be my own man and be different. I can start a new legacy and teach David and Josie what it means to have parents who adore them and adore each other. I have wasted entirely too much time thinking about what I could have done to make my dad love me. It doesn’t matter. I have a beautiful life and a bright future and as long as you’re with me, I can’t lose.

I’m always with you. I adore you and you simply make my life complete. I’m truly sorry for what you have to deal with. I hope you know that you can tell me what they said if you want. I don’t want you to hold anything in alone.

He shrugged. My father said Brittany’s attack was my fault. He called my moms dementia a gift, and Janet said most people in Brittany’s condition would have had the decency to die, he leaned his elbows on his knees and ran his hand through his hair as he looked at her. He also brought up charges against me for intimidation. The Corporal doesn’t think they will stick.

Julie felt sick. He won’t get away with any of this.

I know. I recorded the conversation and the police took them back into custody. They said there was something we needed to know; both Jack and I, but we left. I’m sure it’s more filth about Josh and Stephanie. We need to stop allowing them to get the upper hand.

She took his hand in hers and kissed his fingers. What can I do to help you?

He smiled and wiped his eyes. I think I just want to take a shower and then hold my wife.

I don’t think so, she said.

His face showed his concern. What is it? Are you not feeling well?

I’m feeling amazing, but if you don’t make love to me, I’m going to have to take drastic action.

He laughed. Is that right? What kind of drastic action? Would it be fun to watch?

She smiled and her dimple was deep and inviting. Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve felt you inside of me? she leaned in to whisper in his ear.