Short Fuse
© 1992/2016 by K Pelle
Chapter 18
When Dave walked out the door to see Shannon, I simply stared after him. Up until his short speech before he'd walked away I hadn't realized that he felt guilty about Claire's actions and her death in any way. Then I realized that I should have been expecting the exact same reactions from him as I was expecting to see from Shannon. Then I turned and looked at Cindy who looked as if her whole world had fallen in.
"Cindy, what's wrong?"
"Oh Mom, sometimes I'm so stupid," she whimpered and moved over to hug me. "He's hurting so much and I never even thought about it. I was teasing him when I went out to get him after he stayed outside because he was annoyed with you."
"You were teasing him? How? You really don't know him all that well yet, so what were you teasing him about?"
"Um, I sorta told him that I like him, an awfully big bunch, and I was hugging him at the same time."
"Are you telling me that you were trying to get him to react toward you in a . . . well, in a sexual manner?"
"Sorta, I guess," she whispered. "I really do like him an awful lot."
"Oh, Cindy," I sighed. "You certainly aren't making my life any easier by doing that, but I suppose he would eventually have realized that you have a crush on him."
"Well, it's not like I'm the only one," she sat back and glared at me. "Look how you've been acting and how Aunt Noreen looks at him. Gee, even Granny looks at him like he's Mr. Adonis. I mentioned it to Shannon and she told me that it happens all the time, but he just doesn't seem to notice. All I thought I'd do was hint a little stronger than most people do, that's all."
"Oh Cindy, what I feel toward him is a bit more than a crush," I tried to explain. "He's exactly the sort of man that I've been looking for all my life. Look at him, he is recovering from a concussion at the same time as mourning his wife's death, but at the same time he knows she is the person who attacked him. He's no longer able to live in his own home, so he's living with strangers, while being questioned by the police and hounded by the press, but he's still remains a kind and generous man. Not just that, but he has a very strong character and a ton of confidence, so he tackles the world head on and I admire that. In fact I don't think I know anyone who could have held it together like he has."
"I know that Mom and it's not like I want to jump into bed with him in competition with you either. It's just that I think he's very sexy and I thought he deserved to know how I feel," she sighed, then her voice dropped to a whisper. "I told him that I liked Shannon a lot too."
"Oh boy!" I murmured. "How did he react to that?"
"He looked me in the eye and told me that it was our business, Shannon's and mine, and nobody else's, but that if either one of us started to push the other one around, he'd have to put his foot down."
"He did?"
"Unh huh, he did," she smiled at me, then she yawned.
"I think you'd better get to bed," I whispered, hugging her and kissing her on the forehead.
"Okay Mom. You're not mad at me are you? For feeling like I do about Dave?"
"No, I'm not angry at all. Now, if you'd done anything to drive him away, or anything like that, I would have been very annoyed."
"No, I wouldn't do that. He's your guy, darn it. I just hope I can find a guy who is half as nice when I go looking for a boyfriend."
"Thank you, I like to think my taste in men is very good, and it seems that you're developing a decent taste in men yourself, but I'm not going to step aside for you," I smiled at her and couldn't help feeling pleased about the fact that she had been honest with me. "Now, wash your teeth before bedtime."
She just grinned at me, gave me a quick kiss, then a hug and ran to the bathroom, then a few moments later she wished me goodnight and climbed the stairs to the loft. I was left sitting alone in front of the dying fire and sighed deeply as I watched the small, flickering flames and glowing embers.
In the last few days, my life had become exceptionally complicated, but it had also become a lot more satisfying. Truthfully I was far happier at the moment than I could remember being in years. Yet I knew I was entering a time of my life that was going to be very difficult. I smiled to myself, feeling that it was going to be an exceptionally rewarding time as well.
The fire seemed to mesmerize me and I leaned back to dream about things that might happen. I was awakened from my dreamy thoughts by the sound of footsteps as Shannon came inside. She looked at me and smiled, then came over and held out her arms.
"I'm sorry I was so grouchy before," she said as we hugged.
"You didn't do anything bad," I replied. "Actually, you've been exceptionally calm and thoughtful, all things considered."
"Hmm, whatever you say, but I'm not sure that I agree. Can we talk about that tomorrow, not tonight, please? I need the bathroom something terrible and I'm kinda sleepy."
"Scoot then and sleep well," I chuckled, lightly swatting her bottom as she spun away from me, which to my surprise drew a giggle, but no comment. Instead she paused and turned back at the bathroom door, made a face and stuck out her tongue, then winked before she went inside and closed the door behind her.
I sighed in relief, knowing that Dave had calmed her down and improved her mood, then I glanced at the door, expecting him to be coming in at any moment. When he didn't appear after a few moments, I got up and went out onto the porch. I found him leaning against the railing, staring out across the meadow at the small group of deer that I'd often seen grazing there in the evenings.
"Dave? Is everything okay?" I asked as I walked toward him.
"I suppose," he sighed, then turned and I could see he was smiling as he raised his hands to offer me a hug.
I certainly wasn't going to turn that down. His body felt so good against mine as we kissed that I shifted to press myself tightly against him. He was turned on! There was no mistaking that, neither in his kiss nor in the sensations I was feeling. His hand pressed on my bottom so he could pull my belly toward his and grind it against his erection. This time, he was the aggressor and I loved it, however at the same time I was worried that the girls were still awake and we were out in plain view. I broke the kiss and moaned softly.
"Oh God. I want you, but we need to go to bed," I managed to say.
Then he captured my lips again and he was lifting me upward.
I may be shorter than he is, but I'm not a tiny woman, yet he lifted me easily, almost as if I weighed nothing. At the same time as being strong, his hands were gentle and tender, teasing and tantalising me. His touch was arousing me to a state of desire that burned and consumed my caution about being seen as his hands roamed over my back and my bottom. Our tongues duelled, my arms snaked over his shoulders and around his neck. My legs spread wide, then lifted, wrapping around his waist. Now that I was partially supporting my weight, one of his hands slid from my hip to my belly, then under my blouse and upward against my skin. It hesitated when it cupped a breast and paused momentarily. Then that hand moved softly and tenderly, caressing me gently. It seemed almost as if he was worshipping my breast, thrilling me to the core.
Then he paused, his lips pulled back from mine and he grinned, almost leering at me, his face a mask of passion.
"The girls are watching us through the window," he murmured softly.
Then his lips were on mine again and his hands held me tightly, not letting me free, not allowing me to turn and order the girls to bed. I couldn't fight him, then I didn't want to fight him. I realized that this was his way of telling them that I was his, his bride to be, his woman to have and hold and that he was going to do it his way. Once I had relaxed and accepted the fact that tonight he wanted to be dominant, he seemed to sense my submission. He eased his tight hold on my body and his lips again released mine.
He turned his head and frowned at the girls as they watched us through the cabin window. To my surprise the curtain flashed closed and I heard their feet running across the cabin floor as they giggled loudly. Somehow, he'd managed to warn them not to watch, and yet we both knew that he hadn't scared them. Wow, I wondered, how did he do that with just a simple frown?
"Thank you. Now, are we going to make love out here?" I whispered.
"I think the bed would be more comfortable," he chuckled.
One hand was back on my chest, gently caressing my breast, arousing me even further than before. I was melting under his touch, relaxing and learning to trust him totally.
"Take me, take me wherever you want me, any way you want me," I sighed. "I'm yours."
Then we were moving and I don't recall going through the door, so I'm not sure how we got there, but he was still holding me in his arms as he stood in front of the fireplace.
"Is this safe?" he whispered. "The fireplace, I mean. It's almost burned out."
I glanced down and saw that there were only a few glowing coals in the grate. The firescreen was in place though, so I nodded that it was okay. His lips bent to touch mine again, then somehow I was magically transported into the bedroom, or at least that's what I remember. I don't remember being carried there. I don't remember if he undressed me or if I helped. I do remember laying on my back in the middle of the bed and seeing him light a candle. Then he turned to me and I dissolved into his gaze.
His fingers and his lips roamed from my forehead to my toes. Each time he found a spot where I was especially sensitive, he examined it, explored it, teased it, and found a way to make me delight in his touch. I was a whimpering mass of willing flesh, primed to accept whatever favour he felt willing to grant me.
Yet he wasn't finished. He had only worshipped the flesh on the front of my body. He kissed my lips gently, entreated me to roll onto my stomach. Then he carried on with his explorations. His hands and lips found erogenous zones that I never knew existed before that night, so I grew more and more aroused. I was gasping, panting, my body was on fire, yet he was still touching me, teasing me, arousing me even further. I was crazy with desire.
I pulled away, lurched to my hands and knees, ready to leap on top of him, intent on gaining some form of satisfaction. Then his hands were on my waist. I was dragged backward to the edge of the bed. He stood between my thighs, lifted me to my knees, bent over my back.
Then I felt his erection touch my body. It slid slowly between my thighs, the glans, hard and hot against my skin. I moved until it was where I wanted it to be. I growled like an animal, pressed myself back against that hardness. I was so hot, so wet! I felt it enter. I reared backward. In an instant I was skewered. Then I was grinding back against him, searching, imploring, demanding that he thrust harder, force himself deeper. Instead he now held my waist, forcing my body to be still as he pulled away. He almost pulled out, then with short gentle strokes, he teased me once more by moving slowly and deliberately in, then out again, only to pause between each stroke.
Yet each movement was just a but longer, just a bit faster, just a bit harder. I was mad for more and yet he couldn't quite seem to reach the pinnacle I hoped he would achieve. Then he hit a spot inside me that no man had ever touched before and I felt a sensation rush over me that was as strong as ten normal orgasms. I think I exploded. I know I screamed. Then the candle seemed to disappear.
I awakened to find that in some way, he had shifted us. Now we were lying on the bed, he was still behind me, still inside me, but now we were both lying on our sides. His body was pressed against my back and my knees were drawn upward toward my chest. He was rocking his hips slowly, gently, and it felt wonderful. I felt relaxed, but still aroused, still needy.
"Ohh," I sighed softly. "What did you do to me?"
"I played a little bit," he chuckled softly. "Didn't you like it?"
"Yes, I liked it," I sighed again. "But if you do that very often, I'm going to be a puddle at your feet."
He was moving gently and slowly, his hips rocking against mine. I loved it! It felt wonderful, but at least I could still think. For a few seconds, I clamped against him as tightly as I could and I heard his breath catch. I smiled to myself and eased up slightly.
"What brought on this sort of activity?" I whispered. "Was it my little girl telling you that she thought you were sexy?"
"Mmm, partly," he murmured. "Then too, it was my little girl, asking me questions about sex and making sure she teased me enough to get me aroused."
"What?" I felt myself tense and stiffen. "Are you turned on by incest?"
"Not really," he sighed. "At least not until today, then I found out that my body wants to do things that my mind and moral code finds to be anathema."
He bent his head and whispered softly. "I had to think about having sex with you to ease the argument I was having with myself."
Then he kissed my ear lobe and paused, then nibbled it gently. Somehow it felt like that ear lobe was connected directly to my clitoris. I felt a jolt of sexual energy run through my whole body and in reaction, I rolled my hips against his. That seemed to be all the excuse he needed. He began to stroke deeper, harder, faster.
I began to move as well, finding his rhythm, meeting and matching his motions. His pelvis was slapping against my bottom and his hands were clasping waist, moving my body to meet his. My breath was coming in gusts and I found myself moaning, grunting, gasping. There was a tension building inside me that threatened to take over my whole body. It was surging, clamping . . .
Then his hands were on my hips and he was heaving against me, forcing himself inward, his pelvis grinding against my butt and I willed my body to meet his motion, match his tempo. He pulled away for an instant, then hammered back. Somehow I arched against him, knowing that he was exploding deep inside me and he rocked back and forth once more, but as he did he hit that magic spot.
Somewhere, somehow, deep inside me my desire exploded, it enveloped me, devoured me. I knew he had reached satisfaction and it made the sensations that tore through my body even more satisfying. I was overwhelmed and inundated with gratification and sexual satiation.
Then I relaxed. Perhaps I dozed off, or perhaps I simply zoned out. I'm unsure of which it was. Whatever happened, I awoke to the warm fuzzy sensation of being held, satisfied that he was there, his penis slowly softening, gradually slipping from inside me. His breath was ruffling my hair as his chest alternately expanded and relaxed against my back. I wondered if he was asleep, then decided it didn't matter, nothing mattered, but that his arms held me, and his body needed me.
I smiled and snuggled, this was what I wanted, what I needed. I knew I was going to have to move, but not yet, not too soon.
I was satisfied, my desires appeased and I fell asleep in that stupor that follows sexual gratification, but I didn't stay asleep, somehow I came partially awake again. I only awakened enough to realize that Arlene was carefully wiping me clean with a warm wet cloth once more. Somehow I couldn't seem to awaken enough to tell her thank you, but I resolved to remember what she had done and thank her in the morning. Then I think I sighed softly as she snuggled back into bed with her head on my chest. I know I felt totally relaxed then. It felt so right to have her close.
I awakened in the morning to find her laying fully atop me, her face looking into mine as one of her hands rested on each of my shoulders. I could feel the sensation of her moist warmth resting lightly on the upper side of my morning erection.
"Hi," she whispered almost as soon as I opened my eyes and blinked into her gaze.
"Unh, hello," I mumbled in surprise.
"I was wondering, do you share well with others?" she grinned at me.
"Hmm? Whatcha mean?" I managed to partially articulate, my brain still adjusting to her happiness.
"Well, you have something I'd like to share and I have something to share in return," she grinned even wider, then she rolled her hips slowly.
I had to chuckle at her originality and at her imaginative description, then I lifted my head and stretched to kiss her forehead. She smiled and slid herself upward along my body. I could feel the hard little nubbin of her clit riding on the bulge of flesh that had been laid bare as my erection grew and my foreskin had tightened. The sensation of her warm moist pussy lips against my hard cock was exquisite and I began to awaken more fully, realizing that I was being seduced and induced into action.
"Oops," she whispered as my erection now moistened by an incomplete coating of her warm moisture was suddenly exposed to the cool air.
She paused, her body gently quivering as her clitoris beat a light tattoo on my glans. I wanted her body and yet I want her lips, now so tantalizingly close to mine. I bent my back, stretched my neck and she moved just a bit more.
"I'm almost too short," she announced, just before her lips claimed mine.
I guess neither of us had morning breath, at least I didn't notice it and she didn't complain. As our lips met, she rolled her hips gently again and I knew that my glans was knocking on delight's door. She was tantalizing me by moving slowly, gently teasing the sensitive head of my penis with the wonderful wet warmth of her sex. I couldn't resist trying a slow gentle pelvic thrust.
Soft flesh parted, opened. She lifted her head, breaking our kiss with a gasp. Her whole body quivered and she smiled, that wonderful smile that lit her face in sheer delight.
"Oh yes," she uttered, then she sighed as she slowly moved back against my steady pressure.
"Ease back, please," she whispered. "Then hold still."
She shifted herself, moving her legs beside mine, sitting upward, yet pressing back. Warm and wonderful tightness pressed around my full shaft, massaged the nerves of my glans, absorbed my length slowly, tenderly, even lovingly. I moaned in pure pleasure and her eyes shone with satisfaction and delight.
"Gently now, push a bit," she whispered.
Slowly I rolled my pelvis and lifted my hips, pressing up against her tight clasping pressure. Again her body seemed to vibrate as her inner warmth stretched tightly around my shaft. I was deeper than when we had done this before, much deeper. Then I felt a firmer pressure and I held still, pulling back as she tensed.
"No. Don't stop, just don't push too hard," she sighed as she looked down at the point where we joined.
I raised my head and watched our bodies join tightly as I pressed inward again. I brought one hand to her tummy and began to play gently, loving the look on her face as I teased a finger up and down her flesh, gently touching her. As she began to twist and squirm, I sped the motion of my hips, then synchronised the movement of my hand to that motion, massaging from both inside and outside.
I raised my eyes, smiled at her as her eyes lifted to meet mine. She licked her lips, then a smile lit her face and she puckered her lips, flipping her head as if she were flipping me a kiss. Slowly her mouth fell open as she breathed deeply, her breasts rising and falling with each breath. I watched in delight, loving the way those soft mounds moved, loving their shape, deciding that I could watch them for hours.
My hips still moved in a steady rhythm and she shifted her body slightly, moving against me. She leaned forward, began to move more, her motions in opposition to mine. Her breath was coming in sharp gasps. For a moment or perhaps two, we moved together and apart in synchronicity. Then after uttering a sharp squeak, she seemed to slowly collapse, her body slumping downward on top of mine. I shifted my hands, now holding her gently, stroking her back as she breathed in deep gusting breaths. We lay there for long moments as she slowly calmed, then finally lifted her head.
"You're spoiling me," she whispered.
"I think you're worth spoiling, don't you?" I asked as I kissed her forehead. "Now I really need the bathroom. Can I get out of bed, please?"
"That's not fair to you," she protested. "You didn't . . ."
"Fact of life, lover. A morning hard-on is often the hardest, but it's usually caused by bladder pressure," I sighed softly. "Too much sex just makes it hurt."
"Oh, I'm sorry," she apologized. "I didn't know that."
I stared at her in astonishment as she shifted her body off of mine, she didn't know that? How was that possible? Then hydraulic pressure demanded that I move.
"I'll be right back," I announced as I dashed away.
It was early in the morning and I was in a hurry, so I didn't bother with any clothing. I didn't expect to meet anyone, so when Shannon stepped out of the bathroom just as I was heading for the door, it was a total surprise. She wasn't wearing any more than I was and we both skidded to a halt in astonishment. I felt my face flush and realized she was blushing too, but both of us paused and neither of us could help but stare at the other. At least I couldn't help it, but then she seemed just as mesmerised.
She was gorgeous, but so young, so innocent, so beautiful. Her whole body developed a deep flush as a blush seemed to spread outward from between her lovely breasts and rushed upward to her face. I found my eyes dropping down over her tight stomach and coming to rest at the lightly fuzzed triangle of her pussy. I wrenched my gaze upward as if my eyes had been seared by that glance, catching her staring down at my erection.
Her mouth had slowly come open and she seemed to want to say something, yet she couldn't seem to speak.
"Excuse me, but I've gotta piddle," I heard myself say in a strained voice, then somehow I reached out and lightly grasped her upper arms to press her aside.
A few seconds later as I stood iIn the bathroom, I realized that taking a leak was going to be impossible for a moment or two. My erection was even harder than it had been when Arlene and I had been having sex. For a moment I worried about the fact that I'd surprised Shannon, then I had to smile. What had happened was inevitable when you considered the way our new lifestyle was changing and developing. It wasn't as if we'd done anything wrong either. Actually the longer I thought about it, the more I decided it was almost humourous.
Finally, my erection die down enough that I was able to finish the business that I'd been in such a rush to accomplish. I took the time to wash my hands and rinse my mouth before I dared to leave the bathroom. I'd taken far longer in the bathroom than I had expected to and I hadn't counted on the reaction of Arlene and the girls to my unintentional meeting with Shannon. They were standing next to each other and facing me as I walked into the main room of the cabin and all they were wearing were grins.
Arlene winked and if anything, her grin broadened, but it was the look on the girls faces that fascinated me. I could feel my erection grow as I looked at them. I felt slightly uncomfortable, yet I was able to stand and watch the girls' faces as their eyes widened and their bodies flushed. In fact, I noticed that flush more than the rest of their bodies. Then I was distracted because Cindy actually gasped and she said something I would never have expected.
"Jeez Mom, it's gorgeous," she whispered and she licked her lips.
"And it's mine, not yours," Arlene chuckled as she flowed forward to hug me. "You can look, but you're not allowed to touch."
The relief I felt at having her body interrupt the girls' gaze was almost a tangible thing. I bent forward and hugged her tight, then lifted her upward in my arms. That's when she whispered in my ear.
"So, is it so terrible to see our girls nude?"
"Witch," I growled softly.
"Hmmph, the not touching business goes both ways you know. If they can't touch you, then you shouldn't be able to touch them."
"Hey, I heard that," Cindy said sharply. "That's not fair. I like his hugs and I know Shannon does too."
"You can always put on panties and more clothes," Shannon laughed as she ran toward the ladder to the loft. "Now that I've seen Daddy naked and he's seen me, that's what I'm gonna do, because it's too darn chilly in here."
Cindy looked up and saw that I was looking at her and she blushed, then ran to climb up into the loft herself.
"I agree that it's too darn chilly this morning to go without clothes, darn it," she called back.
"Well, your daughter may be a bit of an exhibitionist, but at least she has more common sense than you seem to be showing. It is chilly in here," I grinned at Arlene.
"Yeah darn it," she chuckled. "I forgot that it was still cool up here at night and we don't have the heat turned on. I forgot it last night."
I looked at her questioningly.
"There's a heat pump in the shed out back, but Uncle Charlie turns it off if no one is staying here for a while," she explained as she wriggled in my arms. "Come on, let me down, I need the bathroom too, then even I'm going to get dressed because of the chill."
I let her go, then turned to the kitchen in order to put coffee on to perk as well as setting the tea kettle on to boil before heading to the bedroom to dress. Only moments later I was sitting at the table having coffee as the three females decided who was going to shower first. Arlene had turned on the heat pump, so after asking her where it was, I went out to check that it was running okay, then had a short look around outside before going back inside to finish my coffee.
"This is quite the setup," I commented to Cindy as she and Shannon sat eating breakfast while Arlene showered.
"Unh huh, but Uncle Charlie and Aunty Jean may have to sell the place. They're a lot older than Granny is and it's getting to be too much for them to look after, especially since my two cousins have gotten married and moved to Vancouver, so they aren't around to help out."
"That's not good. I thought your Uncle had a farm as well as this place?"
"Oh he does and he has a man to look after the farm, but the thing is that this place is separate from the farm. He'd have to pay Mr. Williams extra to look after this place since all it's used for is the cabin. Mr. Williams does cut the hay in the meadow for the cattle when it gets ripe, but I don't suppose that's worth very much as a crop," she sighed. "I was listening to him talk to Mom earlier this year and he was saying that he doesn't make enough money on the place to even pay the taxes."
I simply sighed and looked around, thinking that this place would make a great home for someone, then I poured another cup of coffee. With that in hand, I went outside to sit on the front porch in order to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. I was still sitting there when Arlene stuck her head out the door, letting me know that the shower was free, but warning me that she didn't know how much hot water there would be for my shower.
She was right. I started having a shower in warm water, but by the time I was done, the water was almost ice cold. I was glad that I wasn't a fan of exceptionally long showers. Since Arlene had turned on the heat pump, at least the bathroom was relatively warm when I clambered out to dry off and get dressed.
Twenty minutes later, we were all in the car and on our way over the Malahat drive, heading down into the greater Victoria area. Arlene called Dick Fairchild when we were just cresting the summit of the Malahat and warning him we were on the way and would be at my house by half past nine instead of at ten o'clock as he'd asked.
When she put the phone away, she was laughing softly.
"What's so funny?"
"Well, it seems that there is a pool on what time we'd show up today, just amongst the guys who are working the burglary and a few of the other officers."
"Oh yeah, did he tell you what time he personally wanted us to be there?"
"No, he wouldn't tell me that, but from what he did say, bets are pretty heavy that we were going to keep each other in bed until later than he asked us to be there."
"Huh. Why do you find that funny?"
"Oh, it's just that we could have, but didn't," she chuckled. "Actually I was more amused because it's a left-handed compliment about my sexuality."
"Why, because they thought that I'd have enjoyed keeping you in bed?"
"Unh huh," she chuckled again and then both girls giggled.
"Well, they were right, but I think we should be careful about what we say, we might be corrupting a pair of minors," I remarked, glancing in the mirror rather pointedly.
"Oh Daddy, quit being silly," Shannon giggled and Cindy actually stuck out her tongue at me.
For a few moments we were all in a very good mood, but the closer we got to the house, the more apprehensive I found myself becoming. Then I noticed that Shannon had fallen almost completely silent, answering anyone's questions in monosyllables. Our moods must have affected the others, because for the last few blocks hardly anyone said a word. If anything was said, it was very quietly.
Then we turned the corner onto our street and the first thing I noticed was the number of vehicles parked in front of our house, so I pulled off to the side and parked. There were a couple of cop cars and some trucks that were obviously there for our cleanup and repair, but most of the cars and trucks had the names of local TV stations painted in bold letters all over them. One short glance was enough to make me upset with the situation and I was glad I had pulled to the curb and stopped over a block away from the house, but had a full view of the scene.
"Everyone stay in the car and let's watch things for a minute," I ordered.
Actually it looked like a cheap circus since so many news people were milling around. From where we sat we could see that there were people and cameras all over the place. One guy with a camera and one woman were even heading toward the front door of our house as we watched. When they paused at the door, then walked in as if they owned the place, I lost my cool. I think that was when Arlene realized that when I lose my temper I don't get loud, instead my voice grows very quiet.
"Before this charade goes any further, I want to handle a few things," I said quietly as I turned off the car engine. "I'm refusing right now to have anything to do with the media, especially not at my own house. In fact - Arlene, what's Dick's cell phone number?"
"Why? He's right there, I can go talk to him if you want me to."
"No, I want to talk to him on the phone and I want to do it myself," I growled softly.
Instead of giving me the number, she handed me her phone, saying; "I've dialled his number already."
"Hello." I heard Dicks voice.
"Hello Dick, it's Dave and I've had it. We're parked up the street and I can see news guys all over the area. If they aren't gone in five minutes, I'm going to turn around and drive back up to the cabin."
"Now wait a minute. You can't do that. We need you and your daughter to help us."
"You should have thought of that before you invited the media," I snorted. "Either they go, or we do. I've seen what those vultures do to sell papers and it ain't pretty. In fact I had to carry a friend's casket to his grave because of those lying bastards. I refuse to go anywhere near them at any time, because I consider the press to be little more than murdering snoops, who publish sensational articles that contain little if any truth."
"But Dave, if . . ."
"There are no if's and absolutely no but's about it," I growled. "If you want my cooperation, then I insist on having your's, and my decision isn't negotiable. Either they go or I go and my daughter does too. Oh by the way, I'd like you to pass on to them that the first one of them to step onto my property after this moment is liable for a trespassing charge and I want the news woman that's already in my house arrested for invasion of privacy, probable theft and any other charge you can throw at her and her cameraman."
"Someone is in your house? he said sharply, But I can't do anything . . ."
"Okay, if you can't, you can't, so we're leaving now. Call my lawyer when you can do something. Otherwise, don't bother calling me or anyone in my family ever again, and warn whoever gets the case next exactly how I insist on being treated." I hung up and handed the phone to Arlene
I'd barely started the car and was turning it around when my phone rang. I just handed that to Arlene as I drove away and around the corner.
"If that's Dick, tell him to call my lawyer if he wants to leave a message for me from now on. If it's Jaro, I'll pull over and talk to him. Anyone else, tell them it's a wrong number."
She didn't argue, but instead lifted the phone and turned it on.
"Hello," she snapped and I could tell even she was upset, just by the sound of her voice.
I could hear a loud male voice even from where I was sitting but I couldn't make out what he was saying.
Arlene interrupted. "Damn it Dick, that was the stupidest thing you could possibly have done. What did you do, invite every God damn media and press person in town to be there? He told you before that he doesn't want to have anything to do with them."
She paused and Cindy started to say something only to be shushed by Shannon.
"Quiet, Dad's about to blow a gasket. When his voice goes quiet like that you should just duck and get out of the way, because things are going to happen," she whispered, barely loud enough for me to hear.
Arlene had been patiently listening to Dick for a moment then I heard her take a deep breath. "No, I will not give him the phone. He's not willing to talk to you anymore. If you want to contact him, call his lawyer. And by the way, you've pissed me off too. I'm on holidays, so from now on my phone is turned off as far as you are concerned. You can contact me through Dave, which means that you'll have to call his lawyer to talk to me too."
"You'd better call Jaro for me," I said as she hung up and turned to face me. "I'll pull over and park when you get him on the line."
"I don't know his number," she said quietly.
"Oh, sorry, I'll find somewhere to park."
It took several minutes, but I found a small parking lot and I pulled to the far side then parked, backing in so I was partly hidden by a big van on one side and a building on the other. As I turned and held out my hand for the phone, she handed it to me with a big grin.
"What's so funny?"
"Me," she grinned. "A few days ago I'd have felt that you were being an obstruction to justice, yet now I understand how you feel and I'm on your side."
"Well, thank goodness," Cindy said from the back seat. "You should be, he's your guy."
"Enough comments from the cheap seats," Arlene turned to her, but grinned to show she really didn't mean it. "And I'm not on Dave's side because he and I are together, I'm backing him because what he's going through isn't the media's business."
"They're just looking for a story they can make into sensational headlines in order to draw attention and business to themselves, so it's all about putting money in their pockets and not about the factual story," I said as I waited for Jaro to answer his phone.
"Hello; this is the office of Santos Jarosynski, Attorney at Law," Jaro's secretary answered after several rings.
"Hello Ms. Abamo, Dave Gamble here, I'd like to speak to Jaro please."
"Oh thank goodness you have finally phoned, Mr. Gamble. I'll put you right through."
I heard a click and then a few seconds later Jaro came on the line.
"Hello Mr. Shit Disturber," he said and I could hear the smile in his voice.
"Hey Jaro, sorry to dump this on you with no warning. Have you gotten the gist of what's been going on?"
"Well, other than the fact that you've made me your official spokesperson, and half of the town is calling me? No, not really," he snorted. "What's happened this time?"
"Well, I was supposed to meet Detective Fairchild to help him while he investigated the burglary at my house and I never even got there. There were so damn many TV people and other fools around my house that I couldn't even see a parking spot, so I didn't dare go near the place. Hell, I saw a woman being filmed by a cameraman as she was going into my house through the front door. Even I know that's an invasion of privacy, trespass and I don't know what all else. So I lost my cool."
"You say a woman reporter was walking in through your front door?"
"Yes, I saw her doing it."
"Did you notice what she looked like or was there any way to identify her?"
"Well, she was wearing a green dress, and the cameraman who was walking backward in front of her was using a camera that had a CSTV logo on it. I suppose the people working on the house had left the door open and they just waltzed right in."
"Did you say anything to the police on the scene?"
"Yeah, I told the detective on the phone that I wanted all the trespassers charged with every charge he could think of. Why?"
"Because I happen to have four different TV networks on my other phone lines. It seems that several of their people have been arrested and charged on the scene and various pieces of equipment, as well as three vehicles have been confiscated by the police," he was chuckling. "They want to know if you're going to sue each one personally or what else you plan to do?"
"You damn right I am," I snapped instantly. "Do me a favour and find out if those people were there at the suggestion of their bosses. If they were, I'll sue the bosses as well."
"Wait a moment, would you rather sue or would you like to have them off of your case?"
"How would you like to arrange for both?" I managed a wry smile. "You might suggest that I'll consider withdrawing the lawsuit if they cooperate completely and my name or the names of any of my family or friends are never mentioned in the press again in any way, not without our permission. I want complete and total amnesty from the media and the press for the rest of our natural lives."
"You can't really expect them to honour that," he chuckled. "But if you really want me try it on for size, I can see if it will fly."
"I want you to do that and I want you to tell them that if they don't, I will write a book about what's happened to me in the last few days. You can warn them that I'm a successful author and I'll write the book in such a way that I'll make sure it reaches the top seller's list. Of course that means it will be a tell-all book and I will research each and every reporter as well as each and every one of their co-workers to the point where I reveal every sin, lie or peccadillo in each person's life. I will expose them even further than they do the people that they victimize the way they are doing to me. I will then turn it into a script that can be made into a movie, then I'll spend every dollar of the proceeds from the book and the movie to sue them in any way that I can. After that I will donate any remaining proceeds of the book, the movie and the lawsuits to a fund, which will be set up to fight press and media access into anyone else's private life," I said softly. "You can tell them that you know me and that what I'm suggesting isn't a threat, it's a promise."
"Is this about Lance?" he asked quietly. "You still believe that he killed himself because of those stories about him in the newspaper, don't you?"
"Yeah, it is and I do believe that," I said shortly.
"All right, since that's the way you feel. Let me have half an hour to straighten this out, then call your detective friend or the police chief. Go have a cup of coffee or something."
"And what restaurant would you suggest that we go to for a coffee?" I snapped.
"Any damn one you want," he snorted out a bark of laughter. "I can almost guarantee that no one who has anything to do with the press or the media in this town will come close to you right now and I'm about to do my best to make sure it stays that way. Now, I don't want to see or hear from you until you're ready to eat lunch. Just try not to get into any more touchy situations, okay?"
"All right Jaro, I'll try to behave myself, but you'd better warn the press to run the other way if they see me coming, because as of this moment I'm out to collect their scalps. We'll see you later," I sighed as I hung up the telephone.
"What now?" Arlene asked.
"Coffee time," I said shortly, then glanced at the back seat. "And I'm open to suggestions, but please, not Mickey D's"
"Oh Daddy," Shannon grumbled. "Could we at least go to a Tim's then?"
"Okay, donut time," I grinned and winked at her face in the mirror. "If that's okay with everyone else?"
"Sure, but what about all the media? Isn't there a good chance that they'll show up there as well?" Arlene said. "Or was that what you were talking to your lawyer about?"
So on the drive to Tim Horton's, I explained what Jaro had said the police had done to all the various media back at our house and about all the calls he'd been getting from both the police and the media. Then I explained my reasons for what I'd asked Jaro to try to arrange and why I felt he might be able to accomplish it.
"Let's face it, I'm threatening to do the same thing to them that they've done to a multitude of others. They know damn well that their methods aren't squeaky clean, so they'll suspect that I could hurt them a hell of a lot more than they could ever hurt me, and I doubt if they've got the balls to call my bluff!"