Hi everyone!! I hope you all are enjoying Love Always. As always, thank you for downloading. I truly appreciate it!
Now, here’s the next two chapters of Baker 6, as story will be coming to a close soon. Enjoy!
33. Gerald
Since the news regarding my birth mother coming to light, I have not been able to do anything productive in the last few hours. In fact, the only thing I have done was sit in the dark and drink. My phone been ringing nonstop, but instead of answering, I just let it ring.
I knew everyone was probably worried about me, especially Tamara. Although I miss her so much, I couldn’t be around anyone right now. I didn’t want to feel like a burden to anyone, nor having to express my feelings regarding the recent revelation. As I was about to go into the kitchen for another beer, the doorbell rang. I debated on whether I should open it, but someone began to speak, which made me change my mind.
“Son, please open the door.”
I sighed as I went up to the door. I looked at the peephole and noticed my mother was standing outside. I couldn’t imagine what she could possibly say to me after lying to me all of these years. In fact, I think I should talk to her, just to find out what possess her to pulling the ultimate scheme.
I swung open the door to reveal the woman who raised me. She gave a sigh of relief as she stared at me. As she tried to give me a hug, I pulled back from her. I went over to the couch and sat down without even uttering a hello or come in.
“I guess I deserve that, but no matter the situation, I’m still your mother. I may not have birthed you, but I raised you, so please give me some sort of respect.”
“Are you serious right now? You lied to me for 31 years! How can I respect someone who lied to me repeatedly about my birth mother?”
“Don’t you take that tone with me! I admit it; I made a mistake, but it was for good intentions. I tried to do the right thing by taking care of you. Your mother was a married woman who should have been repairing her marriage instead of making a baby with another man! I did not want you being raised in a household that would have looked at you as a mistake and not a blessing.”
“That was not your place to judge! Mom, I’m grateful for the live you’ve given me, but you deprived me of being near my biological mom. I missed my entire life getting to know my real mother and my sister!”
“But you did know your sister. You and Camille turned out to be great friends.”
“Yeah, friends; not brother and sister. There’s a difference between the two.”
“Gerald, when your father told me that Claire was pregnant, I felt my whole world was crashing down. Your father and I were already on shaky ground because of the problems we had, and when he told me about his affair, I didn’t know what else to do. I didn’t know whether to just end things with him, or just fix the problems we had and moved on. When Claire announced that she couldn’t have a child by another man, I took the initiative to raise you as my own. I couldn’t have children due to anovulation, so I thought this was a great way to have the child that I know I couldn’t have on my own.”
“So, you’re saying that Claire didn’t want me?”
“I know it hurt her when she gave you up, but I know she wanted what was best for you. That’s why when Camille was born; we knew it was best for you to get to know her. Even though we couldn’t reveal you two were related, we did want you two to establish at least a friendship.”
“I still cannot get pass the fact that you all lie to us; especially me! I thought you were the one person who would tell me the truth¸ especially with all the crap Dad put both of us through.”
As I was talking, the tears I tried so hard to fight were beginning to flow uncontrollably. My mom watched as I went over to the sofa and sat down. She went over to me and put her arms around me. At that point, I didn’t care if my mom lied to me about my paternity; I just needed her there with me.
After a few minutes of crying into my mother’s shoulder, I pulled apart from her and gave her a stern look.
“I don’t know what to do now. I don’t even know where to start.”
“Son, just listen to your heart. Now that you know what happened, it’s up to you to decide what steps to take now.”
I wipe my tear-stained face with the bottom of my shirt as I got up and went over to the window.
I don’t know whether to start a relationship with my real mother, or just let things go. It has been 31 years, so why start now?
“I think I know what I need to do.”
34. Melanie
Today at the boutique was hectic as usual. With the money I’m generating from sales, I could possibly hire more staff so I could focus on other matters at hand. As I was finish with my last customer, I let my staff know I was going to my office. Once I arrived inside, I closed my door and went straight to my desk. I went online and went through my email and notice an email alert from The Baker Express. It had several stories, including the one regarding Camille having sex at the Halloween Bash last night. I already knew the unidentified male was which only made the story even funnier. I would not want to be in their predicament, especially since Camille is now the laughingstock of Baker.
Too bad I missed it. I thought as I continued checking my email.
After the incident the other night with Tamara, Derrick and I decided to skip the Halloween Bash and have a quiet night at his place. It was well worth it, considering that was the first time in months that we focused solely on us and not on work or family issues.
My cell phone rang, causing me to slightly jump from the noise. I looked at the name of the person calling and quickly picked up.
“Hey Clint; how are you?”
“I’m great Melanie; how about yourself?”
“I’m doing great. You found anything on the person I told you about?”
“I found quite a bit on Mr. Anderson, but you may want to sit down.”
“I am sitting down. It’s that bad?”
“I wouldn’t say it is, but it sure a lot to digest.”
“Lay it on me.”
“He is definitely cheating on his wife. I saw him a couple of days ago with a female outside of Hill’s Restaurant. They seemed pretty cozy and were making out in the parking lot.”
“I knew it, bastard! Anything else I need to know?”
“There is one other thing. I did go into his phone records.”
“Clint, I told you not to do that. If anyone finds out about this, the evidence will be thrown out for invasion of privacy!”
“I know, but something about the dude didn’t sit right with me. From the time I’ve been investigating him, he seemed too confident about not getting caught. Anyway, I know this will be strictly off the record, but he been making several calls to someone in Houston as well as in Austin. I traced the numbers, and turns out one of them belong to Demetrius Meyers.”
“The basketball player for the Jaguars; that shouldn’t be too bad, I guess. Chad is a trainer for the team.”
“That’s understandable, but why is he calling him at the wee hours of the morning? I don’t think the two need to discuss trainer business at two in the morning.”
I leaned back in my chair and sighed.
Interesting…
“I also traced another number that was popping up a lot on his bill. Turns out the number belong to Melissa Peterson.”
“Are you serious? Why would he be talking to her?” I said to myself.
“What was that?” Clint asked.
“Sorry, I was just thinking out loud. Melissa is my friend’s ex-fiancé. I don’t know why Chad would be talking to her, unless to plot some sort of revenge against his wife.”
“You told me your friend is now seeing your other friend, which is in fact Peterson’s ex-fiancé?”
“Correct.”
“It’s obvious what’s going on there.”
“I know. Thanks Clint for everything.”
“No problem Melanie. There is one other thing I need to tell you, but it has nothing to do with this case.”
“What is it?”
“It’s about your other friend, Rachel.”
I sat up in my chair with a curious look on my face.
“Okay, tell me.”
“I know I shouldn’t be saying this to you, but the department decided to end the investigation. There’s not enough evidence to prove it was intentional.”
“I was afraid of that.”
“There was something that kind of struck me through. With Rachel’s car, there were several dents on the back bumper. Although we noticed them before, no one even tried to figure out if someone pushed the car into the river. Also, there were several tire marks on Kelly Court. Those marks couldn’t have come from Rachel’s car.”
“Why do you say that?”
“The marks were larger, possibly a truck or SUV.”
“So there were two cars on the road. Why wouldn’t the department want to investigate on whether another car was on the road?”
“I don’t know. It seems as if the department is trying to cover it up. If it was just me investigating, I would go further into it. I really think someone tried to kill her that night.”
“What are you saying? Someone should do a private investigation?”
“If you want justice for your friend, you should.”
After a few more minutes of conversation, I ended my call with Clint. Once I pushed the end button on my iPhone, I had to think back to what Clint just said. Since Clint is a detective for the Baker Police Department, he knows the ins and outs there. If the department is involved in some dirty tactics, then Clint would be the person to reveal them.
Someone began to knock on my door, which broke me from my thoughts.
“Come in.”
The door opened and Derrick walked in. I smiled at the welcome sight.
“Hey.” I said as I went up to him and gave him a quick kiss.
“Hey. How’s everything going?”
“Good, for the most part. I just talked to Clint.”
“How’s he doing?”
“Good. He gave me some good information regarding Chad, even though we can’t really use it.”
“He found evidence the dirty way, huh?”
“Yeah; if we can find some legitimate evidence against that jerk, then Camille can use it in court. But there was something else he mentioned, but it was about Rachel.”
“What was it?” Derrick asked as he said in the chair in front of my desk.
“He mentioned that the department decided to drop the investigation.”
“What! Why would they do that?”
“Not enough evidence, but Clint knows that there’s something going on inside the department. There was plenty of evidence to continue with the case.”
“You don’t think the department is covering up for someone, do you?”
“Either that or they don’t want to go through the effort of looking for another vehicle. Either way, the department is doing dirty tactics to push this case under the rug.”
“I have a feeling you’re up to something Ms. Bradshaw.”
“Why would you think that?”
“That look you have. Have to admit, it’s a complete turn-on.”
“Before you get all horny and bothered, let me tell you my plan.”
“I’m all ears.”
“Clint mentioned that maybe someone should do a little investigating on their own.”
“Don’t tell me you’re thinking about doing this. Melanie, you know how much trouble you could get into.”
“Please Derrick, I’m an FBI agent! I think I’m capable of digging up a little dirt on my own.”
“I know you’re capable of doing it, but what if this ‘accident’ is much more? You could be dealing with something much bigger.”
“I know that, but Rachel was my friend. I just want justice for her, her family and for her friends.”
Derrick went up to me and puts his arms around me.
“I know you do, as long as you let me help you.”
I smiled as I gave him a kiss.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
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