Page 101 of Beautiful Life
“I’ll be there as soon as Rosa’s son gets here. Tell me what happened, is everything okay?”
I look around my house at the mess, the police, the broken glass, Cory Blaton in custody and clearly needing all kinds of psychological help, when my eyes finally settle on the rose petals littered all over the floor in front of me. Thinking today could have been tragic, disastrous, or even worse, life changing. “Yeah, gem. Everything’s okay. Come to me as quick as you can.”
“Okay, honey. I’ll be there quick. Love you.”
“Love you, too, Leigh. Quick,” I assert one more time.
“As quick as I can,” she reiterates before hanging up.
I turn to see two police officers dragging Cory toward the front door and turn to another officer. “I know who he is and he’s not well. Treat him accordingly. I’ll get his mother’s contact information to you as soon as I can find it, but he’s been off whatever medication he requires for almost a week. See to it they get him whatever medical attention he needs right away.”
“I figured,” the officer agrees. “I’ll radio it in and he’ll be processed accordingly. Let me know when you get the contact information, we’ll reach out to his family.”
I turn to my phone again touching the screen to make my first call, finally able to breathe clear and easy. Leigh’s okay. There’s no more threat. I really don’t think we have to worry about her ex-fucking-husband anymore. My new mother-in-law has been put in her place and sent back to South Dakota. Leigh’s sister is hopefully on the path to a healthy life. My mom’s not completely pissed and shouldn’t disown me anytime soon. And I shake my head as I realize I’m even relieved my damn dog is okay.
“Dad?” I call into the phone as I look around my house at the disorder surrounding me. “Yeah, I don’t think I’ll make it back into the office today.”
Chapter 24 – April Showers Bring May Flowers
Tony
I leave my office and head to my car to get home to Leigh. I can’t wait to tell her my news at the same time I’m dreading having to tell her my news. That’s because I have good news.
And bad.
It’s Saturday and we’re full on into spring with the days getting longer and warmer. I’ve been to the gym to play basketball but I’m later getting home than usual because my dad and Gino summoned me to the office for a quick Saturday meeting. While there, I also got a call from the DA. Both delivered the good and bad news I get to share with my wife.
My wife.
The last couple of months have been perfect, regardless of the fact life hasn’t settled down. My embezzlement case has monopolized my time, demanding longer hours and time on the weekends. But the publicity of the case has garnered new clients. Many, many new clients and we’re still evaluating which cases we can take on. This is all really good for the practice and me, which I normally wouldn’t mind, but all this extra work has prolonged my plans for a honeymoon. And that makes me irritable and pissed because I’m anxious to get away with Leigh.
When I mentioned this out loud in front of my family one day, my mother looked at me with a raised eyebrow. “When you don’t plan a wedding, you can’t plan the honeymoon. You can’t have it both ways, Tone.”
Whenever my mother makes comments like this—and it happens frequently—Leigh looks at me while biting her lip. Lizzie Carpino has gotten over it for the part, but I have a feeling I’m going to be eating her shit for the rest of my days.
I don’t care. It was worth it.
Leigh has been equally busy and other than being back at work, all of her attention has been on her sister. Tina decided to stay in treatment for an additional fourteen days past the initial thirty. Leigh was able to visit her more often and went as much as she could. When Tina finally left the treatment center she moved in with us. I could tell Leigh was concerned how I would react, but I didn’t care. They needed to be close to one other and are building their relationship for the first time. I didn’t tell her this, but I might’ve had to put my foot down if it was her mother. Hopefully I won’t ever have to worry about that. Sheila Johnson hasn’t been back and Leigh has done everything she could to keep her away from Tina.
Tina moved into Leigh’s apartment last week to which Leigh said, “See, I’m so glad I got an apartment. What would we have done without it?”
Tina starts cosmetology school next week, which Leigh is also paying for and explained, “That money is just sitting in the bank, what else am I going to do with it? Plus, I think it’s funny to think about Preston paying for cosmetology school since he’s so stuck up. I’m more than happy to spend his money on it.” Then she added, “And honey, Tina’s going to want to cut your hair. Since she’s decided to do this, she can’t stop talking about how lush your hair is, which is true. But don’t worry, I love your hair, I won’t let her go crazy. What would I have to hold onto?”
After that comment, I dropped my fork on my dinner plate because I had to fuck my wife right there in the kitchen while she held on to my hair. I’ve always loved her hands in my hair, but now I love it even more, so I’ve decided to let it grow as long as I can without looking like a hippie in a suit when I go to court.
I pull into my drive and park in the garage next to Leigh’s new car. I never thought I could work a new car into the scenario this soon, but the timing was perfect and I took advantage. However perfect the timing was, it was still our first argument as a married couple.
A few weeks ago, when Tina was making plans to move into Leigh’s apartment, Tina was worried about finding a car since she has no income and is basically starting her life over with nothing. After thinking about this for about point seven five seconds, I said to Leigh in front of Tina, “Give Tina your car, we’ll get you something else.”
Leigh immediately frowned but it’s Tina who refused. “Oh, I love your car but I could never accept it. Don’t worry, I’ll figure something out.”
I smiled big at my frowning wife. “See? She loves it. It gets great gas mileage and she’ll be on a budget. I can’t think of a better solution.”
Frowning even deeper and completely vexed, she retorted in her barely controlled voice, “I bet you can’t.”
“This couldn’t have worked out better.” I was extremely pleased with myself and looked to my wife, whom I’m having all kinds of unprotected sex with and added with meaning which I knew she’d get, “She needs a car. You’ll eventually need something bigger. Two birds. One stone. Done.” Looking back at Tina I add, “Congratulations on your gently used new ride. You’re gonna love it. I hear it’s a happy car.”
I then tagged my pissed off wife behind the head and pulled her in to kiss me, even though she didn’t return my kiss and her lips were as hard as steel. She tried to pull away from me, but I barely let her move. “We’ll go car shopping this weekend. It was so much fun last time, I can’t wait.” I kissed her on the forehead before she tore her head out of my hand and said, “Love you,” before grabbing my jacket to head to work.
