Sara fell asleep and dreamt about Jason. She was sitting in court listening to people tell the jury about how mean he was to his cute little wife. How he had complained to co-workers on numerous occasions, that he wanted to kill her. She watched and listened from the back row as they convicted him of murdering his infant daughter and the death of his wife. Two life-ter sentences were sent down. He would never be free again.
Sara woke as tears ran down her face. She sat up in her bed and looked around. It took a few seconds for her to recognize where she was and that it had all been a bad dream or a good dream for her. She plopped back into her pillows and wondered when that trial was going to begin. She rolled to her side and watched Drew back out of his driveway. She wondered if he would want to see her tonight. The air-conditioner pulled the smell of bacon cooking in her room. Scrambling to put on her robe, she headed for the kitchen, catalog in hand. "I'm going to learn how to bowl," Sara announced as she came into the kitchen. She told them how she spent the evening with Drew and how much she liked him. The night she kept to herself.
*
It took everything he had to pull himself out of bed this morning. "God, I hope she doesn't want to run tonight." He complained as he stepped into the shower, but he didn't regret one second of the time he spent with her. Standing there, he let the water beat down on him as hot as he could stand. He ached all over as he drove to work; but knew if he kept it up, he would get back in shape. It had been years since he had done that. Actually, he had never had sex for that long. God, he wanted to keep this woman. The scars and bites flashed in his head, and his rising friend dropped. No way did she get those in rehab. How could any worker hide that amount of abuse from the people who ran the place? Something is wrong with Sara's story. She did say Marge and Pop's were better to her than her own parents. Could those have come from them?
But they died six years ago. From what he could tell, those bites and marks aren't that old. Pissing her off or not; soon he would have to get to the truth. How could he have a life with someone who would not tell him the truth? He did want to spend his life with her. He wanted her body under his as often as he could manage it. So, she is naïve. He can mold her into his perfect woman. He was thinking as his phone buzzed. "Mr. Billings, your 2:00 is here."
Drew looked around he had accomplished nothing all day. Except think about Sara and her body. A fifty-something-year-old woman with tight, curly gray hair walked in, letting him know within seconds of stepping into his office what her problem was.
He sat and listened to her rehash the problem repeatedly. Even the 4,000-dollar retainer did nothing to dissuade her from her quest. She wanted her neighbor to move a chicken coop that may be encroaching six inches onto her twenty-seven-acre property line. He was invited out in the morning to view her problem. As he walked her to the elevator, the other lawyers and one of the partners smiled at him. He knew they were giving him the crap work, but he was the newbie and knew how it worked.
He was going to resolve this, and Ms. Curly would be happy. He had been doing Wills, minor disagreements, incorporations, and personal injuries. But it was better than corporate law. At least he was enjoying the people, and no one is threatening his job or life if he screws something up. Thank God, they hadn't, but he was tired of that way of life. He was thinking as he walked back to his office, and Sara popped into his mind, and he smiled. He would go home tonight and hoped Sara would come over to visit.
*
Sara and Marge waited in the counselor's office. She was checking to see if Sara passed the GED test. Tuition was due, and they were signing up for her classes, but they really needed to know if she passed. Sara's knees were shaking. Marge saw and told her. "Sweetie, calm down. The worst that happens is you start in January." Marge told her, patting her knee. Sara knew those shaking knees were from Drew, not nerves. She had been having a hard time keeping them still and together since last night. He kept them spread wide for hours, but she had enjoyed him.
"I know, but I need something to do. I like learning, and there are a lot of things I need to learn."
The counselor told them, smiling as she came back into the office.
"I'm not allowed to tell you; if you pass, that will come to you in the mail, but I will take your money."
Marge caught on, but Sara didn't.
She handed them her receipt and told her where she could go and find each class requirement.
"Congratulations," Marge told her, hugging her shoulder and walking her out of the room, "you passed."
"How do you know?" Sara asked, looking around to find who told her had she missed something.
"She wouldn't have taken our money otherwise."
"Oh, thank God," Sara said and hugged Marge.
*
Leaving the campus bookstore with their arms full, Sara was thrilled. She started her did you know as she read her history book on the way home. She had ten days before classes started and nine days before her new birthday when she would turn twenty-one again as Sara.
*
Drew wrote his request for the gray-haired old lady's neighbor. He didn't want it to feel like a demand and set the neighbor off. He planned to present it to them tomorrow. See if he can resolve this without trouble or in court. He felt it was unlikely, given her comments about their attitude. Nevertheless, it was worth the try. Drew pulled in his drive. It was only 4:15, but he was done for the day. He could walk in his house from the garage through his laundry room, but he might see Sara if he walks to the front door, she would see him. He hoped she would. He wanted to see her badly. As he stepped to his front door, his phone rang.
"Hey babe, can you see me," he asked, excited at the prospect of seeing her, and waved towards her house.
"No, we are at the store we wanted to know if you would like to have dinner with us. We are buying steak," Sara said, "to celebrate." She teased happily.
"That sounds better than the TV dinner I planned. Yes, I would love to what are we celebrating?" Drew asked her.
"I'll tell you when you come over around six, and we will feed you," she offered at Marge's urging.
"I'll be there. I have missed you."
"You have?" she asked, sounding so excited and happy.
"Yes, Ma'am, I have thought about you all day."
"Yeah, Mom, get another steak. He is coming," Sara told Marge.
"I have been thinking about you too. I'll see you in a little while," she told him in a roundabout way she couldn't talk dirty to him right now. She had done a good job last night.
Drew hung up and went in headed straight for the bathroom to shave and shower. He slipped on comfortable clothes and popped a beer. Turned on live at five and waited out the hour. He needs to figure out how to act around her. Overly friendly Pops will know they are more than just friends. Not friendly enough, she will think he doesn't care. What does he care? He is thirty-three, and she is twenty-one, both old enough to do whatever they want.
Because she doesn't want to upset Pops is why. He is important to her. Drew knew that. If she is touchy-feely, he will be. If she is not, he will hold back until they are alone. They will be alone at some point tonight. He realized he had not paid one bit of attention to the evening news, but it was over, and the local was about to start. This is Drew's clue it is time to go and see Sara. As hungry, as he is, he would starve to be with her.
Walking up the drive to their front door, it popped open. "Hey, sweetheart," Sara called out and rushed to fill his arms. "We are so excited to have you for dinner. Mom needs to know how you like your steak she just put them on," Sara told him as she pulled him into the house.
"I told them we are seeing each other. I hope you don't mind," she whispered as Pops stood and approached him as they entered the kitchen. "Well, Drew, thanks for joining us," Pops said as they shook hands. "No Sir, thanks for asking I haven't had a meal with a family in I'd say twelve years. So, this is a treat."
"Good lord, Drew, count yourself invited every night from now on," Marge calls out from the stove. Drew approached her, gave her a side hug, and kissed her cheek. "That is sweet, but I can't intrude like that," he said, but it did sound good.
"Oh, come on, what is cooking for one more? I can do that, no problem. Plus, I know Charlie would love to have another male voice around here," Marge teased.
"Don't feel pressured, it's an offer, we would love to have you anytime," Pops told him, "hey I was wondering if you did Wills."
"I have been known to do a number of them," Drew sighed; he was getting a good reception now he knows why. He relaxed that is okay he will pop out a free Will to see Sara.
Charlie picked up a file box and set it on the table.
"I take it this is going to be a working dinner," Drew noted, looking at the box.
"Pops, don't do this to him," Sara complained. He could see the disappointment on her face, so he knew she hadn't been involved in the setup.
"I'm going to pay the man I just want him to know it is going to involve some work," Pops informed them.
"No problem, Pops," Drew stood and fished his keys out of his pocket. He turned to Sara, "Sweetheart, go and bring me a bottle of red wine look on the label for something in 2001 or 2002 and bring it over. I can at least relax if I'm going to work," he told Sara as he reached for a legal tablet and pen sitting on the top of the box. Sara went out the front door.
Hearing it shut, Drew said. "Did you know Sara went running last night? She also beat the pavement, screamed, and cried as she ran, not jogged, and ran for over two miles. Her stories and injuries don't add up. Would you two please tell me the truth about her? We have to help her before she completely falls apart," Drew pled for them to help. He couldn't lose her to the demons in her head.
Charlie picked up his laptop, sat it on the table, pressed a few buttons, and turned it towards Drew. He pulled back a chair and sat down, pulled the laptop in front of him, and started to read.
Blessing area man arrested
for double homicide
Jason Millwright is arrested for the murder of his wife, Misty Millwright, aged 20, and his infant daughter. They had been married for four years. Detectives unearthed the tiny body of a 6-month-old female fetus in the backyard. It appeared to have been in the ground for approximately 2 months, the coroner told us.
A backhoe was brought in, but Misty Millwright's body was not found on the property. Jason Millwright had complained to his co-workers on numerous occasions about wanting to kill his wife. Boasted about beating her on numerous occasions, then laughed about punching her until she lost the baby she was carrying. Co-workers told us how he acted relieved when she lost the baby. He laughed, saying it's gone now. A number of people told us they told the Detectives about the abusive behavior he had towards her.
"If she can't be found, he must have killed her. He kept her way out in the country. She went nowhere. He told me she was his wife, and he could do what he wanted to her," the witness told this reporter. "He could have attached her body to one of the shrimp boats before they went out to the gulf," one co-worker speculated to this Reporter. He also suggested Jason has no idea where she is or if he did anything to her due to his excessive drinking. The trial begins in September if his defense team doesn't ask for a delay.
Sara came in the door, "I found a red 2002."
Drew closed the laptop and looked at Charlie. "Did you bring the opener?" Drew asked as she walked into the kitchen. She handed him the bottle, turned around, and walked back out.
"We'll wait for you," Marge called out.
Charlie waited for the door to close. "She is Misty. They think he killed her, but we picked her up on the road and brought her with us. If you think she was running last night, we will never find her if, she gets scared off. She won't go back there."
"No, but she," Drew said as he lifted the lid and started to read it again.
"But she has nothing to worry about we plan on leaving everything to her. We think of her as our own," Marge told him, seeing his distress.
"You can't list someone using a false name as a beneficiary of a will," Drew informed them.
He went back to reading the article-making note of the date almost two months old in the back of the legal pad.
Sara came in "Ok, I even brought glasses." Looking at all the long faces, she asked, "What is the matter?"
"Oh, nothing baby, just sad talk about us dying. You know, setting up a will," Marge told her. "Help me get this on the table," she said and signaled towards the food.
Sara handed Drew the opener and went to help Marge. Charlie cleared the table as Drew wrote Jason Millwright on the last page of the tablet. He would look that up when he got home. Wanting her to come home with him was out the door. He needed to find out what was going on with her.
"We can work on this later," Charlie told him.
They had a quiet dinner; everyone had a little of Drew's wine and enjoyed their steaks. They talked mostly about Sara's classes and how she passed her GED on the first try. Drew was shocked by how they just embraced him as a family member. What had Sara told them? After dinner, Drew picked up the box and his tablet.
"Come on, Charlie, let's go in the dining room and spread this out on the table so I can see what I'm dealing with," Drew suggested, wanting to be able to talk without Sara hearing. The sound of dishes being done a cheerful chatter filled the kitchen as they went into the other room.
"Ok, explain this to me," Drew asked Charlie as he sat next to him. "He pulled the box over and took a few files out and set them on the table to make it look like they were working. Charlie began to tell him quietly how they found Sara and what bad condition she was in that morning. How they grew to love her and only want the best for her.
"We have no family, Drew, at least, and we want to claim. We want our estate to go to her. If it can't go to Sara, then fix the situation and set it up to go to Misty," Charlie told him. "I'm eighty-two, Marge is eighty, and I know I don't have much longer."
Drew reached out and squeezed his hand to comfort him and himself.
"I can feel it in my body, and I don't want Marge to be alone. I'm depending on Sara to be here for her. Marge loves that girl. This tells you what all we have and what all needs to be covered by the Will." Charlie told him, patting the box. "I saw a movie or TV show not too long ago and this attorney had written an irrevocable Will that is what I want. I do not want mine or Marge's family to be able to attest to this Will. We both know they are just waiting for us to die so they can get their hands on our money."
"OH, Charlie, you really think so," Drew asked.
"Why do you think we moved out here? Those leaches would not leave us alone. They have gotten all they are going to get from us."
Charlie began to tell him about their daughter's death, the lawsuit, and the money that is still due to them.
Drew sorted papers and showed him different statements for an hour. He wrote people's names and business names, amounts in bank accounts. Life insurance, home insurance, and car insurance information. Marge and Sara brought them drinks a slice of pie and Sara hung on Charlie's arm, as they talked having no idea what they were doing. She knew they had money that was no surprise. It was boring so she left them to it.
"So, this is what I need from you. We want our baby taken care of. I'm leaving it up to you to fix all the mess we have gotten ourselves into so far. I want you to make sure our baby will be fine when we are gone." He slid a check in front of Drew for a hundred thousand. "This should get you started. If you need more, just ask, but Texas has to be addressed. Sara can't keep her stories straight, or her mouth shut. She is going to have to go back to being Misty and deal with her husband. He should stay in jail because of the baby so she will be safe."
"Yes, Sir but give me a few days to research all of this before we discuss this with Sara. I have never dealt with anything like this before. I can have a Living Trust made up. I think that is the way we need to go. I can have it ready by the time I come home tomorrow night we just need witnesses for signatures." He collected their full names and social security numbers. His only problem was Misty's information they realized as they talked.
"You work on how you can help her, and then you can ask her all the questions. She is going to freak out on you. He was going to kill her, and she knew it. Getting her to go back is going to be difficult, but she is going to have to testify against him," Charlie told him.
Drew collected the paper and went in search of Sara. He found her lying on her bed on her stomach, kicking her feet back and forth with her new books spread out around her. Drew closed her door and closed her curtains.
"Hi, baby," Sara said as she rolled to her back, watching him rearrange the room.
Drew sat on her bed. "I'm going home are you coming later?" He asked as he ran his hand up her thigh.
"I can if you want me to, but you look like you need to sleep," Sara told him he looked exhausted as she shifted around and perched next to him. He pulled her over into his lap and held her, cupping her head to his chest. He hated she had been treated so badly.
She was right, he doesn't want to know what happened to her; but he had to ask at some point. Then he needs to take her back to Texas and resolve the situation.
"Your right, sweetheart. I am tired. It has been a long day. Let's go out tomorrow night. Dress up, and I will come and get you at 8:00, and we will hit this town. Does dinner and dancing sound good to you?" He asked, sounding so sweet to her.
"I don't know how to dance," she told him, not trying to back out of the date. She just needs him to know she can't dance. She didn't want to make a fool out of him or her out on some dance floor.
"You'll be fine, we will only slow dance. That way, I get to hold you in my arms longer," Drew told her as he took her mouth. The kiss intensified, and Sara found herself flat on her back with Drew draped across her. His kisses had gone down her neck. "Drew, we can't do this here. Marge comes to my room about this time every night," she whispered. He stopped kissing her and slid to the side of the bed.
"I'm addicted to you I can't get enough of you," he reached back and ran his hand over her stomach. "But for now, I'm going home and get some sleep." He leaned over and gave her a light kiss, picked up the box, and walked out her side door. He had work to do. There would be no going to bed for him until he had this figured out.
Sara opened her curtain and watched him walk home. He may want them closed, but she wanted to see the world. She had spent to long cooped up in the tiny house with nothing to see.
*
Drew turned off his lights, locked his door, and made a beeline for his study. He has a card table that holds his computer. He ran a criminal background check on Jason Millwright, weeding out a number of them, and he zeroed in on one in Texas. He had a couple of DWIs and breaking and entering when he was twenty. He's in jail in Bay City, Texas, on homicide charges. He is a thirty-year-old white trash nobody. He looked like a cocky SOB.
"You beat and abuse a beautiful girl because you could, and I will make you pay because I can," he swore, staring into his eyes. He reread the article and a few more articles that came out; updating everyone. The trial starts in two weeks. He loved small-town papers. They give you all the information. Why even have a trial? "I guess the court-appointed attorney isn't going to fight for him. He is just going to let the law run over him."
I'd like to run over him. Drew thought with his car.
He looked up the demographic of Matagorda County and Bay City and did a Google search of the area. No wonder she knew nothing she lived in the boondocks.
He zoomed in on their address. "Shit, she lived in a shack." The picture is four years old and blurry. He could tell she had to walk for miles to be picked up, and how scary that must have been for her in the middle of the night.
She is a tough one. Somehow, he had to get her to talk to him without making her run. He has already seen her quick temper and he had not pressed her. He was going to have to keep his cool.