Forever Yours, Casey

  Forever Yours,

  Casey

  Cassidy K. O’Connor

  When you’re a mother, you do whatever it takes to protect your kids, even if that means landing yourself behind bars.

  Brittany Celdonio made the toughest decision of her life 15 years ago, but was it the right one? A lot has changed in that time, and now she’s a hardworking single mother of two. When her daughter is threatened and Brittany finds herself in trouble, the past may be the only thing that can get her out.

  Casey Sanders has been writing a letter every single year for the last 15 years, since the love of his life disappeared without a word. Attempting to live a new life, he has the job he dreamed of, the perfect fiancé, everything he could want…except her. An unexpected phone call could change his life forever.

  What do you do when your past comes calling? You drop everything and go.

  Cover Art by Ash Arceneaux

  Copyright © 2016 Cassidy K. O’Connor

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations in critical articles and reviews.

  Dedication

  There is nothing more beautiful than the love between a mother and her child.

  I am lucky to have three amazing children. They say I can be a ‘Mama bear’ sometimes and that’s okay. That means they know I will always fight for them in any way they need.

  ~Other Books by the Author~

  Broken Dreams

  Loving the Monster Within

  Wicked Wonderland Retreat

  The Love’s Protector Series

  Awakening Her Desires

  The Evolution of Sam

  Finding His Swing

  Chapter One

  Brittany

  I can taste the bile rising in my throat as soon as I hear the knock on my door. I’ve been expecting them but I’m still shaking as I reach for the doorknob. Standing in the doorway are two police officers. I recognize them from the diner and I can tell they aren’t happy about doing this either.

  “Morning, ma’am. We have a warrant for your arrest.”

  My shoulders sag in resignation, of course they do. Kacee hears the commotion and runs out of her room yelling.

  “No, this isn’t fair! He’s the creep, why are you arresting her?”

  Tears pouring down her face, I squeeze her against me and hold her while she cries. “I’m so sorry, Mommy. This is all my fault.”

  “Shhh, I’m going to call Grandma and have her come over. Stay here with your brother and get him ready for school. Tell him I had to leave early for work and make sure he gets there. I don’t want him at the police station.” I grab her face and make her look at me. “Stop crying, baby, we’ll get this all sorted out and I’ll be home soon.”

  I swallow the guilt knowing I just lied to my daughter. I know they aren’t going to release me anytime soon. I don’t have any money or power and they do.

  “I’m sorry, ma’am, but we have to handcuff you. You might want to get that call taken care of.”

  I nod my head and walk with Kacee plastered against my side to the phone. Mom picks up on the first ring sounding worried. People don’t usually call before mid-morning unless it’s an emergency. I guess this counts as one.

  “Hey, Mama, I need you to come over and stay with the kids for a bit. Kacee can explain when you get here.”

  “I don’t understand, what’s going on?”

  I hear the panic in her voice, I try to block it out and get off the phone quickly.

  “I don’t have time to explain, please come over.”

  “Okay, I’ll be there soon.”

  I hang up, relieved she didn’t make me tell her more.

  “Okay, baby girl, after you get your brother to school, I need you to tell Grandma what I did then have her find me a lawyer.” Her eyes fill with fear; I can imagine how scared she is to retell her story again. “Don’t tell her anything but what I did and I’ll handle the rest. Ask Mrs. Jennings across the hall to keep Austin when he gets home from school.”

  I wait for her nod before I step away and hold out my wrists to the police. Their remorseful faces help make this a little easier.

  Thank god it’s still early and most of the neighbors aren’t out yet. I walk quietly to the police car and sit back for the short drive to the station. Looking around, I can’t help but be curious about the equipment up front. I wish there wasn’t a cage separating me like an animal to be feared. I guess in a way I am; you mess with one of my kids, I am going to come after you.

  I’m relieved the police station is mostly empty when we arrive. They process my booking and place me in holding. I haven’t said a word other than I am waiting for my lawyer. Two hours I sit on the bench staring at the wall; I’m too scared to think about what is going to happen to the kids if I don’t get out. Instead, I sing songs in my head, but by the third round of Maroon 5’s ‘She Will Be Loved’ I am ready to climb the walls in frustration. Finally, I hear my mother down the hall yelling at anyone she sees, demanding to see me immediately. One of the cops from this morning comes in with a smirk on his face.

  “I’m going to move you to a room so your mother and lawyer can meet with you.”

  I sag in relief hearing she found a lawyer. I follow meekly down the hall to a small room with a table in the middle and chairs on both sides. I’m surprised there isn’t a mirror in here, I’ve watched so many cop shows I thought that was standard.

  Mom is already inside and launches herself at me.

  “Brittany, what is going on? They said they are charging you with assault. You’ve never hurt anyone in your life, this has to be a mistake.”

  As she spoke, her voice rose higher and higher. I can hear the panic and feel guilt for putting her through another crisis. Why can’t I be a good daughter? I shake off my maudlin feelings and turn to the older gentleman standing by the table.

  “I sure hope you are my lawyer.”

  I’m a little concerned at his appearance; he’s well past his prime, severely overweight and wearing rumpled clothes. I glance at Mama and she gives me an apologetic shrug. I turn back as he holds his hand out to me. I shake it firmly, ignoring the slimy feeling of his palm.

  “My name is Carter Jepsen. Let’s talk about what happened and go from there.”

  In other words, let’s find out if your case is worth my time. I sit down and take a deep breath, waiting while they get situated in their chairs. He nods and I start my story.

  “I was working at the diner last night when my cell phone started buzzing in my pocket. I was running food and ignored it. When I checked a few minutes later, there were four missed calls, three texts and a voicemail from Kacee. I read the texts first. She said Dirk Montgomery had shown up at ‘The Haunt’ and was really drunk.” I see my mom’s eyes widen and Mr. Jepsen’s pen pause when I get to Dirk’s name. He is obviously considering right then if he should walk away. “Kacee had tried to leave and Dirk wouldn’t let her. She had escaped to the bathroom and wanted me to come get her. The voicemail was a sobbing Kacee saying Dirk had attacked her but she had gotten away and was hiding around the corner.”

  “Why didn’t you call the police at that point?”

  I give him my best motherly “are you kidding me” look with quirked eyebrow and tilted head. He clears his throat and has the sense to look sheepish. Everyone in the surrounding area knows the Montgomery’s are the most powerful family around. They can pretty much say and do whatever they want with no repercussion. I shake my head and continue on.

  “I ran out of there and found her huddling between some cars in the back parking lot. Her shirt was ripped open. I had every intention of takin
g her home and forgetting about it but when I saw her, I snapped. I put her in the car, locked the doors and stormed in after him.” Mama’s head is hanging down at this point with tears rolling down her face. I know she is crying for Kacee; I hope none of those are tears are because I’ve shamed her again. “I found him at the bar making out with another girl. I grabbed his shoulder, spun him around and punched as hard as I could. His head snapped back, but he recovered really fast and looked like he was going to hit me so I grabbed a bottle, smashed it against the bar and held it to his throat. I was in a blind rage by that point. I know I screamed some things, but then the bouncer’s picked me up and tossed me out. I took Kacee home, cleaned her up and put her to bed.”

  My mother’s shoulders are shaking wildly up and down.

  “I’m sorry, Mama. I saw her and I couldn’t control myself. I know I screwed up again.”

  Finally, she looks up and I’m shocked into silence. Her tears have turned to laughter she barely contains.

  “What I would have given to see you holding a bottle up to that idiot’s throat.”

  “You aren’t mad at me?”

  “Quite the opposite, I couldn’t be prouder. You stood up for your own and there is nothing wrong with that.”

  The soothing balm of relief flows through my whole body. I didn’t realize how worried I was about her reaction till now.

  “I know I didn’t handle that well…”

  Before I can finish my sentence, I yell out in pain. Mama, being proud, had laid her hands over mine and squeezed.

  “Ms. Celdonio, have you had your hand looked at since the incident?”

  “No, I didn’t want to leave Kacee last night. I’ve been taking pain medicine and babying it the best I could.”

  “I’m going to have them take you over to the hospital for x-rays, then we’ll talk again when you are back.”

  I take it as a good sign he’s still here. He grunts as he stands and waddles over to the door. His knock is immediately answered by the same cop who brought me to the room.

  “Hey, Mike, Ms. Celdonio hurt her hand during the incident. Can you run her over to the hospital and get it taken care of?”

  “Sure thing, Mr. Jepsen, let me call it in.” He turns my way, “I’ll be right back to get you.”

  He smiles as he closes the door. Considering I’m a criminal, I am grateful for the wonderful treatment I’m being given. I know everyone hates the Montgomery family, especially the cops who can’t touch them.

  “Well, one thing you can be happy about, Dirk turned eighteen last month. At least you didn’t assault a minor.”

  I hadn’t even thought of that; this could be so much worse.

  “Kacee’s out front, she’s worried sick. We’re going to follow you over to the hospital and she can sit with you while you get taken care of.”

  The door opens again to my now familiar escort. He shrugs as he holds out the cuffs; I’m grateful that he is being gentle. Mama follows out the hall and squeezes my shoulder as she heads back out front. I’m led out a side door to the waiting police car.

  “You should have told us this morning you needed medical attention. We could have taken you to the hospital first.”

  “I think the adrenaline was still so high I didn’t realize how bad it was till she squeezed it.”

  He leaned in and buckled me up, whispering in my ear, “Your daughter should be proud of what you did.”

  I nod and smile sheepishly.

  The drive to the hospital is silent, my heartbeat speeds up when I see Kacee standing outside with a nurse and a wheelchair. She looks miserable; I want a do over so badly. I climb in the chair and thank the nurse when she lays a blanket over my handcuffed wrists. As we go inside, I look back and see my escort giving us a lot of space. I guess they really can appreciate what I did.

  “I heard you were quite the hero last night. How about we get some x-rays and see if we can’t fix you up.”

  Chapter Two

  Casey

  I stare at the same spot on the ceiling every morning. I watch as it grows brighter with the sunrise, listening to Monica’s soft snores beside me. As the room fully illuminates with the morning rays, my alarm beeps quietly. Mechanically, my arm knows exactly where to move to shut it off, my eyes never leaving that boring spot.

  I’m the asshole with the perfect job, perfect condo, perfect fiancé and absolutely no passion for any of them. I sigh and sit up, I’m just being melancholy. Today is the day I write my annual letter to Brittany. People don’t know why this day is important to me, they assume someone close to me died and I don’t blame them, in a way it’s true. Fifteen years ago, she disappeared; I’ve never heard a word from her so how do I know she’s alive?

  Eight years ago, my therapist convinced me to stop looking for her. I did, but I never stopped writing to the only other person in her life I knew, her grandmother. My letters have never been returned so I assume they are making it there. I used to think about flying out there, pictured walking up the sidewalk and finding Brittany sitting on the porch, drinking a sweet tea and holding out her hand like she’s been waiting for me to come find her. I try to block those thoughts now.

  My therapist says my obsession is unhealthy. He doesn’t know about the letters. For all he knows I’m completely over her. Is it a bad sign when you are lying to your therapist?

  My thoughts are interrupted by the hand gliding up my back.

  “Good morning, love. I’m going to go make you breakfast while you shower.”

  “Thanks, babe.”

  I don’t even turn and look at her. How can I when I’m sitting here thinking about another woman?

  On auto pilot, I get ready for work and kiss Monica’s cheek as I sit at the counter to eat. Very little makes it down, the nerves in my stomach are too amped up. Even though I look miserable, I’m not. I love letter day. I lock myself in my office, pull out a piece of heavy paper and my nicest ball point pen then pour my heart out to Brittany. I recap everything that has happened since I wrote to her last year. I tell her about new restaurants I’ve tried, places I’ve travelled. I ask what she’s been up to, and how her mom is, then I pack it up and ship it off, never knowing if it gets there. While Monica is in the shower, I yell out my goodbye and head into the office.

  This may all sound creepy but I promise it’s not. Everyone has convinced me that she must be dead and I can’t bear that thought. I’d rather pretend we’re long lost pen pals, albeit a very one-sided relationship.

  Walking down the hall, I nod at my secretary and head straight for my office. I’m taken aback when I don’t hear the click of my door behind me. I turn and find my secretary following me in. She knows what day it is, my calendar is blocked, what is she doing?

  “Do you need something, Mrs. Sampson?”

  “I’m sorry, sir, I have a bunch of messages for you from a woman desperate to talk to you.”

  “Give her to someone else, I’m busy today.”

  “I tried telling her that, but she said you would want to talk to her. She said her name is Maria Celdonio.”

  My throat instantly goes dry. Fifteen years to the day and Brittany’s mom is calling me. They are alive, I always knew it. As the excitement inside me is building, I remember she said the woman was desperate sounding and it’s her mom calling, not her. Dread fills my entire body and I collapse into my chair. Maybe she really is gone.

  “Sir, are you all right? Can I get you something? Do you want me to have Mr. Marshall call her back?”

  I stand and snatch the papers out of her hand.

  “No, I need to call her. Can you make sure I’m not disturbed?”

  She nods and slips quietly out the door.

  I stare at the phone number; after all this time I have a way of contacting them. Once the Internet became available, I spent months looking for them but never found a trace. Right after college this firm hired me, they have a team of private investigators at their disposal. I considered using them many times, but m
y therapist was right. I was obsessing and I needed to move on. If she wanted to be found, she wouldn’t be hiding so well.

  I reach a trembling hand to the phone and dial slowly, as if I’m scared it’s all a joke and she won’t pick up the phone. My stomach clenches when a soft voice picks up on the first ring.

  “Hi, my name is Casey Sanders. I’m trying to reach…”

  “Casey, thank god you called me back. I know you have a lot of questions,” now that she is talking, I recognize Mrs. Celdonio’s voice. “I know we took off on you all those years ago and I’m sorry for that, but Brittany needs you. She’s in a lot of trouble and I don’t think I can help her this time.”

  I jump out of my chair involuntarily, my body ready for action. Every fiber of my being is pulsing now that I know she is alive.

  “What happened, where is she?”

  “She’s in jail, they won’t let me bond her out and her court hearing is tomorrow.” Her voice cracks as she continues on, “I don’t think they are going to let her out and I don’t know what to do.”

  “Tell me where you are and I can be there today.”

  Nerves tingle through my body, this torturous mystery will finally be over.

  “We’re in Salt Lake City, Utah.”

  A grim look crosses my face, she’s in the same city I’ve been sending those letters to. Has she been getting them all this time? I’ll add that to my list of questions when I see her. “Give me her lawyer’s name and I’ll get things started while I’m on the plane.”

  “Well, Carter Jepsen saw her this morning but he hasn’t agreed to take her case yet. Honestly, I don’t think I’m going to find anyone in the area to help us.”