Page 78 of Love is Grand

“Is that a yes?”

After another nod from Shell, I stood and whisked her from the chair as quickly as you can whisk a pregnant woman, and was kissing her when a loud banging came from the front of the house.

“SHELL! Shell! Where the fuck are you?”

When my fiancée’s name and those harsh words were shouted from the front yard, I shoved the ring in my pocket, slipping into some instinctive protective mode, and quickly shielded Shell as I growled for Weezie to come to us. She looked a little hurt and confused by my change in demeanor, but her safety was my first concern.

“Weezie, come over to Mommy,” Shell said in a strained voice when Weezie hesitated, and she went straight next to her mom and threw her arms around her waist.

“Shell!”

I looked toward her as her name was shouted, and she mouthed, Ricky.

“Go in the house,” I said, but it was too late.

Her ex came barreling through the gate into the backyard, wielding a baseball bat. He started smashing the fence and whatever else was in his path as he made his way toward us, clipping an umbrella that luckily fell away from us rather than toward us.

“Go in the house,” I told my girls through clenched teeth.

“We can’t. He’ll just follow and trash everything in there too,” Shell said.

“What ya doing, lawyer boy? You want to fight me?” Ricky called out, tossing the bat on the ground and holding his fists in the air.

I didn’t want to fight him. I might work out and was strong, but I was used to fighting with my words, not my hands. Yet, there was no way I going to look like some kind of pansy in front of Shell.

“You think you can take my family away from me?” he shouted to Shell. “I came back last night, thinking it’s time we make up, and found out you’re shacking up with this rich guy.”

“We’re getting divorced, Ricky,” she said, but he ignored her.

To Weezie, he said, “Hey, baby, come here and see Daddy.”

She shook her head and tightened her grasp on Shell.

“What? You turn my baby girl into a snob, Shelly? I came around last night and went looking for you over at Camila’s. Whole place is buzzing. You and Weezie are so happy. You met a fancy fucking lawyer from New York. Having ’nother baby ... rolling in dough and jewelry. He make you feel all good, Shelly?”

As he moved closer, the stench of alcohol rolled off him.

“That’s close enough,” I said in a calm tone, knowing yelling would only toss gasoline onto the raging fire in front of us. “You’re on private property, and I’m going to have to ask you to leave. I’m only going to ask nicely once.”

Ricky scoffed. “Huh-uh. Nope. I want my wife and kid, and if you want to keep them, you’re gonna have to pay me good. I need some of life’s finer shit too.”

“Mommy, I have to go to the bathroom,” Weezie said.

Peeking to the side, I saw her hopping on one foot.

“Take her,” I said, hoping Shell had enough sense to call the authorities while inside. I added, “It’s her legal right,” to Ricky, leaving a little bread crumb for Shell.

When they scurried off, I glared at this deadbeat of a man. “You have five seconds to leave here and never contact Shell again. Five ... four ... three ...”

Instead of leaving, though, he said, “I don’t think we met. My name’s Ricky, the first guy to fuck and knock up Shelly.”

I hated the nickname he had for Shell. She was way more fascinating and sophisticated than the way he made her sound.

“Nice to meet you, Ricky. I’m Cal, and like I said, you need to get off my property. You also walked away from Shell and your daughter, so I’m pretty sure you’re nobody to them.”

“Who are you, Mister High and Mighty?” He picked up the bat again and pounded a nearby lounge chair with it, trying to intimidate me. “All your money and this big fancy house don’t mean shit. You got yourself some damaged goods in those two.”

I prayed to every god above that Shell was keeping Weezie inside. It would break her heart to hear this.

---