Page 1 of Forever with Me

Carter Williams is dead.

“How the hell did this happen, Foster? Cole wasn’t anywhere near Carter. Did he die from something caused by Cole hitting him that night? I don’t understand.” My screeching increased. “I just want answers!” My heart is pounding as I grab clothes to put on. Just an hour ago, I was dressed in barely anything, waiting for Cole to come home and devour me, now I’m moments away from a full-scale panic attack.

“I’m operating on very little information. I need for you to call your lawyers because my hands are tied now. He is being questioned and held downtown. I don’t know how long I can keep it all quiet before the media gets a hold of it. The only Hail Mary is that all of this happened in the middle of the night. Once morning breaks, so do the stories…”Media?!…I am not prepared for this. I don’t even know how to navigate all of this. The momentary thought stops me in my tracks. What am I doing? Not only am I failing my husband, but I’m responsible for bringing this all on him. This is all my fault and I don’t even know the name of his fucking lawyers! I don’t know what to do. I feel my panic rise and my phone beeps. Pulling away, I see it’s my mom and just like that, my focus regains, because I know she will know what to do.

“Foster, I have to ring you back… Mom, please tell me you already know…”

“Yes, I’m coming up. Richard has reached out to the best criminal attorney in the city. He’s heading downtown now. Get dressed, if you aren’t already.” I hear the elevator doors open and relief floods my body to see her walk in. She looks beautiful and elegant, but most importantly she looks calm. I need someone calm, because I am all inner turmoil.

“Mom, thank you for coming over so quickly! I need you. I’m embarrassed to admit that I’m not sure where to begin with all of this. What do I do?”

“Honey, where else would I be? Now listen, you’re going to need to pull it together because this is what we do, Mia, as wives of very powerful men, we handle things with grace and most importantly composure.” My mother is a badass… if I’ve ever wondered, now I know.

“Okay.” Letting out a deep breath of determination. “I need to speak to the attorney, ASAP.”

After spending too much time on the phone with the attorney Richard retained, I understand that they are waiting to release Cole and he’s being held at the precinct. While listening to the attorney, Alex rushes in, yelling about photographers by the front entrance. I hang up the phone and immediately walk into the living room to hear more, noticing that morning has apparently arrived.

“Grace! It’s unreal, they are everywhere, just waiting to nab a pic of Mia or Cole, it’s all over the news!” She waves her hands in the air and grabs the remote. As soon as the television comes to life, the headline reads ‘Communications mogul arrested for murder.’ Every channel she flips to there’s a headline reading something similar. Worse are the reports of his stock prices dropping. I’ve quite literally ruined his life. I won’t do this to him. I will find a way to fix this. I have no idea how, but I will figure out a way. My cell buzzes and I look down to see it’s Foster.

“Hey, tell me you have some good news.”

“I’ve got Cole. We are on our way to you.” Closing my eyes, relief floods my body.

“Foster, there are paparazzi and news crews all over the front. Come the around back.”

“On it,” and with that, we hang up.

Looking up at everyone in my house, I can see their eyes trained on me, wondering what my conversation is about. “Cole has been arraigned and released. I love you, but everyone has to go. I need some privacy with my husband.” I realize I seem cold and removed, but I don’t care right now. “I need to have some hard conversations with Cole and I do not need an audience.” I hug everyone and reassure them that I’ll keep everyone posted as I walk them to the door.

The minute everyone is gone, I feel a sweeping sense of regret. The emptiness is almost unbearable, the waiting feels traumatic. When I hear the elevator ring, I begin a full sprint toward the doors. I truly have never had such relief mixed with agony. Cole looks up with his suit jacket in hand, tired and depleted. I leap at him wrapping my arms around his neck and sending him back a few steps.

“Shhh, don’t cry, I’m okay. I’m okay.” I don’t even register my tears; I can’t think of anything other than never letting go of this man.

“I’m so sorry, Cole. This is my fault. I caused this and I swear I’ll fix it! I’ve ruined your life!! I just love you so much and I’m so damned sorry!”

“Stop, Mia, don’t do that…don’t do that to us. We are more than stock prices. I’m okay. I didn’t kill him, so don’t worry.” I pull back to look him, in to those beautiful eyes and realize he might think I doubt his innocence.

“Cole,” I whisper letting him go and standing in front of him, “of course you’re innocent, but it wouldn’t matter to me otherwise. It wouldn’t matter if you did it. I’m here, for good. I don’t care if that makes me a crazy person. I’m here… no matter.” I don’t know how to express the depths of my love for him. I honestly wouldn’t care if he’d done it because I know that if he was ever forced to make a decision like that, it wouldn’t be because he was a monster, but because he was protecting me. I am his and he is mine, forever.

“You are amazing, Mia.” His eyes bore into my soul, down to the depths that are filled with an endless amount of love for this man. I hope that in this moment he can feel my dedication to him. Silently answering my question, he leans down and kisses me, lingering as he pulls back just enough that I can feel him start to smile.

“We have a conversation to have now that we’ve had our ‘love yous’”, he smiles as he brushes a stray hair from my forehead.

“I know, trust me, I have questions and I expect answers.”

His lips pressing into a hard line and nod is all the recognition I need as acknowledgment to the seriousness of this impending conversation.

We make our way to the couch and sit down facing each other. I usually loved when tensions built between us, but this kind of tension truly sucks.

“Go first. Honestly, I don’t even know where to start,” exasperated breath.

Looking directly at me, Cole takes a deep breath and opens his mouth to speak.

“Wait,” I interrupt. “How? Why do they think you’re responsible? Start there. Explain why your name is even in the mix. I just don’t get it, Cole, I know you lost it when they arrested him at the hotel, is that why? Did you hit him so hard that it caused his death later? I mean, you’re strong, but that’s Hulk-like strength. Besides it appears too much time would have passed. I feel like there’s a piece I’m missing. Explain this to me, tell me I’m crazy and that you had nothing to do with his death. I mean—” I am cut off mid panic by hot and tender lips, my eyes close and I feel exactly what I need. Cole. We linger in the moment allowing ourselves to connect. My body needs him, I need to feel this tether. Without it, I’m lost and panicked and clearly, Cole could feel and see it too.

Pulling away Cole runs his thumb across my bottom lip and smiles, “Sorry, I had to pull out the big guns to make you calm down. Take a breath, baby. I don’t have anything to do with his murder. But, and this is something you need to stay calm for even though I didn’t kill him, I’m not innocent of wanting or almost actually taking his life.”

Fuck. There it is. The words I was hoping wouldn’t come out of his mouth. I feel numb and I’m waiting for the panic, or maybe the fear to come over me, but all I feel is rage. I’m so damned mad at him. I can feel the distinct need to choke him to death!

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