The Nature of Things

Chapter 18

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Molly was halfway down the block when she heard Justin screaming at the top of his lungs. Not sure what was happening she ran the rest of the way home. Leaving the front door open, she found him in the kitchen, pacing, and yelling at Brian. She saw the paper in his hand and wondered what the hell had him so worked up. Assuming it was just something else that Bush had done, she started back out towards the guest house.

Justin caught her at the door and spun her around, waving the newspaper in her face.

"Why the hell didn't you tell me?"

"Tell you what?" Molly snatched the paper from him and stared in disbelief at the article. "Who? How? Why?" she stammered.

Justin pulled her close and held her, trying to give her strength. "I don't know, Mollusk, but I'm going to find them and kill them."

"You can't do that, Justin."

"I can and I will. Why didn't you tell me?"

"I just needed time to deal with it myself. I'm still not even sure what I'm going to do."

"But you told Brian."

"Because he won't pressure me. Brian will let me decide this on my own."

"What did mom say?"

"Oh my God, MOM!"

"You haven't told her either? Well I suggest you do so before she reads this, if she hasn't already. "Justin kissed his sister's cheek and held her close.

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Craig listened to Casey's demands and wondered what the fuck he'd gotten himself into. After hanging up, he placed a call to his attorney and set up the meeting at the jail the next day. Immediately after, he went to work on transferring the money necessary to get Casey out.

Having second thoughts about this was not an option anymore and he knew he had to do whatever Casey demanded or he would lose his daughter. He wasn't happy with his actions, but there wasn't anything he could do about it now.

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Cynthia pulled into Brian's driveway almost an hour after Molly got home. Brian had called and asked her to come over to try to calm Justin down and to help Molly tell her mother about the pregnancy.

Letting herself in, she followed the voices to the kitchen. Stunned to find Brian standing over the stove she cleared her throat to let them know she was there. Brian turned, pan in hand, and smiled at her.

"Sit, you're just in time for lunch."

"Are you actually cooking?"

"Yeah, why?" he said rolling his eyes at her.

"I taught him how to make a few things," Justin explained. "He makes a magnificent tomato sauce."

"If I didn't see it myself I'd never believe it. You're almost domestic, Brian."

"You tell a fucking soul and I'll kill you."

"I haven't worked for you all these years without learning to keep my mouth shut. But, it's nice to know that you can still surprise me."

Brian kissed the top of her head and turned back to the stove. Molly sat quietly sipping a cup of tea and Cynthia tried to keep an eye on her without being obvious. She could sense that Molly needed to talk, but Justin was keeping her close at his side. Not knowing what to do, Cynthia asked Brian if he would show her the garden out back. Once outside she went to work on getting him to get Justin away from Molly.

"I don't care what you do with him, but get him out of that kitchen."

"That may be harder than any of us could imagine. He hasn't let her out of his sight since she got home. Hell, he followed her to the bathroom just before you got here."

"I understand that he's worried, but he may just be doing more damage. She's very fragile right now. I just want a few minutes to talk to her and see how she's really doing. And I'd like to take her to group tonight. She's going to need it after telling Jen."

"I'll do what I can."

"Fuck him if you have to."

"Cyn, I'm shocked." Brian feigned shock.

"Whatever, I'm not as innocent as you think."

"I can only imagine."

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Craig answered the pounding on his door to find his ex-wife standing outside.  Jen pushed her way inside and slammed the paper down on the coffee table.

"Did you have anything to do with these lies?"

"What the fuck are you doing, Jen?"

"I came by to see if you are trying to profit from our daughter's rape. Did you have anything to do with this?"

"No, I did not. Not that you'll believe me."

"You're right. I don't trust you. But if you do anything to hurt Molly, there will be no place on Earth that is safe for you. If I don't find you, Brian or Justin will and you better hope it's me there first."

"Get out of my house."

"With pleasure, but you just remember, stay away from Molly. She doesn't need a father like you."

"You know Jen, at least I don't subject her to perverts. It's no fucking wonder she got raped, look at the crowd you hang around with."

"Fuck you, Craig. Just stay away from my kids."

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"Molly, I want you to stay home for a while."

"I'm not going to stop living my life, Justin. If I do, that son of a bitch wins. He's stolen enough from me; I won't give him my freedom too."

"You are taking too many chances out there, running around all alone at all hours."

"I'm not taking any more chances than before. And I'm not alone most of the time. I know Brian has people keeping an eye out for me. And Cynthia is there anytime I need her."

"Still, I'd feel better if you were home, safe and sound."

"Give it up, Justin. I'm not going into hiding. Not now, not ever."

Brian saved her from anymore of Justin's worries. He slid an arm around his former lover's waist and whispered something in his ear. Molly wasn't sure what it was but the smile on Justin's face was a welcome change.

Brian led Justin from the room and Cynthia took Justin's spot across the table.

"So how are you really holding up, Moll?"

"I'm not sure. I'm just trying to take it one day at a time."

"It's hard to do, I know, but you're doing the right things. You're out there in public, you're not hiding. That is the first step to getting back to a normal life."

"I hope so. Sometimes it is so frightening out there. I can be sitting on the bus and some guy sits next to me and I start to freak out. I know that he isn't Casey. I know that I identified the bastard and he's in jail, but what if he gets out? What happens then? Will he come after me for putting him there? Will I ever be safe from him again?"

"Those are all natural questions that we ask ourselves, but you did the right thing by identifying him and putting his ass behind bars. He can't hurt you anymore, unless you let him. Have you been to group lately?"

"Not since Monday. Will you go with me tonight?"

"Of course, honey. Now let's talk about this baby. Have you thought about what you're going to do about it?"

"I've been thinking and I still don't know. I mean I haven't even told my mom about it. How mature is that?"

"It's a hard situation to be in, Molly. Don't be so hard on yourself. But you are on a time limit."

"I know. I'm reminded of that everyday when I wake up and throw up. I did talk to this priest about it today."

"I didn't know you were Catholic."

"I'm not. Somehow I just ended up in front of this church and this priest happened to sit down next to me. He told me that it isn't the baby's fault that I'm in this fucked up mess. He made a lot of sense."

"It's always good to talk to somebody you trust and isn't that close to the situation."

"Thanks for understanding. Now let's just hope my mom is as well."

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"So, Casey, I understand that you want to talk about filing for custody of a baby."

"Not just any baby, my baby. And we need to do it soon before that cunt kills it."

"So the mother is considering abortion?"

"The mother, my daughter, was raped by this son of a bitch."

The attorney turned to face Craig, "I don't understand, Mr. Taylor. I thought you were paying for this case."

"I am."

"Why?"

"Because the bastard sitting in front of you is blackmailing me into helping his sorry ass."

"Maybe one of you should start at the beginning and tell me everything."

Casey winked at Craig and began his tale. "See, Craig here, has this little thing against his faggot son and hired me to show him how horrible the life he chose could really be. I did my best to follow orders and then it occured to me that I could be extra nice and take out his daughter. Only the little bitch thought she was too good to give me the time of day. So I just followed her for a while until one night she smiled at me and I just knew that she wanted me to fuck her hot little ass. So I did. What I didn't expect was that she'd run to the fucking cops and tell them I raped her. She wanted it, hell she even asked for it. Now she's knocked up and didn't even tell me."

"Did Mr. Taylor's daughter agree to have sex with you?'

"She didn't say she didn't want me to, if that's what you mean."

"Did she ever say NO?"

"She might've."

"So in other words, she told you no and you forced yourself on her."

"I don't have to force myself on anyone. The little whore wanted to be fucked and I did her the favor."

"In all honesty, Mr. Taylor, I can't take this case and I would recomend that you distance yourself from this boy as soon as possible."

"But you see, Craig needs me to keep my mouth shut or he loses his precious little girl. So you will take this case, and you will get me custody of my child and keep that slut from killing him."

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