87. Cash and Stella fly home to California.
1218 Words
Hall was grieving the loss of his wife, he called the only person that he could blame, Beth Palmer.
" I'm not talking to you right now." Beth told Hall.
" How could you beat up Stella Calloway?" She was very agitated with Hall.
Hall stuck his food in the microwave, no more home-cooked meals for him.
"This is your fault, all your fault. You had to open your damn mouth and blab about our affair." He said with venom in his voice.
" I didn't mean for you to tell Gwen." She said softly.
" Hall, you and I had a moment of passion, it was a moment that I never forgot, not just because I got pregnant, but because you Hall, you showed me what love could be." She admitted softly.
He cussed as he pulled the hot food out of the oven.
" I think that was all one sided. I was a devoted husband, you seduced me Beth." He cried.
" Well that is how you remember it, but that's water under the bridge. We have a son together and you beat up his fiancé."
" Oh, that's a joke Beth. She's with all my sons." He scoffed as he moved his plate to the table.
Beth took a drink and smiled at her doctor friend. She held her hand over the phone," be right there."
They were getting ready to watch a movie at his home.
Beth smiled as he kissed her neck.
Hall cussed at her again.
" I'm not taking the blame for hurting that slut, she threw herself in the way."
Beth said," Well, that's enough!" and hung up on him after hearing him speak of that sweet Stella so poorly.
She knew there was a reason all of the boys fell so hard for the beautiful woman.
For some reason to her, it made perfect sense.
Stella had been so lonely as a youth, she could absorb all the attention these men could give her.
Plus she was beautiful and didn't even seem to know her allure. Beth envied her, her ability to love so openly.
Cash and Stella...
" Hey baby, do we have any of those dates left. I need something sweet."
Stella removed her shoes and sat next to him on a pillow and fed him a date.
" Cash, can we go home, I am ready. I know you have been protecting me.
The things your dad did and said to me, were very, very hurtful, but I know most of it was grief. I have forgiven him."
Stella thought about meeting Hall and what followed, she was sure she did nothing wrong.
" Ok, I knew it was coming, we can't hide forever," he said.
Cash sat closer to Stella and moved her leg over his and started to massage it for her.
She thought about this man's strength and ability to hurt her, but he was the most gentle person she ever met, next to Ash.
Oh Ash, you are so lovely, I miss you so much.
She thought about Ash, a feeling of impending doom came flooding over her. Like a shadow over a cold grave.
She felt anxious, something was going to happen in the world, an earthquake, a death, or maybe a bad accident.
" Tell me, what are you chewing on over there?" He asked seeing her stewing.
She sat up and pulled away from him. " Nothing just an uneasy feeling I have."
Cash pulled her close to his warm body.
" I will always protect you, I am your guy." He said into her ear.
She put her head to his heart.
" I love you." She said.
" Hey, did I hear you singing last night?" He asked her.
" It's a Drake and I thing, I am trying to seduce him back to my heart by singing to his heart." she said.
" I think you have his heart." He said and kissed her shoulder.
" Cash, he has this greed thing, it's the money I am seducing him from.
I want him to let that go, let the workaholic thing go away, the asking me to marry him all the time go away, I know he wants my money, I see it in his eyes.
He's blinded by it. I am fighting for our love. See with you, it's easy.
You are like me, you don't care about money, it's useful, but not necessary for our happiness."
" Stella, at last. You know the real me, I'm just like you. That's why if you marry anyone of your 5 fiances it needs to be Ash."
He surprised her, he knew her secret. Ash was her favorite. She thought only she and Ash knew about this. She turned red.
My sweet lover, Ash.
She nodded." I should marry Ash?"
He smiled. "Yes, Ash will make a great husband and he is not jealous, well he gets pissy if you don't pay attention to him, but he loves his brothers as you do, he wants the family happy."
" Cash, I will think about this, I am not sure that you are right, I think you would make a very fine husband."
Cash nodded." Kira didn't seem to think so."
" Okay, let's go talk to Kira and TJ, let's make things right for those two. They deserve to be happy." Stella said.
The next day they packed for California.
It took several transfers and a few long car rides, they finally got on their private flight to the states. They would refuel in Florida then on to California.
Cash gave Stella a stiff drink. He wasn't drinking right now, he was eating clean, working out more. He had a tonic water.
They settled into their seats and drifted off.
Stella had a dream about her horse, Marshmellow.
She was riding her in the woods behind the stables. It was a very hot day. Marshmellow was acting up, bucking in excitment.
Stella smelled smoke. She was feeling very hot, uncomfortable.
She couldn't see through the woods, through all the smoke.
The ride got wilder, she was jerking in her seat.
She jerked awake suddenly.
There was a big drop in altitude as the plane dipped down.
The oxygen masks dropped. Stella looked over at Cash, he was sleeping.
Stella grabbed his mask and put it over his face.
Cash looked at her confused, he pushed her away. The cabin had been losing oxygen, making them sleepy. There was smoke filling the cabin.
Stella shoved the mask back on him and yelled at him to breath.
He nodded. He was awake now. Cash looked around, he didn't see a fire, nor the flight crew.
The plane continued to drop. Stella's eyes were wide. They were scared, something was wrong with the private jet.
She held hands with Cash very tightly.
They were going down over the ocean.
Cash told her." Stay here, I'm checking on the pilot."
" No Cash don't leave me!"She yelled.
"Stay here, don't move!" He yelled as he stood up and stumbled forward, he grabbed the wall and walked towards the cockpit.
Stella took off her seat belt and went after him.
She fell forward hitting her head, she crumpled to the ground.
- Writer
