Loveland Vol.3

Chapter 4

Autumn

Over the next couple of weeks we settled into the regular routine. My sister, finally came back from north Carolina. It took much longer than anticipated, to put the kibosh on her marriage to Randy. His parents took care of the legal fees and the paper work. They insisted the divorce was best for everyone. And they were right. What took so long was the court dates. Once randy was out of jail and had left his mandated 60 days of rehab, he basically went back to his old ways. Not showing up for the court dates and refusing to cooperate. This made a mess for the future senator, aka daddy. So, after almost a month of going back and forth, somehow he convinced Randy to settle and let it end. 

With zero chance of ever getting custody of the kids, thank God, and a settlement of $500,000 for Melissa and the girls, it seemed like things were finally looking up for them. Ryan had taken the time apart to get them settled into their new house. It was an adorable 3 bedroom Cape Cod style cottage, right in front of the local high school. 

"Apparently an elderly couple passed away not too long ago. Leaving it available for purchase. Beth Anne did say the only way property becomes available out here is if someone dies." I remember her saying at my kitchen table the morning she got home. Ryan couldn't keep his hands off of her. He really did love my sister. 

The kids started back to school, and so far it was going good. Basketball would start very soon. I could tell Aiden was nervous. Being 12 is hard. No matter what your situation. Michaela's period situation on the other hand... Logan had made it a point to pretend like nothing had changed. He said he wasn't going to address it. And he didn't which I think is exactly what she wanted. They were so much alike. 

As the heat from the summer began to taper off, bringing in the winds of change from fall, that same wind would bring changes for us as well. 

it was morning. The kids had all left for school. The air was still warm but thankfully a cold front was coming. I had went into the hall closet to start tackling putting the wedding photos together. And I'm sad to say it, open some of the wedding gifts we had yet to get to. The mountain of stuff I had in my arms as I walked through the hallway and into the living room was ridiculous. I've really got to get my s**t together, I said to myself. 

I sat in the living room floor, not really able to see it. As it was now covered in photos from the wedding, gifts from family and friends and a s**t ton of scrapbooking supplies. As I picked through the photos trying to put them in order, I stopped to look at them closely. We were all smiles that night. I looked at Logan's face. I had never seen him so happy. So care free. I slowly ran my fingers over his face. So handsome. 

As I picked up a box full of photos, I heard the back door open. He was back from his run. He'd been going for a run every morning now since we got back from our honeymoon. When he walked around the corner and into the living room, I couldn't help but drool at the sight of him. My husband was fine. His hair a mess and his shirt almost soaked. It had been a hot summer. For more reasons than one. Ever since the wedding night, we could barley keep our hands off each other. He smiled wiping his face with a small towel. 

"You good babe? What's all that there?" He asked coming to sit on the couch behind me. He began rubbing my shoulders, causing my eyes to roll back. He leaned in, kissing my neck. 

"You looked so beautiful, baby. But then again you always do." He said looking at the pictures on the floor over my shoulder. As I picked up one of the stacks of photos ready to go in the album something fell onto the floor. Picking it up I saw it was the rose. The one Logan left on my pillow the night before our wedding. 

I picked it up and held it to my nose. 

"What's that?" Logan asked me. 

I smiled looking back at him. He was now standing up heading towards the kitchen. 

"Oh nothing. Just the sweetest thing you've ever given me." I said loud enough for him to hear me. When he came back in, he took a swig of the bottle of water in his hand and gave me a curious look. 

"And what would that be? Besides my last name?" He said joking. I rolled my eyes at him smiling. 

"Silly. It's the flower you left for me. Ya know? The night of your bachelor party? When I woke up and found this it melted my heart. So incredibly sweet of you." When I looked back at him, his face was blank. Like he was lost in thought. 

"What are you talking about Autumn? What flower?" He asked. Obviously confused. 

"This one. It was a rose remember?" I said. Handing him the now dried rose. He held it in his hand but didn't move.

"Autumn... I didn't leave this for you. As much as I would like to take credit for it, it wasn't me." I could see the panic in his eyes. It mimicked the panic in my gut. 

"What do you mean it wasn't you? Are you sure? Maybe you were drunk and don't remember?" I said. Trying to hide the fear in my voice. I couldn't put my finger on it but something about this was terrifying me. Then I remembered the note. The note that came with the flower. I ran back over to the pictures to find it. 

"Baby I was drunk. But I was so drunk I had to be carried into the house. I passed out and slept it off on Ray and Beths couch." I heard him say. But I couldn't respond. I held the note in my hands. The words on the paper once we're, in my mind at least, a sweet gesture. A promise of forever. Now the words echoed fear and terror. The promise of hell coming our way, yet again.... 

"Soon..." 

I slowly placed the paper in Logan's hand. When he looked down at it, I saw the anger I'm his eyes. The light hearted morning we'd been having was now over. 

"Who could have done it? And why?" I asked him. Holding onto him for support. 

"I don't know, Autumn. But I'm damn f*****g sure going to find out." He said through his teeth. Just as we were coming to terms with the present drama, the doorbell rang. We looked at each other with curiosity. 

"Who in the hell would be ringing our doorbell? Everyone we know just comes on in." Logan said walking towards the door. He took hold of the knob and yanked it open. On the other side was a tall woman, with long dark red waves of hair going down her back. A black Harley Davidson t-shirt and jeans. When she tried around and took of her sunglasses, I saw Logan pale. I thought he might actually faint. Then she spoke. 

"Hey Logan." Is all she said. When I saw her eyes I knew exactly who she was. 

"Kat?... Oh what the f**k!?" Logan said growling in anger as his hand ran through his hair. 

She had been gone for almost 8 years now. No letters. No calls. Nothing. Hell I don't think I had even seen a picture of her. But why would I? Not like Logan would have willingly opened up his old wedding photos. She was actually prettier than I had imagined. Dark red hair, tall and lean. Almost muscular. A brown leather jacket that looked 60 years old and converses. If I didn't know who she was I might have complemented her on her outfit. But I wouldn't be given the chance. 

"What the f**k are you doing here? At my house? Right now at this very moment, Kat? Really?" He was frantic in his speech. I could see his top about to blow. I tried to interject. 

"Um, Logan... Maybe we should-" he cut me off at the jump. Whipping his body around to scream in my direction. 

"No! You stop it!" The words, the tone. All of it made me extremely uncomfortable. This was a side of Logan I didn't care for. I gave him a go to hell look before I walked upstairs to our bedroom. Not that he would be sleeping in it tonight.

Logan

"You need to leave now, Kat. I don't know the reason your here. I know it better not have any f*****g thing to do with My daughter. It doesn't matter. Just go." I tried my best to remain calm. But Autumn had ran off pissed at me. I have my b***h of an ex wife standing at my door way, and not 30 seconds before was handed a possible threat from who the f**k knows. This was just too much. I tried to shut the door in her face, but she stopped me. Damn she was strong. 

"Wait Logan. Look Im sure you need a minute to calm down. When you do, I'll be at the overpass motel. Ya know? The only one in this God forsaken town..." She said over her shoulder as she walked down the steps. I looked up to see her get into a white Ford focus. Well at least it wasn't the Blue Toyota that tried to kill me. 

"f**k!!" I screamed as I slammed the front door shut. 

Heading back upstairs, I knew Autumn was pissed. Hell I was too. Maybe even more so. I just couldn't believe she's here. Now. Why!? I screamed inside my head. Just as things were going so well. When I reached the top of the stairs, I saw her pacing back and forth in our bedroom. When she saw me standing there, the look she gave me said that I should be careful. 

"Babe... Listen I-" she cut me off at the pass. 

"No! You listen! I don't know why she's here. That isn't the point. YOU don't talk to ME that way. Period." I couldn't deal with this. I needed to leave. I had s**t to do at the shop, and honestly I didn't have the energy to fight with Autumn. So instead of being an adult about it, and talking it out, I just shook my head and walked out of the room. Back downstairs and out the front door. 

I intended to drive to the shop. I knew I had a list of s**t to do. But the more I drive the more my brain began to f**k with me. My thoughts were erratic. Autumns face when I screamed at her. That one still hurt my gut. Kats face ok n the other side of my front door. She looked so different, yet exactly the same. What the f**k was she doing here? Wait... The flower. The note. Kat showing up had to have something to do with it. 

She said she was staying at the overpass on the other side of town. So instead of taking a right on Grove I did a sharp U-turn and headed for the edge of town. If I was going to deal with this it was going to be now. 

When I reached the parking lot, I saw the white Ford focus, parked in front of room 18. I pulled up next to it and looked in the back windows. They were tinted but i could see enough. No empty bottles in the backseat. And it was relatively clean. That was different. I wasn't sure why, but as I approached the door my anger fueled. All I could see was this b***h sneaking into my house the night before our wedding and leaving that note on Autumns pillow. 

"Soon" what the f**k did that mean? I was about to find out. I knocked heavy on the door. Almost rattling the hinges. When she opened it I snapped. 

"Logan? That was quick. I just settled in-" I couldn't stop myself. I took her by her throat, pushing my way into the room and slamming the door shut with my boot. Slamming her into the wall behind her, I held her there. She looked shocked and panicked. She should. 

"What the f**k are you doing here? And why have you been f*****g with my wife!?"