WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT WHEN CARMA'S INVOLVED?

CUARENTA Y TRES

“Are you retarded? Did you sustain an injury from too many blows to your noggin?” Allie and I don’t care about political correctness. Besides, insults are a creative way we use to get our point across. Of all people, I thought she would understand my rationale. “It’s becoming clear. I don’t know you as well as I thought.”

“What makes you say that?”

“It’s always Harmoney this or Harmoney that. I’ve never felt a desire so deep. You come here and tell me she hugged you, which sounds like her way of comforting your sorry behind, and what do you do? Tell her everything was a mistake, then ya fckin’ leave. YOU ARE A GRADE A ROYAL DUMBASS.”

“If my urges had gotten the better of me, I wouldn’t have felt satisfied with a kiss. I’m good, but I’m not ‘make her forget about Richie’s assault’ good.”

“You used willpower to protect her from you. Is that what you are saying?”

My senses go insane while making love to Harmoney. I never knew pure hedonistic passion existed until Harmoney. Once we get started, an intrusion, such as stopping to put protection on, gets forgotten on purpose to fulfill our carnal compulsion. Nights like that end in one of two ways. We’ve already mastered both outcomes.

“If only you had been there to see the look of betrayal on her face. That is seared into my mind. That’s why I didn’t kiss her.”

Unless I opted to share a T-shirt with Richie like Mom made us do as kids, Dad suggested I make the bare minimum of effort to work out the situation. If I had offered a generic apology for being in the same room as him, she would’ve brushed it off. He is my brother. Though it’s debatable.

“Why did Harmoney go see mom?” Mom refused to say. Her loyalty is unmatched when it comes to keeping confidences.

According to Allie, Harmoney’s decision to continue working from home had to do with her face. A month and three days have since passed. Today will be the first time seeing her in all that time. I’d prefer seeing her at the office, but court called. I looked at my watch. Harmoney is never late.

If I hadn’t been watching for her, she could’ve strolled right by. Her beautiful long locks had been chopped and bangs covered her forehead. To cover a scar from the attack, probably. A new suit flaunted her slender figure, and a subtle hint of makeup enhanced her already gorgeous face. She hadn’t lost her confident stride. I stood to greet her and pulled out her chair. Before I could get a single word out, the judge entered her courtroom and jumped right into my case.

“This court has officially entered the results of the DNA test into the system. Mr. Savage, family court has scheduled a date to work out chil,”

Harmoney shuffled through papers before standing and cutting off the judge midsentence. What she said was astronomically out of bounds. Carma tampered with the DNA results. Richie must've caused more damage than anyone realized. I wish we had discussed her accusation before she made herself and me look foolish. The fcking press is here for Christ's sake. On top of that, Harmoney is giving Carma too much credit. She’s insane, not an evil genius. The judge humored her with five minutes to explain how my ex possibly managed to do the impossible. I was against it. Although Carma convinced everyone, including me, that we got hitched in Vegas, consummated the union, and created a child. I got angry with her games. I needed to know once and for all.

The entire courtroom remained riveted, waiting for Harmoney to spill the juicy details. Instead of speaking, she played a recording of an interview. The man admitted Carma blackmailed him. We listened and learned she’d been scheming since her mid-teens. Her accusation that I nourished a sixteen-year-old's womb and paid for an abortion suddenly made sense. He altered her medical records, so they coincided with the impromptu Vegas wedding and shagging. The night of delivery I vaguely remember being asked for a second cheek swab. I didn’t think twice about it when I opened wide. His career as a doctor is over. Sacrificing his conscience and peace of mind for Carma’s misdeeds was not something he wanted to do any longer. Harmoney stopped the recorder to speak.

“Mrs. June Rylan performed the test. I have here a signed an affidavit stating she received a bribe in the form of cash in the amount of thirty thousand dollars. Twenty thousand less than agreed upon. Six individual payments of five thousand in small bills were handed over. Carma Whitlock used a debit card linked to an account with Mr. Savage’s name for all her purchases. Withdrawals of a thousand dollars or less could be withdrawn from an atm in a twenty-four-hour period. A five-hundred dollar minimum could be withdrawn per day when completing a purchase in a*****e. None of those would draw suspicion.”

“Miss Sanchez, do you know why the lab tech wasn’t paid in full?”

“You told Mr. Savage to freeze the account immediately. She no longer had a way to pay the agreed-upon amount. These conflicting results are concerning. One of them is wrong. I beg this court to repeat the testing and keep it under wraps until the results are seen by your eyes only. Miss Whitlock’s husband should be tested to see if he is the father. Mr. Savage has no problem incurring charges for the testing of all individuals. If money is an issue.” Driver didn't object once.

“Mr. Driver, your client's shenanigans know no bounds, do they?” Carma was silent for the first time ever. “This court has no choice but to perform another test. Mr. Savage will not pay. Miss Whitlock, you will be on the hook for the charges. Payment for the services will be accepted here. The facility will remain unnamed until I have the results in my hand.”

“Your Honor, my client has no income.”

“I could have sworn the first time we met I suggested your client get a job. Are you working for free?” He didn't answer. Was she trading her ass for representation? I wouldn’t put it past her. “Let me be crystal clear, she needs to get a job. It is no longer a suggestion. Or she could get it from her husband. Either way, she is required to pay. AJOURNED!” Harmoney did it again. She had information and kept it from me. I left the courthouse using a side door to avoid the press.

“Why aren't you in court? Or the office? Did it not go well?” Allie and Mom were getting manicures. I forgot all about it.

“It went fanfckingtastic. Harmoney pulled the same bullsh*t. That doctor who delivered the baby was blackmailed by Carma. Two tests, two different results.”

“Mom, is that why she came here? Did she say something to you?” I stopped pacing when Allie asked.

“No. She didn't mention anything of the sort. Do not think about asking me again what we talked about. My lips are sealed.” Even if she did, Mom wasn't going to tell us.

If Harmoney wants me to hate her, it looks pretty fckin' good. Mom didn’t think I meant it. Going from one untrustful woman to another, that's not what I need. I headed to the office hoping work would take my mind off my messy life. Confronting Harmoney was all I could think about. If she was there.

I stopped short of entering her office. She was on the phone. “Leslie, why now? Uh-huh... Uh-huh..... Dad couldn't take five minutes out of his day to call and ask me?.. Uh-huh. Uh-huh.. And mom?... I'm sure they do.. Uh-huh... I am sure they are....... Look, I'm swamped. Making it home before my birthday doesn't sound plausible... Uh-huh.. And yet, none of you have bothered to call and check up on me this entire time..... Because I had no choice but to tell the truth...... Just because I changed my mind about having kids doesn't mean I'm straight.. Yes, I took the straight route.... It didn't work out, and I am not doing it again.. No, I won't change my mind. Whateva.” She ripped the cord from the phone and threw the phone on the floor. Turning her chair around, she sat mumbling to herself.

“Are you going to suggest I pay for that too?” I unplugged it from the wall jack and dropped it in the garbage.

“I'm not in the mood.” Closing the door, I helped myself to a chair.

“I know I’m not exactly the easiest fella to get along with. I’m asking you not to shut me out.”

“You're almost home free. I am sorry for my deceit. I needed to wait and see if the results were identical. I found questionable amounts on your bank statements and inquired around the lab. Only one technician had money problems that disappeared overnight.”

“So, I'm not a dad after all. That blows.”

“I’m sorry. I don't believe you are you.”

As angry as I’ve gotten with Harmoney, she is and has always been the right choice. I can guarantee there isn’t another attorney around who works as hard as she does to find the truth. While holding that little girl in my arms and watching her sleep was amazing, letting her go forever is gonna be a killer.

“What’s with the destruction of company property?” Harmoney wasn’t herself.

To avoid talking about it, she said it was a family issue. Nothing of importance. Pulling a few folders from her briefcase, she asked if we could catch up later. Work and all that needed to get done.

“If you want to grab dinner, shoot me a text.” No response meant time to leave.

I don't know anything about her family. Half the call was redacted with uh-huh in place of any actual words. With my free time, I thought building a friendship was the proper way to start over with Harmoney. Our benefits only relationship put unnecessary stress on both of us. Other than my only idea, how do I begin a real relationship with her?

Richie’s fcked up beyond belief actions stopped the reconciliation that was going to happen after I got over myself. If it weren't for him, Harmoney and I would've been in bed together that night. Instead of pain one feels from session after session of pleasure, she suffered at the hands of my brother. Allie kinda acted as a double agent for a week or so. When she visited or Harmoney asked her to run some errands, she secretly took photos or videos for me. I needed to know she was physically healing. Emotionally, it looked as if she had no cares in the world. What’s with her sudden transformation? Maybe I didn't notice because her old attire hid it so well.

I pushed my way into her life. Every step of the way she has been hurt. How can I protect her if I am part of the problem?