Updated: June 18, 2023

Clay

The press were besieged outside my building. Shouting questions and demanding a comment. I put my head down and waded through the crowd. They pushed their microphones toward my face as I slipped through their grasp.

            “Mr. Hoover is it true you’re marrying the woman who owns that property?”

            “Mr. Hoover do you think it’s the USC Co-Eds buried out there?”

            “Where is your girlfriend, Mr. Hoover are you harboring a fugitive?”

Fucking bottom feeders, I thought to myself. I hurried myself into the building without a glance to the frenzied mob.  Once in the privacy of my office, Lora Jean and Jimmy Lee met me there.

            “How’s it going Crocodile?” Jimmy Lee asked. “The weekend go alright? How’s Tate?”

I hung my suit jacket up and Lora Jean handed me my breakfast.

            “Thank you darlin’,” I nodded. I sat in my desk chair and took a breath.

            “How bad is it?” I asked facetiously, digging into the paper bag for my bagel.

They both laughed and took their seats in front of me. Lora Jean went first,

            “Clayton, your call sheet is a mile long. Every reporter and news agency wants to talk to you. I’ve referred everyone to the AG’s communications department, but they are relentless…”

I held my hand up to stop her.

            “Just keep doin’ what you been doing. Alan’s staff will handle them, we’re not taking the bait. What’s the schedule look like today? We’re in front of Judge Harley at eleven correct?”

Lora Jean nodded her head and quickly rattled off the rest of my day. All trains running on time I’d be out by six and home close to seven.

            “Clay, how did it go with my Godson?” Jimmy Lee asked again.

            I sat back in my chair and smiled. “Famously, that boy is my best work. He’s fallen for her hook line and sinker. He never had a chance. More impressive than that, y’all should see ole man Higgins trippin’ all over himself, offering to paint the cottage and install new cabinets, should she want them.” I laughed with joy.

            Jimmy Lee laughed along with me, “Now that is something right there, you know old Carl, he gets the heebee jebbees around women since Miss Trudy passed. I’m shocked he even spoke to Aubrey.”

I was quiet for a moment, and I gazed at them both.

            “Beyond the fact that beautiful girl agreed to be my wife, the second highlight of the weekend, was our visit with Miss Abigail. It was a sight to see. My Momma hugged her, and for the rest of the afternoon, cooed like a dove and chatted with Aubrey like they was old friends, I tell y’all, I was thunderstruck. If I wasn’t sure prior, Momma’s reaction told me all I needed to know about this woman,” I rocked back in my office chair and straightened my tie.

            Jimmy Lee sat down reverently, and Lora Jean held her hand to her chest.

            “Clay,” she whispered, “Child, that sweet woman never warmed up to your ex-wife. From the start she stiffened when Tessa would visit. I cannot believe this news. Clay, I’m so very happy for y’all. I cannot wait to meet her.” She said with awe.

            I grinned like a teenager. “Yeah, she is something else. Okay time to focus, you got my briefs on this embezzlement case?”

            Lora Jean handed a stack over the desk to me and went back to her desk. Jimmy Lee and I spent the rest of the morning prepping for the appearance before the judge.

            About thirty minutes before we were due in court, Lora Jean slipped into my office.

            “Clay, Shania Greene is at the receptionist desk, demanding to see y’all.” She huffed with indignation.

            “Demanding? Who the fuck does she think she is? No appointment? Tell her to get her bony ass out of here, We have work to do.” I was gathering up my files to leave with Jimmy Lee for the courthouse.
            “I’ll take it Lora Jean, you been gatekeeping long enough darlin’ we’ll be back.” I reached for and put my suit jacket on, grabbed my briefcase and headed toward the elevator.

            “Clayton! Clayton!” Shania shouted to me as I entered the office lobby.

            “You will speak with me Clay,” she sneered angrily.

I spun around and pushed the button on the elevator,

            “Ms. Greene I’m due in court. I have no comment for you today or any day. The Attorney General’s office is fielding all inquiries. This is an ongoing investigation to which we have not been assigned jurisdiction. Have a nice day,”

            She coiled up like a serpent ready to strike.

            “Really Clay? No comment? Not even about your little girlfriend claiming to be a battered wife and railroading her ex-husband into a jail sentence?”

            I knew this was coming, Shania being who she was. Ignoring her, I stepped onto the elevator, with Jimmy Lee on my heels. She tried to stop the elevator to ride down with us and Jimmy Lee blocked her entrance.

            “Take the next car Shania, we have no time for you today.” He grunted.

The doors closed to a stoic Jimmy Lee.

            “What’s she got, Clay? That all true?”

            “Not entirely. The railroading is a bullshit story, but the poor thing got her ass beat by that dickhead she was married to. He did two years.”

            “Fuck Clay, you know this serpent gonna raise him up for a prime-time interview.”

I sighed with defeat, “Yeah, I know and so does Aubrey. Might as well get all the skeletons out into the light. She’s ready. Been itching to exorcise these demons before she gets married again, that’s my thinking.”

            Jimmy Lee shook his head, chuckling.

            “Son, you don’t do nothing small do you? Least you gonna give the Lowcountry some barbeque chatter for the entire summer. They should bake y’all a cake.”

I looked over at him, shrugging my shoulders.

            “Jimmy Lee, I’m in love with this girl. It’s bigger than anything I’ve ever known. Let them bring it, all of them. They can’t rattle my cage. That woman is going to be my wife and we’re fixin’ to ride off into the sunset, happily ever fucking after.”

            “Amen to that,” my best friend nodded. “Now let’s get to work.”

Aubrey

            My first call was to my lawyer. I was no dummy. I knew where the reporters were heading. Adam wanted something from me, and I was going to hang conditions onto his request.

            Within a few hours, Adam was slapped with a gag order. Should he dare to comment or give an interview with regards to our marriage or mention my name he would default on the sale of the Cape May property. It extended to his immediate family as well. I couldn’t cover his bookie or bartender, but I’d take my chances with those low lives.

             Take that slimy blonde reptile. Knowing who and what she was came clear to me over a week ago.

            I spent the morning and most of the afternoon moving chess pieces around the board. Movers and packers. Real Estate value assessments and having the agreement of sale drafted.

            I asked for three point five million. It was the highest estimate of the home’s value. I signed my end and sent it over to the lawyers to work out with Adam.

            Next was the packing and moving company, I signed the contract and wired over the deposit. My house would be packed in a week with the moving estimate two weeks after that. I secured a storage space in Beaufort for the boxes and furniture to be delivered.

I heard a soft knock on the back door, I got up to answer it to an older Hispanic woman.

            “Now you must be Miss Angelica,” I said happily. She was a short, round affectionate appearing woman with a beautiful smile and dimples for days.

            “Yes Ma’am, and you must be Miss Aubrey,” she beamed. I held the door open for her to come in.

            “It’s a real pleasure to meet you,” we both said at the same time and burst out into giggles.

            “I don’t want to disturb you Miss Aubrey, Mr. Clay told me you work from home. I’m here to clean and change out the bedding. I see you started the laundry, I’ll finish that up for you, anything else you might need?” she asked.

            “No Ma’am, thank you for asking, I’ll get out of your way.”

She paused for a moment, “Miss Aubrey, thank you. Mr. Clayton, I’ve never seen him so happy  and that’s what you’re doing for sure. It’s dreadful what the news is trying drudge up, but you don’t worry, that kinda of idle chatter dies down when they get fresh meat to gnaw on.”

            “Thank you very much Miss Angelica, I appreciate that very much. Oh, can you tell me where I can find a pot around here? I’m planning to braise beef short ribs and can’t find a Dutch oven or something similar.” I asked perplexed.

            She patted my hand and smiled.

            “I’ll head up to Mr. Carl’s kitchen. Miss Trudy has a trove of kitchen items just gatherin’ dust. He’d be happy to lend them to you. I’ll fix you a box of essentials.”

            “Thank you so much, I’ve got to get back to work, I’m sorry.” I apologized and left Miss Angelica to her own devices.

After catching up with Jenna and taking notes from her, I spent the next two hours in zoom conference with the New York City Medical Examiner reviewing autopsies of the five victims of the Triboro killings. At the end of the call he asked me about the Saint Helena remains and we discussed what I knew to date.

            “Bree, this is going to be massive,” he mumbled. “Christ, that’s an old cold case. You think you’ll get to glance at it, or will they make you stand down?”

            “I don’t know Jonah, I’ve got enough on my plate owning that property. I can’t image they will let me investigate it. But if wishing made it so, “I laughed.

            “Don’t we all want to solve that one?” he concurred. “First year of forensic science that case gets looked at. What will they teach after this?” he wondered.

            “Good to talk to you Bree, you have any more questions on these boys, you send up the bat signal for me. I hope you can figure it out, every one of them has a devastated mother, they call me once a week for answers.”

            “Thank you Jonah, and for your time today. You stay well and stay in touch.”

I could hear the washer and dryer humming along with the sound of Angelica puttering around cleaning. I walked back into the kitchen for a fresh cup of coffee when I saw the cardboard fruit crate filled with pots, frying pans, and assorted serving spoons, tongs, and spatulas.

            “Miss Aubrey, will that fix you for now?” Angelica appeared in the kitchen smiling. “Mr. Carl was tickled to help out.”

            “Thank you Ma’am, this is wonderful.” I fixed my coffee and started to prepare dinner to leave it slowly braising in the oven the hours left before Clay would get home.

            I finished up with email and phone calls and stretched out of my chair, the house smelled amazing with the slow cooking of beef short ribs. I was in love with my new stove, I could use all the burners, what a life! I peeled and set potatoes onto the stove for mashing and as Clay predicted I discovered a fresh picked basket of butter lettuce on the back step left by Carl.

            I washed and cut the greens and topped them with a paper towel and placed them back in the refrigerator for our dinner salad.

            For the first time all day, I received a text from Clay. It was six-ten pm.

            Clay:    Honey, I’m heading home, want me to stop somewhere for anything?

            Me:      Nope all good here, special garment….

            Clay:    Got me growling like a wolf hound in my car

            Me:      You’ll be howling at the moon when you see this outfit…LOL

I had the table set, everything keeping warm on the stove, and I dressed in my pink lace one piece teddy, with silk robe.

            He came into the house like a summer storm, his briefcase in one hand and a full bouquet of multi-colored roses in his other. He blew open the door and came directly for me, dropping everything on the sofa and took me into his arms.

            “It smells fantastic in here.  Promise me you’ll be here at the end of every day, waiting for me?.” He grinned, kissing me ravenously.

            “I promise,” I beamed happily, kissing him back.

            “Now let’s see this special garment,” he teased.

            I stood back from him and dropped the silk robe to the floor.  He whistled low and long.

            “What am I eatin’ first Sugar, supper or that soft delicious little kitty kat?” he asked happily, pulling me into his arms and sliding his hands down the silky material to my ass.

I laughed out loud and put the robe back on, “Go get changed, dinner first and you can have the rest for dessert,”

            “Yes Ma’am” he saluted.

I cut and arranged the roses in a vase, placed the dishes on the table and poured him a glass of whiskey. He changed into sweatpants and a Hilton Head tee shirt and joined me at the table.

            “Sugar when did you find time for this today? And where did you get the pots?” he was visibly impressed.

I caught him up on all the details of my day and he shared the highlights of his own. I think I made his night when I let him know how I foiled Shania Greene’s plans to trot out the deepest of my darkest secrets.

He ate like he was heading for the electric chair.

            “Damnation I was hungry, Sugar, you weren’t lyin’–you can cook.  You ought to marry me,” he smirked, digging back into his dish.

            “I’m thinking about it, thank you for the beautiful flowers, they were for me right?” I laughed shifting the vase on the table.

            He finished a forkful of mashed potatoes and chuckled, “Oh no I picked them up for Shania on my way home,” We got caught up in silly laughs with the idea of it.

We finished dinner and he helped me clean up the kitchen. He fixed a fire, and we curled up on the sofa together talking. The time passed quickly as we got caught up on the aspects of our day.  I was nestled in his arms, my head on his chest, his legs wrapped around me.

            “Where are we on the investigation?” I asked.

            “Well, considering it’s Beaufort County, I have to recuse myself and hand it off to the Attorney General’s office. SLED and the FBI are working in tandem on the investigation, should there be a suspect they will impanel a grand jury and then we go from there. This thing could take a year, maybe two before it ever goes anywhere. Mostly we figure like I said at the beginning, the perp could be already in prison for something else or dead. It’s been forty years.”

            “Now about this special garment, does it have an escape hatch in the basement location or are am I taking the whole thing off for me to get to kitty. ‘cause I’m hankerin’ for dessert,” he purred dirty. His hands softly running down the front of my body.

            I stood up in front of him and took off the robe. I reached down toward the crotch and yanked the Velcro closing open.

            “Ingenious,” he whispered, “Easy access is my favorite thing, sit that fine ass on my face,” he implored.

            “No Clay, I’ll smother you with my weight,” I backed up awkwardly. I was bottom heavy and never felt comfortable with the request he made.

            “Smother me? Woman I can only hope, that’s every man’s dream way to die. Climb on up here Sugar. Try to smother me,” he teased. I shook my head, uneasy with the idea of that position.

            “Honey, you prefer this on your back?” he asked knowingly. “I’ll go down on you standing upside down in a snow storm, make yourself comfortable, I’m heading below the Mason Dixon Line.” He snickered.

            Slow savage sex in front of a raging fireplace was my favorite position. Just the light from the fireplace flames flickering around his naked back and neck as his head was buried between my thighs was a complete turn on. Not to mention the skills the man had. I lost count of the orgasms I was having.

            He stopped and changed positions taking his pants off. I felt the masterpiece between his legs enter between mine.

            “I can’t help myself, Sugar. I have to get inside you,” he groaned. He went all the way in, tight and hard. I was delirious with pleasure. Every ridge of his cock hit a button inside me. I could feel the trembling internally as the buildup of the massive orgasm I was going to have started to gather.

            He stared down into my eyes, lust and passion gleaming from his.

            “This is my kitty, it belongs to me,” he gusted, “Say it,” he demanded.

            “It’s all yours Clay, it belongs to you, I belong to you,” I cried, as his thrusts came quicker and harder.

            “Tell me, Sugar. Who’s pussy is this?” his breath getting shorter, his climax close.

            “Yours, all yours Clay, till death do us part,” I felt him seize up, his whole body in one muscle tension and he came like an unsecured fire hose. Pumping me full of him. We orgasmed together and he fell onto his back depleted.

            I waited for him to turn over to me and he did, taking my face into his hands to kiss me. He was so tender and romantic after sex, it was charming.

            I tucked under his arm, my head on his chest. I slid my fingers along the hair on his chest. Sighing with contentment.

            “Aubrey, every time is better than the last, how do you manage that?” he asked softly.

I laughed quietly, “Practice baby, it makes perfect,”

            He slid onto his side and tucked me next to him, kissing me gently and staring down into my eyes.

            “I have never felt this way before,” his eyes filled with tears, “I didn’t know love could be like this, I can’t thank you enough for coming into my life. I meant what I said when I came home, promise you will always be here waiting for me?” he pleaded.

            “Promise you will always come home to me, and I’ll be here waiting.” I whispered.

            “Sugar, I don’t want to be anywhere else but with you, I swear,” He kissed me again, long, and slow. His hands in my hair, “I can’t fucking stop, your kiss, honey, it’s an addiction,”

I giggled and got up from the floor. I ran to use the restroom and changed into my comfortable night clothes.

            “By the way, first text all day was on the way home, you were busy,” I teased. He was redressing in front of the fire and took me by the hand back onto the sofa.

“I was and I’m sorry, I didn’t get a minute with all the catch up, but don’t you worry, I’ll be blowing your phone up tomorrow. I’ll want titties pics and dirty texts.” He finished his last sip of whiskey.

I laughed with joy, “Titty pics are you kidding? With the amount of press digging into our closets, those pictures will be the first thing that surfaces.

He snuggled me up against him and ran his hands over my breasts, “Mmmm I’d rather feel them anyway,”

“Bree, I’m gonna guarantee to keep in touch more often during the day, and to get home at a decent hour, but it’s a new pattern for me, I’m asking you to be patient until I can get accustomed to our life together.” He asked.

I was quiet. We are both work-a-holics. Carving our life out of what was once two separate whirlwinds was going to be some trick.

“Honey?” he whispered, “Tell me what you are thinking,” he asked.

“Let’s buy a house in Beaufort, closer to your office. There are some beautiful beach front cottages there and the commute for you will be shorter. We can plan a new pattern. This takes work baby, and I don’t want to change your life and disrupt your career.”

“Sugar, you are now my life. We can make this work, the hardest part was the distance. With you here, it makes everything easier.”

I yawned, and forced myself off the sofa, “Let’s go to bed, we’re not solving anything tonight. Let’s sleep on it. Time honey, let it do its thing.”