Two Bar Mitzvahs (No Weddings #3)(60)
“Hello?”
“Is this Cade Michaelson?” a deep male voice asked.
“Yes. And this is?”
“Doug Phillips. I’m legal counsel for Lakemont Country Club. Do you have time for a few questions regarding the complaint against Madison Kensington?”
“Sure.” I’d clear my afternoon, if that’s what it took.
“I’ve read Suzanne’s complaint and have interviewed her for more details. Can you describe the events starting from the beginning? I understand you and Madison were once involved personally?”
Nice. So had Madison also been interviewed before she’d surprised me at the coffeehouse?
I spent the next thirty minutes giving him the highlights of the important events and answering any questions as we went. He asked me if I had anything further to add or if I had any questions.
Then he posed a question I hadn’t expected. “How would you like to see this matter resolved?”
I blinked. Could it be that easy? “I want it to end. I want her to leave me alone. I want her to leave our companies alone. If you really want to know, I want her fired and to never see her again.” Harsh? Yeah. Could Madison use a break? Probably. But not from me. Not in this situation. She had multiple chances to redeem herself, but failed. Maybe she needed a fresh wakeup call to realize she had much farther to go in her recovery.
“I do want to know. We are protecting the country club and its members. That means doing whatever it takes. Will you be seeking any other remedies in this matter?”
“No. I’m not looking to sue the country club, if that’s what you’re asking. But if she keeps surprising me like she did today, I will seek an order of protection against her.”
“What did she do today?”
“Sorry, I was so focused on the upcoming event and our companies, I forgot about earlier today. She had to have followed me. She showed up at the coffeehouse I frequent to basically reiterate the hallway conversation that Suzanne overheard.”
“Which part of it?”
“That Madison wants to get back together with me.”
He sighed. “Okay. Got it. I spoke with her first thing this morning. She should not have contacted you, and she knew that. Thank you for your patience and providing me with all the details.” He paused. “By the way, are you related to Garrett Michaelson?”
“Yes, I’m his son. You know my dad?”
“I’ve known him for years. He’s helped me individually, and also our firm, with our financial portfolios. He’s a great guy. Say ‘hello’ to him for me.”
“Will do.”
When I got off the phone, a text showed on the screen that had come in during the call. It was from Hannah.
Want me to bring dinner over tonight?
I replied without hesitation.
Fuck yes.
***
At the end of another long afternoon stuck in my email box and on my cell phone, we sat on the back patio around the fire pit in the middle of our relocated-furniture zone. Hannah had brought over two pizzas and cream cheese frosted chocolate bacon cupcakes. I slid a couple of slices onto my paper plate after giving Hannah what she wanted.
Ben ignored the pizza and went straight for the dessert. He took a bite, then rolled his eyes into his head, moaned, and collapsed backward onto the decking where he’d been sitting. “I’ve died and gone to food heaven. That is officially the best thing I’ve ever tasted.”
His happiness ended when Ava bounded over him and snarfed down the rest of his cupcake, paper wrapper and all. Mase’s shoulders shook in laughter while he chewed a mouthful of pizza.
Hannah quickly gave Ben a replacement cupcake when he stared at Ava in disbelief. Then she glanced over at me. “Okay. Thanks for sparing me trauma by having me come in through your side gate, but I’m going to have to see the kitchen sometime. How bad is it?”
I stood and tugged her up by the hand. “Words will never do it justice. Prepare yourself.”
Mase, Ben, and Ava hung back in the yard as Hannah and I walked through the back door and entered the disaster area that had become the kitchen. Large fans were still blowing to dry the place out, but I shut them off for a minute so we didn’t have to shout over them.
Needing body contact with her after two challenging days away from each other, I wrapped my arms around her from behind and held her close. “All the flooring and some of the subflooring is being pulled. The lower maple cabinets are totaled, along with all the drywall and baseboards.”
Hannah moaned softly. “It was such a dream kitchen.”
“It will be again. Don’t even bother looking in the basement. It’s a total redo, game tables and all.”
She turned in my arms and stared up at me. “You and Mase can sleep here while all this is going on?”
I nodded toward the hallway. “Take a look. The living room, kitchen, and basement took a hit for the rest of the house.”
Hannah kept shaking her head, like she couldn’t believe what had happened. That made two of us.
After I turned the fans back on, I led her into my dry bedroom. The moment I closed the door, I felt the stress on the other side of it begin to fade. All because Hannah was here again.
I pulled her into my arms and just held her, breathing. “Damn, Maestro. I’ve missed you bad.”