Bad Judgment

Bad Judgment by Tempra Collins

BAD JUDGMENT A Chippewa Publishing Publication, July 2005 Chippewa Publishing, LLC. 678 Dutchman Drive, Suite 3 Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin 54729

Adobe Acrobat Reader (PDF) ISBN NUMBER: 1-933400-17-X Other available formats: Palm Doc (PDB), Rocket/REB1100 (RB), Pocket PC 1.0+ Compatible, Franklin eBookMan (FUB), hiebook (KML), iSilo (PDB), Mobipocket (PRC), OEBFF Format (IMP), Microsoft Reader (LIT) Bad Judgment Copyright © 2005 Melissa Prater Edited by Kimberly Burton and Ricki Marking-Camuto Cover Art by Beckie Pack Proofed by Kristine Esterly ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book may not be reproduced in whole, or in part, by any means, without the written consent of the publisher. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination, or are fictitiously used. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons living or dead, is entirely coincidental. WARNING: The contents of this book are intended for mature audiences only. Language, violence, and sexual situations may apply.

Dedication I dedicate this book to my Grandmother Esther; I love you so much. To my Mother-in-Law, Dottye, you are very special to me. Also to my Father-in-Law, Ron, may you rest in peace. Last, but not least, to my Grandmother Johnson—such a sweet little woman in a big world—rest in peace.

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Prologue

Her body trembled as sweat ran down her forehead and onto the bed sheets. “Help!” Megan screamed as she jumped up and looked around in horror. “Baby, are you okay?” Michael shouted, awakened by her loud scream. He put his arms around Megan, who was calming down but still a little shaken from the nightmare. Megan’s skin turned clammy as goose bumps covered her entire body. “It was just a bad dream.” Megan wiped her forehead off and jumped out of bed. She then walked towards the window in their bedroom. The wind blew as lightning lit up the dark, gloomy sky. Michael walked up behind Megan, who was staring out of the window dressed in her long, silky, white gown, and he put his arms around her waist. “It’ll be okay, honey. It was just another bad dream,” Michael reassured her as they both gazed out into the turbulent night sky in anticipation of the storm. Megan suddenly turned around to face Michael who was standing there in his black silk boxers looking as if he was still asleep. “I didn’t mean for this to happen, Michael. I’m so sorry.” She dug her head into his pale chest. Michael grabbed her tightly as they both looked back out the window. “I know, Megan, I know,” he whispered as he stood there holding his dear wife as close to him as possible.

Page 5

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Chapter One

A year earlier, everything seemed very normal. Louisville, Kansas, where Megan and Michael resided, seemed almost perfect. It was the town of imagination, or so everyone who lived there claimed. It had a population of around twelve-thousand people, and for anyone whoever dreamt that of living in a fairytale land, this was it: the trees were always green, the flowers bloomed everywhere, no crime, no problems. The people there also seemed perfect, almost too perfect. Every house in Louisville looked as if it was a dream dollhouse and everybody made a good living. The town was full of doctors and lawyers. Most of the people there were very well educated. Megan was not a doctor or a lawyer; she worked as a receptionist at the women’s crisis center. She was a very attractive woman, but she was not always confident about herself. She always wanted to be a bombshell, but this thirtyseven-year-old petite woman with pale, white skin and long, red hair was not very popular in the neighborhood. Her husband, on the other hand, was very confident about himself. Michael, a thirty-six-year-old car salesman who weighed about two-hundred and fifty pounds, had brown hair and a very pale complexion. He always felt like he had the world in his hands. He and Megan had been married for seventeen years, and within those seventeen years, they had had a beautiful daughter named Lacy, who was now sixteen years old—she looked like an older version of Shirley Temple. This particular day started out just like everyday, but nobody knew that one little mistake could change everything…forever. **** The alarm buzzed as Megan was waking up, rubbing her eyes. It was seven o’clock in the morning when she leaned over to turn the annoying sound off. Michael was still asleep, even the loud alarm did not wake him. Megan turned over to Michael, kissed his forehead, and got out of bed wearing her swaying, white silk gown. She walked over to the chair by the window, grabbed her matching robe, and put it on. Page 6

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Another long day at the office, Megan commented to herself as she walked over to the window to look out. The sun was shining brightly and the birds were chirping so loudly she could hear them through the glass. Megan turned around and smiled at Michael, who was still in bed asleep. He looked so peaceful that Megan did not want to wake him. She walked downstairs where she could smell the strong aroma of coffee. Lacy, Lacy, Lacy, Megan thought as she walked into the kitchen and saw her daughter making a pot. Lacy turned around and saw her mother enter the kitchen. “Hey, Mom, care for some coffee?” Lacy asked as she poured a cup. Megan was not falling for it; she knew there was a reason why Lacy was up so early. She never woke up this early—Megan would always have to go wake her up every morning. Lacy knew that a cup of coffee would get her on her mother’s good side, so Megan knew something was up. “What do you want, Lacy?” Megan asked as Lacy handed her mother the cup of hot coffee. Lacy frowned and turned away. “Why would you think I want something, Mom? I just wanted to make my beautiful mother some coffee so she wouldn’t have to, that’s all,” Lacy explained as she sat down at the kitchen table smiling in anticipation of Megan’s response. Megan raised her eyebrows and sat down beside Lacy. “The answer is no,” Megan whispered. Lacy stood up with her hands on her hips and frowned. “Mom, you don’t even know what I was going to ask you, how could you tell me no?” Megan smiled and looked down at Lacy’s outfit. “That skirt is kind of short, don’t you think?” Megan commented as Lacy sat back down and moved her chair closer in Megan’s direction. “Mom, forget about the skirt. Ryan’s birthday is this weekend and he has invited me to go to his party. Can I go?” Lacy begged. Megan squint her eyes and took a sip of her coffee. “Are his parents going to be there and will there be any alcohol at the party?” Lacy turned away to look at the clock on the wall, trying to ignore the question. “Mom, his parents are going to be there, and no, there’s not going to be any alcohol.” She stood up and grabbed her backpack to get ready for school. “I’m not too impressed by Ryan, Lacy. You guys have been dating for two weeks and he’s already asking you to come over to his house? I don’t know; you need to ask your father.” “The answer is no,” Michael said with authority as he walked down the stairs and into the kitchen. Lacy and Megan turned around. Lacy glared at her father as he walked over to Megan to kiss her on her cheek. Page 7

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

“Good morning, honey,” Megan said then smiled. Lacy walked slowly over to her father. Michael put his hands on her shoulders. “I don’t think Ryan’s the right guy for you; plus, he’s too old,” Michael commented then walked over to pour some coffee in his cup. He was ready to go to work in a nice black suit. Lacy looked over at her mother and then back to her father who seemed to be in a great mood. “Dad, you don’t even know Ryan; he is a good guy. What’s the big deal?” Michael tuned towards her and looked at her short skirt. “Boys like that only think of one thing, and that skirt is one of them.” He walked over to the kitchen table to sit down. Megan looked over at Michael and then to Lacy. “I’ll tell you what, you give us Ryan’s parents’ phone number and we’ll call them and find out about the party. If it’s acceptable, you can go.” Lacy rolled her eyes and looked over at her father. “Dad, I’m sixteen. Why does Mom have to call Ryan’s parents? That’s so immature.” Michael stood up out of his seat, placing the coffee cup on the kitchen counter. “It’s her way or no way.” He walked over to Lacy and gave her a kiss on her forehead. “Do you need a ride to school or is Ryan coming to get you?” He grabbed the car keys as a car horn honked and very loud music filtered in from outside. “Oh, that’s Ryan. I guess I’d better get my booster seat out of Mom’s car, huh, Dad?” Lacy smarted off as she ran out the door to go to school. Michael laughed, blew his wife a kiss goodbye, and walked out the door to go to work. Megan got up and walked behind him. “Have a good day at work, honey,” Megan shouted as Michael got into his Mercedes-Benz. “You have a good day, too,” he replied as he pulled out of the driveway. He rolled down the automatic passenger-side window and shouted, “Don’t forget, I’ll be home at eight tonight because I have that meeting with Sid again.” “Okay, I’ll leave you a hot plate in the oven,” Megan shouted back as she waved him off and shut the front door. She knew that she had to be at work in an hour, so she rushed upstairs to get ready. Work was not going the way she wanted it to because her boss had gone on vacation and there was a fill-in boss whom she really did not like. She was the biggest witch. Her name was Ms. Daisy, but her body expressions spelled out “thorn.” She was the most evil elderly woman on the face of the planet, and thank God, she was only going to be there for one more week. She picked out her clothes and laid them out on the bed. She had a longsleeved black blouse and a straight, long, black skirt. Page 8

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

She thought about what Lacy had asked about Ryan’s birthday party earlier, and it started to bother her. That boy is way too old for her. He’s eighteen and she’s only sixteen. He’s a grown man and… I don’t think so, Megan thought as she took her robe off and laid it over the chair in the bedroom. She walked to the bathroom, grabbed a hair clip on the bathroom sink, and put her long, curly, red hair up in a bun then she turned on the shower and took her gown off. She entered the shower and washed herself. When she was finished, she shut the water off, stepped out of the tub, and dried off with the towel. She wrapped it securely around her chest then went back to the bedroom to finish getting ready for work. At that moment, the phone in the bedroom rang. She picked it up, wondering who in the heck it could be. “Hello,” she answered as she sat on the bed struggling to put her panty hose on. “Megan, make that nine-thirty tonight. Sid is going crazy about this meeting. People from France are coming in and I have to be there.” “Michael, this is the second night in a row that you’ve been coming home late. You just sell cars, for God’s sake. Do they need you that badly?” Megan pleaded as she struggled to hold the phone to her ear and put her clothes on at the same time. “Megan, this could be it. This could be our big break. You know that honeymoon you’ve always wanted to go on in Jamaica? Now we might be able to do it.” Michael paused for a second, “They’re calling me; I have to go. I love you. See you at nine-thirty. Bye.” “I love you, too,” Megan replied, but there was already a dial tone. It surprised her how quickly he had hung up the phone. Their eighteenth wedding anniversary was only a week away, and Megan wondered if Michael was going to remember it, seeing he was so busy and came home late a lot lately. Megan slid her black pumps on and ran downstairs. It was already nine-fortyfive and she was running a little late. She took the hair clip out of her hair and let her long, red hair flow; it was naturally curly so it did not matter if it was up or down, it always looked good. She grabbed her purse from the kitchen counter, rushed out the door, and locked it behind her. She slid into the seat of her white Cadillac and headed for work. The clinic was about three miles away and Megan knew she had to step on it if she was going to make it on time. She arrived at work a few minutes later and parked the car. She got out and saw Marilyn, a friend of hers, pull up beside her. Marilyn was a talker and Megan knew that if she turned around to talk to her that they would be in the parking lot for at least three hours. Marilyn also worked at the clinic as a receptionist, but she was about fifteen years younger than Megan was. Marilyn was the bombshell that everyone wanted to look like. She had long, straight, blonde hair, bright blue eyes, and a body most women would die to have. Page 9

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

She also had a great personality and was nice to everybody, and to Megan, that meant everything. “Megan, wait,” Marilyn shouted as she ran in her five-inch heels up to Megan. Megan was trying to get into the clinic, but she did not quite make it in time to act like she did not see Marilyn. “Hi, Marilyn.” Marilyn tried to catch her breath to talk. “You are not going to believe what happened to me this morning.” Megan started walking towards the clinic when Marilyn reached in her purse to grab a cigarette. “Smoke a cigarette with me, Megan.” She lit her cigarette as Megan looked down at her watch and then to the clinic. The clinic was about twenty steps away and Megan only had two minutes to get in there. Megan looked back at Marilyn. “I don’t have time; I’m running late,” she explained as she smiled and walked away. Marilyn followed. “I’m late, too, but you’re not going to believe what happened to me.” She took a big puff off the cigarette and threw it down. “Oh, I’ll just tell you on our cigarette break.” She smiled at Megan and opened the door to the clinic. Megan walked in and looked around; everyone was so busy. “Cigarette break at eleven-thirty; I need to tell you something,” Marilyn ended the conversation as she walked to her side of the office. Megan’s side was clear on the other end, and she was not looking forward to what was to come. She was right beside her workstation when she ran across Ms. Daisy, standing there with her dark gray hair, her clammy skin, and her glasses hanging off her nose. She reminded Megan of her second grade teacher, always so serious. “Megan, do you know about responsibility?” Ms. Daisy asked as she glared at Megan with disgust. Megan looked down at her watch and back up at Ms. Daisy. “I’m right on time, Ms. Daisy. I’m having a problem with you picking on me. If you have a problem with me, please tell me, because I just feel like you have something against me. If I’m wrong, I apologize.” She walked passed Ms. Daisy who was smiling at the ground. Ms. Daisy paused then looked back up at Megan. “Yes, I do have a problem. It’s called respect. I don’t think you know the meaning of it. Young women come in here asking us for help. They’re usually scared and bruised, they depend on us to keep them safe from a boyfriend or a husband that has hurt them, and you ask me if I have something against you? The answer is yes. The way you present yourself in this clinic is the way you’ll present yourself to these young girls and women. They don’t need your attitude and neither do we. So straighten up, or the outcome will not be good.” Page 10

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Ms. Daisy walked back to her desk to answer a phone call. When she was finished with the call, she informed Megan that she had to run some errands and she would be back later. Her workstation was right beside Megan’s and she knew the day was going to be one that she would never live down. She knew she was a great employee and was not going to let Ms. Daisy ruin her attitude about that. Megan slowly walked over to her desk and sat down in her chair. There was a yellow memo on the phone with two messages on it. The first one said that Michael called and now he would not be home until twelve-thirty in the morning. The second one was Lacy’s school. Megan frowned. Just as she went to pick up the phone to call the school, it rang. “Safe House, this is Megan, how may I assist you?” A young lady was on the other end crying frantically. “My boyfriend just hit me and I’m afraid he’s going to hurt my three-year-old.” Megan grabbed a piece of paper. “What’s your name?” She could hear the boyfriend in the background, cursing aloud. The girl covered up the receiver end of her phone but Megan could still hear her pleading with her boyfriend to stop yelling at her. The young woman got back on the phone. “My name is Carol Peterson—” The boyfriend snatched the phone out of her hand and got on the line. “Carol dialed the wrong number, and don’t dare try to call this number back. If you do, it’ll be worse.” The phone went dead. Megan was surprised, she never had a boyfriend or a husband take the phone from the caller and threaten her before. She hung up and looked at the caller identification box next to the phone. The clinic had this service so they could give the police phone numbers of women who were in danger. Megan wrote down the information showing on the display. She knew that if she ignored it, it would only make things worse. She dialed the police and they answered, “Louisville Police Department. Please state your emergency.” Megan shook as she held the phone. “Hello, this is Megan Ronald from Safe House. I just received a phone call from a young woman who claimed that her boyfriend just hit her and she was afraid that he was going to harm their three-yearold child. All I have is a phone number and I wanted to see if you could trace the address. The phone number is 313-8308. I’m afraid for her and her child’s life,” Megan explained as the dispatcher listened closely. “We got it. We’re sending someone over to the address right now.” Megan thanked him and hung up the phone. She thought about Lacy—what she would have done if that would have been her calling—then she thought about Ryan’s birthday party. There was no way Lacy was going to that party. Page 11

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

The answer is no, Megan thought as she picked up the phone to call Lacy’s school. “I wonder what’s wrong now,” Megan said to herself as the principal answered the phone at the school. “Hi, my name is Megan Ronald; my daughter, Lacy Ronald, goes to school there. I had a message waiting for me when I arrived at work that the school had tried to get a hold of me regarding Lacy.” “Oh yes, Mrs. Ronald, I was the one who called you. I’m Lacy’s principal, Mr. Hodges. I was concerned about Lacy, and let me say I am sorry to hear about your mother. My mother passed away two months ago, so I know exactly what you and your family is going through. You are in our prayers.” Megan sat there in disbelief. “Excuse me,” she replied in confusion. Mr. Hodges continued, “Her aunt came to the school to pick her up about thirty minutes ago. Lacy was so upset, I told her to call you so she could go home and rest, but she insisted her aunt come to get her. Is she doing okay?” Megan played along with him. “Yes, Lacy is doing fine, she just needs a little love right now, and that’s what I’m here for. She’ll be back to school after the funeral on Wednesday. I really appreciate your calling me, Mr. Hodges.” She said goodbye and hung up the phone. Lacy did it now. She’s gone too far. She wants to play that game; I’ll play it, too. Megan could not figure out why Lacy would say someone had died who did not die; it did not make any sense. Of course, she was angry about what Lacy did, but she was not going to let it ruin her day. She was going to let Lacy have her fun now, and when Megan got out of work, she would deal with it then. “Working hard?” Marilyn shouted, and Megan jumped, not knowing anyone was right behind her. “Are you crazy? You almost gave me a heart attack.” She grabbed her purse and stood up facing Marilyn. Marilyn pulled a cigarette out of her pack and put it up to her mouth. “Now let’s go smoke a cigarette; I have so much to tell you.” She then started walking towards the door in the back of the building. Megan followed behind as Marilyn opened the door. She reached in her purse, grabbed a cigarette, and lit hers then Marilyn’s. “So, what is this big news you wanted to tell me?” She stood there waiting for the news that could not wait. Marilyn took a puff of her cigarette as she smiled from ear to ear. “I’m pregnant.” Megan frowned. “Why are you smoking then?” Marilyn looked at Megan as if she had lost her mind. “I’m only two months; I’ll stop when I’m four months. Do you know how hard it is to just stop?” She held the cigarette up to her mouth and inhaled. “Is it Eric’s?” Page 12

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

“Yes, it’s his. I took a pregnancy test this morning and it came out positive. Since I missed my period twice, I just figured I was two months pregnant.” She finished her cigarette and threw it down on the pavement, smashing it with her heel. “You’ve only known Eric for about five months, though.” Marilyn pulled out another cigarette to smoke. “Why do you smoke so much?” Marilyn rolled her eyes and lit the cigarette, trying to change the subject. “Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be with someone who was way younger than you?” She looked Megan dead in the eyes. Megan shook her head. “No, Marilyn, I don’t wonder. I’m happily married and that’s the last thing on my mind.” Marilyn smiled. “I know you think I’m just a baby compared to you, but I’m very mature. Yes, I’m only twenty-two years old, but I know a lot.” Megan turned around to go back inside the building when Marilyn grabbed her arm. “My birthday’s this week and a couple of friends are taking me out to Rooster’s. You want to come?” “Rooster’s is a place for young people, and I’m not young. Besides, I told my daughter not to drink. What would she think if I were to drink?” Megan turned and walked back into the clinic. Marilyn put her cigarette out and walked in behind her. “Your daughter doesn’t have to know you’re drinking, and for God’s sake, you’re grown! You don’t have to drink if you don’t want to; I’m not. I’m turning twenty-three, and I want you to be there. Just think about it. I’m going to be a mother in less than a year and all you have to do is stop in. It’s not a crime. You can bring your husband,” she whispered as she walked past Megan. Megan sat down at her desk after Marilyn left. “If Michael saw you; I don’t think I’d have a husband to come home to anymore.” **** Megan had not been sitting in her chair for more than two seconds when a young man, fairly tall with long brown hair, walked over to her station. Megan looked up; it was Lacy’s boyfriend, Ryan. Megan was at a loss for words, wondering why in the world he would come to her work. “Ryan, what’s wrong?” She stood up in a curious manner. Ryan looked worried as if something had happened. “Mrs. Ronald, I’m sorry to bother you at work, but I got out of school early because I was worried about Lacy. She left school and I don’t know why. Is everything okay?” Page 13

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Megan glared at him. “She’s not with you?” She walked over to where he was standing. Ryan looked around. “No, that’s why I’m here, I’m worried about her.” He put his hands in his jeans pockets nervously. For some weird reason, Megan knew he was telling the truth. Where was her daughter, and who was the woman that picked her up claiming to be her aunt? Lacy did not have an aunt. It was time to figure out this mystery.

Page 14

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Chapter Two

“Well, I think this has gone way too far,” Megan remarked as she walked back over to her workstation and picked up the telephone. “I’m calling home to see if she’s there, and if she is, I’m ripping her head off.” Ryan stood there watching Megan dial the number. She held the phone up to her ear, and waited in anticipation of Lacy answering, which never happened. A look of disappointment came over Megan’s face telling Ryan that Lacy was not there. “I’m going to go look for her,” Ryan insisted as he started rushing towards the door. Megan stopped him. “You know, Ryan, this isn’t your problem; it’s her father’s and mine, so I would really appreciate it if you would just back off.” Ryan turned around to face her. “Mrs. Ronald, I understand if you disapprove of me and Lacy seeing each other; I understand that, but you can’t stop it, so just let it go.” He stomped away in anger. Megan’s mind boggled as she followed him outside. “Ryan, I’m not going to let you talk to me like I’m one of your buddies. When I’m talking to you, you look at me. Don’t turn your back on me, little boy, because I can put a stop to everything, so you just let it go,” she shouted as she pointed her finger in his face. Ms. Daisy overheard the commotion while they were in the building and went to see what was going on. “Is this young man a family member, Megan?” Megan lowered her finger, and turned to her, acting clueless. “I’m sorry, Ms. Daisy, this is my daughter’s boyfriend and he was just about to leave.” Ryan ignored Megan and introduced himself to Ms. Daisy. “I’m sorry, ma’am, I’m so sorry for all of the confusion. I came in here to tell Mrs. Ronald about her daughter missing school and she jumped down my throat. I was only trying to be nice and show her that I care.” Megan looked at him with distrust as Ms. Daisy smiled and put her hand on his arm. “Young man, you must understand that Megan doesn’t care much about anything. You’re a nice boy that is concerned about her daughter’s needs, and all she is doing is putting you down. This clinic is for women. Women of all ages come here to get away from evil, but when they get here, they find evil.” While Page 15

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Ms. Daisy was saying this, she looked at Megan. “You seem like a nice young man and we usually don’t have men working here. Do you work anywhere?” Ryan looked down at the ground and then straight up at Ms. Daisy. “No, ma’am, I got laid-off from my job last week, so the only thing I’ve been doing is going to school. I’ve been putting applications in everywhere, but nobody’s hiring.” He smiled at Ms. Daisy who seemed to be enjoying the frown that came over Megan’s face. Megan could not believe what was going on; she already disliked this boy because she did not want him around her daughter and now she might be working with him? “Would you like a job here doing janitorial work?” Ms. Daisy asked as Ryan held his head up high and stood tall. “Yes, ma’am, I would love to work here. Plus, I’d be close to my girlfriend’s mother, so I think that would work out perfectly.” Ms. Daisy held out her hand to shake his. “Welcome aboard. I’ll need you to fill out an application and hopefully you can start tomorrow.” Ms. Daisy smiled at Megan and walked off to get an application for Ryan. Smoke was rising from Megan’s head, she was so mad; she just wanted to strangle him until his face turned purple. He did this on purpose just to get back at her, and for what reason, Megan did not know. Whatever it took, she was going to keep Ryan away from Lacy. Ryan smiled at Megan and put his hand on her shoulder. “Well, we’re going to be working together, huh, Mom?” Megan jerked away from him. The nerve of this kid. “Ryan, I thought you were working at your dad’s garage on the weekends?” Ryan wiped the smile off his face. “It’s not about me, Mrs. Ronald; it’s about your daughter missing. That’s what I’m worried about.” He started to open the door to re-enter the building. Megan grabbed his arm firmly. “Ryan, you’re making a big mistake taking this job. If you want to have anything to do with Lacy, I would suggest you walk the opposite way.” Ryan smiled at her strong grip on his arm. “From the looks of it, I would say that I think you’re enjoying this, Mrs. Ronald. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have an application to fill out.” Megan froze and let go of his arm. Ryan walked into the clinic, leaving her outside alone, and angry with him. It seemed like every time she looked at him, her veins would pulsate through her skin. ****

Page 16

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

She walked back into the clinic to her workstation. She was so upset with Lacy that she did not really feel like working the rest of the day, so she grabbed her purse, and made the long journey down the hall to where her time card was. She punched out, then walked over to Ms. Daisy’s desk where Ryan sat, filling out his application. Ms. Daisy was talking on the telephone, but Ryan looked up at Megan, and saw that she was about to leave. He put his pen down and stood up. Ms. Daisy was still on the phone and it did not look like she was going to get off it anytime soon. “Mrs. Ronald, I want to apologize for my behavior back there.” Megan gave him a grim look. She was trying to ignore him, but he kept walking closer and closer towards her. “You can ignore me all you want, but I’m going to be working here soon, and you won’t be able to ignore me then.” He looked Megan over, sat back down in his seat, now ready to continue filling out his application. Ms. Daisy hung up the phone, never leaving her seat, while staring at Megan in disgust. “Ms. Daisy, I’m not feeling very well; I am going to go home and get some rest,” Megan turned around and started walking away. Ms. Daisy got up and followed behind her. “Megan, I come to work everyday not feeling good, but do I let that stop me? No, I don’t. I know there’s a young woman out there who needs my help; I need to be here.” She gave Megan a straightforward look but Megan just smiled and walked away. Well, there’s a young lady who needs my help, too, Megan thought as she walked out the door and then headed to her car. Marilyn noticed that Megan was leaving and ran outside. Megan was already in her car when Marilyn ran out to catch her before she left. “Megan!” Marilyn shouted as she knocked on her passenger-side window. Megan rolled the window down. “Marilyn, I have to go find Lacy—she’s missing.” Marilyn lit a cigarette and leaned in the window. “What do you mean, she’s missing? Did someone kidnap her?” Megan sighed and put her head on the steering wheel. “No, Marilyn, she skipped school and I need to find her, so I have to go.” She started up the car and looked at the clock. It was one-thirty-eight. “She’s probably with her boyfriend somewhere doing it.” Megan looked her straight in the eyes. “Marilyn, do you see that young man in there filling out an application? That is her boyfriend.” She glared through the glass door of the building at him. Marilyn turned around. “Wow, he’s hot; if she skipped school and didn’t leave with him, I’d be worried, too.” She took a puff of her cigarette and stared at Ryan. Page 17

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Megan took a deep breath and looked back at Marilyn. “I gotta go, Marilyn.” She started backing out of the parking spot and Marilyn ran after the car. “Wait, Megan,” Marilyn shouted as Megan stopped the car. “If that guy is going to be working here, then I’m not going to get any work done.” Megan’s patience started to run a little thin. “Marilyn, you don’t get any work done anyway.” Megan waved her off and drove away. **** All that went through Megan’s mind was how she had lost all trust in Lacy. There had to be a reason why she would tell a cold lie like that and Megan was going to figure it out. She arrived home, pulled in the driveway, and noticed Michael’s car was there. Maybe the school contacted him, also. She could not figure out why he did not call her. Megan turned the car off, opened the driver’s side door, and got out, shutting it behind her. She rushed up to the front door and unlocked it. Megan walked inside and looked around. “Michael! Lacy!” she shouted as she put the keys and her purse on the kitchen counter. This was odd. Neither Michael nor Lacy were anywhere in sight. Then she heard a noise upstairs. It sounded as if someone was talking; it sounded like Michael. She walked upstairs not having a clue what was going on. She heard a moan and noticed the bedroom door closed. She stopped in front of it and listened; all she could hear was moaning. She could not believe it; her heart nearly stopped and dropped out of her chest. Her blood felt as if it had ceased flowing; her pale face had turned bright red. Megan opened the door, and what she saw was unbelievable. Michael was in their bed naked, on top of another woman, but they were so loud that they did not hear the door open. Tears streamed from Megan’s eyes as she fell to her knees. Michael looked over in Megan’s direction and jumped up as fast as he could. The woman covered herself up with the blankets but did not attempt to get up. Michael grabbed his boxers, put them on, and ran over to Megan, screaming as loud as he could, “Oh my God!” Megan could not even look at him; she acted as if she was a turtle trying to hide in her shell. She was shaking all over with fever as sweat ran down her forehead. Michael leaned down towards Megan and draped his arms around her. She pushed him off and stood up, trying not to pass out. She looked at her husband from head to toe. She thought of their seventeen years of marriage, their only child, and all those beautiful years together. Page 18

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Memories started coming back to her in short flashes. She remembered the day she gave birth to Lacy and Michael’s expression when he first saw his baby girl; the day Michael proposed to her, and how her stomach fell to her feet when she said yes, and how those words, ‘I do,’ meant everything. As soon as Megan took a good look at the man standing in front of her, the memories started to diminish. This same man promised to love and cherish her. He shared a child with her but was now making love to another woman in her bed. Megan stood there staring at Michael; he was no longer a husband, he was a total stranger at this moment. She looked over at the woman who was lying in her bed. “Slut! You slut! How could you come into my house and lay your cheap, whorish ass on my bed and sleep with my husband?” she shouted out as tears rolled onto the carpeted floor. Michael shook his head in total disbelief. “Megan, you don’t understand—” he pleaded. Megan interrupted him before he could say anymore. “Don’t say another word to me, Michael. How could you do this to me—to Lacy? How could you bring a stray dog into our house? How? Don’t you dare answer!” She wiped her tears dry as the woman got out of the bed and proceeded to put her clothes on. Michael fell to the ground and started crying uncontrollably. He tried to grab a hold of Megan’s legs, but she backed away. He stood up with tears falling off his face while Megan glared at him intensely. She then glared at the partially dressed woman. She was a younger, prettier woman with dark blonde hair and an hourglass figure, while Megan was a woman without much of a figure, bright red hair, and freckles all over her face; there was a big difference. “I want you to get out of my house,” Megan shouted at the woman who was putting her jacket on and walking past both of them. The woman rushed out of the bedroom, down the stairs, and out the front door. Michael was on the ground in the fetal position, crying. Megan snatched the sheets and covers off the bed and threw them on the floor. “Why, Michael? Why?” she screamed as she fell down in the chair by the window. She hugged her knees to her chest and cried. It seemed like the tears were never going to stop. Between the two of them, they were going to create a manmade lake from all their weeping. Michael stood up slowly, trying to control his emotions, but finding it hard to contain them. All of a sudden, they heard the door slam downstairs. Megan thought it was the woman coming back to start a fight with her, so she walked past Michael, into the hallway, and proceeded to walk down the back stairs that lead to the kitchen. She had to hold the rail so she would not fall. After reaching the bottom, she noticed that it was Lacy. Page 19

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Megan was not even angry with her, she just wanted to hold Lacy in her arms and never let go. Lacy noticed that her mother was highly upset, so she started to fess up. “Mom, I skipped school today and it was the worst decision that I have ever made in my life.” Megan walked up to her and gave her the biggest hug she could possibly give. Lacy hugged her back as her mother’s tears fell onto her shoulders. She leaned back looking at her mother’s bright red face and swollen eyes. “Mom, what’s wrong?” Megan smiled and ran her fingers through her daughter’s short, blonde hair. “Nothing is wrong; I’m just really tired, that is all.” Megan kissed her forehead and walked over towards the refrigerator. Lacy knew something was very wrong. Both her mother and father were home early from work and they were crying. Lacy was very confused. “Mom, I’m really sorry about what I did today.” Megan grabbed some hamburger meat out of the freezer and sat it down on the kitchen counter. “Lacy, we’ll talk about it later, okay? But for now, you’re grounded,” Megan ended as she started preparing dinner. Lacy ran upstairs as fast as she could and slammed her bedroom door. Soon after, music blasted from her room. Michael had dressed and was walking downstairs slowly. Megan turned around and saw him. She quickly turned her head the other way. He walked into the kitchen while Megan’s back was facing him. He did not know what to say. “I was thinking about making hamburgers tonight,” Megan slurred as tears started rolling down her cheek again. Michael smiled and sat down at the kitchen table looking like a lost puppy. “That sounds great.” “Let’s just get to the point, Michael: are you in love with her?” Megan asked giving him her full attention. Michael smiled and got out of his chair. “No, Megan, I love you. I could never love anyone else,” he whimpered. Megan rolled her eyes and turned back around towards the kitchen counter. “I’m not going to ask you why, I’m just going to assume you don’t care,” she whispered as she hung her head low. Michael started to walk over to where she was standing. Before he could come any closer, she yelled, “Don’t you dare even think that you’re going to touch me after you slept with a hooker in our house!” He stood there staring at Megan as if she was the one in the wrong.

Page 20

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Megan turned around to face him. “Seventeen years—oh I’m sorry, eighteen years next week—eighteen years of marriage, and I’m sure you forgot about our approaching anniversary, haven’t you?” Megan shouted as the music upstairs in Lacy’s room stopped. Michael and Megan both looked upstairs to see if Lacy was coming out. Lacy opened her bedroom door violently, stepped out into the hallway, and walked over to the stairs. She stood at the top, glaring down at her mother and father. “What have I done to deserve this? People on death row are treated better than this!” Lacy yelled as tears rolled down her face. Megan lost it; she could not believe what was coming out of her daughter’s mouth. “Lacy, you skip school, leave with God knows who, you claim that your grandmother died and you know damn well she’s in better shape than all of us, and then you have the nerve to come home and walk through my front door as if nothing ever happened. Well, I guess grounding you is being too hard on you. Have it your way; you can stay out all night—hell, make it weeks. Quit school and shack up with Ryan for all I care.” Lacy rushed downstairs soaking up everything her mother had to say. Michael walked up to Lacy who was still crying and gave her a hug. “Your mom is really stressed out and you’re not helping anything,” he commented as Megan walked over to where Lacy was standing. Megan glared at Michael and then she turned to Lacy. “Mom, what’s going on? I mean, I get home and you’re both here, and then you go crazy on me just now.” Megan stood there with her hands on her hips infuriated. “Lacy, you lied. I talked to your principal and he said you told him that your grandmother died. Whom did you leave with?” Megan asked as Lacy struggled to stand in one place. “Mom, Ryan’s mother came to get me. I’m sorry, I was stressed out, and I needed someone to talk to.” “You have a mother, Lacy. If you needed to talk to someone, all you had to do was call me at work. I know your father wouldn’t have been available.” Megan glared at Michael with disappointment. “That’s no excuse; you’re grounded for two weeks. You will come straight home after school. I’m taking your phone privileges away. Your stereo and your TV are coming out of your bedroom. Most of all, you are not to see Ryan again.” She walked back over to the kitchen counter and continued to make dinner. Lacy’s face turned beet red; she could not believe what was going on. “Dad,” Lacy mumbled. Michael shrugged his shoulders. “I’m sorry.”

Page 21

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Lacy walked into the living room to sit on the couch. “You can’t stop me from seeing Ryan,” Lacy threatened as she placed her head in between her legs. Michael walked upstairs to take Lacy’s television, stereo, and telephone out of her room. Megan walked into the living room and approached Lacy. “The hell I can’t stop you from seeing Ryan. I can do it all, Lacy. Ryan just got a job up at the clinic, and I’ll be seeing him everyday, so don’t you dare tell me what I can’t do.” Lacy looked up at her mother. “No, to better explain that, your future depends on me, and the decision you made earlier to skip school was a very bad idea. I’ll just tell Ryan tomorrow that he is not to come over or be around this house. The same goes for you; you are not to go over to his house or call him, and as far as him coming to get you for school every morning, I don’t think so,” Megan ended as she walked back into the kitchen. Michael was struggling down the stairs holding Lacy’s twenty-five-inch television, her stereo, and her pink telephone. Lacy watched as she said goodbye to the three things (besides Ryan) that made her life happy. “I’ll put these in the garage, and when you’re ready for responsibility, I’ll bring them back,” Michael commented then asked Lacy to open the front door for him. She could not have walked any slower than she did to open it. **** It was three-forty-five in the evening yet dinner was almost ready. Lacy sat at the kitchen table waiting. Megan was giving her the silent treatment and was not about to budge, when suddenly, the phone rang. Lacy jumped up and ran over to the phone, but then realized that she was not allowed to answer it, so she sat back down, looking at the floor as if it was her new best friend. Megan answered it, “Hello.” “How are you feeling?” Ryan asked Megan as Lacy sat at the kitchen table curious about who was calling. Megan smiled and answered calmly, “I’m feeling great, unlike some people.” Lacy walked over to where her mother was while Megan covered up the receiver and whispered to Lacy, “It’s my boss, so would you be so kind and go see what your father’s up to?” Lacy frowned at Megan then headed outside to the garage. Megan got back on the phone.

Page 22

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Ryan had heard Megan even with the receiver covered up. “That’s pretty slick what you told Lacy. Do you think she bought it?” Megan balled up her fist wishing his face were the phone. “Ryan, you are not to come by here anymore. Don’t call and don’t bring your sorry ass over here in the morning to get Lacy. I mean it.” Ryan started laughing, not worrying about anything that Megan had just said. “Mrs. Ronald, I know you’re upset. Hell, I would be upset too if I walked in on my husband making love to another woman.” He paused, waiting for Megan’s response. Megan’s heart skipped a beat. “Ryan, how did you know about that? You tell me now or I’m coming over there and shaking it out of you.” “I know it hurts, Mrs. Ronald. Surely you know that it hurts me that you won’t let me see Lacy—” Megan interrupted him before he could say anything else. “Don’t give me that bullshit. You tell me right now—were you here watching? If you were, I’ll call the police and have you arrested for trespassing,” Ryan started to laugh again. “Woman, please, you’re not going to do a damn thing; you’re going to do what you do best—sit back and watch. Oh yeah, tell Lacy I’ll be there tomorrow morning around eight-twenty.” He hung up the phone. Megan was confused. How could he have been here if he was at the clinic filling out an application? She did not want to believe it but then she thought of something that really alarmed her, Lacy must have told him!

Page 23

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Chapter Three

The day slowly turned into night as Megan, Lacy, and Michael sat at the dinner table. Everybody was mute. Megan sat across from Michael and Lacy sat in the middle. Megan looked over to where Lacy was sitting and wondered to herself, if Lacy knew what was going on, and if she might have accidentally walked in on her father having sex with another woman… However, if that was true then Michael would have stopped and gotten up then. What if she walked in and just didn’t say anything? Megan started up a conversation with her daughter. “Is there something besides me grounding you that might be troubling you?” Lacy refused to look at her mother. Megan realized that Lacy was ignoring her. Michael jumped in, “Lacy, do you hear your mother talking to you?” Lacy looked up at him and frowned. “Dad, I think you have more problems to worry about than asking me questions.” Megan glanced at Michael and knew exactly why she had said that. She did walk in on her father, but he couldn’t have seen her, Megan thought as she took a bite of her salad. That’s how Ryan knew about it—Lacy had told him. “Mom, the hamburgers are really good.” Michael nodded, “Yes, honey, they are good.” Megan excused herself from the dinner table as Michael and Lacy just watched. She walked quickly up the stairs and into her bedroom. Tears rushed down her face as she threw herself onto the bed. She thought how she was not the only woman that had been on this bed. Why am I still here? Why didn’t I just walk out and never come back? She gathered her thoughts and remembered that she could not just leave. She had a daughter to tend to, and she was the most important person right now. “Mom, are you okay?” Lacy walked over to where her mother was lying. Megan jumped up, trying to wipe her tears off as quickly as possible, but Lacy knew what was going on; she was not stupid. “Mom, I know why you are crying.” Megan sat up on the bed slowly. “Now is not the time, okay, honey?”

Page 24

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Lacy walked over to the bedroom door and closed it shut. “Mom, I saw Dad up here with that woman, and I know why you’re so upset—you saw it too,” she explained as tears rolled down her cheek. Megan could not hide it; her emotions took control over her as she covered her face up with her hands sobbing as hard as she could. Lacy sat down next to her and put her arms around her. “Mom, I’m sorry for everything I did, I’m sorry,” she cried. Megan shook her head. “Lacy, it’s okay, we’ll work through that, but right now, I’m not. I don’t have the strength.” She backed away and wiped her nose off with some tissue. “Let’s get on another subject, okay?” she insisted as Michael knocked on the door. Lacy glared at the door and then looked back at her mother. “Do you want me to tell him you don’t want to talk?” Megan got off the bed and walked over to the door. “No, sweetie, that’s my job.” She opened up the door to find Michael standing there with his head down. “Marilyn is on the phone.” She turned around and looked at the telephone in their bedroom. “Well, I didn’t hear it ring.” He just shrugged his shoulders and walked back downstairs. “Lacy, would you excuse me?” Lacy smiled and walked out of her parents’ bedroom and into her own. Megan walked over to the phone and picked it up. “Hey, Marilyn, what’s going on?” Michael hung up the other phone downstairs. “Megan, what are you doing?” Megan smiled not realizing it. “Oh, I’m just sitting here doing nothing; that’s my life—nothing.” She could hear Marilyn lighting up a cigarette on her end of the phone. “Well, it’s not my birthday yet, but I’m bored and Eric has to work until two o’clock in the morning. I’m in the mood to dance. Say you and I go over to Rooster’s for an hour or so?” Megan looked at her watch and shook her head. “I can’t. I have too much going on right now and we have to work in the morning, maybe another time.” Marilyn blew smoke into the phone. “Megan, all you do is go to work and go home, it’s a repeated cycle. Of course, you have a family, but your daughter is sixteen years old, she’s not a baby anymore. When was the last time you actually went out and enjoyed yourself?” Megan stared at her wedding band. “When Lacy was ten. That was the last time I went anywhere.” Page 25

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Marilyn sighed. “Six years ago? Are you crazy? Megan, if you go out with me tonight, I promise you won’t have to come to my birthday party, okay? I don’t want to go with anyone else, and if you don’t go with me tonight, I guess I’ll have to go by myself. God knows what I might get myself into if I go alone. You know, since I’m pregnant and everything, someone might hit my stomach on accident. Oh well, if I’m not at work tomorrow, you’ll know why.” “If you’re not at work tomorrow, it will be because you got too drunk or met somebody else,” Megan laughed. Marilyn paused and turned on some country music in the background. “Well, Megan, you are wrong about one thing—I am not going to drink, and as far as meeting someone else, well I can’t tell you I won’t.” Marilyn laughed. Megan pulled her ear from all of the loud music in the background. “Are you at Rooster’s now?” Marilyn turned the music down. “No, I’m at home, but I’m on my way to get you. So put on your cowboy boots because I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.” Megan tried to tell her “no,” but Marilyn had already hung up. Megan sat there on the bed for a minute. I do not have anything else to do. I found my husband in bed with another woman and I have not been out in years. Maybe I need to get out for a little while to get things off my mind. I am not going to be drinking, so why not? She stood up and walked over to the closet, picked out a dark blue long-sleeved blouse and a pair of blue jeans, and of course, her black cowboy boots. She figured she better hurry up so she could meet Marilyn outside instead of her coming into the house. God only knows what Michael would think of Marilyn; he would probably try to talk her into going upstairs with him. After Megan got dressed, she walked in the bathroom and put her makeup on. She applied bright red lipstick to match her bright red hair. After spraying her perfume on, she walked over to Lacy’s room and knocked on the door. “Lacy, can I come in?” Lacy opened the door. She had her pajamas on and was ready to go to bed so she was shocked to see her mother dressed up so nicely. Her mother very rarely wore any makeup and she had not worn those cowboy boots since Lacy was a young girl. “Mom, are you going somewhere?” Megan walked in her room and gave her a kiss. “I’m going over to a friend’s house. I’ll be back shortly, alright?” Lacy lay down in bed, amazed at how good her mother looked. “Does this mean I’m not grounded anymore?” Megan smiled. “Nice try, now get some sleep. I’ll be back soon.” She leaned over to give Lacy a kiss on her forehead, walked out of her room, and closed the Page 26

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

door behind her then walked downstairs. Michael was sitting in the living room watching TV. Megan walked past him as he noticed her outfit. “Are you going somewhere?” Megan reached into her handbag, pulled out a cigarette, and lit it. “Michael, I’m going to a friend’s. I’ll be back in a couple of hours.” Michael frowned. “Are you trying to get me back? Because it’s working. You know, you haven’t worn clothes like that in years. Are you going to see a man?” He stood up and walked over to her as Marilyn honked her horn outside. Megan turned to Michael and looked him up and down. “Michael, I wish it would be that simple to say I was going to see a man, but I guess I’m not the cheating kind.” She blew smoke in Michael’s face and walked out the front door. Marilyn was in the driveway still honking even though she saw Megan walk out. Megan started waving her down to stop honking, as Marilyn turned up the car stereo. Tim Brooks was blaring in the car as Megan hopped in. “Woman, what is your problem?” Megan asked as Marilyn pulled out of the driveway singing. “I don’t have a problem, I just wanna party!” Megan cracked a smile trying not to notice Michael looking out of the window. She felt free for once; she felt as if she was a teenager again, and she was going to enjoy herself even if it killed her. **** They both sang Tim Brooks all the way to Rooster’s Bar. When they pulled in, there were at least three hundred people already there. Marilyn remembered it was Tuesday, which meant it was Ladies’ Night. She parked the car about a block away because there were no open spots in the lot. Marilyn looked so pretty; she had on pink jeans and a pink cowboy hat—everything on her was pink. Megan knew that every man in that bar was going to hit on her, and Marilyn knew it, too, but she did not care. They were out to have a good time. They got out of the car and Marilyn immediately extracted a cigarette and lit it. It was almost as if she was trying to get rid of the baby, but she had no fear. The music from the bar was so loud that they could hear it from where they parked. Marilyn was dancing all the way into Rooster’s and so was Megan; they acted like little teenagers on a mission. The interior of Rooster’s looked like the inside of a barn, with hay everywhere and people dressed in cowboy hats and boots. There was even a mechanical bull off to one side of the dance floor.

Page 27

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

They walked in and sat down at an empty table over by the cowhide-covered machine. “This is what I call a party,” Marilyn yelled above the music as Megan started dancing in her seat. “It has been a long time since I’ve done something like this,” Megan yelled back as a male waiter walked up to their table. He was a tall, nice looking black man with cowboy boots and chaps. Marilyn’s eyes started to wander over this man—he looked so good. “Can I get you ladies something to drink?” Marilyn looked over at Megan and raised her eyebrows. “Two beers.” Marilyn was confident that Megan would drink one with her. The young cowboy smiled and walked back over to the bar. Megan’s eyes got big. “Marilyn, I told you I wasn’t going to drink and you told me that you weren’t going to drink—you are pregnant.” “Megan, you misunderstood me, I said I was not going to drink, but after all of this stress a beer or two won’t hurt.” The waiter walked back over in his Rustler jeans with two beers on his tray. “Here you go, ladies. That will be one dollar and seventy-five cents.” Marilyn reached in her wallet and grabbed a five-dollar bill. She stuck it in his chaps as if he was a stripper and told him to keep the change. He smiled and thanked her as he walked off shortly after gazing into her deep blue eyes. Megan shook her head and leaned back in her chair. “I’ll only have one and that’s it.” Marilyn lit a cigarette then grabbed the bottle and took a drink. She reached into her change purse, pulled out two dollars, and tried to hand it to Marilyn. “Keep your money, girl. This round’s on me, but you can pay for the next round.” Megan looked around and saw that there was a big sign that said “Ladies Night, Two Beers for $1.75!” “Marilyn, this is it. I told you I was not drinking at all and you are lucky I am drinking this because I do not drink very often.” She picked up her beer and took a sip. Marilyn was drinking her beer as fast as she could, only stopping to staring at every man that walked passed her “So, what do you think about that guy at work?” She put her cigarette out in the ashtray. Megan lit a cigarette and shook her head. “I don’t think much of him. I just told Lacy and him that they couldn’t see each other again.” “Well, I think he’s hot. If I were you, I’d let Lacy see him, because if she doesn’t…I will.” She drank the last bit of her beer. Page 28

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Megan’s beer was still halfway full. “Well, you can have him because he and Lacy are officially broken up.” She took another sip from the bottle. Marilyn turned around and saw a shadow over in the corner of the bar. “Well, there’s a good looking cowboy.” Megan looked over. She could not see his face because his back was towards them, but he had a nice butt in his tight, tight jeans. “I’m going over there to talk to him.” Megan shook her head, “Girl, you are too wild!” Marilyn grabbed her beer and cigarette then walked over to where the man was standing. He was talking to another person and did not realize that Marilyn was approaching from behind. She tapped him on his shoulder and he turned around. Marilyn was stunned—it was…Ryan. Marilyn acted as if she knew it was Ryan the whole time. “Hey, aren’t you the guy that filled out that application today at the clinic?” Ryan smiled but gave her a strange look. He had a beer in his hand and was probably the only one in there without cowboy boots on. “Yes, I was there earlier and so were you.” Marilyn smiled and took a sip of her beer. “Yeah, well, I work there; I’ve been there for two years. I am sure you know Megan.” She pointed over to where Megan was sitting. Megan recognized Ryan through the smoke as she squinted.. She did not understand how he could get into a bar and drink since he was only eighteen years old. Ryan smiled and finished the rest of his beer. “I can’t believe Mrs. Ronald is here. I’ll tell you what, how about I buy you both a beer?” “I’ll lead the way.” She smiled as she walked back over to her and Megan’s table. Ryan walked over to the bar and ordered three more beers as Marilyn sat down at the table. Megan was furious; she confronted Marilyn, “What do you think you’re doing?” Marilyn smiled and explained, “I told you that I was going to talk to him. Does that make you angry? You said Lacy and him broke up.” Megan grabbed her purse and stood up. “I have to go. I told you I was only going to drink one beer, so I’m ready to go home. I’m tired.” Ryan walked over to the table with three beers in his hands. Marilyn frowned, stood up, and grabbed her purse. “Ryan, Megan and I are going to leave, so we’ll see you another time.”

Page 29

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Ryan sat the beers on the table. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Ronald, where’re my manners? How are you?” Megan stood there waiting for Marilyn who had lit up a cigarette and was trying to stay as long as she possibly could. “Listen, I bought everyone a beer, the least you could do is drink it and I’ll be on my way.” He grabbed a chair from the table beside them, pulled it up to their table, and sat down. Marilyn pleaded with Megan, “Can I just drink this one beer and then I’ll take you home?” Megan reached into her handbag. “I’ll call a taxi,” she angrily replied as she started to walk over to the telephone by the bar. Ryan ran over to Megan and grabbed her arm. Megan glared at him as if she was going to knock the living daylights out of him. “If you don’t let go of my arm, I will have my husband hurt you,” she shouted. Ryan frowned and let go of her arm. Megan walked over to the payphone and grabbed change out of her purse to call a taxi. “Listen; besides me not being afraid of your husband, I just wanted to tell you that I will never mess with Lacy again.” Megan looked at him but held the phone to her ear. Ryan looked down at the ground and then back up at Megan. “Please, Mrs. Ronald, if you sit back down at the table and drink a beer with me, I promise you that I will never mess with Lacy again; but to keep my promise, you have to drink one beer with me. I’m leaving town tonight for good and I just wanted to talk to you before I left.” Megan hung up the phone. “You mean to tell me that you are going to leave town forever and you are going to leave my daughter alone…forever?” Ryan nodded his head. “Yes.” Megan glared at him “I’ll have one beer with you and that’s it.” She walked back over to the table where Marilyn was getting drunk off shots. Ryan followed behind. “Well, I’m glad you agreed to have a beer with me because I don’t know how Lacy would have taken it, knowing that her mother was getting drunk at Rooster’s; I would have told her.” He laughed as he held the new beer in his hand. “I’m so glad you changed your mind, Megan,” Marilyn slurred as a goodlooking young man asked her if she wanted to dance. “I’ll be back.” She followed the young man onto the dance floor, leaving Megan and Ryan alone at the table. Megan was still standing up as she rolled her eyes at Marilyn.

Page 30

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

“You know, you can sit down; I don’t bite,” Ryan commented as Megan smirked and took her seat. Ryan slid a beer over to her and looked in to her eyes. “How in the hell did you get alcohol in your hands? You are only eighteen!” Ryan finished his beer and laughed. “You see, there’s so much you don’t know. I have a fake I.D.,” he whispered. Megan glared at him wanting to choke him to death. “Don’t look at me like that, Mrs. Ronald. You know what, it doesn’t even matter about me; I’m leaving tonight and I’ll be out of your hair forever.” He grabbed Marilyn’s half-full beer and started drinking it. Megan smiled and lifted her bottle and gave a toast to his comment,. “I’ll drink to that.” Ryan lifted his beer. “This is to me leaving—forever.” Megan laughed. She was drinking her beer when Marilyn came stumbling over to the table with the man she danced with. “Everybody, I want you to meet Daniel,” Marilyn stated. Daniel smiled and said “hi,” to everyone. He had to of been at least in his thirties. “It’s nice to meet you, Daniel. This is Mrs. Ronald, and my name is Ryan.” Daniel waved down the waiter. “Do you guys want a beer?” Marilyn held her stomach and ran to the restroom as fast as she could. Daniel sat down in Marilyn’s seat and started moving his head to the beat of the music while Ryan and Megan tried to avoid each other. The waiter walked over to the table and sat four beers down. Daniel thanked him and paid. Megan thanked Daniel as Ryan downed his beer. “Are you in a hurry?” Megan asked Ryan as he moved his chair over to her. “Oh yeah, you are in a hurry; you have to leave town tonight.” She watched Ryan struggle to move his chair in her direction. “Mrs. Ronald, here’s the deal: your attitude tonight has been unacceptable.” Megan started to stand up, but Ryan stood up and pushed her back down gently. Megan got upset. “If you put your hand on me again…” “I know, you are going to have your husband to hurt me!” Megan started laughing uncontrollably as Ryan smiled and grabbed Marilyn’s new beer. “Did I say something funny?” Megan shook her head. “Ryan, I believe I drank too much.” Ryan started chuckling. “What do you think your husband would do if he saw you in here with me?” Megan took another sip of her beer.

Page 31

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

“He’d kill us,” they both said at the same time as Daniel turned around to see why they were laughing. “Do you think that girl is okay?” Daniel asked. Megan nodded. “Yes, she’s fine. She’s pregnant; she’s probably throwing up.” Daniel frowned and walked away. Megan looked at Ryan and leaned over. “Was it something I said?” She laughed as Ryan put his arm on the back of her chair. Ryan gave Megan a serious look. “Do you really hate me as much as you say you do?” Megan leaned over and got in his face. “I hate you more.” Ryan grabbed the back her neck and kissed her lips forcefully. Megan jerked away. “What are you doing?” Ryan wiped his lips off and took a drink of his beer. “I was just checking to see how much you really hated me, and you can’t hate me that much because you didn’t slap me.” She stood up and slapped his face. Ryan smiled and stood up. “Thank you, Mrs. Ronald, I’ll remember that.” He winked and walked over to the bar to sit down. Megan realized that Marilyn had been in the bathroom for over forty-five minutes and she was getting worried. She stumbled over to the women’s restroom. She almost fell once but regained her balance. As soon as she opened the ladies’ room door, she saw Marilyn sprawled across the floor. “Oh my God, Marilyn,” Megan screamed as she tried to pick her up but could not. “Someone call 911!” A woman rushed in, saw Megan holding Marilyn’s head in her arms, and ran to call 911. “Oh God, Marilyn, you’ll be okay. Help is on the way.” She held Marilyn in her arms as she sat on the floor. Marilyn was not moving and did not look good.

Page 32

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Chapter Four

Marilyn lay almost lifeless in Megan’s arms, not moving, and breathing very shallow. Megan could hear the sirens from the ambulance as she held Marilyn close to her chest. People were standing in the bathroom, watching in shock as the paramedics rushed in to Marilyn’s aid. “Please, ma’am, move aside,” the female paramedic told Megan, as she and the other paramedic pulled out their first aid kits to help bring Marilyn back to consciousness. Megan was devastated; if only they would have left earlier, everything would have been all right. Megan stood back where everyone else was standing, waiting for some kind of response from Marilyn, but there was nothing. “How much did this woman have to drink?” Everyone focused their attention on Megan. Megan had to think for a minute before she answered, “She had five or six beers.” The paramedics shook their heads. “Is she going to be okay?” Anxiety overcame Megan as the paramedics looked at each other with uncertainty. “It looks as though she might have alcohol poisoning,” a paramedic responded. One left and went back to the ambulance to get the stretcher, while the other one gave Marilyn a shot in her arm. Megan’s heart started to race as Marilyn become conscious. “Oh my God, Marilyn, you scared me,” Megan shouted as the paramedic walked through with the stretcher and signaled for everybody to make room. Marilyn was so out of it that all she could do was open her eyes. She could not talk or even move without help. As they placed Marilyn on the stretcher, everyone in the bar walked outside waiting for the paramedics to wheel her out. Megan stayed by Marilyn’s side thinking that she was at fault for what happened. She held Marilyn’s hand as they took her to the ambulance. Pain filled Marilyn’s eyes—they were glossy and lifeless as if she was trying to scream out for help but could not.

Page 33

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

**** It was now twelve-forty-five a.m. and Megan was supposed to have been home hours ago. How was she going to explain this to her daughter and most of all…Michael? Ryan was still at the bar and did not even notice whom it was that the paramedics wheeled out on the stretcher. They placed Marilyn in the ambulance and closed the door. Two seconds later, the ambulance took off. Megan was so scared for Marilyn, she did not know what to expect. She watched the emergency vehicle leave as people started going back into the bar, continuing to do what they were doing before it arrived. Megan walked back into Rooster’s and ran up to Ryan. “Ryan, they just rushed Marilyn to the hospital. Are you too drunk to drive?” He turned around and smiled at Megan. “So now you want to talk,” he slurred. Megan glared him up and down with her hands on her hips. “I knew coming over here to talk to you was a bad idea.” She started walking over to the payphone to call a taxi. Ryan jumped up and followed closely behind her. “What are you doing?” Megan shouted as she put her hand up in his face to ward him off. Ryan grabbed her hand and turned her around towards him. “What do you want? What were you asking me?” Tears started rolling down Megan’s cheeks as Ryan wiped her tears off with his finger. She immediately slapped his hand away. “I need you to take me to the hospital—Marilyn’s sick.” Ryan shook his head in confusion. “Wait, wait. Why do you need to go to the hospital and who is Marilyn?” Megan rushed out of the bar. Ryan followed her not knowing what was going on. “Ryan, just take me to the hospital; don’t talk,” Megan commanded as she waited for him to pull his car keys out of his jeans pocket. He was taking his time and stumbling everywhere. Megan realized she was going to regret getting in the car with this drunk, but she forgot to get Marilyn’s keys. “Which car is yours?” Ryan started walking over to a black Lexus and tried to open the door. “I didn’t know you had a Lexus.” Ryan laughed and shook his head. “I don’t have a Lexus; I just wanted to impress you.” As he chuckled, Megan stood there becoming impatient with his immaturity. “Ryan, now is not the time to play little kiddy games. Get me to the hospital.” Page 34

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Ryan flung his hands up and walked over to a black Pontiac that looked as if it had been wrecked a couple of times too many. He unlocked the driver’s door and signaled for Megan to come over to his side. “Mrs. Ronald, the passenger door doesn’t open; you are going to have to get in on this side.” Megan stomped over to the driver’s side and got in. He jumped in after her and started up the car. It sounded as if it was going to fall apart at any moment. To make matters worse, Ryan turned on the radio and the music almost made Megan go deaf. “Can you turn that music down some?” Ryan apologized and turned it down. The hospital was about six miles away and Megan was scared for her life. “I want you to drive carefully.” Ryan bobbed his head to the rap music playing on the radio. Megan turned around and looked in the back of his car; she did not see any indication of him leaving town: no suitcase, nothing. “I thought you said you were leaving town tonight?” Ryan looked out of his rearview mirror and over to her. “I was going to have one more beer and leave after that, but you wanted me to drive you to the hospital, so my plans have to wait.” Megan rolled her eyes, reached into her cigarette case, and grabbed a cigarette in anger. Ryan noticed that she was lighting her cigarette up. “There’s no smoking in here.” Megan lit her cigarette despite what he said. “Well, there is now.” As she rolled the window down and flipped an ash out, he smiled and looked over at her. “That was rude.” Megan avoided looking at him and continued staring out of the window. “Ryan, just drop me off at home. I don’t need this bullshit from you.” Ryan pulled over to the side of the road. “What are you doing?” Ryan turned the headlights and the engine off. It was dark and no one was out on the road at this time of the morning. Ryan turned to Megan and laughed. “Did you say what I thought you said? You want me to take you home. Oh yeah, so your husband can jump me.” Megan threw her cigarette out of the window. “No, I want you to drop me off a block away.” The sound of his voice irritated her. “You make me sick, and I’ll be glad when you leave town. She added as she looked over at him, “The sun will shine brighter when you are gone.”

Page 35

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

He started up the car and turned the headlights back on. “I’m taking you home, okay? Let’s just pretend like this night never happened.” He drove off towards her house. “I can’t agree with you more. I’ll call Eric at home, and tell him what happened, and then I’ll call up to the hospital to see if Marilyn is okay.” Ryan turned sharply onto Megan’s block. “Do you want me to drop you off here?” Megan grabbed her purse and nodded her head. “Yes, I’ll walk the rest of the way.” Ryan jumped out of the car to let her out and got back in. He turned the radio up as loud as he possibly could and waved goodbye. Megan was walking on the sidewalk when she realized what he was doing. He was trying to get her into trouble; he was trying his best to make sure Michael and Lacy heard his music, so when she walked in to the house, they would wonder why she was walking in right after they heard Ryan’s loud stereo. As he drove off slowly, Megan flipped him off hoping that Michael would not notice the loud music. However, Ryan drove by Megan’s house so slowly that Michael and Lacy had no choice but to hear him. Megan was sure that the next time she saw him she was going to injure him, but she did not have to worry about that because Ryan said he was leaving town. **** When Megan got to the house, the porch light was on. She walked up to the door to find Michael standing in the doorway waiting for her to enter. He startled her as she slowly opened the screen door. “Where the hell have you been?” Michael asked as Megan moved past him, sat her clutch on the kitchen table, and then headed for the stairs. “It has been a long night, Michael. I just want to go to sleep.” Michael followed her upstairs, stomping his feet with each step. Megan did not turn around to look at the expression on his face; she just continued up the stairs, entered her bedroom, flipped the light switch on, and started taking off her clothes. “Eric called you.” “Is Marilyn okay?” Michael walked over and sat by her. “Yes, she’s fine. Eric said that she was a little drunk but she’s out of the hospital. Eric went and got her but she won’t be at work tomorrow” Megan put her nightgown on and lay down in bed trying to avoid Michael. “Where did you guys go tonight? Over to Rooster’s? Did you two get drunk? Did you meet many men? Have a lot of sex?” Page 36

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Megan turned towards him, angered by his accusations. “I didn’t have sex with anyone, but yes, we did go to Rooster’s. I deserved it. I walked in on my husband cheating on me, or did you forget?” she shouted. Michael walked over to close their bedroom door so Megan would not wake up Lacy. “Are you drunk?” Megan sat up in bed, moving her wedding band around on her finger. “Do I look drunk, Michael?” He sat on the edge of the bed looking at the floor. “I heard Ryan’s loud music. Was he there with you guys tonight?” Megan hesitated with her answer. “No, I don’t know where Ryan was, and how do you know Ryan drove by here?” Michael shook his head and smiled. “I didn’t say he drove by here, I said I heard his loud music. Did he drive by here?” Megan froze up and ran her fingers through her hair. “I don’t feel like playing twenty questions. I have to get up early in the morning, so goodnight!” She lay back down, reached over to the lamp on her nightstand, and turned off the light. “Who brought you home?” She closed her eyes and pretended she had fallen asleep, but Michael knew she did not fall asleep that quickly. “I’m going to sleep downstairs tonight.” He walked over to Megan, kissed her on the head, and started to walk out of the bedroom. He then paused for a moment, turning to glance over at her as she laid there waiting for him to leave. He sighed, turned back around, and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him. Megan was relieved that he was finally out of the room. She jumped up out of bed and turned on the light. That was close, she thought as she sighed and looked down at her wrist; her watch read two-thirty in the morning. Megan knew that she was going to have a hell of a time waking up in the morning, but she did not care. She was just worried about Marilyn’s condition, and most of all, if her baby was okay. She walked over to the phone and dialed Marilyn’s number. She knew it was excessively late to call her, but she was going to ask Eric if Marilyn was doing okay. “Hello,” Eric answered. Trying to keep her voice down so Michael and Lacy could not hear her, Megan whispered, “Eric, hi, this is Megan. I’m sorry I’m calling so late. I was just wondering if Marilyn was doing okay.” Eric sounded as if he had just woken up. “Yeah, she’s okay; I guess she got alcohol poisoning. A woman from Rooster’s called me at home. I had left work early and I was glad, otherwise I don’t know how Marilyn would have gotten

Page 37

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

home. She’s been throwing up all night. The nurse said that Marilyn was lucky and that the baby is fine.” Megan sighed with relief. “Michael told me that you called. I tried to get to the hospital, but I didn’t have a way there. Just tell her that I called to check on her.” “Okay. I’m going to pick up Marilyn’s car in the morning so they don’t tow it off.” Megan thanked him and hung up the phone. She was starting to get sleepy, so she lay back down in bed, turned off the light, and went to sleep. **** Five hours went by and now the sun beamed down on Megan’s face. It was seven-forty-five a.m. when Megan started to wake up. She grabbed her forehead and got up slowly. She was suffering from a hangover since she was not used to drinking, especially the amount she had drank last night. She could hear Lacy and Michael talking downstairs, but she also heard an extra voice; they were laughing and it sounded as if they were having a jolly good time. Megan grabbed her robe, put it on, and started walking towards the stairs. Halfway down, she saw Lacy and Michael sitting at the kitchen table with, of all people…Ryan. Megan could not believe her eyes; he told her that he was leaving town and now he was in her house. How dare he come over after I told Lacy that she could not see him anymore. Michael’s at fault, too, because he also heard me tell Lacy that she could not see Ryan anymore. Everybody turned around as Megan made her presence known. “Good morning, sleepyhead,” Michael said as he started clearing off the table. “I made you some breakfast. It’s in the oven; I didn’t want it to get cold.” Megan smiled and walked over to where Lacy and Ryan were sitting. “Hi, Mom.” Lacy smiled defiantly at her mother. Ryan stood up and walked over to Megan. “Good morning, Mrs. Ronald. I just came by to tell Lacy that I was going to be working with you for about a week. You don’t mind, do you?” Everybody looked over at Megan. She wanted to bring up what he had told her last night about leaving town, but she knew she could not because Lacy and Michael would find out that she was with Ryan. “Lacy, I thought I told you that you were grounded and you weren’t allowed to have any company,” Megan reminded her. “He’s not here to start anything. He just came over to tell us that he was moving out of town next week. He didn’t even know about me being grounded, Mom. Remember, I couldn’t call him?” Lacy grabbed her backpack and walked towards the front door. Page 38

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

“Michael, are you going to take Lacy to school?” Megan asked as Ryan walked over to where Lacy was standing. “Ryan can take her; he’s already here.” Megan balled her fist up in anger. “Oh yeah, that’s right, you have to get to work,” Megan replied sarcastically to Michael. Ryan opened the door for Lacy and waved goodbye. “I’ll take her to school. I’ll make sure she doesn’t miss anymore days. I’ll see you at work, Mrs. Ronald.” Michael walked over to him and shook his hand. Megan did not respond as she turned around and started walking back upstairs. Michael grabbed his cup of coffee and ran upstairs beside her. “Megan, we can’t keep acting like immature children. You’re going to have to talk to me.” Megan walked in to the bedroom and picked out an outfit for work. “Do you think these pants would go good with this shirt?” “Megan, I love you. I want us to be like we used to be. Please, talk to me.” Megan ignored him and walked into the bathroom. Michael followed behind, grabbing her arm to get her attention. “You are going to be late for work, Michael. I suggest you get moving.” She jerked away from him and slammed the bathroom door. Megan could not understand it. Why was Ryan here and what was up with Michael shaking his hand? She could not understand it and did not want to; all she knew was that her marriage was going downhill and Michael did not seem to care. **** Megan took a shower and got dressed. It was nine a.m. and she figured she would go into work early since she missed a half day yesterday. She brushed her hair then went downstairs. Michael had already left for work and knowing him, he will be back here in bed with another bimbo later. Megan did not get a chance to drink her cup of coffee and that made her groggy. She could not seem to get it together. She grabbed her keys and purse then walked out of the door thinking, what kind of day will today turn out to be? Just as she was getting in to her car, Ryan pulled up behind her. Megan saw him in her rearview mirror and felt the utmost outrage. She jumped out of her car and walked over to his; he did not get out, he just sat there waiting for her. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she shouted as he rolled down his window. “I came by to check on you. You seemed a little upset, so I thought I would come by, and cheer you up.” Megan stood there as angry as she could possibly be. “Don’t tell me. You quit school, didn’t you?” Page 39

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Ryan got out and leaned on his car while smiling at Megan. “No, I didn’t quit, but I’m going to. I have to. I have that new job at the clinic and I have to make money.” Megan walked up to him and stopped herself from slapping him. “You said you were leaving town; why aren’t you gone? No, better yet, you’re going to leave town now. Go up to the clinic and tell Ms. Daisy that you’re sorry but you had a family emergency and you have to move.” Ryan started laughing uncontrollably. Megan could not stop herself; she reached out and slapped his face. He continued laughing as if it had never happened. This made Megan furious as she clinched up her fist and punched him as hard as she could. He fell back, held his face, and then tackled her to the ground. She started screaming as Ryan covered her mouth up with his hand then started kicking as he picked her up and opened his car door. Megan tried to fight back as he pushed her in and got on top of her, pushing his weight on her petite body. She dug her nails deep into his face and blood started running down off him onto her black cashmere sweater. He lifted her sweater up, ripped her bra off, and started kissing her breast forcefully as she tried to knee his crotch, but she just could not seem to find the strength to fight anymore. He kissed her lips and started sucking on her neck. He was so strong that Megan was not able to push him off her. She was so angry that her only response was to kiss him back. She pulled his shirt up and started kissing his chest roughly. As he leaned up, he pulled her hair hard. She screamed as loud as she could. He had so much power over her and this made Megan want him more. They kissed each other passionately in the front of his car. He backed away from her and stared at her body. “I wasn’t expecting that.” They both tried to catch their breath. Megan was shaking her head as she ran her fingers through his long hair. His face was bleeding from her nails and she could not believe what had just happened. “We almost had sex!” Megan blurted out as she stared at Ryan’s young body. He leaned over and kissed Megan on the cheek. “Your husband really messed up your head.” He got off her and sat down in the driver’s seat leaning his head back. “You were going to rape me. Why did you stop?” She sat up and straightened her sweater. Ryan jumped out of the car to let Megan out, but she could not move, her body felt paralyzed. She was so close to becoming a rape victim, but crazy enough to like it. She liked how he threw her down, how he kissed her body. What was wrong

Page 40

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

with her? She was so angry with him before, but all of a sudden, she was willing to have sex with him. “You kept hitting me. I’m sorry, Mrs. Ronald, but you turned me on.” Megan got out of his car and walked up to him. “What just happened back there?” she asked Ryan as he held his face, his eye was starting to turn black where Megan punched him. “Come inside so you can clean your face off.” She opened her car door and grabbed her keys so she could open the front door. Ryan walked in after her and stood by the kitchen sink. “I’m going to go upstairs and get some alcohol for your face.” She could not believe that she had kissed him back; he was a baby to her. Megan felt her soul come out of her body as she walked into the bathroom. She had felt bad for hitting him, but why would she kiss him back? He was trying to rape her and all she could do was kiss him? She grabbed the alcohol and some gauze from the medicine cabinet and turned around. Ryan was standing there, which scared Megan half to death. “God, Ryan, you scared me.” She held her chest as Ryan stood there, not moving an inch. He had a black eye and dried up blood all over his face. What was this boy doing to her? Her body started to shake as the sight of him made her hot with desire. What was happening to the thirty-seven-year-old married woman who forbade her daughter to see this boy? She had come close to having sex with him.

Page 41

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Chapter Five

Megan and Ryan stood in the doorway of the bathroom staring at each other, Ryan with a black eye and a bloody face, and Megan there holding the alcohol and gauze. “Did you want me to rape you?” “What are you talking about?” Ryan walked up closer to her. “You had asked me earlier why I stopped…remember?” Megan looked down at her watch. “Let’s make this quick, okay? We’re both late for work. Hold your breath,” she instructed sharply as she poured some alcohol on a piece of gauze and placed it on his bloody face. “Ouch, you crazy woman,” he cried out. It looked as if a cat tried to start a fight with him and won. His face had seven scratch marks on it, which did not look good. She cleaned the dry blood off and flushed the gauze down the toilet so Michael or Lacy would not see it. “Why did you beat me up like that?” Ryan asked while obviously in pain. Megan turned away from him and started to rush downstairs. It was already ten-thirty and Megan knew Ms. Daisy was going to have a field day with her. She was growing impatient with Ryan and ignored his question. She continued down the steps without pausing to reply, “We have to go.” Ryan took his sweet time walking down the stairs. Megan reached the kitchen and turned around. Ryan was holding his eye, acting like a big baby. “Would you come on?” she yelled as Ryan walked in the kitchen and sat down in the chair at the kitchen table. “What are you doing? Get up so we can go.” She grabbed Ryan’s arm to get him out of the chair. “I don’t have to be at work until noon, so you just go on. I’ll hold the fort down.” Megan walked over to the front door and opened it. “Get your butt out of my house now! I have to go to work. If you don’t get out, I’ll call Michael!” He stood up and walked over to the door, facing Megan. “That would be just great; you beat me up and almost made love to me, and now you have the nerve to tell me that you’re going to call your husband? Yeah, I’d like to hear how that goes over. ‘Michael, I beat up Lacy’s boyfriend and wanted to have sex with him, but now I need you to get him out of our house.’ I don’t think he’d like that very much. Eric turned away from Megan and added an afterthought for her to ponder as he

Page 42

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

walked outside, “What about poor Lacy—what would she think of her mother after she found out that she almost had sex with her boyfriend?” Megan could not believe what she was hearing. Is Ryan going to blackmail me? I cannot let Michael or Lacy find out about me assaulting him. He was trying to rape me, but who would believe me? He could ruin everything I have; I could lose my husband, my daughter, and my job. “Ryan, wait!” She ran up behind him as he turned around to look at her. “Yes, Mrs. Ronald?” He smiled as Megan reached into her purse and grabbed a cigarette. “Let’s not involve other people in this.” “The way I see it, everybody else is already involved.” Ryan opened his car door, got in, and slammed it closed. He started his car and turned up his radio. Megan tried to get his attention but he was ignoring her as he pulled out of the driveway. She was outraged. How could a little boy threaten to make my life a living hell? **** Megan jumped into her car, started it up, and backed out of the driveway. She sped off to work, hoping a police officer would not pull her over. It was eleven o’clock and Megan was rarely late to work. She pulled into the parking lot, exited from her car, and ran so quickly towards the clinic that it looked as if she was trying to win a race. She opened the door and proceeded to retrieve her timecard. Ms. Daisy was not anywhere in sight—which was a good thing. Megan rushed to her workstation only to find Ms. Daisy sitting in her chair. She stood up and moved towards Megan. “Well, well, Megan decided to finally show up for work. I thought you and your little sidekick Marilyn were at home playing hooky.” “I’m so sorry, Ms. Daisy, I had an emergency come up. It won’t happen again.” She sat down in her chair and looked through some paperwork. Ms. Daisy stood there staring at her as if she expected her to say more. “You know, Megan, I had to answer five phone calls for you, and within those five calls, you were not one of them. There is this thing that most normal human beings use to get a hold of others—it’s called a telephone. I don’t know if you are aware of this, but there are numbers on this device. People push these numbers and wait for someone to answer on the other end. That’s how we do things in America. I don’t know where you are from, but hopefully one of these days you will purchase one of these devices,” Ms. Daisy said sarcastically as she walked off to tend to somebody else. Page 43

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Megan was not feeling like herself. She knew that she had caught Michael in bed with another woman, but she did not want to make a mistake reminiscent of his. Ryan is handsome and has a great body, but he is only eighteen years old. It is a sin. He even threatened to blackmail me, but even so, I still can’t figure out why I kissed him back. It isn’t like me to do something like that; it doesn’t make any sense. The phone rang and Megan almost jumped out of her seat. She answered it expecting the worst, “Safe House, this is Megan, how may I assist you?” A young woman started talking as Megan’s eyebrows lifted. “Megan, hi, this is Carol Peterson. Remember, I called you needing your help?” she asked cheerfully. “Yes I do remember. Are you okay?” “I’m better than ever. The police came over here just in time. They arrested my now ex-boyfriend, and my three-year-old and I are doing fine. I’m not going to take him back and I want to thank you for calling the police for me. I don’t know where my baby and I would be if it wasn’t for you.” This news made Megan happy. “You don’t have to thank me; you and that baby need to be safe, and if he comes back over there, you call the police and then call me to let me know what is going on.” Carol thanked her again and hung up the phone. Megan felt a warm sensation fill her heart; she did not save just one person, she saved two. Megan had felt so good about herself that she thought it would only be fair to share the good news with Ms. Daisy. Megan walked over to Ms. Daisy’s workstation and caught her by surprise. “I saved two lives.” Ms. Daisy jumped out of her seat, startled by Megan’s voice. “You save two lives and almost just took one, that doesn’t count.” “Ms. Daisy, a young lady that I saved just called me back. I called the police yesterday because she was crying and told me that she was afraid for her and her three-year-old child’s life. Don’t you realize that if I wouldn’t have called the police, she and her three-year-old might be dead now?” “Megan, you truly are an act. You didn’t save anybody’s life—she saved yours. If it wasn’t for young women like that, you wouldn’t have a job. This is a women’s crisis center, not the Red Cross. You didn’t give blood, so therefore you didn’t save anyone,” Ms. Daisy said rudely as she walked back over to her chair and sat back down. It seemed as if she did not have a heart, as if she was an old shell with nothing in it, a body walking with no feelings. Everything that came out of this woman’s mouth was always bad, but Megan knew that in a few more days, Ms. Daisy would Page 44

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

be history because Megan’s real boss would be back. He did not care what she did, as long as she did her job; he would never put Megan down as badly as Ms. Daisy had. Megan shot Ms. Daisy the evil eye then went to the vending machine to buy a candy bar. All of a sudden, she felt fingers run through the back of her hair. She turned around and saw Ryan. “So you finally made it to work,” he whispered. Megan gritted her teeth. “Are you going to stalk me now?” Ryan stood there sweeping the marble floor. “I don’t stalk, Mrs. Ronald, I love.” He had a straight look on his face as he watched Megan reach into the vending machine to grab her sweet treat. “Well, I would love it if you went back to work and stopped bothering me.” She started walking the opposite way but Ryan ran after her and put his lips to her ear. “What time do you want me to pick you up tonight?” “Get a life!” She walked over to her workstation. Ryan must have lost his mind. I’m not going anywhere with him. She sat down and continued to study her paperwork. Ryan shook his head as he leaned over to Megan and whispered in her ear, “I guess I am going to have to tell Michael and Lacy about our little secret. I really don’t think that this will help your marriage considering that you have an eighteenyear wedding anniversary coming up. Now let me ask you again, what time do you want me to pick you up?” Megan turned around to face him. “What do you want from me?” Ryan put his hand on her shoulder and smiled. “I want you to make up for what you did to my face. ‘Sorry’ alone is not going to cut it. I’ll pick you up at ten o’clock tonight at the same place that I dropped you off last night.” He walked two steps and turned back around towards Megan. “Oh yeah, wear something sexy.” He was grinning as he walked away with his broom and started sweeping the floor. Megan wanted to run up behind him and hit him in the back of the head with a brick, but at the same time, she was curious about what he had planned for the night. This won’t work. How am I going to dress sexy and make my way out of the house at ten o’clock tonight? How am I going to explain where I am going? The phone started to ring as Megan tried to get her mind off Ryan. “Safe House, this is Megan, how may I assist you?” “How is my beautiful wife doing?” “Michael, why are you calling me?” Michael chuckled as if everything was perfect again. “I like your sense of humor. Anyway, I made reservations for dinner tonight at your favorite restaurant, Reggie’s. I want us to forget about the past, and go on with our future, and I want Page 45

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

to start now. I want to show you that I love you and that will never change…I am sorry, Megan,” he said sorrowfully. She knew her marriage was in trouble and she really wanted to work things out, but how would she be able to look Michael in his eyes? How would she be able to forget and forgive? “Michael, do you think that she is prettier than me?” Michael paused as if he could not decide. “Megan, you know you are prettier than her. Why would you ask me that?” Megan wondered what Ryan would say if she told him that she would not be meeting him tonight. She was in a bind and did not know how to get out of it; she did not know what to do. “I’ll get back with you.” “Are you telling me that you are rejecting your husband? Megan, what’s wrong with you? I told you I was sorry,” Michael said, his voice filled with anger. Megan glanced over at Ryan. “I’ll call you back, Michael.” She could hear Michael shouting as she hung the phone up. Megan was pissed off. She jumped out of her seat and walked over to where Ryan was sweeping. “I’m not going anywhere with you. My husband is taking me out tonight, so forget it!” His eyes widened as he threw the broom down. He ran after Megan and grabbed her face. “You want this just as much as I do. You won’t let me see Lacy, so what do you want me to do? Why are you doing this? You caught your husband in bed with another woman. He thinks you are ugly, because if he didn’t, he wouldn’t have had sex with that blonde,” he whispered as he removed his hand from her face. “Michael loves me; he doesn’t think I’m ugly. He wants to make things the way they were before…before you came around.” Ryan laughed, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a dollar bill. “I have a dollar here claiming that’s all you are worth.” “Are you saying that I’m cheap?” He put the dollar back into his pocket. “No, Mrs. Ronald, all I’m saying is that I think I’ll keep my dollar.” He walked away sweeping the floor. Megan was not going to let him talk to her that way; she was a lady and she deserved better treatment than that. “You piece of shit! Remember, I can still call the police on you, you know, for you snooping around my house, threatening me, and attempting to rape me. Do you know what the penalty is for attempted rape?” Ryan turned around slowly. “Well, first of all, I didn’t rape you. Second, you assaulted me…remember? Third, I don’t think they would believe a word you said Page 46

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

because this was in my car.” He pulled Megan’s bra out of his jeans pocket. Megan went numb as Ryan continued, “Now, do you really think they would believe that I tried to rape you when you left your bra in my car?” Megan tried to grab her bra away from him. “I don’t think so.” He played keep-away with Megan as she jumped for it. He put it back into his pocket before she could snatch it from his hand. “What are you trying to prove?” “You let me see Lacy and then I’ll leave you alone. That is all I want.” Megan stood there in disbelief shaking her head. “Are you crazy? Do you honestly think that I am going to let you see her after what you’ve done to me? If you can do that to me, I’m afraid of what you will do to my daughter!” Ryan smiled and walked away. Megan stood there waiting for him to turn around or stop, but he did not. “Ryan!” she shouted as he kept walking, not paying attention to her. He walked into the custodial closet to put the broom up and Megan followed him. She wanted to give him a piece of her mind, for the last time. “Ryan, I’m going to call the police and tell them everything.” He grabbed her arm, pulled her inside the closet, and closed the door. He slammed her head against the wall and stuck his tongue violently into her mouth. She grabbed his hair and started pulling it out, little by little. He held back from screaming because he did not want anyone to hear them, so he covered up her mouth with his hand. “Now, I’m going to finish what I started,” he whispered as he started licking her face. She tried to push him off but could not. She was fighting for her life. He held her mouth with one hand and pulled her pants down with the other. She bit his hand and he tried to control the pain by holding his breath. He screamed under his breath as he pulled his hand away from her mouth then slapped Megan’s face causing her to fall down. The closet was small and there was not much room to move around inside. Ryan grabbed her by her sweater, put his hand back over her mouth, and turned her around so she was facing the wall. Megan’s tears fell onto his hand. He continued pulling her pants and underwear down below her knees and then unbuttoned his jeans. He pulled his penis out and jammed it inside of her as far and as hard as he could. Megan felt as if she was somebody else; she did not feel as if this was happening to her. She tried to punch his genitals but could not because of the force he had on her. It felt as if it was never going to end, the pain was unbearable. She tried to hold her breath for she could feel blood running down her leg. He was pushing so hard, she felt as if she was going to rip at any second. Then he pushed Page 47

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

one last time and ejaculated inside of her. She felt dirty—dirty for wishing for it earlier and dirty for it really happening to her. Ryan started shaking as he pulled himself out of her. He grabbed her throat, kissed her cheek, and whispered in her ear, “You wanted it, you got it!” He backed up and pulled his pants up. Megan shook the whole time and was afraid to turn around because she did not know if he was going to slap her again or do something else crazy. Ryan grabbed his broom and the door slammed behind him as he left. He had walked out of the closet leaving Megan afraid for her life. Blood and semen were dripping down her legs as she looked around to try to find something in which to wipe off the mess. She turned the light on and saw some toilet paper on the sink. She grabbed some. She felt miserable and her body felt as if it was starting to shut down on her. She was in so much pain that she could hardly walk. She pulled her underwear and her pants up and looked in the mirror. Her face had started to swell on the left side. She started crying, “Why?” She held her face and the door suddenly opened to reveal Ryan standing there smiling. “If you tell anyone, I’ll make sure you lose your husband and your daughter,” he threatened. “Ms. Daisy, I think something is wrong with Mrs. Ronald,” he informed Megan’s boss as she walked over and saw Megan in the closet. Megan tried to walk out but Ms. Daisy stopped her. “Megan, are you crazy? What in the hell are you doing in this closet?” Ryan stood beside Ms. Daisy appearing to wonder the same thing. Megan wiped her tears off and walked past them. “I left the door opened so I wouldn’t have to keep unlocking it every time I walked in; I didn’t know someone was going to go in there. I opened the closet and Megan was standing there by the sink. She startled me, Ms. Daisy. I asked her if she was okay, and she didn’t answer me, but I hope everything is alright,” Ryan said with mock concern. Ms. Daisy smiled and patted his shoulder. “It’s not your fault. Megan is a weird woman. I’m afraid she is jealous because you are working here. I’ll straighten her out.” She walked over to where Megan was sitting at her desk with her head down, sobbing. “Megan, I want you to leave Ryan alone. He is working hard and he doesn’t need someone like you to distract him. He is a nice young fellow and I want you to stay out of his work area. Do you understand me?” she shouted as Ryan walked up beside her with his broom. Megan lifted her head and glared at Ryan as if she was ready to shoot him. He glared back as she ran her fingers through her mangled hair. Page 48

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

“Ms. Daisy, I understand you fully,” she replied, her voice filled with rage. Ms. Daisy adjusted her glasses, turned, and smiled at Ryan. “What happened to your face, young man?” Megan lifted her head up high wondering what he was going to say. He had it all planned. “My little sister’s cat went crazy on me. I love cats, but this one was wild.” He glanced over at Megan. Megan felt nervous. She was yelling out for help in her mind, but her mouth felt as if it was glued shut. “Well, you better stay away from that cat. We need to see your handsome face.” Ms. Daisy walked over to her desk and proceeded to look over some paperwork. **** It was three-thirty and Megan’s day was slowly ending; she got off work at five-thirty, so she did not have much longer to go. Megan picked up the telephone to try to call Michael back, but her fingers were so weak that she did not have the strength to dial. Ryan made it a point to sweep in her direction and leaned over to whisper in her ear. “If you tell anybody, I will kill you, I promise,” Ryan said straightforwardly as Megan closed her eyes and a teardrop fell down her cheek. She spit on Ryan’s face. He wiped it off with his sleeve. “Now that wasn’t very nice.” He walked over to the custodial closet and placed the broom inside. He acted as if nothing had ever happened; he was so calm, but at the same time, so smooth. Megan avoided looking over at him as her telephone rang. She got herself together as she answered, “Safe House, this is Megan, how may I assist you?” A young woman was on the other end. She sounding as if she was trying to be quiet, as if someone was there, and she did not want him or her to hear her conversation. “Mrs. Ronald, hi, I know you don’t know me, but I’m Ashley. I am one of Lacy’s friends. I go to school with her and I wanted to talk to you about her boyfriend, Ryan. I know all about him because I used to date him, and I’m calling you because I’m worried about Lacy. I feel that she is in danger!” Megan dropped the phone in total shock, She was not only afraid for her life, but now for Lacy’s.

Page 49

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Chapter Six

Megan’s whole world felt as if it had just ended; she sat there stunned like a deer frozen by headlights as she heard Ashley’s voice on the other end of the phone. The receiver was lying on the desk as Megan snapped out of it and picked it back up. “Mrs. Ronald, are you okay?” Megan struggled to hold the phone. “I’m sorry; I just got upset when you told me about my daughter being in danger.” She tried so hard to gather her thoughts. Ryan was done with his shift. As he walked passed Megan, he squinted, almost daring her to open her mouth. “Mrs. Ronald, back to what I was saying. Lacy is always talking about Ryan and how she is going to run off and marry him and how she loves him so much. I told her that I used to date him and that he was far from being Prince Charming. I dated him for a year, and during that year, he beat me, raped me, and almost tried to kill me. Finally, I told myself that enough is enough and I told my parents. They called the police, but he didn’t get into any trouble because they said there wasn’t enough proof. At first, he was great, and then months went by and he totally changed as if he had split personalities or something. I want Lacy to be safe. I don’t want her to go through what I, and God knows how many other girls did.” Megan shook her head in disbelief. She could not believe how much of a wild animal Ryan really was. He will not get away with this. It will be over my dead body before he will get near Lacy again. “Ashley, I’m so glad you’ve called me and let me know exactly how Ryan is. I never liked him. From the first day I met him, I knew something was weird about him. He is not getting near Lacy again, I promise you that, and if he tries to, I will call the police. I’m sorry about what he did to you. I think we can stop him.” “The whole year I was with him, he never even took me over to his house. I heard his mom and dad were very important people. I wouldn’t even know how to try to stop him. I’m sure he has done this to other girls and I just don’t want Lacy to be one of them.” Megan grabbed a picture that was on her desk. It was a picture of Lacy when she was only five years old. She started to think of all the memories of Lacy as a kid: how her eyes glistened as she laughed, and how her innocence was so precious. Megan protected her then and she hasn’t stopped yet. Page 50

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

“Ashley, I have to get off this phone; my boss is coming. I’ll talk to you later.” She hung up the phone while Ms. Daisy hovered around her workstation as if she was expecting Megan to do something crazy. “Is there something I can help you with?” Megan asked impolitely. “I don’t know what you are up to, but I can tell you that the young man isn’t interested in you. He’s younger than you and I’m sure your daughter wouldn’t be happy if she found out that her mother was trying to come on to her boyfriend.” Megan jumped out of her seat in rage. “Listen here, Ms. Daisy: I wasn’t coming on to Ryan. He assaulted and raped me in that closet. Do you see my face? Do you see how swollen it is? That is from him slapping me silly. I was raped!” Megan shouted as her whole body shook and she started crying. She could not believe she had just told the most evil person in the entire world her secret. She felt disoriented as she held her stomach in pain. Ms. Daisy had a smile on her face as if everything that Megan had just said was a joke. “Megan, your lies are overcoming your soul. Lying about innocent people is a sin. I hope God forgives you; you are a bad person.” She walked away holding her arms behind her back. Megan just knew that Ms. Daisy was going to be the death of her. It was now time to go home; five-thirty seemed as if it was never going to come, but it did…finally. Megan walked slowly over to her timecard and punched out. The pain from the rape caused her to walk like a robot. Ryan had torn her in two, both literally and figuratively. **** Megan arrived at her car and opened the door. She pulled out her keys and started the engine. Just then, Marilyn pulled up beside her. Megan was relieved, so happy to see Marilyn back to normal. Megan slid slowly out of her car and limped over to Marilyn’s. Marilyn got out of her car and ran over to Megan. Marilyn looked as if nothing had ever happened to her the night before. She had on a tight, short, red dress with five-inch heels—she looked so beautiful. “Woman, where have you been?” Marilyn asked Megan as they gave each other a big hug. “I’ve been working, you drunk pregnant woman. How are you feeling?” Marilyn walked back over to her car and grabbed a cigarette. Megan was so happy to see her, but the pain she felt was not letting up.

Page 51

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Marilyn walked back over to where Megan stood, noticing that Megan seemed upset about something and that her face seemed to be swelling. “What’s wrong, why is your face so swollen?” “Nothing, it’s just allergies.” She held her stomach as Marilyn lit her cigarette. “Did he get in those guts?” Marilyn grinned as Megan frowned and rolled her eyes. “Did who get in my guts?” “Your husband, did he bang you all night?” Megan avoided the question. “I’m sorry, Megan, I was only kidding. The way you were holding your gut, it just made me think that either you needed to take a shit or you got some good loving, that’s all.” Megan grabbed a cigarette out of her bag and lit it. “Michael hasn’t made love to me in two months.” Marilyn glanced over to the clinic. “Is that Ryan guy in there?” Megan put her cigarette out and slid back into her vehicle. “No, he’s not. Why did you drink so much at Rooster’s? You scared me when I found you on the floor. What is the matter with you? You have a baby growing inside of you.” Megan was concerned. “No, you are wrong. I have a blob of blood growing inside of me, and I didn’t drink that much. I only had five beers and four shots, that’s all.” Megan adjusted her rearview mirror, put the car in reverse, and stepped on the brakes. “I’m just glad you’re okay. You don’t need to have another drink in your hands ever again.” “I have to let Ms. Daisy know why I missed work today,” Marilyn shouted. She then made her way towards the clinic as Megan waved goodbye and drove off. **** The drive home was longer than usual; everything went through Megan’s mind all at once. I deserved it. She pulled into her driveway. She felt guilty for wanting Ryan to have rough sex with her and then him actually raping her. She was confused. How can I get over this? Most of all, how can I keep Lacy away from this demon? Michael heard Megan pull up and walked outside to greet her. “Honey, why didn’t you call me back, I was worried about you.” Megan got out of her car and walked over to him. Michael had a big smile on his face and seemed very happy to see her. Megan started to cry as she held her stomach in pain. Michael put his arms around her. “Are you okay?” Page 52

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Megan put her arms around him; she could not tell him what had happened, and she could not risk everything she loved because of the rape. She already ran her mouth and told Ms. Daisy, which was a huge mistake. She was worried about Ms. Daisy telling Ryan. She did not know if Ryan would try to kill her and she was not ready to find out. “I’m tired. I think I’m going to lie down,” she said quietly as she tried her hardest to walk normally. Michael followed behind her. “Is there something wrong with your stomach?” Megan walked through the door searching for Lacy. “Michael, I’m fine, but where is Lacy? Is she up in her room studying?” Michael shrugged his shoulders as he walked through the kitchen. “She hasn’t made it home from school yet.” Megan held her chest. “What!” she shouted. “What’s wrong, Megan? She probably went over to a friend’s house or something.” Megan rushed up to her room and opened up Lacy’s door. Lacy was not in her room anywhere. “Michael, you’re against me aren’t you?” He frowned and shook his head. “What are you talking about?” “Lacy is with Ryan,” she said with disgust as Michael sat down next to her. “You heard me when I told her that she was not to see him again, and what do you do, you shake his hand. You let him in our house. How can I lay down rules if you keep letting her break them?” “What was I going to do that day he came by to pick up Lacy? Just come out and say ‘stay away from her or I’ll kill you?’” “Yes, you should have said exactly that. You know what, Michael, you’re a big wuss!” He stood up offended by what she just said. “Megan, the next time he comes by here, I’ll tell him I’m going to kill him so he can go to the police, and tell them I threatened him. The police will then come by here or go to my work and take me to jail. You and Lacy can then live in this big house by yourselves,” he yelled as Megan held her head in her hands, trying to block out the pain. “Michael, I’m not in the mood for this, okay? I need to go get Lacy now!” She stood up and walked over to the door. Michael ran over and stood in the way, blocking her exit. “We’ll take care of Lacy when she gets here, okay? It’s not like Ryan’s going to hurt her.” He put his arms around her and held her close. “Don’t be so sure about that. I’m supposed to protect her,” Megan cried while Michael rubbed her arms to comfort her.

Page 53

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

“We both are here to protect her, and she’ll be fine. When she gets home, I’ll take care of her, and believe me, nobody is going to hurt my little girl, nobody. Nobody will hurt either one of my little girls,” he said with confidence as Megan clinched tighter to his chest. He felt so good, so right. He had not held her like this in months. “I want to make love to you, Megan,” he said as he gently kissed her lips. Megan felt all tingly inside as he started touching her body softly. He had not touched her for at least two months and it could not start now. She was ripped apart and still had dried up blood on the inside of her thighs. She wanted him to take her upstairs and love her all over, but she was so sore that she knew she would not be able to go through with it. “Michael, I’m not feeling well; maybe later.” He backed away, looking rejected. “You are still mad about catching me, aren’t you?” Megan knew she was still angry with him for cheating on her, but her body was not going to accept him in it right now. All Megan knew was that she was in severe pain because Ryan may have broken something inside of her. “Yes, I’m mad about you cheating on me, but I’m willing to forgive you. It’s not about that right now; I have bigger things to worry about.” She looked down at her watch; it was six o’clock. Lacy knew better than to stay away and not call. “What do you possibly have to worry about? Everything is fine, why won’t you accept that? You get some rest, and when Lacy gets home you won’t have to deal with her, I will, and then we’ll go to your favorite restaurant and spend some quality time together…alone,” Michael said with a pleasing voice as Megan smiled and gave him a kiss. She loved her husband and could not imagine being away from him. She was attracted to Ryan and look where it got her; but she was not planning to break her vows. It crossed her mind, but now she knew that there was no man out there that could please her like Michael. “Now, you go lie down and rest for about an hour then I’m taking you out on the town.” He helped walk her upstairs and into their bedroom. “Let’s get these clothes off of you and get you into something more comfortable.” He leaned over to help her remove her clothes and Megan instantly stiffened. “No!” Megan shouted as she pushed his hand away. “Megan, for the last time—what is wrong with you?” Megan smiled and thought up something. “I meant, no, I didn’t want you to see me naked yet. I wanted to keep it a surprise for later, if you know what I mean.”

Page 54

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

He smiled and gave her a kiss on the top of her head. “You are incredible. I love you so much.” He smiled as he walked towards the door, turned around towards her, and blew her a kiss. Megan smiled to keep up a happy appearance as he walked out the door and closed it behind him. She did not want him to help her change because the blood was still all over her body. She did not want him to see any of it. She had a complete hysterectomy after Lacy was born so he would have known right away that the blood was not from her period. She was just glad that the swelling on her face had gone down because she would have had a hell of a time trying to explain that to Michael. Megan pulled her pants and underwear down and saw that there was dried up blood on her panties. She balled them up and threw them in the very back of the closet so she could wash them as soon as Michael went to work. She was scared to throw them away because she did not want to take a chance of Michael seeing them in the garbage. She put on a fresh pair of underwear, scurried to Lacy’s room to get a maxi pad, and rushed back to her room. She took her cashmere sweater off and threw it over the chair. She walked over to the dresser, pulled out an old shirt, some sweatpants, and proceeded to get dressed. Just as she started to get comfortable, she heard Michael downstairs cursing. Lacy is home. Megan ran out of the room and rushed downstairs. She saw that Michael was standing in front of Lacy, his back facing the stairs, and Ryan was standing next to her. “What in the hell!” Megan screamed as she raced down the steps and , charged towards Ryan. “Megan, stop!” Michael shouted as he held her back from laying into Ryan. Lacy, not saying a word, glared at her mother. Ryan smiled at Megan then grabbed Lacy’s butt. “You piece of dog shit!” Michael had to use all of his strength to calm her down. Megan was ready to fight Ryan and Michael had to stop her. “Megan, calm down, the situation is taken care of. Calm down.” Lacy held onto Ryan. Megan could not stand it anymore; she started to feel lightheaded from being upset. Michael sat her in the kitchen chair then squatted down and wedged himself in between her legs. “This is what we need to talk about.” “What are you talking about?” Megan asked. Michael stood up and walked over to where Lacy and Ryan were standing. “Mom, how could you do this to Ryan?” Lacy cried out as she pointed to Ryan’s face.

Page 55

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Megan looked down and laughed. “This is truly unbelievable. Am I dreaming?” Ryan gave Lacy a kiss and walked towards the door. “It’s okay, Lacy, she was just upset and I don’t blame her. She is going through a lot.” Lacy glared at her mother and ran to her room. “I hate you, Mom!” Lacy shouted. Michael looked at Megan then ran after Lacy. Ryan walked over to Megan. “Remember, I’ll kill you.” He took his finger, put it up to his head, and acted as if he pulled a trigger. Ryan pulled up his pant leg and showed Megan a Derringer strapped to his ankle. He is going to kill me; he’s not joking. Michael came back downstairs and headed towards Ryan. “Ryan, I know you haven’t done anything wrong, but I’m going to have to follow my wife’s demands. You are not to see Lacy anymore. You may see her at school, but that’s it. There is too much going on right now, and as soon as everything lightens up, we’ll see what happens.” Tears developed in Ryan’s eyes. “I have never done anything wrong to you guys. I came over here to check up on Mrs. Ronald because I knew she was upset, and she does this to me. I wasn’t mad about it because I knew she never liked me, but what did I do to deserve this?” Tears rolled down his cheeks. Michael felt bad. “I think you are too old for her. It is not about you, it’s about her not listening to us. She skipped school, doesn’t call us when we’re deathly worried about her, and I feel that she is taking advantage of that. It’s nothing against you, Ryan, and I apologize about your face. I don’t know what got into Megan.” Megan went blank; she knew that if she spilled her guts, Ryan could kill her and Michael right in their own home. She now had to say something that was completely insane. “Ryan, I’m sorry for hitting you. I don’t know why I did it.” Ryan smiled and winked at her. “It’s okay, Mrs. Ronald. These marks on my face will heal, but my broken heart won’t. I’ll miss Lacy,” he said stiffly then began to sulk as he left the house. Michael felt so sorry for him but he did not show it. “Look what you did, Megan,” he said without empathy as he crossed in to the living room and sat on the couch. Megan followed and sat beside him. “What has gotten into you? Since when did you start beating up kids?” he frowned.

Page 56

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Megan tried her hardest not to tell Michael the truth. “I don’t know why I did it, seriously.” Michael glared at her. “Well, I think you need to go to an anger management class; it will help you with controlling your rage.” “Michael, there is a very good reason why I hit Ryan, but you wouldn’t understand.” She stood, and then ran quickly upstairs to talk to Lacy. “Did he hit you? Did he touch you? Because believe me, if he put one hand on you or Lacy, I will kill him!” Michael yelled. Megan stopped dead in her tracks on the steps. She wanted to turn around and tell him everything, but she could not. She closed her eyes, held it in, and continued walking towards Lacy’s room. All Megan could hear was Lacy crying and that broke her heart. She knocked on Lacy’s door. Lacy screamed out, “Leave me alone!” Megan knew what she had to do. “Lacy, we need to talk.” Michael walked up the stairs behind Megan. Lacy opened her door, walked back over to her bed, and lay down. Her eyes where swollen from crying as she hugged her stuffed panda bear for dear life. Megan sat down on the bed next to her and rubbed her hair. “Lacy, I know you might hate me now, but I’ll love you forever.” Michael silently stood in the doorway. Lacy had her face in her pillow as she sobbed her pains away. “You beat up my boyfriend.” What could Megan say? She was the bad guy in everyone’s eyes. “Lacy, there is more to the story than you think, honey. It doesn’t look the way it seems.” Lacy leaned up and faced Megan. “Mom, you should be in jail. You always tell me not to get in trouble, but somehow you seem to find it. You hurt him so I wouldn’t be mad at him if he hurt you back!” Lacy shouted. Megan stood up and looked at her daughter. Michael walked up behind Megan and put his arms around her. “We know you are upset, Lacy, but don’t talk to your mother that way again,” he said firmly. Lacy got up off her bed and stood up. “I just can’t believe that you would say something like that to me.” Megan pulled away from Michael, left Lacy’s room, and headed into her own bathroom. She closed the door and looked in the mirror. She touched her face and started to cry. I have to tell somebody, I have to let someone know; someone who won’t laugh at me, someone who will help me, someone I can trust! She crouched over as a sharp pain overcame her; she could feel the remainder of the sperm run down her leg and onto the inside of her jogging pants.

Page 57

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Michael knocked on the door asking Megan if she was okay. She jumped up then walked over to open the door. “Now is not a good time, Michael.” Michael looked around in the bathroom. “What’s going on with you? You are acting strange. You’re going to tell me what is going on, Megan, and don’t lie to me. If something is bothering you, tell me. We can’t keep going on like this. You’re going to tell me what’s going on now, or I’m going to have to find out for myself!” Megan looked at him dead in the eyes; it was now or never.

Page 58

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Chapter Seven

Megan knew that if she told Michael about the rape, she would never be able to see him or Lacy again because Ryan said he would kill her. What was she going to do about Ms. Daisy? If Ms. Daisy told Ryan, what Megan told her, she was as good as dead. She had to stop Ms. Daisy from telling Ryan. “Michael, I’ll let you know what is going on later, but now I have something very important to do.” She walked past him and into their bedroom. Michael did not follow her; he just stood there with a look of disappointment on his face. Megan closed the bedroom door and walked over to the telephone. I have to talk to Ms. Daisy before she leaves work. She picked the phone up and dialed the office.. Please be there. She looked down at her watch; it was eight-thirty p.m. Megan knew that her boss stayed there until eight-thirty every night. The phone rang six times before Ms. Daisy finally answered it. “Safe House, this is Ms. Daisy.” “Ms. Daisy, don’t hang up. This is Megan Ronald; I wanted to talk to you about something I told you earlier at work today.” Ms. Daisy laughed. “Oh yes, Megan, the waste of a human life, the liar of them all…the devil.” Megan held her anger in. “I’m calling you to apologize for lying about Ryan. I was just mad at him and I would appreciate it greatly if you didn’t tell him what I said.” “You are a poor excuse for a woman. I guess that is why your hair is red, because of all the demons inside of you. I’ll tell you what, the only way I won’t tell him is if you put in your two weeks’ notice and tell your husband that you are quitting because you can’t keep your hands off Ryan. I know what happened to Ryan’s face—you did it! Put in your two weeks’ notice and by the time your real boss, Mr. Edwards, returns, you’ll only have one more week left to work.” She hung up the phone. Megan did not understand it: how was everybody finding out everything? Ryan knew that Megan and Michael were about to celebrate their eighteenth wedding anniversary; Ms. Daisy found out about Megan assaulting Ryan. It all just seemed like a horrible nightmare, but Megan could not seem to wake up.

Page 59

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

I’m telling Marilyn. She picked up the telephone, but Michael walked in, so she quickly hung it up. “Since when did you stop knocking?” Megan asked impolitely as Michael walked over to her. “This is my bedroom, too, you know. Whom were you calling, your lover?” Megan held her head with both hands. “Are you serious, Michael? I cannot believe that you would come to me like this. Do you honestly think I would do something as stupid and ignorant as you did?” He leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. “Then tell me who you were talking to, and don’t tell me Marilyn or your boss, because I know you would be lying.” She stood up and looked out of the window. “I was calling Marilyn.” Michael laughed and put his hand up to his mouth. “Then why did you hang up the phone when I walked in?” Megan started to feel stress coming on. “Michael, if you don’t trust me then leave,” she shouted as she walked past him and over to Lacy’s room. Megan opened Lacy’s door without knocking causing Lacy to jump out of bed in anger. “You don’t know how to knock?” “I pay the bills here, I don’t have to knock.” “I’m going to be with Ryan, and you’re not going to stop me, Mom—not now, not ever,” she shouted then Megan slapped her face. Lacy fell back and held her cheek. “I’m sorry, Lacy; I didn’t mean to slap you.” “You beat Ryan up and now you beat up your only child. Go to Hell!” Lacy yelled as she ran past Megan and down the stairs. Megan went after her as Lacy ran out the front door. “Lacy, come back here,” Megan pleaded as she opened the screen door. Megan stopped in the driveway and held her chest; it was not possible, but Ryan’s car was by the curb. Lacy jumped in. Ryan smiled at Megan as he took off like a bat out of Hell. Michael walked outside shortly after as if he was not in any type of hurry to watch his daughter make the biggest mistake of her life. “I’m losing her,” she said desperately. Michael stood there shaking his head. “You need help, Megan.” Megan started punching her Cadillac. “I don’t need help, I need justice,” she screamed. Michael ran over to her to keep her from hurting herself. The neighbors came outside to see what all the commotion was as Michael carried Megan into the house. She was going crazy and there was nothing she Page 60

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

could do about it. Her left fist was bleeding from punching the car so hard that dents were all over the front of the hood. “Let go of me, Michael.” Michael threw her on the chair. “Chill out,” he shouted. Megan started seeing double. She felt lightheaded as she shook her head violently. “Stop it, Megan, you’re scaring me.” Just then, one of the neighbors knocked on the front door. Michael stroked Megan’s hair then walked over to answer the door. “Mrs. Dawson, everything is under control.” Mrs. Dawson was one of the richest senior citizens in Louisville. Her husband died about six years ago and now Mrs. Dawson owned his oil company. Mrs. Dawson looked in at Megan sitting at the kitchen table. “You know, over the past few days, you guys have been trouble. I’m too old for this, and if I catch you hitting that crazy wife of yours, I’m calling the police on both of you…and Lacy will be put in a foster home.” Michael slammed the door on her. Megan was sitting at the table like a zombie. “Megan, you need to rest; it’s not good for you to do this to yourself.” He ran upstairs to get a bandage for Megan’s fist. Blood was dripping on the floor like a leak from a water faucet. Don’t hurt my baby, Megan cried to herself as Michael cleaned the cuts on her knuckles. “Megan, I just can’t believe that you would hurt yourself like this. I’m going to get you into the doctor tomorrow,” he said with concern as Megan started to cry. Michael cleaned her up and bandaged her knuckles, “We can’t go to dinner with you looking like this.” He helped her upstairs. “I’m going to fix you something to eat, and while I’m doing that, you rest,” he insisted as he helped Megan into their room. Michael laid her down and covered her up with the blankets. “Baby, get some rest. Lacy will be fine, she’s just rebelling. I’ll get on her and Ryan again and if it doesn’t end, I’ll involve the police,” he assured her as he walked to the bedroom door. “I’m going to make dinner.” He closed the bedroom door behind him. Megan just laid there in the dark. Finally, she leaned over and turned on the lamp. She had been bleeding all day long from the rape and now from punching her car. Everybody thought she was crazy. Megan felt so bad for acting like a complete idiot and embarrassing Michael in front of their neighbors. I’m going to tell Michael I was wrong and that I’m sorry. She got out of bed and opened the door. She walked down the stairs and did not see Michael in the kitchen. She walked through the whole house. She opened the front door and saw his car in the Page 61

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

driveway. She walked out of the front door and over to the garage. It was a large garage, but they never parked their cars in it. The door was closed, so Megan pulled it open. “Honey, I just…” Megan ended as her mouth dropped. Michael jumped out of the lawn chair and pulled his pants up. “What on earth are you doing?” Michael ejected the porno movie out of Lacy’s VCR and turned off her TV. “Megan, we haven’t made love in two months. I’m sorry. What was I to do? Go cheat on you again?” “How many more surprises am I going to get? Is the next one going to be of me catching you in bed with a man?” Michael walked past her and into the house. “You were supposed to be resting,” Michael said as Megan followed. “And you were supposed to be making dinner.” Michael reached in the refrigerator to grab some food. “Wash your hands, you nasty fool,” Megan said in disgust. “I don’t know why I have to wash my hands—I didn’t get to ejaculate.” “Even so, I still don’t want to taste penis in my dinner.” “You won’t make love to me, so what am I supposed to do, just wait? If I can’t have you, I’d rather please myself than someone else. I need you, Megan, can’t you see that?” “If you have a thing for blondes, then leave me and get one.” Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Megan glared at Michael for a moment before she went to see who was at the front door. To make things worse, it was Marilyn. Megan saw her and slammed the door in her face. “Who the hell was that?” Megan walked away from the door. Marilyn rang the doorbell again. “Don’t answer that.” Michael frowned at her and walked towards the door. Megan stood by the refrigerator with her arms crossed like a big brat. Michael answered the door. “Hi, may I help you?” Marilyn stood there as mad as she could be. “Hi, my name is Marilyn. I’m a friend of Megan’s, and she just slammed the door in my face. Did I do something wrong?” “I don’t know why she did that. I’m sorry, please come in,” Michael said politely. Marilyn walked in with her tight red dress on, shaking her hips as if she was trying to break them. “Megan, Megan, Megan, after all I’ve done for you, you pay me back by slamming the door in my face? What is wrong with you?” Page 62

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Megan stood there watching Michael’s reaction. Marilyn glanced over at Michael. “Did I come at a bad time?” She reached into her purse and grabbed a cigarette. “Can I smoke in here?” Megan glared at her. “Of course you can,” Michael answered as he stood there waiting for the two of them to talk. Megan turned her head to look at him. “Would you excuse us, Michael?” He smiled and went in to the living room to watch TV. Megan glanced at Marilyn’s short dress. “Is that an appropriate outfit for a pregnant woman to wear?” Marilyn blew smoke in her face. “I had this on earlier when we were at work and you didn’t say anything then. Oh, your husband, I’m sorry. Hell, I didn’t know he was here. Do I need to dress like you when I come over?” Marilyn asked, irritating Megan. “Marilyn, if you blow any more smoke in my face, I’m going to knock that baby out of you!” Marilyn laughed, “Let’s go to Rooster’s.” Megan put her hands on her hips and shook her head. “I’m not going anywhere else with you, Marilyn. You almost killed yourself and your baby, and you want to go back for more? Are you crazy?” Marilyn looked around for an ashtray to flick her ashes in. “I’m okay, I know what I’m doing…it’s my birthday for God sakes.” Michael walked in with an ashtray. “Do you need this?” Marilyn smiled and grabbed it. “Thank you, Sir, and what is your name?” Michael blushed. “Michael.” Megan gave him a death stare. “Well, I better get back in there.” He walked away without looking back. “You’ve got him in check.” “What do you mean, I have him in check?” Marilyn walked over to the kitchen table and sat down in the chair. “Every time I bring a friend over to the house, Eric grabs their butt and whispers things in their ear, but your husband is a perfect gentleman,” Marilyn explained as she flicked her ashes. Marilyn is a beautiful woman and her boyfriend hits on her friends? Maybe Marilyn isn’t as perfect as she seems, Megan though. Aloud, she said, “Why would you let Eric hit on your friends?” Marilyn shrugged her shoulders and put out her cigarette. “You are beautiful Marilyn; why would he grab other girls’ butts?” “No, he grabs my guy friends’ butts. I haven’t brought any girlfriends over; Lord knows what he would do then.” She stood up and hugged Megan. “I’ll be Page 63

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

back over here to get you at ten o’clock tonight, so be ready,” Marilyn insisted as she walked towards the door and opened it. “Nice to meet you, Michael.” Michael ran quickly from the living room to see her out. “Same to you,” he replied as Marilyn walked to her car. I can’t believe someone that beautiful could have self-esteem problems. Megan shook it off and went upstairs. Michael walked back in the living room to lie down on the couch. Megan turned around when she got half way up the stairs and noticed that Michael was not in the kitchen. That lazy son of a bitch, I knew it was too good to be true. She walked back downstairs and into the living room. “I thought you said you were going to make dinner?” “I was, Megan, but you said you didn’t want your food to taste like penis, so I thought I would just let myself air out.” He laughed, as Megan stood there not very amused. “I’ll make dinner.” Michael ran over to her and gave her a big hug. The front door opened and Lacy entered the house. “Lacy, are you okay?” Michael asked as Lacy moved past them with tears in her eyes. “What did he do to you?” Megan shouted as Michael held her back. “Just let her go to her room.” Lacy slammed her bedroom door. Megan knew that Lacy needed her, but what was it going to take to get her daughter back? Her little girl always needed her mommy there for everything before; what was she to do now? **** It was almost eight-thirty, and Megan needed to call Marilyn to let her know that she was not going anywhere tonight, especially not to Rooster’s. She walked over to the phone in the kitchen as Michael started preparing dinner. “Who are you calling?” Michael asked. Megan answered rudely, “None of your business.” She dialed Marilyn’s phone number and it rang only once. “You are going and I’m not taking no for an answer.” Before Megan could say anything, Marilyn hung up. “That bitch!” “Who are you calling a bitch? Marilyn?” “No, Michael, I was talking about Santa Claus,” she said sarcastically. “I have to go over to Marilyn’s to tell her something.”

Page 64

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Michael stopped chopping the onions. “I’m sorry, but you’re not in any condition to be driving, Megan,” he said with concern as Megan held her bruised knuckles. “Marilyn wanted me to go out to Rooster’s tonight for her birthday, and I don’t feel good enough to go. I called her and she hung up on me.” “Well, I really don’t want you going anywhere with her because, first of all, she’s way too young, and second of all, she looks like a hooker. What kind of attention do you think you’ll get from hanging out with her? She looks like she is Lacy’s age.” “She’ll be twenty-three tomorrow. I didn’t want her coming by here because I was afraid that you would come on to her.” Michael frowned. “Coming on to her would be like coming on to Lacy; I would never do that. I made a mistake, Megan, a mistake that I’m going to take to my grave. I will never be able to forgive myself; it was stupid and I was wrong. I want you to find it in your heart to forgive me and give us another chance, Megan. I miss you, I miss touching you,” he said with compassion as Megan stood there soaking it all up. “Why didn’t you take that slut to a hotel room, Michael? Why did you bring that trash into our house?” Michael walked back over to the stove. He was trying to avoid her question as he threw the T-bone steaks in the pan and sprinkled them with rosemary. “Megan, I don’t know why I did a lot of things. Do you want a baked potato with this?” “Who was she? Was she somebody who works with you? How did you meet her and what in the world made you possibly think that you needed to have sex with her?” She started to get angry. “She works as a receptionist at the car dealership; she’s nobody.” He flipped the steaks over and sprinkled some pepper on the other side. “Besides that, you never answered my question I asked you last night—who brought you home when you and Marilyn went to Rooster’s?” Megan was on the spot now. “Yes, I’ll take a baked potato with extra butter and light on the chives.” She started walking into the living room trying to ignore his question. “Answer my question, Megan. Who dropped you off? Rooster’s is about three miles from here and I know you didn’t walk that far in the dead of the night, so who brought you home?” he asked impatiently. Megan turned towards him and looked around; she did not know what she was going to say. She knew Michael was testing her, but he was not going to win this one. “A taxi brought me here, okay?”

Page 65

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Michael placed the steaks on a plate and sat them on the kitchen table. “You know, Megan, if a taxi would have dropped you off, wouldn’t they have dropped you off in front of your house?” He smiled and walked upstairs to get Lacy for dinner. Megan sat at the table in confusion. Why is he so worried about who dropped me off? As long as I got home safely, nothing else really should matter. Lacy started walking down the stairs with her pretty little nightgown on; it was long, pink, and had “BRAT” in big block letters on the front. Michael proceeded to walk back over to the counter and grabbed three potatoes. “Lacy, do you want a baked potato?” Lacy looked up at him. “Yes, Dad, just sour cream on it.” Megan gave Lacy and Michael their steaks before she got her own. “Ryan’s party is tomorrow, isn’t it?” Michael put the potatoes in the microwave. Lacy got up to get a knife to cut her steak. “It doesn’t really matter, does it? I mean, I’m not going to be able to go anyway.” She sat back down in her seat and poured some steak sauce over her meat. Megan felt like the worst mother in the world. All she was trying to do was protect her daughter, but it seemed like she was doing more harm than good. Michael grabbed the baked potatoes out of the microwave and set them aside. He opened the refrigerator and pulled out the sour cream and butter. “Now, I cooked the steaks so you guys can make your own potatoes.” He grabbed his potato, and put salt and pepper on it. Megan and Lacy walked over to the counter, took their potatoes, and put their toppings on them. Suddenly, it felt as if they were a family again. Nobody was arguing or rolling their eyes, just peace. Then the phone rang. Everybody looked at the phone as if it were a bomb. Megan walked over and answered it. “Hello.” Eric was on the other end. “Megan, hi, this is Eric. I was calling to let you know that we have a problem.” Megan stood there thinking the worst. “Is the baby okay?” Michael and Lacy listened to the conversation, seeing the concern on her face. “Well, I guess the baby is okay. The police picked up Marilyn on her way to your house. She was swerving all over the road and the police took her in for a DUI and for disorderly conduct.” “She was already drunk?” Eric laughed, “Marilyn’s been drinking all day long. I didn’t even go to work today due to the fact that she was threatening to leave me because I didn’t want to go with her to visit her family.” “Well, Eric, what do you want me to do?” Page 66

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Michael walked over to Megan and leaned against the wall. “Marilyn has to stay in jail for six hours until she sobers up. I just wanted you to explain to Marilyn that drinking while she is pregnant is bad. She is going to kill my baby, and I don’t think I can handle her doing this anymore.” “I’ve tried to tell her that what she was doing is wrong, but Marilyn is a grown woman; all I can do is to tell her my opinion. That is why I didn’t want to go out to Rooster’s for her birthday because I knew that she was going to overdo it. That girl’s never going to learn,” she assured him. Michael walked back to his chair and sat down to finish his dinner. “I cancelled the party because of what happened to her last night when she was rushed to the hospital. I didn’t know she was going to get drunk again anyway. I guess I gave her too much credit.” “Well, call me when she gets out.” “Okay.” “That damn Marilyn.” She walked back over to the kitchen table to eat. “What’s going on?” Michael inquired as Megan took a bite of her steak and started chuckling from being delirious and exhausted. “Marilyn’s in jail for driving under the influence.” Lacy grabbed her plate and put it in the dishwasher. “Oh, you mean that bimbo that is always trying to come on to anything that has legs and something in between them.” “I beg your pardon? Marilyn is a good friend of mine and I would appreciate it if you showed some kind of respect.” Lacy grabbed a glass and poured some water into it. “Ryan told me she was the biggest slut in the world; his buddies ran a train on her.” She smiled at Megan, walked upstairs to her room, and slammed the door. Megan could not do or say anything right around that girl it seemed; she had changed drastically. Lacy went from being an angel to a Hell’s Angel. She was a rebel not hurting anyone but herself. “Lacy sure doesn’t hold anything back, does she?” Michael joked. Megan began to get irritated. “Michael, you think everything is a joke. You prance around here joking all day long. You don’t care about how people feel as long as you’re getting your kicks.” Megan finished the food on her plate and placed it in the sink. “You know, that’s what the dishwasher is for—to clean the dishes so we don’t have to.” Megan pulled Lacy’s plate out of the dishwasher and placed it into the sink. “No, Michael—that is the easy way out. You are going to wash them by hand tonight while I go upstairs and read a good book. Please try not to ejaculate all over the dishes.”

Page 67

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

She made a stop at Lacy’s room. She knocked on the door but Lacy did not answer. “Lacy, open the door…I knocked.” Lacy opened the door. Megan walked in and saw that Lacy was writing Ryan a letter. Lacy placed the letter under her pillow and waited for Megan to speak. “Well, you came in here for a reason?” Megan sat on the bed beside her. Lacy would not even look at her mother. “Lacy, what is it about Ryan that you just have to have?” Lacy got under the blankets and turned over. “He loves me, and when I need to talk to somebody, he is always there,” she mumbled as she pressed her face in her pillow. “Lacy, you have parents; we are here for you, and if you give me and your father a chance, maybe we can work all this mess out.” “Mom, I’m tired, so can we please talk about this tomorrow?” Megan smiled and leaned over to kiss her on the forehead. “Do you remember when you were little and your father and I would always sing you that song, ‘My Little Angel?’” Megan began to sing. “‘My little angel, don’t fly away, you’ve brought so much joy and this that I pray, you’ll never leave our side and you won’t say goodbye.’” Michael walked in and started singing the song, too, as Megan and Lacy looked over at him. “So goodnight little angel and sleep like a dream, for in the morning when you awake you’ll shine like a gleam,” he sang. Lacy smiled and fell asleep. She looked like the little girl that they remembered so long ago, so precious and so innocent. Michael put his hands on Megan’s arms, “Let’s go to bed, honey,” he said as he kissed her hair and then leaned over to kiss Lacy’s cheek. “She’ll be just fine,” he whispered as he grabbed Megan’s hand and led her to the door. Megan did not want to leave but she knew that her daughter would not make a wrong decision. They closed Lacy’s door and walked towards their room as Michael smiled at Megan. “She’s still your little girl.” Megan smiled and walked to the bathroom. “I know,” she said softly. She sat on the toilet and looked around. Maybe I’m finally getting through to her. She noticed something sticking out of the trashcan. It was white and toilet paper covered it up. “What the hell?” Megan shouted as she pulled the thing out of the trashcan. “No, no, no!” she shouted again as she held the pregnancy test in her hand…it was positive. Oh my God, Lacy! Michael rushed in. It could not be true. Who could have put this in here? All of Megan’s nightmares were coming true.

Page 68

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Chapter Eight

Megan was in total denial. “Oh God, Michael, please tell me that the woman you slept with is pregnant,” Megan shouted as he frowned and glared at her. “Are you crazy? That doesn’t belong to me; I think we need to have a talk with our dear daughter.” He slid down the wall and rested the back of his head against it. “No, I can’t handle this, no!” she yelled. Lacy opened her bedroom door and rubbed her eyes. “What’s going on?” Lacy asked. Megan ran up to her and showed her the pregnancy test. “Lacy, please tell me this doesn’t belong to you.” Lacy lowered her head. “Mom, I was going to tell you, but I didn’t feel that now was the right time.” Megan shook in anger. “This just burns me up, little girl. You’re pregnant? What the hell are we going to do? Please tell me it’s not Ryan’s. Lacy, I’ll fall down and die if you tell me it’s his,” she cried as Lacy looked over at her father who was sitting on the floor crying. “Then I won’t tell you it’s Ryan’s.” She walked over to her father and hugged him. He hugged her back. “Lacy. Why?” Lacy shook her head. “I’m sorry; I didn’t know how to tell you guys.” Megan turned around and faced her. “Lacy, Ryan is dangerous. I fear for your life, Lacy, and I’m not going to let you see him again, do you understand me?” Megan said calmly. Lacy helped her father up. “Mom, I’m keeping this baby no matter what.” Michael walked down the stairs. “Where are you going Michael?” “I’m going after Ryan,” he seethed as he grabbed his car keys, yanked open the front door, and dashed out of the house. Lacy tried to stop him, but Megan held her back. “What is he doing? Why is he going after Ryan?” Tears ran down her face. Megan felt sorry for her, but Lacy had no idea what she was about to put her body through. She was just a baby, she had not even lived yet, and now she was pregnant. Page 69

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

“Lacy, do you think this is easy on your father and me? We love you, and I’m not trying to be mean to you, I just want to protect you. Ryan is a dangerous. Ashley called me and told me about him, how he beat her and raped her. Do you think I want to have that happen to you?” Lacy glared at her mother and walked towards her room. “Why would Ashley call you and why would she lie to you like that? Mom, she’s jealous of me and Ryan being together. She just wants him back. Ryan wouldn’t hurt a fly let alone rape someone. Mom, he loves me, and for her to lie to you and say that he beat her and raped her, I’ll make sure that Ryan knows about that.” “No, Lacy, I don’t think it would be a good idea to tell Ryan anything about what you and I just discussed,” she said sharply as Lacy turned towards her. “Mom, what was the real reason you hit Ryan?” Megan held her head. “There was no reason, Lacy. I was just stressed out and took it out on him, that’s all.” “For some reason, Mom, I don’t believe you.” Megan smiled, “You know your mother very well, don’t you?” “Mom, please don’t be mad at me for being pregnant,” Lacy begged. Megan gave her a hug. “Lacy, you’re sixteen years old; I’m very angry and disappointed, but you don’t worry about it now. You need to rest, and I’ll have your father bring your TV and stuff back in here as soon as he gets back.” Lacy smiled, “Mom, what do you think Dad is going to do to Ryan?” Megan ran her fingers through Lacy’s hair. “I don’t want to think about it.” She started walking down the stairs. “Wait a minute—Michael doesn’t know where Ryan lives.” Lacy smiled and clapped her hands. “I know!” Lacy shut her bedroom door. Lacy had done it again; she was acting as if she and Megan were really connecting, but she was pretending the whole time. Lacy knew all along that Michael was not going to be able to find Ryan. **** The front door opened. Michael entered the house, slamming the door closed behind him. Megan walked downstairs and met him at the door. “Did you find him?” A look of anger appeared upon his face. “Yeah, I saw the punk driving around and I followed him without him knowing, and now I know where he lives.” He walked over to the refrigerator and grabbed a beer. Megan had Ryan; he was not going to get his way for long. “So, did you talk to him?”

Page 70

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Michael opened the beer, walked in the living room, and turned on the television. “No, I just followed him so I would know where he lived. It was a big house, bigger than our house. I was going to go over there in the morning and talk to his parents; he just lives two blocks away.” He flipped through the channels as Megan turned around and walked back up the stairs. It was midnight, and she knew she had to get some sleep before she could make her journey over to Ryan’s house in the morning. “Good night, honey.” “I’ll be up there in a minute.” The time has come to put an end to this mess. She walked into her and Michael’s bedroom and lay down on the bed. I must tell Michael tomorrow about the rape. She turned the light out. Michael walked in shortly after, took his clothes off, and lay in the bed next to her. He held her as tears fell down her face; she had her back against him as she started to doze off. She started to dream about Ryan slapping her and raping her, and in the nightmare, he put his gun up to Lacy’s head. Megan started tossing and turning. The dream kept getting worse. Ryan was whispering in Megan’s ear throughout it that he was going to kill her, and then the trigger went off in Megan’s mind. She woke up. “No!” Megan shouted as she sat up in bed. Michael woke up and looked around. “Megan, are you okay?” She felt her head to make sure she was not bleeding. “I’m fine; I just had a bad dream.” She looked over at the clock on the stand. It was four o’clock in the morning and Megan was prepared to deal with Ryan. She was going to go over to his house and talk to his parents, and then she was going to the police, but she was not going to tell Michael what her plan was just yet. “Lie back down, honey; it was just a bad dream.” He laid Megan back down and held her for the rest of the night. **** It was eight-thirty when Megan awoke to breakfast in bed. “Sausage, eggs, toast, and coffee for my beautiful wife,” Michael smiled as he placed the bed tray with the breakfast on it by Megan. “You didn’t have to make me breakfast.” Michael leaned over and gave her a kiss on her lips. “Somebody helped me make it.” Lacy walked in and sat on the bed. “I don’t want anything, Mom; I just wanted to tell you that I’m sorry,” Lacy smiled. Page 71

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Megan grinned and leaned over to give her a kiss on her cheek. “Lacy, I forgive you, but what are we going to do about that baby and most of all…Ryan?” Lacy looked down at her stomach. “Ryan’s starting to change on me; he is starting to scare me. I told him I was pregnant, and he just started acting different. We argue—that is all we do—I just want our relationship to work out, that’s all.” Michael sat down beside Lacy. “Sweetheart, you cannot keep this baby—you’re too young. You have school and your friends. If you have this baby, you’ll be home all of time and will never be able to have fun. You have a choice.” Lacy smiled and gave her father a hug. “I don’t have much of a choice.” She walked out of their bedroom and went down the stairs. Megan had already made the choice for her. “I’m scheduling an abortion next week,” she said stiffly as she took a sip of her coffee. “I’m not going to let her ruin her life; she’s only sixteen.” She took a bite of her sausage. Michael nodded his head and got off the bed. “You take care of Lacy and I’ll take care of Ryan.” He walked out of the room. Megan did not have much of an appetite, so she placed the tray on the floor and got out of bed. It’s time. She walked over to the closet and looked for an outfit. I’ll take my shower later; right now, I need to get over to Ryan’s! She picked out some blue jeans and a red short-sleeved shirt. She changed her clothes, walked into the bathroom, and brushed her hair. Lacy walked in. “Mom, I can’t have an abortion.” “Lacy, you’re getting an abortion and that’s that.” Lacy smiled and kissed her mother on the cheek. “I love you, Mom.” She walked into her room and closed the door. Megan noticed Lacy was acting strange, but she just figured that it was from the shock of finding out that she was pregnant. Megan walked downstairs and looked around for Michael; she figured he was in the garage so she walked outside. I hope he’s not masturbating. She lifted the garage door and saw Michael sitting in a chair crying his eyes out. “Michael, are you okay?” He wiped his tears off and leaned back in his chair. “I guess I’m taking it harder than I thought.” “It’s not your fault; it’s not either one of our faults. Lacy just made the wrong decision and we’re going to fix it,” she reassured him as she rubbed on his shoulders and walked out. “I’m going to the store; I’ll be back in a minute. Do you need anything?” Michael shook his head no. She walked up to her car, opened the door, got in, put the key in the ignition, and backed out. I’m coming to get you, Ryan. She was confident as she remembered what Michael had said about him living just two blocks away. The big houses are on Mulberry Avenue. She drove down the street looking for Ryan’s car. Page 72

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

His car would be easy to find considering it was the only Pontiac in the neighborhood. Megan turned onto Mulberry Avenue and gawked as she drove down the street. I knew that these houses were big, but I never knew how beautiful they really were! She spotted Ryan’s car out in front of the fifth house on the left side of the street. Rich boy. She parked by the curb. The house was all pink with a large front yard: a storybook house. It almost seemed too good to be true, but that is normal in the town of Louisville. I’m putting a stop to this right now! She turned the car off and took a deep breath. She got out of the car and walked up to the house. There is no turning back now. Megan rang the doorbell; she knew Ryan had to be there because his car was out front. There were not any other cars in the driveway, so Megan knew she was risking her life if Ryan was the only one there. The door opened slowly to reveal Ryan standing there smiling at Megan. She turned around to walk away but then realized what she had to do. “Mrs. Ronald, please don’t walk away. I was expecting you, so please come in,” he said politely as Megan turned around to face him. “I came over here to tell your parents everything, and as soon as I’m done telling them, I’m going to the police!” Ryan walked outside. “Don’t you come near me or I’ll scream,” she threatened as he stopped in his tracks, he did not move any closer. “You’re right, Mrs. Ronald, I was wrong and I deserve to go to jail. My parents will be back shortly. I promise I won’t hurt you, Mrs. Ronald.” Megan looked around for a car to pull in and it did. “You’re fucked now, Ryan!” Ryan walked back into the house as the man walked out of the garage with a police outfit on. Megan ran up to him. “Sir, are you Ryan’s father?” He smiled, “Yes, I am. May I help you?” “I think you’ll need to have a seat for this one.” The man led her into the house. He was an older man, probably about sixtyfive years old, and from what Megan read on his outfit, he was a sheriff. “My name is Ed, I’m the Sheriff in this town; you might have heard of me, Eddie Wilson?” he introduced himself. “I voted for you for Sheriff last year.” He sat down on the large sofa in his huge house. “Please, have a seat…,” he said as he was trying to figure out what to call her. “I’m sorry; my name is Megan, Sir.” She sat down and looked around. Page 73

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Ryan walked in with a big smile on his face. “Do you like the house, Mrs. Ronald?” he asked as Megan turned to him and glared. “If I were you, Ryan, I’d take one last look because they don’t have this kind of luxury in prison, and with your father being a sheriff, I’m sure that it won’t make things any easier on you,” Megan said with confidence as Eddie frowned and looked over at Ryan. “What’s this about?” “Mr. Wilson, your son raped me a few days ago, and since then, he has threatened to kill me if I told anyone. I haven’t even told my husband; I told my boss and now you. You are a sheriff, and if you don’t help me, I guess I’ll have to go to the police.” Sheriff Wilson sat there in shock. “Is this true, Ryan?” he asked as Ryan smiled and pulled Megan’s bra out of his jeans pocket. “Dad, no, it’s not true, none of it. Mrs. Ronald has been trying to sleep with me ever since Lacy and I began dating. Here is proof. I admit she is an attractive woman, I gave into her, and we had sex in my car. Mrs. Ronald, here is your bra that you accidentally left in the back seat.” Megan stood up and shouted in anger. “You son of a bitch, you raped me and you know it. I’m going to the police.” Megan walked towards the door. “Mrs. Ronald, I’m sure there is some kind of mistake.” Megan turned towards him. “No, Mr. Wilson, there’s no mistake; the only mistake here is that I should have gone to the police earlier.” She walked briskly towards the door. She was not watching where she was going and she bumped into Ryan’s mother. Megan’s eyes got as big as oranges. “Ms. Daisy?” Megan whispered as Ms. Daisy adjusted her glasses. “I was expecting you, Megan,” Ms. Daisy said and Megan suddenly felt trapped. “Let’s talk.” Megan followed in after her. Ryan was standing there in the living room while Mr. Wilson stared at Megan. “Are you here to tell more lies or are you here to apologize?” “It all makes sense now. That’s why you hired Ryan on at the clinic, because he is your son, and that’s why you’ve been treating me like shit lately. It’s been all about you,” Megan said with anger as Ryan walked over to where Ms. Daisy was standing. “You know, Megan, when I picked Lacy up from school the other day, she was so upset about how you didn’t want her and Ryan to see each other. She was depressed, so I brought her back here and showed her that depression is a terrible thing to go through. I showed her that it was okay to hate your parents and there are ways to get away from it all. You know, Lacy loves Ryan with all of her heart and there is nothing you can do about it.” Page 74

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Megan’s eyes filled up with tears. “Ryan raped me and he’s not getting away with it, so say goodbye to your son,” she shouted as Ms. Daisy pulled out a tape recorder and played it. It was the tape of Megan’s conversation when Megan told her that Ryan did not rape her and that she was just mad at him. “Oh my God, how did you get that?” Megan cried as Ms. Daisy smiled and sat it on the coffee table. “Well, you said Ryan raped you and then you changed your mind. I don’t think you have any evidence now, do you, Megan, but I do, and I will use it against you. My husband is the Sheriff, and if you can’t convince him, then you won’t be able to convince anyone.” Ryan walked up to Megan. “Oh yeah, don’t forget about my scratched-up face, Mrs. Ronald. You had no good reason to do that. We had sex and you got mad at me because I liked having sex better with your daughter, so you beat me up. That is not very grown-up at all.” Mr. Wilson stood up quickly. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Ronald, I’m going to have to ask you to leave,” Sheriff Wilson stated as Megan wiped the tears from her eyes. “Ryan, you know the truth, and I will let my husband know also. If you lay a hand on my daughter, I swear to God I will kill you. As far as you are concerned, Ms. Daisy, you go straight to Hell, you bitch!” She ran out of the house and to her car. Ryan ran out and yelled, “Mrs. Ronald, I think Lacy got her wish about getting away from her parents.” Megan turned around as Ms. Daisy and Mr. Wilson walked outside behind him. “Did Ryan tell you that he got Lacy pregnant or do you guys even care?” Ms. Daisy smiled, “Yes, it’s just a shame that we’ll never get to see it.” Megan squint her eyes in curiosity. “What are you talking about?” Ryan walked over to her and looked around. “Poor Lacy, her troubles and pain will soon come to an end; she’ll be free.” He walked back up to the house. Megan was confused. What in the hell is he talking about and why would Ms. Daisy say that she would never be able to see the baby? Lacy must have told the bitch that I was forcing her to get an abortion. **** Megan jumped into her car and sped off. She was in a state of shock; she never expected Ms. Daisy to be Ryan’s mom. It just could not get any worse. I must tell Michael. She pulled into her driveway. Oh God, how is Lacy going to take this? She turned the car off and got out. There is no easy way to tell your husband that your daughter’s boyfriend raped you. She did not know how Michael was going to react; she just expected the worst. Page 75

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

She walked in the house and found Michael sitting in the living room watching TV. He heard Megan enter and got up. “Honey, where have you been?” Megan started to cry from all of the frustration that had built up inside of her. “I went over to Ryan’s house to tell his parents something I should have told you first.” Michael frowned with concern. “What’s going on, Megan?” Megan looked up at Lacy’s room. “Is Lacy okay?” He nodded yes. “Lacy is asleep; now tell me what’s going on,” he insisted as Megan sat down in the chair at the kitchen table. “Have a seat, Michael,” she said calmly. Michael looked at her with confusion. “Megan, please don’t hurt me, please don’t break my heart.” Megan leaned over and touched his hand that was on the kitchen table. “Ryan raped me,” she whispered. Michael jumped out of his chair. “Megan, you’re lying; stop it, stop it now,” he screamed as tears rushed down his cheeks. Megan could not hold it back; she jumped up and cried with him. “Michael, I’m telling you the truth—he raped me at work in the custodial closet. I told Ms. Daisy, my fill-in boss, and I just found out that Ms. Daisy is Ryan’s mother. I know it sounds crazy, but it happened, and now I’m paying for it.” Michael wiped the tears off his cheeks. “Why didn’t you tell me before and why haven’t you gone to the police? I’m going to kill him!” Michael yelled as he rushed towards the kitchen counter and grabbed a butcher knife out of the drawer. Megan tried to stop him, “Please, Michael, stop. You can’t go over there and kill him; his dad is the Sheriff. Please, stop it. He threatened to kill me if I told anyone; he showed me the gun he had strapped to his ankle. That is why I’ve been acting weird lately—I’ve been scared for my life and Lacy’s. One of her friends called me at work and told me about the real Ryan. She told me that she was scared for Lacy because Ryan beat her and raped her while they were dating a while ago. That is why everything has been so screwed up lately.” Michael was still standing there in the kitchen holding the knife for dear life. “So he just grabbed you and raped you out of nowhere? There were no signs before that he was going to rape you? Was he hitting on you before?” Megan looked him in his eyes. “That day that you shook his hand was the day it started. I was so mad at him for dating Lacy of course, but him getting that job at the safe house made me even angrier. I was getting ready for work, and thought I would leave early so I could make up for missing that half-day when I came home, and caught you in bed with that woman. I jumped in my car and Ryan pulled up Page 76

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

behind me. I got out and asked him what he was doing and he told me he wanted to check up on me because of how upset I was earlier that morning when he came by. I got upset and he said something that just made me go crazy so I started slapping his face. He just kept laughing, so I kept doing it and he tackled me to the ground, started kissing me, threw me in his car, and attempted to rape me. I screamed as loud as I could, but it didn’t help. I got so angry that I kissed him back. It was stupid of me, but he stopped; he didn’t actually rape me until later on that day at work.” “Are you crazy? You kissed that boy?” “I don’t know why I did it. I was turned on by how rough he was with me, but I didn’t deserve to be slapped and raped.” “Did you enjoy it?” “Are you crazy? I was raped! How could I like something being jammed inside of me?” “Well, you clearly stated that he turned you on, and you brought this on yourself.” Megan glared at him. “I didn’t have sex with him—he raped me. There is a difference and I want justice!” she said angrily as she stormed up to Lacy’s room. She knocked on Lacy’s door; there was no noise, not even a snore. Megan opened the door and smiled at her precious baby, sleeping like a princess. Her back was facing Megan. She sat on the bed and played with her daughter’s hair. “It’ll be okay, sweetie. I’m getting you as far away as I can, honey,” she whispered as she found a piece of paper under Lacy’s head. “What’s this?” She pulled the paper out; it was a note. Dear Mom and Dad, I love you guys so much, but my time has come. Ryan told me that he loved me, but if I had an abortion, he was going to kill me. You guys said I didn’t have a choice, but now I do. I’ll go to Heaven with my baby and never have choices again. I couldn’t let Ryan kill me; I chose to do it myself. Under my pillow, you’ll find the bottle of pills Ms. Daisy gave me to ease away my pains. I love you, Mom and Dad. See you soon! Love, Lacy Megan closed her eyes and fell straight to the ground.

Page 77

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Chapter Nine

Michael ran into the room after hearing the loud thud and found Megan on the floor and Lacy lying in bed. He leaned over and held Megan’s head. “Megan, wake up, wake up,” he shouted as Megan started to regain consciousness. He was shocked on how Lacy did not move. “What’s this?” He picked up the letter. Michael fell to the ground and cried, “No, no, no,” as he stood up and placed his fingers on Lacy’s neck to feel for a pulse. He was shaking so badly that he could not tell if she was dead or alive. “Call 911!” Megan screamed as Michael ran down the stairs and tripped. He rolled to the bottom of the steps and landed on his back. “Oh God!” he yelled as he tried to get up but could not. He felt his head and saw blood on his fingers. Megan was screaming so loud that Michael had to cover up his ears with his bloody hands. He crawled to the phone and pulled the phone down to where he was on the floor. “Please God, give me strength.” He dialed 911; every second counted but it seemed as if the whole situation was going in complete slow motion. He had never felt so helpless in his life, his daughter could be dead, and finding out about the rape was almost too much for him to handle. He had to block out the pain and that was the hardest thing to do. “911. State your emergency.” Michael leaned over in pain. “Please send someone out to 2816 Bluebird Lane. My daughter’s dying; send someone now!” he yelled as he threw the phone down and fell back to the ground. He knew that he had broken something in his body, but he was not sure what. He squirmed up to the first stair when he looked up and saw Megan crying hysterically. Megan was in complete shock as she walked downstairs. Michael just lay there on the stairs, crying as he reached out for Megan’s hand. The sirens were sounding as Megan walked into the kitchen and fell to the floor. The paramedics knocked on the door as Megan lay on the floor sobbing intensely. Michael yelled for them to come in as they opened the door and ran inside the house. Megan pointed upstairs as the paramedics rushed up to Lacy’s room to save her. Megan followed behind. One of the paramedics ran outside to grab the gurney and the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) for Lacy as the other performed CPR on her. Megan Page 78

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

stood there watching, shaking her head, and holding her hand up to her mouth while Michael was covering his head up on the stair. “There still may be hope,” the paramedic assured Megan as they both placed Lacy on the stretcher and hauled her to the ambulance. Megan followed behind them and got in the back with Lacy. The third paramedic noticed that Michael was not doing well. “Sir, are you okay?” Michael stood up slowly using all his might. “I’m fine, but how is my daughter? Is she going to live?” The paramedic started rushing towards the door. “We’re going to do the best we can; we have to get to the hospital.” Michael struggled to walk, but he managed to make it to the ambulance before they left. “We have to go now,” Megan explained. She helped Michael get into the back of the ambulance “Oh God, please don’t let it be too late,” she prayed as the ambulance sped off towards the hospital. Megan swore up and down that if Lacy died, she was going to spend the rest of her life in prison because she was going to kill Ryan as soon as possible. “I’m going to kill Ryan if he doesn’t kill me first,” Michael also swore as he held his knee in pain. They pulled into the hospital parking lot in the emergency section, opened the ambulance door, and the paramedics grabbed Lacy quickly and rushed her into the hospital. Michael was moving slowly, but he managed to get out of the ambulance without any help. Megan was already inside the hospital, not realizing that she had left Michael behind. She ran back out and saw him limping in and she held his arm. “Everything is okay,” he whispered as Megan held her head up. “I know; it’s going to be fine. We are going to go in here and wait for Lacy to get well.” They reached the lobby and Megan walked up to a nurse. “Hi, my name is Megan Ronald and they just rushed my daughter to the Emergency Room. I wanted to know if you could tell me anything. Please let us know something!” A doctor walked out of nowhere and lowered his head as the paramedics pointed out Megan and Michael to him. “I’m sorry, ma’am, maybe Dr. Richards can help you,” the nurse replied as Megan and Michael watched the doctor walk towards them. His face looked grim as he slowly made his way over to them. Megan and Michael were afraid of what was to come.

Page 79

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

“Excuse me, are you two the parents of the young girl that they just rushed in?” the doctor asked as Michael held his pain in and held Megan close. “Yes, we are. Can you tell us anything? Is our little girl okay?” Michael asked. Megan stood there with her mouth open wide gripping onto Michael’s hand. The doctor gave them that look, the look that said it all, and then he opened his mouth. “I’m sorry, we did all that we could do.” Megan passed out in Michael’s arms. He tried to hold her up, but his weak arms would not allow it. The doctor grabbed her and sat her down in the chair. “Ma’am, ma’am.” He shook her to bring her back. She started to come to and then realized it was not a dream. “I want to die!” she screamed as the doctor looked over at Michael and shook his head. “She needs to calm down before she ends up having a heart attack.” He looked over at the nurse on duty. Megan was having a nervous breakdown. “Michael, she can’t be gone, she was only sixteen years old, and she was pregnant. Why, Michael, why?” she shouted as she pulled on Michael’s sleeve almost ripping it. The doctor rushed over to the nurses’ station. The nurse grabbed a cup and handed a pill to the doctor and then the he walked back over to Megan. “This pill will calm you down.” The doctor handed Megan the cup of water and the blue pill. Megan took it as quickly as possible and then took a deep breath. “Thank you, Doc,” Megan commented as she leaned back in the chair and watched her fingers twitch. Michael was sitting beside Megan with his arm around her, pressing his forehead into her shoulder. “I’m so sorry about your daughter. We did all we could. They pronounced her dead a few minutes ago, I’m so sorry,” Dr. Richards explained. Megan sat there in a daze from the pill and Michael sat there in a deep depression. “Her vital signs and fixed and dilated pupils before she died suggest it was a drug overdose. We won’t know for sure until we get the results of the lab tests back.” Megan looked up to him. “Can we go and look at her?” she cried as Michael started sniffling. Dr. Richards smiled and placed his hand on Megan’s shoulder. “Yes, you may.” Megan stood up but Michael stayed seated and covered his eyes. “Megan, I don’t think I’ll be able to handle it,” Michael cried as she leaned over and kissed his head. Page 80

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

“It’s okay, honey, she knows you love her; she won’t mind.” She wiped a tear off her face and followed Dr. Richards to Lacy. Megan always thought her daughter would bury her, not the other way around. She started feeling lightheaded again and closed her eyes. Dr. Richards noticed that she had stopped and he walked back to check on her. “Ma’am, we’re almost there. Are you okay? You don’t have to do this right now.” Megan opened her eyes and smiled at him. “I’m fine, I’ll be okay, and my little girl needs me.” She shook it off and walked beside Dr. Richards. He looked over at her as they reached the room; Lacy was lying on a bed, her skin color was a pale white. She looked as if she was sleeping peacefully; it almost did not seem real. Dr. Richards stopped at the door while Megan walked in and smiled at her daughter. “Sweetie, Mommy is here. I’m not going to let anything happen to you,” Megan whispered. The doctor frowned to hear what she had just said. “Are you sure you are okay?” Megan ran her fingers through Lacy’s hair. “I’m fine, Doctor. My baby’s here and I’m not going anywhere,” she said quietly as she leaned over and gave Lacy a kiss on her cold cheek. A teardrop fell onto Lacy’s nose. “Whenever you were scared, you used to put the sheets over your head because you said that if anybody tried to hurt you, they would have to get through Mommy’s sheets first, remember that?” She rubbed her face gently back and forth. “I remember when you were just a baby, how happy your father and I were to finally have the little girl that we always wanted. We used to put little bows in your hair when you were only two months old,” Megan laughed as tears started rolling down her face. She had her only child there in front of her, but it was different; Lacy was not talking or laughing back. Megan missed the times when Lacy rolled her eyes at her and slammed her bedroom door and all the mother-daughter talks they would never be able to have. Megan would never be able to see that beautiful smile again. Her world was not worth living in now; everything she lived for was gone. Her little girl did not even make it to graduation, and that car she always wanted was only a month away. “I won’t be able to have a grandchild.” She rubbed Lacy’s tummy. “You would have made a wonderful mommy.” She reached in her purse; grabbed a little brown teddy bear, looked at it, and smiled. “Lacy, do you remember this? You gave me this teddy bear when you were only seven years old. You didn’t think I kept it, did you? Remember, you always told me that if I ever got scared to hold it and think about you? You won this teddy bear at the fair and instead of keeping it; you wanted Mommy to have it. I’ve had it ever since, and now I’m giving it back to you, so if you ever get scared, you can Page 81

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

hold it and it will watch over you,” she said with a deep sadness as she placed the teddy bear in her arm. Megan leaned over Lacy and held her as tight as she could; she jumped on the bed and placed Lacy’s head on her chest. “Now, baby, it’s time to go to sleep,” Megan whispered as she started to sing. “My little angel, don’t fly away, you’ve brought so much joy and this that I pray, you’ll never leave our side and you won’t say goodbye, so good night little angel and sleep like a dream, for in the morning when you awake you’ll shine like a moonbeam.” She held her daughter and cried. It was a mother’s worst nightmare to lose a child. Megan sat there holding her daughter and thought to herself, I should have done this a long time ago. Why did this happen? I lost my daughter and can’t do anything about it. I was supposed to protect her from everything, but this one thing I couldn’t get to in time. Megan was mad at the world and more than life itself, she was furious with Ms. Daisy and Ryan. The doctor walked over to where Megan was lying. “Your husband wants to talk to you. He said he would have a heart attack if he came in here and saw Lacy. He is in the lobby.” She kissed Lacy and got off the bed. She looked her daughter over, said a prayer for her, and rubbed her arm, the arm with the teddy bear in it. “The coroner will be here any minute and I don’t want you in here to see that.” Megan kissed Lacy’s hand and walked away with him. She turned around towards Lacy for one last look. “The answer is no,” Megan whispered as she laughed and blew her daughter a kiss and walked away. **** Michael was standing in the lobby looking as miserable as could be. Megan ran up to him and gave him a big hug. “It’s okay, honey, she’s at peace,” Megan whispered in Michael’s ear as he held her as tight as he could. “I want my little girl.” He pressed his head into Megan’s long hair. “I know, honey, I know.” Dr. Richards stood there waiting to tell them both something. They looked over at the doctor as he walked closer to them. “It is best if you both go home and get some rest. I wrote you a prescription for some pain pills; you can get them in the morning.” He handed Megan the prescription. “Thank you.” Page 82

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Michael put his arm around Megan and started walking towards the door. “I called the funeral home, so that is taken care of,” Michael informed Megan. Marilyn burst through the double doors. Megan saw her then ran towards her. Marilyn was holding a lit cigarette in her hand as she entered the hospital. One of the nurses saw her with the cigarette and ran up to her. “Ma’am, there’s absolutely no smoking in this facility,” the nurse said as Marilyn frowned and took her last puff. “You can throw your cigarette outside.” Marilyn rolled her eyes and put the cigarette out on the bottom of her heel. “You would think you could smoke in here—hell, everyone in here is going to die anyway.” Megan walked up and gave her a hug. “Where have you been?” Megan asked. “Baby, I heard over the police radio that they had an emergency call over at your address—is everything okay?” Megan started crying again. “Lacy committed suicide, Marilyn,” she said quietly. Marilyn gave Megan a big hug. “I’m so sorry, Megan. Oh God, what can I do?” She wiped Megan’s tears off and Michael walked over and rubbed Megan’s shoulders. “Hi, Marilyn,” he greeted as Marilyn walked up to him and hugged him. “I’m sorry, Michael.” “It’s okay; everything is going to be fine.” Marilyn stood there holding both Michael and Megan’s hands. Megan smiled at her and shook her head. “Why would you have heard the call from a police radio?” Marilyn wiped a tear from her eye. “I knocked Eric out tonight and they picked me up. I was only in jail for three hours, but I have a two-hundred dollar fine to pay by next month.” Everybody started to laugh. That is what they needed was to laugh; with everything that had happened, a laugh made all the difference. Megan was so happy that she had a good friend like Marilyn. She was not all there, but her heart was pure, she cared for those who did not give a damn about her, and she loved everyone; she just could not stay out of trouble. Marilyn shook her head in confusion wondering what had happened and why. “Was there a note that Lacy wrote or something, that would let you guys know what really happened?” Marilyn asked as Megan held Michael’s hand. “She wrote a note saying that Ryan claimed he was going to kill her if she got rid of his baby. By the way, Lacy was pregnant with Ryan’s baby—you remember; the guy that you thought was so cute. Well, you know our fill-in boss, Ms. Daisy; Page 83

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

well, she’s Ryan’s mom, and I didn’t find that out until this morning. Well anyway, Michael and I decided that Lacy should have an abortion because she was too young to be having a baby, and in her suicide note, it said that Ryan told her that he would kill her if she had an abortion, so she said she had no choice, but she did. We could have moved far, far away and put that asshole in jail for life. He raped me and I didn’t tell Michael until today.” Marilyn’s mouth dropped to the floor. “What are you saying? Megan, you were raped?” They all started walking outside. “Yes, I was raped at work the day you missed. That was the day he did it, and I didn’t tell anyone because he threatened to kill me, but I ran my mouth to Ms. Daisy, and then I found out that she was Ryan’s mother and his father is the Sheriff.” Marilyn reached in her purse, grabbed three cigarettes, and gave Megan and Michael each one. “I don’t understand; why didn’t you go to the police?” She lit their cigarettes. Megan rolled her eyes and glared at Marilyn. “I don’t think you heard a word I said, Marilyn. Ryan told me he was going to kill me, don’t you understand? I was scared, but I’m going to the police now,” Megan concluded as she rubbed Michael’s back. Marilyn tapped her heel and started thinking, “When we were at Rooster’s, he seemed so nice,” Marilyn ended as Michael lowered his cigarette. “So Ryan was at Rooster’s? Is he the one that brought you home that night?” Michael asked as anger came over him. Megan held her head with one hand, “Michael, now is not the time. We have to stop Ryan and Ms. Daisy so this won’t happen again to someone else’s daughter. Right now I’m mourning over my daughter, my sweet daughter.” **** That night was one of the longest nights ever. Her body trembled as sweat ran down her forehead and onto the bed sheets. “Help!” Megan screamed as she jumped up and looked around in horror. “Baby, are you okay?” Michael shouted, awakened by her loud scream. He put his arms around Megan, who was calming down but was still a little shook up from the nightmare. Megan’s skin turned clammy as goose bumps covered her entire body. “It was just a bad dream.” Megan wiped her forehead off and jumped out of bed. She then walked towards the window in their bedroom.

Page 84

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

The wind blew as lightning lit up the dark, gloomy sky. Michael walked up behind Megan who was staring out of the window dressed in her long, silky, white gown, and he put his arms around her waist. “It’ll be okay, honey. It was just another bad dream,” Michael reassured her as they both gazed out of the window in anticipation of the storm. Megan suddenly turned around to face Michael who was standing there in his black silk boxers looking as if he was still asleep. “I didn’t mean for this to happen, Michael. I’m so sorry.” She dug her head into his pale white chest. Michael grabbed her tightly as they both looked back out of the window. “I know, Megan, I know,” he whispered as he stood there holding his dear wife as close to him as possible. **** Michael and Megan never were able to celebrate their eighteen-year wedding anniversary because of all the bad luck that had come to them. The police arrested Ryan for raping five other women besides Megan. After she came forward, all of the other women came forward and they were able to put Ryan away for fifteen years. The police arrested Ms. Daisy for withholding evidence, and for contributing to a minor’s suicide because she gave Lacy the pills that killed her, and knew about all the other rapes that Ryan committed and did not report them. Ms. Daisy was sent to jail for six months and died a day after she got out. After Lacy’s funeral, Michael and Megan decided to sell their home and move to Colorado to get away from all the horrible things that had happened to them in Kansas. It would never be the same without Lacy, but time would take care of all of that eventually. Megan went to nursing school and became a Licensed Practical Nurse while Michael stayed away from the car business and became a preacher at one of the biggest churches in Colorado. Marilyn had a beautiful baby girl that weighed seven pounds and one ounce and was nineteen inches long. She named her Lacy Sue after Megan’s daughter. Marilyn stayed in Kansas by herself with Lacy Sue. She and Eric broke up shortly after Lacy’s death; Marilyn said she did not need a man that was always going out to the bars every night, she needed a father for Lacy Sue, so she kicked Eric out and has been single ever since. Marilyn visited Colorado occasionally, but could not come often because of money problems. She gave up the high heels and the short dresses; she looked more like a mommy now.

Page 85

Tempra Collins

Bad Judgment

Michael and Megan finally were able to celebrate their anniversary—their twenty-second wedding anniversary. Michael took Megan on her dream honeymoon to Jamaica, and this is when they started to heal. Through the good times and bad, they stayed together; even through the cheating, the lies, they still loved each other. It took losing their daughter to make them realize that going through it alone would have been a disaster. From this day on, she wondered what would have happened if would have never kissed Ryan back, wondered if he would have still raped her. Would Lacy have been alive? It went through her mind every day, every minute, every hour. Could everything have been different? Did bad judgment on Megan’s behalf cause Lacy’s death? Megan believed so; she blamed Lacy’s death on herself for not spending enough time with her daughter. Megan learned over the years that she was not at fault. God takes the best of them; there was nothing anyone could do about it. One day, Megan received a surprising phone call from Marilyn. She had called to let Megan and Michael know that she and Lacy Sue were doing terrific. They bought a brand new house and Marilyn had finally met the man of her dreams, a man that was a father figure to Lacy Sue and good husband material. She said he had asked her to marry him and she had accepted—her fiancé’s name was Ryan.

Page 86

About the Author

Tempra Collins Tempra Collins lives in Kansas with her Husband and two children. She loves to write novels, short stories, and poetry. Her hobbies include; playing with her children, fishing, writing, watching movies, and having plain old fun. Find out more about Tempra at her website! http://www.freewebs.com/tcollins/

Our Authors love to hear from their readers! You can write to Tempra at: Tempra Collins c/o Chippewa Publishing, LLC. 678 Dutchman Drive, Suite 3 Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin 54729

Coming Soon from Chippewa Publishing Dark Heart by S.K. Sebastian The Hamlet Murders by John Paulits

Chippewa Publishing Our eBooks are MAGICAL!

http://www.chippewapublishing.com