Page 87 of The Facilitator: Part 2
I ran from the house. “Is he okay?” Iasked.
“The fucker is still breathing, if that’s what you mean. He passed out before I could assist in endingthat.”
I checked Mackenzie over. He had a blood splatter on his chest but no broken skin—as he had when he’d hit Scott—across his knuckles. Daniel had a bloodied nose and a split lip but not much more. I sighed in relief. It didn’t appear that Mackenzie hadfoughtwithhim.
“Go and wash your hands and your chest,” I said. He looked atthem.
“Lauren, it’s okay. I’m entitled to defend you, my property, and myself. I could have shot the fucker and gotten away with it. And I would’ve had we had a gun on theproperty.”
“I don’t want to hear that,” I replied. At that, the wail of a police car could be heard coming along theroad.
It was a half hour later before Daniel was removed by ambulance. An hour before all statements were taken and the police left. I sat at the kitchen table with Alex and Mackenzie. Gabriella had called twice, and I was sipping coffee I knew would only exasperate my janglingnerves.
It seemed Daniel had been seen in a local bar getting very drunk. He’d been threatening and telling everyone he was going after Mackenzie before being thrown out. The bartender had called Vivienne, not having a number for Mackenzie. Alex had been alerted to possible trouble before Mackenzie had even called. On Mackenzie’s text, he’d called thepolice.
The sun was rising when Alex left. I had insisted he get back to Gabriella and Vivienne; they would be terrified, and I didn’t think it fair they were alone. Mackenzie and I sat in silence for awhile.
“I think I might like to go home,” I whispered. The angst was just toomuch.
He nodded and took up my hand. “I’m so sorry, this really has been an awful trip foryou.”
“And you,” I said. “I understand if you need to stay on for another few days just to get everythingfinalised.”
“Can I persuade you to stay withme?”
I sighed. “I’m tired. How about we see if we can get a few hours sleep? I’m probably making rash decisions. I’m jet-lagged, jangling from caffeine, and I don’t know which way isup.”
He stood and followed me to the bedroom. I stripped off my clothes and climbed back under the sheet. He did the same and I lifted his arm so I could snuggle intohim.
“I love you,” Isaid.
He turned his head and kissed myforehead.
“I love you more,” hereplied.
If I thought the trip was spiralling faster than a downhill skier, I wasn’t prepared for what camenext.
* * *
I’d putmyI’d like to go homeon hold for a few hours. Mackenzie needed me; it was way harder for him. As much as I was quite happy to run away, I needed to pull my big girl pants up. He promised he’d get as much done that day as possible and then we’d see how I felt. The police returned to Vivienne’s and a second statement was taken. It appeared, once Daniel had sobered up, he had accused his mother of cutting off his funds, and he’d simply turned up inebriated in the early hours of the morning to ask for Mackenzie’s help. Instead of help, according to Daniel, he was met with a vicious attack where he feared for hislife.
I witnessed some of what happened. I explained about the noise, the shouting, and the way he was kicking at the door. That wasn’t someone politely knocking to comein.
Vivienne then had to explain how she believed he had forged her signature, and although she didn’t want to press charges, the matter had been resolved. That had triggered just one of a long list of grievances Daniel had against his own family and Mackenzie. She asked for them to consider an order be put in place, so he couldn’t return to the house other than once, accompanied by a police officer, so he could collect any belongings he owned. She wasn’t acting when her shoulders slumped and her voice cracked. She wasn’t pretending when a tear leaked from one eye and ran down her perfectly made upface.
It wasn’t just Mackenzie who needed my support, but Vivienne and Gabriella aswell.
It was decided Alex was to head on over to Boston in a few days, and Gabriella was to stay with her mother for another week, until she was sure measures had been put in place to protect her. I wasn’t sure a week would be long enough; especially after a visit from FatherDickhead.
“I swear I didn’t know,” hepleaded.
Although I was sitting on the veranda with a cold juice, I could hear his brash voice boom around the kitchen and out to where Iwas.
“I believe you didn’t. The fact remains, however, knowing the relationship Daniel has with his family, a check should have been done. It doesn’t matter now, of course, the trust has been redesigned so all trustees have to countersign any and all documents. It’s a prudent security measure. I might get senile at some point, as may you. It’s protection for us all,” Vivienne informedhim.
He then mumbled something I didn’t quitecatch.
“If my husband were alive today, I can assure you, David, Daniel would have been cast out a long time ago. I’d advise that, since you aren’t a parent, you don’t tell me how to be one,” Vivienne said, with such a steely voice she reminded me of my old headmistress. Father Dickhead left shortly afterthat.
