Hot Coffee (The Hollens) novel Chapter 42

Ethan's POV

She was gone. She just up and left. It's funny how relationships change overnight. One minute you're happy the next you're left all alone with sorrow in your soul.

It was Saturday morning. I wasn't going into the office today because I'd promised my Nana I would spend the day with her at the golf course. I hadn't seen her since the birthday party and I was looking forward to some of her wisdom.

After showering and getting dressed in denim jeans and a plain white T-shirt with white sneakers, I took my black SUV from the mansion's garage. It wasn't one of my favorite cars but it was a comfortable ride for my Nana and it was spacious enough for the golf clubs, picnic basket and cooler for drinks.

It was sunny and bright as I drove down the street and took the first intersection to her mansion. It was much smaller than mine but it was suitable for her; she lived alone; my grandfather passed away three years ago. Her mansion had its security guards and systems, automatic voice recognition gate, and a nice swimming pool at the front. It was located on a hill side and looked a lot like the country. I used to love coming here before I bought my own house.

"Ethan, you came!" She look so cheerful in a white flower printed dress and a white hat.

"Hi Nana, of course I came," I returned her hug.

"But why didn't you bring Emma along? The fresh air, she would have loved it. Oh baby, go back for Emma." She pulled playfully on my cheeks, which was one of her favorite things to do when asking for a favor.

My facial expression immediately changed. I already missed Emma. Letting her walk away from me was the stupidest thing I had ever done, but I didn't want to hold her against her will. She wanted to leave.

"Nana, that's not going to be possible," I said, placing the cooler into the van.

"Why is that?"

I didn't answer.

"Ethan! What did you do?"

"Nana, she left. She threw the ring at me and she left."

"Why'd she throw the ring? She's not crazy; she wouldn't just throw the ring for no reason."

"I almost cheated on her and the woman I almost cheated with left her underwear in my jacket and Emma found it." I placed the clubs in the van also then the picnic basket.

She got in the passenger's front seat, fanning herself with the hat. I knew she was upset because she was silent the entire ride to the golf course.

It was midday when we arrived. There were other golfers around and I really wanted to try my swing against her, but Nana's mood was now gloomy and dark. She wasn't up for golfing anymore. She just sat on a bench.



"Nana, I'm sorry I messed up things with her. I know you were fond of her."

"You have to fix this. How careless of you to be in another woman's arms while your fiancee was at home waiting for you!"

"Nana, I wasn't thinking straight. I've been under a lot of pressure, especially with the company."

"What pressure?"

"Well,  remember when I explained to you about the project for expansion? Well it had been disapproved."

"Why?"

"I didn't have the collateral. I needed my trust and, as you know, I have to get married and become a father or the verge of becoming a father."

"Oh my goodness, Ethan. Please don't tell me that you took the frustration out on that poor girl because she had a miscarriage."

I hesitated to answer. Was that what I did?

Sharon's POV

"Sharon, this taste like old socks!" Mrs. Hollen screamed at me and pushed my homemade pizza across the small wooden table.

We'd been in hiding in Italy since we'd kidnapped Emma and found out that she was still alive. The stupid driver was supposed to put a bullet in her skull then dump her in the swamp for crocodiles or alligators or huge fish to feast on; but he screwed us over. The police caught him and he admitted to everything. That fool! 

"I'm sick of this place. There are too many mosquitoes. My back aches from that hard mattress. I've had it!" She shouted again, swatting at a mosquito and missing wildly.

We were in a tiny house, far from civilization. We ate fruits and nuts from trees and, when we were in need of groceries, would dress in full clothing, leaving only our eyes exposed, and travel into the city.

"Mrs. Hollen, please. At least I tried. The soup you made Wednesday gave us the runs."

She glanced furiously at me and stood up, arching her back. She went towards the small bedroom and lay on her hard mattress.

"I'll leave some for you!" I called.

"Shove it where the sun don't shine!"

"How do you plan on getting our lives back to the way they were? We're wanted by the police."

"I know that, Sharon. Do you think I don't know that? I don't know how we're going to fix this. I didn't know she was pregnant. I injured the woman pregnant with my grandchild."

"She might not be pregnant, Kate. Word is she lost the baby."

"Well, you've accomplished phase one."

"We. We're in this together. We've accomplished phrase one!" I corrected as I approached her room and pushed in the door. "You're not backing out on me, we're in this together. I say we use your damn connections, get new identities, go back to America, and finish the damn job. That little bitch ruined my life. She took away our chances at wealth; she took away my fiancee and my wedding. I want her dead!This time, I'll do it myself."