Page 1 of The Maverick

CHAPTER1

Mid-September, Denver Colorado

Rachel Foster-Bennett watchedher son Jake tote the last box of his toys to his bedroom in their new house. Moving back to her hometown of Denver, Colorado and moving home from their penthouse in New York was a big undertaking. The fact that Greg kept showing up and scowling at her hadn’t helped. Just one more reason she was glad he was her ex-husband.

Even though he was across the street, he was within the five-hundred feet he was supposed to stay away from her. She’d had to remind him more than once that they weren’t married and if he didn’t leave, she’d call the police. He was violating the restraining order...yet, he didn’t seem worried, but his being there unsettled and disturbed Jake. So, she’d walked across the street to Greg and warned him. Three times. Finally, she had called the police, but he was gone by the time they got there. She supposed the action achieved what she’d wanted, he left, but she was frustrated the restraining order had so little teeth behind it.

Finally, the movers were gone; she had her kitchen in order. She and Jake ordered a pizza for dinner. After it arrived, the scent of pepperoni and cheese permeated the whole house. After taking a slice out for her and Jake, she placed the rest of the pizza in the oven at 170 degrees to keep warm.

“What do you want to do tonight, honey?” She took a bite, the gooey mozzarella forming strings from her mouth to the slice as she set the slice of pepperoni goodness on her plate. She gazed at Jake; he had a smile on his face and his emerald eyes twinkled.

Jake shrugged. “I don’t know. We could watch a movie.”

“Okay, they got the cable hooked up today, so that shouldn’t be a problem. What movie did you have in mind?”

He looked down and then up at her. “Well, I know it says I’m too young, because I’m only eight, but can’t we watchThe Avengers? Please, Mom, please.” He held his hands up like he was praying.

He looked at her with those big green eyes, so much like her own and those of her father, beseeching her to see his side.

She smiled and ruffled his hair. Rachel couldn’t turn down those eyes for anything. He’d been through so much already in his young life. Watching a movie was the least she could do to make him feel better. “Well, I know there’s some violence, but I don’t think it’s much like real-life violence. Let’s try it.”

While they sat on the sofa with their plates on the oak coffee table, she picked up the remote. She found the movie on one of the streaming platforms. After they finished the pizza, she took the remainder of it out of the oven and then made popcorn. After she got them both sodas, she launched the movie. The flat screen TV was mounted on the wall opposite the couch.

She’d tried to make a small conversation area with the Queen Anne chair at right angles to the sofa. The result wasn’t the best, but she couldn’t do much else right now. She didn’t want to buy a lot of furniture until she found a house to purchase.

Two-and-a-half hours later, the movie was over, and both she and Jake were still up from the excitement and full of popcorn. She’d even pulled out the M&M’s because she loved them with popcorn.

“So, what did you think of the movie?”

“I really liked it. I want to be like Ironman and fly through the air, fighting bad guys.” He made a fist and punched the air. “I’d make sure Daddy never hit you again.”

Her heart stopped, and then it melted. Of course, Jake had seen it. She’d tried to keep the abuse from him, but it was clear she hadn’t achieved her goal.

“Oh, honey.” She pulled him into a side hug. “I’m so sorry you were witness to any of that ugliness. But your father can’t hurt me anymore. The judge made sure of that when the divorce was final. And we’re here in Denver now. Your father might try to scare us into moving back to New York, but that won’t ever happen. This is our home now.”I have a good job that I was fortunate to get. Even if the position is that of an administrator, not a doctor, I’ll do it for the money and the stability it will bring. I can take care of Jake and not depend on Greg for anything ever again.

“I’m glad.” He cuddled into her, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his head on her chest.

Rachel closed her eyes to keep the tears at bay. How could Greg have done the things he did? Why didn’t Rachel possess the strength to stop it before the knowledge of what his father did harmed Jake?

She blinked back the tears and concentrated on Jake. “Do you like our new house? I know it’s not as big as our New York apartment, but it will be nice, especially in the summer. You’ll have a backyard to play in, and I can have a garden. What do you think about that?”

“I like it. I’m scared about making new friends at school, though.”

“Oh, Jakey. You won’t have any problems making new friends. You’re a good boy and make a great friend. Speaking of which, shouldn’t you be Zooming with Peter pretty soon?”

“Yeah, I almost forgot.” He jumped off the couch and ran upstairs to his room where his computer was.

Rachel wasn’t worried about him using the computer. She put on parental controls so he couldn’t surf any bad websites, but other than that, she let him do as he liked.

She cleaned up after their movie party and went into the kitchen to clean up from dinner. Looking out the window in the kitchen door, she saw someone standing outside it and knew it was Greg. Her stomach clenched, and she was afraid she might lose her dinner.

Taking her phone from her pants pocket, she pressed the button for her favorites and then the one for the police. Earlier, she’d found the number for non-emergencies and put it in her favorite listings.

“Denver Police Department. How can I direct you?”

“I have a restraining order against my ex-husband. He’s supposed to stay 500 feet from me but right now he’s standing right outside the back door from my kitchen. He’s trying to intimidate me, and I’d be very grateful it if someone could stop by the house.”

“I’ll send a patrol unit right away.”