Tag: Warren Montgomery

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Kingsport #53

Barbara Wilkes sat in the waiting room of the emergency room when Dr. Brooks came up to her with a woeful look. “Is he all right, doctor?” asked Barbara in a soft, hushed tone. “He seemed fine last night…”

Dr. Brooks glanced at the chart in her hands. “Mr. Wilkes seems to have Landry-Guillain-Barré syndrome. It’s either that or abdominal pain brought on by a hernia.”

“Oh.” Barbara wiped away a few stray tears. “I didn’t know what do when he collapsed.”

“It’s good you brought him in when you did. It could be an intestinal issue as well, but if the stomach cramps continue, bring him back. He should be all right in a couple of days.”

Barbara thanked the doctor for her help as a dark cloud covered her tear streaked face. She had done everything in her power to ensure Kenny would be out of her life forever and now the doctor was sending him home. Maybe she hadn’t used enough pills or used them quickly enough, but in that moment, Barbara knew she would have to alter her plan to rid Kenny from her life. Screwing up all of the false compassion inside of her, Barbara walked through the thin curtain to find Kenny on a gurney.

“Still feel like crap,” groaned Kenny. “Why’re they sendin’ me home?”

“You don’t have insurance and I can’t pay for you to stay here for six weeks.” Barbara drummed her fingers against her purse. “If you went back home, I’m sure someone would…”

“This is my home now,” sneered Kenny. “Can’t believe my gut’s betrayin’ me.”

“You’re not healthy. You spend my money on beer and pork rinds. Enough to make me sick just be watching you.”

Kenny reached out for Barbara’s hand, but she ignored him. “I’m sick. I need ya, girlie.”

Barbara took a sharp breath. “I have to pay the bill. You’re lucky I make decent money.” With that, Barbara spun around and left Kenny on the gurney. As she quickly walked into the restroom, Barbara knew she had to rid herself of his man once and for all. If the pills didn’t work, what would? As she racked her brains for an answer, she had a brilliant thought: If everyone thinks he’s incompetent or crazy, then she could assume total control of his life…and get rid of Kenny Wilkes once and for all…

“We should drop by the estate to check on Billy before I leave for Los Angeles.” Warren Montgomery finished his second martini of the night as he relaxed into his favorite leather chair.

Jill Stanhope Montgomery bit her lip with quiet resignation. “I don’t see why we should check on Billy. He’s fine.”

“He’s been humiliated,” corrected Warren. “I could kill Connor.”

“Warren, I know Connor is supposed to be your best friend, but…”

“But what, Jill? After Connor’s little stunt, he’s no friend of mine.”

Jill could feel her blood begin to boil at the mention of Connor’s name. She had been a fool to have sex with him days before his wedding to Will, but it wasn’t her fault because she needed to have a real man inside of her. To Jill’s surprise, the guilt she should have felt had yet to surface. “I don’t think it’s worth throwing away your friendship with Connor because of what happened to Will.”

Warren shook his head with grave resignation. “I wouldn’t expect to you have any compassion for my brother, Jill. I know you hate him because he’s gay.”

“That’s not true,” Jill protested hollowly. “It’s just…”

Warren raised a defiant hand. “Don’t even brother.” He rose from his chair, closed the large French doors, and said, “No one deserves that kind of public humiliation.”

Jill let out a frustrated sigh. “Have you talked to your parents?”

“I talked to my dad. He said that Billy is still locked away in his bedroom suite, but he’s eating and will leave the estate to ride Sir Galahad, but that’s it. Billy won’t speak to anyone right now.”

“Then us going over there won’t do any good. Warren, if you want to see Will, then go without me. Me being there will only make matters worse.”

“I suppose you’re right,” reasoned Warren. “Anyway, it’s late. I should get to bed. Good night, Jill.”

Jill watched her husband walk upstairs before she let out a sigh of relief. She hadn’t been subjected to Will and Connor’s wedding, her daughters hadn’t been in their wedding party, she’d been able to sleep with Connor, and he’d left town. Everything was working out in Jill’s world. A small smile crossed her lips as Jill realized she could get away with anything… Little did she know, but her world was close to imploding in a way she never could have dreamed…

 

In our next installment, Dylan sounds the alarm…

 

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Kingsport #50

“All of Kingsport, Manhattan, London, Paris, and Hong Kong are a twitter with the news of today’s wedding of Montgomery scion, William Harrison Montgomery to Dr. Connor Lorenzo Windsor, both of Kingsport, Connecticut. The wedding ceremony will take place at a private chapel on the Montgomery Estate for close family and invited guests before the reception which is rumored to be hosted in the grand ballroom on the estate for three hundred and fifty people,” explained the Kingsport Press in breathless detail. “William Montgomery, the youngest child of Charles Montgomery, IV and Alison Farrell Montgomery, is the owner of the Kingsport Polo Club as well as the captain for the King’s Polo team. Dr. Connor Windsor, the eldest child of Alistair and Raquel Windsor, is a surgeon at Fairfield County Hospital…”

Jill Stanhope Montgomery tossed the newspaper aside as she took a deep, cleansing breath. Although she tried to block out the events of the other from her mind, she couldn’t stop thinking about her moment of passion with Connor. Her body ached for him. He still knew everything that made her quiver, cry, moan, and melt. Warren hadn’t had sex with her in three months. To have a man inside of her…on top of her…and ravaging her made Jill want nothing more than to run off with the man who was due to marry her brother-in-law at eleven o’clock this morning.

“Are you ready?” Warren Montgomery walked into his wife’s dressing room as he fastened his nineteenth century cuff links.

“DeShawn will be here to do my hair in a few minutes. We won’t be late.”

Warren eyed Jill carefully. “We can’t be late for my brother’s wedding,” stressed Warren. “I’m his best man.”

Jill fastened an emerald and sapphire bracelet around her wrist. “We’ll be early,” smiled Jill, lightly.

“We should’ve stayed at the estate last night,” muttered Warren. “With all of the out of town guests coming in today, there may be traffic.”

“We’ll be fine,” sighed Jill. “Warren, I want to apologize.”

“For what?”

“Everything. I know I haven’t been myself recently and I am sorry. I should have put my personal beliefs and feelings aside when it came to Will’s wedding.”

Touched by his wife’s sudden about face, Warren kissed her forehead. “That means a lot. Thank you, Jill.”

Just then, the doorbell rang as Jill’s phone bleated to life. “That’s DeShawn. Showtime,” tittered Jill.

            “I don’t think we should be talking right now,” Nicholas said into his cell phone as he waited to climb into an idling black town car. “What we did the other night…”
“We didn’t do anything wrong. It was just a kiss,” whispered Will.

“You’re getting married today. I knew it was a bad idea letting myself get sucked into your orbit again,” snapped Nicholas.

“Please don’t be mad at me, Nicholas. I… I was in a weak state and I should’ve known better,” stammered Will. “I just… Help me make sense of what to do, Nicholas.”

“I can’t, Monty. You’re on your own.”

“Nicholas…”

“Monty, I can’t be your talk-to. If you want to marry Connor, marry him. If you don’t, call it off. Either way, the decision is yours. I can’t… No, I won’t be your consolation prize or back-up plan. Whatever you do next, you have to do it on your own.”

The chapel on the Montgomery Estate was last used on the occasion of Warren’s wedding to Jill. Outside of that, the chapel sat dormant except of weekly cleanings and the off times when the Montgomery family would use it to repent for sins of the past, present, and future. Sheila Davenport, Dylan Davenport, Lisa Davenport Collins, Jackson Collins, Oliver Collins, Elijah Davenport, Faren Davenport, and Nicholas Davenport made

their way into the chapel past the assembled press dressed in their finest wedding couture. Eli led Faren towards the holding area where she joined her cousins, Hannah and Kate Montgomery, the other flower girls in the wedding party.

“How tastefully done,” Sheila said to Dylan, who walked by her side.

“I suppose,” muttered Dylan. “I’m surprised Charles allowed the press to attend.”

Sheila pursed her lips. “Raquel Windsor begged for press coverage. People like Raquel think the Montgomerys are a royal family.”

“Aren’t they?” mused Dylan.

“Royalty doesn’t have this much money,” tutted Sheila.

“I didn’t think you’d come to your ex-boyfriend’s wedding,” Lisa whispered to Nicholas as they made their way to their pew.

Nicholas lowered his eyes before saying, “If I didn’t come, people would talk. I’m happy for them.”

Lisa gave Nicholas a curious stare. “All right. If that’s the story you want to tell…”

“Drop it,” Nicholas ordered his sister. “Let’s enjoy the wedding.”

In a small sun drenched waiting room, Will waited calmly as Warren finished tying his bow tie. “Is everyone here?” worried Will.

“Yes,” said Warren, calmly. “Uncle Walton and his brood just showed up.”

“How do you know for sure?”

“Jill texted me. Everything is going to be fine, Billy.”

Will forced a smile onto his face. Despite everything that had happened, he could feel the clouds lift. He was getting married today to the man he loved! Will couldn’t think of anything more wonderful. A second later, the clock stuck eleven. Without a word, Will drew a deep breath before leaving the room and walking towards the altar.

It had been agreed that Will would begin the processional with Alison and Charles followed by Connor and his parents. After what seemed like years of stress and worry, Will cast a confidant eye over the his wedding guests. They were dressed in their finest morning clothes just for the occasion. Even his sister, India, and his sister-in-law, Jill, looked good. Will smiled confidently at Nicholas Davenport because he knew his future was with Connor. As Will took his place at the altar with Warren by his side, they faced up the aisle to await Connor’s entrance. The music swelled and…

Nothing.

Silence.

Three seconds (which felt like six years) ticked by.

More silence.

Someone coughed.

Silence.

People looked at each other with mounting concern coupled with polite society smiles.

More people coughed.

Will turned to Warren with pensive dread in his eyes.

Alison grabbed Charles’ hand with a heavy squeeze. Their eyes locked ever so briefly before they both cast them to the stone floor.

Suddenly, the door to the chapel opened.

Everyone turned around with eager anticipation.

Alistair Windsor stepped into the chapel with a worn look on his face. “We… He’s gone. We don’t know where he is. Will…I’m so sorry.”

Will let out a scream so deafening, it sounded primal. His blood ran cold before he collapsed into Warren’s arms in front of the entire congregation. A second later, everything went black.

 

In our next installment, questions abound in Kingsport…

 

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Kingsport #48

“Jill… What a pleasant surprise.”

Jill Stanhope Montgomery pushed her way into Dr. Connor Windsor’s house with her black alligator purse clutched tight to her body. “You can’t marry Will.”

“Why? You’re jealous, aren’t you, Jill?”

“Me?!? I have Warren. I’m not jealous of Will!”

Connor sidled up to her, his eyes colored with raw passion. “Don’t lie, Jill.” He ran his hand across her soft arms. “You’ve always had a thing for me. I gave you a few wild nights of passion before you met Warren and…well, it looks like you haven’t been able to forget them.”

Jill held her breath until she almost passed out. She turned to Connor just enough that he couldn’t read the torn expression on her face. “I love Warren.”

“And yet… You deny nothing, yet admit everything.”

“Connor, if you marry Billy… I’ll tell him about our past.”

“Okay. Do it.”

“What???” stammered Jill.

“Tell Will. I don’t care. He loves me. He’ll forgive me for something I did…multiple times…before I started seeing him.” Connor deftly rubbed Jill’s inner right thigh as she tried to suppress a moan of utter delight. “You’ll never say anything… You don’t want the Montgomerys to know about our…little past…”

“They would if they knew what you were really like,” shot back Jill.

Connor let out a humored grunt. “Oh, yeah? What am I really like, Jill? Go on. Tell me.”

“You use people. You used me for sex and then tossed me aside.”

“Wow. Okay. So, that’s what it’s like when someone re-writes history. The minute Warren Montgomery showed the slightest interest in you, you dropped me, Jill. You wanted to lock down the local billionaire’s son and you did it! You’re nothing but a common gold digger with some pedigree behind her name.”

“You’re doing the same thing with Will!”

Connor nearly slammed his hand into the wall as he screamed, “Don’t you ever say that again!”

“It’s true, Connor! We both know it! You couldn’t get India, so you went after her brother! We both know you’re not even gay!”

“I’m warning you, Jill…!”

“Warn me all you want, Connor, but I have nothing left to lose. My husband can’t stand me. His family merely tolerates me. And you… You can’t stand that I can see right through you. You pretend to be upright, moral, and loveable, but you’re just as deplorable as the rest of us!”

Connor raised his hand to strike Jill when something inside of him forced him to step back. “Get out of my house,” he roared.

“Not until you call of this wedding.”

“Get out of my house, Jill!!!”

“No!” She grabbed Connor by the shoulder and turned him towards her. Jill looked into his wild eyes when something came over her. In that moment, their lips met, her hands found his penis, and his hands removed her panties. Before they knew it, they were having raw, passionate, unbridled sex in the foyer of Connor’s house. Because, they both knew, it was exactly what they needed, wanted, and desired.

“Thank you for not throwing me a bachelor party, Warren.” Will polished off his steak as he and his brother clinked their wine glasses together in the dining room of the Kingsport Country Club. “Dinner was nice.”

“It’s nice to spend some time with you, Billy. I know I haven’t been very present…”

“I don’t mind…”

“I know, but you’re my baby brother and you’re getting married. I’m sorry if I’ve been a bad brother.”

“You haven’t,” insisted Will. “I’m kind of glad the family office and the wedding planners handled everything. It’s been nice to sit back…for the most part.”

“Then you’re happy?”

Will chewed on this for a moment before saying, “Yes. I am. For the first time in a long time, I am happy. I was having doubts, but Nicholas…”

“Wait,” interjected Warren. “Back up. Nicholas Davenport?”

Will nodded innocently. “I ran into him a few days ago. He’s thinking about moving back to town.”

Warren listened dutifully. He knew all too well how much Will and Nicholas meant to each other when they first started dating the summer they graduated from high school. They were lovestruck, moonstruck, and thunderstruck in such a way that everyone assumed they would marry after college and unite the Montgomery and Davenport families. However, fate intervened and their happily ever after ended due to events Warren still didn’t know were true. “Billy, do you think it’s such a good idea to talk about Connor to Nicholas? You two have a lot of history.”

Will shifted in his seat uncomfortable. He knew his brother was looking out for him, but sometimes his concern bordered on oppressive. “Warren, I’m not nineteen anymore. Nicholas and I, well, we haven’t stayed in touch. There’s no animus between us. I mean, he’s invited to my wedding for crying out loud. Nicholas is happy for me.”

“As long as you two are strictly friends…”

“Yes. Warren, I’m getting married in a few days! I never thought this day would come! After all of the men over so many years, I’m marring the man I love without nary a worry in the world. I must be the luckiest man in the world, Warren. Seriously. Come September 8th, my life will be perfect with my husband by my side…and no one will be able to stop us. No one, Warren.”

 

In our next installment, it’s Labor Day at the country club…

 

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Kingsport #44

“Nicholas?”

Nicholas Davenport turned around to see Will Montgomery standing behind him at Tiffany & Jo, Kingsport’s favorite coffee shop for those who could afford to sit in a café all day, every day and order ten nine-dollar cappuccinos. “Hey, stranger,” smiled Nicholas as he gave Will a tight hug. It had been years since they’d seen each other, despite the fact that they shared a niece in Faren. “Your big day is coming up, isn’t it?”

“Yeah,” said Will in a low, voice. “Happiest day of my life.”

Nicholas gave Will a curious look because Will’s tone as one he knew all too well. “I have a few minutes…if you want to talk.”

“No. Nicholas, I can’t…” Will jammed his hands into his bespoke jeans. “You’re my ex-boyfriend…”

Nicholas gave Will a playful punch on his arm. “That’s why you can talk to me. I know your bullshit better than most people.”

Will placed their order with a passing waiter as they sequestered themselves into the back booth of Tiffany & Jo. “I guess you haven’t heard.”

“Heard what? I got back to town this morning. I’m staying with Dylan.”

“Are you moving back to Kingsport?”

Nicholas shrugged. “I’m not sure. We’ll see. Anyway, what should I have heard about, Will?”

“India leaked a story to the Kingsport Press about the issues and fights Connor and I have been having about the wedding. It was an absolute mess. My parents are livid, Connor is furious, and the whole thing is just one big minefield.” Will clamed up as the waiter dropped off their oat milk cappuccinos and two croissants with extra butter on the side. “Everything was going fine until India came back from Paris and now my life feels like it’s going to implode if I go through with my wedding to Connor.”

“You love Connor, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then why are you letting India goad you, Will? She’s always been this way. No matter what you have, she wants it. I don’t think doubting your love for Connor is the wisest thing to do.”

“But he’s changed so much, Nicholas. With India back in town, Connor has been morose, sullen, quick to temper, and just…prickly… I don’t know what’s wrong with him.”

“Well, India has done her best to ruin his life, too. Maybe you two should close ranks where India is concerned and forget she exists.”

Will mulled over Nicholas’ words for a long while. He knew his ex-boyfriend had a point. Will also knew that Nicholas only wanted what was best for him without the veil of a hidden agenda lurking in the shadows. “You don’t have to be so nice to me,” teased Will.

“You’re not that bad, Monty.” Nicholas gave Will a wink as he said the nickname he’d bestowed on Will so many years ago. “Look, for what it’s worth, I want you to be happy. From what I’ve heard about you and Connor, you guys are pretty solid. Letting India ruin your happily ever after won’t solve anything. We both know if it’s not Connor, it’ll be someone else who’s the object of India’s obsession. You can’t let her win, Will.”

“I’m not,” protested Will.

“You are,” insisted Nicholas. “If you call off your wedding to Connor, India has won. I promise you that, Monty.”

“Then what should I do?”

“I can’t tell you that,” said Nicholas, carefully. While he loved Will for more years than he could count, he knew better than to give too much of himself to this man. “I think you know what to do.”

Will nodded in agreement. Whether he wanted to admit it or not, his ex-boyfriend, the first man he’d ever loved, was now the only person who made him face the reality of the situation. Despite what India said or did, Will loved Connor and he was determined to make him his husband, no matter what.

“Jill, we need to talk.”

Jill Stanhope Montgomery rolled her eyes as she smoothed the invisible wrinkles from her sun dress in the expansive master suite in the mansion she shared with Warren and their daughters. “I’m meeting Lisa for a late breakfast at the country club. We can talk later.”

“No, we’re going to talk now,” Warren said in a firm, unyielding voice.

Jill turned to her husband with a curious look in her eye. “Don’t take that tone with me, Warren. I don’t work for you.”

“I spoke with India the other day. She told me something very intriguing.”

“God. I don’t know why you bother listening to her. We all know what she’s like.”

“You see, that’s the curious thing. I know exactly what she’s like, Jill. I also know when she’s lying to me.” Warren walked behind his wife and placed his strong hands on her trembling waist. “I know you told India about Billy and Connor’s fight,” Warren whispered into her ear.

Jill did everything in her power to stop from screaming out of sheer astonishment. “That’s a lie,” stammered Jill. “I never…”

“You were at the estate that day. My mother confirmed you were there. I also know that you were in the vicinity of the English garden where my mother and Sheila were having a private conversation.” Warren’s eyes flashed with heated fury. “I want the truth out of you, Jill, and I want it now.”

Jill turned to her husband with fear in her heart. She couldn’t believe that Warren would trust anything India told him, but she had to correct this situation before she lost everything she’d worked so hard to keep. “It…India threatened me. I…only told her about the fight because she was going on and on about the wedding,” lied Jill. “I thought she might want to know that Will and Connor weren’t very in love that day.”

“Do you understand what you’ve done?!? Billy and India have always had a horrible relationship. She’s been after Connor for years and she’s the one who leaked the story to the press because of you! My family has been humiliated! Billy’s been in bits! People are gossiping about my family like we’re some common reality TV trash!”

“Warren, I didn’t know…”

“You knew exactly what you were doing, Jill! Do not insult my intelligence by stating otherwise. You know how unstable India can be and yet you weaponized her mental health because you disapprove of Billy’s marriage to Connor!”

“That’s not true,” cried Jill. “Warren, please! You have to believe me!” She fell into his arms with heavy sobs before he pushed her away from him. “You disgust me. What you’ve done… It’s vile, Jill. I can’t stand to look at you right now,” spat Warren.

“What are you going to do?” asked Jill in a small, pensive voice.

Warren glared at her with vicious contempt. “You don’t deserve my mercy, but you will do two things in return for me not telling my family that you told India about Billy’s private life.”

Jill looked up at Warren, her red eyes on display. “What?”

“You will attend Billy and Connor’s wedding. Hannah and Kate will be flower girls in the wedding, too. End of. We will not have this conversation again.” Warren grabbed his car keys from the dressing table before turning to his wife, who sat motionless on their handcrafted bed. “Oh, and Jill, if you keep playing games with my family, you will lose. I will see to it.”

Jill waited for the sound of her husband’s car to disappear before she rose from the bed, dried her eyes, and began to reapply her make-up. Yes, she knew exactly what she had done when she gossiped to India. And, for a brief while, her plan had worked. However, one thing Jill knew for sure was that anything could happen between now and that infernal wedding. In that moment, Jill resolved to do whatever she could to ensure Will’s wedding never happened…even if her history with Connor proved to be the final salvo in this deadly game.

 

In our next installment, Ada confronts Barbara as Alison prepares for the future…

 

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Kingsport #43

“Engagement of the Century Called Off: Behind the fights, battles, and brawls which ruined Will Montgomery’s chance for happiness!”

The headline blared across the front page of the Kingsport Press with such immediacy no one could tell if the headline was a cruel joke or a vindictive attempt at the truth. From the confines of the country club to well-appointed breakfast rooms to the docks of Kingsport, everyone (even those who claimed they had no vested interest in society) was shocked by the headline which assaulted their mundane breakfast and morning commutes. Even the most intrepid gossipmongers couldn’t believe their eyes which made them call the Kingsport Press only to find that their telephone lines were jam packed with reporters from around the world wanting an exclusive of one sort or another.

There was one person who knew all too well that while the headline dripped of truth, it didn’t represent the facts of Will’s engagement to Connor. Yes, he knew that Will could be terribly passive and wholly difficult, while Connor liked to have things his own way, lest everyone else suffer the repercussions. However, this person also knew a hit job when he saw one. He could feel…sense…that there was one person behind this story…and as he stood on the precipice of confrontation, Warren Montgomery knew that if he didn’t confront the culprit behind this story once and for all, there would never be peace in his family.

“Thank you for meeting with me.” Warren Montgomery let out a jagged cough before saying, “I take it you’ve seen this dreck?”

India Montgomery watched as Warren dropped the Kingsport Press on a marble coffee table in the Morning Room of the Montgomery Estate. Her eyes flickered over the overwrought headline before she said, “Oh. No. I haven’t.”

Warren eyed his sister with intense scrutiny. His sister was someone most people couldn’t bear to be around due to her unpredictable nature. He, however, knew her for exactly who she was. After all, he’d known her since the day of her birth in a way no one, not even their parents could claim. “India, please tell me you didn’t go to the press with this…gossip…”

“Warren, please don’t look at me like that! I… I didn’t do… This isn’t my fault!”

“Then you admit it?!? You always say that it isn’t your fault before you reveal that you’re behind it.” Warren let out a furious growl. “I can’t believe you would do this to Billy!”

“I didn’t mean to do it! I… Warren,” India began, desperately, “it wasn’t my fault. I promise.” Her dark eyes flickered with unknown mystery. “I don’t know what happened. One minute I was…and the next…” Her voice cracked with hopeless resignation as the tears began to flow. “Warren, you have to believe me!! Everyone else has written me off…but you…you’re the only person I can trust!”

“I can’t believe you would do this to Billy! He’s getting married in two weeks!”

“But Connor doesn’t love him, Warren!” stated India with grave intensity. “Connor’s a very bad man!”

“Not this again,” groaned Warren. “Connor has been far too patient with you over the last decade. You’re lucky that Mom and Dad have the resources to keep you away from legal action, India. If you were from some trailer park or something, you’d be in jail right now.”

“Warren, please, listen to me. I only…the reason I told the newspaper about Billy and Connor’s fight and the drama surrounding their wedding is…well, it’s true!”

“He’s our brother,” thundered Warren. “You’ve betrayed him in the worst way!”

“But I didn’t!”

“You just admitted…”

“I told the papers, but I only told them what I heard!”

“What?”

“Warren, I didn’t… Jill was the one who told me about the big fight Connor and Will had the other week. She told me.” India lowered his eyes as she said in a low, dark voice, “I’m sorry, Warren.”

“You’re lying,” seethed Warren. “Jill would never…”

“She did!” interjected India. “And she did it without any help from me. She gladly told me about the fight Connor and Billy had when they were looking at centerpieces or whatever. If you want to blame someone, blame your wife,” spat India, viciously.

Warren stared at his sister with dumbfounded disbelief. He knew Jill didn’t approve of Will’s marriage to Connor, but he never would have guessed that his wife would have told India about their ongoing problems. “Jill… India, you must be mistaken. You’ve always had a tenuous grasp on the truth.”

India let out a frustrated chuckle. “Me?? Oh, that’s right. I’m the crazy one. I’m the one who can’t tell her elbow from her ass. No matter what this family thinks of me, I’m not crazy, Warren. Jill told me what she knew and I told the press. Either way, Connor has no business marrying Billy when he’s already told me that he doesn’t love Billy.”

“He told you that?”

India nodded with satisfied glee. “Connor wants to be with me…and as soon as this article renders his marriage to Billy moot, then he’ll come back to me.”

“You really will do anything to feed your delusional dreams, won’t you, India?”

“Warren,” gasped India, “I’m telling you the truth!”

“No! You’re telling me what I want to hear. I pray to God that Billy and Connor are smart enough not to let this story ruin their wedding day.”

“You’re not going to tell them that it was me, are you? If you do, I’d just die, Warren!” India’s eyes flashed with shades of horror and fear. “I don’t know what I’d do… I… Please, Warren,” pleaded India, basely, “don’t tell them it was me!” Her eyes filled with cold, salty tears. “Oh, god! If Jill hadn’t told me then none of this would’ve happened. I hate myself, Warren. Please…please…”

Warren cast a disgusted eye on his sister, who was sobbing on her knees in the Morning Room of their family’s estate. He didn’t know what to say to her, but he’d seen this act many times before. In that moment, Warren knew that the only thing he could do was walk away from his sister. He had to ensure that Billy was all right and that Connor wasn’t taking him for a ride. Moreover, Warren had to confront Jill about her alleged role in India leaking this story to the press. If his wife was behind it, then Warren had no idea what to do next. However, he knew all too well that India lived in a world of fantasy and delusion, but, on occasion, that world collided with that of truth and reality…

 

In our next installment, Will makes a decision as Nicholas returns to Kingsport…

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Kingsport #28

 

Warren Montgomery stood by the large bay window in his father’s office on the Montgomery Estate as a thousand conflicting thoughts raced through his mind like wild horses. He hadn’t wanted to see his father, Charles, today, but they had business to attend to including Kate and Hannah’s trust funds, Walt’s ongoing legal problems, and the one issue Warren needed to discuss more than anything else in the world. Warren was pulled from his reverie when he heard Charles walk into his office while talking in a low, hushed voice on his cell phone.

“Yes… It’s something we can discuss…later,” Charles said as he caught sight of his son. Without another word, Charles ended the call with a small smirk. “Warren. To what do I owe the pleasure. I thought you and Jill headed up to Maine yesterday.”

Warren cleared his throat. “Jill went up with the girls. Her sister, Delphine, will join them. I decided to stay in town.” He sat in a high back chair and removed a stack of papers from his briefcase. “With regard to Uncle Walt’s case, we’re nearly settled on a fine. It seems some in the prosecutor’s office want to send him to federal prison as an example to those who may step out of line in the future. I pointed out that Montgomery Industries will pay the fine along with establishing a clean energy fund of up to two billion dollars for use over a decade. Money talks, so that should be the end of it. I’m just waiting for opposing counsel to sign off on it.”

Charles examined the papers closely. He knew simply paying the fine would be enough to allow him to move on from this incident. Walton was an idiot – everyone knew it – but Charles saw no use in his younger brother going to jail all the while sullying the Montgomery name. “Do whatever it takes to keep him out of jail. The company will pay whatever fines are necessary. We’ll get The Chemical Alliance Company out of this trouble one way or another. Warren, I want you to talk to Janet Ruiz about Walton selling me, Alice, and Sandra the equivalent of his stock in Montgomery Industries as reimbursement to the other company’s owners for cleaning up his dirty work.” Charles lowered his voice, “Make it known to Walt and his lawyers that this is not a suggestion.”

“Understood.” Warren cleared his throat before adding, “Dad, I want to be added as an executor to Kate and Hannah’s trust funds.”

“Whatever for?” chortled Charles. “It’s not glamorous work, Warren.”

“I want to know what’s going on. I trust you, Mom, and the executors from the bank, but I should have a say.” Warren chewed on his bottom lip before adding, “Jill and I are having…problems. She’s against Billy’s wedding to Connor and she’s refusing to allow Kate and Hannah to be flower girls in the wedding.”

Charles took a sharp breath. “I thought we’d beaten the wild streak out of that one.”

“It’s not that easy. I never realized how homophobic and…traditional…the Stanhopes were until I saw it for myself a few days ago.”

“For a family without any money to speak of, they seem to be above themselves,” sniffed Charles.

“It’s worse than that. I’m afraid that Jill’s beliefs will seep into our children. I don’t want them to think their uncle is some sort of wicked degenerate because he’s gay.”

“If Jill has a problem with Billy, then she has a problem with the family. Despite what people may think about Billy and Connor, at the end of the day, it’s a family matter, not one for outsiders to dissect for their own gain. The bigger problem is that Jill is the mother of my grandchildren. That makes her an ongoing concern, Warren.”

“Dad, I don’t know what to do. Part of me wants to divorce her…just be done with it… The other part of me does love her and wants to work through it.” Warren released a pained sigh. “There’s no right thing to do.”

“There will never be a right thing to do, Warren. I’m still married to your mother because it’s easier to keep her. Well, it’s easier when she’s in Paris than when she’s out and about in Kingsport with Sheila. It is not for me to give you advice, but I will remind you that you have the upper hand with Jill.”

“Dad…”

“Warren, I’m serious. Your prenuptial agreement is iron clad. The jewels you’ve lavished on her are in trust; the same with your house. She can’t access a dime from Hannah or Kate’s trust funds unless you predecease her and then she only can access a portion of the income until they each turn eighteen. After that, she gets a quarterly stipend along with the right to live in your house until she remarries. If she divorces you, she gets nothing except the clothes on her back. That woman would do well to remember that,” bit Charles.

As much as Warren loved his father, his blood always ran cold with how clinical Charles could be when discussing matters of money with his family. “Dad, I don’t want to leave her with nothing.”

“Warren, if you want to have a separate divorce agreement which is attached to your income, so be it. Your wife will never get her hands on the Montgomery money, trusts, property, or the like. If you want to be rid of her, then get rid of her.”

“It’s not that easy…”

“While I don’t approve of divorce before children have graduated from college, if this is an extreme situation, then you will have my support.” Charles walked over to his eldest child and sat in the chair next to him. “I don’t want my granddaughters raised by a homophobic woman who loathes one of my sons because he’s gay. It’s not right. I won’t stand for it and neither will your mother.”

Warren gazed at Charles quizzically. “You and Mom are best friends now?”

“When it comes to our children, we’ve always been a united front,” Charles stated, firmly. “You have to do what’s best for your children, Warren. End of.”

Warren pondered his father’s words as he called for his car and walked to the forecourt of the Montgomery Estate. All around him, the ghosts of a million years rushed past him. So much of his life had happened on this estate: His first kiss; where he lost his virginity; his wedding day; and the countless happy times his family had shared before he realized just how unhappy they were. Charles and Alison were always at odds; India hated Will. Warren knew what it was like to grow up in a world filled with acrimony and polite condensation. That wasn’t what he wanted for his daughters; he knew they deserved happiness…and as little suffering as possible. Warren’s marriage to Jill was already sexless. He could wait until Kate finished college before he finally divorced Jill. He could wait that long if he had to. At the end of the day, Warren knew his family meant the world to him…and if Jill insisted on being a former member of his family, then so be it.

In our next installment, Lisa gets some news…

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