Meryl and Don-Love and Only Love Chapter 28, Part 2
“Ready for another day?” Don asked lifting her hand he was holding to his lips as they walked into the courthouse.
Meryl tiredly smiled at him. “As long as I have you and he is put away forever.”
“You always have me.” Don winked at her. “And we are going to do everything we can to make sure he is.”
Larry rushed to them. “Thank God you’re here. Listen, I have postponed the trial for a little bit this morning.”
“What’s wrong?” Don’s heart sank as he saw the look on his best friend’s face.
Larry ushered them into a small conference room. “There have been some developments that will be presented today; but I wanted to talk to you two before we begin. I don’t want you to be caught off guard by the new evidence I am going to present.”
“What new evidence? Is it good?” Meryl asked as they all sat down.
Larry took a deep breath; he wasn’t sure who he was more worried about regarding this news-Don or Meryl. “It will help put him away, yes; but it is disturbing and upsetting.”
“Tell us, Larry. What in the hell is going on? I thought all the evidence had been submitted.” Don said.
Larry decided it was best to just do it. “Okay, my investigators found a house he was living in last night. It’s in Indianapolis.”
“He owned a home in Indy?” Don was shocked.
Larry shook his head. “He was renting it from, well…”
“James.” Don said as his face got red as Larry nodded.
Meryl held onto Don’s hand tightly. “Okay, they were in cahoots. Not exactly surprising as James is a fucking bastard and has tried to break us up for 23 years; as well as he the fact that he has been defending Mann. Is that all?”
“I wish.” Larry sighed as he took out pictures. “We obtained a search warrant for the house and found a shrine to you, Meryl. As you can see, Don, you were cut out of every picture he took. He has every movie, every television appearance she has ever made on tape. Every movie poster. Every magazine article. Pictures of the kids. Every PlayBill for every play you’ve been in.”
Don looked at picture after picture and felt sick. “He’s followed us on vacations, was there at the hospital when we were leaving with each baby except Mamie since he was in jail then; even with Lou in California. At Mamie and Henry’s graduations. He was at her locations even the ones I was at with the kids.”
“He’s been stalking us for 20 years; he wants Don dead. He wants me.” Meryl choked as silent tears streamed down her face.
Don held her close. “Nothings going to happen to any of us anymore. My fucking father helped him?”
“I think so, but unfortunately I have no proof other than him renting a house that James owns.” Larry added.
Meryl nodded, trying to make her husband feel better. “Which he owns properties all over Indianapolis with your mom.”
“This is too fucking coincidental. I’m sure Mom doesn’t even know who rents the properties since he keeps his whores like Peggy in them, I’m pretty sure.” Don was beyond furious. “Surely we can charge him as an accessory. There HAS to be something we can nail him for. My God, he’s not only threatened to rape her, he’s helped the fucker who has been out for her almost as long as we have been married!”
Larry waited for the outburst. “We have no evidence; I can try to dig if you want. You know nothing would make me happier than to nail him.”
“No.” Meryl said.
Don looked at her like she was crazy. “Meryl, my FATHER has helped this fucker to attack you and terrorize our family. I’m not gonna let him get away with it. He has caused all this pain.”
“What good would it do to bring your father up on charges? He has tried to hurt us for over 20 years and he can’t touch us. He will NEVER succeed, sweetheart. I just want Mann put away forever.” Meryl was absolutely tired of all this shit. “Larry, this will help put him away; won’t it?”
Larry nodded. “It’s pretty much in the bag. Listen, I’m sorry to spring this on you two but it just came to light and I didn’t want you to be blindsided in there.”
“I really appreciate it.” Don was feeling sick. “I guess it’s better for me to blow up in here with you two than in the presence of a judge and multiple police officers.”
“It really is.” Larry could tell they needed some time. “Listen, I need to talk to the judge about all of this for a little bit. We’re hopefully going to reconvene in about 30 minutes or so. I will let you two process all this and I will be back when we are ready to begin.”
“Thank you, Larry.” Meryl smiled as she saw her husband staring off into space.
Don felt like he would explode and took out his cell phone. He was going to explode. He felt like he was literally shaking in anger over what he saw in the pictures and from the information that Larry gleaned. “FUCKING BASTARD! I AM GOING TO KILL HIM! Then I’m going to find Mann and kill HIM!”
“Baby, no!” Meryl said as she took his cell phone out of his hand. “I am begging you, please don’t call him; please don’t go after Mann.”
Don was beyond furious. “Meryl, he has treated us like shit forever. He has tried to break our marriage up more times than I can count. I know there’s no evidence; but you and I both know he was probably feeding Mann information about us, our lives; about you being alone on locations-it makes me sick to think about. He helped Mann almost take you away from me, from us. He helped Mann try to break you over and over and over. He’s led Mann to our CHILDREN. Now it’s time for someone to break him; to break both of them.”
“Sweetheart.” Meryl choked up at his anguish. “You know how much I hate your fucking father; in some ways I think I hate him more than Mann. But baby, every time you confront him you get hurt; if its not by him physically hurting you it’s your blood pressure getting so high. You are more important to me than making sure he pays. He’s not allowed in our home. When we go to Indiana he won’t be around. Please Don, please don’t go after him. Your health isn’t worth it.”
Don rubbed his face with his hands then raked them through his hair; and then tears appeared in his eyes. “I’m so tired of him hurting you; I’m tired of Mann hurting you. I feel like it’s my-“
“Don’t you dare say what I think you are going to say, Donald Gummer.” Meryl crushed her lips to his. “You have been my knight in shining armor for almost 24 years always protecting me and making me feel so safe; as well as our kids. This isn’t your fault; NOT AT ALL. Baby, your father is a fucking bastard. The best way to get back at him is to show him he can’t touch us; no one can touch us. Let’s not stoop to his level. I know you want to go after Mann, but I’m begging you not to. I can’t let him hurt you or risk you being thrown in jail; I can’t do it, Don, please don’t let it happen.”
“It won’t, babe.” Don looked at her in amazement at how strong she was and able to just focus on punishing Mann. “I love you so fucking much.”
“I love you so much my heart hurts.” Meryl choked as she crushed her lips to his.
Don leaned his forehead against hers. “I don’t know what else to say except neither of those fuckers are coming anywhere near ANY of you!”
“Or you.” Meryl said. “There’s nothing for you to say, sweetheart. I don’t blame you, I never would. He did this to you as much as he did it to me. I wish I could make it better.”
Don wiped her tears. “You have been making everything better for almost 24 years. I can’t lose you.”
“You never will.” Meryl smiled. “That goes both ways; please don’t let their poison take you away from me.”
Don placed a tender kiss on her lips. “Never.”
“I want to take you out tonight.” Meryl said changing the subject.
Don felt like it was out of the blue. “Sweetheart, you don’t have to do anything.”
“I know I don’t have to; I was actually thinking about it in the shower this morning.” Meryl admitted.
Don got a big grin on his face. “Oh you were?”
“Yes, I was.” Meryl said running her fingers through his hair. “I wanted a little bit of time for just us. Grace is going to Monica’s to work on a project and Louisa is on that field trip that won’t be back until 9. I told Grace we’d pick her up after we pick Louisa up from the school. I want us to try to be normal.”
Don looked at her in awe. “There is nothing I would like more.”
“I love you, Donald Gummer.” Meryl reminded him.
Don took a deep breath. “I won’t go after either of them, I will do that for you; and I love you my beautiful wife.”
“Guys?” Larry said poking his head back into the room. “We’re starting.”
***