Double or Nothing

by Wells, Donald

  “Blake Davenport was like a God to me at that time. He provided for my mother and me our home, my education, and my mother’s job. Blake was on the board of directors of four Fortune 500 companies as well as sought after to run for high public office. I was in awe of him, possibly even a little infatuated with him. One day, when I was sixteen, he came home from a business trip with Angeline and announced that they had gotten married while in Paris.

  “I was enthralled by Angeline from the beginning. At that time I still thought myself to be a heterosexual. I would have sexual thoughts of boys at school but I would push them from my mind. I didn’t want to be gay. June, your mother was so beautiful. She was the first person I ever met who wanted to talk to me about art and theater and other cultural interests. She also tutored me in French and helped me to master Spanish as well. How could I help but love her?”

  June looks at Simon strangely. “You and my mother became lovers, didn’t you?”

  “Yes.” Says Simon, as he searches her face for a clue as to how this revelation has affected her, discerning nothing, he continues.

  “Blake was gone quite a lot and your mother was a very young and vital woman. Angeline seduced me into her bed out of boredom more than love I suppose, but there was genuine affection between us. In fact, I loved your mother deeply. We carried on as lovers intermittently for over a year and then one day Angeline told me of her pregnancy. She told me even before she told Blake. When I asked her why she said that it was because—”

  “—Because you were our father.” June finishes, surprising Simon. “You’re my real father, aren’t you Simon?”

  “Yes June, I’m your father. You girls are mine. I love you all, even April and May. I pray that you understand and forgive me my affair with your mother. I was young and confused, but I don’t regret it a bit. Out of that confusion of sexual identity and loneliness came you. How could I ever regret that?”

  June sits silently in her bed and looks down at the comforter, seeing nothing, thinking. Finally she asks a question.

  “Did father ever suspect that we weren’t his?”

  “I don’t think so, at least not consciously, but perhaps on some level he did. I’ll say this, if he did, it never changed his love for you. I know he truly loved you.”

  “Yes, I believe he did.”

  “I love you also June, I love you so much. You are the best of this family by far.”

  “I love you too Simon. I love you father.”

  June and Simon embrace, when they part, Simon kisses her tenderly on the forehead.

  “I’m leaving now and I want you to promise me something.”

  “What?”

  “I want you to promise me that you’ll leave with me, I want to take you to Carol’s. You shouldn’t stay here, Dr. Rowlands or no Dr. Rowlands, your sisters can’t be trusted.”

  “No I can’t do that. David will come here first, I have to be here.”

  “Oh June, David would find you on Mars. Why do you insist on staying here?”

  “David will come back for me here. I know that, I also feel it will be soon.”

  “It can’t be soon enough. All right, I won’t argue, but get rid of Dr. Rowlands, and here, I want you to have this.” Simon offers June the gun.

  “Oh my God! Simon I don’t want a gun. I think they’re horrible things.”

  “They are, but damn useful sometimes. Keep it. I pray you never need it.”

  June takes the gun from Simon as if it were a turd; she then places it in the bedside table.

  “What are April and May blackmailing you with Simon? Is it really that bad?”

  “It’s bad enough. I did something horrible unintentionally and then I foolishly sought to cover up my crime. I don’t want to say anymore June. I don’t want you to think less of me.”

  “Simon I don’t care what you did. I know you wouldn’t deliberately be mean or evil.”

  “There are sins of omission dear. Sometimes our good intentions do great harm.”

  “I can’t believe April and May are torturing you like this, it’s so cruel.”

  “June your sisters are bad people. I’ve denied the stories I’ve heard and even the proof of my own eyes over the years, but I can’t anymore. They’re bad people and you should kick them out of the house along with Dr. Rowlands.”

  “I don’t know if I could do that, this is their home.”

  “It’s mine also and they’ve driven me from it, please consider it. I have to go now.”

  “When will I see you again?”

  “I don’t know…maybe never.”

  “Don’t even think that, besides, you have to give me away at my wedding.”

  “Oh God I would love that. To see you marry David would be my happiest moment.”

  “Then we have a date, I’ll see you at the wedding if not before.”

  “Yes, I’ll see you at your wedding. I love you June.”

  “I love you Simon and I’m glad you’re my father.”

  Simon holds back his tears, kisses June on the cheek, and leaves.

  June gets up and locks the door behind him. She then showers, gets dressed, and goes in search of Dr. Rowlands.

  Jack and Kelly Martin are in Carol’s living room telling her about their conversation with Frank.

  “So you believe this man?” Carol asks both husband and wife.

  Kelly grins. “Yes, absolutely, we see no reason why he would be lying.”

  Tears of happiness cascade down Carol’s face. “He’s alive! Davey’s alive!”

  “Yes, but remember Carol, David has amnesia, he doesn’t remember who he is.”

  “Jack I don’t care about that. He’s alive and that’s all that matters.”

  “Alison has him somewhere and we have to find out where. From what we’ve come to understand about her she’s obsessed with David, he could be in danger.” Kelly says.

  “No, if Davey’s with Alison the only danger he’s in is in being loved to death. I don’t like her and I’ve warned Davey about her obsession for him, but deep down she truly loves him. I don’t seriously think she would ever physically harm him. Actually Jack, it was Alison who helped Davey find your daughter, she and your ex-wife used to work together.”

  “Then I owe her my thanks, which I’ll give her when we track her down.”

  Carol gazes at the phone with a frustrated look. “I wish I could get in touch with June, she’d be so happy to hear this.”

  “We’ve been trying as well, but all we’re ever told is that none of the Ms. Davenports can come to the phone.” Kelly says.

  The doorbell rings. Carol asks the couple to excuse her while she answers it. When she opens the door she finds Simon on her doorstep.

  “Simon, thank God, come on in. I’ve been trying to reach you and June for over a week. Why haven’t you called?”

  “I’m sorry Carol, it’s a long story that ends with me no longer being employed at Davenport Manor.” As they walk into the living room, Simon spots Jack and Kelly. “Oh I’m sorry, I didn’t know you had guests.”

  Introductions are made and everyone sits down. Carol tells Simon about Frank’s story of David’s condition.

  “That would certainly explain why he hasn’t come back to June yet, he can’t remember her.” Simon declares.

  “We’ve searched Alison’s apartment and a friend of ours has checked for any activity on her credit cards. There’s been no activity since the week David vanished. Wherever she is, she’s not shopping.” Kelly says.

  Simon sighs. “June’s mentioned this Alison person to me before, she’s jealous of her and David’s past relationship. She’s not going to like this at all.”

  “When Davey broke up with her, Alison practically stalked him. I should have been more suspicious of her in the first place.” Carol says.

  “June said that David wasn’t nearby, but that he also wasn’t that far away. That sounds like Alison must be fairly close still.” Says Simon, and Jack and Kelly look at him, pe
rplexed.

  “June told everyone that Davey was alive.” Carol explains to the Martins. “She said she could feel him, his presence.”

  Jack stands. “Well, we’re going to locate his presence. Simon, it’s been nice to meet you.”

  Jack and Kelly leave, and when Carol questions Simon about the goings on at Davenport Manor, he tells her about Dr. Rowlands.

  “Thank God you were there last night, but what about tonight? June’s all alone in that house now. Why did you leave her?”

  Simon’s only answer is to break down and cry.

  June stands in the foyer of Davenport Manor, confronting Dr. Rowlands and her sisters. The sun streaming down through the skylight shines brilliantly upon them, beneath their feet, the turquoise marble floor reflects the sunlight like a sheet of polished glass.

  April and May both wear gold, form-fitting jumpsuits with zippers placed in interesting areas, possibly for easy access. Dr. Rowlands wears a rumpled suit and a three-day growth of beard, while June wears an uncharacteristically angry expression, and also, a look of determination.

  “June, Simon’s assertion that Dr. Rowlands is a rapist sounds ridiculous. Where is Simon by the way? No one can find him.”

  “Simon’s left April, he told me that you and May were blackmailing him.”

  “Blackmail? Simon can be so flamboyant at times. We simply had a discussion about his boundaries in this house, that’s all.”

  June stares at the doctor. “Dr. Rowlands I want you out of my house immediately.”

  “Oh, so it’s your house now. April and I were wondering how long it would be until we heard that phrase.”

  “Yes May, it’s my house now, father left it to me and I would like you and April to leave also.”

  May gasps. “Why you selfish bitch! June how can you ask us to leave our home.”

  “I’m tired of the noise and the constant parties and the men everywhere, but the real reason I’m asking you to leave is because you hurt Simon. That is unforgivable.”

  “What if we don’t want to leave?” April asks.

  “Then I would do nothing. I’m asking you as your sister.”

  “Then as your sisters we say no. We also say no to Dr. Rowlands’ dismissal. You need to be cared for June and you will be—one way or another.”

  June looks at April warily. “What do you mean by that?”

  “I mean that you dear sister have attempted suicide once. Dr. Rowlands can either treat you here or lock you away somewhere, it’s your choice.”

  “You would lock me away, knowing what I’ve been through?”

  “Just try us.” May says.

  June looks first to May and then to April.

  “Oh my God. Why did I ever want to be reunited with you two? I’ve made such a horrible mistake.”

  “Yes, we both have. I see now that you’ll never be one of us ever again, a shame.”

  “I never wanted to be like you April. I just wanted to love you and to be loved by you.”

  “That’s never going to happen either, not when you threaten us with removal from our home. Dr. Rowlands please escort June back to her room.”

  “David will be back soon April. You can’t control him.”

  April smiles cruelly. “David is buried in a shallow grave somewhere June, you’ll never see him again.”

  Rowlands takes June by the arm. “Come along June, I want to give you a mild sedative.”

  June twist her arm free and kicks Rowlands in the testicles as hard as she can, just as David taught her to do.

  Rowlands yelps in pain and soon drops to the floor in agony.

  June then sends April a cold look. “Keep him away from me.”

  May laughs while pointing at Dr. Rowlands. “That’s not very helpful June, now the doctor will add the phrase ‘violent tendencies’ to your chart.”

  June flies up the stairs to her bedroom and locks the door.

  With Rowlands still writhing in agony, May bends down beside him.

  “I do hope nothing down there is permanently damaged doctor. I had plans for you someday.”

  Rowlands’ only reply is a gurgled noise.

  “June is becoming a monster. May…I might need to do something drastic, any objections?”

  For long moments, May looks up the stairs where her sister went, she then turns back to April.

  “Fuck her.”

  33

  Saturday September 6th, 5:28 a.m.

  It’s been over a month since David stepped out of his sick bed and stumbled to the floor, and in that time, his leg has increased in strength until he can now walk for miles. Alison cooks his meals and keeps him company as he takes his daily trek in the woods and David feels better every day.

  David knows that he loves her, but wonders if it’s a new love or a continuation of an old one. He gets flashes of memory at times but they flee before he can grab them. Frank has not returned and David can see that Alison only pretends not to care. David is now convinced that Alison loves Frank and hopes that the loud man never returns.

  David lies asleep in his room. Alison tells him that he’s still too weak to exert himself making love and so they each sleep alone. His door opens and Alison stands in the threshold, watching him sleep peacefully.

  He loves me. For the first time I know that he loves me. We are going to be so happy in Mexico, it’ll be just the two of us, and we’ll make love every day and dance every night. We’ll be just like we were in the beginning.

  They began as she told June, when she had stolen David away from the inconsiderate Cindy. They fled to Mexico then too. But at the time it was not to get away from anyone, but to find each other. Alison first realized she loved David as they made love on a deserted Mexican beach at sunrise. Their passion lasted so long that the freshly heated sand was burning them as they gyrated upon it in their ecstasy, and neither one cared.

  David’s love took longer, her fault entirely. Pursuing her acting career was such a force in her life that it often left time for little else, even love, but ultimately she knew that he came to love her.

  David, who could have almost any woman he wanted with his oh, so beautiful face. He thought his looks common, and it was this self-deprecation that attracted her to him even more.

  He loved her beauty, but unlike most men it wasn’t a trophy to him. He never presented her to his friends as the beautiful actress, the prize.

  He would say. “I want you to meet Alison. She has a razor wit and an incredible talent at acting.” David saw her as a person and not as a package.

  He was standing on the precipice of commitment, poised to leap, when she made her fatal error.

  Her beauty had always been her greatest tool in her career. When she went after the lead for her Broadway play, it was not the first time she had lain down on the casting couch. She had always considered it work, no better and no worse than the endless hours of diction and acting classes she attended. Sex was simply a thing to be done to achieve a desired end.

  When that slimy producer came up to her at that party and put his arms around her, as if he owned her, David knew.

  “No!” Alison told him. “I wasn’t cheating on you. I was merely using my body to get somewhere. It was no different to me than taking a walk. I have no feelings for that man. I love you David. That had nothing to do with us.”

  It meant nothing to her and yet it cost her everything. David left her. Alison all but stalked him outright in those following months.

  “I love you.” she would tell him on the phone. “Please give me a second chance.”

  David would have none of it, he was so irate. Alison knew his anger came from love. He loved her, but couldn’t trust her, and it hurt deeply. She gave him time then, time to let the hurt heal.

  She gave him time and June walked into his life.

  Such a strange girl. Alison thought.

  David was merely rebounding with June, June was a non-threatening woman-child who would ease David’s pain and then he would
return to her and they could begin again.

  Then came the night he visited her dressing room with June in tow to ask for her help, and Alison saw his eyes. David’s eyes were filled with love for June, and goddamn it that little waif’s eyes held the same love, the same light. She went home that night and cried until dawn.

  That was when she started dating Frank more often. Alison saw Frank every day at the theater; they had even become lovers. Frank looked into her eyes that next day and knew immediately.

  “He’s in love with someone isn’t he.” Frank said, more as a statement than as a question. She had walked into the theater smiling and joking with everyone and Frank saw right through her mask to her pain.

  Frank loved her nearly as much as she loved David but she had pushed him beyond limits and now he was gone. Frank was gone and it was only at his leaving that she realized she loved him too.

  Let him go. I have David. I have my second chance and this time I’m going to love him right.

  David loves her now and they’re together. Fate has given her a second chance and she’s going to make the most of it.

  He loves me, David says he loves me. I’m so happy.

  Alison walks into David’s room and smiles down at him. She then wakes him with a kiss on the lips as she bends over his bed.

  “Good morning, how are you?”

  “I’m fine Alison, but why are you dressed already? It’s so early.”

  Alison walks toward the front door. “I have to go get supplies. Frank used to do it but when he didn’t show again last night I got his message.”

  “What message is that?” David asks as he follows, stretching and yawning as he goes.

  “The big kiss goodbye, I’m never going to see him again.”

  “I hate it when you look sad Alison, it looks so unnatural on you, sadness does.”

  “You’re right. I should just think about us, in that spirit I’m going out to the store.”

  David pours a glass of orange juice, after taking a gulp, he speaks.