Time to Say Goodbye (Michigan Sweet Romance)

by Parker J Cole

  “I do the best I can, Mr. Cresswell.” Leon felt a strange tightening around his neck. Had an invisible noose been thrown around it?

  “Good. Good.” The man nodded. “We were contacted by the representatives from the state regarding rehabilitating an inmate. The inmate is a total assist, as complications from both Lyme disease and the antibiotics used to combat it have left the inmate completely paralyzed.”

  Leon felt the noose around his neck almost strangle him, though his face didn’t reveal his inner turmoil. This could not be happening. It wasn’t what he thought it was.

  “The state has allowed the inmate to receive this treatment in Tawas City, along with a caregiver. You’ll be re-located to Tawas for the foreseeable future so you can work with this individual.”

  “Mr. Cresswell, my mother is—”

  “Ah, yes. Your mother is recovering from hip replacement surgery, correct?”

  The man wouldn’t expect him to leave his mother all alone, would he?

  “Well, we’d be happy to provide in-home care for her while you’re away, as well as continue the physical therapy sessions regularly.”

  Leon jumped through the loophole. “I’m sorry, Mr. Cresswell. I can’t afford—”

  “Sunstone will take care of the additional expenses for you, Leon. No need to worry.” Mr. Cresswell gave him an indulgent smile intended to encourage. Yet, the collar of Leon’s polo shirt constricted even more. This wasn’t a request. It was an order.

  “What’s in this for you?” The question popped out of his mouth before he had a chance to reel it in.

  A shrewd look appeared in Mr. Cresswell’s eyes as he pursed his lips. “I’ll put it to you like this: the state can’t afford to have any more bad publicity right now. No one knows this fella is even out of prison. They need to keep this quiet as possible. The state is willing to employ Sunstone Healthcare for more of these types of cases when it comes to acute care for inmates.”

  Understanding dawned on Leon at those words. Money and secrets.

  “What about me? Am I going to be held responsible if anything goes wrong?”

  Mr. Cresswell patted him on the shoulder like a co-conspirator. “Not at all. I insisted that none of my workers will be held liable for anything.”

  “I take it I’ll have to sign some paperwork.” Why did he have a bad feeling about this?

  “Yes, we do have documents. Allyson will be getting those for you.”

  “What’s the name of the inmate?” Leon nodded, already thinking of the next question he had to ask. He braced himself for the name he was sure to hear.

  “It’s an Indian man. I can’t pronounce his name, but he was in the news a few years ago for facilitating a Ponzi scheme. No Bernie Madoff, but he was found guilty of securities and wire fraud. I believe the last name is Kapoor, but I’ll have the file sent to you.”

  Leon went still. God wouldn’t be this cruel to him, would he?

  “Your lodgings and accommodations will be taken care of as well.”

  Not pulling any punches, are you?

  “To be frank, Leon, I don’t know how successful a treatment plan with this inmate will be. But we at least want to be able to get the man moving in a wheelchair, you know what I mean? We’re not here to make the lame walk again, if you catch my meaning.”

  Leon shifted in his chair. In other words, do the bare minimum.

  Should he tell Mr. Cresswell about his own involvement with Devansh Kapoor? He was sure if he did, the director would find someone else to handle the convict’s rehabilitation. Every time he thought about the scam, it raised all the hounds of hell inside of him.

  Though he’d tried to distance himself from his upbringing, every so often he wished he could execute old-fashioned trailer-trash justice.

  Shame carved a distinct tattoo on him. He knew better than to think like that, though. It wasn’t up to him to get vengeance on Kapoor. That was the Lord’s doing, and he needed to leave it up to Him. The best thing to do was tell Mr. Cresswell why he couldn’t complete the rehabilitation on Kapoor. It was better that way. Leon opened his mouth to tell him just that, when he remembered something.

  “Mr. Cresswell, do you know who the caregiver is for this case?” he asked in a nonchalant tone. “A mother or father? Someone sent by the state?”

  Mr. Cresswell pressed his lips in thought. “I believe it’s a family member. The patient’s younger sister, but when you receive the file you’ll be able to go over the notes.”

  Leon took a bite of his doughnut. Flecks of the donut glaze dotted the front of his burgundy uniform shirt. Leon brushed them away. The sweet taste of strawberry jelly along with the sugary bread sent a peculiar buzz zinged through his veins. Did the satisfaction he received come from the gooey stuffing, or from the idea he’d see the sister again?

  He recalled the spark in her dark eyes as she stood almost to his elbow and berated him like some bite-sized bouncer. He’d been unable to forget the episode, although two weeks had passed since their encounter. Yet, every time it popped up in his head he slammed it back down like a mental whack-a-mole game.

  If he took this case, he’d see her again.

  He set the rest of the donut down on the paper plate and rubbed his hands off on his pants. Why the thought should speed up the beat of his heart made no sense to him. He didn’t even know her name.

  “We have a time table of ten weeks. The state will self-assess with periodic evaluations.”

  In other words, the state was only going to pay for ten weeks of services with Sunstone. Mr. Cresswell sought to gain more contracts with the government. On the heel of that thought came another one. If he worked hard to make Kapoor mobile again, the man would be able to continue his sentence under his own strength.

  A hot thing burned through him. Leon would do everything he could to make sure Kapoor would pay for his crimes. He’d use every trick up his sleeve so the scum could run, skip, and hop back into prison.

  “All right, Mr. Cresswell.” Leon stood and shook the man’s hand. “I’ll do what I can.”

  “What the Sam Hill are you talking ‘bout, boy?” Krause spit out, and a spray of cola and saliva soaked Leon’s face.

  “Dadblast it, Krause!” Leon jumped up from the wooden table and rushed over to the kitchen sink. Twisting the hot water on, he cupped his hands to capture it, and splashed it on his face. Spluttering, Leon did it twice more and then turned off the faucet. “I told you about that Abbot and Costello routine. It ain’t funny.”

  “Aww, c’mon boy!” Krause’s blue eyes gleamed with amusement as he wiped the dark droplets of cola from his long, blond beard and took another gulp from the can. “It’s still funny as a hoot.”

  Leon almost picked up the heavy oak chair and bashed Krause’s blond head, but he curbed the urge. He wasn’t trailer trash anymore. He could handle this like civilized, educated people. Plus, Krause had been his best friend since kindergarten.

  “Naw, it ain’t, Krause.” Leon took the dry dish towel and wiped away the excess water from his face.

  “Now, you tell me this here thing again. You gonna be nursin’ that low-life—”

  “I done told you already, Krause. The director told me I had to. Quit actin’ like ya hard of hearing.” He went back over to the kitchen table, grabbed his open bag of barbeque Cheetos, and devoured the rest of the contents.

  “Boy, you ‘bout as dumb as a head of cabbage.” Krause belched as Leon tossed the empty bag into nearby waste basket. “The only thing I’da been doin’ was seeing if I could break that fool’s leg an’ wondering if he could feel it.”

  “And be in jail right ‘long side him.” He slapped his pants to rid his hands of the remaining red powder from the Cheetos.

  “It’s ‘bout the stupidest thing I done heard, too, Krause.”

  Leon glanced up to see Alma make her way toward them with her walker. She winced and he raced over to her. “Mama, the doctor says ya need to take it easy now. He did all that fancy work o
n your hip and I don’t want you messin’ it up.”

  She shooed away his concern. “I ain’t messin’ up the good man’s work. I just need to move around. Cain’t stand sitting long.”

  “Krause, get your useless carcass out dat chair so Mama can sit.”

  His friend jumped up. “Mama Reckley, why don’t you go an’ adopt me as yer son? This fool here done lost his mind.”

  Leon motioned with his head, and Krause came to Alma’s other side.

  She took their arms. “It’s like I’m standin’ between two trees. When ya’ll get so big?”

  Leon wondered when his proud mother had become so small and frail. Her long, flowy blue shirt and loose pants she wore engulfed her petite frame. The thick mass of auburn hair was now streaked with gray. Her plump skin had withered away into thin elasticity. Still, she was the most beautiful woman in the world.

  Krause grinned and pressed a kiss to Alma’s check. “It’s all that good cookin’ you do, Mama Reckley.”

  Together, he and Krause led her to the chair. Gently, like a glass doll, they helped her sit. She sent a smile toward Krause.

  “Ya already my boy. Been my boy since yer poor mama passed away when you was ten. Look at’cha here, gonna take care of me instead of being on the road making money for a few weeks.”

  Krause bent down on one knee and winked. “Dat’s cuz when I asked ya’ to marry me, ya said naw.”

  Mama laughed and smacked Krause on the side of his face. “Go wit’ cha.”

  Leon felt an unconscious tension leave him. Mama was going to be all right.

  Krause loved her as much as he did. He planned to compensate Krause’s lost income during these ten weeks. He had enough saved up in the bank over the years. It wouldn’t be a hardship.

  “I know ya’ll both think I’m out of my mind—”

  “All that book learnin’ done pushed out the common sense most us ignorant folks have,” Krause muttered in a dark tone as he picked up his can of cola.

  “But I gotta do this,” Leon went on as if Krause hadn’t spoken. “I’m doin’ this to make sure that piece of scum can get as well as possible. Mr. Cresswell made it clear I ain’t got to ‘heal him. Just got to see how mobile we can get him.”

  Krause burped again. “Seems to me Mr. Cresswell…ain’t well.”

  Leon rolled his eyes as his friend chortled like he’d told the joke of the century. “Just don’t you wreck my house while I’m gone, Krause.”

  “Trailer trash like me know how to be civilized in ritzy places like yours.” Krause lifted his pinky on the hand holding the cola can. “See, I even know how to drink properly.” He batted his eyelashes coquettishly.

  Leon snorted derisively. “Ain’t that the same pinky you lick off after you clean out your ear?”

  Krause blinked in genuine confusion. “What’s yer point?”

  “Ya’ll stop all dat, now.” Alma nibbled on her inner lip, wrinkles lining her forehead. “Part of me don’ like this at all. Ya can’t trust dat man at all.” She looked up at him. “Ya see what happened to me when I trusted ‘im.”

  “This ain’t ‘bout trust, Mama.” He squatted down next to her. “It’s about doing my job an’ makin’ sure he pays for what he did to you.”

  Alma patted his cheek, her dark brown eyes full of worry. “I know ya mean well. I just don’ think this is gonna work out the way ya plan, Leon.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  On Monday morning, Alma’s words haunted Leon as he parked the vehicle outside the condominium village. On the other side of the block of condominiums, the distinct sound of waves lapping against the shore of Tawas Bay met his ears. He turned off the engine and clutched the steering wheel.

  “Dear God, how am I supposed to do this?” The question hung in the hush of the interior. Now that he was here in front of the house, the enormity of what was expected of him pierced the center of his chest.

  How did he legitimately think he could help a man he despised back to health?

  Well, he couldn’t back out of it now. He’d agreed to the assignment and he’d perform it. Put everything else to the side and do what needed to be done.

  Leon let out a harsh laugh. Yeah, fat chance of that.

  Retrieving the gray folder lying on the passenger seat, he opened it and scanned the profile sheet until his gaze landed on a line reading: “Caregiver: G. Kapoor.”

  That had to be the sister.

  What does the ‘G’ stand for?

  Swiftly, he tossed the folder onto the seat and leaned back to stare at the roof of the car. It didn’t matter what the G stood for. He had a job to do.

  He sent a prayer upward and got out of the car. Birds screeched overhead. A brisk wind blew off the bay and ruffled his hair. The smell of the bay permeated the air and a sense of tranquility hovered over the community. He wouldn’t mind living this close to the water. It had two private beaches with bright, white sand. Checking the address the GPS on his phone had led him to, he headed up the walkway.

  How much of his mother’s money had gone toward procuring this place?

  Leon stopped midstride and shook his head. “Stop acting like a fool,” he told himself out loud. Devansh Kapoor was a patient. At least for the next ten weeks. He had a professional obligation to do whatever he could do to improve his patient’s quality of life.

  He knocked on the somber blue door and waited. Restless, he shifted his feet and wondered how long it would be before the sister opened the door. What would she think when she—

  The door opened. Without a hint of surprise, he glanced down at the light purple clad mite-sized frame of Kapoor’s sister. The polite smile on her lips melted away. Her mouth dropped open like a fish. “What are you doing here?”

  Gargi squeezed her eyes shut. The pressure building behind her closed eyelids obviously caused her to hallucinate. She opened the right eye and then the other.

  The man still stood there, solid and real.

  She groaned. “What are you doing here?” she asked again. “How did you find us? Are you stalking us?” The questions flew out of her mouth in rapid succession. “Look, I don’t care how you found us. Just get out of here before I call the police.”

  She went to shut the door but she couldn’t. Pushing again, she frowned and then looked down to see what prevented her from slamming the door in his face. His large gym shoe-clad foot. Her gaze drifted back up to see the glint in his dark golden eyes along with a hard edge to his features.

  Panic flooded her system. Would he try to force his way in? Try to hurt Dev in his vulnerable state? An instant later, a wave of fury burned away the panic. Her skin tightened over muscles bunched in readiness. No one, absolutely no one, would harm her brother.

  With a growl, she tore open the door. She’d push him down the steps. It would give her enough time to run back into the house, shut the door, and call the police. With the plan firmly in place, she launched every pound of herself at the man.

  She collided into a cement wall padded by cotton, and scented with a distinct aroma of sun-warmed masculinity. The impact hurt her petite frame and she stumbled back.

  “What in the world is the matter with you?” The man took a step back, albeit not from her attack. Gargi had the idea not even a train could have tilted him. “What was that for?”

  He gawked at her like she’d lost her mind. Maybe she had, but that didn’t matter. She wouldn’t allow him to hurt her brother. Gargi juggled her options. Plan A didn’t work. She’d have to go with plan B: Scream the neighborhood down.

  Dev had once joked she could scream so horrifically people would think she was being sawed in half by a crazed killer. She intended to use this gift God gave her now.

  “Get away! Get away; don’t come any closer!” Her voice must have carried over the reverberation of the bay. Would the whole community come to her rescue?

  “Wait! Wait!” He held his hands high, as if she held a gun. “There’s been a major misunderstanding.”

  “The
only misunderstanding is you didn’t leave when I told you to.” She opened her mouth to let out her best blood-curdling scream.

  “I’m here to help your brother.”

  The scream scampered back down her throat and lodged itself between her vocal cords. “What did you say?” she managed to croak out amidst the constriction.

  “My name is Leon Reckley. I’ve been sent by Sunstone Health, on behalf of the State of Michigan, to assist in rehabilitative efforts to help Devansh Kapoor regain partial or full mobility so he can complete his sentencing.”

  The adrenaline rush siphoned out of her as shock sent a clammy chill through her body. “Come again?”

  He held out a badge and handed it to her. Gargi gaped at the plastic-covered ID card.

  Leon Reckley. Next to his picture was a business logo giving validity to his claim.

  She examined him more closely, noticing for the first time the blue uniform polo and pants. He was the physical therapist the state had sent over?

  “But it can’t be. I mean, how is that possible?” She had difficulty trying to make sense of it. After all, what were the odds the man who had laughed at the misfortune which had fallen on her family would be the one to lend them aid?

  “Coincidence.” Leon’s hands fell to his sides. “Mere coincidence.”

  Gargi closed her eyes and sighed. For the past two weeks life had thrown more than its share of surprises at her, the latest one being the visit from her papa this morning.

  The hairs on her arms bristled in remembrance. Her papa’s anger at her refusal to let him control her life had exploded. Not with a tantrum. Papa would never argue with a woman, be it wife or daughter. He’d made his displeasure known from the stern set of his jaw and the stiff formality with which he exited her home.

  How did Papa expect her to react to his idea? After he visited with Dev, she believed he desired some time alone with her so they could encourage each other through the hardships plaguing their family.

  She’d had no idea he had come with the express intent of arranging a marriage for her.