Hazel nodded. "Okay. Bernice will be here any minute. I have some business to take care of."
She called the lawyers to tell them she was coming in. Dressed in one of her power suits, she realized that wearing it made her feel validated somehow, as if she meant business. She had a light breakfast while standing up and vaguely listening to Bernice's apologies for being late. Like an automaton she drove toward the upscale offices of Goldman and Turner.
Ironically, when she turned on the radio Coldplay's Lost came on. She rarely listened to the car radio but today she was in the mood to hear something other than her own thoughts. She sang along to the song, Just because I am losing doesn't mean I'm lost.
She had that line ringing in her head even when she sat in the cool sanctuary of Goldman's office and looked into his concerned face.
"Mrs. Baron." He looked grave, as he usually did. Hazel wondered if he ever cracked a smile. He was always suitably professional and businesslike.
He steepled his fingers and then lost the pose in an agitated movement that had Hazel on the verge of nervousness after he had breathed her name heavily.
"The thing is, we were going to call you this morning when you called us. We are your lawyers and we have your best interest at heart."
Hazel nodded.
"But there is a battle going on, a raging battle, Mrs. Baron. The family filed an injunction today on all the wills of John Baron, which means that none of them, even the latest ones can be administered.
“They also want the wills to be voided. They are arguing mental instability as an argument, and with so many wills around they may have a case. They ultimately want the courts to divide his fortune based on his heirs, which would include children and of course, his latest spouse."
Hazel breathed out shakily.
"And as we found out this morning," Goldman leaned back in his chair and cleared his throat, "that person is not you. The divorce petition for Gloria Baron was never filed. She is John Baron's spouse by law. They were married for three years when he was living in Canada about twenty years ago. They never divorced. She also has a child that she is claiming to be his."
"So it wasn't a dream then," Hazel said shakily. "Her lawyer, uhm, Gloria Baron's lawyer, called."
"Gabriel Freeman." Goldman grimaced. "He is a bit rough around the edges and aggressive, isn't he?"
"I really can't remember. I was so sleepy." Hazel squeezed the straps of her handbag. "So what does this mean for me?"
"It means, Mrs. Baron," Goldman was back to his hand gymnastics, "that you are going to need some lawyers who are skillful enough to fight in your corner and I might add that this fight may take years." He leaned forward. "Can we have an off the record conversation?"
"Sure." Hazel nodded.
"I have a daughter your age." Goldman cleared his throat. "She's studying law now. I guess she wants to take after her old man."
He laughed and then wiped his eyes.
"The point is, I remember when Mr. Baron suggested that he wanted to marry you I was up in arms against it because you are so young. He was the one who hired us to be your lawyers, actually, and yet I argued about him marrying. I knew when he died his family would be out for blood. This sort of money does not come without legal issues."
"You can say that again," Hazel murmured. She was finally seeing Goldman laugh; it was fascinating. She relaxed a little into the plush chair. She didn't even realize that she was holding herself so stiffly.
"That is why I insisted that the townhouse be placed in your name," Goldman said seriously, "and the motor vehicles too. The household account, which is a joint account, is valued a little under two hundred thousand US dollars. I anticipated this sort of situation. I am on retainer for you until the end of next year." Goldman continued. "Technically if you want to fight his family and his latest wife and all other comers we will do so gladly. We are already paid to do so.
"But if you were my daughter, my honest opinion to you would be to let the Baron fortune go. Live your life, Hazel—if I may call you Hazel."
"Yes, sure." Hazel looked at Mr. Goldman with new eyes. All this time she had thought he had resented her for marrying Baron. She hadn't even known that she was his client. She had always been nervous around him and his colleagues, quite unaware that they were paid to represent her.
"It would be a long dirty fight," Goldman said, "and you would legally have no foot to stand on. Enjoy whatever cash you have left, forge a career, do whatever you want to do--just live your life to the fullest."
He stopped speaking and then sighed. "Maybe I said too much and overstepped my bounds but that speech has been weighing on my mind for a while.”
Hazel nodded. "I'll take your advice."
"In the meantime if there are any legal issues surrounding your estate we will deal with it. And of course any other legal issues you need addressed."
Hazel nodded and got up. "Thank you, Mr. Goldman."
"All the best, Mrs.—er, Hazel."
Hazel went to the car and slumped into her seat.
It was near lunch time—she called her sisters one by one. She needed somebody to be available for lunch so that she could tell them her latest woes. It turned out that everybody was available and they agreed to meet at the Jerk Pit.
Chapter Thirteen
"The Lord giveth," Caitlin said after Hazel had recounted to them the happenings and her change in fortune over the last few days.
"And the Lord taketh," said Brigid, shaking her head.
"Blessed be the name of the Lord," they all said in unison in Matron's long-suffering voice and then giggled. It was Matron's favorite Bible quote to say in whatever tragedy or triumph that was before her. Mostly when she was facing trouble, though. Each of them could remember her saying it after they did something or the other that was displeasing.
Hazel had gotten the quote the loudest and in triplicate while they were living at Magnolia House.
"Technically," Brigid said, "you are not worse off than you started, so this is not a tragedy."
"True," Hazel sighed. "I have my son. Curtis is leaving him with me for three weeks. I have a house, some money in the bank and I have family. Lots of them. Did I tell you that my interior decorator is my sister?"
"No." They shook their head.
"Well," Hazel waited for the waiter to serve the food before she continued, "Mae Joy is related to John Green. She is his daughter."
"This world is so small," Casey said. "You have an honest-to-goodness sister!"
"Excuse me!" Brigid piped in swiftly, "I am an honest-to-goodness sister!"
"I meant by blood," Casey said hurriedly. "You are so sensitive when it comes to family."
"She's not alone," Caitlin said, eyeing Hazel. "What are you going to be doing about this Mae Joy?"
Hazel chuckled. "You guys are so funny. I am not going to tell her now. I don't know when I'll tell her. She's nice though, and she's good at her job. She'll never be a sister like you guys are. Nobody else can be, not even Kenzy."
"Kenzy." Brigid growled. "Have you shaken the truth out of her yet?"
"No," Hazel said. "She is studying for exams and so busy. I don't want to bother her."
"Excuses," Caitlin said. "She needs to tell you the truth about that summer. Go to her place today."
"Wring her neck if she doesn't cooperate," Brigid urged. "You want company? I wouldn't mind coming along to see it."
"Well, I wouldn't resort to violence like Brigid is suggesting," Casey said. "Just tell her that if she is any friend at all she would tell you the truth. She knows things."
Hazel groaned. "Okay, I guess. Please note that this would not be the first time that I begged and I pleaded with Kenzy to tell me what really happened that summer. The doctor warned Patricia that I should retrieve the memories myself and Kenzy is really strict with that."
"How convenient for her," Brigid said contemptuously. "I still think she knows exactly what happened and is probably praying that you don't remember."
&n
bsp; *****
Kenzy’s apartment was on a quiet cul-de-sac not far from where she used to live with her parents in Cherry Gardens. It had been a gift to her from her parents for her eighteenth birthday. The apartments were clustered around a lychee tree which had green shiny leaves but had never once borne. They called the apartments Lychee Apartments.
Hazel looked over at number four where Kenzy lived. Her car was there. Hazel looked at her watch. It was ten minutes after two. Kenzy should be home and she should be studying if all her moaning and carrying on about exams was true.
Hazel didn't know what to think about her friend anymore. Since the night when she had her recollection she was now firmly sure that Kenzy knew more than she was telling.
She held up her hand to knock on the door but was caught in mid-knock as somebody yanked the door open.
It was Curtis!
Hazel widened her eyes, staring at him. Speech had fled. Curtis and Kenzy knew each other?
"Hi Hazel." He was surprised but not guilty or uncomfortable. He was dressed semi–formally, as if he just came from the office.
Hazel's head was reeling. She was still staring at him uncomprehendingly when Kenzy walked up behind him. "I could swear you said Hazel."
Her eyes widened when she saw Hazel at the door, standing as still as a statue.
"Hey Hazel." Kenzy was acting nervous. "Curtis just stopped by for a bit."
"I didn't know you two knew each other." Hazel was looking between the two of them. "What's going on?"
"Nothing." Kenzy was the first one to speak. "We, er..."
Curtis looked between her and Kenzy and then shrugged. "I'll leave Kenzy to explain. She's more familiar with what you should and shouldn't know. I have to go. I have a business Skype call in half hour." Curtis turned to Hazel. "So I'll see you later, Hazel. You are coming by for dinner?"
"Well, er, sure," Hazel said, stepping into Kenzy's apartment. She was feeling strange and weak and jealous and very much left out of the loop. Curtis didn't seem to be too concerned that she found him here and Kenzy... She looked at Kenzy, who was dressed in skinny jeans and a green sweatshirt. She was looking like someone who had something to hide.
"Is it just me or is this November unusually cool?" Kenzy asked, narrowly avoiding sitting on her laptop as she backed away from Hazel's accusatory look. There were books sprawled all over the settee and study cards of different colors.
So she had been studying, Hazel thought, sitting across from her. It didn't look like a seduction scene.
"What is going on?" Hazel asked through gritted teeth. "Why was Curtis here in your apartment?"
Kenzy swallowed. "I called him. I gave him something that I found for him in my stuff."
"But that would mean that you know him!" Hazel gritted out. "Be honest with me, Kenzy. Now, this minute! You have never mentioned that you know the Deckers. Not once! And the other night a memory came back to me. We met Keith Decker and you were chatting him up."
"You got back a memory!" Kenzy was acting excited. "That's great! I mean really great. What else did you remember?"
"Nothing, just that Adele Myers party."
"That's good." Kenzy ran her fingers through her hair and pulled it. "Don’t believe that me holding back stuff from you isn’t taking its toll. I hate this just as much as you do. Maybe now more of your memory can come back."
"But why didn't you say that I knew Keith Decker?" Hazel asked. "And why on earth didn't you tell me that he was Sebastian's father? You made me think that he could be some secret lover I had stashed away. You deliberately held back information from me!"
Kenzy's eyes got wider and wider. "Hold up! Keith Decker is Sebastian's father?"
"Stop acting like you don't know!" Hazel shouted "What kind of a friend are you and now you are seeing Curtis. Are you two into something?"
"Jealousy doesn't look good on you," Kenzy said, frowning. "No, I don't have a thing with Curtis. Yes, I know him. How could I not? You harp on about him having Sebastian for a full year. I would have to be deaf, blind and dumb not to know who Curtis Decker is. Besides, you..." she bit her lip.
"What?" Hazel asked, feeling like she could just crawl up into Kenzy's mouth and capture the words she was holding back.
"Curtis Decker and I are just acquaintances. I am not in the market for any relationship right now. The guy has to be absolutely fine and really romantic for me to invest any time effort or brain power in anything at the moment. And though Curtis is fine, he does not like me. He likes you. You and I have never had the misfortune to like the same guy. So relax."
"Tell me about the summer!" Hazel said almost viciously. Kenzy's voice had gone off into a dreamlike quality. She was completely ignoring how agitated and mad Hazel was getting.
"No," Kenzy said, focusing back on Hazel. "It gives me no pleasure to withhold from you what I know, but Doctor Jerome said that you should be the one to remember. He warned me against planting memories in your head; he said I shouldn't even give you the basics. He said feeding you info could actually suppress your memories of things for longer. Your brain will eventually work it out."
"Argh!" Hazel sat down and clutched her head. "You are not a good friend. You are awful. Just disregard what the doctor said and tell me."
Kenzy shrugged. "Dr. Jerome wasn't the only one to tell me to keep my mouth shut. Patricia told me too, my parents and....never mind. What was I supposed to do? Defy them and then if somehow your mind got broken in some way then I am the one to blame? No thanks."
Hazel sighed. "But I just want to know. Not knowing is killing me. Dr. Jerome is not God; he doesn't know what will happen to me if I am told about that summer."
"Tell you what," Kenzy said, sitting up straighter. "We could visit some of the places we went to that summer and then see if anything jogs your memory. Let me finish this paper and we can spend the day trying to recreate the summer."
Hazel got up and picked up her oversized handbag. "No, go back to studying. I am leaving."
Kenzy followed her to the door. "I swear I don't have anything going with Curtis.”
"I wouldn't care anyway." Hazel tightened her hands on the door to pull it open. "We don't have that type of relationship."
"Liar," Kenzy said, following behind Hazel. "You like him, he likes you."
"But there is the father factor. I obviously had something going with his father," Hazel said looking back at Kenzy. "Couldn't you have stopped me? I dated a married man, at sixteen years old, and got pregnant for him. What was I thinking? What were you thinking?"
Kenzy looked uncomfortable. "Hazel, I...I know I was a pretty lousy friend that summer but I honestly had no idea who Sebastian's father was until today. We were young and carefree and happy...you know what... no comment. When you remember everything then you can cuss me out. Until then, I am right here."
Chapter Fourteen
By the end of the week when Curtis' trip to Canada was imminent, they had already worked out a routine. Hazel went to their house for dinner every night. Sometimes they would play board games together. Sebastian was a pro at UNO. Sometimes they would watch a kiddie program. They would both tuck Sebastian in for the night and then they would talk, circumventing anything that was remotely important.
Hazel wanted to bring up the morning she saw him at Kenzy's but she was reluctant to do so. Curtis had not mentioned it since and she didn't either. The night before he left for Canada, he came over to her house; Sebastian was tucked up in his new room, which he liked. She could breathe a sigh of relief for that. And the art room doubly impressed him. Mae Joy had outdone herself with that one.
"Are you sure that you are going to be okay?" Curtis asked. They were in her living room staring at each other. They had already run over all contingencies and all of the important details involving his leaving. There was nothing left to say now.
"Yes. I will be," Hazel said. "Motherhood can’t be that hard. You've been doing it for the last five years."
Curtis chuckled
. "Okay. Got your point. I'll call every day. Not to check up on you but because I want to hear your voice."
Hazel didn't know where to look when he said that. He was looking at her; his eyes had taken on a sultry look. "Curtis..."
"Yes, Hazel." He walked over to her. He was near enough that she could feel the heat from his body. It reached out to her and caressed her nerve endings. It was almost unbearable, this hyperawareness.
"Are we, uhm..." she opened her mouth to ask a question but she couldn't quite remember what the question was.
"Yes, we are," Curtis said softly. "We mostly definitely are."
He kissed her briefly and then stepped away. "Take care of yourself and our little man, okay."
"Okay." Hazel cleared her throat. She stood in the same spot where he had kissed her, her lips still tingling, and her heart churning with emotions.
"Before I forget," Curtis pressed a CD in her hand, "a gift."
"Thanks." Hazel walked him to the door and waited until he drove away before she closed it and looked dazedly at the CD. Can't Get Over You by DaVille.
Curtis had been playing that artist when they were coming from the airport.
She had teased him about a particular song, Always on My Mind. She clutched the CD to her and stood with a besotted smile on her face. The insane idea that he was talking about her lodged in her brain and she couldn't shake it. Was she always on his mind?
She went to Baron's old office and found a CD player. She carried it up to her room, after she checked in on Sebastian, who was thoroughly covered under his sheet. He had told her that he wasn't afraid of the dark and didn't need a night light.
She went further into the room and was tempted to take the sheet from his head and stare down at his face, savoring the moment, but she resisted and went to her room.
She put the CD in the player and listened to the soothing voice of DaVille.
*****
"I love this!" Kenzy squealed. They were on a boat. The Wendy.
Just Like Yesterday Page 10