by SUE FINEMAN
“Didn’t she have any family?”
“Apparently not.” He grinned. “Mabel said she paddled Dad’s behind for playing doctor with her little girl.”
Mom smiled. “How old is she?”
“Somewhere between eighty-five and a hundred-and-two.”
She closed the dishwasher. “I remember Pop talking about Mabel. She was the neighborhood busybody, always had her nose in everyone else’s business.”
“Yeah, that’s what I figured. Do you want to look through the house and see if there’s anything the Hospital Guild Thrift Store might want?” Mom did a lot of charity work these days.
“Sure. Do you want to go over now?”
“Okay.” Charlie was dead tired, but he had a reason to push ahead and get the work done on the house. Taylor. He wanted a home for his daughter, a safe place for her to live, a backyard to play in, and maybe a puppy of her own.
Minutes later, Charlie and his mother walked through the old house. Mom stopped in the dining room. “The hutch is filled with dishes and stemware. We could sell them, but you might want to keep some of these things for yourself.”
“What’s in the drawer?”
“Tarnished silver and stained tablecloths.” She pulled out the linen and tossed it in a trash can. Let’s see what’s in the kitchen and then you can decide what you want to keep.”
They spent two hours cleaning out the kitchen cabinets and sorting through the dishes and pans, deciding what Charlie needed to keep and what to send to the Hospital Guild Thrift Store. The cabinets were beat to hell, the refrigerator smelled so bad it wasn’t worth keeping, and the stove was so filthy it was a fire hazard. He’d have to gut the kitchen and start over.
While Mom sorted through the bedrooms, Charlie removed the upper cabinets from the kitchen walls. He had the first one on the front porch when the dumpster arrived.
Mom went out to buy sandwiches for lunch, and Charlie kept working like a man possessed. He had to get the house cleaned out this week. The rest of the planting had to be done at the farm next week. And he had to make time to see Taylor again.
At three, his oldest brother arrived. Billy owned most of a private prep school, and he also taught there. Dad pulled up right behind him with Andy, Charlie’s fraternal twin brother. Andy was an architect who had an office in Mom and Dad’s house. He also owned the land that Charlie farmed.
“Did you start without us?” Billy called from the street.
Exhausted, Charlie dropped to the front porch steps to rest.
“You look like death warmed over,” said Andy. “Didn’t you get any sleep last night?”
Charlie shook his head. After they let Taylor go to sleep, he’d stayed awake gazing at the sweet little girl sleeping like an angel in the big hospital bed. He’d been afraid to take his eyes off her, afraid she’d disappear and he’d never see her again.
Billy asked, “Where do you want us to start?”
“The upholstered furniture in the living room goes into the dumpster with the kitchen cabinets.” There was no way in hell he’d get that furniture into the dumpster by himself.
While his sons worked, Donovan walked through the house he’d grown up in, the house Pop sold to help Donovan out of a financial quagmire. Things worked out for the best in the end, because they found Hannah, but he still felt bad about Pop giving up his home.
The old house was in sad shape. He’d tried talking Charlie out of buying it, but maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea. With a little work, it could be a nice place to live.
He found Hannah in the back bedroom, sorting through clothes. “Find anything worth keeping?”
“Not much. All the clothes are worn, and the linens aren’t good enough to keep. There’s enough kitchen stuff for Charlie to get by, so we put that aside. He’s keeping the dining room furniture and the roll top desk in the living room, and maybe some of the bedroom furniture, but the rest is shot.”
“What about the personal things – papers, jewelry?”
“I didn’t find any jewelry. Either she didn’t have any or someone already got to it. And I didn’t go through the papers. Charlie can do that after he gets the house renovated.” She stuffed the last of the clothes in a trash can. “I need to get home and start dinner. I didn’t realize how much I depended on Trevor until he was gone.”
Trevor Ames, Hannah’s ex-husband, had lived with them since before the twins were born. He often cooked and always helped with family work projects. Trevor passed away last winter from a massive heart attack. He’d left each one of the kids a sizeable inheritance. Charlie had used his to buy Pop’s old house. He owned it free and clear, but the renovations would be costly. The men in the family would help with the work, which would undoubtedly save money, but Donovan wasn’t sure if that would be enough. Charlie’s income was sporadic, although he made more farming last year than Billy had his first year of teaching. Charlie also worked part-time in the summer as a coach in the city’s summer recreation program.
Donovan wondered if Charlie would cut down on his dating, now that he knew he had a daughter. From the time he was old enough to notice girls were different, he’d been chasing one girl after the other, but he’d never found one he wanted to stay with for the long term. The ideal thing, of course, would be if he’d settle down with his daughter’s mother. But that would present all kinds of problems. Alexandra was a Porcini, Vinnie’s daughter, and Vinnie had never forgiven Donovan or Hannah for the humiliation he and his family had suffered thirty years ago.
“Donovan, what do you think of this bedroom furniture?”
He shrugged. “It’s okay, I guess.” What did he know about furniture? The old house they lived in came with beautiful antiques, and except for the mattresses and living room furniture, they’d replaced very few pieces.
Sounds of laughter, banging, and wood splintering came from the kitchen. The boys were doing the fun work, tearing out the rest of the kitchen.
The hard work would be wresting Charlie’s child from the Porcini family.
He grinned. “Taylor’s a cute little girl. Looks a lot like you did when you were a kid.”
Hannah shook her head. “That was a hundred years ago.”
“Not quite.” He wrapped his arms around her in a big hug. “I love you.”
Charlie said, “Hey, none of that mushy stuff.”
“Get your own woman,” Donovan replied. “This one is mine.”
“Hmm,” said Andy. “Sounds like a country song.” He started singing, and his brothers groaned.
“Show off,” said Billy.
Donovan’s heart swelled with pride. He had three fine sons, all bright, good natured, and devoted to the family. They’d have Pop’s house restored by the end of the summer.
Something crashed in the dining room. Andy whipped around. “What was that?”
“Probably John Garrett’s ghost,” Charlie replied. “The neighbor claims the man was murdered by his wife. Or it could be her. Marsha Garrett died a few months ago.”
Donovan groaned. Didn’t this family have enough trouble without another run-in with a ghost?
Chapter Three
Alex called the office and connected with Mario. “I’m at home with Taylor, and I need to stay with her for a couple days.”
“Damn it, Alex. We gave you a job, and you’re never here to do it. Look what you did to us yesterday. The guy won’t sign the contract until he sees you again.”
“My child was in the hospital with a head injury. What did you expect me to do?”
They’d had this discussion before, many times. Her brothers didn’t like hiring women with kids because they took time off to take care of life’s little emergencies. “Taylor has a concussion. She spent the night in the hospital, and I’m not leaving her alone until I’m sure she’s okay.”
“So leave her with your mother.”
“Mother has other plans this afternoon.” And Vanessa Porcini didn’t baby-sit.
“Scott expects you to
make up for running out on him yesterday.” Mario shouted, “So get your fat butt in here or you’re fired.”
“Well, when you put it that way…” She took a deep breath and yelled, “I quit!” Her brothers had created a job for her only because Papa insisted, but the job was entertaining clients and doing everything short of having sex with them. Antonio had once offered her a bonus if she’d sleep with a rich client, and she’d almost quit then. She should have quit then. Socializing and playing hostess was one thing. Selling her body so her brothers could clinch a business deal was another.
Papa wouldn’t be happy about her quitting, but then Papa wasn’t happy about anything these days. Did he know Mother was having an affair with another man? Was that why they fought so much? Mother didn’t play bridge any more, and she didn’t go to Columbus to have dinner and see a show with friends like she told Papa. She spent most of her time in Rory Cuthbert’s luxury condo. And everyone knew they weren’t playing bridge.
Time to get her resume polished, so she could find another job. Working for the family business had been a poor choice from the beginning. She was an intelligent woman with a college degree in communications. Surely she could find a decent job working for someone outside the family. Something that didn’t involve entertaining clients.
She heard Papa coming long before he reached her rooms. “Alexandra,” he bellowed. “Where are you?”
She walked toward him, knowing what stirred him up this time. “Mario called you?”
Papa took her arm and steered her toward the sun room, which had floor to ceiling windows overlooking the back garden. “He said you refused to come back to work.”
Sitting beside her father in a stream of sunlight, she said, “No matter what Mario says, I’m not going back. I refuse to sleep with a strange man so they can sign up another rich client.”
“For God’s sake, Alex, nobody is asking you to sleep with the clients.”
“Aren’t they? We had lunch in the hotel bar yesterday, and their client couldn’t keep his hands off me. He made it very clear that he expected sex, and I know damn well he didn’t come up with that idea without some prompting from Mario.”
Papa toggled his head. “So flirt and tease. It’s expected. You don’t have to—”
“No.” Alex stared at her father. He knew what Mario was doing and didn’t care. She felt dirty doing what they wanted, and the clients expected more. They expected what she wasn’t willing to give. Waving her hands, she said, “Tell Mario to hire an escort service. I’m finished. Done!”
“Fine, don’t go back after today, but finish the job you started. This client won’t sign until he spends more time with you, and—”
She jumped to her feet. “No! I’m not spending another minute with Scott Whatshisname. He’s a creep, and I don’t want him touching me.”
Papa’s face turned dark with rage, and she knew she was in deep trouble. “Young lady, that business is what pays the bills, and if you’re not willing to do your part to—”
“You want me to move out? Fine! I’ll leave.”
She didn’t see Papa’s hand coming, but she felt the sting of the slap on her face. Shocked that he’d hit her, she yelled, “I hate you. I hate this whole family.” Alex ran back to her apartment and locked the door.
“You ungrateful brat!” Papa’s booming voice filled the house. He was clearly angry, but so was Alex. She’d tried to be a cooperative daughter, tried to get along with her overly critical mother and controlling father. She’d even tried to get along with the brothers who’d resented her from the day she was born. No one could meet their expectations and keep their self-respect.
By the time Taylor woke from her nap, Alex had her suitcases on the bed and clothes strewn around her bedroom.
“Are we going somewhere?” Taylor asked.
“I thought we’d go sleep in a motel tonight. Won’t that be fun?”
She shrugged. “Can’t we stay here?”
“No.” Alex wasn’t sure where they were going, but they couldn’t stay in this house.
If Papa was this angry over a business deal, what would he do when he found out she and Taylor had breakfast with Charlie Kane and his parents? And he would find out. The Porcini family may not run the city now as it once had, but there were people in River Valley who were still loyal to the family. And Papa was the head of the family.
After making a few phone calls, Alex found a motel she could afford. She packed overnight bags for herself and Taylor, then packed as many of their clothes and Taylor’s toys as she could fit into her car. She left a note on her pillow for Mother, so she wouldn’t worry, then left the house without bothering to say goodbye to Papa. He was already angry, but so was she, and she didn’t need another confrontation today.
The Whippoorwill Inn wasn’t the best place to stay in town, but it would have to do. They wouldn’t be there long, and the suite had a kitchenette and a separate room for Taylor.
Alex checked in and then took Taylor out for a Happy Meal.
Taylor munched on fries. “Do we hafta stay in a motel?”
“Yes. Papa is angry, and I don’t want to fight with him any more.”
“Why is he angry?”
“Because I quit my job today, and he wants me to keep working for Uncle Mario and Uncle Antonio.”
“Don’t you like working there?”
“No, I don’t. I’ll get another job, and then we’ll find a nice apartment to live in. Okay?”
“Okay.”
The bump on Taylor’s head was still visible through her bangs. It would be another day or two before she could go back to school, another day or two before Alex could go out job hunting.
Alex tucked Taylor into bed that evening with the teddy bear she’d refused to leave behind. She read her a story, kissed her goodnight, and left the door open a few inches so Taylor wouldn’t get scared. For some reason, Taylor seemed unusually unsettled tonight.
While Taylor slept, Alex walked down to the office to buy a newspaper. When she returned to her room, a man appeared beside her. His sudden presence startled her at first, then a trickle of cold fear ran down her spine. “Scott, what are you doing here?”
“I was lonesome, and Mario said I could find you here.”
Papa must have found her note and passed the information along to Mario. She could kick herself for leaving that note.
Scott’s hand on her arm sent an icy chill through her. She had to find a way to get rid of the creep. “I’m sorry, Scott, I have other plans for this evening.”
He moved closer. “Open the door, Alexandra. I just want to talk.”
Letting him in would be a big mistake. “But I’m not alone.”
“I know about your daughter. We’ll talk quietly. She won’t know I’m here.”
He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, then pried the key from her hand. Worried about Taylor’s safety, and her own, Alex said, “Why don’t we talk in your car, so we don’t wake my daughter?”
Scott unlocked the door and pushed her inside. He locked the door with the dead bolt, then pulled her against his body, one hand on her bottom and the other working on the hooks of her bra.
Pushing against him, that sense of fear she’d felt outside the door heightened, and she knew this man intended to have sex with her whether she wanted it or not.
“You owe me, pretty lady, and I’m here to collect.”
She pushed back, her heart pounding so hard she could barely breathe. “I don’t know what Mario told you, but I don’t sleep with clients.”
“I’m not a client,” he said, pushing her sweater up and yanking her bra down. “If you don’t give me what I want, I’ll never be a client.”
“No, Scott, I can’t—”
He squeezed her breasts, bruising her, hurting her, and her heart raced with fear not just for herself, but for Taylor. Could she get to her phone? If she could take her purse into the bathroom, she could call for help. “Please, Scott, let me g
o to the bathroom first and get ready for you.”
His mouth came down on hers in a crushing, invasive kiss that turned her stomach. He was going to rape her, and there wasn’t a damn thing she could do to stop him. The man was twice her size, and he was so strong.
She jerked her face away from him, all pretense of cooperation gone. If she didn’t fight back, he might kill her, and if he killed her, what would happen to Taylor?
“Mommy?”
Hearing her daughter’s voice sent a flash of terror through Alex.
“Go back to bed, kid,” he snapped. “Right now.”
“Don’t hurt my mommy.”
“Let me go. Please, Scott. Let me go,” Alex said, pushing against his shoulders.
“Shut the fuck up.” He slapped her so hard her ears rang, and she fell back on the bed.
Taylor screamed, and as Scott turned toward Taylor, Alex kicked him where it would hurt the most. “Go in the bedroom and lock the door, Taylor. Hurry. Call 911.”
“Fucking bitch! You’ll pay for that.” Scott hit Alex in the face with his fist and pain shot through her head and neck. The second punch stunned her, and the third left her floating in blackness.
<>
Dad shook Charlie out of a sound sleep. “Ginny just called. We need to get to the hospital.”
“Why?”
“A man tried to rape Alexandra at the Whippoorwill Inn tonight. She was beaten pretty badly. Taylor called 911. She’s scared out of her mind, and Alex is unconscious.”
Charlie jumped out of bed and dressed quickly. “What in the hell were they doing at the Whippoorwill Inn?”
“Alex can tell us after she wakes up. If she wakes up.”
Two minutes later, Charlie grabbed a jacket and followed his parents out of the house. His first priority had to be Taylor, but he worried about Alex. No matter what she’d done, she didn’t deserve to be hurt like that.
Charlie ran into the emergency room and found Taylor sitting with Ginny. “There’s my girl,” he said, wrapping his arms around his little girl. “You must have been so scared.”