by Jeane Watier
“You’re going to Port Hayden again this weekend. You’ll be visiting your aunt,” Tanisha continued teasing. “Maybe the fates are setting you two up.”
“I don’t believe in fate,” Cassandra replied curtly, putting a stop to the conversation by signaling their server to bring the check. She needed to put the experience behind her, lock it away somewhere. The very thought of him perturbed her. It bothered her much more than she’d expected. She felt violated in a way she didn’t understand. Whether it was him or merely people like him that put her on the defensive, she wasn’t sure. Whether she saw him as a threat to herself or to her aunt, she couldn’t tell. It was a big, indiscernible knot of emotion, and it didn’t feel good.
In the days to follow she tried to erase him from her mind, but his image remained. The image was connected not only to thoughts of her aunt but to the inexplicable knowing that something big was about to happen in her life.
AS JACE RETURNED home from work, he noticed a car parked in front of his building. Shiny black and gleaming in the sun, it looked as though it had just been driven off the showroom floor. He admired it as he walked past. It was the exact vehicle he’d buy if he had the money.
Not lingering to dream, he went up to his apartment and began making dinner. He turned on the TV and was enjoying his meal when he heard a knock on his door. He opened it to find Sophie with her coat on, her purse on one arm and a grin on her face.
“I wonder if you’d mind driving me to the market. I need to pick up a few items.”
“I…um…” Jace hesitated as questions filled his mind. Is she expecting me to take her in my car? He hadn’t told her it wasn’t running. Moreover, he was surprised she would make that assumption. Does she expect me to be available whenever she needs me? He wondered if he’d made a mistake agreeing to be her driver.
His thoughts came to a halt as she pulled a set of keys from her purse and handed them to him. Staring at the distinctive “H” on the key, he responded awkwardly. “That new Accord…it’s yours? I mean…you got a car already?”
“I bought it today. I asked Peter to get me one that wasn’t too big,” she smiled in her sweet way. “It seems like a nice, practical vehicle, don’t you think?”
“Peter?” Jace asked, suddenly curious about his elderly neighbor. “Is he your son?”
“No dear,” she shook her head. “Peter looks after my affairs—has for over twenty years.”
Jace forgot about the remainder of his meal and followed the old woman down to the street. She was becoming more of a mystery every day. Not only did she have the money to buy a new car, it seemed she paid someone to look after her financial dealings. I guess, if she doesn’t have family, he reasoned, it makes sense that she’d hire someone to look after her finances. He couldn’t help but wonder what it must be like to be that old and have no family to call on.
As he neared the vehicle, the car unlocked automatically. Smiling at the new technology, he stepped ahead of Sophie to open the door for her.
“Thank you, dear,” she said, settling into the passenger seat of the two-door coupe.
He tingled with anticipation as he rounded the car to the driver’s side. Being a chauffeur to an old woman wasn’t something he’d brag about to his friends. But being behind the wheel of the very car he’d been dreaming of, was.
The car didn’t disappoint. Loaded, it had a six-speed manual transmission, leather interior, and power everything. It even had a push-button start and a large LCD display. Jace was in heaven. He longed to take it on the highway and see what it could do. Instead, he drove with extreme care. He was eager to play with the interactive touch screen but resisted the urge, hoping he could remain with the car while Sophie did her shopping.
“I’ll be at least half an hour,” she informed him as they pulled up to a small grocery store Jace wasn’t familiar with. “Peter mentioned that a new engine could use some highway miles to break it in. Why don’t you take it for a drive? No sense you sitting here waiting for me.”
Jace couldn’t believe it. His pulse quickened as his mind soared with anticipation. Yet thinking practically, he jumped out to open the door for her. It wasn’t like him to be such a gentleman, but he wanted to make a good impression, wanted to prove he was worthy of her respect.
The Dunsmuir bypass was only a few blocks away, so he headed to the nearest on-ramp and drank in the feeling of power as he shifted gears to get up to speed. Once outside the city limits, he turned on to a paved side road and pushed the pedal down. I could get used to this, Jace breathed, opening the driver’s window to enjoy the breeze on his face as he sped down the deserted road. With the audio controls on the steering wheel he was able to access internet radio, and soon his favorite music blasted through the premium sound system.
The time flew by too quickly, and he regretted having to go back. He was grateful for the experience, however. It wasn’t likely she’d let him take the car on his own each time. As he returned to the market, Jace reflected on the events that had led up to his being behind the wheel of his dream car. Sophie was a kind and generous woman, that was obvious. She reminded him of his grandmother, who had lived with his family the last few years of her life. Jace was an only child, and she’d enjoyed spoiling him. But it was more than that. While there was something endearing about Sophie, there was a quality that confused and intrigued him at the same time. She lived simply, yet she was a complex woman. Her words, while sometimes confusing, held wisdom that Jace couldn’t deny. She seemed to understand more about life than most people—at least her beliefs served her well. And she was happy. He felt good when he was around her. I like the old bird, he admitted. Driving her around won’t be that bad.
CASSANDRA LOOKED forward to the weekend with an enthusiasm that surprised her. With her parents leaving for the summer house, Sunday, she would only have a day to spend with them, yet she hoped she and her father might continue the conversation they’d begun the week before. It was spending time with Sophia, however, that had her keyed up with excitement. She’d given much thought to her aunt’s predictions and was still pondering her fascinating views. Having done some research, she’d learned that her aunt’s beliefs were far from crazy. The internet was abuzz with the very subject matter they’d talked about. The wisdom her dear old aunt had acquired in her lifetime was a topic of widespread interest.
When Cassandra arrived at the Town House, Saturday morning, her mother was busy preparing for the move to their summer home. She had the new housekeeper, Sarah, running nonstop. They kept a minimal staff in town for the summer. Sarah would be staying on, along with the grounds keeper. Wallace and Mrs. Harper, the cook, always accompanied the family to the beach. The couple had been with them since Cassandra was a little girl. They’d met and married while working for the family and now lived in the servant’s quarters behind the house.
Watching her mother, she realized that managing a household was in some ways like overseeing a company, and she had to admire the way everything ran smoothly. A friend of Cassandra’s, who was married and had a child already, constantly complained that it was a full-time job running a household and managing staff. Cassandra wasn’t sure she wanted that kind of life. She liked her independence, and although she hoped to marry and have children one day, she didn’t see it as a full-time role. She wanted to do more with her life—so much more.
Her aunt’s predictions came to mind, followed by the unwelcome image of her aunt’s rude neighbor. Her thoughts must have been visible on her face, causing her father to question her.
“Everything okay, kitten?”
“Oh, yes,” she fibbed. “I was just…um…thinking about my visit with Aunt Sophia.”
“Is something about it bothering you?” He searched her face. “The look you had a minute ago—it seemed like you were upset.”
Her father could read her well. She didn’t like lying to him, so she offered a toned-down version of what had happened the weekend before. “It was weird running into him twic
e like that. And both times, getting into an argument over something trivial. It’s no big deal, though. I don’t know why I’m letting it bother me,” she shrugged, hoping to convince him the matter was irrelevant.
“You say he’s a neighbor of Sophia’s?”
“He lives in the same building; I saw him go in and out a couple of times.”
“I wonder…,” her father frowned and then shook his head. “No, it can’t be.”
“What?”
“Well, I talked to Sophia this week. She’s bought herself a car if you can believe it.”
“She shouldn’t be driving at her age!”
“No, she’s not planning to drive, thank goodness.” He nodded his approval of the fact. “She’s hired someone to drive her whenever she needs to go out. I asked who it was, wanting to be sure she’d gone through an agency and gotten someone with proper credentials. She told me she’d asked a young man in her building.”
An icy chill inched its way up Cassandra’s spine. A voice inside told her it was the same man she’d met. “She can’t! Daddy, you have to do something,” Cassandra blurted, surprised by her own fervor. “I mean, we don’t know anything about this guy. What if he’s just being nice, gaining her trust while he’s planning to swindle her? She could be in danger.”
“Hold on, kitten.” Her father held up his hand. “Let’s not jump to conclusions.”
“But how can she trust a stranger?”
“He’s obviously not a stranger to her,” he reasoned. “Besides, you’re overlooking two important points here. Remember what I told you about her ability to read people?”
“Yes, but…,” Cassandra protested. “What if she’s wrong this one time?”
Her father shrugged his shoulders. “The other is that Sophia Langdon is a headstrong woman. Even at eighty-seven, if we try to oppose her she’ll likely do it to spite us.”
“Surely she could be made to see reason.”
“Maybe, but not without proof.” He stared at her for a second, a question forming on his lips. “I was thinking…”
“You want me to check him out?” Convinced it was the same man, Cassandra was already building a case against him. She was eager to share her findings with her too-trusting old aunt.
“No…not exactly,” he frowned at her, obviously taken aback by her enthusiasm. “But you’ll be spending a bit of time with Sophia over the next while. You could ask her questions, maybe meet this guy. If we knew his name we could learn a lot about him. I’ll get Dave Hillson from the police department to run a check on him. He owes me a favor.”
“Yeah, I see what you mean. I can do that,” she replied, happy to do what her father asked. Still, her mind raced ahead with ideas of her own. A police check could turn up nothing. This guy might not have a criminal record, but that doesn’t mean he’s above being dishonest or trying to con Aunt Sophia. If I could plan to run into him again…not let him know I’m associated with her…maybe flirt a bit. She felt an immediate distaste, yet knowing it was for a worthy cause, continued with her plan. He knows I have money; I can’t pretend otherwise. But if he’s the lowlife I think he is, he’ll jump at the chance to get to know me. And maybe, just maybe, he’ll let down his guard so I can get the evidence we need.
JACE HAD PLANS of his own on Saturday, but given his new arrangement with Sophie, he decided to see if she needed him to drive her anywhere. She had a hair appointment at one, and again she urged him to take the vehicle rather than wait on her. Reveling in the freedom, he stopped by Chad’s place and decided to have some fun. As he pulled into the driveway of the semidetached rental that Chad shared with his younger brother, Jace saw his friend under the hood of his car. Chad looked up to see who was pulling in the driveway and did a double take at seeing Jace behind the wheel.
“Whose car?” he asked, wiping his hands on a rag as he walked toward him.
“Mine,” Jace smirked. “Just bought’er.”
“Really?” Chad frowned. “Whad’ya do, win the lottery?”
Jace continued smiling, saying nothing.
Chad opened the passenger door and looked inside, sizing up the vehicle. “Six-speed manual, leather, sunroof…whoa, nice sound system!” He looked at Jace. “Seriously? You bought this?”
Jace couldn’t keep a straight face. “Okay, not exactly,” he laughed.
“It’s not hot, is it?”
“No! Are you kidding?”
“So whered’ya get it then?”
As Jace told the story, he braced himself for the inevitable smart-ass comeback about driving Miss Daisy. Chad’s response surprised him.
“You’re a lucky son of a bitch,” he shook his head. “I can’t believe she lets you drive it around like this.”
“She’s the one who suggested it,” Jace shrugged. “I couldn’t believe it, either.”
“The old broad must have plenty of dough to spare if she buys a brand new car and hires a dipshit like you to drive it,” Chad teased.
“I’m not sure; she’s hard to figure out.” Jace ignored his friend’s jab.
“Could be like my great-grandma,” Chad suggested. “She went kind of crazy before they put her in a nursing home. Started spending her money on all kinds of stuff she didn’t need. My grandpa became power of attorney and took away her bankbook and rights to her own money. I always felt kind of sorry for her, ya know? I think old people should be allowed to spend their money on whatever they want. They worked hard for it. She only lasted a year after that and was never the same, either.”
The idea of someone taking away Sophie’s rights and shutting her away in a nursing home was deplorable. Jace hoped that would never happen. “Maybe you’re right.” He pondered his friend’s suggestion. “Maybe she’s spending whatever money she has left. Can’t take it with her; she may as well enjoy it.”
“Looks like you’re getting to enjoy it, too, my friend,” Chad remarked, gazing enviously at the new car. “Plus she pays you for this? Better hope she sticks around for a while.”
“I don’t think she’s ready to croak yet.” Jace laughed, feeling a little guilty talking about Sophie that way. He’d never admit it to Chad, but she was more than just a source of extra cash. He had a soft spot for the kind old woman.
“If you believe that you must work hard in order to deserve the money that comes to you, then money cannot come to you unless you do work hard. Financial success, or any other kind of success, does not require hard work. It does require alignment of thought. You simply cannot offer negative thought about things that you desire and then make up for it with action or hard work. When you learn to direct your own thoughts, you will discover the true leverage of Energy Alignment.”
---Abraham-Hicks
CHAPTER 6
JACE HAD a few errands to run before he picked Sophie up, but he was back with time to spare. He didn’t want to keep her waiting. She might reconsider letting him use her car in the future if he inconvenienced her in that way.
She had another stop to make before he took her home. Since she’d only be five minutes, Jace waited in the car, familiarizing himself with the multi-information display. The touch screen provided hands-free access to phone calls, text messages, and even e-mails. He was flipping through the manual to learn how to program his cell phone into the interactive system when she returned.
Looking at him with a smile, and in a pretentious voice so unlike her own, she instructed, “Home, Jace.”
He laughed at the old woman’s humor. It must make her feel important, like she’s got money again, he decided, to pretend that I’m her chauffeur and the car’s a Rolls Royce instead of a mid-class import. He was even more convinced that there was truth to Chad’s suggestion. She’d obviously had money at one time in her life. For whatever reason, she’d been reduced to living a simple life and had learned how to scrimp and save. Now, as she neared the end of her life, she wanted to experience some of the luxuries she’d once known. He couldn’t blame her. In fact, he admired her. If she wa
nted to pretend he was her chauffeur, he’d play the part.
Jace saw her up to her apartment, and as usual she invited him in for tea. He had time to kill, so he accepted. As she busied herself in the kitchen, he took off his jacket, put the car key on the small table by the door, and perched on a stool by the kitchen counter. He was comfortable around Sophie now, and though they hadn’t talked much more about her strange beliefs, the questions had been building. “Sophie, I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”
“Of course, Jace.” She turned to him. “You can ask me anything.”
“When we first met, you talked about focus, getting what I expect out of life, and being in control. I don’t know…it’s weird,” Jace hesitated. “Part of me wants to argue that that’s not true. In fact, it really pissed me off…sorry,” he apologized for his language. “It made me mad at first, but the more I think about it, the more it seems stuff like that should be true, like that’s the way it’s supposed to be.”
“It is the way it’s supposed to be,” Sophie smiled. “It’s the way it is.”
“But how does it work? I don’t understand.”
Sophie poured him some tea. “Have you ever heard people in the financial world talk about leverage?”
“Yeah, sure,” Jace looked at her strangely. “It’s using other people’s money to make money.” He wasn’t sure whether she was answering his question or whether she’d moved on to another topic. She was kind of odd that way.
“Well, what you can do with focus, compared to what you can accomplish with your own efforts,” Sophie explained, “is the same idea.”