by Lyssa Layne
The doctor and Cherie exchanged glances, both noticing Destiny’s face lost color.
“Destiny, can you hear me.” Cherie tried again.
Destiny’s bottom lip puckered out like a little girl whose feelings were hurt when a parent yelled at them.
Cherie felt horrible for causing her mother any kind of suffering. When she saw tears welling in her eyes she motioned for the doctor that they should leave.
Once they were out of the room, Cherie peeked back around the door jamb to see that Destiny had again begun to rock, snuggling her doll even tighter in her grip.
When they returned to the doctor’s office and were again seated, Cherie asked the doctor’s opinion. “Well?”
“I think you’re right. I believe she does remember something about that name. All this time we’ve assumed she rocked the doll because she was back in a memory. Now I’m thinking that memory is combined with the last time she felt safe and knew her child was safe as well.” The doctor reached for her file. “Hmm, as I thought. None of the staff use that name for her. It’s always Desiree or Miss Alexander.” The doctor scribbled a note to himself on the tablet on his desk. Looking back at Cherie, he continued, “I’m going to talk to her therapist and see if we can’t bring out some other reactions from her. I can’t believe she reacted so intensely.” The doctor added barely able to contain his excitement.
“How much do you know about my mother’s life and the details around my birth?”
“We’ve never dwelled on it in the past. Your grandfather wasn’t exactly forthcoming with the details. He merely wanted the problem to go away.”
“I’m sure you’re right. But, if we’re going to get anywhere with my mother, I think you need to know more. I’m going to bring her diary for you to read through. Generally, I’d consider that private, but in this case I think it has to be done.
“I agree. I think with more background we may actually have a breakthrough soon.”
Afraid to get her hopes up, she merely nodded. Only after she looked down at her hands, she realized she had her fingers crossed. “I’ll bring her diary first thing tomorrow.”
“I’ll give you a call in a couple days and we’ll talk some more. Where can I reach you?”
“Most likely I’ll be at my grandmother’s. Oh and just so you know, from this day forward I don’t want anyone visiting with her unless you verify it with us first. We had an incident happen yesterday and I’m not entirely convinced it was an accident.” Cherie saw the confused look on the doctor’s face and explained what happened.
When she was done, she was pleased to see the doctor understood the necessity to be extra cautious.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
As Cherie relayed the information to her Grandmother and Jason during afternoon tea, she realized how much it meant to Olivia. The tears welling in her eyes said it all. This was the first real hope she’d been shown. The more Cherie thought about her mother and her reaction to the being called Destiny, the more she was convinced that she was on to something big.
“I’m taking my mother’s diary to the doctor tomorrow and then he’ll consult with her psychologist and decide if we can do a little pushing and try to bring her back to us. He’s not promising, but like me, he believes it’s a huge breakthrough.”
Olivia gasped out a sob. “I never really believed she’d come out of it. I not only have a granddaughter, but I could very well get my daughter back.”
“Grandmother, don’t get your hopes up, there are no promises, only a very slim possibility.” She patted Olivia’s hand.
“That’s more than I’ve ever had. You can’t know what this means to me.” Olivia blew her nose and excused herself.
Cherie started to get up to go after her when Jason stopped her. “She’s okay, really. You’ve just given her the hope she’s never thought possible. Let’s leave her alone. Let her gather her thoughts. She’ll be fine.”
Cherie and Jason were in the middle of a discussion about the Judge and how best to proceed when Mark arrived. The smirk on his face made her smile. He found something. “Okay talk. It’s written all over your face. What did you find?”
“Any chance either of you two noticed the name on the secretary’s desk?”
Cherie shook her head and looked to Jason, who responded, “No.”
“Neither did I and do you know why? Because she removed it. The judge was rustling through her desk and found it. He pulled it out, and that’s when I saw it.”
“Don’t keep us in suspense.”
“Her name is June Benson.”
“As in the wife of the doctor who originally treated my mother?”
“One in the same.”
“Okay, so what’s this mean for us?”
“She up and left her office, no warning. And that makes me think she’s covering for the doctor. I have asked the judge to get me her address. I told him what we suspected and why and he’d volunteered to help us.” Mark said
“Any idea how long she’s worked for the judge?” Jason asked.
“No why?” Mark asked.
“Our trail for Dr. Benson went cold after Cherie’s adoption. I have to ask why?”
“Maybe he retired?” Cherie offered.
“Even so, if he did, that’s no reason for his wife to stop being a nurse, even if she no longer worked for him. So what happened and why is she now working for a Judge?” Jason countered.
“Okay, so if we’re going for the far-fetched, the first thing that comes to my mind is that she went to work for the Judge who handled the adoptions to keep an eye on things,” Cherie said.
“Exactly what I was thinking as well.” Mark responded then continued, “The judge is going to call me as soon as he finds the address. Then I’m going to see if the doctor and his wife have anything to say. My gut is telling me we’re on to something big.”
Cherie and Jason filled Mark in on what they hoped would happen for Destiny. The threesome pondered their next steps as Olivia joined them. While Mark updated Olivia about June Benson, his cell phone rang. He stepped away from the table to take the call. When he returned, Cherie asked. “So?”
Mark held up his notebook, “I have the address. It appears the good doctor is still alive and practicing medicine. And you’ll never guess where.”
“Uh-oh. Where?” Jason asked.
“There’s orphanage in the next town run by the nuns at St. Joseph’s, he’s been on staff ever since he left the home.”
Cherie was overcome with a case of the shivers. Not just a case of goose flesh; but a full bone deep chilling shiver, like the worst flu bug slammed into her body. She didn’t like the feeling. She reached up and grabbed the necklace the gypsy put around her neck? She held onto the crystal and allowed it to bring warmth back to her extremities. How many times had she done this since the old woman had put it around her neck. When the shivers finally subsided, she realized there were three sets of eyes glued on her. “What?”
It was Olivia that spoke, “Honey, I notice that whenever something happens and you are in some kind of shock you automatically reach for your necklace. May I ask what it is?”
Cherie felt herself blush. Did she dare tell them where it came from? Or would they laugh at her and think her childish or crazy? She needed her confidence most of all right now, so she answered with a little white lie. “It was a gift from a friend.” Let them think it was from someone close.
“What’s its significance?”
“Nothing really. Just makes me feel better.” She hated lying but what choice did she have. They’d never understand the warmth that it provided her. The strength it gave her. Nor how it made her feel protected. She’d tried taking it off that first night only to become so cold she immediately put it back on. After that every time she removed it the same thing happened, so she quit trying and felt immensely better.
“May I have a look?” Her grandmother asked.
“Sure.” What harm could possibly come from it?
Olivia
grasped the crystal.
Cherie looked into her eyes.
Olivia’s eyes widened. The look in her eyes terrified Cherie. She could tell Olivia wanted to speak but refrained.
Jason and Mark each took a quick glance then let the topic slide, focusing back on Dr. and Mrs. Benson. While Cherie followed the conversation between the men, she couldn’t stop watching Olivia’s eyes trained on her necklace.
“Cherie—” Jason snapped his fingers in front of her eyes.
“Sorry, lost in thought.” She said.
“No kidding, you zoned out big time.”
“What did I miss?” she asked.
“I said, I’m going back to the judge’s office and get a warrant to thoroughly search the files, all the files in that convalescent hospital. With any luck, maybe we’ll find a clue as to why someone would feel the need to start a fire.” Jason said then looked to Mark, “See what you can find out about the doctor and his wife, his financials, jobs over the past twenty years for both of them and where he’s currently employed, anything, and everything. Maybe even a search warrant for their home.”
“You got it.” Mark put on his jacket and left.
Cherie felt immediately better that Mark and Jason were handling things. She still had a slight chill, so she poured another cup of tea.
Jason wiped his mouth then said, “I’m heading back to the judge’s office with those files of dad’s. I want that warrant today. I also want answers. I need to know once and for all for how and why my father was involved in adoptions. I’ll call when I’m on my way back, and we’ll go to dinner.” He gave her a kiss and left.
With the men gone, Cherie decided to tackle her grandmother. Funny how easy saying that came now. “Okay Grandmother, what’s wrong? You’ve been staring at me since you looked at my necklace. What’s up?
“Will you come with me?” Olivia extended her hand waiting for Cherie to take it.
She did so, hesitantly, something was wrong, and she didn’t like the feeling that flooded her senses at all. “Sure.” She lied, whatever was about to happen was bound to be big.
Olivia tucked her arm into her own, patting it as they left the formal dining room. She led the way upstairs to her private sitting room. Once Olivia led her to the settee in her room, Olivia went to her closet and pulled down a hat box and put it on her bed. Her grandmother ran her hands lovingly over the box as if it held a treasure. As much as she wanted to know what was in the contents of the box, she saw that Olivia looked as if she were trying to gather courage, but for what.
“The day they took my daughter away was the worst day of my life. I was furious with Lawrence. I think I hated him that day. How could he allow his only child to become a prisoner of a place that didn’t give a damn about her? I begged him to let her stay her. I begged him to let me hire someone. But he wouldn’t hear of it, said she was an embarrassment to the family.”
Cherie’s hands clenched into tightly fisted balls her nails cutting into her palms. She wanted to ask questions but thought it was better to keep silent and let Olivia get it all out. Lord knows she never had anyone to confide in, not in all these years. She also wanted to slap Lawrence. Good thing he was already dead.
Finally, her grandmother removed the lid placing it on the bed. She reached inside. The corner of her mouth curled into a mere slip of a smile. Olivia removed something, fingering it gently and she came closer.
Her grandmother held her hands out to her and said, “Look familiar?”
Cherie looked into her hands and froze. Literally. She was suddenly so cold she felt as if she was encased in a glacier. She grasped the crystal around her neck and drew it over her head. With her other hand, she took from Olivia an identical twin to the necklace she held in her own hand. She closed both hands over the crystals feeling a zing zip through her system. Not just that but heat radiating up both arms, filling her with an electrical charge. What the hell was happening? When she opened her eyes, Olivia’s gaze was focused on her, as if looking for a clue, a signal, something that made sense.
“Would you please tell me where you got your necklace?” her grandmother begged.
“Okay, but you’re not going to like it,” Cherie stressed.
She then went on to tell how she met the old gypsy at the fair in Nevada City that day. Seeing the look of concern and something else she couldn’t identify, she told her grandmother everything, leaving nothingout.
“The image of that picture of Lawrence on the piano the day he retired was the image that flickered in my mind. When Mark showed up the next day, it was his face that had flashed before my eyes, and then Jason. I think that’s why I was so frightened that day. First finding out I was adopted, then the images of the three men from the week before, was too much for me to handle. The gypsy’s final words to me were, ‘you must have faith and find hope, for you are Destiny’s child.’ I thought she was just melodramatic, until you said the same words to me in Jason’s office that day.”
When Cherie was finished, she asked, “Where did this other one come from?”
“It was your mother’s. She too acquired it at that same fair.”
Cherie was so cold she could hardly move. She put her necklace back on feeling the heat rush through her veins. “Do you know anything about how and when she got it?”
“Yes. She told me about it not too long after she got it. She too had gone to the fair. It was the Friday evening before Jeff shipped out. They wanted to have some fun before he had to leave. She said the old gypsy watched them stroll by and reached out to them. Your mother said the gypsy scared her with her words saying that she saw trouble in her future. Told me how she even refused to do a reading on Jeff, but that it was imperative that she speak with Desiree. The woman’s words to her were that as long as she wore the necklace, she would be protected. That their love would endure. My daughter said she wore the necklace because she wanted Jeff to come home safely. I noticed it one day and asked about it. She was as hesitant as you were to talk about it, but my daughter and I had a good relationship, she knew I’d never laugh at her. I remember thinking it was so lovely. The next time I saw it, it was in the bag of clothes the home returned to us after my daughter was taken away. I sobbed to think they removed it from her neck knowing what it meant to her. All these years I’ve silently wondered if the day they removed it was the day they made her a prisoner in her own mind. When I saw her the next time I tried to put it back on her, but they forced me to remove it claiming she could hurt herself with the point of the crystal. Jeff was one of the first killed in the Gulf War.”
As tears fell from Olivia’s cheeks, Cherie rushed to her side. “There, there.”
Damn all the people who interfered in their lives. The gypsy’s words suddenly haunted her. All because Lawrence couldn’t rule Desiree’s life. Damn him to hell and leave him there.
“Grandmother, I’m not sure I can explain how wearing this necklace has helped me. I know it’s stupid. I know it’s superstitious. I can’t help it…but it does bring me comfort. I say when I go to the home to give the doctor her diary, come with me. We’ll take the necklace and put it back on her. Maybe seeing it will help her the way it’s helped me. She needs all the comfort we can give her.”
“Do you really think we should?”
“I don’t know anything for certain right now, except that if it can bring her even the smallest of comfort we have to try. We owe it to her.”
Cherie sat on her grandmother’s bed, hugging her as they both cried. She cried for all injustices done to her mother, herself, Olivia, and even Jeff. How could fate be so damned cruel?
She tried to keep her anger abated, but thoughts of Lawrence kept pushing them right back to the surface.
“Grandmother, will you do me a favor?”
“Name it, honey.”
“I don’t know why I’m asking, but will you wear that necklace until we put back on my mother tomorrow. If there is anything to crystals and the hype behind them, maybe something wil
l rub off, and if we both believe very hard, perhaps we’ll both find that miracle.”
“How can I say no? I know your heart is in helping her and that there is no rhyme nor reason to it, but if your necklace makes you feel that much better or stronger, who’s to say it can’t do the same for my daughter and me?”
“Okay then,” Cherie took the second necklace and looped it over Olivia’s head. Olivia took the crystal charm in her hand, closed her hand around it. Cherie saw her mouth, ‘I believe’ over and over again. Who was she to argue? Cherie took her necklace in her left hand and took her grandmother’s hand in her right and repeated the words. And she said the words aloud, “I believe. I believe, I believe.”
Her grandmother said them aloud too.
When they opened their eyes, they both chuckled.
“Believe it or not, I do feel better,” Olivia said. “And the chills are gone.”
“I know, it does the same thing to me.”
They went downstairs together and called the doctor explaining they’d both be down in the morning with plenty to discuss.
By the time they got off her cell phone, Jason had called the main house to say he was taking a detour to meet Mark at the doctor’s house. That Mark had seen the doctor come home ten minutes ago.
##
Jason pulled up behind Mark’s car. He slipped out of his vehicle and into the passenger side of Mark’s. “I got the warrant. For the convalescent hospital, it was a piece of cake. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get one for the home. We have a choice to make now. Do we knock on the door and take a chance on showing our hand or do we wait and see if anything comes up tomorrow?”
Mark scratched his chin. “Here’s the problem as I see it. If we knock on the door tonight, I’m sure Mrs. Benson will recognize us from her office. By the time we come back with a warrant, they’ll be gone. This is how it goes. If they split, we may never find them. So we have to keep the surprise on our side.”
Jason considered his friend’s words. “As much as I hate to admit it, I say we hold that warrant until morning and search then. Can you be at the home at eight in the morning?” Jason passed him the warrant. “In the meantime, I’ll go to the Judge’s office at ten for the warrant on her desk, home, and vehicles. I’ll text you when to meet me at their offices, and we’ll serve her at work and take her with a police escort to their home. I’ll need to know the make, model, and license of their vehicles before then. Do you mind if I send you back to your office for that tonight? We need a rush on it.”