Dreaming of a Hero (Heroes Series Book 2)

by Lyssa Layne

  “I agree. I’ll head back now, and we’ll proceed as planned tomorrow. What are you going to do? Head back to Olivia’s?”

  “Yes, I want to let them know what’s going on and then take Cherie to dinner. I promised her I would.”

  “I’m happy for you Jason, you two deserve some happiness.”

  “Thanks, buddy. I appreciate it, especially since I’ve been such an idiot lately.”

  “No argument there. Just lighten up and enjoy it.”

  “I know, I know. I’ve been much too serious lately. Or so I’ve been told. Repeatedly.”

  “We all have our baggage, yours is just a bit heavier than the average person and believe it or not, Cherie’s has been even worse. She needs a bit of good luck.” Mark said

  “Damn, don’t I know it.” Jason acknowledged.

  “Can you imagine what this past month has been like for that poor kid?” Mark asked.

  “Call me when you have the info, I need it before I go to Judge Atkins chambers tomorrow.”

  “I honestly don’t believe we’ll find anything at the home, but the files have to be somewhere.”

  “I agree. I think the key is with the Benson’s either at their home or maybe even the church, but that’s going to be even harder to get a warrant for that.”

  “I personally think they’ll bolt the second they get wind of us on their trail.”

  “Me too, and we can’t let that happen. Any chance you can find someone to tail them for the next few days?”

  “I’ll see what I can do,” Mark added.

  “Take it easy buddy, talk to you later,” Jason said.

  “You too, enjoy your time with Cherie.”

  “I will.”

  Jason got out of Mark’s car and back into his own. He called Cherie to let her know he was on his way.

  As he drove to Olivia’s, he frantically searched his mind wondering what tomorrow would bring. There were still so many unanswered questions. He was no closer to discovering what his father's involvement was than he was to answering the questions about Cherie’s adoption. He wanted answers and soon. Too much was at stake for them both. He wanted a future with Cherie but would she want one with him if his father was as responsible for this mess as Lawrence. He didn’t think so based on how vehemently she objected to the man, and he was her grandfather.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Cherie and her grandmother shared a silent meal. Looking around the dining room to see it through her mother’s eyes, she tried to imagine growing up here. The dark walnut table, large enough to seat twelve, the delicate Irish lace tablecloth, the fine English bone china used for every meal. Lawrence at one end of the table and Olivia at the other, dressed for every meal; so close and yet miles apart. Then her thoughts turned to Jason.

  She lingered over breakfast thinking about her dinner with Jason, the previous evening. It was nothing spectacular just a nice quiet meal, talking, and sharing. The first time it felt as if they were a real couple.

  Life was getting better.

  It was interesting hearing about Jason and Mark's plans for searching the doctor’s house, and their plans to serve the warrants. Cherie hoped they might get some answers at the home about her mother as well. But Cherie tried to focus on her and Jason. It was better that way. Everything else in her life was only a laundry list of ‘what ifs’ that would not be answered any time soon. She knew the answers would trickle in, bits and pieces at a time. She had to get on with her life. Damn, she hated that phrase.

  If Cherie was honest with herself what she really wanted was to simply go back to a month ago when she still believed she had only two parents, the Michaels’. Now, she was thrust into a hell packed with lies, heartbreak for so many, and Cherie couldn’t make heads or tails out it or even find the logic.

  Why did Lawrence have to be so cruel? What the hell did he hope to accomplish? How could he have pulled Jason’s father into the thick of it, leaving Jason as exposed to the drama and intrigue as she was? Not to mention Olivia and Desiree and how his decisions and behavior changed their lives, not for the better.

  Everything in her screamed to run away, but that’s not how Nicholas Michaels had raised his daughter. He taught her to hit things head on and take control. That’s all that kept her from surrendering to the fears that had been eating her alive since that first day in Jason’s office.

  She no longer held anyone else responsible for the troubles in her life but Lawrence. If he weren’t already dead, she’d offer to shoot him herself.

  “Are you ready to go, Sweetheart?” Olivia asked.

  “Yes. It’s time. Let me just go get the Diary. Do you have the necklace?”

  “Yes, I’m wearing it.” Olivia held up the necklace as proof. “I’ll call Jennings while you run upstairs.” Olivia wiped her mouth with a cloth napkin, pushed her chair back, and left the room.

  Cherie watched her go. She looked a bit stronger. Not quite so weighed down. She prayed for some luck today. That’s what they all needed as she pushed away from the table and ran upstairs. She grabbed the diary, her purse, and a sweater.

  Once downstairs, she helped her grandmother into the back seat of the Rolls. Jennings closed the door once they were seated and took his place in the front. Driving Miss Daisy this wasn’t. Olivia Alexander was the sweetest woman on earth and it was easy to see Jennings lived to serve her. They weren’t formal toward one another, but very respectful, almost mindful of one another’s feelings. Cherie would bet her bottom dollar that Jennings was even a bit in love with her grandmother. She’d seen the way he looked at her when he thought no one was watching. Poor Jennings! He’d never act on his feelings. And grandmother; would probably never trust another man enough to attempt a relationship. Thank goodness they were friends. At least it appeared so.

  At the home, Dr, Andrews accepted the diary from Cherie. “This is my bedtime reading tonight.” He patting the cover and smiled with a wistfulness kind of expression on his face.

  Cherie said another silent prayer before plunging into a conversation.

  “Dr. Andrews, my grandmother and I would like to discuss a couple of other things before we go see my mother.”

  Cherie explained about the necklace. “When they first committed her they sent it home with her other belongings. I want to see how she reacts to it...if she’ll even notice it. And also, we want to put it around her neck if you think she can’t and won’t hurt herself with it.”

  “In all the years she’s been my patient she’s never done anything that even remotely comes close to hurting herself. She rocks, she hums, she sings, but never anything violent. Unless someone tries to take her doll, then she screams my babies, by babies. She fights until the baby’s safely back in her arms.”

  “Then we can try?”

  “I don’t see why not. May I please have a look at it?” He held his hand out.

  Olivia removed the necklace from around her neck handing it to the doctor.

  “It’s lovely. You say there was a great deal of significance to it?” The doctor raised an eyebrow.

  “Yes, my daughter received while at a fair the last time she was there with her young man. She always wore it. She’d never have removed it herself because it was a good luck charm so to speak. It was in her things when they were sent to the house.”

  “I see. Then I say we try a test.” The doctor looked at her. “Let’s have Cherie call her Destiny.” Then he turned to her grandmother, “I’d like for you to watch her expression. I believe since you’re her mother, you’re actually the best person to recognize and gauge any reaction. I also say while you’re doing that you can use that opportunity to tell her you found her necklace. We have to find a way to get her to have eye contact with it. She usually stares off and can’t or doesn’t engage or focus on any one thing. I think if we can do both in a matter of minutes it will do one of two things. Either she’ll have a very strong reaction or not respond at all. Now that said, I want to be sure to have a nurse ready in case it�
�s not the kind of response we were hoping for. If need be, we may need to have sedative ready based on how she handles it.”

  “I’m ready when you are.” Cherie smiled plastering a false grin on her face.

  “I’m scared.” Olivia’s words came out in a whisper.

  “Mrs. Alexander, I completely understand how you feel. We’ve watched and waited for a breakthrough, and this might be our only chance. It’s now or never. Besides, it’s a name and a necklace. You never can tell, it might just jar something, and we’ll catch a break.” The doctor said.

  “You’re the doctor. I trust you.” Her grandmother said.

  “Well ladies, no time like the present.”

  The doctor called the infirmary and requested a nurse and a tranquilizer in a syringe, then asked for the head duty nurse to meet them in the solarium. He then escorted them down the hall and straight to Destiny.

  “Good morning Miss Alexander. Your mother is here for a visit.” He seated himself on one side of his patient.

  Cherie scanned the grounds. They were immaculately groomed. The lush green lawns, freshly trimmed were highlighted with spring flowers just starting to bloom. The fragrance of cherry blossoms filled the air, and the beautiful pale pink petals lazily flitted to the ground with the breeze like cotton candy blossom flurries. It was lovely.Olivia sat down in a chair directly in front of her daughter. Cherie watched the gentle movements as her grandmother brushed a wisp of hair from her daughter’s eyes. “Hi Sweetie, how are you today?” Olivia chatted with her daughter acting completely normal.

  It killed Cherie to realize how hard it must be to talk to her daughter week after week and never receive a reaction, acknowledgment, or even a smile. How had she managed to deal with it after all these years? The few times she’d seen her mother she’d had to struggle to even think of something to say because she didn’t know the woman except through the diary and the few stories her grandmother had told her.

  “My friend came back with me again. Can you say hello?”

  Destiny had no reaction whatsoever.

  Cherie sat down next to her mother.

  The doctor nodded to Cherie.

  “Hi Destiny, it’s me, Cherie. Do you remember me?” She studied her mother’s face for any kind of response.

  The second Cherie said the name Destiny she reacted as she previously had. Cherie and the doctor looked to Olivia to see how she handled it.

  Olivia covered her mouth to stifle a sob. What did Olivia see? Trembling, her grandmother quickly removed the necklace and placed it in her hand. “Honey, it’s mom. I wanted you to know I found something of yours. It’s a necklace. Do you remember it?” Olivia placed the crystal directly in front of her daughter’s eyes. At first, Desiree looked past it. Cherie continued to watch as Olivia twisted it a bit first, then wiggled it until it swayed like the pendulum of a clock. Light refracting from the facetsmade it shimmer.

  Almost as if on cue Destiny blinked. She blinked again then stopped rocking, stopped humming. Slowly, she reached up and touched the necklace. A smile lit her face.

  Olivia gasped. Her hands shaking she said, “Here, let me put it on you.”

  With the necklace in place, Destiny reached for it and wrapped her hand around it, closed her eyes and breathed deeply. It looked as if she remembered something. She took a deep another deep breath and let it out and just as suddenly opened her eyes and started rocking again.

  The only difference now is that while she continued to rock and hum, she did so now blinking every few seconds, like a normal person. There was also a smile on her face.

  The doctor signaled for them to following him. Cherie saw excitement dancing in his eyes.

  They moved well away from her mother when Olivia asked. “Was that my imagination or did she almost act normal for a few seconds?”

  “You didn’t imagine a thing. But tell me, I want to know what you saw when Cherie called her mother Destiny?”

  “That’s the reaction she’d have when her father would scold her.”

  “I’m lost. Can you explain?”

  “Yes. When Desiree was a child, she wanted so much to be perfect. She didn’t really have to try hard because all she wanted was to please us. She really was a precious child. However, no matter how perfect a child is they will eventually do something wrong. Once, she spilled her milk at the table and when Lawrence remarked that perhaps it was too soon to allow her at the adult’s table that’s the same reaction she had. It’s also the same reaction she would have if I slipped and called her Destiny in front of Lawrence as if she were waiting for the bottom to fall out.”

  “Ah—so then the reaction was all about fear? In that case, I think she still believes her father has the ability to hurt her, at least mentally, as Destiny.” The doctor offered.

  “Grandmother, I know you were married to him, and loved him but I swear, the more I hear about that man, the more I want to strangle him.”

  “After seeing her reaction, I feel much the same way.” Olivia began to wring her hands.

  Cherie stopped her. “Don’t worry. He can’t hurt us anymore.”

  “But your mother doesn’t know that. We need to get through to her and let her know it’s okay to come back to us.” The doctor encouraged. “I think that’s enough for today. Let’s go back and say our goodbyes, and I’ll call you after I consult with the other doctors. You’ll hear from me in a day or so.”

  After they had said their farewells, they walked the doctor to his office then went to the car.

  There was a gleam in Olivia’s eyes as if they were lit from within. It was an excellent meeting, despite the fear they’d encountered in Desiree.

  Cherie tried to think about the possibilities.

  Would Olivia have her daughter back?

  Would she have a mother, her real mother?

  What would it mean for each of them?

  ##

  Jason pulled to a stop is front of the courthouse when Mark called him from the old convalescent hospital, his voice was shaky. “Hey, buddy, what’s wrong?” Jason asked.

  “I arrived here this morning and while I had no problem getting in, when I got to the records office the place was demolished.”

  “Was there that much water damage?”

  “That’s just it, it wasn’t water damage. Someone had been here, went through every file in the place. It had been tossed like a tornado had been through it. Not a single file is left in the cabinets.”

  “Shit.” Jason hit the steering wheel with the palm of his hand.

  “Not just that, but I went into every office in the place. It was the same thing in all of them.”

  “What the hell?” Jason rubbed his eyes. Would this nightmare ever end?

  “Exactly. I’m worried the Bensons know we’re onto them.”

  “Then get your ass over here I’m about to go see the judge. I’ll wait for you outside.”

  Twelve minutes later, Mark pulled his car in next to Jason’s. Together they went inside. Again the judge’s secretary was away from her desk.

  Jason knocked on the chamber door.

  “Come in,” his honor called.

  They stepped in and quickly shut the door. The two men walked up the desk and waited for the judge to look up.

  “You’re back.”

  “Did your secretary come in this morning?” Jason asked the judge across his massive oak desk. The ornate antique desk looked like something to be found in historic Washington D.C.

  “Yes, she was a bit late, though. Why?”

  “She’s not out there now. Did she tell you she was leaving?”

  The judge frowned. “No.”

  Jason told the judge about his suspicions about Mrs. Benson. Everything from the files in his father’s possession and even asked about the Judge’s participation in the adoptions. The file cabinets in the office were just as old as the desk, with all his books carefully encased in matching antique oak lawyer’s cabinets.

  “Not that this is any of
your business, and need I remind you it’s against the law for me to discuss these matters with you?”

  “Can you tell me unequivocally that they were legitimate and proper adoptions? Any chance they were illegal?” Jason asked. After noticing the exquisite antiques in the office, he wondered if perhaps the judge’s signatures on the adoption papers were purchased as well.

  “Son, you’re pushing it.”

  “I apologize. I don’t mean to insult you, but after going through so many files, I discovered a great deal of money changed hands, only there is no explanation as to where the funds went. Based on what I’ve found, it’s looking a bit shady. Not to mention, Cherie’s adoption here is at the top of the list. We can’t find anything to say it was done properly and recorded.”

  “Let me ask you, boy, did you even know your father?”

  “Only too well.”

  “Apparently not. Not if you feel that way about him. Sure he was a hard man, but he did have morals.”

  “So you’re telling me that Cherie’s adoption was one hundred percent legal?”

  “Yes, it was. It was a bit on the unorthodox side if you ask me, but it was legal.”

  “Why was there such a need for secrecy about it?”

  “You know Lawrence. He wouldn’t allow for an ounce of embarrassment.”

  “But to threaten the Michaels with their silence?”

  “I didn’t say I approved. That’s just how it was.”

  Mark spoke up, “I went back to the home today, and the place was trashed. I think it has something to do with the Benson’s.”

  Mark continued. He made a terrific case for asking for a warrant to search June Benson’s desk, the home she shared with her husband, and both of their vehicles.