by Alice Ward
We drove to Sunset Village and I gave Bernie the tour of all the improvements our foundation had managed to accomplish. I even introduced him to Mrs. Jessup, standing very close to Bernie as I did so. Her eyebrows went up a bit as he smiled at her. Few women could not be affected by his good looks and the fact that he was my “assistant” led others to speculate. I knew if Mrs. Jessup picked up on that suspicion, it would get through even Worth’s thick scull.
Next, we stopped by Brandon’s office. He was a former schoolmate and the primary architect of the Sunset Foundation. He wasn’t terribly fond of Worth, only because he’d had a bit of a thing for me since school. He shook Bernie’s hand and when that smile flashed, Brandon looked at me quizzically and asked, “How’s Worth?” His meaning was not subtle.
“It’s complicated,” I said simply and Brandon nodded. He knew me as well as a brother would and knew I was up to something. He wouldn’t interfere. I knew he wouldn’t. There was nothing he’d like better than to get Worth out of the way.
I invited Brandon to have a drink with us and he needed no more persuasion, but grabbed his laptop case and saluted his secretary on the way out of the office. We met at a casual place on the east end where you could opt for liquor, their sweet iced tea or enjoy a full meal.
“I’m mad at you,” I began as we were served our respective drinks.
“Why?” He was puzzled.
“You didn’t come to my Derby barbecue,” I spilled out as if he shouldn’t have to ask.
“I guess you didn’t hear,” he said, loosening his dark navy tie that contrasted nicely with his blond hair. “My uncle passed in Ohio. It was quite sudden and I had to get Mother through it. I’m sorry. I should have called, but I knew you would have your hands full and didn’t need my problems.”
“Oh, Brandon.” I got up and put my arms around him, kissing him lightly on the cheek. “I hadn’t heard. I’m so sorry,” I whispered, my arms still around his shoulders.
Brandon patted my cheek and hugged me back, then released my arms. “He passed unexpectedly. We had no idea he was ill. It was Mother’s only brother, you know.”
I’d heard Brandon speak of his uncle when we were at college. He’d been quite fond of the man and I knew this had to hurt. “I’m really sorry for being so petty.” I tried to smooth over my faux pas.
“Thank you, but you didn’t know, honey,” Brandon said, using the familiar reference he’d always used when we were in college.
I’m fairly sure Bernie picked up on this and recognized we had a past. So far, not much got past him. “My condolences,” he said respectfully, to which Brandon nodded.
“So, you going to tell me why you have a new assistant?” Brandon asked, fishing for some detail that would explain what was going on.
I stirred my tea with my straw and looked at him from beneath lowered lids. “I’m building things,” I started.
“I assumed as much,” he answered and spread his napkin upon his lap.
“Bernie loves horses the way I do and he’s fresh from stacking his degrees. I hired him to be my backup as I finish the arena, build the course, start the breeding and boarding aspect and complete any needed supervision on the estate. He has his hands full.”
“He certainly does,” Brandon agreed with no little bit of sarcasm. “I take it that he and Worth have met?” He was digging deeper.
“Not yet, but it’s not a problem,” I said. “I have my own money, you know.”
“Yes, I know, Auggie, but you’re a mother and that involves responsibility,” he pointed out. I noted that he didn’t include the title of “wife” in his admonishment.
“Exactly the reason to hire Bernie. I want Ford to have a normal childhood and need to spend plenty of time with him. I can’t be dragging him around like a papoose and there is so much to be done with all these projects. I took Bernie over to Sunset before we came by your place. Mrs. Jessup loved him.”
“I’ll bet she did,” was his only response.
“But listen, Brandon. There’s something more important I have to tell you and now is a good time for Bernie to learn about it as well. This is serious stuff.” I sipped my tea and straightened my skirt over my lap. I looked back up at Brandon and saw that his eyes were still on my ankles. “Up here, Brandon,” I said, pointing to my eyes.
“Aww… you’re no fun, Auggie.” Brandon smiled, making light of it.
“This is serious.”
“Okay, tell me.” He put down his fork and gave me his full attention with his best bland, lawyer face.
“I can’t believe you haven’t heard, but then you’ve been busy with your family, but it seems that Linc LaViere is no longer dead.”
Brandon continued to look at me with his lawyer’s face. “I’m waiting for the punch line.”
Bernie stiffened next to me, even though he had no idea who Linc LaViere was or why he was dead in the first place.
I spent the next ten minutes sharing the entire story, during which neither Bernie nor Brandon took a single bite. They were transfixed.
“Why didn’t you call me? Even as your friend, if not your attorney?” Brandon asked, his feelings on his sleeve.
“It moved so fast. We hoped he would go away, but by moving into the LaViere farm and putting Mother in the spare bedroom, it became apparent that neither one of them are going anywhere,” I concluded. “I looked sideways at Bernie and asked, “You still want on board this train?” He nodded, although I could see confusion in his eyes. My bet was that his alternative was watching soap operas with his mother and this paid better, so he’d stick around. “Then Worth did something very strange.”
“What?” I had his full attention.
“He invited him to our Derby barbecue.”
Brandon cocked his head. “Maybe he figured it would be better for appearances’ sake?”
“Have you ever known Worth to be concerned with appearances?”
Brandon shook his head. “Good point. Did you ask him?”
“He said to trust him. Which I’m having a bit of trouble doing at the moment because Worth also invited his new clinic director for Cincinnati. She’s a looker.”
Brandon’s brow relaxed then and he nodded, suddenly understanding the man at my right. He didn’t say a word. I think we all knew, but it was sort of a complicit silence.
“Why do you think he invited this Linc?” He pushed me to answer.
“I really have no idea. I’m not entirely sure that he did invite him. Linc may have just pushed his way in and Worth chose to let it go so there wouldn’t be a confrontation. Linc is very confrontational in nature.”
“Apparently.” Brandon nodded. “So, what about this syndicate thing?”
“I’m blank on that part. I don’t have experience with that, Brandon, you know that.” I wiped my mouth with the napkin and pleaded with my eyes.
He sat back in his chair, shaking his head. “I know enough to stay out of their business, Auggie. You should too.”
I pressed my fingers to my temples. “It’s not like any of this was my doing or my idea. I have only one person I worry about — Ford.”
“They’re not your world, Auggie. Don’t get your back up on this one, believe me. Let Worth handle it and if he falls down on the job, come and talk to me. I don’t have any influence, but I do have contacts. Either way, you stay out of it personally. Promise me you will, Auggie.”
“I’m not a fool, Brandon.”
“You’re stubborn.”
“I know my limits.”
“I certainly hope so.” We were done with that topic; he made it clear. “Where can I find this Linc?” he asked.
I exhaled, frustrated. “Just told you. He’s on the family farm and brought my mother there to live with him.”
“He took in Caren?” Brandon rolled his eyes. “That was a mistake.”
“That’s what I thought,” I agreed.
“Maybe he’s not as smart as he wants you to think.”
“He’
s like a bad version of Worth, Brandon.”
He nodded, thinking. “So, Bernie, you sure you want in on all this?”
“Yes, sir. Auggie is giving me a wonderful opportunity and I plan to prove that her confidence was not misplaced.”
“Good. She’s good people, Bernie and I wouldn’t take kindly to anyone who was to cross or hurt her.”
“Message received, sir, but you have nothing to fear from me.”
“Bernie…” Brandon went on in a speculative tone, “is there any legal reason you wouldn’t be permitted to carry a concealed weapon? Have you ever used a gun?”
“Oh, yes, sir. I’m quite comfortable with them. Only reason is that I don’t have a concealed permit, but that’s just an application away.”
“Good man. Get it and come see me. I’ll give you a weapon that will suit the situation and I want you to carry it any time you’re with her, is that understood?”
“Yes, sir. Consider it done.”
Brandon reached into his pocket and pulled out a couple of his business cards, sliding them across the table toward Bernie. “Here, keep my number handy.”
“Already have three of them and you’re in my phone favorites. Let’s just say I anticipated your stewardship,” he grinned and I could see in Brandon’s eyes the reaction to those beautiful teeth. It made you feel slovenly just to look at them.
We finished dinner and hugged before we left. Brandon walked us out to the parking lot. “Auggie, take care. You know where I am.” He kissed me on the cheek and I nodded, hugging him back.
The men shook hands and Bernie and I climbed into my car. As I fastened my seatbelt, I took the precaution of saying, “By the way. That NDA you signed includes anything and everything you may hear, see or learn in connection with me.”
Bernie nodded. “Understood and unnecessary to worry. I was way ahead of you,” he reassured me and while I drove, he was looking up class times for concealed weapons permits. He was a very fast learner.
CHAPTER NINE
Worth
When Auggie’s car pulled in, she wasn’t the only person who got out. There was another car in the parking area and the man who emerged from her passenger side gave her a brief hug and got into the parked car. He was extremely good looking, even from this distance and I went into alert mode. As he pulled away, I made note of his license plate and texted it to Bill to be checked out.
She came in, threw me a barely-disguised disdainful look as though she was having trouble remembering to be nice. “Hello,” she said, her voice decidedly cool.
“Hi, baby. Come here. Are you feeling better?” I asked.
“Better, but not completely over it. Better keep your distance another day,” she advised, holding up a hand between us.
I didn’t want to fight so I didn’t bring up the fact that she didn’t seem to be as concerned about the health of the gentleman in the parking area. “Who was that who drove in with you?” I couldn’t pretend to be a total fool.
“Who? Oh. That was Bernie, my new assistant.”
“Oh, really? I would have liked to have met him.”
“Next time, Worth. We’ve been out all day and I want to spend some time with the baby.” Then, as though she remembered she was “ill,” she thought the better of it. “Well, actually, I’m still feeling puny so I guess I’ll go up and get a hot bath, pump, and not cuddle him tonight. I’ll be back to my normal self by tomorrow, I’m sure.” She waved with a half salute and after looking with longing at the kitchen where Betsy was feeding Ford, she plodded up the stairs with an exaggerated weakness.
Why is she pretending to be ill? I wondered to myself. That wasn’t like her. She wasn’t one for self-pity. Is she mad at me for something? Women! I’m tired and will just let it go. Time generally resolves most things and besides, I’ve got more important things on my mind.
I grabbed a sandwich and headed for my office. Betsy piled my mail in a woven basket on the corner of my desk and as much as I hated paperwork, I thought I may as well get it out of the way. I sorted through the envelopes and threw away the junk mail. There were a few bills and while I generally paid things online, some second sense persuaded me to open the one from a well-known men’s store where I generally purchased a good deal of my clothing. I hadn’t been in there for some time so I was puzzled that they were sending a bill. I opened it and couldn’t believe my eyes. The bill was for over twenty thousand dollars! I sat back and laughed then, relief filling my brain. It was obviously a mistake since I hadn’t bought anything and in this computer age, mistakes weren’t caught. I picked up the phone and called the store, who put me through to their billing department.
“Dr. LaViere, we’re showing those purchases were made May eighth at our Oxford Manor store. You signed for them, sir.”
“No, no that’s impossible. I never even shop that branch, only the store downtown. I wasn’t there and didn’t sign anything.”
“Now, Dr. LaViere, I’m afraid we have the signed bill. This is a serious situation, sir. We’re talking about a great deal of merchandise. I’m afraid if you refute this charge, we’ll have to turn this over to the authorities. It is store policy, but I’m unable to do anything about it.”
“Now, wait just a minute. You need to prove this. You can’t just intimidate me into paying it. Let me see your evidence and I will gladly pay.”
“Very well, Dr. LaViere, would you be able to come down to our corporate office in the Brown Towers? Perhaps tomorrow morning?”
“I’ll be there at eight a.m.,” I said.
“See you then, sir.”
The aggravation of the day had accumulated to the point that I didn’t think I could take much more. I went in and played a bit with Ford, reading him a story before Betsy put him to bed. He was growing so fast. I made some special voices and sound effects as I read to him and he laughed. I realized then that I was being given a rare chance to make a change in my lineage. Not every LaViere had to be like my father or brother. Ford would be a LaViere I could be proud of. I made a resolution then and there to spend more time with him.
I fell into bed and could hear the television on in the room where Auggie was sleeping. She wasn’t making any effort to say goodnight so I let it go. I really wasn’t in the mood to fight.
***
The next morning, I sat in the executive offices of the men’s store. They not only had receipts with my name on them, but it was definitely my signature. I felt like I was living in an episode of Twilight Zone. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
“Look. I don’t know what’s going on here, but I maintain that I did not buy those clothes. There has to be some explanation here. You know me. I buy a good deal of merchandise from your downtown store all the time and I’m a prominent doctor and businessman here in town. Why would I claim I hadn’t done this?”
The man behind the desk looked sideways at his assistant and nodded. She left and came back with a DVD in her hand. “I was hoping we wouldn’t have to go this far, Dr. LaViere, but I’m prepared to prove it to you. If you’ll look at the monitor, you’ll see the store camera footage as you tried on various items and then checked out with the salesman.”
I was feeling much better now because this would be the definitive proof. As the footage played, my mouth dropped open as I saw myself pulling items off the racks and disappearing into a changing room. Eventually, I emerged and pirouetted in front of the store’s triple mirrors while the salesman tucked and pinched fabric to determine whether I was wearing the ideal size. Then, once the counter was piled high, I took the sales slip and signed it. I didn’t do this! I had no explanation. None, that was, until “I” turned around and left the store with the clerk following me with packages. That’s when I got closest to the security camera.
It was Linc.
“Well?” the man behind the desk asked. “Have you seen enough, Dr. LaViere?”
I turned toward him. “That wasn’t me, but I know who it is and I accept responsibility for what he
purchased. I’ll write you a check right now.” I pulled my checkbook from my inside breast pocket. My face was red, it wasn’t embarrassment — but unadulterated anger. He was trying to take over my life.
I left the offices and headed for the park. I needed to get a clear head and decide what to do. I headed down Hurstbourne Lane until I left the city and pulled into a smallish country park with ponds and even a small golf course. I’d stopped here before and eaten lunch because it was filled with ducks and swans. There was something about getting in touch with nature that settled my mind.
I sat in the car in the parking lot, watching the ducks. Linc was taking over my life and now my head and it had to stop. I noticed a car pull up in the parking lot a few spaces down from me and two men got out. They headed toward each other and joined hands, walking down to the water’s edge. It somehow made me feel more peaceful. Just as I was about to leave, the men turned and headed back. I was surprised to see Auggie’s assistant was one of the men, or at least he looked just like him. He had very unusual coloring and it caught my attention. I didn’t acknowledge him because I felt it was a private moment, so I backed the car out and left.
I called the office and cancelled my appointments for the rest of the day. Instead, I caught the loop and then merged onto I-71 North toward Cincinnati. I found Jessie Klinger in consultation and told the receptionist to cancel the rest of her appointments as well. When she emerged, I told her to get her purse and follow me. We went to the track and I went to great lengths to romance her. I even kissed her on the cheek a couple of times and hugged her off her feet when we won a race. As we left the track, I nodded to the man I’d hired who was sitting just a few rows away from us the entire time.
I took Jessie back to the clinic and dropped her off. I drove home and arrived late. I found Auggie in her office. “Hello, sweetheart,” I said and went to kiss her cheek. She didn’t move. I moved closer, but she reached forward and slammed her laptop shut. A tight smile on her lips, she then twirled in her chair to look at me.