by Lexy Timms
Well, it hadn’t been all right when she’d left, had it? Maybe no one would notice.
“Brant,” Mel said as they approached the door. “You didn’t get much of a chance to meet my mother, I don’t think. Mom, this is Brant.”
“Pleased to meet you, Brant.” Elisabeth was positively dwarfed by Brant. Had she always been so short? Her mother grinned up from underneath carefully coifed blonde curls, her round face dimpling into a happy smile. “I think it’s a good idea to meet one’s soon-to-be-son-in-law, don’t you?” She turned to Linda, who had come up behind her and shared a look of sheer delight that left Mel with a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. They’d bonded while she’d been gone. Bonded.
“Indeed,” Linda said. “Although, sometimes I feel like I meet a new person each time Brant shows up on my doorstep.”
“My doorstep, Mother, and it’s wonderful to meet you.” Brant took Elisabeth’s hand and covered it with his left. “Please excuse my abrupt departure yesterday. I’m afraid I was somewhat overcome with desire to steal Mel away for myself for a bit.”
“It’s all right.” Crap! Was her mother smirking? “Linda and I were finding out what we have in common.”
“Oh? What do you have in common?” Mel’s voice rose on the last word, panicked, just this side of hysterical.
“The two of you,” Linda replied with a sly smile. “It seems we both want the best for our children, go figure.” Her eyebrow rose as she looked from one to the other. “You look like you just got caught out in a fib, both of you.”
“Lark? Honey? What’s going on?”
I can’t do this. I have to…I need…. Mel kissed her mother’s cheek. The whispered complaint of an upset stomach was genuine enough and gave her reason to push past them all and escape upstairs.
Oddly enough, it was Linda who came gently tapping on the door a few minutes later.
Mel was sitting on the bed, her knees drawn up to her chin. “Come in,” Mel called, her voice muffled.
Linda came and sat on the bed next to her, drawing away the pillow Mel was trying to hide behind. “Dear, what’s going on?”
“I’m sorry to upset everyone.” Mel flopped back against the headboard. “I just… I don’t think I can do it.”
“Do what, dear?”
“When Brant came to the jungle, he made every mistake he could think of.” Mel stared up at the ceiling, smiling at the memory. “But he stayed. He figured out how to make it in an environment that he’d never been in before, completely foreign to him.”
“He was drunk…”
Mel laughed and sat up. “Only that first day. And, truth be told, he was very sober when he woke up and found himself in Belize.” She shook her head as she remembered. “I told him he was in Central America. He thought I meant Kansas.”
Linda smiled. “That’s my boy. I couldn’t be prouder.”
“But, see… that’s the point. I’m from Kansas. My father works for a granary. My mother taught piano to an entire generation of kids who resented her for it. There were two markets, three churches, and five bars.” Mel shrugged. “Some of the doctors there still occasionally work for chickens or milk…”
“Sounds like a slice of Rockwell.”
“It was. Is. I couldn’t wait to leave it. I went away to college, as far away as I could afford, and that only got me to Texas.” Mel looked around the room for inspiration and found nothing but the still-closed boxes. “I’m a small-town girl. Hell, I’m a small-time girl and you know what? I like that. I like being important to a dozen people and to have them be important to me. I can’t even wrap my mind around everything that’s going on.”
“What happened?”
“Brant’s been working on a foundation to replace Doctors International.”
Linda’s brows shot up. “That’s a bit…”
“Extreme?” Mel filled in.
“I was thinking ambitious, but extreme might be just as good.” Linda nodded. “And, if I know my son, and he’s enough like his father, he did all this without letting you know.”
Mel shifted so that she was sitting cross-legged on the bed. “I know I sound ungrateful. I’m not really, I’m so proud he’s doing all this, and that he means it for me. But…”
“When I entered the movies, a thousand years ago, I was seventeen. I hadn’t quite finished my growth,” she gestured idly to her breasts, “which, believe you me, is a BIG deal in Hollywood. I was a nobody. I came from Pasadena; my father was a mailman, my mother was a school teacher. I spent every day of the first movie I was in terrified that someone was going to step on me and not even notice I was there.”
“What—”
Linda held up her hand, silencing her. “Hear me out. I felt like a child pretending to be a grown-up. And I was sure I was going to be caught out at any moment.”
Mel nodded slowly. “Yeah, kind of like that.”
“But you’re a doctor. You’ve gone through more school than most people; you’ve interned, you’ve set up a practice. You’ve succeeded.”
“I’m not pretending to be something I’m not.” Mel frowned, trying to find the words that would explain. “I’ve committed to something I don’t understand. I love Brant, more than anything, but am I best for him? No, now it’s your turn to hear me out. I know I make him happy. He makes me happy, too. I know that he loves me. But his life is committed to rarified circles and fancy dinners and people who actually care which fork goes with which entrée.” Mel looked into Linda’s eyes, begging her to understand. “I can only ever be an embarrassment to him in this world. I don’t know how to be the wife of a man like him. He created a foundation for me!” She waved her arms as if in search of sense. “What am I supposed to do, bake him cookies? I’m a family doctor; most of my work was pro-bono. He’s a brilliant cosmetic surgeon. His best friend is an international supermodel. My best friend…” Mel laughed at the realization, “Is a slightly overweight Belize nurse with a nasty temper who stares at walls all day.”
Linda took a deep breath. “You’re going to have to tell me more about this person later. In the meantime, you cannot let these people intimidate you. They’re made of plastic and they will bend to your commands if you know how.”
“I know, Brant told me much the same. But you live and work with people you don’t respect, and these people can make or break a man like Brant. I know how vital a good reputation is for a doctor, and I can’t be the cause of his destruction.”
“You won’t be.”
“Can you be sure? He started a foundation for me. That has to involve a lot of high-profile interactions, just by the very nature of it. He’s out there gathering money and making deals and doing God knows what in my name!” Mel threw her hands up in despair, lost her balance, and tipped over backwards on the bed, scattering pillows in all directions.
“That’s his father in him,” Linda said, leaning over and plucking an overstuffed purple fuzzy throw from Mel’s face. “If it was worth doing, it was worth doing in the most over-blown, grandiose way possible. I didn’t like a script, he bought the studio.” Linda shrugged and lay down next to Mel, turning her head toward Mel, smiling fondly if somewhat amused at the memory. “And I, of course, got a reputation for being ‘difficult to work with.’ It wasn’t my idea to begin with.”
“No,” Mel agreed, handing Linda a pillow to hold, because it seemed the thing to do. “I love him, Linda. I love him more than anything. All this self-doubt and fear I’ve been fighting and isn’t about me fitting in. It’s about him surviving in this world. I would hurt him, Linda. I don’t want to. I wouldn’t mean to, but I will.”
She sighed and pulled the throw back over her face. From somewhere beside her, Linda sighed as well.
Chapter 11
“So, Mrs. Bell…” Brant had never felt so awkward in his life. Even the time he’d walked in on his parents—well, the less remembered about that, the better. At least that time had been brief, over in the space of time it took to slam a door.
Meeting his soon-to-be-mother-in-law, on the other hand, was turning into a drawn- out staring contest that could have challenged Carmen’s capabilities.
Brant brainstormed for a topic of conversation that wasn’t already exhausted. They’d already covered her awesome daughter, the wedding, the weather, and what she thought of L.A. He cleared his throat. “Mel tells me her father stayed in Kansas? I don’t think she mentioned what he does for a living.”
“He’s an elevator operator,” she said sweetly and waited, then laughed and pointed at him as Brant sat there, completely unable to think of a thing to say to that. “Gotcha!” She smiled, and Brant saw an echo of Mel in the smile. “He manages several towers for a large food company.” She dimpled. “They’re called ‘elevators,’ you know.”
“I didn’t know that,” Brant confessed, not really listening. He shot a quick look at the door, wondering if he should go upstairs and find Mel. His mother had told him to stay put, but the more time passed the less he was inclined to stay. They needed to talk, to sort this whole mess out. He still wasn’t exactly sure what he’d done wrong, though she’d made it perfectly clear that he’d screwed up somehow. And shouldn’t her own mother talk to her, not his?
“So tell me what has Lark so upset.”
“Lark?”
Elisabeth leaned back in her chair, her face wreathed in smiles. “When Mel was a little girl, she used to love going out with her father in the mornings. We lived in the country and there was this ridge out behind the house which they’d climb every morning in the summertime. They’d watch the sun rise and wouldn’t come home until the meadowlarks were singing. She’d sing right along with them, until her father started calling her ‘Lark’ and teasing that some morning she was going to up and fly away with them and he’d never see her again.” She wiped at her eyes. “Ah, but that was a long time ago. I’m more interested in what’s going on right now with her. Don’t think I didn’t notice your attempt to change the subject. What’s going on with my little girl?”
Brant shot a look at the older woman and saw only infinite patience in her eyes. No judgment, no condemnations, just a concern for her daughter. “I created a foundation,” he said finally, “to help fill the gap where Doctors International floundered.”
She nodded slightly and smiled brightly. “I grew up in Kansas, Brent. I knew what a grain elevator is from the time I was a child. But I did not grow up in a city, nor did I grow up wealthy, so I think I don’t know what you mean by a ‘foundation.’ Maybe you can explain it to me.”
“Well…” Brant took a breath, and gathered his thoughts. “Doctors International is—was a kind of foundation,” he said, looking again at the hall Mel had fled down half an hour ago. “A foundation is usually a non-profit organization that raises money to support various charitable causes.”
“Through donations?”
“Yes…” Brant began warming to his topic. “But not exclusively. Some use seed money and then reinvest that, using the interest to do their works; some are sponsored through corporations to act as their “charity arm.” Some…”
“Corporations?” Her eyes widened. “How much does all that cost?”
“Well, the initial investment isn’t really the point. Once it gets started it should be self-sustaining.”
“All right then.” Mel’s mother smiled the indulgent smile of mothers everywhere. “How much will your ‘foundation’ have to earn to replace Doctors International?”
“DI was responsible for $1.5 million…”
“Each year?!”
“Each month.”
She stared at him. “So, you created this… thing that’s going to bring in $24million every year?”
“More than that.” Brant went to the desk and pulled out several papers and advertisements and set them out in a cascade on the coffee table in front of her. “Remember that an initial investment created the interest, but you also need to keep re-investing and that means more donations and trusts. All in all, it’s probably a $40-million-a-year investment.”
Linda picked up papers and paged through them, frowning in concentration. “I’ve done the bookkeeping for the church, but this is well beyond me. What does any of this have to do with Mel?”
“What do you mean?”
“Brant, this is all well and good, but Mel is a country doctor. I remember when she got her license, we were all so proud of her. First doctor in the family. It was a shame to let her go halfway around the world when there were folks at home that needed her special touch. But, she felt strong about it, and her father said that ‘Larks gotta fly,’ so we kissed her good-bye and she left. On a bus.”
She set the papers down, tapping the edges of the pile to neaten it before looking up at him frankly. Honestly. “Brant, you’re a nice man, but you can’t just dump that kind of responsibility on someone. It’s not right. Especially without asking.”
How did she know he hadn’t asked? “But it would save her clinic,” Brant protested, feeling the blood rush to his face, not liking where this was going. The words sounded familiar but this time they were making sense.
He didn’t want them to make sense.
Elisabeth nodded. “That it would, I suppose.” She thought for a bit. “Olen… that’s Mel’s father, was a student when we met. He was studying engineering. Was good at it, too.”
“So why didn’t he pursue it?”
“Well, he had a wife, a child.” Elisabeth smiled, but there was pain in her eyes that told him there was a longer story that was quite clearly none of his business. “He decided that a small life could still be an important life. Mel’s got a lot of her father in her. You’re seeing the way to replace Doctors International. Mel only sees the people that depend on her. Or used to. That would be my guess.”
Brant sat down heavily in the chair opposite her and stared at all the glossy brochures he’d had designed by a top marketing firm to attract investors. “But this would save the clinic.”
“I have no doubt, Brant. And I’m sure your heart is in the right place. But Mel needs what’s in front of her. You, for one thing. To suddenly be head of a foundation? Brant, you love her. That’s easy to see, but you don’t know her very well.” Elisabeth shook her head and rose, and placing her hand on Brant’s shoulder. “Brant…”
Whatever she was about to say was lost. Mel came quietly through the doorway from the living room, Linda trailing close behind. Mel looked as though she was carrying a heavy weight.
Brant rose to greet her and she moved into his arms as fluidly as water, wrapping her arms around him as slow and as firm as a mourner at a wake.
“I love you, Brant,” she whispered, each word sending shards into his heart like shrapnel. “I do. I don’t understand your world; it’s as confusing and scary to me as the jungle was to you. I don’t know where the land mines are here, I don’t know what to trip and what will blow up in my face. I do know that if I do something stupid, you’re the one who gets blamed, you’re the one it’s reflected on.”
“No…” Brant whispered. It wasn’t in reaction to what she’d said. It was the chill of the words yet unspoken, the words that were coming, the words he couldn’t stop or accept. “No.”
She held his hands in hers and looked up at him. The glistening in her eyes spoke volumes and Brant stood like a stunned ox, waiting for the final hammer blow. “I do love you,” Mel said, and released his hand. She walked quietly to the front door, pausing on the threshold. She looked back, her hair falling in a gentle cascade down her back, the first tear making a lonely trek down her cheek. She was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. “I’ll send for the boxes.”
Through the open door, Brant saw a cab pull into view, a proper cab this time, and a small part of him wondered how he managed to keep breathing without a heartbeat. He became dimly aware of Elisabeth passing him, a gentle hand on his arm, a squeeze and a murmured apology. The door opened and closed again, this time for keeps.
He looked into his palm. Gliste
ning like a lost treasure, the engagement ring he’d given her rested there.
He stared at the door, at the closed door that separated him from a world he knew nothing about and never would.
“What did I do wrong?” he asked the door.
“Son…” Linda said from somewhere behind him. Her voice seemed to be coming from a million miles away. “You stopped listening.”
Brant clenched his fist, felt the unyielding diamond cut into the flesh of his palm. “I didn’t! I was trying to help. All I did was… I’ve been doing everything I can to help her settle. I’ve... This is ridiculous! She can’t leave me.”
But he was alone.
Chapter 12
“Okay, Doc,” Tom said as he sat down so smoothly that Mel barely felt the jolt. “You’re the only one here, so take your time. I don’t think anyone knows you’re coming, so I’ll drive you over when you’re ready.”
Mel stared outside, watching the ground rush past. “You didn’t have to make a special trip just for me, Tom. I could have waited until you had guests.”
“Resort’s mostly shut down, Doc. Doing some remodeling. I think someone got the idea you don’t build a Swiss ski lodge in the middle of the jungle. The cooling bills alone…” He raised his right arm and pointed to the window on the other side of the small plane as they came to a halt. “Take a look.”
Mel leaned over and saw large equipment crashing through the underbrush. Trucks came and went, hauling rock, taking away trees, bringing in more equipment to scour the jungle clean.
“Yes,” she said dryly as she settled back in her seat so she could unbuckle the belt. “I can see how much more in tune they are with the environment now.”
Tom chuckled and grabbed the single small bag Mel had to her name. Toiletries and a few items hastily purchased at the airport in L.A. She’d kissed her mother goodbye and, while Mel went south, her mother went east, both going home.