“No Son, your mistaken. You’re not remembering things clearly; it’s your head injury. The doctor said you may have some delusions for a while after waking; you have to take it easy Rian so that you can heal.
There is one more thing we need to talk about though.” Rian looked up at his father as his eyes welled. ‘How can he be so cold, how can he just go on to ‘one more thing’ after what he just told me? He is the coldest most heartless son of a bitch!’ And he forcefully pulled away from his father’s grasp on his arms.
Katherine was openly crying now, she went to Rian’s side and hugged him tightly. “Rian, I’m so sorry!” He wasn’t’ ready to believe his father, but his mother would not lie to him, his breathing became heavy, and his chest started to heave in uncontrollable spasms as his mother held him.
The phone rang. “I’ll get it.” Magan went into the next room to answer and closed the door behind her. “Hi James.” She whispered. “Well we have good news. Rian woke up today. Yes we’re all very happy. What…what do you mean Kareena called? She’s…..” Magan stopped herself short. What the hell’s going on?
“Yes, I have a pen.” She lied “Yes I’ll give him the message as soon as he’s able to be up and about. Thank you, James. I’ll tell him. Goodbye.” Magan slowly returned to Rian’s room, she was more than a little shaken by the news that James had just bestowed on her.
“Who was that Magan?” Sean asked
“No one Da, a solicitor.” ‘Well Daddy, you really pulled one over on all of us this time didn’t you? Good going! We’ll talk later.’
Both Magan and Sean left the room so Katherine could comfort Rian alone. Sean gave Katherine a look that said the rest is up to you.
Katherine held Rian as his breathing slowly became normal. “Rian, I’m here for you. You just let it all out sweetheart.”
And he started crying again. “How...How could this have happened Mum, I don’t’ understand how could this have happened? It was only an abortion.”
“Shhhh, now Shhhh we will get through this, I have one more bit of news Rian, I don’t know if this is the right time to tell you or not, but you need to know.”
“What…What is it Mum.” He managed to get out between sobs.
“Your baby, was saved Rian.
His sobbing stopped abruptly, and he looked at her. “What?... How could that be, how does that happen?” He asked in a tone of grief and disbelief.
“When you called to tell your Da that Kareena was pregnant and that she was going to have an abortion, I was listening on the other line, Rian. After you hung up I stormed into the other room and had it out with your Father, I was furious. I made him promise me that he would save your child, my grandchild no matter what it took. I gave him no other choice. I promised him if he didn’t that I would make his life a living Hell!”
“But I’ve never heard of such a thing. How could it even be possible?”
“It seems that Dr. Barrett had been working on a new procedure that had just finishing the laboratory stage and was about to begin a case study in practice. Your father told me that Kareena was in the right place at the right time, and that the procedure was a giant success. So in two short weeks your baby will be coming home.”
“No..No..No! I don’t’ want a baby! I want Kareena! Don’t you see that is what killed her? They used her as a genie pig Mum. They murdered her.” He tried to rise up out of bed again but couldn’t stand. Katherine eased him back into the bed. He was exhausted he needed to sleep. Ms. Seager gave him a shot and his eyes slowly closed and he slept.
Contact
Nakoma had to find a way to approach the girl without making it seem like she was stalking her; she didn’t want to frighten her away. She almost hadn’t made it to the weeklong convention. But a last minute change in plans at the Lab enabled her to be there. The lab was in the north wing of her Palm Beach estate. It had been many years since she’d left Ohio, and she had used her knowledge and cunning to work her way into her husband’s life. He had built the extensive lab at the estate, and used it for his work in genetics. Thanks to him she was able to expand on her plans and continue toward her goal. It would soon come to be.
Everything was falling into place, only a few more years and she would be able to see her plan to fruition. But tonight she would see the girl one more time and strike up a conversation with her. But her hopes were crushed as she looked for the girl but did not see her. She spoke to the Maitre d’ but he wouldn’t give out any information on the girl. ‘Ok.’ she told herself. ‘Now we go to plan B.’
Kareena had called in sick that day. She was so tired all she wanted was sleep. It was late on a Thursday evening. She had had enough, since her Mom’s passing last February her depression had worsened. Each morning it was all she could do to drag herself out of bed just to make it to work. She had managed to accumulate four credits at Broward Collage but stopped when her mother was diagnosed with cancer. She’d traveled north to see her as often as she could but it was expensive and took a toll on her physically and mentally. She had liked her job as a hostess, and she had met many of the staff at the hotel. She slowly eased her way out of hostessing and into the accounting offices. It was a welcome change. She found that she was very good at it, but her concentration was faltering, and her organization skills which were normally exemplary were failing her also. She had to do something. She could no longer continue on this way. She felt her life was spiraling out of control. So that evening she got in her car and drove herself to the nearest hospital in North Miami Beach on Biscayne Blvd.
As she waited in the emergency room, she reflected over the past three years. It had to stop. The memories only depressed her further. She had seen Dr. Roth last year and he said she was suffering from depression, but offered no solution. She remembered thinking ‘Of course I’m depressed, you idiot. I don’t have the energy or brainpower to live a normal life, why wouldn’t I be depressed? I really hate doctors.’ She questioned why she even came to the emergency room in the first place. Nothing new is going to happen, and I’m only spinning my wheels and making myself more tired. A nurse called her name, and she followed through the double doors. A female doctor examined her, and took blood. After a time the doctor returned with the results of the tests and said Kareena was suffering form the “Epstein Bhar” virus. “Mononucleosis” and referred her to a doctor who was familiar with this type of problem. It surprised her that they actually came up with a diagnosis. But at least she gained a little hope, and was relieved to finally know that is was not all in her head.
She made the appointment from work the following day. Dr. Bernstein would see her in the morning. She informed her boss at work that she would be late. Her appointment was at eight am.
After taking more blood, and questioning her at length, Dr. Bernstein informed Kareena she was suffering from CFIDS “Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome.” “He did not explain what that was exactly, only told her that the Epstein Bhar virus would make her very fatigued and that she should eat yogurt and get plenty of rest. He prescribed an antidepressant 'Prozac'.
' Eat yogurt? Yeah that will help. Every time I eat dairy products, I only get sleepier. Well so much for doctors. But at least I know I’m not crazy.' She felt like a big weight had been lifted off her shoulders, at least she had a direction to take. As usual Kareena could only rely on herself. She would drag herself down to a bookstore tomorrow and see if she could find a book on the subject.
She read and learned what it was and how to take care of herself through plenty of rest, which was the most essential need. She learned that her immune system did not work as a normal person’s did. At times it would over react to different substances; it could be something she ingested, or something in the air. There was never any rhyme or reason to it. The books explained why she always seemed to be fighting something. Her immune system was always in overdrive, hence the fatigue. She learned which vitamin supplements and nutrition worked best. She had been on the right track with al
l her previous studies on nutrition, but reading about her condition taught her to cope. She slowly brought herself out of her depression, and she learned that the depression was only the results of not being able to function normally.
When she was tired and felt ill, the depression would worsen. The books referred to the feeling as “Running on empty.” It made it very difficult to lead a normal life, when in reality that is all she ever wanted. But she managed the best she could. It also reassured her that she had done the right thing three years earlier.
Kareena met Richard at one of the hotel functions. She normally didn’t associate with the guests, which was hotel policy, but he was very interesting, a Yacht Captain who worked for some of the locals in Palm Beach. She had seen him several times before this day and they talked casually. He seemed really interested in her, but she had refused his invitations up to now. He approached her that evening with that grin she was beginning to like more and more, and after a little chit-chat said he had to leave but asked if he could call her sometime. She was feeling better and at a point in her life that needed a little excitement so she gave him her number.
Kareena’s friend Genna had met someone and they moved back home to Massachusetts, so Kareena was on her own.
Richard was kind and he understood that she needed her space. He always took her to nice restaurants understanding her nutritional needs. He mostly talked about himself, but she didn’t mind. She was not really interested in sharing any of her deep dark past, as she thought of it, with anyone. But she did enjoy his company. He kept her amused. Richard had many other interests so they would see each other periodically when he was ashore. This suited Kareena just fine. It seemed to be the perfect arrangement. Richard liked the fact that she wasn’t demanding. Kareena like the fact that he never pushed her to go beyond a kiss, although it did stir her curiosity about him a bit.
Richard’s sister Darcy lived close by with her husband Owen and their new baby Renee. Richard had introduced them one night when Darcy and her husband had invited them to dinner at their house. It was a lovely evening and all went really well except that Kareena shied away from holding the new baby when Darcy offered. She hadn’t realized that she would feel this way. She always loved children even though she didn’t want any of her own. She had never had a problem with being close to her niece or nephew up north. But she found that she could not hold this child now. It was the first close encounter she had had since the abortion. It really unnerved her. Richard asked her about it on their way home. She told him that she was tired and was afraid she might hurt the baby. Sometimes her motor skills were not what they should be. That seemed to satisfy him.
Before he dropped her off Richard asked Kareena to go to a party in Palm Beach the following weekend. Kareena hesitated because she was really shy around people she didn’t know.
“Come with me Kari. We’ll have fun. I think it would do you good to be around people other than just me. You must get board with me. I know I go on about my work, and you’re so sweet, you never complain, but I know it has to bore you! Please come with me, my friends really want to meet you, it will be something different.”
“Oh, Richard you don’t bore me, on the contrary I think your life is very interesting.” Richard being a Yacht captain had many interesting tails to tell. He hired himself out to pilot many of the local Yacht enthusiasts.
“Kari you flatter me,… so you’ll come with me? Please?”
“Ok, I guess, if you insist, as long as you don’t’ leave me alone. I won’t know anyone, and you know I’m not the best around people I don’t know.”
“You did just fine at my sister’s.”
“Yes, but that was a small intimate dinner, and you were there the whole time.”
“Ok, if you go with me, I promise I won’t leave you alone. He walked her to her door, and gave her their customary kiss.
The Gathering
The man reported to his partner. He had been trailing her for three years to ensure that she never came near. Tonight he watched her from the room across the street. He had rented a room that allowed him a perfect surveillance spot. It was September, the night was unusually dry and a mild breeze rustled through the palms.
She had rented a cute one bedroom cottage that had a small backyard with a high wood fence for privacy. She planted a garden and when she worked her garden it brought her back to her center and grounded her. It had a way of restoring her lost energy.
She inherited her mother’s gift for Art and oil painting. Art and Music were the great loves of her life. She had only needed minimal instruction before she was painting like a professional. She always seemed to blossom when being creative. In the six week art course she managed to take under Richard’s encouragement, she painted a still life, but now was delving into landscapes. She found she was quite versatile when it came to her art.
This evening Richard picked her up and the man followed in his black Caddy at a distance, which was his routine. The man figured this was going to be another boring evening, but he would report to his partner just as he had done numerous other evenings. After all, the job no matter how boring, it paid quite well. Instead of staying in town the Blue Mustang drove north past all the Ft Lauderdale exits. The Caddy followed.
Intercept
Rian had arrived at his Palm Beach residence two nights earlier. His father had asked for a meeting, and had flown in from D.C. Rian had been through some difficult times after Kareena’s tragic death. Even though he was reluctant to bond with their child, it didn’t take long before he fell in love with her. She was the image of her mother, and Rian was a doting father. Katherine was ecstatic when they finally bonded.
It was a cold March morning; snow had just coated the grounds of the Killarney estate. It was a breathtaking sight. Rian was in for a week long furlough from London as he entered through the kitchen door. She was in her Grandmother’s arms. The child looked at him and smiled; she held out her little arms to him and said “Da!” Rian’s heart melted, he could hear Kareena’s voice and it wasn’t until that moment that he really took a good look at this child and saw what he had been missing for so many months. He lifted the child and spoke her name for the first time since she had been brought home form the hospital “Cassia”; he said and hugged her gently as not to hurt her. He took in the sweet scent of his daughter. From that moment on they were inseparable when ever Rian was at home.
Of course he had to work and he hated to leave his precious little girl but knew she was in good hands with Katherine. They all went back to Great Britain together, and Rian’s work was only fifteen minutes from home. Magan had returned to school at Oxford.
Ever since that tragic day when Rian woke form his coma and learned of Kareena’s passing, he had a distant feeling towards his father. He was grateful his daughter was saved, but was always suspicious of the circumstances. He had seen Kareena’s death certificate, his mother had obtained it from the hospital, so there was no doubt that Kareena had passed on. But his accident, that was another matter. Even thought there were police reports and the receipt from the rental car, something still haunted him. Something was not right about that night.
The reunion with his father was to inform Rian that there would be an assembly in Scotland, where the swearing in would take place. He would be notified of the exact date later. But now with the family business behind him for the week and his father on his way back to Great Britain, Rian decided to take Charles up on his invitation and go to a party in Palm Beach.
It was a Spanish style two story with a red barrel roof, a beautiful sight. The front entrance was well lit. The Porte Cochere had four large terracotta pillars, one on either side. The iron entrance opened into an atrium that took you through to the huge double oak doors with black metal décor that looked like it was from the 15th century Europe. Above and to the sides of the doors was glass with black metal décor trim that picked up the same 15th century style that greeted you outside the atrium. The foyer rose up two stori
es with an office on the right and a dining room on the left. Further to the right just past the office was a spiral staircase that lead up to an open balcony that looked down into the Foyer and another atrium to the east.
On the east side of the atrium the veranda stretched between the north and south wing and overlooked the Atlantic Ocean. It was a breathtaking sight to sit on the veranda and gaze out into the endless blue that was sky and ocean, and smell the salt sea air. The estate belonged to the good Doctor Phillip Barrett and his wife Nakoma. The doctor was a local research scientist, and worked very closely with genetic research for the federal government.
It was dusk when Richard and Kareena arrived; she took in the large Spanish style with awe. Kareena had never been in a house so spectacular or beautiful, not even the resort she worked in could compare. The décor was not stark as you might think looking at it from the outside. But it was done in very tasteful earth tones. It was very warm and inviting. The furnishings were modern southwest and very comfortable. Richard introduced Kareena to there host.
“Kari, this is Dr. Phillip Barrett.” Dr. Barrett hesitated for an instant and immediately corrected himself. No one took notice. “Hi Kari.” he extended his hand. “It’s nice to make your acquaintance.”
Kareena took his hand in hers and gave him a firm shake. “Like wise.” She said.
“Come on in and make yourself at home. The bar is out by the pool. Nakoma is around somewhere I’m sure she will find you after a while.
Richard spotted Barbara, Charlie’s wife across the room and waved her over. “Hi Barbara how are you?"
"Great, Barbara, how about yourself?” They embraced.
“Barbara this is Kari, Kari, Barbara.”
The Doctor piped in “Barbara did our interior decorating, and I must say she did a splendid job, just enough comfort mixed with charm and sophistication. She is very talented indeed. Now if you’ll excuse me I must see to the barbeque.”
Humorlost (Humorlost Book I of III) Page 10