Ms. Joe sat her tea cup on the table next to her and it almost fell over from her trembling. Carla quietly caught it.
“She told me all kinds of things. Let’s see. Well, I know you love to plan parties. She said you were good at it. She told me that you live in Mississippi and that she wanted you to live in her place after she died. She thought you’d love the city and of course the main reason was so you’d fall in love with Ozias.” She had the innocence of a child in her expression.
“What? Aunt Claire thought I’d fall in love with Ozias?” He was staring at me and looked as shocked as I was.
“Mom, what are you talking about?” Ozias said each word slowly for emphasis.
Ms. Joe looked at both of us with a grin on her face. Maybe she was having a moment of mental instability, some memory issues?
“Just look at the two of you. Claire would be so pleased. She was hoping you would move here, but she was afraid you wouldn’t. I’m so glad that you did. Ozias, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” Ozias said cautiously. “But, why did she want Adira to move here, to meet me? This doesn’t make sense. Are you sure you remember clearly. Carla, how has she been today?”
“She’s actually been well. She’s been quite well all week. More clear than normal actually. Although, the doctor did adjust some of her medicine.” Carla didn’t seem shocked about any of this.
“Oh, Ozias, you silly boy! You know I’ve been telling you for months that a girl was coming for you. I just didn’t know when it would be. Claire passed away before she could tell me the whole plan, the plan to get you and Adira together that is. I miss her, so. She was the only friend I had anymore.” She sighed and looked heartbroken. “You know dear,” she looked to me then, “sickness makes friends scarce. Oh, they try in the beginning but as you progress, they start dropping off one by one. Claire never did, if anything the last few months she talked to me and visited me more than she ever had. It’s like she knew what was coming.”
I swallowed hard. This is all too much, just too much. I, I, I can’t breathe. I need air.
I stood up with my crutches as quickly as I could. “I need some air. Excuse me, please” I gasped.
Ozias moved into action quickly. He motioned to the balcony and walked outside with me. I leaned my back against the balcony wall and propped my crutches next to me. I ran my hands through my hair and doubled over. I couldn’t take it anymore! I screamed and I didn’t care who heard or what they thought. “What_the_hell_is_going_on?” I shouted through panted breaths. I stood up and balanced myself and pushed my pointer finger into Ozias’ chest—hard! “Did you know? Did you?” I pushed into his chest with my finger with every word. I glared into his eyes. “Did you try so hard to convince me to stay with you to help carry out some ridiculous plan you and my aunt concocted? Tell me the fucking truth!”
Ozias’ nostrils flared and his face turned red. He grabbed my hand to stop my assault. “I don’t have a fucking clue what she’s talking about, Adira! Yes, she has been babbling about a women for me for the last few months but she never said a name. I didn’t even know Claire was spending that much time with her. I guess it was while I was at work and out of town.” He spun around quickly and started to pace. “Shit, that’s what she was talking about last night when I called her.”
“What do you mean?”
“When I spoke to her last night, she wanted me to tell her all about the girl living at Claire’s. I knew dad had briefly told her what happened last night when he came back to get the crutches and cast for you, and he said she needed to see me, but that’s nothing new. She wants me to come by every day, so that wasn’t out of the ordinary. But, she just kept asking me if I liked you and I thought it was odd but it was late and pass her bedtime. Routine is important for her health. Crap. I don’t know what the fuck is going on, but I bet I know who does and I’m about to find out. He stormed off the balcony leaving me alone, angry, and confused.
I hobbled back into the living room in no more time for niceties. It was totally against my southern upbringing and I’m sure a few of my relatives are rolling over in their graves but at that moment I didn’t care. “I’m leaving, Ozias. Don’t follow me and don’t give me anymore of your bullshit. Give me your key. I want my things.” I was trying to tap my foot but only having one to stand on was making that difficult so I was even more agitated.
“What? You’re leaving? Where will you go?” Ozias was yelling at me and that fired me up even more.
“Don’t yell at me! It’s none of your business where I’ll be. Just give me your keys—now.” I hopped closer to him. We were almost nose to nose.
Carla was getting worried because she tried to step between us. “Now, why don’t we all calm down and I’ll make you something cool to drink. Ozias, why don’t you show Ms. Adira into the library?” She motioned with her head to Ozias’ mother who was wide-eyed and trembling with tears pooling in her eyes. I felt like shit at that moment, but I still wanted out of their home.
“Crap.” Ozias and I said at the same time.
“Can you just wait one minute and I’ll take you back to my place. You can get your things and leave if you want to.”
My chest was heaving up and down and I clenched my jaw. “Ok.” I said curtly.
Ozias went to his mom and knelt down beside her. I was so mad my ears where ringing so I didn’t hear what he said to her. At that moment Doc entered the unit.
“Carla?” he called out. When he rounded the corner he stopped in his tracks at the scene. It must have looked as intense as I felt because his face paled. “What the hell is going on? Ozias, what did you do now?” That was the straw that broke the camel’s back for Ozias and all hell broke loose.
Chapter Twelve
Ozias leaped to his feet and ran to his father. Fiercely, he pointed up at his face, “We need to talk right now.”
“Ozias. Have you lost your mind? Don’t speak to me in that tone.”
“I said,” Ozias raised his voice, “We need to talk right_fucking_now!”
Doc’s face turned red and he raised his hands to Ozias shoulders. “Don’t you ever speak to me like that again. Carla, get Jo out of here. Obviously, my son needs to speak to me and he doesn’t care if he upsets his mother.”
The room started to spin because on one side of me as Carla quickly got Ms. Jo up and on her way to her bedroom, almost dragging her. One the other side, Ozias pushed on his father’s chest with his palms. Doc stumbled but caught himself. He ran towards Ozias and before I knew it both men we headed straight towards me. I didn’t have time to get out of the way.
“STOP!!! I screamed as loud as my hoarse voice would carry. “Just stop!!!”
Ozias turned his head to see me and realized they were about to crash into me. He grabbed Doc by the upper arms and jerked him around spinning him into the kitchen. Doc steadied himself and stood there with hatred in his eyes, his chest heaving.
“Are you ok? I’m so sorry. Come, I’ll take you home.” He started to take my arm but I jerked away. Hurt clouded his eyes.
“So, has he stupidly hurt you again? You know, he was always getting into trouble by trying crazy experiments when he was in school and blowing up parts of the school lab, or wasting money on failed business ideas, but this is a first…him hurting a women, now for the second time in two days. You’re the most contact he’s ever had with a woman.”
Ozias’ eyes flashed with hatred. I thought of the saying, If looks could kill, and if they could Doc wouldn’t be alive right now. This family was crazy and not the fun, good kind, but the certifiable kind. No wonder Aunt Claire fit right in.
“You apologize to her right now. This isn’t about her, it’s about you and me. Leave her out of it.”
“Isn’t it about me, though?” I could fight my own battles when it came to things like this. “At least according to your mother it is.”
“What is she talking about? What does your mother have to do with any of this?” Doc spoke only to Ozias
.
Ozias tried to calm down before he spoke. He ran his hands through his hair. “We came to visit mom and she told us that Claire had been visiting her very often months before she died and they talked about many things, most of those things involved Adira and me. Are you telling me you don’t know anything about that? Because if you are, I don’t believe you.”
“I knew Claire visited but I thought it was just a few times a month, like she always did. I know absolutely nothing about any extra visits or them talking about you and Ms. McLeod.”
“I don’t believe you,” hissed Ozias.
“What did she say that has you so angry?”
Ozias looked at me. I decided to speak for myself. “Supposedly my Aunt Claire attempted to plan out Ozias and my love life. She told Ms. Jo that she only willed her unit to me so that Ozias and I would meet and fall in love and live happily ever after, or some crazy shit like that.”
“There’s no way Claire would confide in Jo like that and not tell me.” Doc was incredulous. “You know for yourself that I didn’t know who you were yesterday. I wouldn’t have asked you if you knew Claire, I would have known that.”
“You’re good a lying, dad. How do we know that you were telling the truth? Adira, is very angry. She feels she’s been tricked and fooled by her aunt and I want to know once and for all if you knew anything, anything at all about it.”
“Liar? Who are you? Why do you think you can speak to me like this? I don’t know anything about Claire willing anything to anyone. Trust me, I’m just as shocked as you are and even more hurt.” Doc was calmer now and genuinely looked sad.
“More hurt? More hurt than me, her niece, her flesh and blood? You have NO idea what I’ve been through. No one is more hurt by her betrayal, her lies, than I. She knew how fragile I was, I am. What was she thinking bringing me here and trying to force some guy on me. I don’t believe you. Who do you think you are? Why would you even think you could be more hurt than I am?” I stared at Doc with intensity.
“Because he was fucking her.” Ozias stared unflinching at his dad.
“You…..” Doc hurled towards Ozias again but he anticipated it this time and grabbed his father by the arm and pushed him down.
“We’re leaving. This is over for now. Leave mom alone and don’t pester her for answers. She actually thought Claire was her friend coming to visit her. Don’t take that from her at this point in her life.” Doc stumbled to his feet but said nothing.
Chapter Thirteen
I collapsed on Ozias’ couch. I didn’t have the energy to make it much father. Another day of exhausting events and it was only 5:00 pm. Ozias was in the kitchen fixing us both a glass of red wine. He didn’t even ask if I wanted one. I guess he knew we both needed something to take the edge off. A knock at the door startled both of us. God, what now?
Ozias opened the door and I heard Carla’s voice. “Ozias, I know this may not be the best time but could I please come in?”
“If it’s about mom or your hours can you just talk to dad? You’re right this isn’t the best time.”
“No, no it’s nothing about that. I, I don’t even know if you want to talk anymore about this tonight, but I just can’t go home with this on my conscience. Please, I think you and Ms. Adira will want to hear what I have to say.”
That caught my attention and I realized that she had to be at the house every time Aunt Claire and Ms. Jo talked. She was like a fly on the wall. She probably wasn’t ease dropping on purpose but in a job like hers it would be impossible not her hear private conversations.
“I’d like to hear what she has to say.” I turned to look at them both. Ozias’ slumped his shoulders, opened the door all the way, and thrust his arm out gesturing for Carla to come inside.
“Please, come in. Can I get you anything? We are about to have a glass of wine.” Ozias offered.
“No, I just want to say what I have to and leave you to your evening, hopefully with more understanding and peace.” Carla sat in the leather chair next to the corner of the couch I was sitting on.
Ozias came to sit by me and handed me my glass of wine. I swirled it in my glass then took a sip. The tart liquid slid down my throat. It was just what I needed at this moment and that realization bothered me.
“Carla, it’s been a long day, if you don’t mind, just tell us what you need to.” Ozias was more curt than usual.
Carla began, “Well, first of all, your mama was telling the truth. The last few months of Ms. Claire’s life she did come visit and talk to her, almost every day.” She was fiddling with her hands nervously and that made what she had to say even more worrisome to me.
She continued, “At first I thought it was odd her coming to see Ms. Jo alone, you know without your dad being home.” She looked at Ozias and he nodded. “Cause she never used to come unless Doc was there.” She cleared her throat like a secret was stuck trying to be released. I looked toward Ozias and he was staring in his wine glass. His screaming accusation to his father that he and Aunt Claire were lovers, wasn’t exactly a shock to me. I could tell when Doc talked about her there was something in his eyes, a longing and immense sadness at her loss, more than just a friendship would account for. Hearing Ozias scream the truth at his father in a crude manner was shocking though. I could tell this story would take hours if we all didn’t stop skirting around the truth.
I decided to speak my mind, “Ms. Carla, please don’t take this the wrong way, but, we’re all adults here and I have had the most emotional, crazy, anger filled days since I officially moved here two days ago.” God, how did two days feel like weeks? “Could we all just put it out there, what we all are trying not to say and get on with what you need to tell us that we don’t know?” I cleared my throat. “Doc and my aunt were having an affair. I’m pretty sure I knew this from the first time Doc spoke about Aunt Claire because a man just has a certain look in his eyes when he’s talking about his lover, and I picked up on that cue almost right away.”
“Oh.” Carla seemed to be surprised by my speech.
Ozias sighed and set his wine glass down and turned to face me. He laid his hand on my leg and I felt that shock again and it was strangely comforting. “I didn’t want you to find out like this. I knew it was going to eventually reveal itself but I was hoping it wouldn’t be so soon. You’ve had enough to cope with.” He looked sincere and I believed him.
“I’m not as breakable as you think, Ozias. Yes, I have my triggers and yes, I have been through a lot, and not just these past two days, but I’m a grown woman. I can handle knowing my aunt had an affair. What I’m having a hard time accepting is that she, after barely seeing me for the last six years, decided to spend the last months of her life plotting a course for mine. I don’t like it, at all. And I don’t like that she brought your mother into her crazy scheme. Aunt Claire was eccentric, but she wasn’t cruel. She’s known your mother for the last what, nine years?” Ozias nodded. “Obviously, she knew of your mom’s limited mental capabilities. Why would she be so cruel to tell her the things she did?”
Clara interrupted, “Well, I can tell you the answer to that.” Ozias and I stared at her with a look of confusion. “It’s not easy being a caregiver to people who are terminally ill, especially ones like your mom, Ozias, whose condition can last for years, slowly robbing their independence and eventually their minds.” She looked directly at me. “I’ve been caring for Ms. Jo and the family for many years, before we even knew about the Parkinson. You, know, Ozias that I cared for Mr. McKinnon, his grandfather,” Carla looked at me while explaining, “and when he died, I started helping Ms. Jo. She was always so tired. It was part time at first just helping her with housekeeping—anything to lessen her stress---, then more once we knew about the Parkinson’s. Then about a year ago, I started on full time, when her dementia was diagnosed.” She sat back in the chair and addressed us both now. “Ms. Claire would stay gone for long periods of time back then and stay to herself a lot when she came home. I accidently saw
Doc leaving her apartment one night after my shift and he approached me the next day. He told me I wasn’t to tell anyone what I saw and that there is no need to upset Ms. Jo. I agreed but I still didn’t like it. My patients become like family to me and I will be honest, I was angry with Doc for quite a while. Until Ms. Claire started to visit, then my feelings changed.”
Ozias got up and fetched a glass of water and brought it to her. It was uncanny to me how he just knew what people needed. Carla smiled and thanked him.
“Ms. Claire would come and visit and ask to sit in the library with Ms. Jo. Before her dementia, Ms. Jo loved to read so Ms. Claire would read to her, all her favorites, and your mom just was so happy Ozias, so I started to be ok with the visits. They started to become more frequent and before I knew it Ms. Jo just expected her to come and it was the highlight of her day. Doc has been spending more time away from home since she has needed full time care. It used to make me angry with him, but now I think he just can’t handle it, seeing her the way she is now.”
“I have often thought the same,” Ozias said. “He’s like most doctors, he can disconnect emotionally when it’s his patients, but when it’s someone he loves, he can’t handle it. Still bothers me that he seems to abandon her when she needs him the most.”
Carla nodded in agreement. “I never ease drop on my patients when they have visitors but one day when it was time for Ms. Jo’s medication, I heard Ms. Claire say something startling when I was outside the library door. “She told Ms. Jo that she needed to tell her some secrets and she needed her to not tell anyone, especially Doc. Ms. Jo was having a good day and I could tell she understood. She told Ms. Claire she would keep her secrets. I know it’s wrong but part of the reason I continued to listen at each visit was I was concerned for Ms. Jo. I wasn’t sure she could remember to keep secrets and it seemed cruel of your aunt to ask this of her. But I soon realized that even though Ms. Jo didn’t really completely keep these secrets, the visits themselves were a good thing. If you think about it, Ozias, your mom has been mentioning for months about a woman coming to see you and she’d say things to Doc but he would just blow her off or ignore her thinking she was having an episode.”
The Strength to Fall (McKinnon Brothers Book 1) Page 8