by Danni Rose
"I've always trusted you."
"I promise to answer all your questions when you're better."
"Promise?"
"I promise. Now, let's get you to bed. Lupita prepared one of the guest rooms for you." Jason led her into the house and to the bedroom. "Do you want something to eat? Lupita can bring you a tray."
"No, I'm too tired to eat. I just want to crawl into bed."
"All right. Do you need help to change your clothes?"
Beth shook her head.
He kissed her forehead. "Rest well."
After she washed her face and put on a nightgown, she snuggled into the soft bed and closed her eyes.
A knock on the door woke her. "Yes?"
Jason walked in carrying a tray. "Good morning. I come bearing breakfast."
"Thank you." She smiled. "What time is it?"
"It's almost ten o'clock."
"I'm surprised I slept so long."
"You needed the rest, but now you need to eat." He set the tray on Beth's lap and pulled a small table next to his chair.
"Why are you living in the Simonsons' home?"
"We're friends. Now no more questions. Eat."
They were finishing breakfast when Lupita walked in with the doctor.
Beth's eyes widened. "Dr. Walters, why are you here?"
"I wanted to check on my favorite patient."
She turned to Jason, and her eyebrows lifted.
He said, "I asked him to come."
"I didn't think doctors made house calls?"
Dr. Walters grinned. "Don't let my other patients know I do this."
He made Jason leave the room while he examined Beth. Jason knocked twice before the doctor let him return. The doctor teased, "A little impatient?"
He shrugged. "Is Beth all right?"
"She has a couple of new bruises, but otherwise she's fine." The doctor put his things in the bag he carried. "Beth shouldn't have any problems as long as she takes the time to recover."
"Lupita and I will make sure she gets plenty of rest." He assured the doctor.
"Good." Dr. Walters pointed at Beth. "Avoid stressful situations even if it means you don't see your parents. Are you still having headaches?"
She nodded.
"Stop trying to force your memory to return."
Her voice trembled when she asked, "What if it never comes back?"
"It may come in spurts or all at once, but I am confident your memory will return." The doctor told Jason, "Don't miss her appointment next week."
Jason and Beth fell into a comfortable routine. He worked in his study during the day but ate his meals with her. Then in the evenings, they talked. They discussed the books she read and the movies she watched. Sometimes they watched movies together. She laughed when he told her how much he liked classic movies, and she asked him how he felt about chocolate.
Although Jason visited often, Beth spent a great deal of time alone. She slept and read, but by the third day, she was bored and suffering a severe case of cabin fever.
Beth wanted to rebuild her strength so she could leave the bedroom. If she walked, it would restore her strength and stamina. When she stood, however, her legs buckled. Fortunately, she dropped onto the bed. She held onto the furniture for support and was able to walk to the dresser. Her legs shook as she shuffled back to bed. Although she was exhausted and struggled to breathe, Beth's mouth curved in a proud smile.
It took a few days, but soon Beth could circle the room without having to rest or hold onto the furniture. Ready to impress Jason, she made her way to his study. When she was close, Beth heard the deep rumble of his voice. She didn't want to interrupt his conversation and sat on a chair near the door to wait until he finished his call. Beth didn't pay attention to what was said until she heard her name.
"… Beth's trip to Europe with Deidre?"
Silence.
Why was he discussing her? Beth never traveled with her mother. She rubbed a hand over her forehead.
Jason asked, "How about the maid? Did you find her?"
Silence.
The jackhammer in her head pounded again.
"Beth has agreed to stay with me. It gives me time to question her." Silence. "Be careful. I don't want anyone to tell Beth a detective is asking questions."
Jason was having her investigated. Just like Archer, he'd do anything to get what he wanted.
As though a dam burst, memories rushed through her mind. She tried to make sense of the flood of thoughts, but she couldn't process the information fast enough.
At dinner, he'd pushed, prodded, and demanded until she'd run away. She'd driven too fast on the slick road. When she'd tried to slow the car, she'd lost control and skidded into the ditch. She'd barely been able to breathe through the pain.
"No!" Beth jumped to her feet, but the room spun in crazy circles. When she grabbed the chair, it scraped on the floor and screeched. She had to get back to her room.
Then she heard her name. There would be no escape. She looked into the face of the man who had cost her so much.
Jason took a step towards her.
Beth held her hand up. If he touched her, she'd fall apart.
Jason glowered. "What are you—?"
"How far would you have gone to get your answers? Would you have claimed to love me?" She took a step back but staggered when the room spun again. "You never cared…"
CHAPTER NINE
Beth moved her head and groaned. Someone pressed a damp cloth to her forehead. The soothing coolness eased the throbbing.
She frowned. Jason had been talking on the telephone. He'd warned someone to be careful not to let her find out he'd hired an investigator. She couldn't keep the tears from falling.
"Beth." Fingers brushed over her face. Jason.
Eyes closed, she turned away.
"Beth?"
"You spent time with me, had me stay here, so you could get answers. The night of the accident, you pushed and pushed. You wouldn't give up." She opened her eyes and looked at him. "You're no better than Archer. You never cared about me."
Lupita walked into her room followed by Dr. Walters. He wore his doctor smile. The one he used to show his concern, but would calm the patient. "Let's check you. Jason, would you leave us and close the door on your way out?"
Jason looked at her. "I'll be outside in case you need me."
"I don't need you." She turned her head away. "Not now. Not ever."
Years of Archer's emotional blackmail and verbal abuse taught Beth how to protect her heart and soul. She was too smart to let anyone use her again, except she wasn't. While she dreamed of a second chance at a life with Jason, he'd manipulated her for his own purpose.
The doctor examined her and asked questions. Then he said, "Although parts of your memory have returned, you'll still find holes. Your brain needs to process the information, and it'll take time. So continue the bed rest and be patient. You have no new bruises, but I'd like you to come to my office tomorrow for a thorough examination."
After Dr. Walters left, Jason returned. He stood next to her bed with his arms crossed and watched her. "For years I've felt cheated. Nine years ago I found out my dreams were lies. My world collapsed. You asked me to stay away, and I did. Then I got your letter about a secret and decided it was time for me to return to town."
"I never wrote to you."
"We're too old to play games."
"I'm not playing games." She glared at him. "You're accusing me of something I didn't do."
"I want to know what you're hiding." He rolled his shoulders then stalked out.
She stared at the ceiling. Her body and head ached, but her heart hurt more.
Jason returned with a red file. "Did you think I'd destroy the letters?" He opened the file and held out a sheet of paper.
She stared at it but didn't move.
He raised an eyebrow. "Afraid to read it?"
She lifted her chin. Careful not to touch him, she took the paper. The words were ugly.
You were never more than a fling I used you to amuse myself. I'd never marry the son of the town drunk. Don't come back. It would embarrass me to be seen with you. Elizabeth Marie Kingsley.
"How is this possible? It looks like my handwriting, but I swear I didn't write this." She shook her head. "You were never a fling. I loved you."
"When I came back to talk to you, you repeated the words in the letter. You even called me a fling."
"I said what I did to protect you."
Jason stared at her, his lips a tight, straight line. He pulled out another sheet of paper. "This is why I came back."
Beth's hand trembled when she took the paper. This letter hinted at secrets and told him to talk to her. This time there was no signature.
"I didn't send either of these letters. Who would have sent them?"
His brows knitted. "Even if you didn't send these letters, this one says you have a secret I should know. Is it true? Is there something I should know?"
"I don't—"
He jabbed a finger at her. "I want the truth."
"Why should I tell you anything?" Beth yelled, "You abandoned me."
Jason shouted, "You sent me away."
"I didn't have a choice."
"Right, because I embarrassed you."
"No. I was forced to say what I did." She'd fought for so long, but each year her hope withered a bit more. "I explained everything in a letter, but you never read it, did you? When I begged for your help, you ignored me. Why should I tell you anything?"
"Because I deserve to know the truth. I need to know."
Beth shuddered as her heart shattered into a million pieces and sobbed, "My baby...they took my baby!"
"Baby?" Jason stared at her. His mouth opened then closed with a snap. He stalked away then stomped back. "A baby?"
Beth's lips trembled. "Do you—remember our last night together?"
He nodded. An icy chill slid along his spine and froze every cell in his body.
"I was happy and looked forward to joining you in Minneapolis."
"But, your letter—"
"I didn't write those letters." Beth brushed the tears from her face, but more took their place. "Two weeks after you left, I started getting sick in the mornings. A home pregnancy test confirmed my suspicions. I was so happy until I realized you didn't want us."
"That's not true. I loved you and would have wanted our baby."
"You're lying!" She shouted, "If you cared, why didn't you come back? Why wouldn't you help us?"
"I didn't know." Jason rubbed the back of his neck.
"I wrote every day and begged for your help. The letters were returned, except two. You must have read them and decided you didn't want the burden of a family." Beth grabbed a tissue and wiped her eyes. "I tried to call you, but your phone number didn't work. What was I supposed to think?"
"My first two weeks in Minneapolis, I got a letter from you every day." Jason scowled. "Then they stopped until I got that last one. I didn't want to believe what I read, so I came back to town. You said you'd never marry someone like me."
Beth held a hand out. "After you left, I wrote and explained, but the letter came back unopened."
"I didn't get the letter. After seeing you, I couldn't stay in Minneapolis, so I went to Chicago." He scrubbed his hand over his face. "You asked me why I changed my name. I did it for the family, but also because I wanted to bury Jason Fischer. I wanted to bury a life filled with pain and disappointment."
Beth took a long, deep breath. "Archer made me say those things. He said if I told you about the baby or tried to leave with you, he would have you sent to prison."
"How would he have done that?"
She shrugged. "He never told me, but I couldn't let him hurt you."
He stared at her. "How did Archer learn about the pregnancy?"
"A maid found my test sticks and told him. He was furious and accused me of getting pregnant to humiliate him." She cried. "I was eighteen—desperate—alone."
"What about your grandmother? Wouldn't she help you?"
"She was eighty-seven and wasn't well." Beth wrung her hands. "I didn't want to upset her."
"But you don't have children."
"I told you, they took my baby. Archer sent me away to have my baby and give it up for adoption. That way no one would know about the pregnancy, and it would stay a dirty family secret. After I had the baby, I returned to Serenity Bay. While I was in gone, Archer arranged a marriage for me to a business associate—"
"Marriage?" Jason interrupted. "Why not keep the baby?"
"I tried. I promised to say the baby was my husband's. No one would know the truth. Archer told me, 'No man wants to raise a hoodlum's bastard.'"
"I argued and begged, but he wouldn't change his mind."
"So you went to Europe?" He clenched his fists.
"Mother and I told everyone we planned to travel in Europe, but we moved to Boston. Until the day I gave birth, I tried to find a way to keep my baby. Nothing worked." Beth pressed a hand to her mouth.
Jason handed her a glass of water and waited.
After taking a drink, she cleared her throat. "The day I gave birth was the worst of my life. They wouldn't let me see my son." She shivered and tears ran from her eyes.
"It was a boy?" He jumped to his feet, and the papers scattered on the floor. "I have a son?"
"They took him from me." Beth's sobs tore at him. Did she want my son or is that another lie? "I wanted—my baby."
Jason turned on her. "He's my son, too."
"Nine years ago you didn't want him, but you want him now." She glared. "Why?"
"Your letters never reached me. I would have come back if I'd known." Jason paced. "Where is he? Who's taking care of him?"
"I don't know. I've searched for eight years, but haven't found him."
"Have you talked to your parents? They must know where he is."
"I've tried to talk to Father about him, but he's always refused to discuss my mess."
"I'll find our son. When I do, you won't cut me out of his life." He stomped out.
Jason stalked to the liquor cabinet in his office and poured a drink. He held the glass and stared at the liquid gold. His birth father had used alcohol to numb the disappointments of life and used his fists on Jason to vent his anger. He left the drink on the cabinet and walked away.
Returning to Serenity Bay for vindication didn't seem so important anymore. But if he hadn't returned, he wouldn't know he had a child. Jason paced—back and forth. He had a son.
Beth placed their baby for adoption, was she forced or didn't she want him? She'd searched for him for eight years. At least that's what she claimed. It didn't matter. He'd find his son. Where was he? Was he happy? Safe? Loved?
Jason sat at his computer and opened a new file. People often asked him for his secret to success. They never believed him when he said there were no secrets or tricks. Success took good planning, learning every detail about your opponents, and a bulldog-with-a-fresh-piece-of-meat determination. He would use that same single-mindedness to search for his son.
His first call was to his closest advisor, Matt, the man who'd become a father to him. Three hours and several phone calls later, Jason returned to Beth's room. She stood near the bed, dressed, and packing her suitcase.
"You're leaving?"
She looked over her shoulder. "I'm going home." She dropped clothes into her suitcase.
"You were in a terrible automobile accident, underwent hours of surgery, and lost your memory. Your recovery won't be easy. You shouldn't be alone."
"I'll hire a nurse."
"Beth, you're hurt and angry, but so am I. I have a son. Where is he? Is he happy and healthy? Does he look like me? To find him, we must work together. It'll be easier if you stay here." He had to convince her to stay—for the search.
She kept packing.
He tried again. "I called Matt. He told me about an investigator, Gabriel Michael, who specializes in cases that i
nvolve children. I called him, and he agreed to meet with us. Our story caught his interest, and he wants to hear more before he decides whether to help us."
She stopped packing but didn't turn to face him. "I've hired several investigators and none of them found our son. Why will he succeed when the others failed?"
"He's considered one of the best and only handles investigations others have given up. Once he accepts a case, he doesn't stop searching until he finds the child. No matter how long it takes." Jason sighed. "To give him the best chance for success, we have to tell him everything we can about the birth. There might be details you've forgotten to mention to the others that will help Michael."
She turned and stared at him.
"Please stay. Together we'll find our son." J.D. Richards never begged, but nothing had ever been this important. He took a deep breath. "Beth—"
"I'll stay." She took her clothes from the suitcase and walked to the dresser. "For now."
The tension seeped from his shoulders. "Will you answer one question?"
Her eyes narrowed when she looked at him. "What?"
"If you had to give up the baby, why did you agree to your father's arranged marriage?"
"After they took my baby, I didn't care what happened. Jacob seemed like a decent man and marrying him got me away from Archer."
"Was he good to you?"
"Jacob was thirty years older than me and treated me more like a daughter than a wife."
Jason jammed his hands in his pockets. "He didn't want the baby?"
"The way Archer talked, I thought he'd told Jacob about the pregnancy. But a week after we married, I found out Archer never told him. Jacob was furious."
"Was he angry that you'd had a baby?"
"No, he was angry I gave up my baby. When he was a child, Jacob got sick. It left him unable to have children. He would have welcomed my son. Jacob hired an investigator to search, but we never found him."
"Your husband sounds like a good man."
"He was and didn't deserve what happened to him. Someone spread rumors about Jacob's condition. I always believed it was my father."
Jason grimaced. "That sounds like something Archer would do."
"Jacob was humiliated."