Poison Hearts

by Brenda Thomas; Shirley Dicks

  "Let me fix you something to eat. You haven't had anything all day," he said firmly as he led her to a chair. He opened the refrigerator and fumbled around the shelves seeing what he could fix. Eggs, bacon, toast. Um that he could fix. Christina leaned back in the chair and stared out the window as she fought to control her swirling emotions.

  "Here you go ma'am. It's not much but it's the best I can do," Andrew smiled as he set the plate down in front of her.

  "It looks great, and smells good too" Christina assured him. "Aren't you going to have some?" she asked.

  "Maybe later," he said as he poured them both a cup of coffee.

  "Where's Rusty?" Christina asked as she sipped on the coffee.

  "He said he was going for a walk. He's pretty upset."

  Christina nodded as she took a bite of the omelet. "Um, this is good," she replied not realizing how hungry she was. When she finished she put the plate in the dishwasher and then went to the living room to sit in front of the fire. It was later when the phone rang..

  "Well I questioned Lauren for over two hours but she stuck to her story that she didn't know anything about how the poison got into the cup. Still, I don't think it would be wise to have her in your house until we can prove it. I know she did it, her prints are on the cups, but we need to find the poison." he said abruptly. "I know she's lying but I don’t have any reason to detain her any longer than for questioning at this point.

  It's still circumstantial evidence." He hesitated. "The lab is checking the cup we brought in today but it will be a few days before we know anything else. If there is poison in that cup, we will have our evidence. Then I can arrest her and you will be safe."

  "Well, I guess you’re right. I don’t understand why she wanted me dead. I loved her…it’s just so unreal. .

  "Now if you think of anyone else who might have been in your home besides Lauren let me know. I think we have our suspect; it’s just a matter of proving it. In the meantime, don’t let her in the house. She may try something more drastic next time. In the meantime we are checking up on her, her background and all. There must be something in it that will tell us something."

  "I will. Thanks," Christina replied as she hung up the phone.

  "Well did he arrest her?" Andrew asked anxiously.

  "No, he just asked her some questions for now," Christina replied frowning slightly. lt will be a couple of days before they know for sure if the cup she gave me this afternoon had any traces of arsenic in it."

  "Well we don't need her around until we know for sure," Andrew replied tartly.

  Christina didn't want to talk about it anymore tonight. She was so tired of all this. Her mind felt as if it were about to explode. "I think I'll take a nice hot bath," she said as she headed upstairs. Andrew nodded and headed for the living room to fix a drink. He needed to unwind some himself. He sat on the sofa and stared out the window. The sun was beginning to set over the trees and cast a golden shadow across the lawn. If only Christina would marry him he thought to himself as he sipped his drink. Then he wouldn't have to worry all the time about her. But he knew he couldn't rush her, she needed time.

  He was lost deep in thought as Christina entered the room quietly.

  "A penny for your thoughts," she whispered softly as she sat down next to him.

  "Um, you smell good," he replied suggestively as he put his arm around her and pulled her close. It felt good to hold her close again. He leaned down and kissed her lips; his tongue explored the recesses of her mouth. She quivered at the sweet tenderness of his kiss as he gently eased her down on the sofa. A delightful shiver of wanting ran through her body as his hands slid underneath her silk nightie and across her swollen nipples. Her wildly beating heart was the only sound audible as his hands slowly moved downward, skimming either side of her body to her thighs. He slipped the nightie over her head and gazed at her beautiful body. She writhed beneath him, eager for his touch as he outlined the tips of her breasts with his tongue.

  Passion pounded the blood through her heart, chest and head, as his body moved to partially cover hers. As he aroused her passion, his own grew stronger. She surrendered completely to his masterful seduction; his hard body a top of hers, legs intertwined as one. Their bodies in exquisite harmony, became as one. Deeply contented they fell asleep wrapped in each other's arms.

  "Miss McCall...can you hear me?" the doctor asked? He had found her curled up in the chair; tears still stained on her face and sound asleep.

  "Yes. Is my mother dead?" Lauren stood up sudden fully awake and began crying. She knew her mother was dead, that's the only reason doctors came in the waiting room.

  "No, Miss McCall. She is a very sick lady and as you

  know her emphysema is in the last stages. We’re doing all we can to make her comfortable. I'm sorry." The doctor stood looking at Lauren and felt pity for her. He always hated to tell a family member about death and dying, but it was part of his job and he had to do that. This girl he felt would break if given more bad news so he didn't tell her that he thought her mother would never leave the hospital alive.

  "But doctor, when will she be better? How many days before she comes home...you know she's all I have left and I can't lose her. Promise me you'll save her...promise." Lauren had grabbed his arm and held it as if willing him to tell her what she wanted to know.

  "I'm sorry Miss McCall, I can't promise that. You’re aware of how sick your mother is...the time is near and you'll have to come to grips with it. We have a chaplain here at the hospital if you'd like to talk to him."

  "No. I don't want to talk to no preacher. I want my mother. You're supposed to be a doctor so save her." Lauren's voice grew higher and higher.

  “Your mother is resting comfortably right now so why don't you go home and get a good night sleep."

  "Lauren, what happened," Leonard cried as he ran up to Lauren in the hallway. "I just came from the apartment and the lady next door said they took your mother away in the ambulance. Is she all right?" Leonard put his arms around Lauren as she began to cry again.

  "Oh Leonard, mother is worse and I think this might be it for her. I don't think she's going to make it and I can't bear the thought of losing her."

  "Why didn't you call me when this happened? You know I'd have been here for you. I love you." Leonard steered her into the elevator. He was a wonderful person and she felt love well up in her heart. Why had she wasted so much time fighting her feelings for him, spending every waking moment trying to get revenge on the father who didn’t want her?

  "I don't know why I didn't call you. I guess I thought you were dating someone else and I didn't want to ruin things for you. And it's my problem, not yours but I'm so glad you're here. I never realized how much you mean to me until now. Now when I think of losing mama and being completely alone in this world. It suddenly dawned on me that I have no real friends. It's a terrible feeling." Lauren began crying again as they made their way out of the hospital door and down to where Leonard's car was parked. He had left it in the emergency space but luckily there wasn't a ticket on it.

  Opening the door for Lauren he helped her inside then got in himself. "I'm taking you home and fixing you something to eat. You look terrible and I know you probably haven't eaten this afternoon. Then you can take a good long hot bath while I wait for you...and don't worry Lauren, I won't try anything. Not this time with what you're going through."

  Lauren felt a let down at those words, as if she wanted more this time. She wanted to feel his arms around her, to be able to cry it all out on his broad shoulders. The idea of a hot bath sounded great to her and she lay her head back on the seat and closed her eyes. All too soon it seemed the car came to a stop in front of her apartment building. She wondered if she could bear to go up in the apartment, the apartment where her and her mother had shared good times along with the bad. She had to face things so she forced herself out of the car and Leonard came around and led her in the building.

  "Why did you come here this after
noon Leonard? I haven't seen you since I was so mean to you."

  "I don't know Lauren. Somehow I felt you needed me so I acted on impulse. Glad I did. I know how much your mother means to you and I want to be here for you. No matter what happens, I'm here." Leonard looked at Lauren and saw the pain in her eyes. He loved this girl so much. Together they walked to the apartment and Lauren handed him the keys to open the door. He felt her tremble as the door opened and they went inside.

  "Oh Leonard what if momma never comes home again? What will I do without her?" Lauren broke into deep sobs that racked her insides. Leonard led her to the living room couch and put his arms around her, letting her cry for a long time. Suddenly she felt a stirring of passion for him, as his nearness made her senses spin. She found herself studying his profile and wondered why had she sent him away.

  "I love you Leonard...make love to me." Lauren pressed her body close and held her lips up to his.

  "Oh God Lauren, are you sure...are you really sure?" He picked her body up and carried her to the small bedroom that was hers and together they stripped naked and lay down on the bed.

  It was so perfect this time and when they were spent, he turned to Lauren and said, "Will you marry me now. I love you so much and can't bear to have you leave me again."

  I can't Leonard. I love you but I can't marry you." Lauren turned her back to him and began crying softly into the pillow.

  "For God sake Lauren, what are you doing to me? You say you love me, let me make love to you and then you hurt me like this. What the hell is going on?" He jumped out of bed and began throwing on his pants.

  "Leonard...wait. I do love you, more than you'll ever know. You don't understand. I can't marry you. If you knew what I did, you'd hate me."

  "Lauren I could never hate you. No matter what you've done, I'm here for you. Do you think I can turn my love off and on and turn away from you when you make a mistake? It doesn't work that way. Please tell me what it is that's been bothering you lately."

  "I can't tell you Leonard. Don't make me do that. It's so horrible." Lauren turned her head away as Leonard sat back on the bed and tried to turn her to face him.

  "Whatever it is we can face together. Tell me what it is." Leonard's voice boomed in the small room and echoed out in the hall. Surely nothing could be that bad he thought. Nothing she could do would turn him away from her.

  "All right. I'll tell you." Leonard sat back and held Lauren in his arms as she began.

  "When I was little I didn't know who my real father was. Then when we moved here I found a picture in my mother's dresser drawer of a man holding my mother in his arms. I knew right then that he was my father. I confronted mother and she admitted it to me. Lauren broke out sobbing again and Leonard held her close, letting her gain her composure.

  "When we came here I found out who my real father was. He was rich so I called him when mom got sick and asked for money to let her live comfortable. That's the least he could have done for her, after the way he got her pregnant and then left her to raise me by herself. Anyway...he laughed and said he wouldn't give her any more money so I took a job at his house. At first he didn't know who I was then he put two and two together and he tried to fire me."

  "Is that the lady you're working for now?" Leonard asked amazed at this twist of events.

  "Yes. Mr. Willobee was my father and I killed him." Lauren hung her head in shame and waited for the explosion she knew would be coming. Instead Leonard cradled her in his arms and began stroking her hair.

  "My poor baby. They drove you to it. It wasn't your fault baby. Please don't ever tell anyone that again."

  "But Leonard I deliberately planned to kill him with poison but then he had a heart attack before I had the chance. "

  "Don't think of that now sweetheart. No one will ever know about that. It's in the past so we'll leave it in the past. He deserved to die."

  "Oh Leonard, there's more. I did more than that. I decided that I wanted his money so mother could live in a nice place and have good medical care and all so I planned to kill his wife, Christina."

  "Oh no....you didn't. Please tell me this is a nightmare. Lauren I love you no matter what you did. Maybe no one will be the wiser. We can go away and start all over."

  Leonard was grabbing at straws, his love for Lauren so strong he would protect her no matter what.

  "I'm afraid they're on to me. I've been giving her small batches of poison and evidently Maureen drank the tea and Christina found her on the floor when she awoke and called 911. I know they suspect me. Christina even confronted me the other day. However, I told her I wouldn't do something like that to her or Maureen. I don't know if she believed me. The detective took me in for questioning."

  "Now, you don't know that for sure Lauren, so don't blow it now. If they only suspect but can't prove anything ...then we can go away and start over. I love you."

  Lauren started crying again, her shoulders heaving and Leonard held her tight. "I can't believe you'd still love me after what I told you."

  "We're going to forget this whole thing ever happened. You can give Christina your resignation and tell her you're getting married. What do you say?"

  "Oh yes Leonard. That's what I want. I never meant to harm Christina; in fact I really like her a lot. She was the only person who treated me kindly, like I was somebody. I think I was kind of crazy to even think I could do such a thing. What was wrong with me? I’ve never hurt anyone before and now I killed my own father and tried to kill his wife…and now God is punishing me by taking away my mother."

  "You are somebody baby and I'll make sure nobody ever hurts you again. God doesn’t work that way Lauren. You’ve known for a long time that your mother was very ill and would not live a long time. You said so yourself. It’s just that the time is now."

  The phone interrupted them. Leonard answered it and began talking softly. Lauren sensed there was something wrong. Oh no...it' can't be. Leonard turned to her and said," They want you to come back to the hospital." Lauren burst into tears as they headed towards the car. She knew what that meant. Her mother was dying and there was nothing she could do to save her. She had never gotten to live in a nice house or have things that money could buy her. It was all over and Lauren felt as if she could not go on.

  Chapter Twelve

  The golden rays of the morning sun shining through the living room window woke Christina. She opened her eyes and looked lovingly at Andrew, still asleep, lying next to her. She smiled contently as thoughts of last night ran through her mind. She knew in her heart that she loved him and wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. The memories of Tyler had slowly begun to fade.

  She quietly got out of bed and headed for the kitchen to put on the coffee. When she returned to the living room Andrew was sitting up.

  "Morning sunshine," he murmured sleepily. "You’re up early. Why didn't you wake me?" he asked.

  "Thought I'd let you sleep in for a change," she answered as she poured them each a cup of coffee.

  "Thanks," he replied as he sipped on the coffee. "That's the best night's sleep I've had in a long time," he said with a chuckle.

  Christina blushed like a schoolgirl. Andrew reached over and brushed back a strand of hair from her face. It had been a long time since she'd felt this contented and it showed.

  "Morning everyone," Rusty said as he waltzed into the living room, his mouth turned into an unconscious smile. His face flushed, he looked as excited as someone who had won a million dollars. Going to the coffee pot he filled his oversized cup full and sat down.

  "You look chipper this morning," Andrew said. He knew that Maureen was almost well now and that was why Rusty was looking so happy. The love was all over his face for her as Rusty was never one for hiding his feelings.

  "I'm on top of the world today. The doctor said Maureen can come home this afternoon." He was smiling like a Cheshire cat.

  "That's wonderful," Andrew exclaimed. You could see the relief in Christina's eyes. She had talked
to Maureen on the phone earlier so she already knew the good news, but she didn’t want to spoil it for Rusty. She knew they both loved each other and that marriage was imminent. She was happy for the both of them.

  "The doctor said she may be a little tired for a few weeks and that she would need plenty of rest but other than that there are no long term effects from the poisoning."

  Rusty leaned back in the chair and folded his hands behind his head. He beamed happily as he stretched his legs. Music floated across the room as the radio played some country classics. Rusty loved the old time country songs and could sing and play the guitar as well as anyone who was singing the songs according to Maureen. She loved to hear him play and sing and would beg him to play especially for her..

  "I'll fix the den up so she won't have to go up and down the stairs," Christina said making a mental note of things she would need to do today to get ready for Maureen's homecoming.

  "Should I hire a nurse or something," she asked.

  "No. She'll be fine. I'll be here to help you know," Rusty answered.

  Leonard had driven as fast as he could to get to the hospital with Lauren crying the whole time. She knew this was it. Her mother was either dead, or close to it. She was shaking by the time they reached the hospital entrance. She knew it must be bad for the hospital to call her back like that. Leonard walked solemnly by her side as they stepped on to the elevator, half running.

  "It's going to be all right," he said holding Lauren close to his side. He knew it was bad, but he didn't want her to fall to pieces, which he knew was coming.

  The door opened and they stepped outside and Lauren began running to her mother's room.