Who Am I?

by Dooley, Lena Nelson

  She looked down and noticed the deflated air bag between her chest and the steering wheel. The seat belt held her tight. She felt closed in, restricted. She unbuckled the belt and reached for the door handle. The door screeched and only opened a few inches.

  Gerome knelt beside the opening. “Leiann, are you hurt?”

  “I don’t know.” She ran her hands down both sides, then her legs. “I don’t feel any pain.”

  “Then maybe it’ll be okay to move you.” He took hold of the edge of the door and gave it a pull, scraping it across the rocky ground, widening the space enough that she might be able to slip through.

  Leiann started to swing toward the door, but there wasn’t room to get her legs and feet out.

  “Look at me, Leiann.” Gerome’s voice sounded gentler than she’d ever heard it.

  She turned her gaze toward him.

  He stared at her for a moment. “Your pupils are dilating, so you may be going into shock. Let me get my arms around your back. I’m going to extract you through this space.” He lowered his head closer to hers. “You need to trust me. Okay?”

  Leiann closed her eyes against the bright sunlight and nodded.

  “Lean forward a little.”

  When she did, his arm slid between her and the seat. He gripped her under the arms and pulled. With one shoulder, Gerome pushed harder on the door, moving it a little. Leiann relaxed, allowing him to maneuver her. As he lifted her into his muscular arms, she heard sirens.

  When the paramedics arrived, they checked Leiann thoroughly. They didn’t find anything seriously wrong with her, but they said they wanted to take her to the hospital just in case.

  “No,” she blurted out. “I don’t want to go there. Just take me home.”

  Gerome leaned close. “I think you should let them take you.”

  She stared into his chocolate brown eyes. “I had enough of hospitals before my mother died.”

  He agreed. After pulling her against his side, he walked her to his pickup. All the way, he kept asking her if she was all right. She got tired of telling him that she was okay.

  When she arrived in her room, she took a warm shower, trying to forget the frightening feelings that still gripped her. She’d always thought a Mercedes was a safe automobile. How could the brakes fail? Didn’t Grandfather say that Mr. Greene checked the cars often? Then again, the driver had said the Mercedes hadn’t been driven in a while.

  Leiann stepped out into the steamy bathroom and wrapped a fluffy bath towel around her. Though she still felt a little shaky, she was glad she hadn’t gone to the hospital. She sat on the stool and leaned her elbows on the dressing table. One more thing going wrong in her topsy-turvy world.

  She remembered crying out to God when she thought she was going to die. She wondered why she’d done that. She was pretty sure He didn’t care what happened to her. If He did, why had He let all these things occur?

  ❧

  Gerome knew Greene kept all the vehicles in tip-top shape. When Leiann told him the brakes hadn’t worked, he decided to have the car checked. The brakes shouldn’t have failed. Unless they’d been sabotaged.

  Gerome knocked on the door to Herman’s office.

  “Come in, Prudence,” the Old Man’s voice called faintly.

  After opening the door a little, Gerome stuck his head around the edge. “It’s me. I’d like to talk to you.”

  Herman rose behind his desk and leaned both hands on the top. “Come in, my boy. How can I help you?”

  “Leiann had a wreck on her way to town.”

  The Old Man frowned. “Was she hurt?”

  “I don’t think so. The paramedics checked her over and said she’d only have a few bruises.”

  “Good.” Herman’s eyes glistened. “That girl is important to me.”

  “But your car’s another story.” Gerome slid into one of the chairs in front of the desk. “It’s been banged up pretty badly. If it’s okay with you, I’d like to check it out personally.”

  “Whatever you think is best.” Herman slumped into his chair. “Gerome, I wish you’d move into your old room here in the house.”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Gerome stood, glad he’d been able to downplay the wreck enough so Herman wasn’t really worried. “Not yet anyway.” He still didn’t need anyone else to know the connection between him and his stepfather.

  Just before he got out the door, Herman called him back. “Why don’t we all go to the house on the Cape for a while? I’ll need to take Prudence along—we’re working on a special merger right now. But we won’t work all the time. Salty has been telling me he needs some help with repairs around the place. Maybe you and Eric can assist with those. Charity could come along to help take care of Leiann. What do you think?”

  Gerome took a moment to mull over the idea. “I’m sure your granddaughter would enjoy the change of scenery. When do you want to go?”

  “Day after tomorrow.” Herman stared into his eyes. “That’ll give you a day to get everything ready.”

  “Sounds good to me. I’ll have time to check out the Mercedes, too.” Gerome opened the door and started to step into the hallway.

  “Could you please send Prudence in? I need her to do some letters for me.”

  “Sure.” Gerome left Herman’s door open and knocked on the one next door. When Prudence answered, he stuck his head in to tell her what Herman had said, then headed out of the house.

  Gerome had to get the Ozbourne Global team started on the Mercedes before the group left for the Cape. He hurried toward his cottage so he could talk to Greg about it.

  ❧

  Two days later, a caravan of cars eased away from the mansion. Leiann rode in the limousine with her grandfather, Prudence, and Charity. Eric drove the Jeep, and Gerome trailed in his old pickup.

  Leiann was encouraged because her grandfather seemed in high spirits. His color was better, and he even helped load the last few things into the back of the pickup. As soon as they were under way, he started a lively conversation that captured her interest. She had dreaded going by the place where she had the wreck, but they were past it before she noticed.

  After they maneuvered the mountainous drive to Highway 117, Mr. Greene turned the limo the opposite direction from Boston.

  Leiann glanced toward her grandfather. “Don’t we have to go through Boston to get to Cape Cod?”

  He shook his head. “There are several ways we could go, but I like to miss all the traffic of the metropolitan area. We’ll be on I-495. It’s farther, but it takes less time.”

  “I guess I’ll get to see more of Massachusetts this way.” She leaned back and turned her attention out the windows.

  When they crossed the bridge over the canal at Cape Cod, Leiann didn’t see any difference between that area and much of the rest of the scenery they’d come through. “I thought I’d be able to see the beach.”

  “There’s a lot of waterfront, but the Cape consists of much more than that.” Prudence sounded like a teacher correcting a student.

  “When you look at it on the map, it looks small.”

  “I guess it would to someone from Texas.” Prudence pursed her lips into a tight, disapproving pucker.

  They traveled through several small towns before going through the gated entrance into a community of elegant homes nestled among trees. They stopped in a driveway wide enough to hold several vehicles. This house couldn’t compare to the mansion on the estate, but it was still much more than Leiann was used to. Of course, considering what she’d found out about her grandfather’s finances, maintaining two grand homes wouldn’t be a problem.

  When the vehicles stopped in a car park behind the house, a man and woman came out the back door. “Who are they?” Leiann asked.

  “Salty and Sharon Styles are my fulltime caretakers at this house.” Her grandfather got out of the car and reached back for her hand. “Come on, I’ll introduce you.”

  Herman seemed like a new man today—stro
nger somehow. Maybe the change was good for him.

  After introductions, Sharon said she had a cold lunch ready.

  “We’ll eat after we unload the vehicles.” Herman started back toward the limo, but Gerome insisted he accompany the women into the house.

  Grandfather took Leiann to a room on the second floor, where she had a view of the ocean from her windows. Charity had the room next to her. Prudence had voiced her disapproval, saying the girl should be in the servants’ quarters over the garage. Herman overruled her objection. The rooms connected with a large bathroom between. Leiann welcomed sharing the space with Charity.

  She and her maid went down to the kitchen together.

  After the meal, Eric came up behind Leiann. “Would you like to go with me in the dune buggy? We could have a lot of fun, and you’ll see more of the Cape. Salty said it’s all gassed up and ready to go.”

  At first, Leiann refused. Memories of the wreck still haunted her. But Herman encouraged her to go, insisting that she would enjoy the beach. Evidently, Gerome didn’t agree, because he watched her with a frown creasing his forehead.

  Leiann waited in the driveway while Eric went to the garage. He returned driving a bright yellow vehicle that looked like a cross between a VW Beetle and a Jeep, with two bucket seats, monster tires, and a roll bar. When Leiann saw the heavy-duty seat belts, she felt safer.

  They drove over dunes covered with tall, scraggly grass as well as bare, sandy hills, careful to skirt around boggy areas. Eric proved to be a good companion, keeping a constant flow of pleasant conversation going, and Leiann enjoyed the ride. She hadn’t been anywhere like this in Texas.

  Finally, he turned back toward the house. “It’s probably time to head home. We’ve been out here several hours.”

  “You’re kidding.” Leiann glanced at her watch, and he was right. “Do you come from here? You know your way around so well.”

  Eric laughed. “No, but Pru and I have been down here a few times.”

  After he stopped the buggy in the driveway, she turned toward him. “I had a really good time today.”

  He smiled. “I did, too. Maybe we can do some more things together while we’re at the Cape.”

  That sounded good to Leiann.

  ❧

  Every time Gerome saw Leiann over the next two days, she had plans with Eric. Prudence had actually started smiling at them. Something fishy was going on. Though he hadn’t received the full report he expected from Greg, Eric and his sister were still his prime suspects for the scheme to defraud Herman. Without solid proof, he couldn’t do anything about what was happening here at the Cape.

  Gerome didn’t see Prudence Smith much. Evidently, she had a lot of work that kept her busy.

  When he wasn’t helping Salty with the house or grounds, he spent time with Herman. They reconnected the way they had years ago when he had been a rebellious teen and his mother married Herman. They even took a walk on the beach one afternoon. As they strolled through the sand, Herman talked about the mistakes he’d made with his son and why he was just now getting to know his granddaughter. Gerome admired the strength of character his stepfather exhibited.

  Without the influence of this godly man, no telling where Gerome would be today. Probably in prison, where his biological father went shortly after he divorced Mother. Gerome had forgiven him before he died behind bars, but not until Herman helped him understand about people making mistakes and having to pay for them.

  The best thing Gerome’s mother ever did for him was marry Herman Johnson. Too bad she didn’t live long enough to know how much good it had done for her son. Ovarian cancer took her quickly. His stepfather kept him from blaming God for that, too.

  While Leiann and Eric traipsed all over the Cape, and Prudence holed up in the office working, Gerome and Herman spent a lot of time studying the Bible together. This seemed to lift the Old Man’s spirits. Gerome welcomed the change in him. Too bad his granddaughter wasn’t around to see it.

  ❧

  Eric asked Leiann to ride with him in the Jeep for the trip back to the mansion. She’d had so much fun with him the past two days that she agreed without hesitation. Her grandfather told her that if she changed her mind and wanted to spend part of the trip in the limo, she could call him on the cell phone.

  She tied her hair back with a scarf, hoping to keep it from blowing in her face, but it didn’t help. With the force of the wind created at the speeds they traveled, conversation was almost impossible.

  Partway home, the limo pulled off the interstate for a rest stop. After Leiann took her turn in the bathroom, she returned to the Jeep.

  While she waited for everyone else to get back to the vehicles, Eric took her hand. “Leiann, we’ve had a lot of fun this week, and I’ve come to care a great deal for you.”

  Although Eric’s declaration surprised her, she realized that the idea pleased her. She gave him her sweetest smile. “I like you a lot, too.”

  “I was hoping you’d say that.” He leaned closer. “This will probably sound awfully sudden, but, well, what can I say? I’m a spontaneous kind of guy.” He dropped a quick kiss on her cheek. “Leiann, I’d like very much to marry you.”

  Her eyes widened. Had he really said that? She’d begun to think of him as a good friend, but the idea of a romance with him hadn’t occurred to her. And quite frankly, it didn’t particularly interest her.

  She tugged her hand back into her lap. “We’ve only known each other for a few days.”

  He cupped her cheek with one hand, but she pulled back.

  “Too much is going on in my life for me to consider anything romantic right now.”

  “Would you at least think about it?” The earnest expression in his eyes pleaded with her.

  Leiann turned her gaze from his, noticing that the others were returning to their vehicles. She opened the door of the Jeep. “I think I’ll join Grandfather in the limo.” She didn’t look back to see how he took her rejection.

  ❧

  The next evening, Gerome stepped out of his cottage to go for a walk. Charity approached with a message from Herman. When she left, he opened the envelope. After quickly reading the note, he hurried toward the house. Herman hadn’t asked him to come to his private suite since he’d returned to Massachusetts. Gerome went to the Old Man as quickly as he could.

  He’d just received notification from the guys at Ozbourne Global Security’s garage that someone had tampered with the brakes on the Mercedes. He’d asked Greg to get a complete report as soon as possible. Surely no one would try to hurt the Old Man physically, but Gerome couldn’t be sure.

  After a quick knock, he opened the door to the bedroom suite. Herman sat in one of the easy chairs beside the couch. Gerome took the other chair. “What can I do for you?”

  Herman smiled. “You’re a good boy, Jerry. Oh, I know, you don’t like to be called that, but you’ll always be Jerry to me.”

  “I don’t mind it so much coming from you.” He grinned.

  “Jerry, I want you to drive me to church tomorrow. Forrest’s daughter is having a baby in Boston, so I told him to take his wife and go be with her. I knew he wanted to.”

  “You’re such an old softie.”

  “Don’t tell anyone. Can’t have information like that getting around, ruining my reputation.” He chuckled. “So, how about it?”

  “Of course I’ll drive you. I’ve been having a worship time in my cottage on Sundays, but it’ll be good to fellowship with other believers again. What time do we need to leave?”

  Herman thought for a moment. “If we start by ten, we’ll get there in plenty of time for the eleven o’clock service.”

  “Ten it is.” Gerome stood and started toward the door, then turned back. “Will Leiann be going with us?”

  A frown covered the Old Man’s face. “She hasn’t gone to church since she’s been here. I always give her the option of accompanying me. She’s turned me down every time. I haven’t wanted to push with everything th
at’s happened to her. But I’ve been praying for her. I’ll invite her again this week. Maybe this time she’ll say yes.”

  “We can hope so,” Gerome agreed before he left Herman.

  While Gerome walked to his cottage, he pondered this new information. The reports he’d received from Greg said that Leiann’s stepfather had been a preacher and she’d been active in her church in Texas. He’d always tried to go to church wherever he was. He wondered why she didn’t.

  Another thing kept bothering him. Why were she and Eric so chummy?

  Nine

  Just before Gerome arrived at his cottage, his cell phone vibrated. He pulled it from his pocket. “Mays here.”

  “You were right.” Greg sounded serious.

  “About what?” Gerome stepped inside and closed the door behind him.

  “The car.” He heard Greg shuffling papers, then clicking a few computer keys. “Sorry we couldn’t check it right away. Most of the team was called away for an emergency.”

  “So get to the point.” Gerome hurried across the carpeted floor and dropped into the chair beside the desk. He knew he sounded impatient, but he didn’t care. Enough of this chitchat.

  “Whoever did this was clever. The way the line was rigged, it wouldn’t leak until quite a bit of pressure was placed on the brakes, more than what would happen in regular driving. That kept any brake fluid from leaking onto the garage floor.”

  Gerome rubbed the back of his neck. The long, hilly drive from the house to the highway would require a driver to use the brake a lot. “Is there any way to tell who did it? Were there any prints?”

  “Not a one.”

  “Thanks.” Gerome flipped his phone shut and laid it on the table.

  He shucked off his clothes and stepped into his favorite ratty jeans, then stretched a snug red T-shirt over his torso. He could hardly wait to get to his favorite place to spend time with God under the stars.

  He struck out toward a copse of trees several yards behind his cottage. Soon after he arrived at the estate, he’d used his free time to throw together a bench between two large elms.

  He sat on one end of the seat and leaned back against the tree trunk. After meditating on the Bible verses he’d read that morning, his mind roamed over the events of the last few days.