Claiming Amelia

by Jessica Blake

  “Yes! I ask him about it all the time!” She was crying openly now. I could literally see the guilt pouring out of her wretched mouth.

  “And what did he say?”

  “He said he just wasn’t attracted to me any longer.”

  “Did your husband say why?” I was going for her throat.

  “A woman my age can’t keep her girlish figure forever, you know. So what if I’ve put on a few pounds? He wouldn’t say that was it, but I knew. I’m so miserable, doctor,” she cried.

  “Yes, I can see that.” I observed her dramatics. “Were your husband and his mother close?” I pushed again.

  She looked up with a quizzical look on her face. “How did you know? Yes, yes they are. David didn’t want her to move, but she was too much to handle.” The tears had turned off immediately and the pretense had disappeared.

  “Would you like my advice, Mrs. Jessup?” I waited, letting the silence lengthen until she nodded. “Very well, and you may not entirely like it. It is my opinion that the only reason you’re here is due to your unhappy marriage. I believe, Mrs. Jessup, that you have the ability to set things right again. I believe Mr. Jessup is probably suffering from guilt for placing his mother in a home.”

  I held up a hand when it seemed she was about to interrupt.

  “This may have given him performance issues,” I went on. “Impotence is often a strong indication of guilt. I would suggest that your husband be allowed to minimize that guilt by doing something special for his mother to make up for the abandonment. He should look for opportunities to do that. As for you, perhaps you could feel better about yourself if you set up an appointment with a personal health and fitness assistant.”

  Her mouth opened. “Wha—?”

  I didn’t give her time to finish, just bulldozed over her. “They’re quite the rage now, among our set. My receptionist can give you the name of someone on your way out. I don’t believe we’re serving any further purpose here, Mrs. Jessup. Why not give the assistant a try? I believe that will resolve all your issues… completely.” I emphasized this last. I knew by including her in “our set” she felt the rush of snobbery it would take to agree to my plan. That was fine. Our set was hardly anything to brag about.

  The bitch agreed and stood up to leave. “Thank you so much, doctor,” she said, wiping her eyes one last time for effect. “You’ve saved my marriage,” she claimed and left my office.

  I scoffed at her pitiful exit. Her problems were simple: she was a bitch, she maneuvered her husband into taking the old lady’s money and then sent her to a pit, she was fat and over-pampered, and the one thing she could do nothing about was that her husband would never bed her. After all, she’d found his panties.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Auggie

  “I want to talk to you, Auggie,” it began again. I rolled my eyes.

  “Yes, Mother, what is it?”

  “You were out all night.”

  “I was? Huh… I had no idea.”

  “Don’t get smart with me, young lady.” Her voice was condescending and that always pushed my buttons.

  “Mother, I don’t think there’ll ever be any danger of my being smarter than you.” I pushed one of hers.

  “You cannot behave this way, Auggie. This simply isn’t done. What will people think?”

  “Well, Mother,” I sat down on the stool at the breakfast bar and took my time stirring my coffee, “no one will ever know unless you make it your business to tell them. Secondly, why don’t you tell me how it’s done so I’ll know for the future.”

  Her face went white. For some reason, this stopped her tirade dead in its track. I wondered if she had already told someone. I left the kitchen and passed my father on the way up to my room.

  “Bit fancy for the morning, don’t you think, Auggie?” He was referring to my dress from the date last night. His eyes sparkled, and I could see he was championing me as long as it was out of earshot from Mother.

  “Hello, Dad. Sleeping in?” I countered and he grinned. We both knew he enjoyed an hour or two of solitude after Mother rose each morning. I felt for him and the hell he must endure. “Dad? I’d like to talk about something with you. I’m going to hop into the shower and change and then grab a nap. Can we go for a ride, maybe about three?”

  “Of course.” He leaned to kiss me on the cheek. “See you out there.” He seemed pleasantly surprised and I knew that I was the only thing that stood between him and that hell.

  A few hours later, we were riding the trails. I was up on Carlos and Dad was riding Trigger, an older horse retired from events.

  “Did you have a good time last night, princess?” he asked in a genial voice.

  “He’s wonderful, Dad. He doesn’t care what people think and flaunts everything that has imprisoned me my whole life. I want to be more like him,” I gushed.

  “Be careful, princess. He comes from good family roots, but his father isn’t someone to cross. He’s a powerful man, a bit unprincipled from time to time but human enough. Take it slow and be sure you meet his family so you know what you’re getting into.”

  I loved the way Dad treated me. He didn’t tell me what to do, he just supplied me with hints of directions and let me discover the big picture on my own. That was called respect.

  I told Dad about the situation with Mrs. Jessup and the talk Worth and I had about it. “He thinks I could start a sort of foundation to benefit the residents there to add improvements to make their life better, you know? Maybe I could even get Mrs. Jessup a dialysis machine so she wouldn’t have to leave every other day for the clinic.”

  “Auggie, is this my daughter I’m speaking to?” his voice lilted with humor.

  “What do you mean?”

  “This is the first time I’ve ever heard you worry about anything more than the next event or whether you had just the right dress in your wardrobe.”

  “Do you really think I’m that shallow, Dad?” I was disappointed.

  “I believe you’re proving me wrong as we speak,” he allowed and nodded in approval. “Anything I can do to help?”

  I reined Carlos to a stop and slid off, tying him to a tree. Dad followed suit. I went to sit beneath a tree, my hands playing with the leaves that had already fallen like a colorful skirt around its base. “I was hoping you’d do just that, Dad,” He knelt and began breaking fallen twigs, the sound punctuating the stillness that lay about us. I could tell he enjoyed the quiet. It was such a deviation from the shrill, anxious atmosphere in the house. “I will be looking to get donations, especially from the people you and Mother know. After all, they know Mrs. Jessup and would be more open to helping her out.”

  “Have you talked to your Mother about this?”

  “No, not yet. She would only discourage me.”

  He tossed a broken twig aside. “Good. For now, why don’t you keep this just between us?”

  “Is there a reason, Dad?”

  “No… no… would just be nice to have something only the two of us share.” I knew he really meant it would be nice not to need Mother’s approval for every footstep or dollar.

  “Deal. Thanks, Dad.” We sat there for some time, watching the afternoon slide toward the evening. It was growing cooler and getting dark earlier and the smells of autumn were beginning to waft in about sunset. This saddened me for it meant a break when I couldn’t ride Carlos.

  Dad understood this, and me. “Our winter project,” he commented before going back up on Trigger. “Coming?” he asked.

  “I’ll be along shortly,” I said, wanting a few minutes to think about Worth without my dad so close.

  I watched Dad ride down the trail and my cell rang. It was Worth.

  “What are you doing?” he asked.

  “Right now? I’m sitting in the woods and watching the sun set. Dad and I went for a ride and he just left. How about you?”

  “I’m in my car, headed home and can’t get you out of my head. Have you bewitched me?”

  I turne
d my face to the sky, warmed by his words. “Geez, this doesn’t sound like you.”

  “Why not?”

  “You sound all sappy, not your normally uncharismatic self,” I teased him.

  “Uncharismatic, am I? I believe there are a few ladies who might disagree with you on that count.”

  “I really don’t want to hear about them, you know,” I said sternly.

  “In the past. Listen, are you up for a movie or something?”

  I smiled to myself. “What sort of something?”

  His voice grew lower, deeper. “Whatever you’d like. I’m putty in your hands.”

  “You didn’t feel like putty,” I said slyly.

  “Listen to you! Where’s my sweet, innocent Auggie?”

  “This is goofy. I feel like I’m fifteen,” I giggled.

  “Hardly. Seriously, I’d like to talk to you about the idea we were throwing around this morning. I can come get you or we can meet.”

  I thought a moment. “I’m in my riding clothes and have to put Carlos away. Why don’t I meet you at the Chopstick on Hurstbourne in about an hour? You can buy me dinner since I haven’t eaten.”

  “I’ll see you there. I’ll be the guy with the goofy grin.”

  I hung up and felt goofy myself. Carlos got a hurried brush down and I jumped back into the shower before throwing on some jeans and a pale yellow, cropped sweater with seed pearls around the low neckline. Sure enough, Worth was waiting for me when I reached the Chopstick and I ordered beef and vegetables. He was very attentive and I realized how much I’d missed him during the day. “This is good,” I said. My reference had nothing to do with the food.

  “I know,” he said, understanding my meaning completely. “I was thinking the same thing.”

  “So, what was it you wanted to talk about?” I stabbed a bit of broccoli with my fork.

  “Have you given any more thought to that charitable foundation for the nursing home?” he asked me.

  “Well… as a matter of fact, not only have I thought about it, but I talked to Dad and he agreed to help by making the contacts among his friends. Actually, I’m quite sure I’m going to do this. It just feels right.”

  “Really?” he asked. “Well, I have your first victim.”

  “Victim?”

  “The first person to solicit contributions from. Mrs. Jessup’s son, David.”

  I cocked my head, not understanding what he was getting to. “I don’t understand.”

  “Just call him. I have a feeling you’ll find him quite helpful.”

  “Why? He and his wife put her there in the first place. Why would he want to let go of part of that money to help?”

  “I can’t tell you, just do as you’re told. Don’t use my name.” He was being mysterious.

  I narrowed my eyes at him. “Well, I’m not going to approach him unless you let me know why he would have a change of heart. I don’t want to look like a fool.”

  “You won’t, take my word for it. He will welcome it with open arms.”

  I put down my fork. “What have you done?” I asked with suspicion.

  He stopped eating and reached across the table to take my hand. “Auggie, listen to me. There are things I cannot talk about, you know this. You’ll have to get used to that fact and not question me about every little thing I tell you. Just trust me. Can you do that?” He seemed as though this was critical.

  I thought a moment and answered, “Yes, I suppose I don’t have any choice.”

  “That’s not what I said, Auggie. I didn’t ask if you would trust me, I asked if you could.”

  I nodded and went around the table to kiss him quickly. This seemed to relieve whatever apprehensions he was feeling and he smiled. “Good,” he said and went back to eating.

  “So, you’re really not going to tell me what this is all about?” I asked.

  “That’s right.”

  “You wouldn’t set me up to get embarrassed, would you?”

  His fork clattered to the table. “Auggie, I’m sensing a trust issue here. Do you think I would set you up?”

  “Look,” I began. “You need to understand something about me. I might appear to be a spoiled brat and all, but I go by the rules. It’s important to me. In fact, it’s the only way I know how to be.”

  “I know that. It’s what attracts me. I’m bothered that you would think I would intentionally cause you harm.” His voice was hurt.

  “I’m not sure your definition of following rules and mine are the same, Worth.” I was upset.

  “Where is this coming from, Auggie?” he asked and leaned back in his chair. “I thought you’d appreciate the tip. I didn’t expect to be attacked for my character.” He wasn’t happy.

  I sat back in the chair too and crossed my arms over my chest. “You’re right. That wasn’t fair. I apologize.” He continued to stare at me and I needed to get out. “I’m full. Thanks for dinner, and for the tip, but I’m heading home now.” I stood up and laid my napkin on my plate. “Goodnight, Worth,” I said softly and, grabbing my bag, left the restaurant.

  I cried all the way home and sat in the driveway to finish it off. What is wrong with me?

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Worth

  I knew I was playing with fire telling Auggie to contact Jessup. It wasn’t so much Jessup I cared about, but Auggie walked a narrow line, one with which I wasn’t so familiar. If anything, the lines I’ve walked in my life have been anything but straight.

  I went into the office early and noticed that Jervis’ car was in the parking lot. There was no way to know whether he’d never gone home, or whether he was in even earlier than me. I decided I really didn’t care and went into my office. As it turned out, I was to learn shortly. A tap on my door was the only announcement he gave me.

  I looked up to see Jervis standing in the doorway. “You’ve been avoiding me,” I said calmly. At least he had the grace to flush a bit and clear his throat.

  “I thought we should talk,” he began.

  “Oh? Really? What about?” I wasn’t going to make this easy for him.

  “I, ah, well, you know there was that incident…” he faltered in his words.

  “Yes.” A simple response that leaned in neither direction.

  “Well… that is… I’m not sure if you know who that was in my office.” He was begging for me to fill in the blanks so he wouldn’t have to spill more than he needed to.

  “I’m aware,” I answered.

  “Good,” he said and took a seat, crossing one leg over the other in a gesture of defense. This was not lost on me.

  “What can I do for you?” I put him on high alert.

  “I had a phone call late last night, from the lady in question,” he began.

  I only raised my brows. “I’m not sure how that involves me.” I gave him no toe hold.

  “You’re seeing her daughter.”

  “I still don’t see how this involves me,” I repeated.

  “She doesn’t want you to,” he stuttered and looked down.

  “I see.” I tapped a button and music filled the office, making his predicament insignificant and giving the overall message that I was in control. Chopin spilled into the room, weaving around the furniture from hidden speakers, giving an illusory effect of floating.

  “That’s all you’re going to say? ‘I see?’” he questioned.

  “Yes.”

  “Look here, my boy…” he began.

  “Dr. LaViere,” I corrected. I was strangling him.

  “Worth, Auggie was a patient here. It’s against our ethics.”

  “Dr. Jervis,” I emphasized his title. “Her mother sent her and there was nothing wrong with her. Anyway, I believe the key word here is ‘was’ and now that she no longer is, that ethic is not being broken. Will there be anything else? I have a patient coming shortly and need to prepare for my day.”

  He looked like a man who’d been abandoned on a climb to the summit. “Will you stop seeing her?” he finally asked blun
tly.

  “That’s my personal life. We’re professionals and that’s where it ends. Have I made my point?” I laid down the law.

  “So, you will stop seeing her?” he tried once more.

  I simply stared at him and then at the door. He finally got the message and I could see the sheen of sweat on his upper lip, even in the cool of the early morning air conditioning.

  “Yes… well,” he said, resigned to the realization that our conversation had come to an unsuccessful end. He stood and walked toward the door.

  “Jervis,” I said, stopping him cold before he left.

  “Yes?” he turned around, hope all over his face.

  “You are not to discuss Auggie or me with her mother, father or any goddamned body ever again. Do I make myself clear?” My voice was cold and completely clear, and he knew he stood in far deeper hazardous waste than he’d ever realized.

  “Of course, yes, I understand,” he mumbled and left.

  I suspected that Jervis had dirtied his hands on more than one occasion. He was an idiot, for all his education, and spineless as a jellyfish. I knew he was into my father for a handsome amount as his practice began to fail through incompetence and undoubtedly his little habit of spending afternoons at the track. I knew without question that’s why I had the office I had, but this meant nothing to me. I would have only opened my own and most likely still would. Jervis just had the setup already and it saved me some trouble. I doubted my father was the only one holding a marker for Jervis. His kind weren’t survivors.

  For the moment, my thoughts went back to the preceding night and the discussion, a/k/a argument, between Auggie and myself. I was disappointed when she’d left so suddenly. She was going to ground, retreating when flustered and unhappy with not being able to break me, as she did her horses. Obviously, there was no way I should share the conversation between the bitch Jessup and myself, and Auggie should have known this. She should trust me enough to realize I was trying to help her. I was pissed that she didn’t, but, more importantly, wondered why that was? Did it have to do with me, or with something on her side of the circuit board?