by Tey Holden
While staying on the island, one night, Alex began to cry. This was unusual because she slept most of the night. The women ran to her. The minute Addy picked her up she knew that Alex was running a fever. “She’s warm, Ker. I think she has a fever. Get the thermometer, and that ear thing.” A worried Karen came back within two seconds with the requested items. Alex had a fever of 102 degrees. “We need to give her some Tylenol.” Again, Karen ran and brought the medicine back. Addy knew all the mishaps of childhood, so she always had her Tylenol, Benadryl and other common over the counter medications both in the child and adult versions on hand. Addy was always prepared. She even had an otoscope to look into Alex’s ears. She knew very well how a healthy ear looked versus a sick one. Years of experience with Laurie had served her well. Karen brought it with her also.
Addy looked into Alex’s ears and saw it. “She has an ear infection.”
“How can you tell?”
“Look at this ear.” Karen did, it was the good ear. “Do you see how the light reflects at the end of the ear canal?”
“Yes.”
“That’s how a good ear looks. Now look at the other one?”
“No light reflection. In fact, it looks kind of red.”
“Ear infection.”
“What do we do?”
“Tonight, we give her Tylenol for pain and see if we can get her to sleep. Tomorrow we take her to the doctor for an antibiotic.”
“Okay. Here’s the Tylenol. I’m looking at the instructions for the right dose. Okay, here it is. How do we do this?”
“Put the dropper in her mouth and squeeze it slowly.”
Alex had been fussy dealing with her discomfort. She kept rubbing her face into Addy’s chest. Addy positioned her on her lap and held her hands so that Karen could insert the dropper in her mouth. Alex was not happy and the minute she felt the Tylenol in her mouth, she spat all of the medicine right into Karen’s face.
“Shit! This kid! Now what?”
Addy laughed. “Go get cleaned up. We are going to try this differently since our warrior princess here is putting up a fight.” Karen came back from the bathroom and Addy handed the little one to her. “Hold her hands.”
When her hands were restrained, Alex put up a bigger fight. She was hurting and not happy about the junk the moms were stuffing down her mouth. She also hated being held down. Battle and all, Addy pressed her cheeks and managed to hold the dropper in just enough to squeeze the liquid inside her mouth. Unable to spit it because her cheeks were pressed, Alex had to swallow it. Addy immediately stuck a bottle of apple juice in her mouth to help her wash the liquid down. Alex still tried to spit out the apple juice and even gagged, but in the end, she swallowed the medication when she realized that the apple juice was good and began to suck harder and drank it all. As she drank, she stopped crying and fell asleep.
Karen was still holding her. “Wow! We have a feisty one.”
Addy smiled. “Yes, she’s not an easy patient for sure, just like her mom.”
Karen looked at her daughter and smiled. “Let me see if she doesn’t wake up when I lay her down.”
“I hope not, I’m exhausted.” The following morning, they took Alex to the local pediatrician, and she prescribed amoxicillin. When it was time to administer the medication, Karen handed the medication bottle to Addy. Addy smiled, “Alexandra, I think Mommy Karen is afraid of you.”
“Ha, ha.” She took the baby in her arms and positioned her for Addy to administer the dose with the dropper. To everyone’s surprise, Alex, although a bit apprehensive at first, did not make a fuss and took the medication very well. Apparently, it had a nice fruity flavor, which she liked.
“Well, what do we know? Looks like this one is going down better.” Just the same, Addy immediately placed the apple juice in her mouth and Alex washed down the medication with it. Later that day, when it was time for the next dose of the medication, Karen decided that she would give it a try. When Addy saw Karen with her sunglasses on, she started to laugh. “Don’t laugh! If I had a welder’s mask, I’d be wearing it! This little brat has spat on me enough times already. You wouldn’t believe all the places where I had Tylenol last night! Ms. Fussy is not getting me anymore.” Alex once again took the medication very well. This time very amused looking at her mom’s sunglasses. It didn’t take very long for Alex to recuperate and be her old self.
On their third week on the island, the National Weather Service reported a hurricane approaching. The projection was that, if it continued on its current path, it would go right through the island. The hurricane was expected within the next three days.
“Ker, this is not good.”
The security freak in Karen immediately kicked in. “Addy, I think we should pack and leave, our time here is almost up anyways. If it was just you and I, I wouldn’t mind staying, but with Alex it’s a different story. We don’t know anything about this house or how this island responds to emergencies. Everyone here is pretty easy-going and relaxed, and I haven’t seen any emergency preparations. Can you imagine being without power and drinking water for days with a baby?” Addy loved Karen’s sense of planning and preparedness because she was like that as well. So, now it was a great relief for her not to have to worry about certain matters because she knew Karen was already taking care of those things.
Addy raised her eyebrows. “I’m on it, babe, we are out of here. Make the travel arrangements with the pilot. I’ll start packing.” Karen took immediate action and made the arrangements. The plan was to leave the next day at two in the afternoon. However, that evening, the pilot called and suggested leaving as soon as possible because the most recent weather report placed the hurricane closer and the weather was expected to deteriorate fast.
“Addy, let’s pack our bags, everything else stays. We have to be at the airport at seven tonight.”
“What? I thought you said tomorrow at two?”
“The pilot just called and suggested leaving early. He doesn’t want to take any chances. I told him we would be there by seven.”
Both women got busy packing. “That doesn’t give us much time! We need to notify the real estate office. How about the house keys, what do we do about that?”
“I’ll phone them from the airport and tell them that we left them inside the house. Keep moving!”
By six they were already in the car heading for the airport. Karen had the baby hanging from her chest in a nap sack. They had three bags with them and nothing else. They boarded the plane and at exactly seven they were taking off.
Once on the plane, Alex fell asleep. “You are right, if we build here, it’s going to have to be a hurricane-proof house.” Addy commented.
“Don’t you worry about that, baby, it’ll be a bunker! I’ll make sure that we survive anything there.”
Addy smiled leaning back on her chair. I love my maniac! She was sure that by the time they arrived home, Karen would have had a complete blueprint plan for their bunker/beach house in her head. I like that name!
“Ker? How about if we call the beach house ‘the bunker’?”
Karen’s eyes were closed and her head was leaned back on the seat. She chuckled. “I like it. Good name, Addypooh.”
Addy again closed her eyes and smiled. Karen leaned over and kissed her. When Addy felt the warm lips on hers she smiled and opened her eyes.
Karen grinned. “Laugh and call me a nut case, but I’ll have you both safe at whatever cost!”
“What? Did I say anything?”
“Nope, but you were thinking it!”
Addy grinned because it was as if Karen had read her mind. “Now that you are into mind reading, I’ll have to be more careful with my thoughts. Plus, the fact that I didn’t say anything clearly means that I don’t object to your craziness, just like you don’t to mine, most of the times, anyway.”
“Mind reading? Addypooh, I don’t have to read your mind to know what you are thinking! I know what you will think even before you think of it! That’s
how well I know you!”
Addy wiggled her nose, making one of her funny faces.
“Cute, too cute!” Addy closed her eyes, still smiling knowing that Karen was watching her.
“Don’t try and pull anything here, Larsen. I can also anticipate your thoughts! The pilots are too close.”
Karen laughed. “I’m not that crazy!”
Addy again opened her eyes, this time raising one eyebrow. “Who are you trying to fool?”
Karen grinned.
Part 12
Soon after Alex mastered the art of crawling, she began to stand up. She started pulling herself up in her crib, then in her playpen and then holding on to any piece of furniture while crawling around the floor, this all happened around the eight month.
Even though the entire cottage was child proof for safety, they never underestimated Alex’s capabilities. She was too smart, and that had served them well so far.
One of Alex’s characteristics was how fast she was when crawling. In the blink of an eye, she could take off and disappear. On one occasion she was with Addy upstairs ready to come down to the kitchen where Karen was setting up the table for dinner. Addy set Alex on the center of the bed to put on her shoes. Alex got off the bed and by the time that Addy heard the ruffle of the bedspread, Alex was already on the way out the bedroom door. Addy immediately yelled in panic while she ran out of the bedroom, “Ker! Run to the stairs!” The minute she ran out of the bedroom, her fear was confirmed. Alex sat at the top of the stairs.
Drooling all over herself, Alex smiled mischievously, the minute she saw Addy. It was as if she knew she had fooled her mom once again and sat at the edge of the stairs triumphantly. Her gorgeous green eyes sparkled, as she smiled and waved her hands in the air. Addy froze and her heart sank as she imagined her bundle of joy rolling down the staircase. “Oh my God!” Addy yelled in panic.
“I’m here Addy, just don’t scare her. She’ll be fine.” Karen was at the base of the stairs, going up one step at a time, waiting to see what the little one would do. Masterfully, she turned and hanging on to the step above she lowered her diapered butt to the lower step. Addy’s heart stopped, Karen rushed up to meet her, but Alex was already down three steps by the time Karen caught up with her. Karen scooped her up and when she raised her eyes, she found Addy still petrified sitting on a step. Karen sat on the same step and put her arm around her. “She’s fine.”
“She’s going to kill me!”
“Alexandra, did you hear that? You can’t continue to do that stuff.” When Karen looked up, she found Addy still petrified. Karen tightened her arm around Addy. “Mommy Addy, you are going to have to toughen up. I think raising this little tyke will be like being inside a hurricane.” Karen grinned. “Come on, let’s have some dinner.” Karen kissed her.
“I think my heart stopped.”
“Little girl, look what you did! You scared Mommy Addy to death! Don’t do that anymore, okay?” Alex kept smiling and grabbed Addy’s hair while she was still in Karen’s arm.
Addy couldn’t help but smile, amidst her nerves. “I don’t know if I’m going to live through this one. She’s more than I bargained for, and I’m too old for this!”
“Oh no! Don’t give me that shit now! You were the one who said we were still young. What about all that biblical stuff you pulled on me? You hang in there and weather this storm with me!”
Addy shook her head, held the little one and kissed her. “I’m good on my word, Mommy Karen. Come on, Little Bit, let’s get you ready for dinner.”
After dinner, they settled in the living room to read. The three of them sat in the recliner love seat. The little one lay on Karen’s lap holding her milk bottle to her mouth and drinking it while looking at Karen with her huge green eyes. Addy was reclined on the love seat also, but leaning into Karen’s shoulder with Karen’s arm over her shoulder. She was working on a Sudoku puzzle. Karen smiled as she contemplated the green eyes staring at her from her lap while caressing Addy’ shoulder with her other hand. She thought she was the happiest woman on earth. Addy looked up when she felt Karen’s kiss on her head. They smiled at each other and kissed. Then the bundle of joy decided that she too wanted to partake in the loving scene and dropped her bottle and sat up climbing all over Karen and heading to Addy.
“Whoa! Slow down, little one. Ouch! She just stuck her foot in my crotch. Her feet are like little swords!”
“Come here, little Viking, come with Mommy Addy.” Addy sat her on her lap, grabbed her little hands, and started to play patty-cake with her. Alex began to laugh out loud, and Addy kissed her. Addy saw Karen beaming. “Does Mommy Karen need some kissing too?”
Karen hugged the two of them. “Always. I love to watch you play with her. I could just sit here and watch the two of you all day long.”
“Hum! What do we say to that Alexandra?” Alex was still jumping on Addy’s lap.
***
At exactly nine months, Alex began to take her first steps holding on to the furniture. The moms watched in amazement. Both women were on the floor a few feet away from her. When Alex saw her two overjoyed admirers, she smiled, turned and took off towards them. The moms yelled enthusiastically to encourage her. When Alex landed in Karen’s arms, she was in tears.
“Ker, we scared her with our screams. Baby, baby come here, it’s okay.” After kissing her daughter, Karen handed the teary, drooly one to Addy.
“My goodness, she’s soaked. Let me go get another bib and shirt for her.” Alex was teething and was constantly drooling. They spent half the time wiping her mouth and changing her bibs, which most of the time, she managed to either pull out or dislodged so that the bib was rarely where it was supposed to be to accomplish its mission. She didn’t like wearing them, and she had figured out how to get them out of her way. The same thing happened with her shoes and socks, there was always one missing. Not to mention how she sometime unclasped her diaper and ended up naked.
“This girl is going to be a nudist someday. She always wants to be barefooted and half-naked.”
“Well, on the wanting to be naked part, the mother genes were the dominant ones. That’s a no-brainer!”
“Ha, ha!”
Addy chuckled, came close to Karen, and whispered in her ear, “nudist!” Karen grinned.
***
One evening while playing with her daughter, Karen’s phone rang. “Hi Phillip, how are you? We are fine. What’s going on?”
“Karen, I’d like to talk to you and Addy if you guys are available. But I must first tell you that most of all I need your most strict confidentiality on this matter.”
“Okay, you got my attention. Let me get Addy. She’s right here.”
Karen explained to Addy what Phillip had just said. Addy shrugged, “sure, put him on.”
“Okay, Phillip we have you on the speaker phone.”
Pleasantries were exchanged between Phillip and Addy, and then he began the conversation.
“First of all, let me ask you this, is there anyone else in the room with you other than the baby, of course?”
Addy replied. “No Phil, just the two of us and Alex.”
“Is this a bad time? I can call some other time.”
“No, it’s a good time, go ahead.” Addy replied.
“Okay, my friends, I need your help now, your legal help and friendly support.”
Worried by Phillips serious tone, this time it was Karen who spoke. “What’s going on Phillip?”
“There are some irregularities, of financial nature going on at the firm, and I need your advice.” Karen and Addy looked at each other, as he continued to explain. “There are a series of accounts that I believe are bogus. I brought it up at our last partners’ meeting and I was brushed off. It was as if certain people didn’t want the subject touched, and the conversation immediately shifted to other matters.”
“What kind of accounts?”
“Receivables, from unknown sources. At least, I can’t match them to anything.”
“Why are you concerned?”
“There are also disbursements that don’t match up. In short, there’s money coming in from unknown sources and going out to unrelated accounts. This seems to be ongoing.”
“Who’s handling these accounts?”
“Three of the partners.”
“Shit!”
“Were they present at that meeting where you raised the matter?” Karen asked
“Yes.”
“How high in the command chain are we talking about?” Again, Karen pressed for answers. This was a firm where she had been a partner in the USA and she knew all the partners in all the offices.
“At the very top.”
“Wow! I’m shocked.” Karen confessed.
“Do you suspect fraudulent transactions?” This time it was Addy, probably stating the obvious, but she believed in leaving no room for doubt.
“Yes. This is a grave situation. You guys have been out of the hornets’ nest for a while, but I’m in the middle of this, and I don’t know what to do. If I quit, and they get caught on something illegal, they might use me as their scapegoat. I can’t blow the whistle, unless I don’t have proof. I see no alternative but to stay, investigate, report, and let the shit come down.”
Addy raised her eyebrows. She had never heard the very proper Phillip utter anything near a bad word. Karen pursed her lips. “Phillip, it seems that you have already set your course of action. What do you need from us?”
“I need you to help me investigate and figure this out. Whatever this is, it has probably been done very well to have gone undetected for so long. I need a bright financial mind to figure this out, Karen, and that’s where you come in. This involves fund mergers and probably violations of regulatory laws.”
“How can I help you from here? I don’t think you should be sending any documents over the Internet.” It was then that both women looked at each other, knowing that the question was obviously rhetorical. Phillip didn’t answer. The fact that he needed Karen in Edinburgh was obvious and it was probably the reason he had wanted Addy on the phone line when presenting the situation. “Phillip let me think about how to handle this, and I’ll call you tomorrow. Don’t worry, we will get to the bottom of this matter.”