Distance of the Heart

by Agnes H Hagadus

  By now, Abby had managed to catch her breath. While she had returned to form fairly easily after having her daughter, she was still easily winded. Moving some of the equipment had made her realize how both she and Sam needed to take care of their bodies. So they could be there longer for their children. And to take advantage of the other’s stamina. “I’m listening.”

  “I know I told you about how flirty I’ve become. Yet when someone flirts with me, I feel like running scared.” Emily sat back. Her fruit salad had been consumed and her stomach was beginning to ache. It was because of how she felt like she was cheating on Tabby. Even winking at the waitress made her feel this way.

  What about Lena? It was the real reason for the phone call. And she needed to get it off her chest before anything or anyone interrupted her. “Remember that cook?” Emily continued. She needed to not be a coward. If she at least told Abby and her uncle about the situation, her bases would hopefully be covered.

  There was the other person Emily needed to discuss it with. Hopefully this weekend would be soon enough. Or maybe Abby could broach the subject. “I’m at a diner. She walked in at the same time. She acted as if we had a date for breakfast. When I told her I wanted to be alone, she changed her tune. Even mentioned how I was going to be with ‘her’.”

  “Not good.” Abby had motioned to her wife. If anyone knew how to handle a similar situation, it was Sam. While the former detective had not handled the situation perfectly, she was the one who had moved because of a stalker. Hopefully Sam would have picked up a new trick or two. “Let me put tall, dark and dangerous on the phone. She knows about these things better than I do.”

  The nickname caused Emily to laugh. It caused her to relax quite a bit. Merely talking to her best friend did that. “So what’s the skinny? You are receiving unwanted attention?” Emily simply said yes. “I won’t ask if you encouraged it. Even knowing you and how flirty and easygoing you are, when someone is a stalker or has obsessive compulsive disorder, they will use any excuse to get close to you.”

  “Thanks, Dangerous.” Emily heard the chuckle on the other end. She knew what Sam had said was true. It was the part about being flirty that the therapist held onto. It was true. There was something about her that loved to make people smile. Her winks, most of the time, had nothing to do with romantic liaisons. The only thing it was meant was to brighten someone’s day.

  “Sorry. If it makes you feel better, Abby just elbowed me in the ribs.” Emily laughed, causing several of the restaurant patrons to look at her. She ignored the looks. She didn’t want to ruin the somewhat good mood her best friend and her wife were helping her to achieve. “On a more serious note, my best advice is to attempt not to be alone with her.”

  “I’d also recommend you password protect your phone and laptop, if you haven’t already.” Sam kissed her wife on the cheek after she handed her a printout. “Let me guess, the cook’s name is Lena Emerson. After all, Mitch just sent me about a dozen pages on her asking me to do a more thorough search on her.” The former detective hastily scanned the pages. “Nothing stands out. I’ll make this my top priority.”

  “I appreciate that. Will you tell your better half that I might be coming back for Saturday and Sunday? I don’t have any meetings until next Thursday.” Emily sighed heavily. “I think Mother has done this on purpose. She’s making it more difficult than it has to be. But I’ll deal with her. I hope I deal with Lena as well. Thanks for everything.”

  Emily snorted as she heard the parting words of her friend. It was as it always was. Sam wouldn’t take any thanks. She was a lot like her uncle in that way. But it was more than that. She knew Sam was eternally grateful that Emily had stood by Abby in her darkest hour. And that she had attempted to help the former detective heal.

  As much as she hated to, Emily knew it was time to head back to the mansion. She would put her baby back in storage, book a flight out first thing in the morning and pack up her clothes. If her uncle hadn’t already left, she would see if he wanted to fly back. It would be her treat this time. This would all take place, once the hospital called. Or perhaps that would be her first phone call once she was back at the mansion.

  The trip back to the mansion was peaceful, thankfully. Already Emily had enough stress in her life. It wasn’t dealing with her parents’ failing health. It wasn’t dealing with a potential stalker. It was dealing with the distance. And cursing she was such a coward. While it was preferable to discuss the situation with Lena in person with Tabby, her girlfriend should know there was potential for disaster.

  Just as Emily finished covering her baby, her cell phone rang. It wasn’t a number she knew, but did know the area code and exchange. It was either the hospital or the lawyers. Part of her wanted it to be the lawyers. If it was, she could possibly return home for a longer time than only two or three days. She sighed at how many wasted days she was losing, all because her parents had to choose the ‘eldest’.

  As the therapist made her way to the house, she noticed the small motor scooter. It hadn’t been there when she left. She wondered if it belonged to Lena. If it did, there could be trouble. The voice on the other end of the phone caused her to stop in her tracks. Something that had been said brought memories to the surface. Things Emily thought that she had only dreamed of.

  Dreamed? It was like they were nightmares. Emily listened intently before thanking the caller for the information. At least now she knew what was behind her father’s condition. At least she knew why he needed a liver transplant. And it was most likely the reason behind the airplane crash. Her father was a licensed pilot after all.

  Lena was in the kitchen. She was busy making whatever delights for lunch. Emily had decided, though it would be costly, she was not about to attend any meals while she was staying in Sacramento. There were cheap little diners or even fast food. While it wasn’t good for her figure, she didn’t want to be around the cook any more than she had to be.

  “Are you feeling all right, Miss Emily?” The knife Lena had been using to chop whatever vegetable was held in midair. The stance could be very threatening in another context. And with the way the cook had acted towards her only a short time ago, Emily was terrified.

  Never in her life was Emily so relieved or grateful to see her uncle walk around the corner. He took one look at her, bowed his head to Lena and took his niece by the arm. Slowly he guided her to the study. She froze in the doorway. He looked at her, the concern growing by leaps and bounds. Mitch was standing in front of the huge desk, waiting for her to say something. Anything.

  It was a good thing Mitch was a patient man. He’d learned it in his time with the military. He had continued to hone his skills, some requiring a great deal of patience, as a bounty hunter. In his niece’s case, he’d be waiting until the end of time. He knew that she needed to do this in her own time. Whatever it was that was happening, it went beyond her fear of losing Tabby.

  So many memories were crashing through Emily. She was eight years old. Or was she younger? Even though she was now fairly statuesque at five feet seven inches tall, she had been small for her age. It wasn’t until she was twelve that she had this amazing growth spurt. It was nearly instantaneous that she had become a woman at that point.

  The therapist was standing there, just like she was now. Emily couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Her father was drinking. It wasn’t merely sipping a brandy and savoring the flavor. It was more along the lines of downing one glass, refilling and downing another. The process continued until he had consumed six glasses of brandy.

  Monica Dunst was cowering by the fireplace. There was blood dripping from both her nose and the corner of her lip. Emily might not have seen what had happened, but she knew. She might not back as a youth, but after everything she had seen while serving in one of the busiest emergency rooms in all of New York City, she knew.

  It was partly why her mother was the way she was. It was partly why her father had been distant all these years. There were secrets in this
house. Was it why her mother had moved into her own bedroom? Why hadn’t her mother divorced her father? Had she stayed for the money? The prestige? And why was she so bigoted now?

  Or was that merely a part of her mother’s natural personality? Emily didn’t remember her grandparents on her mother’s side. She remembered her father’s parents a little better. They were hardworking, down to earth people. She knew Grandma and Grandpa Dunst would be ashamed of how their son and daughter-in-law had turned out.

  Emily slowly made her way into the room. Time shifted. Her balance failed her. If her uncle didn’t have as speedily reflexes as he had, she would have ended up sprawled on the floor. Instead, she was helped to the loveseat. The one that overlooked the path to the atrium. The place Emily had escaped so many hours in.

  Now it was all clear as another memory flashed in her mind. She was slightly older. She was around nine or ten. Still before adulthood had overtaken her. This memory was more difficult. She felt arms wrap around her. She held on tight as the familiar scent of her uncle penetrated the pain. It wasn’t a fancy cologne that he wore.

  It was the outdoors. It was nature. It was life. It was everything her uncle ever was and would continue to be to her. It was the reason she loved it when he’d visit or take her on camping trips. He was the one who had allowed her to escape the pain. The torture. The memories of a time so long ago. She wondered if Rick had ever witnessed the episodes that she had as a child.

  This latest memory was of a time during the summer. For once, Emily had not been at camp or finishing school or whatever torture her parents normally shipped her off to. She had been spending the summer with her Grandpa Dunst. Sadly, he had passed away that fall. It had been an amazing time. Until he had become ill and couldn’t handle taking care of her or her brother.

  Rick had chosen to stay with a friend for the rest of the summer. How Emily wished she had chosen that path. If she wasn’t remembering what she was, it wouldn’t be so horrible. But the memories were nearly overwhelming. They made her ill. How could she have blocked it out of her mind? How could her mother have ever moved past what her father had done to her?

  The sounds of the slaps caused her stomach to threaten to rebel. She was on her knees, crawling towards the wastebasket. Mitch was once again on his feet. Whether it was how she had reacted so far or if it was instincts, he seemed to know what she was crawling towards. He had the metal bin placed in front of her, holding her long, blonde tendrils.

  After a moment to empty the contents of her stomach, Emily sat back. She was sweating profusely. She didn’t know what to say or do. The images were almost like an old movie she had watched and forgotten. If only that was what it was. Her eyes met concerned blue ones. “Did you know?”

  Mitch’s brow furrowed. There were so many secrets he knew. Some that concerned his niece. Some that concerned his nephew. Some that concerned both Emily and Rick. There were ones that concerned his brother and his wife. But the secrets he knew were ones that wouldn’t evoke the kind of reaction they had in his sweet Emily. “Know what, Darlin?”

  Emily’s phone chirped. There was an incoming message from Tabby. It wasn’t only a message. It was asking if it would be all right for them to video chat. For a moment, she hesitated. But she knew she needed to hear that sweet voice. She knew she needed to see that angelic face. What she truly needed was to touch her soulmate.

  For now, this would have to do. “Did you know that father used to beat mother?” There. She’d said it. Before Mitch could answer, Emily had pressed the call button. She turned around so that she was leaning on the desk, still sitting on the floor. It wasn’t long before the spinning circle finally cleared into the most beautiful sight she had ever seen. “Hey, Gorgeous.”

  ()()()()()()()()()()()()()

  Tabby couldn’t believe two days had passed. Luckily she, nor Nicky, had had much interaction with Helen. It was partially because Melissa and the others went out of their way to make certain that the mother and son were not left alone with her ex. Partially it was because she had immersed herself in her growing position.

  While her loyalty and first position was to Sierra and Desiree, Tabby had taken on the full-time position of nurse at the new agency. It had finally been officially named. It was the Walker and Family Security Agency. A bit of a mouthful, but when it came to truth in advertisement, it was true on all levels. Especially when it came to protecting their own.

  As Tabby organized the small office she had been assigned with various medical supplies, her mind drifted. It was completely on one thing. It was all consuming the past few days. The need for her to simply jump in a car or airplane. The need to reconnect with Emily on a physical level was beyond distracting. It was nearly as essential as breathing. It was nearly as essential as fortifying her body with food.

  A grin was on her face as Tabby realized how she was sounding. While she was a nurse like Abby, she was far from a bard or poet. Of course everyone has their way with words, even if it’s only once in a lifetime. She hoped they would continue when she called Emily later. The time difference hampered the times they could speak. If it were up to her, she’d find a quiet place in the bed and breakfast to skype all night.

  Privacy wasn’t too prevalent at the bed and breakfast. Tabby found it interesting. She carefully sorted the most important items she thought would be needed. After her experience with Sierra and the fact Abby could play connect the dots on Sam’s body, the nurse knew that sutures and the like would be the most important thing.

  Of course both Sierra and Sam’s stitches had been required because they were part of the underbelly of life. At one time, Sierra had been a mobster. Sam had been a SVU detective in New York City. Their lives were dangerous naturally. The security agency was more about preventing crimes and teaching their clients self-defense. Not just physical self-defense, but also how to maintain one’s identity.

  Still, knowing the way trouble seemed to always follow Sam, Abby, Sierra and Desiree wherever they went, it was probably for the best she maintained a well-stocked medicine cabinet. She was only glad she didn’t have to use her skills on the wrong person anymore. Too many times she had to treat someone for Jenny Monroe.

  Tabby felt ill. Even the thought of her time with the mobster caused her to be physically ill nearly every time. A part of her wondered if she would ever come to terms with the things she had done. It wasn’t exactly about survival, though her son’s health had been on the line. It had been doing what any mother would do for their child.

  A tear formed in the corner of her eye. Before it could escape, Tabby heard the knock on the door. While the agency was open, no one was in. Sam was off investigating someone. The nurse wasn’t certain who, most likely the mayor. Mitch had taken off, as usual. Abby was helping Melissa plan Nicky’s birthday party and spending time with the Walker clan. The only other ones that might be there were Steve, Sam’s ex-partner and new employee, or his wife who was the secretary.

  Glancing at her cellphone, Tabby realized she had once again worked past closing. Most likely the husband and wife had left for the day. It made her wonder who would be knocking on the door. Cautious as ever, especially after she and Emily had been kidnapped by Sam’s biological father, a rapist and mobster by the name of Anthony Denardo, Tabby made her way towards the main entrance.

  On her cellphone, Tabby tapped out the nine-one-one, but didn’t hit the send button. It was something Sam had taught her to do. If she ever found herself in a situation she wasn’t certain of and didn’t have pepper spray or other defensive devices, simply have nine-one-one either programmed into her phone or be ready so that all she had to do was hit the send button.

  “Tabby, it’s me.” The familiar voice instantly settled her fears. If anyone besides Sam could take care of themselves, it was her boss and friend Sierra. The confidence she felt at hearing her friend’s voice was shattered when she realized Sierra was still undercover. For nearly a year now, the former mobster had been attempting to catch a rat
in the disguise of the mayor of Middletown.

  Knowing this could be trouble, Tabby hesitated a moment before unlocking the door. The nurse was grateful when she noticed her friend was alone. Sierra didn’t waste time in making her way inside, shutting the door, locking it and pulling the shades down that covered the glass door. The sight of the blood dripping down her boss’ arm caused a sharp intake of breath from the petite blonde.

  It also caused Tabby to finally find her ability to move. There were only a few things that could motivate the nurse. One was her son. Another was Emily. And the one that was motivating her now was when someone, especially someone she cared about, was injured. She gently took Sierra by the arm and guided her into the small office she used as a first-aid station.

  “It’s nothing.” Sierra flinched as she managed to unbutton her shirt and pull off the top. It left her in only her lacy bra. Tabby paused when she turned around. While her friend was an extremely attractive woman, it wasn’t the lace covered breasts that had caught her attention. It was the fact there was a gash nearly four inches in length running from the top of her right shoulder. It ran nearly to her elbow.

  “I don’t think Desiree will think this is nothing.” When Sierra attempted to pull away, Tabby’s grasp became firmer. “Relax. It was a tease. I know I can’t tell her. I can’t even tell Sam or Abby. Not unless you tell me it’s all right.” A heavy sigh escaped her as she went about cleaning the wound. Her patient never flinched, even though the wound was deep and the antiseptic had to sting. “This is going to require several stitches. You might as well sit and relax.”

  Sierra watched her friend as she threaded the needle. It had always struck her as amazing how Tabby could do what she did. It wasn’t how she could forget about the blood. It wasn’t how she could forget she was patching up a friend. Someone who was one day to be named Godmother to her son. Someone who was family, as they all were in Middletown.