The Preacher’s Son

by B. D. Anderson

  “I guess… but I think deep down Dad knows that Max is trying in her own way to get better. Don’t be mad, Eric,” she said, not sure whether she should share what she was about to tell him.

  “What?” he asked, putting his arm around her.

  Nadine turned to him, her face pained.

  “She told me when I started dating that she hated all men… that they were animals and that their penis was a destructive weapon. She told me that she didn’t even want Dad to touch her again… that he was a man, and he had a penis, and the thought of it disgusted her. She told me later that she told him that to his face, and he broke down.”

  Eric didn’t know what to say. He realized that what she was saying was that Max looked at him that way too. It was very disturbing.

  “Later she told me that she knew she had hurt Dad, but that she couldn’t help it because she needed him to stop trying to make things like they were before. I want her to get better, Eric, but I don’t know how. I want her to go back to the doctor. She told me that the only time she can deal with men is when she is angry. Anger gives her power. Who can stay angry all the time? That’s why I’m not sure about moving in with her. I want to, but then again I don’t.”

  “We can try to find our own place, Nadine. Tell me what you want to do.”

  He watched her as she walked over to the chest of drawers and opened it up. She pulled out a picture and handed it to Eric. It was a picture of Max, who looked about ten, and Nadine was about three. Max was smiling happily with Nadine sitting between her legs. They were dressed in matching red corduroy dresses with white blouses, and a Christmas tree was in the background.

  “This is the Max I want back,” she said. “I want my sister back. If it takes us moving in to help her get better, then I am willing to do just that.”

  Eric stared at the picture. Max looked so happy and carefree as any child of ten should. Her hair was loose about her shoulders. He looked at Nadine, who was not looking at the camera but was looking up at her sister’s smiling face. He knew that Nadine adored Max, and he loved her so much that he would do just about anything to make her happy.

  “All right, Nadine,” he said. “Whatever you feel is best.”

  Matthew watched as the police put handcuffs on McKenzie and his partner. They wouldn’t be cheating anyone else any time soon.

  “Mr. Ferguson we will be contacting you as a witness,” the detective said. “These guys have hit several other people, mostly seniors, and scammed them out of their life savings. You were lucky that you figured out what was really going on.”

  Matthew didn’t reply. If it hadn’t been for Max, he would just be another poor soul who had lost everything.

  He walked out of the police precinct and to his car. He couldn’t stop thinking about Max and the information in the report. He decided to go to the library to see if he could find out more.

  He didn’t understand. Max and Nadine were from Conway. Eric and Nadine graduated from Conway High. Why did Max go to Myrtle Beach schools? Maybe it had something to do with her abduction.

  He spent several hours in the library reading old newspapers. He was surprised to find out that Max was not the only one. The newspaper article that he received with the report was not about Max, but about another child. There was another abduction listed in the Conway newspaper that he surmised must have been about Max. The paper stated that someone had written down the license plate of the car that took her, and it was later found to be stolen. The car was found the next day abandoned, fingerprints were lifted, and police were able to trace the suspect. The papers stated that the victim was tied to a bed and that she had been raped repeatedly and was hysterical. The suspect was caught sleeping in an adjourning room. Matthew looked at the picture of the older white male in the article.

  Matthew cut off the computer, and chills ran through him as he thought about what he had just read. How in the world could he repay her for what she had done for him? Did she recover from the trauma? he wondered.

  He would talk to Eric. He might know something. Perhaps he could even help him decide what to do for Max.

  Max always seemed to have a chip on her shoulder. Now he guessed he knew why. Why hadn’t her parents gotten her any help? Maybe it was a bad idea for Eric to be living there. What if she went off and attacked him or something? He pushed the thought out of his mind. Maybe she was fine.

  Matthew got in his car and pulled off. He was definitely going to talk to Eric.

  Jeremy sat at the conference table and glanced around. Emerson Hunt III was in the same spot, tapping the keys of his laptop. His lawyer was there, of course, as was Michael and his lawyer.

  “Ferguson, I have reviewed your contract, and seeing that you are not pleased by a certain clause therein, I have made a slight change,” Emerson, said looking at him.

  “Really? What change is that?” Jeremy asked as the lawyer handed him and Michael copies.

  “You will still travel with Joan, but you will have the option to bring your wife if you so wish. We would like to continue our relationship as stated in the contract. For promotional purposes, you will appear together and be together, but we are not expecting you to present Joan as your wife, and if asked about your marital status, you may answer in whatever way you see fit.”

  Emerson smiled at Jeremy and then looked back at his laptop.

  “Thank you,” Jeremy said.

  “Also, we will be having the kick-off celebration for the new clothing line in about a month. There will be a party of course,” Emerson said. “I expect you to come and please bring your wife. It is a formal affair.”

  He stood up, looking at Jeremy. “Man to man… I appreciate your point of view.” He looked at his watch. “If there’s nothing else, I have another meeting. Please read over the contract and sign it and give it to my lawyer.”

  Emerson nodded his head and walked out of the conference room.

  “What did he mean by that?” Michael whispered. “Man to man?”

  Jeremy got up. “The contract looks fine to me, Michael, but have Williams read over it, and then I’ll come by and sign it tomorrow.”

  Michael looked at him. “You didn’t answer my question.”

  “I know,” Jeremy said and walked out of the conference room.

  CHAPTER 27

  EMERSON AND OLIVIA

  Aura walked through Macy’s trying to find a dress for the Chaz function Jeremy had told her about. She was amazed that Jeremy got his contract and she was invited to come to the opening, which was only a few weeks away. Wonders never cease! She had no idea what to wear since it was a formal affair. She decided to be on the safe side and find a simple gown, but she was not having much luck.

  As she walked around, she noticed a very beautiful redhead who was dabbing her eyes as she was looking at the dresses and something about her disturbed Aura. She watched her out of the corner of her eye as the woman picked up several dresses to try on.

  Aura found a simple black dress that had a pale-gold lace, bodice that was sleeveless. The dress flared out at the hips. It just might work. It came in both the black and white versions, and she got one of each and headed to the fitting room.

  She saw the tall redhead sitting in one of the rooms with the door still opened. The dresses were hanging up, and she was dabbing her eyes. Aura stopped by the open doorway of the woman’s fitting room.

  “Ma’am, I’m sorry… are you all right? You look upset,” Aura said, hoping she wouldn’t snap her head off.

  The woman looked up at her, startled. She had large, green eyes, and Aura could tell that she had been crying.

  “Oh! I’m all right, I guess,” the woman said, sniffing and wiping her nose with a tissue. “I’m trying to find a dress. It’s a big night for my husband . . .” Her voice trailed off, and the tears began to flow. Aura reached in her bag for a tissue.

  �
�Thank you,” the woman said, taking the tissue and wiping her nose.

  “I know you don’t know me,” Aura said, “but you look upset. You want to talk about it?”

  “Sometimes it helps to talk to a stranger… I mean, you don’t know me, and I don’t know you, so who knows?” the woman said. “I have to talk to someone!”

  Aura smiled. “Come on. Let’s go to the food court. I mean, if you want to talk, that is.”

  The woman smiled. “This is crazy… but my life is crazy. Why not?”

  They put the dresses back and walked to the food court. Things were quiet since it was a weekday. Aura pointed to a table on the end.

  “My name is Aura,” she said, extending her hand, and the woman took it, giving her a firm handshake.

  “I’m Olivia,” she replied. “I’m trying to find a dress for a big affair my husband’s putting on… and I plan to ask him for a divorce as soon as the event is over.”

  “Why?” Aura asked. “How long have you been married?”

  “Almost a year. We’ve been married eight months. I love him, I really do, but he doesn’t love me.”

  “Then why did he marry you?” Aura asked.

  “I guess because he felt sorry for me. I mean, I’m from Kentucky. I was dirt poor. I met him, and he offered me the world. It sounded good, but all I really wanted was a husband who loves me.”

  “I’m sure he loves you, Olivia. You’re newlyweds,” Aura said.

  “No, he doesn’t! All he does is work, work, work. I can’t even tell you the last time he… you know, came to me. He always buys me things, but all I want is him. He just doesn’t understand! I think he already has someone else!” She began to cry again, and Aura felt helpless.

  “Have you tried to talk to him? I mean, maybe he’s just absorbed in his work and doesn’t realize he’s neglecting you.” She handed Olivia another tissue.

  “I have no friends here in New York,” Olivia complained. “All of his high and mighty friends think I’m trailer park trash… I guess I am. I think he’s ashamed of me. I’ve tried to live this New York life, but it’s not working. I’m going home to Kentucky. We didn’t have much there, but at least I was happy.”

  Aura looked at Olivia and took her hand. “I really think you ought to try to talk to him again, Olivia.”

  Olivia looked at her hands. “You know, when I walked in Macy’s and tried to look for a dress to please him, I knew he’d be mad. He wanted me to have Chaz make me a dress. It’s such a waste of money just for one night. I guess I think cheap, and I just wanted to see what I could find on the rack. I kept thinking about my situation, and I sat there and closed my eyes and asked God to help me, to send someone my way that I could talk to. I opened my eyes, and there you were! Do you think I’m crazy?”

  “No,” Aura said, smiling. “God does hear you, and he does answer prayers. I felt drawn to you when you were walking through the store. God was working on your behalf even at that moment. We just didn’t know it.”

  “That’s amazing,” Olivia said, smiling. “Will you come with me?”

  “Where to?” Aura asked.

  “Over to Chaz to meet my husband,” Olivia said, standing up.

  “What? Your husband works for Chaz? Mine does too!” Aura said.

  “Really? What’s his name?” Olivia said, laughing

  “Jeremy Ferguson, he’s a model for Chaz,” Aura said. “He works with Joan Fleming.”

  “The blonde?” Olivia gasped. “I’ve seen him. He’s your husband? I mean I’ve seen him in pictures, but I’ve never met him in person.”

  “Is your husband a model too, or is he an executive at Chaz?” Aura asked as Olivia led her out of Macy’s.

  “Oh, he’s the owner or CEO or whatever the head honcho is called,” Olivia said casually. “I’m sure your husband knows him. He’s Emerson Hunt III.”

  Emerson Hunt III sat in his office and stared out the window. For some reason, he could not get the conversation with Jeremy Ferguson out of his mind.

  What would it be like to have a woman like he described? It was easy for him, Emerson thought to himself. Ferguson probably always had women falling over him. He probably had his choice of beauties.

  It had not been so easy for him. Women were not attracted to him; he knew that. What he didn’t possess in looks, he possessed in assets. Money made up for his lack of beauty, and then he thought of Olivia.

  She was beautiful, and he had appealed to her lack of finances in order to get her attention. She had come to Chaz through a modeling agency. It was pure coincidence that he was there that day, as he was supposed to be at a meeting. The meeting was cancelled at the last minute, and so out of curiosity, he went to see the models that were auditioning for the commercial.

  Emerson had been mesmerized by her beauty from the first time he saw her. She was tall of course, but her red hair and flashing green eyes made her a stunning woman. He almost burst out laughing, however, when he heard her Kentucky drawl, and he wanted to learn more about her.

  Emerson was shocked to find out how naive and innocent Olivia really was. He felt that she was truly a diamond in the rough. He was equally shocked when she told him that she was a virgin. A virgin at twenty-three? Impossible! He was determined to make her his. It had taken him almost a full year to gain her trust, and she seemed oblivious to his wealth. He had to admit to himself that he had never worked so hard for anything in his entire life, but win her he did!

  Emerson Hunt had always prided himself in being in control of every situation. Olivia unnerved him with what he considered to be her backward thinking. He figured that she’d want a big home with servants, after having been raised in the back woods of Kentucky. He figured that she’d be happy with the material things he could offer her and that he wouldn’t have to get too emotionally attached to Olivia.

  He discovered that Olivia didn’t want his credit cards or his cars or big houses. She wanted to cook for him, and she didn’t want maids or clothes or any of the things he offered her. He wanted to have her as his wife for her beauty. He didn’t want to love her. Love was messy. Loving her would give her control, and that scared him to death. However, she was such an attentive and loving wife toward him that he found himself being drawn in.

  His mother died when he was young, and Emerson never received any female attention. He never knew what it was like to be loved and nurtured by a woman, and Olivia somehow instinctively knew that. She was very attentive and loving and selfless, which totally unnerved him.

  He didn’t want to love her, to need her. He found himself working late to avoid her, unable to come to grips with his own feelings that were growing for Olivia day by day.

  He knew it wasn’t right. He was going to straighten things out some way, and then Ferguson threw out the gauntlet of love and passion that hit him right in his gut. Ferguson wasn’t ashamed of having, as he put it, his nose wide open. Ferguson wasn’t afraid to let his woman know that he loved and needed her. Why would anyone give a woman that kind of power over them? He knew that he loved Olivia, but if she ever found out just how much he needed her, then he could only imagine how she might turn that love against him, use him to get whatever she wanted.

  Even though he knew that what he was imagining was nothing like the Olivia he married, he still couldn’t help how he felt. He couldn’t leave himself exposed like that. He had been hurt and used before, and he wasn’t about to go down that road again. He’d made a vow to himself that he’d always remain in control of his emotions and would get himself a trophy wife, one he would keep happy with material possessions. Olivia hadn’t wanted any of the things he offered her, and that had taken him by surprise. He couldn’t let her know just how much he needed her in his life, how much he enjoyed her attention, her fawning over him. He could hardly accept it himself, much less tell her!

  Emerson had quickly found other women w
ho understood the game. Making love to Olivia was complicated. It was hard looking in her large, trusting eyes with her declaring her love for him every time he made love to her. He felt as if he were drowning. He ran to other women who understood the game. He had money; they wanted money. He wanted sex. He didn’t have to love them or have feelings for them, and they didn’t want his love. It worked, but why was he left feeling so empty and alone? Why was he still doing what he’d done before he’d even met Olivia? Why couldn’t he let go of the past?

  His secretary buzzed him, jolting him from his musing.

  “Mr. Hunt, your wife is here to see you.”

  Emerson was surprised. “Send her in.”

  He watched as Olivia came in, followed by a full-figured black woman, and Emerson wondered what this was all about.

  “Emerson, I want you to meet my new friend,” Olivia said happily.

  “Hello,” the black woman said. He could tell she was uncomfortable. What in the world had Olivia drug in now?

  “Emerson Hunt III,” he said, extending his hand.

  “Aura Ferguson,” the woman replied, shaking his.

  “Emerson, her husband works for you!” Olivia said. “I met her in Macy’s!”

  “Really?” Emerson said. “Ferguson, you say? Ferguson . . .” Suddenly the light bulb went off, and his mouth fell open. Surely this was not the woman that had Ferguson screaming and begging for more?

  “Jeremy Ferguson’s wife?” he asked, trying not to sound surprised.

  She smiled. “Yes.”

  Emerson stared at her a moment. So this was the woman that turned her husband into a puddle of goo.

  “I’ve heard so much about you,” he said without thinking.

  “Oh, really,” Aura responded, smiling. “I hope that what you heard was the truth.”

  “Oh, I heard it from the horse’s mouth,” Emerson said, smiling. He looked at Olivia and felt his heart beating hard in his chest.

  “Did you need something? I’m rather busy.” His voice was crisp, and he stared back at his laptop.