~~~~~~~~~
Thursday morning — 9:15 A.M.
The Castle
Jacob opened the door to Katy’s room where Mike was painting. Valerie was sitting on the bed drinking a cup of tea while Mike painted the fairies. The roar of four HEPA filters, set up to protect Valerie from the paint fumes, made conversation almost impossible. Mike was so focused on his work that he didn’t hear or see Jacob. He looked up when Valerie touched his shoulder.
Jacob waved both of them from the room.
“Don’t you have a company to run?” Mike asked.
“Which company?” Jacob asked. His face was set somewhere between angry and exhausted. “I was on my way to a site when I received the weirdest phone call. I thought I’d stop by to see what you thought.”
Mike nodded.
“What happened, Jake?” Valerie asked.
“I got a phone call from an agent selling Sandy’s father’s house,” Jacob said. “MLR properties is on the realtor’s list for houses in need if a quick sale. The agent said the owner needed money immediately. I was trying to figure out where I’d heard the address before when she went into the whole story. The Feds have frozen all of Sandy’s father’s assets except for the house. Sandy’s father needs to get the money out of the house to pay for legal fees. No lawyer will take his case without payment up front and he doesn’t want to take a chance on a public defender.”
“Sounds like they’re going to prosecute the bastard,” Valerie said.
“Well, that’s my question,” Jacob said. “That’s what I think we need to decide on.”
“Crap, Jake, what do I know? You just put my name on this company so I would have a stake in the profit,” Mike said. “I don’t know anything about real estate. I just go where you tell me to go; do what you tell me to do.”
“Wait a minute,” Valerie said. “If Mike’s name is on this company, it’s part mine too. Let’s hear Jake out.”
Shrugging, Mike gave a longing look toward Katy’s room and his painting project.
“What’s the issue?” Valerie asked.
“If we buy the house, we’re supporting Sandy’s father’s defense,” Jacob said. “On the one hand, this is a democracy. He has a right to defend himself. Blah, blah, blah and all that civics stuff. On the other hand, he’s a complete scumbag who should rot in prison after being tortured by Dick Cheney’s goons. Why would we want to support someone like that?”
“If you don’t buy it, what happens?” Valerie asked.
“Someone else will,” Jacob said. “There’s a lot of scrape and rebuild in that neighborhood right now.”
“Would you like to refurbish his house?”
The gleam in Valerie’s eye made Jacob look her up and down.
“Not a chance, psychic boy. I still know how to keep you out of my head,” Valerie said. “Use your words.”
“No, these houses were built by the Air Force during or right after World War II. They have some neat details – coved ceilings, red oak piece floors - and are solidly constructed.”
“But?” Valerie asked.
“They don’t inspire me at all. And we have plenty of rehab work. The phone’s been ringing off the hook since Jill’s started working with us. We have a waiting list for most of this year and some of next.”
“That’s why it’s taken me so long to get to Katy’s room,” Mike said to Valerie.
“What happens if we don’t buy the house?” Valerie asked.
“Someone will buy it,” Jacob said. “That’s the point. It’s a great deal. We could scrape the building in two hours and resell the lot for double what we bought it for. With the media attention and FBI presence, the house is tainted. The agent said they won’t be able to sell the house to homeowners after yesterday’s media coverage. I guess most of the pornography was filmed in that house.”
Mike grunted with disgust.
“So we could buy the house…”
“We?” Jacob asked.
“Shush,” Valerie said. “We could buy the house, scrape it, and hold onto it until the drama goes away. When do they want the check?”
“But Valerie, we’re supporting this asshole’s defense! We’d be…”
“Someone else will. Why not us?”
Valerie clapped her hands together with glee. Mike and Jacob looked at her as if she’d lost her mind.
“How fast can you get ownership?” Valerie asked.
“The agent says she can provide a detailed property search showing ownership and liability claims. What if we do a quit claim? We can have possession by the end of the day today. Then thirty days until all the paperwork is filed through the courts.”
“But you can modify the house on a quit claim?”
“Sure,” Jacob said. “Why? What are you up to?”
“We leave tomorrow at noon. Can you do it before then?”
“I…”
“Don’t be a baby, Jake! Trust me! This is going to be fun!”
Jacob glanced at Mike. Mike shrugged his shoulders. They both looked at Valerie. She was counting something on her fingers. When she caught their look, she dropped her fingers and gave them her movie star smile.
“I do have my own money, you know. I could buy it myself…” Valerie’s voice mocked Jacob. “I mean, if you’re too chicken.”
“Very funny,” Jacob said. “You need to come in to Lipson to work today and tomorrow before you leave. We have to make decisions about what to do without Aden.”
“Fine,” Valerie said. “I will work long and hard today and tomorrow. Anything else?”
“What are you planning?” Mike asked.
Valerie gave him a little girl smile and he shook his head.
“This is not going to be good,” Mike said.
“Go on, Jake. Make the call! We’ll wait right here.”
While his eyes puzzled over Valerie’s face, Jacob redialed the agent on his Blackberry.
“Not good at all.”
~~~~~~~~
Thursday afternoon — 2:35 P.M.
The Castle
“What about this one?” Honey asked MJ. “Do you like this better than the other pantsuits Valerie helped me buy?”
She wheeled out to look at her olive light wool pantsuit in the full length mirror. MJ was sitting in a high backed chair at their dining room table.
“You’re beautiful,” he said.
She buttoned then unbuttoned the jacket. She tugged on the silk blouse underneath. She’d struggled to find clothing that looked nice and professional while she sat in her wheelchair. Most clothing was made for standing people.
“You always say that,” Honey said. “I need to look right.”
“You need to…” MJ shook his head as the words disappeared.
Honey wheeled over to where he was sitting. His blue eyes held her pale blue eyes. He reached out to stroke her hair.
“I have to do this, MJ. I’m the only one who can testify to what my sister was like as a child,” Honey said. Imitating the assistant-DA’s voice, she added, “You’re the only one who can put her away for life.”
MJ’s lips pursed. He opened his mouth then shook his head.
“No words?”
MJ nodded.
“You must be upset,” Honey said. “Please, please, please MJ. I can’t do this without you. Please help me. Please try. Don’t leave me to do this by myself.”
MJ ground his teeth together. He rubbed his forehead, tapped certain calming points on his face, then blew out a breath.
“Th... th… the trial starts tomorrow,” MJ said.
“Jury selection starts tomorrow. We won’t be in trial until next week sometime. The DA said we should expect them to dilly dally around about jurors. They have to select twelve jurors with three alternates.”
“Wh…wh… Why do yu… yu… you have to go?”
“They think that having me there, like this, will show the potential jurors what she’s capable of.”
“I wish we could just move on
. I hate that your sister has this power over us.”
“I wish none of this happened. A year ago, I could walk, dance, run, climb…” Honey shrugged. “I could move my hands. I could do so many amazing things that… I never appreciated. Simple things… walking to lunch, wiggling into a pair of jeans, knitting, painting my toenails.”
“You painted your toenails?” MJ’s eyebrows pinched together.
“Well, no.” Honey sighed. “You just don’t get it.”
Flipping her wheelchair around, she zoomed back into their bedroom. Near the door, MJ jumped in front of her wheelchair. She ran into him with a solid ‘thump.’ He held firm. Giving an exaggerated sigh, she crossed her arms over her heart.
“I get it,” MJ said.
“You get what?”
“I understand what you’re saying. You’ve suffered a lot… a lot. There’s no question. I’m upset because I don’t want you to suffer anymore.”
“You mean the trial?”
MJ nodded.
“Me too.”
“What if all this never happened?” MJ asked the question they often asked each other when they were down.
“MJ, I can’t do that today… I just can’t.”
“Come on, it’s not that hard,” MJ said. “If all of this never happened, we’d never be married.”
“You wouldn’t even be in my life.”
“We’d never live in this beautiful home,” he said.
“I’d never have my great job with Bambi.”
“We’d never be planning to have a baby,” he said.
“We’d never be building a real, whole life together.”
“I’ve never been this happy,” he said. “Ever.”
“I’ve never been this happy.”
“Is it worth it? Giving up your legs for all of this?” he asked.
Honey nodded.
“You?” she asked.
“Fuck yeah!” MJ said.
“What do we have to do?” he asked. “What’s it going to take to get this done and over with?”
“I have to go tomorrow and Monday and every day after that until they put my sister away forever.”
“That’s my girl.” MJ smiled.
“So which outfit?”
“Doesn’t matter,” MJ said. “You’re beautiful in all of them.”
Honey smiled.
“Didn’t you and Val buy something… sexier?”
“A couple of things. Some lingerie and a pretty dress for celebrating when the trial’s over,” Honey nodded. “Val said she’d try to come home to celebrate with me.”
“When do I get to see the sexy stuff?”
“After I pick out something to wear tomorrow,” Honey said.
“What you have on is perfect,” MJ said. “I’d never lie about something this serious.”
Honey laughed.
~~~~~~~~
Thursday afternoon — 4:12 P.M
Rose Hospital
Standing near the entrance of Rose hospital, they looked out at the photographers, videographers and press waiting for the ‘abused girl.’ A nurse pushed her wheelchair while Aden, Seth and Anjelika walked next to her. Sandy gulped at the sight of the press.
“I’ll go get the car,” Aden said.
“DPD has kept them away from the entrance. The entrance cannot be blocked,” Seth said. “We can’t do much more than that.”
“Can I stand?” Sandy asked. “I’d feel better if I could walk out.”
“Just don’t overdo it okay,” the nurse said. “I’ll stay with you until we get to the car.”
With Anjelika’s hand on her elbow, Sandy walked slowly toward the door.
“Like Greta Garbo,” Anjelika whispered.
Sandy threw her shoulders back and held her head high. She was about to step out the door when they heard the sound of a large vehicle near the door. Shocked, she watched three excavators creep up in front of the door. The monstrous vehicles effectively blocked her from the hoard of press.
Valerie Lipson waved to Sandy from the middle excavator. She moved to the press side of the excavator to distract the photographers. Jill’s Lexus pulled up in front of the huge machines.
“Come on!” Jill yelled from the driver’s seat.
“Your chariot, my dear.” Aden appeared at her side.
“Go on, Sandy. Greta Garbo couldn’t have received a better offer!”
Aden swooped Sandy into his arms and carried her to the SUV. Tanesha hopped out of the back seat so Aden could set Sandy in. Sandy scooted next to Heather and Tanesha got in. Aden ran around to the passenger seat. Once Sandy was safe inside, the signal went up and the Lipson excavators moved out.
“It’s good to have friends,” Seth said to Anjelika as they watched the procession of excavators move off.
Anjelika laughed.
CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX
You’re not alone anymore
Friday morning — 5:21 A.M.
The Castle
“She’s still really sick,” Jill whispered to Jacob. She reached down to feel her sleeping baby’s face. “Except for the bee stings, she’s never been sick like this. Blane gave her an acupuncture treatment yesterday but she still hasn’t kicked it. She should be in her own room, in her own bed but Mike’s not done. She has had to sleep with us.”
Jacob nodded to all the information he already knew. Dressed for work, his hand brushed Jill’s pajama clad back to try to comfort her.
“I can’t help thinking there’s something else going on,” Jill said. “She’s on her meds… had some acupuncture… She’s been home from school for three days! She’s never been home from school for even a day.”
“She’s sick. What else could be going on?”
“What about that crazy guy that’s mad at Delphie? Maybe he’s coming after the girl Marlowes now!”
“Johansen? He’s scary. That’s true.” Jacob smiled at Jill. He brushed a piece of her hair behind her ear. “But this isn’t about him. Katy has a little strep throat. She’s going to kick this. You’ll see.”
Jill nodded her head but her worried eyes clutched at his heart.
“What’s got you so worried?” Jacob asked.
“I can’t stay with her today. She needs me and I can’t be here. I quit working at Pete’s so I could be here when she needs me. And I’m not! I can’t! I have to go to class today. I’ve already missed so much to be with Sandy. After class, I have to go to the trial. I can’t leave Honey there by herself. And I need to be there to show her sister that I’m going to tell the truth. The DA hopes maybe by seeing us at the jury selection, she’ll decide to skip the trial. Fat chance of that. And Sandy. Oh my God, Jacob. Sandy needs me and…”
Jacob held her close to him.
“You’re exhausted, Jill,” he whispered. “You need to take care of yourself or you’ll get sick too.”
“I don’t have time! When do I have time?”
“You’re not alone anymore. Every little thing doesn’t rest on your shoulders. I’m here. I can take Katy to work with me if I need to. Delphie said she’d stay with Katy. Julie said she could easily take Katy since Paddie’s sick too. Your mother’s coming over this afternoon to look after Katy and Aden’s kids. You’ve done a lot for everyone. Why not let people repay your kindness?”
“What have I ever done for Delphie?” Jill asked.
“You helped her with her Celia problem,” Jacob said.
“Yeah, like I said, what have I done for Delphie?”
“Oh, Jill.” His lips touched hers. “There has to be some place where you get a break, even if it’s just inside your own head. Why don’t you go back to bed? You don’t have to be up for a few more hours.“
“But I need to get your…”
“I’m fine,” Jacob said. “Dad, Blane, Val and I are meeting to make decisions before breakfast this morning. Aden’s with Sandy and his kids this morning. I can get lunch with Blane.”
“How did Blane get better so fast when Katy’s still sick
?”
“He’s had strep before,” Jacob said. “He seems to be turning the corner on the Ribavirin too. Listen, will you do me a favor?”
“Anything,” Jill said.
He took her hand and led her to the bed. While he held the covers, she slid into bed next to Katy. Jacob dropped to his knees next to the bed. His face was right next to hers.
“Please rest,” he whispered. “This has been an awful week. You have a couple weeks of nastiness with the trial. Promise me you will rest at least another hour. Nothing, not one thing, is more important than your health.”
“What about all this other stuff? School? Trial? Sandy? Katy? Aren’t they important?”
“To me. Nothing is more important to me than you.”
Jill was so surprised by his words that she stopped talking. Her eyes welled up with tears. In that second, she saw, maybe for the first time, that he truly loved her. She pulled him to her.
“You love me,” Jill said in his ear.
“I love you more than I have breath to express. I’ll be in touch about the trial,” he said. “If I can get away, I’ll go with you.”
Jill nodded.
“Will you sleep?”
She nodded. He pulled the comforter around her and kissed her good-bye. On his way out of the loft, he stuck his head in the room and she was sound asleep. He left with a smile on his face.
~~~~~~~
Friday morning — 7:00 A.M.
Honey had been up for a few hours. Steve had arrived early today to help her out of bed and through her morning routine. They worked through her morning stretches and body weight exercises. Afterwards, he helped her shower.
She could now manage getting dressed by herself. Dressing herself was a miracle brought about by Steve’s patient help and Blane’s wonder needles. Even though she was slow, she loved the normalcy of being able to dress herself. At least she didn’t have to be at work at five this morning. Then again, it took so long to get dressed in these fancy clothes, she had to be up extra early.
Wheeling out to the dining room, she saw MJ’s back. Partially in shadow, he was standing in the full length mirror. She felt a flush of irritation. She needed to get ready and he was in the way! As she got closer, she saw that he was tying the tie to his dress uniform.
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