The Other Mrs Hayes

by Ross Richdale

  "Of course," Stacey replied. "I'll get a flight booked as soon as possible."

  "Do you want to come, too?"

  "No," Stacey replied. She really didn't know how she felt about this tragic news but realised that she needed to support Jessica and the children this time. "I'll contact Chelsea and get her to pick you up at the Auckland Airport."

  Jessica nodded and just clung on sobbing as Stacey held her in her own arms. The news could hardly have been worse.

  JESSICA WALKED ACROSS in the intensive care room at Middlemore hospital to see Brendon with tubes and bandages seemingly everywhere across his body and a monitor that beeped quietly in the background. A graph continually played crossed a screen. He was unconscious with his eyes closed.

  She had only been allowed in when she could prove that she was his wife and a nurse had warned her that his condition was serious but had not weakened since his arrival about twelve hours before. She pulled up a chair, sat down and reached out to squeeze his hand. It felt warm.

  "Oh Brendon..." she whispered but said no more as she just stared at her husband.

  "And who are you?" a slightly accented angry female voice said from behind her.

  Jessica swung around and saw a young woman in her twenties standing there. She had tanned skin and slightly oriental look with her dark hair pulled back in a ponytail.

  "Me?" Jessica retorted, surprised at the hostility shown by the woman. "And what business is it of yours?"

  The woman stepped back and now appeared distraught rather than angry. Wide brown eyes stared into her own. "My name is Reyna Aquino. I am... or was Brendon's fiancée. Only close relatives are allowed into this ward so I repeat, who are you?"

  "Jessica Hayes, his wife," Jessica felt emotions build up inside her. This woman was so different from the kind and caring Stacey. Her voice became a little louder. "He walked out on me and my newly born son a month ago but I guess you know everything about me."

  "You are the one who had a baby son? I didn't know anything until two police officers visited me yesterday and said Brendon was a bigamist with two wives." Her voice turned to a sob. "We were about to be married next week."

  Jessica glowered. What's the bet that this woman was responsible for Brendon's condition? "Don't lie to me, you silly bitch. You knew all along and was probably the one who encourage Brendon to leave Austin and me." She swallowed but emotions failed to subside. "Get out! Get out! How dare you have the nerve to even show your face here." She stepped forward and poked the intruder in the shoulder. "Get out, I said," she screamed.

  A middle-aged nurse walked in and just stood there. By her expression she appeared to be somebody with authority. "I am Charge Nurse Christina Bawden. Let me remind both you ladies that this is an intensive care unit and only close relatives of the patient are permitted to visit."

  "I am his wife," Jessica snapped.

  "And I am his fiancée?" Reyna Aquino whispered.

  "You thought you were," Jessica retorted.

  Another nurse, a younger one who appeared nervous appeared. "I had just come on duty Charge Nurse Bawden," she said. She nodded at the now sobbing Reyna. "This lady had documents to show she was Mr Hayes fiancée. I never realised the other lady was already visiting."

  The Charge Nurse turned to the other nurse. "It is okay, Maurine, you followed the correct procedure. I'll attend to this unfortunate incident." She turned to face Jessica and the woman beside her. "Could you both please come to my office where I'll give you both an update on Brendon's condition. Please though, refrain from any continued animosity between each other. My concern is that of my patient." She glowered at them both "Do you understand?"

  "Sorry," Jessica muttered as without a backward glance she stalked to the door and waited in the passageway.

  TWENTY MINUTES LATER Jessica walked out into the main foyer where her mother and the children were waiting.

  "You look terrible," Chelsea said.

  "Oh Mum," Jessica said. "I made a complete fool of myself. Brendon's new girlfriend turned up and I completely lost it." In a halting voice she told what had happened.

  "Well, it was a nasty surprise," Chelsea commiserated. "But how is Brendon?"

  "Unconscious but stabilised. The charge nurse said the next twenty-four hours are critical. If he can get through until then his chance of recovery is good."

  "So we go home," Chelsea said. "The children are tired and we can do nothing by remaining here."

  "At least they have me now listed as next of kin," Jessica whispered. "Damn the woman. It didn't help, you know. I guess she's as distraught as I am. It's just that she's so different than Stacey, I don't know... more like a scatty teenager than mature adult."

  Chelsea took her hand. "Don't blame her, Sweetheart."

  "Why not? Isn't it logical that she asked some gang members to beat him up? She even admitted she only just found out about us recently."

  ''Leave it, Jessica. No doubt the police will investigate and find out who was responsible." Chelsea grimaced. "I could perhaps call Doug McCann and tell him what happened."

  "If you wish, Mum. I'm just so pissed off about everything, I don't really care any more."

  CHAPTER 9

  It was the middle of the night and well after visiting hours at Middlemore Hospital but Jessica had been given special permission to stay beside Brendon's bed throughout the second night of his admission. The night nurses and security guards couldn't have been more accommodating. A nurse brought her a late coffee and biscuits while two security guards stopped by every half hour or so to have a chat. Also Stacey had remained in contact in a video link on her iPhone throughout the long evening.

  Mum had taken Carla and Austin to her place. Luckily, Jessica had almost phrased Austin out of breast-feeding when she was staying with Stacey so she did not have to worry about his nighttime feeds.

  The critical time for Brendon had passed but a hospital surgeon told her that he had not improved as much as they had hoped. An operation to stop internal bleeding was successful but the trauma of this had added to the complications of a full recovery. His chances of survival had improved but were still only fifty-fifty.

  Jessica dozed off but jerked awake to see a nurse standing beside her.

  "Hello Jessica," she said. "I am Charge Nurse Veronica Piripi who has night shift oversight of this part of the hospital."

  "I have permission to be here."

  "No it is not that. Can I sit down?"

  "Of course," Jessica said and waited while Veronica pulled up a chair to sit on. "Is it bad news about Brendon?"

  "No, his condition has not changed. There is something else I'd like to ask you about."

  Jessica frowned but nodded.

  "An extremely distressed young woman is at the moment waiting in my office on the floor below us. Records show that you are Brendon's wife but he recently separated from you and started up a relationship with her. She said that they had become engaged and were soon to be married. Also she stated that she didn't know that Brendon was still married to you. Is that true?"

  "It's more complicated than that," Jessica whispered.

  "Would you like to tell me about it?"

  "Brendon is a bigamist," Jessica blurted out and gave a brief account of their situation.

  "I actually get on well with Stacey and have been in contact with her about Brendon all evening. We have a visual link so I can actually show her Brendon here in hospital."

  "I see," Veronica replied. "And how did you feel when you first found out about Stacey?"

  "'Devastated."

  "And blamed her?"

  Jessica sucked on her bottom lip. "At first I did but she was as devastated as I was. She has become a real friend. It sounds silly but we are have so much in common."

  "So don't blame Reyna Aquino for what has happened with Brendon."

  Jessica glanced up. "The woman in your office?"

  Veronica nodded.

  "But couldn't she have been responsible for the a
ttack?"

  "We do not know, Jessica. All I know is that she is completely distraught and wants to visit Brendon here in what could be one last time." She reached out and took Jessica's hands. "His chances of survival are less than the surgeon suggested."

  "Okay," Jessica whispered. "Let her come in. Would you like me to leave?"

  "That is up to you but it will not necessary. You are named on our hospital records as Brendon's next of kin."

  JESSICA STOOD UP AS Veronica escorted Reyna in. The sight of the tall quite plump nurse and the fragile looking woman who looked barely out of her teens affected her emotions. She gulped but stood back and was determined to remain calm.

  Reyna had obviously been crying as tear-stained eyes looked up at her. "Thank you for allowing me in," she whispered. "I know you think I am responsible for the attack on Brendon but I am not. Why would I do such a thing to the man I thought was about to become my husband?"

  "We are both under considerable stress," Jessica replied. "I apologise for being so nasty to you earlier. I have been here all evening so will leave you with him. Stay as long as you like."

  She stood, gave the woman a little hug and walked out of the room. Not sure about what to do next she walked along the corridor to the foyer where the lifts were. There was a small bench there so she sat down and called Stacey on her mobile.

  "Is it bad news?" sleepy Stacey gasped.

  She glanced at her watch. Oh hell it was after one in the morning! "No. Sorry Stacey, I needed to speak to you and forgot about the time. Reyna Aquino has arrived and I let her be with Brendon."

  "How is he?"

  "Just the same, unconscious but still alive."

  "You did the right thing," Stacey said. "I told you how I felt when I saw you at the airport the first time. Now look at us."

  "I know. Sorry to wake you up."

  "Why don't you go home? You can't do anything just staying there."

  "I will. Mum's looking after the kids."

  She clicked off and walked across to the lift. Just as a descending one arrived Veronica appeared and stepped into the left with her.

  "Thank you for agreeing to allow Reyna to be with Brendon. It was a mature decision. Would you like to come to my office? I usually have an early morning coffee at this time," she said.

  "I'd like that," Jessica replied and followed the charge nurse out at the next floor down.

  STACEY FELT STRANGELY numb about Brendon's plight. It was now three days since he was attacked and his condition was now classified as a coma. She actually felt more sympathy towards Jessica and even the new woman Reyna than towards Brendon himself. Perhaps it was because of Laurie and his gentle ways. He was really the complete opposite to Brendon who seemed on afterthought to be flamboyant and shallow. Thinking back, she knew she had often made excuses for her husband, either the business was going through a rough patch or she was spending too much time with her own profession to care about his needs. His needs, it was always that way. They were his needs, not her needs. He had not really shown interest in her promotion in the teaching profession and, in fact, resented the fact that she was more successful than he was in his career.

  She sipped the coffee that Laurie had given her and gazed at the television that was half way through a movie that she had stopped watching. Since Jessica had gone back to Auckland, Laurie had spent most of the nights at her place. Her home was in a different suburb from the school so the chances of any parents or staff knowing he was there was remote. Anyway, it was nobody else's business. At school, Laurie had remained his usual self or had become more formal with her. At home, though, their love had grown and physically their sex together became frantic and powerful. She grinned to herself. Powerful, what a stupid word that was to explain what had happened. It was gentle, fulfilling and replaced something missing in her life for years.

  "So what is it?" Laurie asked as he reached across the couch they were sitting on and squeezed her hand. "Do you want to go up to Auckland and see Brendon? The board has offered you compassionate leave, you know."

  Stacey turned and smiled. "No, let the pair up there fight it out, if they wish. I feel for Jessica and the children but as far as Brendon is concerned, he probably got what he deserved. I hope he recovers, of course, but have no feelings towards him any longer." She stood up. "Stupid movie. I don't know why they have to have so much violence and lack of any plot. Let's go to bed."

  "'And do what?"

  She flung a cushion at him. "Do I have to spell it out for you, my office manager?"

  He grinned, grabbed at her and it was all on, well actually off as clothes were flung away and thoughts about others were soon forgotten.

  STAFF MEETINGS WERE held for the whole staff at Lexington Avenue School every second Tuesday with the alternative Tuesday used for syndicate meetings. There were three syndicates in the school, junior, middle and senior with the deputy principal, associate principal and senior teacher each in charge of four or five classroom teachers plus auxiliary staff. All the teachers were female, a situation that had become the norm in new Zealand primary schools over the last twenty years. Recently, more men had been attracted to the profession and Stacey had hoped that a man could be included in the three vacancies available at the school for the next year.

  The discussion at the moment was how the school could cater for a directive from the Ministry of Education to provide other languages for the pupils to learn. Approximately a third of the pupils at the school were children of immigrants, mainly from Asian countries or United Kingdom. Pacific Islanders tended to live in the more outer suburbs of the city.

  They could not cater for the eight or more languages spoken at home by the immigrants so it became a compromise that included the availability of teachers with the language skills wanted.

  Stacey glanced at her watch and noticed they had rambled on a little and it was well after four. "We'll leave it for now," she said. "Just think about it and everyone's opinions are welcome at our next meeting. There is a little time so we don't need to rush into making hasty decisions."

  As she packed up, her home mobile shook in a silent alarm.

  "Hello, Stacey here."

  A sobbing voice that she recognised as being Jessica replied. "Brendon's dead Stacey," she cried. "The surgeon said there was a massive haemorrhage from the knife wound that had penetrated his heart. He died on the operating table just a few moments ago."

  Oh hell! This had been likely, of course but indications had been that he was making a slow recovery. The doctors at the hospital had even predicted that he would come out of the coma soon. She said all the right things to Jessica with soothing words to help as much as possible.

  "Is Chelsea there to help you and the children?"

  "They are with Mum at the moment but I haven't called her yet. Reyna is here and she's a cot case, howling like a baby. There are half a dozen Filipino women from the club she belongs to who have arrived. They are looking after her."

  "And you're alone?" Stacey replied.

  "Yeah, I guess. Mum will be a help, I know but I wanted to tell you first."

  "Do you want me to come up to Auckland?"

  "Will you?" Jessica's voice sounded relieved.

  "Of course I will. I'll be there as soon as I can get a flight."

  She clicked off and walked back to the office hoping that Laurie would be there. He was and gave her a tiny hug after she told him the tragic news and that she was going to head up to Auckland.

  "Just go," he said. "I'll let the staff and board know."

  "Thanks," Stacey replied and kissed him for the first time on school premises. "It is mainly Jessica and her children that I want to help."

  She was collecting up her gear when the school mobile chirped.

  "Doug McCann here. I guess you have heard the news that Brendon didn't make it"

  "I have, Doug. Thanks for calling."

  "No problem. My concern is about you and Jessica."

  "Us! Why?"

 
''It's become a murder inquiry now, Stacey. Both of you will be on their list of suspects for employing those hoods who attacked him in that carpark."

  Stacey gulped. "Surely that Reyna would be the prime suspect?"

  "Apparently not. My mate, Detective Inspector Toby Matthews at the local police station hinted that you are both on the list of possible suspects and advised me to tell you to get a lawyer, pronto."

  "That's ridiculous," Stacey stuttered.

  "Yeah I know but that’s how the cops think."

  "Are there any other suspects?"

  "Several business acquaintances for he did have some devious contacts and one other person you know."

  "And who is that?"

  "Chelsea Crombie, Jessica's mother."

  Bloody hell! Stacey shuddered at the though. She doubted if Chelsea could be capable of doing this but could she be? It was possible that she had asked a gang to rough him up a little and they went too far.

  "You still there, Stacey?"

  "Yes. Just thinking, that's all."

  "Whether Chelsea could have arranged to have Brendon attacked?"

  "Yes."

  "Look, leave it to me. I can ask around and can even get closer to the truth than the cops. My advice is to do nothing at the moment."

  "What about approaching my lawyer?"

  "No. That would indicate to the police that you have a guilty conscience. You'll actually be playing into their hands. Just help Jessica and be the compassionate person you are. Okay?"

  "Sure."

  "I'll keep in touch. Deepest sympathy and bye for now."

  The mobile went dead but left Stacey with worrying thoughts buzzing through her mind.

  AS BRENDON HAD MADE no will, Raymond Downs acted on Stacey's behalf while Chelsea had a family lawyer to help Jessica. Between them they came to a temporary understanding where Jessica was named next of kin for the Auckland estate and Stacey became the next of kin for everything at her home in Wellington. It was also agreed that Brendon's shares and other assets in Hayes and Hayes would be divided equally between the pair. This would have to be ratified by a family court at a later date but did mean that the two families would be able to carry on in a relatively normal manner.