by Donald Wells
Felicia told me that Sophie’s “friends” now treated her as either a social pariah or as an infamous acquaintance, “The aunt of David Michael Thorne, yes, That David Thorne, the serial killer.” One of Sophie’s longtime friends had offered to give her room and board, but only if she would look after their aged mother, who was suffering from Alzheimer’s.
* * *
I walked in, after closing the door, I leaned my back against it.
“Hello Sophie.”
“John, I heard you and Felicia talking, and it’s very nice of you to offer her a home, but I won’t be coming along.”
“Why not?”
She looked up at me with tears in her eyes. “How can you be so kind to me when I’ve helped to ruin your life?”
“What are you talking about?”
“David, dear David who I thought would be the perfect husband for my niece turns out to be an absolute fiend. And you, oh I so disliked you. I once thought you were Dominic Delgado all over again. I pushed Felicia and David together every chance I got. You don’t know how many times I badmouthed you to Felicia, told her you would never amount to anything, and now here you stand, touted as an automotive genius.”
“I’m actually more like an idiot savant.”
“Stop that! Stop putting yourself down; you’re one of the finest men I know. Oh God, I was the idiot, and I ruined Felicia’s life.”
“Felicia made her own choices, we all do.”
Sophie wiped at her tears.
“Would you really give me a home?”
I walked over to where she sat on the bed and knelt down so that we were eye to eye.
“Last year, when you came to see me and offered to help get Felicia and I back together,”
“Yes?”
“What did you think David would do if he found out about it?”
“I thought he would kick me to the curb, but I didn’t care, my niece was miserable.”
“Everything you’ve ever done was with Felicia’s best interest at heart, wasn’t it?”
“Of course, I love that girl,”
I stood and offered my hand. “Come on Sophie, we’re going to your new home.”
She took my hand and rose from the bed.
“This house of yours, is it very nice?”
“Yes, however it is located in a town you once referred to as, ‘Dreadful.”
“I’m such a snob, aren’t I?”
I gave her hand a squeeze. “Nobody’s perfect.”
55
We arrived back at Castle Ridge around eight P.M.
One of Bill’s security team waved us through the ornate gates, and the limo pulled to a halt in the circular brick-paved drive.
Sophie and Felicia got out of the limo and stared up at the brightly lit house in wonder.
“My God John, this house is huge.” Sophie said.
“It has twelve bedrooms, twenty-three rooms in total. It was built in 1911 by a descendent of the town’s founder.”
Felicia’s mouth hung open.
“Johnny it’s so beautiful, when we were kids this place was falling apart.”
“C’mon ladies, I’ll show you the inside.”
We entered the large foyer, at its rear, twin staircases curved upward to meet at the second floor landing. Above us was a skylight and we stood on polished marble.
At times, I felt like a bit of an ass in the house. I mean, who the hell needs all this room? But I bought it and restored it for Tori. She had grown up in houses like this that her father, and her friends’ fathers owned, and I guess I just wanted to spoil her after all the years she spent living with me above the fix-it shop.
Still, the place was growing on me, and with the threat of David Thorne hanging over us, it didn’t hurt to have a virtual fortress to hunker down in.
Bill and Ms. Lee came from the direction of the kitchen to meet us. Ms. Lee greeted us with a smile.
“Hello John, ladies.”
Felicia looked taken aback.
“Does Ms. Lee live here too?”
“Actually, yes, as of today, she’s indispensable and I thought it only made sense for her to be available at any time.”
Sophie gave Ms. Lee the once over.
“I don’t believe we’ve met.”
“I’m sorry, Ms. Lee this is Sophie Thorne, Felicia’s aunt.”
“Hello Mrs. Thorne, I’m Ms. Lee, it’s nice to meet you.”
Sophie ignored Ms. Lee and walked over to Bill, she then linked her arm through his.
“Hello Bill, it’s a pleasure to see you again.”
“It looks like we’ll be neighbors Sophie.”
“I wonder if you would do me a favor and give me a tour of the house?”
Bill smiled and then looked at Ms. Lee. “Could we have our meeting later?”
Ms. Lee took in their linked arms and nodded.
“There’s no hurry, why don’t you give Mrs. Thorne the grand tour?”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes Bill, in fact, why don’t we postpone our meeting until morning?”
Bill said, “Fine,” and off he and Sophie went, with Sophie chattering away and Bill nodding his head attentively.
“John,” Ms. Lee said. “I had the staff prepare two bedrooms, and the cook is staying late in case anyone wanted something special.” She then gazed at Felicia’s belly. “Any cravings perhaps?”
“Which bedrooms will the ladies have?”
“Ms. Delgado has the guest room next to the nursery, it has a connecting door, and Mrs. Thorne has the room next to that.”
“Thank you Ms. Lee.”
“You’re welcome John, do you need anything else?”
“No, as usual you’ve thought of everything.”
“If you need me I’ll be in my room.”
“Goodnight Ms. Lee.”
“Goodnight John, goodnight Ms. Delgado,”
“Yes, goodnight Ms. Lee,” Felicia said, and then watched her as she walked up the stairs. “Ms. Lee is very beautiful Johnny, exotic even.”
“Yes, well, would you like to see your room?”
She smiled. “Okay,”
She started toward the stairs and I pointed to the elevator.
Her mouth opened in surprise. “The house has an elevator?”
“Several of them, we went all out.”
We rode up in silence. When we got out, I turned right and went down the hall, and opened the third door. The room had a four-poster bed dressed in pink frills, along with white oak furniture. The rug was also white and there was a computer on a desk in one corner and a large flat screen TV on the wall facing the bed.
Felicia walked over and took a seat at the vanity.
“This is all so beautiful, thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Come here Johnny, please?”
I went over and sat on the side of the bed, facing her.
“Is something wrong?”
“We’ve never really talked about what happened… when the bomb went off… about afterward.”
“I could only save one of you.”
“And you saved me.”
“And I saved you.”
“Have you thought about what that means?”
“Yes, in the emergency room. It’s what made me break down, and later, become comatose. Felicia, on Bill’s advice I’m seeing a psychiatrist, one of the top ones, and she told me that it would probably be best if I never went there, never dissected my decision. She said it could be ‘psychologically fatal’, that I might become catatonic again and never return.”
“My God, I’m so sorry I mentioned it.”
“No, I’m glad you did. There’s something I wanted to bring up… it’s about the baby.”
“Yes?”
“It’s just that, I’ll understand if you don’t want me to spend time with her, to care for her.”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“You know Tori was pregnant, that she was carrying my son, and sti
ll I… I’m sorry. It’s just that I don’t think I should be around her. My God baby, I didn’t even try to save my own child… why would you want me to… I—”
I broke down then. I was doing that a lot since leaving the hospital.
It was why Bill suggested the psychiatrist, and it was why I agreed to go. I was a mess.
I missed Tori more each day and somewhere in the world was a lunatic who apparently wanted me dead.
Felicia got up from her seat and cradled my head against her swollen belly, trying to comfort me.
“Shh, it’s all right, it was a horrible choice you had to make and no matter what, you couldn’t win. Don’t ever think about it again, and don’t ever blame yourself. David killed Tori, and all those other people, not you, and he fathered this baby, but if you’re willing, if you would do me and Hannah the blessing, I’d love you to be her daddy.”
I lifted my head and wiped at my tears. “Hannah?”
“Yes, I’d like to name her Hannah.”
“That was my mother’s name.”
“I know, and I’ve always thought it was a beautiful name.”
I took a deep breath and stood up.
“I’m sorry about the tears.”
“You’ve a right, God knows.”
I nodded my head. “Sure, right, well, goodnight,”
I hurried to leave the room, ashamed of having broken down. As I opened the door, I remembered something. I reached around my neck, and took off a slender chain and handed it to Felicia.
“This is for you.”
“Oh my God, you remembered.”
It was the chain with the gold heart pendent. She’d given it to me to keep for her when she went to live with Sophie at sixteen.
“A lifetime ago you told me to give it back to you when you came home to Castle Ridge to live with me. This sure as hell isn’t how I pictured it, and yet, here we are.”
Apparently, now it was her turn to cry.
“Oh Johnny, I love you so much, so damn much and I’ve made our lives such a mess.”
I leaned down and pressed my forehead against hers.
“Why don’t we agree that we both have regrets and let it go at that, hmm?”
“That’s an understatement.”
“Well, it’s either that or go mad, and in my case that might be literal.” I went back to the door. “Goodnight, if you need anything let me know, my room is on the other side of the nursery.”
“Johnny?”
“Yes?”
She graced the little gold heart with a tender kiss.
“It’s good to be home.”
56
A week later, Felicia, Sophie, Bill, Ms. Lee and I were having breakfast in the dining room.
Sophie was sticking to Bill like gum on a shoe and if Bill minded the attention, it didn’t show.
Ms. Lee seemed to take it all in stride. If she was jealous, it wasn’t apparent, but then, not much showed with Ms. Lee. I thought if anything that she seemed pleased that Bill had an admirer.
I looked up and realized that Felicia had been watching me watch Ms. Lee. I was beginning to think that she believed something was going on between Ms. Lee and me.
I did spend most of my time with her, but it was all firmly work related. Ms. Lee was a true beauty, but I still mourned Tori so much that I could have found Ms. Lee lying in my bed naked and oiled and I would have only asked her about the progress of the new factory. If I wasn’t working, it gave me time to think, and eventually my thoughts would return to that moment before I leapt. And so I worked, over twenty hours a day, and sleep was becoming a memory.
Ms. Lee sent me a smile. “John, Mr. Krebbs would like to meet with you after breakfast in the conference room.”
“Oh Goody,” I said.
“Who’s Mr. Krebbs?” Felicia asked me.
“Krebbs is the money guy, the head accountant and, once it gets off the ground, he’ll be the C.F.O. of Faron Engines. He keeps track of every penny, and I do mean every penny.”
Ms. Lee spoke to Felicia. “He also requested that you be there Ms. Delgado, along with your aunt.”
“What’s this about Ms. Lee?” I asked.
“Money I’m sure, but the specifics will have to come from Mr. Krebbs.”
Sophie stood up.
“Bill, would you please escort me to this conference room? I don’t believe I know where it is.”
“It’s in the east wing, I’ll show you.”
Bill and Sophie excused themselves and then Ms. Lee also rose.
“Ms. Lee, before you go, have you had any luck contacting Richard McCarthy?”
“Yes John, he will be here on Monday at nine a.m.”
“This Monday?”
“Yes John.”
“Bill spent a week trying to contact him and you did it in one day.”
“Yes John.”
“Ms. Lee you are a wonder, you do know that, don’t you?”
She grinned. “Yes John.”
“I’ll see you in the conference room.”
She said, “Yes John.” and then sent Felicia a smile and left.
Felicia made a face.
“Does she ever say anything other than ‘Yes John.”
“I’m beginning to get the feeling you don’t like Ms. Lee.”
“No. I do like her, it’s just… never mind, I was being silly. Who is Richard McCarthy and why is he so hard to find?”
I told her about McCarthy, and about why I wanted to hire him.
“What happens if he does find David, will he kill him?”
“No, he’s only going to find Thorne. I’m going to kill him.”
“Johnny you’re no murderer, what are you saying?”
“I’m going to kill Thorne, Felicia, no ifs, ands or buts.”
“Is that why you’re wearing that gun?”
“I’m wearing this gun because your insane husband wants to kill me, and if he tries it again I plan to be ready.”
“Please don’t be angry with me, I just hate what losing Tori has done to you, you seem so different at times, so obsessed with David.”
“I am obsessed. Thorne is my reason for living. All I want out of life is his death.”
Felicia pushed away from the table and struggled herself and the baby out of the chair. She then walked over and kissed me.
“Life has other things to offer you. Please don’t think this is a pass, I’m pregnant and you’re in mourning, I understand that. But I won’t always be pregnant and your pain won’t always be this fresh. I want you to be happy more than anything in this world. To hell with David. He’s taken more than enough from you, don’t let him take anymore.”
I stared into her eyes. “Not everything was taken, some was gleefully given.” And the moment I said it, I regretted it.
She took a step back and I could tell that she was fighting tears, then, after a moment spent gathering herself together, she spoke.
“Yes, I slept with David of my own free will. I was seventeen, I was impressed by him, flattered by him, and seduced by him. I broke your heart that day for a few moments of pleasure. I have loved you for as long as I’ve known you, I waited years for you to think of me as a woman and not as a girl, as a friend. You have never been anything but loving to me and I repaid you by sleeping with another man. That was my leap Johnny, my moment of decision. I weakened and gave in to David, to curiosity, and it cost me everything. The shame I felt afterwards was overwhelming.
“I told you about David because I wanted you to hate me as much as I hated myself. Instead, you told me that you still loved me and wanted to take me back. That hurt more than if you had spat in my face. It only meant that what I had ruined was even more valuable, that I had betrayed someone who loved me enough to forgive me. And that one act, that one betrayal not only tore us apart but is still wreaking havoc. If you brought up my sleeping with David to hurt me, don’t bother. I do it to myself every single day.”
I stood up. She was right. I had said it to hu
rt her.
Suddenly, all I wanted to do was to take her in my arms and tell her that I forgave her for everything, that someday we could start over, that someday, we could forget. But instead, I walked away from her.
“Krebbs is waiting. Are you coming?”
She nodded yes and wiped at her eyes and I headed off down the hall.
57
Franklin Krebbs looked like an accountant.
Six foot, glasses, bit of a paunch, a bald spot, three-piece suits and an ever-present calculator.
He was Ms. Lee’s idea. She had hired him away from Universal Motors, saying that he had the best financial mind in the company. She was right, of course, but Krebbs had a knack for irking me.
I’ve never been a penny pincher, nor was I ever a big spender; I just normally didn’t give money that much thought. However, Krebbs did. He was paid to, by me, and of course, he was going to see that I got my money’s worth.
I held out a chair for Felicia and she took it without acknowledging me. She was seated to the left of Sophie, with Bill on Sophie’s right. Krebbs sat on the other side of the table, with Ms. Lee beside him and I walked over and sat beside her.
“Okay Krebbs, what’s up?”
“Mr. Faron, I called this meeting in order to set parameters concerning your house guests.”
“Parameters, what kind of parameters?”
“Financial Sir, personal finances actually, it seems that Ms. Delgado and Mrs. Thorne were rather liberal with your money last week.”
“Krebbs, nearly everything these two women owned was destroyed in a fire. I told them to go shopping and replace their wardrobes.”
“Yes Sir, Ms. Lee informed me of that, however thirty-one thousand plus in expenditures seems a little, excessive.”
“Thirty-one thousand?”
“Yes Sir, a large percentage of that was for the purchase of a full length mink coat by Mrs. Thorne.”
Across the table, Felicia colored and hissed at her aunt.
“Sophie!”
Sophie looked about the table. “I knew it was wrong, but it was just so beautiful, and it does get bitterly cold here in Pennsylvania, doesn’t it?”
Krebbs looked over his glasses at her. “Mrs. Thorne, I have lived in colder climes than this and never paid more than a hundred dollars for an overcoat.”
