Her Mistaken Dream

by Brenda Barrett

  The whole situation was not helping her paranoia and though she had claimed that God would take care of her, she had been praying about the situation with a little fear lodged in her chest.

  Perfect love casteth out all fear, she whispered to herself. God did not give us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

  She repeated the text to herself during the day. She did it through her staff meeting, she did it when she was backing up out of the parking lot and gingerly tested her brakes. She would never get into a car again and not test if the brakes were able to hold.

  By the time she reached home she was much calmer than four days ago. She had finally remembered who was in charge of her life and she hoped never to forget again. She was not surprised when she saw Luca and Nick conversing in the living room when she stepped inside.

  "Hey," Luca said when she walked through the door. "Your sister sent me over here to check that there are no bugs in the house."

  Caitlin chuckled. "Really? Now Casey is giving in to Brigid's paranoia?"

  Luca smiled, "I don't know. I brought my technician, though. He checked the place. No bugs."

  "Thanks, Luca." Caitlin went over and gave him a hug. "You are a good brother-in-law."

  "Well, Casey hasn't been sleeping well since your near brush with death," Luca said looking at Caitlin with concern. "Are you sure you don't want twenty-four hour security?"

  "Sure," Caitlin said. "I firmly believe that no weapons formed against me shall prosper."

  "Good girl," Nick murmured. "If only I could convince Brigid to stop worrying."

  "If you accomplish that, tell me how you did it," Caitlin said, laughing. "Where is she, by the way?"

  "In her room. We are going to get that interview with Helen."

  "Oh yes, please. You guys going today?"

  "Yes." Nick nodded. "Aunt Helen is not exactly receptive since our last visit but she called me this morning to come and pick up some paintings."

  "Good. Really good," Caitlin said excitedly.

  "Hey!" Brigid came out of the room. "You are home. I am just going to record the conversation with Helen and take it to you, okay?"

  "Okay." Caitlin smiled. "Thanks! Remember to ask her about what inspires her paintings and ask about her life as an independent person living with mental health issues."

  "Got it." Brigid nodded. "You gave me a list of questions, remember?"

  "Yes. Right." Caitlin smiled and waved to them as they left.

  She checked her phone messages, after pouring some apple juice in a wine glass. She liked to pretend that she was totally relaxed and queen of her castle when she was alone. She scrolled through her messages. She had about fifteen of them.

  She sipped her juice and scrolled through until she reached a message from an unknown number.

  You should have died.

  She read it over and over again, and each time she felt the sneaky cold hands of fear creeping up her neck, and then she swallowed.

  Unknown number.

  She allowed the phone to slip out of her hands and she closed her eyes. She put down the wine glass on the center table. Her hands were shaking.

  Lord, I meant it when I said I was not going to be afraid and I am trusting you to take care of this. I trust you more than the law enforcement in this land and I trust that you are more powerful than all the forces of evil combined. Please take care of this.

  She breathed out and found that she was a little calmer than before. Whoever was doing this had no idea who they were messing with. God had a special love for orphans like her who trusted him to act on their behalf.

  *****

  The Boss' House

  Caitlin had been here before. It had stunning architecture and well-thought-out gardens.

  There were oohs and ahhs from the rest of the senior staff when she arrived there and that was saying something because they were usually the ones who interviewed celebrities in their places of residence.

  She wanted to fade into the background when she entered the patio area with the view but Howard, with his exuberant self, was declaring that for the November issue she really needed to get a shot of Todd standing and looking over on the view.

  "It would be splendid," he said loud enough for Todd, who had just walked on the patio, to hear.

  Todd paused when he saw her and then continued toward a group of people as if she wasn't there.

  Message sent. He didn't care about her anymore. Caitlin swallowed. She was no longer important. She wondered at the pang of regret that she felt.

  She swung around, feeling a little sting at her eyes. She blinked away the tears rapidly. She stopped a passing waiter with a drink and nursed it as she looked over at the city. She watched as the dusk descended and the lights came on one by one in blocks, as if some giant unseen hand was switching them on.

  "It's pretty, isn't it?" someone said beside her.

  "Yes." Caitlin looked around. It was a tall, thin guy with a full mustache and beard combo with shots of grey hair in them both; he didn't look like the advertising crowd.

  "I am Fred Gage," the man said, smiling at her. "You have certainly grown up. The last time I saw you, you were about here and you were all eyes and so sad." He indicated with his hands.

  "Pardon?" Caitlin said.

  Fred was staring at her, a twinkle in his eyes. "You may not remember me, Caitlin, but that's okay. I used to do some accounting for your parents. They were good people. I work for Todd now as head of his accounting team. I am not surprised to see you here."

  Caitlin frowned, looking at him, trying to place his features.

  "I was the one who arranged their business after they died," Fred said, reading the confusion on her face. "Your church people were discussing where to put you."

  "Oh, that was you?" Caitlin murmured.

  "Yes." Fred nodded. "Fourteen years ago. Of course I had less grey hairs then and I was a bit stouter."

  Caitlin smiled.

  Fred took a glass from a passing waiter. "I remember coming to the house, and it was chaotic. I called Todd; he was on honeymoon in Bahamas. He was contemplating taking you to live with him and Rita but he couldn’t. Rita hated your mother, thought she was too pretty and of course, you kind of look a little like her."

  "Say that again," Caitlin whispered.

  "Oh, you didn't know." Fred smacked his hand on his head. "Me and my big mouth. Todd is very secretive about stuff like this, keeps his well-doing close to his chest. If people knew half of what he does behind the scenes and the kind of person he is they would keep their big mouths shut about him being a murderer."

  "I didn't know this." Caitlin forced a smile. "What do you mean he sorted things out?"

  Fred didn't hesitate to respond. He smiled at her benignly. "He paid off your parents' business debts. He found your aunt in the States, paid off her medical debts too, and was on the verge of arranging for her to take you to be with her when you were sent to Magnolia House."

  "How was it, by the way?" Fred asked interestedly. "I mean, obviously you turned out well. I had argued with Todd about keeping you in the orphanage but he insisted. He said he wanted you out here where he could keep an eye on you. He had always had a soft spot for you, you know. I am not surprised to see you here."

  Caitlin gripped the railing behind her firmly. She couldn't believe what she was hearing and she didn't want to fall.

  "If you ask me, I think he bought Lux Caribbean because you worked there." Fred said conspiratorially. "Why else would he do it? Though it was a profitable company and all, Todd is not really into communications and magazines. As soon as he saw that you were working there though, he bought it."

  Every word hit Caitlin like a dull blow.

  "And your aunt," Fred said. "He had her living in luxury and pretending to be wealthy so that she could take care of your schooling. Todd is a good man. A very good man."

  Caitlin cleared her throat. "Yes, he is."

  Fred excused himself and Caitli
n barely registered his departure. Her mind was racing.

  Fred had just rewritten her history and he was looking as pleased as punch that he did it, as if he hadn't caused a massive earthquake in her timeline. Now she had to review everything that had ever happened to her that she thought was a happy coincidence or good fortune and had to ask herself what Todd's role was in it.

  She searched for him on the crowded patio. He was talking to a group of men; he stood head and shoulders above them, muscular, handsome. He had been her dream guy; now she had to add childhood savior?

  Had her subconscious somehow known that he was working behind the scenes in her life and had conjured him up in her dreams?

  As if he felt her eyes on him, he looked across at her and unlike earlier, he didn't look away.

  Caitlin was the first to drop her gaze. She didn't know how to act now. Should she say thank you?

  What did one say to the person who had sent her through school and on vacations? She had always been well provided for by her aunt. Anything at all she had asked for, she had gotten. Her aunt had encouraged her to ask. And now to realize that her aunt had been acting as proxy to Todd Taylor!

  She inhaled jerkily and headed down the steps to the back. She walked through the well-lit path and found herself down at the fountain.

  She inhaled the air deeply and then expelled it. When she heard rapid steps heading toward her she swung around, her bosom heaving like the heroine in a Victorian novel.

  She breathed out when she saw that it was Todd.

  Chapter Seventeen

  "You look amazing standing right there," Todd said softly. "How are you doing, Caitlin?"

  "Fine, I guess." Caitlin inhaled shakily. "I just found out that you've been involved in my life since I was little. I am just processing that info."

  "I was afraid that Fred would blab to you about it." Todd walked closer to her until he was standing directly before her.

  "But this means that..." Caitlin tried to put her thoughts together, "…you bought Lux because I worked there? I don't get it. Why would you do that?"

  Todd sighed. "I never wanted to have this conversation with you, you know. When your parents died you had no one. So I looked out for you."

  "I don't know what to say," Caitlin murmured. "Thank you seems so inadequate."

  Todd smiled. "I don't require thanks. I have cared about you behind the scenes for so long it became second nature. At first, I had weekly reports on you and then monthly and then quarterly and then when I saw that you were getting on quite well at Magnolia House, I stopped tracking you personally; I made sure that your aunt was the one who did."

  He moved away from her. "I was suitably shocked when I saw you in that paper seven years ago. You had grown into a beauty. It was quite a jolt to my system."

  Caitlin sat down at the edge of the fountain abruptly.

  "You are right about one thing, you know," Todd said quietly. "Trying to pursue a relationship between us wouldn't have worked. I guess I am not dream guy material."

  "It's funny that you would say that," Caitlin said. "If it weren't for the whole Rita thing..."

  "Yes, I know." Todd nodded. "That will always be a barrier between us."

  He came and sat beside her on the side of the fountain. "Life is funny, isn't it?"

  "Yes." Caitlin looked at him in the half dark. "Todd, I have something to tell you. It's about my dreams. Remember, I told you that I saw my parents' accident happening and sometimes I dream other stuff too.

  “Well, for years I dreamt about a guy. I think he is the man that God wants me to marry. In my dreams he tells me that he loves me and sometimes he asks me to wait for him. I think that..."

  "I don't want to hear about him," Todd said solemnly. He looked into her eyes and leaned closer to her. "That is one dream of yours I really don't want to come true."

  "But..." Caitlin whispered, "Todd..."

  "Call me selfish," Todd said, "but I love you, Caitlin, and want you for myself and even if it takes forever I know that you are the person for me, because I don't think I can live without you."

  He bent his handsome dark head; his lips claimed hers. With the utmost gentleness he let his tongue steal between her parted lips.

  She moaned low in her throat. She couldn't break free of the fierce physical excitement that was controlling her and yet she was conflicted. This was Todd Taylor, the guy who killed his wife, but he was also the person who had looked out for her all these years, and he was the guy she dreamt about.

  Todd heard footsteps coming down the walkway and he pulled away from Caitlin. "We have got to stop going away like this at parties." He brushed her cheeks lightly. "If only you could forget about my past."

  "And if only you could remember what really happened," Caitlin whispered hoarsely.

  "Stalemate," Todd said. "Say I do remember and I didn't do it—I didn't kill Rita. Would you marry me, Caitlin?"

  Caitlin swallowed. "Yes, I would. But if you didn't do it, who did?"

  Todd shrugged. "If I had the answer to that..."

  "Todd!" Deb called out. She came around the corner of the shrub-lined walkway in a floaty red dress. "There you are!"

  She completely ignored Caitlin. "Mr. Clive Dean was looking for you. He said you guys had some business to discuss."

  "That's right." Todd got up and squeezed Caitlin's hand. "I'll call you later, after the party?"

  Caitlin nodded and then she got up but Deb said sweetly, "Caitlin, may I have a word?"

  "Sure," Caitlin said, not knowing what to expect from Deb.

  She watched as Todd paused too. He looked back at the two women in concern.

  "Don't worry, I am not going to tell her where you buried the bodies," Deb said, laughing.

  "Wrong choice of words, Deb, and that is not funny. You'll be okay, Caity?"

  "Yes. Sure." Caitlin nodded.

  "So," Deb said, sitting back down at the fountain when Todd left. "I can see that the boss has feelings for you and you have feelings for him." She rubbed her hands over the stony surface of the wall. "Interesting."

  "Why do you say that?" Caitlin asked, keeping her distance from Deb.

  Deb was acting almost erratic. "Because every woman that Todd has ever liked since Rita has met in some unfortunate accident or the other."

  Caitlin's blood ran cold.

  Was Deb the person that had cut her brakes? Sent her a text message to frighten her?

  She backed away toward the walkway. Why was she out here in the dark with this lunatic woman?

  "Stop acting so scared," Deb said. "What do you think I am going to do? There is a houseful of people up there. I am just stating the facts. Every woman who has been interested in Todd has mysteriously met in some kind of accident or near-death situation. Let me see..." She put her hand to her lips. "There was that lady before Rita, her name was Denvers. She was married and older than him but she had a thing for Todd. Yes, I remember."

  Caitlin froze. Deb was talking about her mother.

  "She called him very often too," Deb continued. "Then Todd married Rita and then she died. At first," Deb chuckled, "I thought Rita was the one who did it—killed the lady and her husband—but they said it was a car accident.

  "And then Rita kept losing her babies and I have to say I think that was arranged somehow, maybe by somebody close to the family. I didn't buy the miscarriage story—no, not me.

  "And then Rita was murdered and every woman that had a thing for Todd since then kept meeting in one accident after another. It's crazy."

  Caitlin felt a trembling start in her spine. Deb was reciting the events with relish and looking at her almost maliciously.

  "There was this Senator lady five years ago. She wanted Todd really bad. I think she was pushing too hard to get him; it was like she was in heat, I tell you. She almost died of poison in a restaurant. Coincidence? I don't think so.

  "And then there was the model. I don't know if Todd was serious about her or anything but she was almo
st burned to death when her apartment caught fire. She got out almost too late, and she doesn't have a career in modeling anymore. Severe burns along her body. It was terrible, I tell you."

  Caitlin gasped. "What are you trying to say?"

  Deb stood up. "All I have to say to you, Caitlin, is watch your back. It is obvious to me that somebody wants Todd for themselves and they are not afraid to employ any means necessary to get him. This person is dangerous and they are not afraid to murder."

  She brushed past Caitlin, who stood there frozen. Her body felt as if it was encased in ice.

  "But then again," Deb spun around, "maybe your only hope is to stay away from Todd. Forget about him and you won't get hurt like the others."

  "Are you the person who is trying to hurt me, Deb?" Caitlin asked, marveling that her voice was steady enough and not shaking. "Are you the one who killed Rita?"

  "I wouldn't hurt anyone," Deb said unconvincingly and walked up toward the house.

  Somehow that was not reassuring. Caitlin followed behind her closely, only breathing a sigh of relief when she was back in the house, and even then she couldn't get the jittery feeling of uneasiness to leave her trembling body.

  She left as soon as she could and then all the way home she descended the hill feeling as if she had tussled with malevolence and lost.

  Chapter Eighteen

  "What are you still doing here?" Brigid asked Caitlin the next morning. "Got tired of going in early and showing up the others?"

  "No, I'll never get tired of that." Caitlin had been sitting in the living room for the past half hour. Her tea had gotten cold. "I am not going in until midday. I thought I would write that article on Helen. It is way overdue."

  "Oh yes," Brigid said. "Sorry about not being able to write it as promised, Caity."

  "No problem," Caitlin said listlessly. "I know you are busy now with your new job and school. When can I go over to Nick's to photograph the paintings?"

  "Anytime you want to. I have a key." Brigid headed for the kitchen.