A New Hope

by M. L. Ray

  “I don’t remember much about that day. I remember we went to lunch and I felt fine. But during lunch, my head started to hurt. Zachary gave me a couple of aspirin, and then I don’t remember much. Just bits and pieces.”

  “That might be important when you try to file for a divorce.” Peter wished he wasn’t having this discussion with her. Brooke was supposed to have married him!

  “Maybe. You know, there’s a lot about the last four months I don’t really remember. At least, not until I found out I was being drugged and started taking steps to correct that.”

  “I’m proud of you for being brave enough to fight back. That took a lot of courage.”

  “Desperate people do desperate things,” she offered back.

  “Well, your days of being desperate are over. For good! Now, tell me what you want to eat so we can get back on the road and find this car dealership the fine young man at the gas station gave me directions to.”

  Brooke gave him her order, and then listened as Peter ordered twice as much food for himself. She looked at his physique, and wondered what kind of metabolism he must have if he ate like this at every meal. He was definitely not overweight, and he seemed to have great muscle tone.

  His arms were deeply tanned, and the muscles bulged beneath his t-shirt when he flexed them. “Quit showing off,” she told him, thinking how much his body had filled out since they’d been in high school. Peter had always been in great shape, as had her brother and all of the other young men. Working ranches, horses, and playing high school sports made staying in shape easy!

  Peter laughingly flexed a bicep and winked at her, “Showing off? As if you’d be impressed. I’m sure you’ve modelled next to muscles much bigger than mine.”

  Brooke shook her head, “Not really. Most of my work before I came to New York was for magazine ads. Boats. Cars. Motorcycles. I was usually the only animate object in the picture.”

  “I thought you originally went out to California to model clothing,” Peter commented, as he paid the drive-thru attendant and took the bags containing their food.

  “Yeah, but I’m a little tall for most normal clothing. That became problematic at first. It seems that my long legs filmed better when I was wearing shorts or a swimsuit. I did a few ads for vacation spots and tourism campaigns, but mostly it was for large ticket items like speedboats and flashy cars.”

  “So, how’d you end up in New York City?” Peter asked, pulling away from the fast food restaurant and leaving it to Brooke to sort out their food order. He took the directions the fuel station attendant had given him, and headed towards the car dealership.

  “Long story,” Brooke said, popping a few fries into her mouth so she wouldn’t have to expound upon that story right now.

  Peter looked at her and then nodded, “Fine. But after we take care of the vehicle situation, there’s not going to be anything but miles and miles of road ahead of us. I need to know exactly what’s been going on with you so I can help you find a solution.”

  Brooke sighed and then reluctantly nodded her head, “I understand that, but I really made some poor decisions and…”

  “…and what? You think I’m going to hold them against you?” Peter wanted to ask, hurt that she wasn’t giving him more credit. Always before, they had been able to speak honestly with one another without fear of judgment.

  “Maybe,” she hedged.

  “Well, I may have put on some weight and filled out in the muscle department these last six years, but I’m still the same guy I was before. And I meant what I said earlier. I’ve been carrying a torch for you since you left Cathedral Hills, and don’t think that you’re going to douse that flame by confessing that you made a few mistakes.”

  More than a few! How about several years’ worth all rolled into a few months!

  When Brooke didn’t respond, he reached over and touched her arm gently, “I mean it, Brooke. I’m not here to judge you. That’s God’s department, and I have enough to deal with trying to manage my own life. I don’t need to go around trying to tell others how they should have done things differently. I may not like the situations you were involved in, but that has no bearing on who I think you are as a person. If you’ve made a few mistakes, then that is between you and God, and I trust you’ll take care of the details when the time is right.

  “I’m just here as a friend and someone who happens to care about you and would like to see you smiling and happy once again.” He glanced over at her, and decided his short term mission was to put a smile upon Miss Brooke Jameson’s pretty face. The long term would take care of itself all in due time.

  Chapter 47

  Taking care of the switching out of her new model Mustang for an older SUV had been fairly easy, even though Peter was sure the dealership had made out like bandits. He and Brooke had driven away in a five-year old Honda Pilot with five thousand dollars cash in their pockets. Considering everything, Brooke was very pleased with the bargain that Peter had made. Since she’d had the title with her, the dealership had been able to process all of the paperwork right there, and the SUV now sported a temporary tag good for forty-five days.

  “So, now what?” she asked him, as he headed back towards the interstate. She had her arms wrapped around her middle again as she struggled to keep her tremors concealed from her very watchful driver.

  “Well, I think we should probably keep going for a few more hours. The weather report said there’s a storm coming down from Canada in the next couple of days, and I for one have no desire to be stuck on the highway in the middle of a blizzard.”

  “Me either.” She grew quiet for a moment and then asked, “Have you spoken with Tyler again?”

  Peter shook his head, “He’s been trying to call my cellphone for the last few hours, but I wasn’t sure what to tell him. I also would prefer not to talk while I’m driving.” It’s not that safe, and what kind of rescuer would I be if I saved her from her snake of a husband and then got her killed because I was on my phone instead of paying attention to the highway?!

  Brooke nodded her head and then sighed, “I guess I probably need to talk to him myself, huh?” She shivered a little bit, glad that the worst of the nausea and tremors seemed to have passed. This time. She’d toyed with the idea of taking another half of a sleeping pill, but then she remembered the horrible nightmare she’d had the night before, and pushed that idea from her mind. Feeling awful was much better than waking up screaming in terror! Every day of the week!

  “That might be a good idea,” he agreed, knowing that Tyler was probably going crazy back in Colorado, not knowing what was going on.

  “Tell you what; let’s drive for a couple more hours, and then we’ll stop for the night. I don’t know about you, but I don’t have it in me to drive all night long.” When she nodded her agreement, he asked, “You feeling okay?”

  She relaxed her arms around her middle, and pasted a fake smile upon her face. “A little bit. I figure it might take a week or more before I feel completely better.” I hope it doesn’t take any longer than that. While she was feeling slightly better than say – two hours ago, she knew it was only a matter of time before her body let her know it was going without whatever chemical substance it had come to rely on to feel good. She’d managed to hide her feelings of nausea from him for the most part, and the only reason he hadn’t seen her shaking was because she was sitting down.

  “I figure that we can stop in Columbus for the night, and then we’ll get started again first thing in the morning.”

  “All right,” she agreed, wrapping up the rest of her burger and tossing it back into the bag. Her appetite was still very minimal, although the soft drink was just what she needed. She sank back into the leather seat, and let her mind wander as she listened to the radio and watched the scenery go by.

  She kept replaying Peter’s words over again in her mind, all the while trying to believe that they were true. He’d said that he hadn’t changed, and that there was nothing she could tell him tha
t would make him stop caring for her. As much as she longed to believe in that type of unconditional affection, that wasn’t the way her world had worked. Not in a very long time, and she doubted that when the truth was finally revealed, Peter would be able to stand behind his word. Not because he didn’t want to, but because he wouldn’t be able to look at her and not think about all of the things she’d done and allowed to unfold in her life.

  Before long, she’d let the passing of the miles lull her into a semi-sleep state, and she finally gave into her exhaustion and let her eyes close. Sleep meant that she didn’t have to worry about giving away how lousy she was starting to feel once again, and sleep meant that for a brief moment, she didn’t have to try and come up with answers that just couldn’t be seen!

  Peter knew when she finally stopped thinking and went back to sleep, her body slumping forward in the seat and her head lolling towards the window. He reached over and adjusted her head so she wouldn’t wake up with a crick in her neck, and then he turned the radio down.

  The miles rolled by, and Peter’s mind was taking all sorts of crazy turns in regards to Brooke and the people in her life who had been abusing her trust. So far, the list included her husband, her New York agent, and her California agent. He couldn’t believe that there weren’t others who had known how she was being treated and yet, did nothing to stop it. In his book, that was just inexcusable. This world would be a much better place if people simply opened their eyes and stood up for injustice wherever it occurred, instead of turning their backs and minding their own business.

  He knew that when things finally came out, there would be several people coming forward who would express thankfulness that her ordeal was over, because they had watched it unfold and yet done nothing. They would assuage their guilt over not acting by making sure they expressed an over-abundance of gratitude for her rescue. Peter had no need for people like that, and he only hoped that she could be shielded from any more leeches in their small town. He already knew how he saw this playing out, and he also knew that Tyler would be of the same opinion he was – someone needed to pay!

  Three hours later, the lights of downtown Columbus showed up and he took the highway past the metropolis area and headed west. “Hey, Brooke. I’m getting ready to find us a place to settle in for the night. Do you have a preference?”

  Brooke stirred in her seat, and then arched her back a bit and stretched. “Not really. Maybe someplace that has room service. I don’t really feel up to going anywhere.”

  Peter looked at her in the waning light, and noticed that her skin had taken on a greyish tone once again, “You feeling sick again, darlin’?”

  She nodded her head, and he hated the fact that he couldn’t do anything for her. Not that she would let him do anything anyway. Maybe after she talks to Tyler he can come up with a way to help her that I haven’t thought of.

  Peter pulled off the highway, and then into the parking lot of a well-known hotel chain. He didn’t mind spending a little more on their room tonight, as he was going to suggest that they take it a little slower tomorrow if she was still feeling poorly. She would be easier to convince if she had someplace comfortable to hang out.

  “Hang tight and I’ll go grab us a room,” he smiled at her as he exited the vehicle. He entered the hotel and smiled at how clean and new everything looked – a far cry from where they’d spent the night before!

  “Can I help you sir?” the young male attendant asked.

  “Sure can. I need a room with two beds.”

  “Just for tonight?”

  “Maybe two nights, I really won’t know until morning. Is that going to be a problem?”

  “No, sir. That should be no problem at all. Check out is at 11 o’clock, so if you could just let someone down here at the front desk know if you will be staying beyond that we would appreciate it.”

  “I’ll do that. Does the restaurant offer room service?” Peter asked, taking the form the attendant handed him and filling it out. When it asked for the names of the occupants, he filled in Mr. and Mrs. Peter Nash, just to avoid any questions or misunderstandings on the part of the hotel. Someday, the Good Lord willing.

  “The restaurant is available for room service until midnight. Here is your room key and a map of the parking lot. There is an outside entrance to the west of the building, and an elevator that will take you up to the fourth floor just inside the door. Your room should be just a few doors down from the elevator. Is there anything else I can do for you?”

  “No, that should do it.”

  “You have a nice evening, then.”

  “Thanks.” Peter pocketed the room key, and then headed back towards the vehicle. There were menus stacked up on a table outside the restaurant’s entrance, and he grabbed one on his way by. There was also a stack of newspapers, which he normally would eschew, but a picture of Brooke gracing the top right corner captured his attention.

  He quickly grabbed one of the papers and flipped to page ten, where he read a very touching story about a young up-and-coming lawyer in the New York City DA’s office whose lovely wife of only four months had gone missing. No determination had been made as of yet whether this was the work of foul play, or if she just wandered off.

  Brooke was painted as being a flighty, slightly incompetent model who’d fallen down the path of substance abuse, and her loving husband just wanted her home where she could get the medical attention and care she needed. Peter felt like hitting something because of the lies that were being spread. The fact that the news article had made a national news sheet also posed potential problems, should they be recognized.

  Placing the newspaper back on the stack, he exited the lobby with just the menu in his hand. No need to upset her tonight. Once I get her in the room, there won’t be anyone to see her until at least tomorrow morning. Maybe I’ll have come up with a solution by then.

  He opened the car door and then handed the menu to Brooke as he climbed back into the vehicle. “That’s a menu for the in-house restaurant. Why don’t you take a look while I get us parked?” It was a struggle to keep his voice even, but he managed it, for her sake.

  Brooke took the menu and glanced at the various offerings, but nothing sounded even remotely appetizing. “Maybe I’ll wait until after a shower before deciding. I really need to get out and stretch my legs.” Provided I can walk once my feet hit solid ground. Her muscles had started cramping just before lunch, but she’d said nothing to Peter, not wanting him to postpone their flight from New York and her past. They were still much too close in her opinion, but a car could only go so fast, and they had been travelling for quite a while already.

  “You can do that too,” he nodded his head in agreement. “Or maybe we should give Tyler a call after we get up to the room so you can quit stressing about it.”

  Brooke blushed, “Why would I be stressed over speaking with my brother?” And why is it that you can still read me like a book?

  Peter gave her a look that begged her to deny his statement. When she looked down, he nodded, “That’s what I thought. Tyler loves you and just wants you to be happy and healthy. Trust me when I tell you he’s going to be happy to hear your voice.”

  “I think maybe I should call him as soon as we get to the room.” Peter was right and in the back of her mind, she’d been trying to imagine speaking with her brother and explaining to him how stupid she’d been. He was not going to be happy with her!

  Peter turned the engine off and then exited the vehicle, grabbing their duffel bags and then escorting her inside the building. The ride to the fourth floor was quick and moments later, he was opening up the door to the room and watching as she took in her surroundings with a smile upon her face. Success!

  “Peter, this room is so nice!” Brooke slowly entered the small space, turning on several lamps as she moved around the spacious room.

  “I like this hotel chain. I’ve never stayed in a bad one.” Peter didn’t often stay in hotels, but when he did, he liked to be comfor
table.

  She dipped her head into the bathroom and then gasped, “There’s a jetted tub in here!”

  Peter looked over her shoulder and nodded, “Yep, there sure is. Let’s get your phone call out of the way, and then you can soak while we wait for dinner to come up.”

  Brooke took one last look at the bathtub, then walked over, and sat down on one of the beds, “Okay. Can I borrow your phone?”

  Peter handed her his cell phone and then showed her how to turn it on, “His number should be the first one in the log.”

  Chapter 48

  Brooke pushed the button to connect the call, and then realized that she was holding her breath. Breathe! It’s just Tyler, and you know he loves you no matter what!

  “Hello?”

  Brooke listened to the sound of her brother’s voice, and felt tears well up in her eyes. She had a lightning flash replay of all the times he’d come to her rescue when they were kids. What would his reaction be this time?

  “Hello? Peter, man, what’s going on? Hello?”

  “Tyler?”

  “Brooke?! Is that you? Where are you? Why isn’t Peter answering his phone? What’s going on? Are you okay? Peter said there was some sort of trouble…”

  Brooke burst out laughing as her brother continued to fire questions at her one after another. When he finally ran out of breath, but not questions, she hurried to get a word in, “I’m fine. We’re in Columbus. Peter’s been driving all day, so that’s why he didn’t answer his phone.”

  “Where is he? Put him on the phone. Brooke, it’s so good to hear your voice. ”

  “He’s right here. I’ll let him talk to you in just a minute.” She paused as she tried to find the right words to say. There was silence for a lengthy period of time, and finally Tyler couldn’t stand it any longer.