Sweet Desire, Wicked Fate

by Wray Ardan

  Jaden hadn’t thought of calling first. Suddenly she worried that they might not let her see Dr. Whiting. Combing her fingers through her hair, she approached the front desk. To her relief, the receptionist seemed delighted that the doctor had a visitor. Leaving Briz to wait in the lobby, Jaden followed directions down the corridor to Dr. Whiting’s room. Knocking on his door, she agonized over how much she was counting on this stranger to help her.

  A man’s voice said, “Come in.”

  It was a private room, similar to any other in this kind of a facility, sterile and medicinal. Though he’d tried to make it a cozy space, the only signs of it being Dr. Whiting’s so-called home for this stage of his life were two matching reclining chairs, a full bookcase, and an oak dresser covered with framed photographs. Considering that he was at least ninety years old, he wore his age with dignity. His hair was silver, and he was dressed in jeans and a long-sleeved blue button-up shirt.

  Jaden had expected to find him bedridden, not sitting in a leather chair reading.

  She meant to say hello. But she found herself walking right past him to his nightstand, where an ornately framed photograph practically jumped into her hands. Like the sepia colored photo she’d looked at earlier, it showed him in his youth with his arm around Elvina. Her curiosity about this man was now fully awakened. His past was obviously more entwined with her grandmother’s than Jaden had realized. And now it was linked with her own future.

  Returning the picture to its prominent position, she turned and found the doctor watching her, no doubt wondering who she was.

  “Hello, Dr. Whiting.” She smiled sweetly. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be impolite. My name is Jaden. I’m Elvina Lisette Thatcher’s granddaughter.”

  He stared at Jaden as if she were an apparition. It looked as if he’d stopped breathing. She was ready to call for help. Then he slowly exhaled. Setting his book down, he gestured for her to sit in the chair across from him. Jaden’s body relaxed as the color returned to his face.

  Opening her backpack, Jaden removed the photograph of Elvina that she’d brought with her and handed it to him.

  “I can see a bit of Elvina in you,” he said, looking at the photo. “You have her smile. How lovely.”

  Jaden knew that with her dark eyes and raven hair, she resembled her maternal grandmother Jin, not Elvina. Her smile was the only part of her that resembled her dad’s side of the family.

  “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” As he spoke, his southern accent draped over Jaden like a fine lace antique shawl. “My dear Elvina …”

  Handing the photograph back to Jaden, he took a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed at his eyes. “I had heard of her passing a while back.” The doctor’s words held more grief than Jaden had expected. “And Amelia, how is she?”

  The doctor might have been old, but he didn’t appear senile. Jaden’s silence said it all.

  “Oh my. She was near my son’s age, so young. I am sorry for your loss.”

  To the doctor, it must have appeared that Jaden was withholding her grief. But she had never even known the two women. Nodding, she accepted his condolences though the only remorse she felt was for having freed the Mal Rous.

  His eyes searched her face for a clue as he asked, “So, what may I do for you?”

  Grateful that he didn’t ask her more about her grandmother and aunt, Jaden realized that she hadn’t thought any of this through.

  I can’t just blurt out, how do I get rid of the Mal Rous.

  If he knew about them, just hearing the name might give him a heart attack. After all, he was living in a convalescent home. Perhaps he wasn’t as healthy as he looked.

  “Well …” Sliding the photo into her pack, she considered what to say. “We inherited Elvina’s estate, and we’re fixing it up to sell. I was hoping you could tell me about the place, and my grandparents,” Jaden said. “I don’t know anything about my father’s side of the family.”

  “Your father …” With a sad smile the doctor said, “Of course. Of course Elvina would have started a new life; had another child. She loved being a mother. I hope she was happy.”

  Jaden nervously coiled the nylon straps of her pack around her fingers as Dr. Whiting looked at her as if she were a long-forgotten friend.

  CHAPTER 12

  Jaden quietly waited. And waited. She folded her hands together to stop from fidgeting. Dr. Whiting settled back into his leather chair as he conjured up old memories.

  Finally he spoke.

  “Ah yes … Elvina.” His shoulders rose and lowered again as he let out a long sigh. “So, you’re going to sell the plantation?” He ran his hands over the chair’s armrests. “You know, it’s been in your family for … I’d say seven or eight generations now, counting you.” Resting his palms on top of his thighs, he said, “If walls could talk, I’m sure that house would have many stories to tell.”

  If walls could talk, I wouldn’t be here.

  Taking a deep breath, Jaden asked, “How well did you know Elvina?”

  “Actually, both of our families have lived in this area for a long, long time.” He chuckled, then added, “When we were children, I’d push her on a swing that hung from the oak tree in her yard, near the back porch.” Dr. Whiting looked as if he longed to reach out and touch Elvina’s wavy chestnut-colored hair. “She was always a sight to behold. She never did go through an awkward stage. Your grand-mere went from being a pretty child to a lovely young woman. Like every other boy in this town, as well as the next parish over, I imagined that one day I would proudly call her my wife.”

  Jaden found herself falling into the lyrical rhythm of his voice.

  “Of all her suitors I was the lucky one. She was most fond of me. Probably because we’d been childhood playmates. Though I prefer to believe that she was also smitten by the man I became. After high school, she all but agreed to marry me. It was in the summer of 1938. She promised to give me an answer when she returned from Switzerland. It seems her parents had decided she should be even more of a southern lady than she already was. They sent her off to a finishing school, the Institut Alpin Videmanette.”

  With his elbows pressing into the armrest, the doctor propped himself up, as if what he had to say next was very important. Jaden found herself mirroring his actions.

  “The following summer instead of returning to Louisiana she went with a girlfriend to England. There she was introduced to Dekle Thatcher. I was told he swept her off her feet. Within a year they were married, happily living in Cambridge—and, as they say, I was history.” Another wave of sadness flitted over the doctor’s face.

  “So what did you do then?” Jaden asked.

  “At the time I was going to medical school in Mississippi. When I finished, I moved up to West Virginia and worked at the VA Hospital in Martinsburg. That’s when I met Sara.”

  He pointed toward a photograph of a woman on his dresser. Jaden found it odd that the picture sitting next to his bedside wasn’t of his wife.

  “Sara was from a very wealthy family. Though …” the doctor clarified, “that is not why I married her. She had such warmth and vitality. I suppose I had hoped she would help me to forget Elvina. Sara was five years older than I was and had been married before. When she was in her early twenties she’d given birth to triplets.”

  Triplets? Triplets had made a brew for the Professor. Scooting back in her chair, Jaden listened even more intently.

  “Because they were albino …” Dr. Whiting paused, looking at Jaden as if expecting to see an adverse reaction. “Sara’s husband abandoned her. He cruelly declared Sara to be damaged, not worthy of him. It was a very difficult time for her. I am sure she felt for him the way I always have for your grand-mere.

  “Sara’s daughters were seven years old when we married. Two years later we had our son, Cape. That’s when I legally adopted the triplets. The girls were so scorned in our town that at the end of the war we decided to move to Belle Fleur. I had relatives here, an
d friends. It never dawned on me that they wouldn’t be accepting of my daughters.” He slowly shook his head from side to side. “I was so wrong.”

  “When did my grandparents move back?” Jaden asked.

  “Well, Elvina’s only brother had been killed in the war. It devastated her father. Soon after, he unexpectedly passed away. Elvina’s mother didn’t want to live at the estate any longer.”

  The doctor looked up toward the ceiling as if he were studying an invisible calendar. “It was 1946. That’s when she went to North Carolina and gave Guyon Manor to Elvina. A year later Elvina moved back. Apparently the timing was perfect. I never did learn exactly what had happened with Dekle’s research position at Cambridge. He had become a professor by then. All I know is that for some reason his relationship with his colleagues fell apart and they asked him to leave. World War Two had taken its toll on everyone in England … well, everywhere. Elvina was delighted to come back home with her ‘wonderful’ husband and sweet daughter. Amelia must have been three or four years old at the time.”

  The disdainful tone he used when he referred to her grandfather made it obvious to Jaden that Dr. Whiting had known him all too well.

  “Oh my, the sight of Elvina when she returned. I tried to hide my feelings from everyone. Especially Dekle and my lovely wife.” Holding Jaden’s gaze, he said, “How do you conceal the exuberance of pure joy when you are in the presence of certain people?”

  The doctor’s face filled with delight as he savored his memories. It was obvious that there was much more to him than the weathered man he was now. His age hadn’t erased his youthful desires. Jaden was struck by the connection she was feeling with him. They were kindred spirits, both broken-hearted after losing their unrequited first loves. Obviously, Dekle and Ava were related—the backstabbing louses.

  “To be honest, I only befriended Dekle so I could be near Elvina.”

  “Excuse me, Dr. Whiting … Miss …”

  Startled, both Jaden and the doctor looked up and saw a nurse standing in the doorway.

  “Excuse me Dr. Whiting,” the nurse repeated. “Sir, it’s time for yer physical therapy. And it’s time for ya to leave, Miss.”

  Not now. I need to learn more about the triplets, where to find them, and whether they can help me.

  Jaden looked at the old gentleman. “I—I can wait in the lobby—and you could tell me more when you get back.” She practically begged.

  “Miss, Dr. Whiting will be takin’ a nap when he’s done.”

  “I’ll tell you what, Jaden,” Dr. Whiting said. “You come back tomorrow, and I’ll continue the story.”

  The nurse moved between Dr. Whiting and Jaden. She spoke in a sharp, abrupt tone. “So, Miss, we’ll see ya tomorrow.”

  Jaden’s face pinched. She didn’t have the luxury of time. This man had answers that could affect her entire life. The nurse mimicked Jaden’s expression, and Jaden found herself agreeing to return the next day.

  At the door, she paused and turned back. This is the grandfather I should have had, kind and gracious. Not what she imagined Dekle Thatcher was—a bottom feeder whom she was happy to have never met.

  Dr. Whiting was rubbing his thin fingers against his forehead as if his mind was filled with too many memories, all of them sheathed in a layer of longing for what should have been. Jaden wondered how many people actually lived the life they dreamed of.

  Without question, there had been some major glitches in Dr. Whiting’s plans. His life had not been the glorious adventure he’d envisioned as a young man with Elvina by his side. Still he seemed to have loved his wife, his kids … So, he had a good life, an acceptable journey … right? Maybe more than fine only happens to one in a million people.

  CHAPTER 13

  With one look at Briz, Jaden suddenly didn’t care that her time with Dr. Whiting had been cut short. He had the ability to create a chemical reaction in her that made her thoughts travel at warp speed into the La-La-Land of Briz. Part of her savored the feeling. Another part didn’t want to act like a lovesick puppy, especially for someone who didn’t feel the same way about her.

  “That was fast. Did you have a good visit?” The rich tone of Briz’s voice took her farther into La-La-Land.

  “Sort of. I have to come back tomorrow.”

  “I can give you a ride. I mean, if you want,” Briz said, opening the lobby door. “It’s sort of far to ride your bike. You could get sunstroke.”

  “Are you sure you have time?” she asked, walking as close to him as she possibly could without bumping into him.

  “Hey, that’s what friends are for.”

  Friends. She could really learn to hate that word.

  As Briz started the car he cheerfully asked, “Where to now?”

  Actually I have to meet up with genetic mutants. Can you give me a ride?

  Unwilling to reveal that aspect of her pathetic world, she said, “I’d better get home. My mom would be furious if she knew I was gone. And Ava would probably claw my eyes out.”

  “Yeah, you and your sister you have an interesting relationship.”

  “Yep, one of those love-hate things—without the love on her part.”

  “I know it’s only been a few days, but I really missed hanging with you, Jaden.”

  You did?

  Briz leaned toward her. Jaden sat perfectly still, anticipating his taking her hand in his. When he popped open the glove box and pulled out a CD, she wilted in her seat. I’m such a dork, thinking he’d want to hold my hand. She doubted anyone would ever be attracted to her the way they were to her sister. Was this how Dr. Whiting had felt around Elvina? Friends. In rhythm to the music, she kept repeating the word in her head as the car hummed down the highway.

  When they arrived at her house, Briz unloaded her bike while Jaden made a beeline to the front door. Briz had done his good deed for the day by helping the new kid in town; now he was free to find some awesome babe to make out with.

  She was fumbling with her key when he came over to her, standing only millimeters away. Shaking visibly, she made a feeble attempt to dampen her excitement as he placed his hand on hers to steady it. When she glanced up, she saw his lips pressed together, hiding his amusement as he helped her guide the key into the lock.

  Friends. She stared at the doorknob. Cooyon. Betasse. Her giddiness subsided as she remembered the Cajun words her landlady had told her meant stupid and foolish. That’s me. Opening the door, Jaden swiveled around and asked, “Do you, uh, want to come in?” Nervously snorting in air through her nose, she made a sound like a hippo.

  With a chuckle Briz gently took hold of her hand and folded her fingers around the key. Jaden could feel her lips swelling, craving his. She swallowed to stop the moisture that was seeping toward the corners of her mouth.

  Cooyon might as well be my nickname. He’s not flirting. He just thinks of me as Ava’s little sister. Backing up into the house, she silently yelled at herself deep in the small space where her brain had once resided.

  How can I let him make me forget the Mal Rous? They’re amped up, ready to stick their canine teeth into me. I could die! My whole family could die, and I’m obsessing over some guy. Just because Briz was standing next to her, touching her, the genetic barbarians were deleted from her mind.

  “Jaden—” Propped against the doorjamb, Briz tilted his head, watching her.

  “Yeah?” Avoiding his eyes, she pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to stimulate her brain to work.

  “Are you all right?”

  “I‘m fine.” She lowered her hand, thinking that feeling fine would be an improvement. “I just … I have to hurry up—” and feed my little monsters.

  Then he smiled. He might as well have injected her with a drug.

  Forget it. Who cares about the Mal Rous. Craving more from Briz—more of anything, as long as it wasn’t rejection, she couldn’t stop her lips from quivering into a pucker. Her mouth fought against her as she tried to force it into a straight line. Briz l
owered his eyes. He was probably trying not to laugh at her.

  Could I be more pathetic?

  She wanted him to hurry up and leave, and at the same time to stay. Her emotions were bouncing around as if they were stuck in a pinball game. Couldn’t we be friends with benefits?

  “What time should I pick you up tomorrow?” he asked, still staring at the ground.

  “I’ll have to wait for my mom and sister to leave. Would nine be okay?”

  “Whatever works for you.”

  “Actually, if you see my mom’s car, don’t stop. She doesn’t know I’m, uh, researching my family.”

  “I won’t say anything.” He raised his hand to give her a fist bump as he said, “Friends should help each other out.”

  There was that horrible F word again. Jaden reluctantly returned the gesture.

  “So I’ll be back tomorrow.” Briz turned and headed for his car.

  Jaden left the front door open a crack so she could peek out and follow his every move. Then something caught her attention.

  At the sight of Ava bouncing up the driveway Jaden shut the door. “Where’d she come from?”

  Inching aside the edge of the curtain, she spied on the two of them. All of her poison ivy sores festered as Briz turned to face her stunning rival. Ava reached up and ran her perfectly manicured nails through his hair. What is it with her? She’d never liked anyone that’s a vegetarian, or owns a hybrid car—especially a used one.

  Though he had his back toward her, Jaden could see the way Briz lightly touched her sister’s arm, maneuvering her just enough so he could open his car door. With an impish grin, Ava stepped closer—if that was possible—and they kissed.

  And I got fist bump. Hunching forward, Jaden pressed her clenched hand against her chest, trying to stop the sharp pain. “He was supposed to choose me … to kiss me.”

  She knew exactly what Ava’s snide response would have been if she’d heard her: “Kiss you? You’re not just immature, Jade. You’re delusional. You probably think he wants to cop a feel, too? Oh no, you’d actually need breasts for him to do that.”