Lamont lurched toward her, his arm raised in attack. Hope heaved the backpack upwards and swung it across his face knocking him against the wall. He stumbled, and then lurched again, this time attempting to swing the belt bucket at her face. She ducked, swung, and knocked the belt from his hand.
Lamont pulled the knife from its sheave. He smiled menacingly, assured of his victory. He leveled the blade and swung a wide arch just missing her. Hope jumped back, the knife missing her by inches.
Before he could regroup, she swung the backpack at his legs sending him crashing to the ground. The knife fell free as the side of his face scraped on the broken glass against the wall. He screamed in stunned agony.
Hazed by alcohol, pain, and rage, Lamont staggered to his feet. But, instead of lurching again, he fell back against the wall. Hope watched, then raising the backpack again. She steadied herself in a defensive stance and waited for his next move. There was none. She jerked the backpack again. He flinched, screamed and covered his face.
In a heap of pathetic wails, Lamont rolled on the cold cement, screaming for help. He gripped his face as streams of blood trickled through his fingers. Hope dropped to her knees and opened her backpack. Dawning latex gloves, she tore open a sterilized gauze packet and drenched it with an anticipate liquid. She hurried over to Lamont, kicked the knife further away. With brute force, she pulled his trembling hands away from his face.
Within minutes she was completely surrounded by hospital security, police, and Raymond. In the midst of chaos, calls of alarm and assistance screeched over the two-way radio and the police officers pulled her away and picked Lamont up.
Raymond immediately went to Hope’s side. He grabbed her face and kissed her with all the passion he had locked inside. Fear had propelled him to latch onto her for dear life. Once he’d been assured that she was fine, he turned his attention to Lamont.
The fire in Raymond’s eyes blazed. Without warning he lurched at Lamont knocking him down along with two security guards and a policeman. They unsuccessfully tried to pull him away from the screaming man until Hope grabbed him back. Raymond reluctantly allowed her to separate them. Raymond stayed by her side as the police and security guards handcuffed him and took him to ER.
Raymond and Hope, against her will, were escorted to Wescott’s office. Maxine and Faith met them there. All three stormed around the office like caged animals each wanting to get their hands on Lamont for a few moments. Hope looked at them in astonishment until she realized that she was no longer frightened. And the memories that she’d so long cleaved to where gone.
She didn’t cry, she couldn’t cry. She’d been silently crying all of her life. Being too young to help her mother and too old to forget, she was forever stuck in the inner turmoil and continuous cycle of reliving the pain of abuse.
The haze of the next two and a half hours faded into a blur of jagged emotion. Lamont had been treated then escorted to jail on charges beginning with assault and attempted murder.
A police officer escorted Leanne to Hugh’s office. Raymond, Hugh and the officer waited outside discussing the official police report.
Leanne walked into Wescott’s office and looked at Hope. She looked dazed, drained and twisted like a discarded washrag left to dry and harden. She’d obviously heard the news that Lamont had attacked Hope in the garage parking lot. She didn’t weep, she didn’t cry.
A knowing smiled creased both of their faces as the pain they’d each suffered for so long had ended and the burden they’d silently carried had been removed. Hope stood as Leanne approached. Then, without saying a word, they wrapped their arms around each other and surrendered the burden. The healing had finally begun.
Maxine and Faith looked at each other. They couldn’t help but smile. For Hope and Leanne, the nightmare was finally over. The four women gathered in a small circle, cheered, and rejoiced at newfound freedom.
Wescott barged into the office in the midst of the tender moment. The quizzical expression on his face at seeing all four women laughing and smiling was humorous. Maxine took Leanne back downstairs to Women’s Intervention to gather her things. They had instructed her to go directly to the police station and file assault charges and petition for an emergency restraining order against her husband. Maxine volunteered to go with her.
Raymond and Faith sat by Hope’s side as Hugh detailed the charges leveled against Lamont. When he had finished, he produced an official complaint report. Hope signed it as Faith looked on.
“I’ve asked Dr. Murray to make herself available to see you as soon as possible. She’ll be in her office all evening,” Hugh said.
Hope frowned. “Why?”
“Hope you know that it’s procedure to see a counselor in these matters,” Faith insisted.
“But I’m fine, really I am.”
Raymond took Hope’s hand. “This was a traumatic experience. What happened to you was horrendous. Taking some time to talk with Dr. Murray might be a prudent decision.”
“But I assure you, I’ve never felt better.”
Both Raymond and Faith looked at Hope with concern. Then, Faith saw a light sparkle in Hope’s eyes. She hadn’t seen that spark in years, she smiled. She had never seen Hope so calm. It was true. She was all right.
“Are you sure?” Hugh asked.
“Absolutely.” Her eyes sparkled. “I’ve never been surer of anything in my life.”
Hugh nodded reluctantly. “Okay, I’ll have to take your word for it. I’ve spoken to several members of the board and we feel that it would be prudent for you to take tomorrow off for some personal time.”
“That’s not necessary Hugh. I’m scheduled tomorrow evening. I’ll be here.”
“Your dedication is admirable, but I’m afraid I’m going to have to insist. The decision has already been made. Take tomorrow off, relax, and get some rest. Put all of this behind you,” Hugh insisted.
“That decision from the board isn’t because of the horde of reporters sitting outside, is it?” Raymond asked.
“Of course not,” Hugh said then turned to address Hope.
“I’ll tell you what, why don’t you take a couple of days off.”
Hope was about to decline a second time when Raymond placed her hand on hers and spoke up. “Actually Hugh, that sounds like a great idea. She’ll do it. But, I think that two weeks might do better. Yes, two weeks, that ought to be just about right.” Hope looked at Raymond then to her sister. Faith shrugged then nodded and smiled encouragingly.
“Two weeks is a bit longer than I had anticipated.”
“That’s unfortunate Hugh,” Faith said slightly forlorn as Raymond continued.
“I’m sure Hope’s welfare is your utmost concern. So maybe Hope should discuss this with a counselor. I know an excellent one at Manhattan Medical or even Johns Hopkins. But I’m sure that the publicity of Hope seeking medical attention elsewhere because of the lack of security and concern for your staff probably wouldn’t sit well with the reporters parked at the front door or with Barclay Med. Two weeks, he pushed.”
“That’s out of the question.”
“I’m feeling slightly distressed myself,” Faith chimed in. “I think that talking to the reporters might help.”
“There’s nothing you can tell them.”
“I don’t know about that, they might be interested to know that Barclay Med and its hospital administrator, who also happens to be my sister’s ex-father-in-law, didn’t follow protocol in handling violence against its own doctors.”
“Alright, two weeks.”
“That’s with two weekends correct?” Faith asked innocently.
Hugh glared at Faith.
“Two week with two weekends would be fine.”
“That’s very generous of you Hugh. I’ll make sure to mention it to my friends on the Barclay Board,” Raymond added.
Hugh looked stunned. “Yeah, you do that.”
Before Faith went back to her duties, she pulled Hope aside. “Are you sure you�
�re okay?” Hope nodded and they hugged each other warmly. “Good. Why don’t you go away for a while? I hear Crescent Island is wonderful. Go there.”
“What do you know about Crescent Island?”
“Dennis told me all about it.”
“You and Dennis?”
Faith nodded happily, “me and Dennis.”
They watched as Raymond came out of Hugh’s office. The two men shook hands. “You know he’s really kind of nice, not at all like Nolan and the others.”
“I know.”
“Raymond was right. You could use a couple of weeks off. You’ve been a pain in the butt to live with for the last few weeks.”
“I have not.”
“Hope listen, I’m telling you this for your own good. Ever since you and Raymond broke up, you’ve been miserable.” Hope opened her mouth to rebut but stopped. “You can’t deny it. Whatever you and Raymond had, lit a spark in you. He made you happy. It was nice having my old sister back.”
“What do you mean?”
“You think I was too young to remember what happened?”
Hope touched her scar and looked away. “Hope, for years you’ve been shutting people out of your life because of what our father and stepfather did. All men aren’t like that, just like all women aren’t like our mom. Raymond isn’t like that.”
“I know.”
“Good, then do something about it.”
“It’s too late.”
“It’s never too late.” Raymond walked over as Faith turned to leave. “Call me,” she said as she waved to Raymond and hurried down the steps to the fourth floor.
“Shall we go?”
“Raymond, thank you for everything. Two weeks off. Wow.” She shook her head elated. “But I need to take the time for myself. I think I might go away or something.”
“Where?”
“I’m not sure.”
“For how long.”
“I don’t know yet.”
“Want company?”
She smiled and shook her head. He nodded. “Hope, I can’t change the world for you. I wish I could but I can’t. Sometimes it’s a dark, ugly, lonely and scary place. I can’t change that any more that I change the horror you went through as a child. The only thing I can do right now is to love you. And together, just maybe, we can change our small corner of it. We can make sure that our children will never experience the pain and agony you suffered.”
“Raymond.”
“You have no faith in me. You don’t trust that I’m not like your father and stepfather. And I don’t know how to assure you that I could never hurt you. I would die first. I love you. When you’re ready to get through the pain, I’ll be here for you. We’ll survive together. I’ll be at home waiting for you.” He stroked the scar on her face then turned and walked away.
Chapter Twenty-six
Crescent Island was everything everyone had said it would be and more. At Louise’s invitation, Hope stayed at Gates Manor. To Hope’s surprise it was the size of most of her neighborhood.
The building itself was completely surrounded by hundred-year-old maple and oak trees. It was truly majestic. The stately manor stood regal and dignified, proud and strong, resembling the prestige of its elder mistress.
The main section of the mansion was rectangular in shape with an added semi circular covered receiving area that protruded a good ten feet out into the red brick driveway. The covered section was held up by a number of white columns that eventually joined in with the huge pillars growing up from the wrap around white porch.
The building was pure white with forest green shutters and matching flower boxes at every lower and upper window. The boxes overflowed with white impatients and white geraniums. The sight was simply magnificent.
The wooden floor of the open porch was painted a cool blue gray color. There were several groupings of forest green wicker furniture with thick floral patterned cloth cushions. Each seating arrangement boasted two or three chairs and a small table in between topped with a delicate wicker basket brimming with fresh cut flowers. Between each pillar was a huge hanging basket of red, yellow and orange poppies, trailing fuchsia and sweet peas, crimson geraniums and dazzling nasturtium blooms accented with tender English ivy hanging down. The effect was a burst of color separated by thick white stone columns accented below by beautifully planted perennials and annuals.
Hope had spent most of her time either on the receiving porch, which was surrounded by white astillbe or out back on the veranda by the pool.
It was early in the morning when Hope stepped out into the large screened covered deck that faced the garden areas and a small portion of the Bay. Her bedroom, Raymond’s bedroom, faced the gardens and she loved waking up to brilliant sunrise and sound of birds. She walked over to the telescope and leaned down. She adjusted the settings and captured the close up image of a bird in flight. She watched until it disappeared from sight.
She sat down in the wicker chair beneath the miniature fig and ficus trees. Planted in huge clay pots, they sat back against the brick wall behind a large display of flowerpots filled with a colorful array of plants.
She stood and looked down over the iron rail and smiled as she breathed in the aromatic scent of fresh flowers emulating from the gardens below. She’d been here for almost a week but it felt like she’d been here all her life.
From her vantage point on the second floor she saw Mamma Lou walking from the dock to the small cottage. Hope opened the screened door, went downstairs and out onto the patio.
Taking the brick path, she walked around to the side of the house to the scenic cottage. It was surrounded by towering weeping willows, dwarfing its size to miniature dollhouse.
It was a stark white stucco building that was tucked snuggled between the varying green hues of several weeping willow, magnolia and maple trees. A one foot white picket fence encircled the front area and continued around each side encasing a selection of colorful spring blooming flowers. The heavenly scent of spring hyacinths encompassed the air. Two large windows with white open shutters and white flower boxes filled with budding snapdragons and impatients straddled the front door.
Hope came to the front door. It looked like it was right out of one of those old 1950’s movies. It was one of those Dutch doors. The top half had several small windowpanes and was completely open. The bottom half was wooden raised panels that was slightly ajar. She leaned over the open top and called out to Louise.
“I’ll be right out.” Seconds later Louise appeared at the doorway with her basket filled with week-old flowers having replaced them with fresh ones.
“Are you all packed and ready to leave?” she asked as Hope held the door open for her.
“Yes. Thank you so much for inviting me. It was exactly what I needed.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed yourself and got some rest.” They walked back up the path to a small area beside the vegetable garden. Louise dropped the wilted stems in a churner and began turning the crank. The flowers were immediately mulched.
“I have a small confession,” Louise said. Hope looked at her oddly. “I’m allergic to almonds.”
Hope was confused then her expression brightened in understanding. “You were matchmaking.”
Louise nodded.
“Raymond and me?”
Louise nodded again.
“How did you know to come to the hospital? We’d never met before.”
Louise confessed her eavesdropping the night of the play when she overheard her conversation with Faith. Hope began laughing. “And you decided just like that I was right for Raymond.”
“You were exactly what Raymond needed, you still are. Now why don’t you go on back up there and find my grandson.”
Hours later Hope arrived home she busied herself with mindless chores trying to keep her thoughts off of Raymond. She remembered her sister’s words, she knew Faith was right. Raymond was different. He was nothing like their father or their stepfather. She knew it was also true that she had
been miserable since she and Raymond had been apart.
She decided to take a chance and give Raymond a call. She called the office and was told that he’d taken a few days off and that she could probably find him at home. She called his apartment. The machine informed her that he wasn’t available. So she decided to drive over to his apartment.
Chapter Twenty-seven
The overcast sky appeared hazy on the horizon. It had been a hot summer day and had promised to be an even hotter night. The still sticky air hung heavy as Hope made her way out of the city. Closely followed by thousands of commuters, she watched as the sun sunk lower on the horizon.
It was late afternoon by the time Hope finally left Manhattan. The city skyline vanished in her rearview mirror. The road ahead inched slowly with traffic congestion. She glanced up and adjusted the rear view mirror to see how far she’d come. Then she looked ahead to her future somewhere in Connecticut.
Her mind buzzed with the doorman Jimmy’s remark.
She had just arrived at Raymond’s apartment when she saw Jimmy in the lobby. “He’s gone to Haven,” he told her. Hope immediately called Louise, who explained that Haven House was the name of Raymond’s home in Connecticut. Fifteen minutes later, she was on her way.
Hope followed the GPS directions until it became clear that she was lost. She’d been traveling all day—first, driving nearly five hours straight from Virginia and now another hour into this trip. Oddly enough, she wasn’t at all tired. She was nervous.
She had absolutely no idea what she was going to say to Raymond when she saw him. The only thing she knew was that she needed to see and be with him. She wasn’t even sure if he’d welcome her back. But she was hopeful.
Hope slowed the car to check the street sign then made the appropriate turns leading her she hoped directly into Raymond’s waiting arms.
She traveled along the scenic parkway toward Connecticut. Hope drove through Bedford, Greenwich, Darien and Westport. Suddenly enjoying the beautiful scenery became secondary. She was too anxious to see Raymond.
One Sure Thing (Mamma Lou Matchmaker Series) Page 23
