The Battered Heiress Blues - By Laurie Van Dermark Page 0,17
of me pulling my panties to the floor. There was no embarrassment. We had a physical history together. I didn’t have the mental capacity to feel vulnerable about my nakedness.
“Tru, I don’t know what I’m doing?”
“You think? You’re starting to scare me, Jewels. I don’t know how to help you. God knows that I’m doing a piss poor job. A tragic thing happened to you, to be sure, but you’ve got to get a grip. You can’t put yourself in harm’s way like this. You’re too important to me.”
I took his face in my hands. “How do I get a grip? Tell me and I’ll do it.” I was desperate for the one answer that would heal this hurt.
“Let’s start with a shower. We’ll figure the rest out.” His tone was reassuring.
He led me into the shower and then removed his soaked suit- the one he had worn to the service and fell asleep in earlier. He walked in behind me. The hot water ran down my body. Henry gently caressed my skin, removing the soil before lathering my hair with shampoo. When he was done, I turned to face him.
“I will be okay. Tell me I’m going to be okay,” I demanded.
“You will be. We’ll get through this together. Give yourself some time. Be patient.”
Henry held me under the water until it turned lukewarm. After drying off and slipping into my robe, he led me back to bed.
“Get some sleep. It’s almost morning. Kate will be arriving soon.”
I nodded while he pulled the covers over me. The image of the stranger popped into my head. I became curious regarding his identity.
“Who was that man in the cemetery?”
“What man?”
“You didn’t see him?”
He looked puzzled and concerned. “No.”
“There was a man. I may be a little off the reservation, but I’m not seeing things.”
“Okay.” Henry tried to sound affirming.
“Okay.” I closed my eyes before I had to see his disbelief.
“Love you.” He left.
I woke from the first restful sleep I had had in months. Rolling over, I hoped my arms would find Henry, but my bed was empty. I pulled myself to the clock- ten. Kate would be arriving shortly.
My feet found the floor. I went into the bathroom to view the damage, expecting to find my face swollen and distorted, but I was pleasantly surprised. Besides the two saddlebags under my eyes, I could pull off plain-not spectacular, but adequate. I surveyed my hair, pulling stray curls vertical, pinning them up to wash my face and brush my teeth.
The knock on the door was measured- Kate. My heart lightened. She slowly pushed it forward as I aggressively pulled it back, landing her on top of me as we fell to the floor.
“Well, that’s quite an entrance,” I roared. “Ouch. My belly.”
We laughed loudly. It was the first ounce of joy I had truly felt. My best friend had arrived, ready for the day in her swimsuit.
“I don’t do anything half-way,” she announced proudly.
She noticed me looking beyond her into the hallway. She answered my question before I had a chance to ask it. “He’s gone.”
“Who?” I wasn’t a girl who played dumb well.
“Who? Whatever. Suck it up. You’re so transparent. He gave me marching orders and left for New York. My brother will be back in three days. Deal.” She pulled herself up and jumped on the bed. “Which rules shall we break first?” She seemed excited at the prospect.
“Was there one regarding alcohol?” I asked.
“That was number one so it should be the first to be broken, don’t you think? Ah…it’s good to see you.” She pulled me up beside her and surveyed my stability.
“It’s good to be seen. Your brother must have told you that I’ve gone mad.”
“He did instruct me to hide the butter knives and toss the razors. Looks like its mushy food and hairy legs for you.”
“I haven’t been myself.”
“He mentioned that. Why don’t we picnic at the beach? Put your suit on. I’ll pack a hamper full of food and booze.”
“I don’t have a suit.”
“Henry told me that, yes, you do have a suit. He instructed me to tell you to look in your drawers and I quote, ‘Don’t make excuses about leaving your room’. So, chop, chop. I’ll be downstairs.”
Kate was my polar opposite in looks and style. She was shorter than me with shoulder length, dark blonde hair, which was stick-straight. She was into fashion and always looked polished whether she was going to sleep or like now, in an expensive bathing