The Battered Heiress Blues - By Laurie Van Dermark Page 0,8

and swept his hand over my cheek.

“Not long. I’m ready to leave.”

“Me too. I’ve had enough of Peru to last a lifetime. Have you had breakfast?”

“No, but I’m sure one of the nurses would be more than happy to get you something,” I scoffed, making fun of his groupies.

“Funny,” he laughed with fake bravado, sitting up and turning towards me. “We could always eat on the plane.”

“Sounds like a plan. Let’s go.” I started to unravel the sheets from under me.

“Can I get a shower first?”

He didn’t need one. He smelled great and looked even better, unlike me. “Do you need help?”

He started to walk toward the bathroom, but looked back, flashing that devilishly gorgeous grin of his. “Don’t trouble yourself. I’m sure one of those dedicated nurses would be more than happy to wash my back.”

After successfully dodging the pillow I threw in his direction, he disappeared. With the sound of the water started, I decided to make haste and be ready to go, calling the nurse to remove my intravenous line and prepare the paperwork for my departure. She reviewed the discharge instructions left by the doctor and exited the room.

Henry had bought a few choice outfits for me to wear over the past weeks that included jeans and sweats. Though longing to wear the jeans, the thought of buttoning them and applying pressure to my waist made me quickly decide to choose the pink sweats. Hopefully, they were the absolute last things available in my size. Why would he choose such an obnoxious color, knowing my gravitation toward all things neutral?

The mirror didn’t lie. I was hideous. Without makeup and a real will to achieve beauty, there was no way to remedy my appearance. Pulling my hair up into a knot on the top of my head, I pinned it tightly. One solitary curl fell down at the side of my face, which I didn’t bother to readjust. The long tress fell across the last of the yellowing bruises and seemed to provide a bit of camouflage. The sound of the water ended and the bathroom door opened, revealing Henry bare-chested with a towel wrapped around his waist.

“Can you hand me some clothes out of that bag?” he asked.

He should be in marble. I felt very plain next to him. I walked to his weekend bag and sifted through the options.

“What should I wear?” he thought aloud.

“You sound like a girl,” I protested.

“I’m asking so you feel comfortable, considering I bought you a leisure suit.”

“Well then, where is yours? That would make me feel more at ease.”

“They were out. I guess I’ll just go with the Abercrombie and Fitch.”

“You bugger. Hurry up. I’m ready to go.”

Nodding, he dressed, tussled his hair, and we were on our way home- to Connor.

2

The plane ride was long and uneventful. We’d bought some food on the way to the airport, but the gravity of the day diminished my appetite. Henry tried to persuade me to take advantage of the darkness and sleep, but I knew what the morning was going to bring. After our arrival at dawn and the drive home, I would only have a short time to change and emotionally prepare for Connor’s service. The quiet I was enjoying would soon be stolen by well meaning strangers.

Henry, on the other hand, had no trouble sleeping. Stretching out with a full stomach, he became lifeless, except for the occasional turn from one side to the other. The captain’s announcement of our impending landing woke him. Becoming very attentive, he prodded me to eat and drink some juice. Looking out the window, I prayed for strength to make it through the day.

I must have nodded off in the car, only waking when the vehicle came to a screeching halt at the gate to my mama’s house. Transferring ownership to me after her death, the house had remained well maintained and very stately. A tall red brick wall surrounded the property line at the road. Two black iron gates with an “S” scrolled into the design had been a gift from my father to my mother. Stopping at the black box to type in the security code, the gates slowly rolled away from one another, revealing a tree lined drive to the main house. I put down the window to take in the salt air. I felt like I was finally home.

The big white house was all abuzz with workers coming and going from the front door. The old Southern mansion had