The View from Alameda Island - Robyn Carr Page 0,116
sidetracked by his failing marriage, or was that pending divorce? He was driven out of his mind by the idea that his beautiful wife was getting shagged by a younger man. Never mind Brad had had his share of much younger women, he had once had such wonderful control over Lauren. The thing that drove him craziest was, he never saw this coming. Even though she had threatened many times, he never thought it would happen.
He hated Lauren and he wanted to punish her, but his lawyer had warned him over and over that any kind of physical violence was going to cost him big. It would put him away. And felonies that included violence and assault might cost him his license.
He’d had a couple of complaints filed with the hospital. A resident and an OR tech had both accused him of abuse. He was under a lot of pressure; maybe he was a little terse. He dropped an instrument and a nurse said he threw it. They both needed to get spines. Limp dicks. Complaining babies. They should have worked for important surgeons like he had. He had never been coddled. And he hadn’t complained. Filing complaints? What was this world coming to?
Then came the straw that broke the camel’s back. He was tortured by the money this divorce was going to cost him, he hated that he’d lost one daughter to Lauren and was barely hanging on to the other, he was furious that she had implied to some people that he was abusive and swore out a legal order of protection... But he reached his breaking point when he learned that she was working for the Emerson Foundation. Those were his friends! He’d been Andy’s friend for years!
It was a simple accident. He called Andy and asked him when he was free for a round of golf at Pebble Beach. Andy said he’d have to check his calendar. Then he asked when the golf tournament for Andy’s kids was coming up and Andy said, again, he’d have to check his calendar. Brad’s hackles rose and he said, “What’s going on? Are you avoiding me for some reason?”
“Not at all, Brad! I’m sure we’ll continue to have a very amicable friendship and we appreciate all your support. We’ll find a good day to get together when it’s not awkward.”
Brad had laughed and said, “Why would it be awkward? You don’t like the color of my money? You managed to get your hands on plenty of it—if you don’t kick my ass on the golf course, you eat it up at the charity events!”
Andy chuckled and said, “I love your money. I just don’t want to put any further strain on you and your ex-wife. Sylvie depends on her. Best assistant Sylvie has ever had. It’s a good relationship.”
“How’s that?” Brad said, after a long pause.
“I was just referring to the fact that Lauren is Sylvie’s administrative assistant and director of the foundation, and that’s working out very well. For Sylvie and for me. So we want to keep it like that. Don’t we?”
Brad was stunned, but he said, “No problem there. Now take a look at the calendar and let me know when you’re free. It’s been a long time.”
“Absolutely!” Andy said.
Brad hung up on his friend and thought, fuck golf! He seethed. Had she moved into his circle of friends? And left them wondering if they should socialize with him?
He called Lacey. “So, I’ve asked you a couple of times now. What is your mother doing for work?”
“Well, she was offered her job back at Merriweather, but she got something else. And I’ve told you before, it just keeps things nicer if we don’t talk about Mom...”
“I heard she’s working for the Emersons,” Brad said.
“You heard that? Where did you hear that?”
“From the Emersons, that’s who! You might have told me! They’re my friends, not hers! She obviously used my friendship with them to get a job!”
“I don’t think so, Dad,” Lacey said.
He hung up on her. He called Lauren. To his surprise, she answered.
“It’s been nine fucking months!” he said angrily. “Don’t you think enough is enough? You’ve turned everyone against me, tried to wrench everything I’ve earned away from me and now you’re fucking some yard boy! You promised me life! If you end this cruelty right now, I’ll put the house in your name. I’ll pay for law school for Cassie. You can negotiate your own terms! This can’t go on!”