Fatal Deception: Part I (15 page)

“What is it?” asked Geri. She braced herself, very much aware this was going to be the hardest part of the family reunion.

“Why didn’t you contact my dad when you found out my mother had died? If you loved my mother so much, why didn’t you come to check on the baby she left behind?” Alondra had become very emotional at this point. Thoughts of a mother and grandparents she had never met plagued her since Geri mentioned her childhood. Geri held all of the missing pieces for eighteen years.

“It’s a long story Alondra,” said Geri. “I didn’t stay away because I wanted to. I had no choice.” She covered her face with her hands and once again fought back tears. “I told you I lost my baby, but I didn’t tell you how I lost her. I was so happy when I got pregnant. And Clarice wrote to me and told me she was expecting too. In fact, I think we were due around the same time. During my pregnancy, my husband began to act strangely. Coming home late, sleeping on the couch, and hardly interacting with me. I thought for sure having a baby was something he wanted also. But I was wrong.” She grew quiet for several moments and Alondra could see the pain on her face.

“Rumors had started that he was having an affair. I didn’t want to believe it at first, but started to realize it was true. He would stumble in drunk at all hours and go straight to bed. He’d lost interest in me. I went out looking for him when he stayed out late, but would never catch him. Then, two weeks before my due date I followed him to her place. He went inside but didn’t come out. I waited a long time then knocked on the door. She didn’t even have the decency to answer the door in something decent. She wore a sheer robe and nothing else. And she smelled of him. It was unmistakable. Suddenly he came out of the bedroom with no clothes on. We stared at each other, both of us somewhat shocked, then I turned and ran. I couldn’t take it. I was so emotional my tears were blinding. That’s when it happened.”

Geri stopped, her eyes red and wet with tears, her breath shallow. It was clear to Alondra that it was very difficult for Geri to utter these words.

“I ran out in front of an oncoming car,” said Geri. “I was knocked several feet into the air and then landed on it. My husband must have run to get dressed because he was suddenly holding me, and his voice was the last thing I remember before falling into a coma. I didn’t wake for several months. I guess it was my way of shutting down and not facing what I knew in my heart, that I had lost my baby.

Geri now leaned on the window pane for strength. Alondra went over and wrapped her arms around her as she cried.

It hadn’t been an easy road for their family. Geri and Alondra were now the only two remaining.

“When I came to, I called Clarice,” said Geri. “And someone told me she had died. He asked who I was and I just went blank. I hung up. It was too traumatic. Everything I had loved was gone. I never thought to ask about the child, and didn’t give anyone a chance to tell me. I didn’t even know how she died, just that she had.” Geri came to grips and left the window to sit down.

“I divorced my husband, despite his protests. Years later, I found out he’d remarried and shortly after had suddenly died in a freak accident. He’d only been married three months to a woman half his age. Radio fell into the tub or something.”

Alondra went to sit on the sofa when Geri’s phone rang. Alondra gestured for her to remain seated and answered the phone. “Dad?” she said with frustration. “Why are you calling here? Didn’t she say she didn’t want to be–” She was cut off, and grew silent listening to her father.

Geri unwittingly felt a rush when she heard who was calling. He certainly had passion. And she needed it now. She needed him to ease the pain she was feeling inside. Suddenly, she saw the saddened expression on Alondra’s face and ran to her.

“Alondra, what’s wrong?” she asked. She took the phone from her hand and listened. There was a dial tone.

“It’s Aunt Blair!” Alondra cried. “She fell down the stairs!” She gripped Geri by the arms and stared intently. “Geri, she’s pregnant!” Alondra exclaimed.

The two quickly ran out of the house and sped off to the hospital. Geri wouldn’t let her make this trip alone.

Marc began to pace back and forth in front of the hospital. He stopped momentarily and looked through the door and down the hall to the emergency room. He should be there with both Cain and Blair. But he needed to gather himself first.

He walked over to a bench and took a seat. He thought back to when he’d met Clarice, how they’d bumped into each other. He thought of her loving light brown eyes. It was a lot like his first meeting with Geri. How could two women be so much a like?

Once again a light shined in his heart because of his thoughts of Geri. But then darkness still looms there as well. How could he marry Deidra? He knew there was nothing real between them. But in a weak moment she’d shown him she knew what was missing in his life and that she could fill that void for him. He sighed wearily. Not many people get a second chance at love, and his moment of weakness may have lost him that chance.

“Dad?” spoke Alondra.

He looked up into green eyes that matched his own. He saw Geri stood next to her. And he saw kindness in her eyes. He stood to greet them.

“Why are you out here all alone?” asked Alondra. Then she realized his reason. “Oh, you don’t have to answer. It’s Mom, isn’t it?”

She wrapped her arms around him and he pulled her close. Geri turned away, not wanting them to witness her tears.

Alondra released her father and turned to Geri when she realized the impact this was having on her. Geri had lost Clarice as well, and had been in the same predicament as Blair was in now. “Geri, I’m sorry, this must be hard on you too,” she said.

“What are you talking about?” asked Marc.

“It’s nothing, Marc,” said Geri quickly. “Don’t worry about me. You two should go be with Cain and Blair. I can only imagine what they’re going through.”

“Yeah, Dad, let’s go inside,” said Alondra.

Marc started toward the hospital with his daughter then turned back, his eyes fixed on Geri’s. She couldn’t turn away this time. He had a hold on her. But he continued past her and on to the parking lot where his motorcycle was parked. He removed a bag from it and came back, eyeing her as before, until he went inside.

Geri sighed. That man is something else,” she said.

Alondra hurried into Cain’s arms. She held him tightly, speaking encouraging words.

Then she raised her head to face him. His eyes were saddened. “What did they say, Uncle Cain? How are Aunt Blair and the baby?”

Just then, Marc approached and handed his brother the bag. “Here’s a shirt, and a couple of other things,” he said. “How are Blair and the baby?”

“I don’t know yet,” said a heartbroken Cain. “The waiting is killing me.” He took the bag and sat down in a chair. He slipped on the t-shirt while Alondra took a seat and Marc leaned against the wall.

“What I can’t figure out is how in the hell did that step get loose?” said Marc. His arms were crossed tight, his brow furrowed hard.

Cain shook his head. He couldn’t figure it out either.

“Kind of like the Yukon breaking down all of the sudden,” said Alondra.

Marc stood straight up and Cain looked at both of them. Strange things had been occurring. But Cain noticed Marc hadn’t truly picked up on that fact. He was looking at Blair’s room where the doctor was coming out.

Cain left the chair and rushed up to him, Marc and Alondra at his side.

“What is it? Are they going to be okay?” Cain asked worriedly.

“I checked both Blair and baby out thoroughly,” said the doctor. “As of now, they both appear to be just fine. You wife landed in a way that protected the baby. And she didn’t break anything. We were able to stop the bleeding, but want to her here under observation for at least a week. She’s going to be very bruised and uncomfortable for a while, but everything should be all right. She’s a strong woman, Mr. Caldwell,” he said with a caring smile. “She’s awake. You can go in to see her.”

“What a relief,” said Marc, holding onto Alondra.

Cain went in to see his wife without delay.

“I’m glad for all of you,” said Deidra, who had just walked in.

Marc and Alondra turned around, the astonishment evident on their faces. Alondra’s joy soon faded and she went in to be with her aunt and uncle.

Marc’s eyes grew dark. Now she was getting to be annoying. “I asked you–No, I told you to stay at the house. You couldn’t do that, could you?” he asked, shaking his head.

“Marc, I am your wife! My brother-in-law’s pregnant wife just fell down the stairs and you expect me to stay home? Am I not a part of this family?” she asked. She stared at him hard for an answer.

Her words made sense, but nothing else did. He felt like a fool having married her when he was vulnerable, but what was her excuse? Her motives were only one of the things he was asking himself. He couldn’t deal with her right now. “Go home,” he said. “There isn’t much you can do here.”

“Fine,” she said. “I’ll go home and keep it warm.” She stared at him long and hard before walking away.

Marc watched her disappear around the corner and then went in to join his family.

Geri had been standing nearby, just out of sight, taking in the scene. Something was definitely plaguing this family. There were too many coincidences. First, the Yukon suddenly broke down, yet had just been checked. Now the step, which had never been loose before, come completely loose causing Blair a near-tragic fall. And after what she’d just witnessed between Marc and Deidra, more ‘coincidences’ could be yet to come. That was something she wasn’t going to allow.

Geri left a note at the nurses’ station for Alondra, and then she left the hospital in a taxi. She pulled out her cell phone and made a call.

“Are you ready? Good. Meet me at my place. We need to talk.” She hung up quickly. Her plan would have to be accelerated or someone was going to die.

Chapter 30

“
Geri, you’re good at what you do, pretending to be something or someone you’re not to get the job done. But this time you’re over your head. You’re too emotionally involved. And well, if I may say so, you got a little sloppy!” spoke the voice across the table from Geri.

Confused, she stared blankly at him. “What are you talking about?” she asked, her eyes shrinking.

He turned and looked at her. “The pictures, remember? She saw the pictures which jeopardized everything. So you had to come clean that part in order to divert her attention. Never minding the fact that you almost told her the rest of it anyway,” he proclaimed.

“No, no, I never would have told her the rest. I’m not that senseless,” she reminded him.

His look softened. “No, you’re not, Geri,” he said. “But must I remind you what is at stake here? Whatever else is going on, you need to stay focused. A lot is riding on that.”

He was right. There was nothing more to be said. She watched in silence as he stood, went to the door and walked out into the night. She knew he would be out there doing just what she’d asked him to: watching.

She walked into her bedroom and pulled out the briefcase containing the pictures and some files. She looked over two photos in particular. The first was of the man she had married at a very early age. “My dear, Stan, you made a lot of mistakes in your life, but you didn’t deserve this.” She stroked the picture of him gently with her finger then gently placed it back into the briefcase.

“Radio falling in the tub, indeed. One thing you were was a safety freak. You would never have allowed it in the room. How many times did you protest when I suggested we bring it in to listen to while we sat in the tub—countless.”

She sat thinking for a moment then looked at the second picture in her hand. A beautiful, tall, slender, blonde was poised next to Stan in a wedding picture. She had crystal blue eyes. “Deidra, you thought you got away with it, didn’t you? Stan didn’t deserve what you did to him. You’ll pay; I’ll personally see to it. And more importantly, you’re gonna forget about my family or you’re gonna wish you were never born.” She tossed the pictures into her briefcase and locked it for safe keeping. She then decided to get showered and changed. Business was about to pick up.

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Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoy the conclusion in Fatal Deception: Part II.–S.R.B.

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