Authors: Vivienne Harris-Scott
CHAPTER 109
Deus ex
machina
…
Belinda
2 1/2 months earlier. July 2011. Phoenix. Arizona.
USA.
We are taught that evil is ugly. Obvious. That, we
’
ll recognize it when we see it.
But, Shakespeare wrote,
And thus I
clothe my naked villainy with odd ends
stol
’
n out of holy writ, and seem a saint, when
most I play the devil.
He was right.
Real evil is settled, insidious, it comes
into our life when and where we least expect it, like a thief in the night, it
surprises us, turns us into someone we hardly recognize, someone we
’
d never imagined we could be.
Without warning, we
’
re in his powerful grasp, and those around
us, collateral damage.
I
’
ve met evil in the person of Julian
McCarty. Lived with him for years without even knowing it, until its true nature
came out, sneaked up on me, really, when without a glint of mercy he took my
daughter away from me and caused me immeasurable pain.
Then, evil became me.
((~~!~~))
“
Here are your personal effects Mrs McCarty
…”
said the woman with a small smile.
“
Carmichael. My name is Belinda Carmichael.
”
replied, the soon ex patient of the
Serenity Health Recovery centre.
“
Of course. I
’
m sorry,
”
said the orderly handing her a box with
all her jewellery that had been stored for the past three years Belinda had been
there.
“
Thank you,
”
she said softly, flashing her a bright
smile.
She was leaving the deluxe rehabilitation
centre she had been a resident of for the last three years. Three long years to
recover from sequelae of the tragic accident she suffered with her daughter.
Her dead daughter. And all was only one individual
’
s fault: Julian McCarty, her ex-husband.
If that bastard hadn
’
t pushed her into a corner, she wouldn
’
t have been desperate and her daughter
would still be alive. She wouldn
’
t have spent the past 5 years regaining
her ability to walk, think, and speak.
After the accident it was found Belinda
was so traumatised she couldn
’
t speak. Not because she didn
’
t have the ability to physically do so,
but the trauma of the event simply hindered the part of her brain responsible
for speech and according to the diverse specialists, from neurologists to
surgeons, only time or another trauma would set things right. These things were
unpredictable they said
…
Luckily, the rest of her brain hadn
’
t been affected at all, but unfortunately
her spine had, and a long, unrelenting recovery awaited her before she would
properly walk again.
But, Belinda was alive, and she knew she
would recover from this, no matter all long it took her or how painful it would
be. She had survived for a reason. Yes, she would be herself again, one day,
because she had a purpose for living.
A specific point in time.
And the realisation of one goal when that
time came.
Make Julian pay.
((~~!~~))
She had been catatonic when Julian had come to visit
her for the last time at the hospital in Sydney. The doctor, while she was
present, lying immobile in bed, had explained to him her condition could be
permanent; they didn
’
t know if her spinal cord had been damaged
for good or would heal within days. In any case, Belinda had suffered a brain
trauma and was currently unable to speak, some of her immediate memories
obliterated, yet seems to understand everything going on around her. Once the
doctor had left the room, Julian with a sardonic look had approached the woman
he loathed more than anyone in this world and whispering against her ear, told
her in a soft but bitter voice that he was happy she was prisoner of her own
body. He had promised retribution, if she ever came out of her state, as no
jail sentence would be hard enough on her for killing his child. She had heard
him, but while she couldn
’
t respond with her voice, her mind had
been screaming
“
your child? You mean my daughter, don
’
t you? I will kill you for what happened
to her!
”
In silence, the ex-spouses had exchanged
one last look filled with hatred, before each went back to their own brand of
hell.
Julian went back to LA, never to return to
Australia.
Belinda stayed in Sydney, in a
rehabilitation centre, for 19 months to heal the physical and brain injuries
she has sustained in the accident that took her daughter
’
s life away. When the doctors deemed she
was fit and could travel back to the US, her mother returned to Sydney to get
her daughter who couldn
’
t wait to leave the forsaken country.
Back on US soil, she settled into a new
rehabilitation centre, spending the last of her father
’
s inheritance money to get better, and
swore she would spend the rest of her life making her ex-husband pay for what
he did.
Her speech wasn
’
t back to normal yet, but she could move
without any cane. Soon, with applied efforts, she would drive and she would
run. He face, thanks to multiple small face surgeries, was back being as
beautiful as ever, cuts and stiches a distant memory and most important of all,
her brain functions were back to being complete. She had recovered her full
memories, and her thoughts were focused. She knew what she had to do. A purpose
for the rest of her living days without her daughter: revenge.
She would never allow Julian to be happy.
In this life, or the next.
((~~!~~))
The call was a surprise.
Consuela
Matiñez
even hesitated to respond and nearly let it go to her voicemail when she saw
the
‘
private number
’
appear on display, but she figured not
many people had her cell phone number and it could be an emergency. She
answered.
“
He-hello?
”
said a feminine voice.
“
Hello?
”
she replied not recognizing the voice, as
it seems to be blurred.
“
Consuela?
”
was said gently.
“
Si. This is Consuela. Who
’
s speaking?
”
she asked, puzzled.
“
It
’
s Belinda.
”
was whispered.
“
Belinda? I don
’
t know any Belinda. I think this is a
wro
-
…”
but the
housekeeper interrupted herself, sighed, making a signed cross sign with her
free hand, and resumed shakily,
“
Miss Belinda?! Is this you?
”
“
Yes Consuela. It is me. It is really me
…”
said the voice trembling with barely
contained emotion.
Belinda knew this phone call was the
stepping-stone of her plan and it had to go well. What she hadn
’
t expected was to be overcome by emotions
as she talked to her former housekeeper, the woman who helped her daily with
Maddie since her baby was born. They hadn
’
t spoken to each other since Belinda had
left the house to attend to her father after his accident. 7 years ago.
“
Miss Belinda! Dios
mio
!
It has been such a long time! How are you? I mean I heard of the accident
…
I was so sad for you all
…”
the woman said animatedly. She had very
fond memories of her former boss and Maddie.
“
I am well Consuela. It took me a long time
to recover but I am well. Thank you. How are you?
”
the woman answered, genuinely.
“
Oh
…
you know same old
…
I
’
m still at the house. Are you coming back?
Mister Julian hasn
’
t said anything
…”
she stated her voice faltering.
“
No Consuela. I am not coming back to the
house. How is Julian?
”
Belinda smiled, glad she wasn
’
t the one who brought the subject of
Julian up.
“
Mister Julian is well. He
’
s finally broken up with that horrible
woman Frances Palmers
…
and we had Melissa and Charlie here for a
few days
…
all is well
…”
Consuela explained cheerfully.
“
Frances Palmers. He
’
s broken up with her?
”
Belinda enquired slowly.
“
Yes. After two long years, it
’
s over. He told me to have a locksmith
change the locks so she could no longer get in!
”
the maid chuckled. There was no love lost
between her and the actress who treated the help as non-existent entities.
“
I see.
”
Belinda stated making a note on a pad.
Frances Palmers. Disgruntled girlfriend. Maybe she could use her.
“
Does he have a new girlfriend then?
“
she asked lightly. She couldn
’
t sound pushy in getting information on
her ex-husband.
“
Well I think so
…”
Consuela hesitated,
“
I haven
’
t met anyone. I mean she certainly hasn
’
t come to the house while I was here
…
but
…”
“
But?
”
Belinda asked, in one low breath.
Consuela was suddenly hesitant in sharing
information about her boss
’
s private life even if it was with his ex-wife, a
woman she had been loyal to for so long.
Belinda sensed it and pretended to retreat
saying in a chuckle,
”
Don
’
t worry, Consuela. I don
’
t want to put you in a delicate situation.
You don
’
t have to tell me
…
I just wanted to know if Julian was happy
…”
her voice trailed in a murmur.
“
You know how hard it has been for us after
Maddie
…”
she
added, with emotion, to seal the deal.
“
I know Miss Belinda. It was horrible
…
Mister Julian locked himself for months
…”
her voice said in a sad murmur but then
she added more chirpily
“
But this is all in the past now! Mister
Julian has asked me to prepare the nursery! Soon there will be a baby in the
house again! So, all is well!
”
Belinda took a minute to ingest the news.
She hadn
’
t expected this.
A new woman yes. An engagement, even.
After all, Julian was a known womaniser, but a baby?
She swallowed hard and pursued lightly,
“
Really? A baby with his new girlfriend,
already? Maybe that
’
s why he got rid of Frances then
…”
she said in wonder.
“
Well it serves her right. I
’
m sure she hoped it would be her
…
but no there is someone new! And they
’
re having a baby!
”
said the maid, sheer happiness lacing her
voice.