A Lethal Legacy (20 page)

"How dare you
interfere with Claire and Philip," came the indictment as soon as I came
on the line.

"Who is
this?" But I knew the voice instantly because it filled me with dread.

"You know damn
well who this is! What the hell do you mean telling them to
put me on an
allowance
!" she said.

"I think it's a
good idea, Kris. Your demands are eating up their money. And your stories are
getting harder and harder to believe."

"It's my fucking
money, you bastard!"

"No, not yet.
That money is their nest egg. Do you know what that means? It means that if
they need it for some reason in the future, they'll have enough money to take
care of themselves. Nursing homes aren't cheap."

"What do you get
out of this, choir boy?"

"Nothing. But I
do know that they need the comfort of having that money. And I don't think an
allowance is a bad idea."

"They want to
give me $100 per month! I can't live on that!"

"Kris, they
don't expect you to live on it. Have you ever held a job or are all your stories
fabricated? They will provide you with a cushion so you'll have the cash ready
for all of your little emergencies. You're supposed to save the
allowance."

"All I have to
say to you is this: If you think I can be bought off with a piddly $100 a month
you're sadly mistaken." She breathed heavily into the phone for a moment.
"Oh, Eddie, baby, how's that wife of yours? And that darling baby, Tecca,
is it?"

"I won't be
threatened by you, Kris. And my beautiful baby's name is Tessa, not that you
care much."

" I care,
believe me I care. But I am warning you, leave Claire and Philip alone. They
told me that money would be all mine one day; don't you forget it. Or were you
too busy chewing on my tits to remember? Gosh, maybe Claire and Philip would
like to hear that story about how we got in the mood to buy their lovely
Christmas presents."

"You're vulgar,
Kris. And I've told you, I won't be threatened. You've invaded my life enough
as it is. Having a child made me realize how wonderful and sacred certain
things are in this life, and I intend to concentrate on those things and not be
taken down by you."

"Back to
sainthood, I see. Well, let me tell you one thing, Mr. Perfect. You can say
that now with me 2,000 miles away. But if I was standing in front of you,
rubbing up against you, you'd let me bring you down to your knees,
guaranteed."

I slammed down the
phone with her jeering laughter echoing in my ears. I hoped I wouldn't have the
opportunity to find out what I would do if I was faced with Kris once again. I
had a sneaking suspicion that my resolve would be violently ripped from my soul
as the demons hovered above my shoulders.

I also heard from Pam
a day or two later.

"I wouldn't
expect this from you, Ed. How could you talk Claire and Philip into this stupid
idea? An allowance?" Pam asked.

"Kristina is
eating away at their money. Philip got scared."

"Philip should
be scared, that bastard. You need to watch yourself, Ed, because when you least
expect it, your little escapades with my daughter may come back to haunt
you."

She hung up the phone
without giving me a chance to reply.

He pulled away from
her grasp and flung her to the ground. As he turned to walk away, she grabbed
his ankles tripping him and forcing him down on the ground next to her supine
form. She curled her leg around his waist and held him there.

Uncle Philip died on
the Fourth of July 1993 after playing a game of bridge at the country club. He
won the bridge game that night and died just the way he wanted, peacefully in
his sleep. When Aunt Claire woke the next morning, she tried to rouse him. When
she couldn't, she called 911 and then me.

"I think he's
gone, Ed," Claire said when I answered the phone.

"Who's
gone?"

"Philip. I can't
wake him."

"Have you called
911?"

"They're at the
door now. Could you come over?"

I quickly dressed
after telling Cassie what happened. I drove the short distance from my
apartment to their house. The ambulance was slowly pulling away with no sirens
or lights flashing.

Claire stood in the
kitchen with her neighbor, Judy, and Aunt Susan.

"He's
gone," she said.

"Claire, I'm
sorry." I reached to embrace her, but she held out her arms to stop me.
Rather than take her refusal as a rebuff, I knew she was just fighting to
remain in control of her emotions.

"Don't, Ed. I'm
fine. I know you're sorry."

"Will there be a
service?" Judy asked.

"A small one at
the church. He didn't want anything else. And quickly. We need to have it
quickly."

"OK, Claire.
I'll take care of everything. Which funeral home?" I asked.

"Carlton's.
There's a card in the drawer. We just prepaid," she said.

"How about Kris?
Have you called Krisina?" I asked.

"No. That poor
kid. This will be a blow so close after Gary." She closed her eyes. I
could tell she was fighting the tears pushing their way to the surface.

"Would you like
me to call her?"

"Could you? I'm
not sure what to say."

I hadn't seen or
heard from Kristina since our last phone conversation, which ended so badly. We
both had been angry that day, and I wondered if she would hang up on me now.

"I'd be happy to
call her, Aunt Claire," I said as I gave her a small pat on the back, the
only form of comfort she would allow.

I didn't bother
checking the time or I might have waited before calling her at 4 a.m., Las
Vegas time.

"Hullo," a
groggy voice slurred.

"Is this
Kris?"

"Yeah, who's this?”

"Kristina, this
Ed, your cousin."

"What do you
want?" She did not sound thrilled to hear from me.

"Philip died
last night in his sleep. I told Claire I would call and give you the
news."

"What's the will
say?"

"The will? His
body's not even at the funeral home yet. Why would we be worrying about the
will?"

"OK, then, what
about a service?"

"We haven't
figured it all out yet. Claire mentioned just a small one at the church to be
held as soon as possible."

"Is Grandma
there? I'd like to talk to her."

I put the receiver
down and went into the kitchen and motioned Claire to the phone in the study. I
closed the door behind her and went back to the kitchen. In just a few minutes,
Claire returned.

"I need to make
plane reservations for Kris. Would you be able to pick her up in Orlando late
this afternoon?"

"Kristina is
coming?"

"Yes, she felt
so bad, the poor kid. She wanted to be with me, but she couldn't afford the
plane ticket, she told me. So I said, 'Is that the only reason you can't get
here?' When she said 'yes,' I told her I'd take care of everything. Can you
pick her up?"

"Sure, Aunt
Claire. I'm sure she'll be a great comfort to you."

I had my doubts about
her reasons for coming, but I did know that Claire would appreciate her
presence. Kristina knew how to pull not only wool but also the whole sheep over
her grandmother's eyes. Luckily, I lived close enough to prevent Claire from
going totally blind. I wondered who would protect me.

I tried to convince Cassie
to come with me, but she didn't think it would be a good idea with Tessa who
would be very restless on the two-hour drive. Plus, Cassie and I had just found
out that she was pregnant again, and she felt a little queasy most days.

Reluctantly, I drove
to Orlando that afternoon by myself to pick up a surly Kris. We didn't touch as
we greeted one another when she walked off the plane. In fact, we never really
even said hello. I did mention that the funeral would be the next day while we
waited for her luggage to arrive on the carousel.

"What's she
going to do with the house?" Kristina asked as we continued our vigil
beside the slowly moving conveyor belt.

"She hasn't
gotten that far, and don't bring it up yet. She needs a little time. Remember
she's just lost someone she lived with for more than fifty years. Don't push
her about decisions."

"How much is
that house worth?"

"The Shores is
one of the fastest growing country club communities in this area, so it’s
probably increased in value since they bought it. But I'm not sure she'll want
to move."

"She may have
to. How can she maintain a house all by herself?"

"Your
grandmother will manage just fine. Philip left her in good shape
financially."

Kristina looked at me
sharply, but her luggage arrived at that precise moment. Our conversation would
have to be delayed until the drive home.

Once we maneuvered
out of the airport and settled on the highway heading back to Ocala, I
attempted conversation with her once more.

"Why did you
come, Kristina? Really?" I asked.

"Don't you think
I should be here for my grandfather's funeral? After all, I'm entitled to
inherit something. Don't you think I should get some of it now? That's what Pam
thinks anyway. Gary never left me a dime, and Philip said it would be all mine
some day."

I let my eyes leave
the road for a second to look at the too-beautiful young woman who seemed to
think the world owed her a living.

"You know most
of Gary's money went to his care during those final months. It could have been
worse. He could have left you with the medical bills. Besides Philip would
never leave Claire unattended financially, even though he might have been a bit
of a bastard during their marriage. Right now we should be concentrating on
helping Claire get through the next few difficult days."

"Whatever, Ed.
You always know what's best, don't you?"

"Let's just get
through these next few days, Kristina," I repeated. "I loved my uncle
even if you just see his death as a way to make a little money. I'll forgive
you that, if you'll just be kind to Claire this week. Don't let her see your
greed."

"What about your
greed, you asshole?"

"What do you
mean?" I turned to look at her again. Suddenly her bad mood had jumped by
degrees into anger.

"Your greed for
me. Don't you remember, Eddie? You always want me. You probably want me right
now. Shall we take the next exit and have a little go at it before we greet the
family? I'll be especially happy to see your little wife. Claire tells me
you've put another seed in that soil."

"You disgust
me," I said. Her beauty seemed to curl up right before my eyes. If I'd had
a pot of boiling water, I think I could have poured it on her at this point and
watched her shrivel up.

"Maybe, but I
bet you I could turn you around, just like that." She snapped her fingers.

"Kristina, can
we call a truce for the next few days? I'm concerned about Claire, and I need
my full concentration to take care of everyone. Let's not fight, OK?"

I turned to her, and
once again, she changed. Her eyes filled with tears as she reached for my arm.

"I'm sorry, Ed.
I don't know what gets into me. It's like I keep hearing Pam's voice in my
head, telling me that the Townsends need to show me that they care. I think I
care about you more than I even know. Forgive me, please," she said.

"It's OK. I care
about you, too. Probably too much," I said.

"Can we stop for
a burger or something? I haven't eaten since early this morning," she
asked as we neared a turnpike station.

"Sure thing. I
should have thought of that," I turned to smile at her, and she looked at
me seductively between half-closed lids. My stomach turned.

When I pulled into
the parking space next to the restaurant entrance, she came close to me,
pressing against my arm.

"Eddie, I feel
bad about Philip, too, you know. I just don't show it like you do. I'm not a
nice person. I guess I don't know how to be one, not like you. Sometimes I
think that maybe you'll rub off on me." She laughed as she began rubbing
my neck.

"You haven't had
very good teachers. I always feel guilty whenever I think of how you were
raised, but you need to try harder. Quit trying to equate money with love for
one thing. Enjoy Claire; she's the best grandmother around. She's always loved
you from the moment she first saw you." I turned toward her and put my arm
around her shoulders.

She turned her face
upward to give me a kiss. At first, I started to protest, but then she began
rubbing against me, and as usually happened, the sensation made me forget
everything else. I began to return the kiss as I reached for one of her breasts
and began working on the nipple until it hardened under my fingertips. Kris
pulled back and began breathing between her teeth.

"You could call
and say the plane was late," she said.

"Kristina, we
can't, really," I said.

"You want me,
don't you? You can tell I want you." She reached for the front of my pants
and found the answer to her question as she touched me.

I went to a pay phone
and called Claire. I told her the plane was delayed by two hours. Then we drove
to the nearest motel and completed what we began in the car.

Slowly, I removed her
clothes and picked her up and placed her carefully on the bed. She reached up
and caressed by cheek.

"I love you,
Eddie. Please love me," she said as I quickly removed my shirt and pants.

"Please take
care of me; we're meant to be together like this, Eddie, don't feel
guilty," she said as I buried my head in her breasts and cried for the
pain and joy, overwhelming me. I cried for Gary and for the guilt consuming me.
Kristina held me close and murmured soothingly in my ear.

I made sweet and slow
love to Kristina on that afternoon as I forgot the rest of the world. She did
whatever I wanted as she told me repeatedly how much she loved me.

"You love me,
too, don't you, Eddie?"

"Yes, for
chrissakes, I love you. What more do you want from me," I finally
screamed. I had given my all to this woman who had etched herself into my very
soul.

Kristina never did
get her burger, but we both came away from the session satiated and satisfied
as if we’d just gotten up from a Thanksgiving feast. We smiled at one another
slowly as we got back in the car. Before I started the engine, I reached over
and gave her a deep and loving kiss, and then I held her face between my hands
and looked intently into the blue eyes that I knew so well.

"Kristina, it
can't happen again, you know," I said.

"OK, Ed,
whatever you say," she said. "Just remember that I love you no matter
what happens. And I know just as well that you love me, no matter how you act
in front of the others." She kissed me one last time before I pulled out
of the motel parking lot.

Only when I began the
familiar drive north on I-75 toward Ocala and the grieving Claire and my
pregnant wife, did the feeling of fullness turn to nausea at what had happened
on the afternoon of Philip's death.

Somehow, I managed to
get through the rest of the day and the funeral without incident. I
concentrated on Claire who had just lost her husband, and Cassie who wasn't
feeling very well throughout most of the ordeal. I also watched Kristina who
seemed to enjoy the attention from all of the neighbors. They saw her as a
sweet young girl who was comforting her grandmother. The two made a sad
picture, the daughter and granddaughter and the wife and mother who had both
lost the important men in their lives.

As a result, nearly
everyone at the funeral said something to me about the burdens I would now face
in helping both Claire and Kristina. Little did they know that those burdens
had been dumped there even before Gary's death.

Late in the afternoon
the phone rang. Since I was the closest, I ended up answering it.

"Hello, I would
like to speak to Kris Timmons, please," the voice on the other end said.

"Pam, is that
you?"

"Ed? How's
sainthood these days? Talking Claire out of giving Kris any more of what is
rightly hers?" Pam and I had not talked since Kristina was put on an
allowance.

"I'm fine,
thanks for asking. Philip's death came as a great shock to all of us. Let me
get Kris."