A Memory Unchained (16 page)

“Your Mom can get along with anyone!” he answered

quickly.

“I really appreciate your taking me sightseeing, when

I know how concerned you are for Rex.”

“I want to,” he said softly.

“Thank you anyway.” She smiled.

Grant made sure she saw every tourist attraction Paris

had to offer. The morning was full of walking up and down long lines of steps and endless museums. Jill sank into the car seat exhausted.

“Hey, we are just getting started,” Grant laughed.

148 __________________Gloria Graham

“I’ve never walked up so many steps in my life! Can

there be more?” She said reluctantly.

Grant thought for a moment.

“How would you like to ditch this city stuff and take

a ride in the Paris countryside?”

“Sound terrific,” she sighed leaning her head against

his arm.

“Now that’s better,” he said and he put his arm around

her as they drove out of the city traffic.

“I know a nice tearoom. It has all the flavor of Eu-

rope.”

“I’d love that,” she smiled.

The afternoon passed rapidly. They were amazed at

how much they had in common. After lunch, Grant sug-

gested a walk along the banks of a small stream behind

the tea room.

Jill quietly took in the crisp, clean air as Grant watched her every move.

When she paused to pick a wild flower, Grant couldn’t

resist helping her up. Right into his waiting arms.

They kissed softly – then again. Jill caught her breath.

Her mother’s warning about Grant echoed in her ears. She

wanted her to be wrong about him.

Grant started to say something when Jill stopped

him.

“Please wait,” I feel I must be completely honest with

you. I do feel special about you, but I have to be sure you understand something. I am not a one night stand. I…”

Grant anticipated her, “Neither am I, regardless of what

you have heard or read on the gossip column. That is not

me. I want the same thing you want. Love with the right

A Memory Unchained___________ 149

person, the one God has chosen for me.” He paused.

Jill smiled. “I have been saving myself for that one

special person too.”

Then Grant smiled. “Just one question,” he said. “Will

you recognize him when you meet him?”

Jill smiled coyly at him and said, “I think I already

have.”

Grant gathered her into his arms again and they

kissed.

“I hate to break up this moment but we’d better get

back to the hospital, your mother will be concerned about us.” Grant said reluctantly.

Jill sighed. He seemed to sense her feelings. She couldn’t take her eyes off his handsome face as they drove to the

hospital in each others arms.

When they arrived at the hospital, Pamela was seated

in the waiting room.

“Is he …?” Jill paused. Her mother looked tired and

drawn. The trip and all the trauma showed on Pamela’s

face.

“The doctor is due out now. I’ve waited all day to speak

to him,” she said soberly.

“Have you seen Rex at all?” Jill questioned.

“Yes, they have been most kind. I’ve spent hours just

holding his hand and praying for him.” Pamela wiped her

eyes again.

Jill put her arm around her mother.

“You are much too tired. Why don’t we go back to the

hotel and you can rest.”

Pamela quickly disagreed.

“I’ve got to see the doctor first. I couldn’t rest any-

150 __________________Gloria Graham

way.”

When the doctor broke the news, Pamela whispered,

“Thank you God.”

“He’s regained consciousness. You can go in and talk

to him. But just for five minutes.” The doctor was pleas-

ant but firm.

Grant hugged Pamela. A tear rolled down his cheek.

“You go in first,” he demanded. “I’ll wait.”

The room was still dark, the heart monitor still made

its beeping sound but this time it was a beautiful sound

to Pamela’s ears.

Rex turned his bruised head toward her as she entered

his room. He blinked his eyes when she spoke to him. He

recognized her.

Pamela held back her tears. Her heart ached as she

looked into his blank, unreachable eyes, so different from his usual intensely happy look.

She sat silently, holding his hand, hoping he would

speak.

She whispered in his ear, “You are so special to me. I

love you so.”

She couldn’t help remember the beautiful weeks they

had spent together in Paris.

“How short life is,” she thought. “How little time we

have to make things right in our lives. Okay God, give

him back his life,” she prayed.

Pamela stayed as long as the nurse would allow.

Then Rex’s words came softly. “I have felt your prayers

Chéri. Your strength is with me.” He hesitated.

Pamela squeezed his hand.

“You must model the blue chiffon for me.” He whis-

A Memory Unchained___________ 151

pered though the pain made it hard for him to speak.

“But darling, don’t think of that now, you must rest.

Besides, I’m not a model. Are you sure, it’s going to be

the biggest show of the season. I’m not sure I would do

it justice.”

“Please,” he gasped. “You must promise me.”

“Of course, I promise. For you I would do any-

thing.”

She thought how much she owed him. What a small

request. Their relationship had been short, but the depth of their friendship was real. They had experienced something between them that was beautiful.

Rex motioned her close again. He whispered a name,

“Jeff – the meeting…?”

Pamela finally caught all his words. He was still so weak and incoherent.

She thought before she spoke. She could still see the

hurt expression on Jeff’s handsome face when she left so

abruptly. She shivered.

“Everything’s fine,” she answered. “Don’t worry. We

have everything under control. Aunt Lydia has helped.”

Rex seemed to relax with that assurance. He closed his

eyes. Pamela kissed him softly and left the room.

Grant visited with Rex for a short time, then they left

for the airport.

In the taxi Jill couldn’t contain her excitement any

longer. She bubbled over with all the sights Grant had

taken her to see.

Pamela watched their faces closely. They hardly took

their eyes off each other. She laid her head back against the seat and said another “Thank you Lord for everything.

152 __________________Gloria Graham

And especially for my Jill.”

She smiled as she watched as the two young people sit-

ting in front of her falling in love. Next stop, New York, she thought, and a new job awaiting her. She shivered.

New York bustled with people all in a hurry to get

somewhere, anywhere. The sign atop the building flashed

“Desmonds.” Pamela walked into her new office. She had

the uneasy feeling that all eyes were on her.

She sighed as she looked at all the unpacked boxes

awaiting her personal attention. They would have to wait, she thought.

She felt a need to get acquainted with her new staff.

She hated being the outsider, the new boss.

Pamela called Mrs. Clarey, the oldest member of the

staff, into her office.

Mrs. Clarey was on edge, nervous and obviously dis-

turbed by Pamela’s new authority.

Jeff had given her a free hand with the office. But Jeff

had said “It’s your baby, do what needs to be done. It needs a strong hand.” Pamela thought how very businesslike his

proposition had been. It was to be temporary, just until

the showing, unless she liked the job. In that case – it was hers.

Jeff had made accepting the position easy.

“Please, do sit down, Mrs. Clarey.” She began by say-

ing, “I want to be your friend as well as your boss.” Pamela smiled and reached out her hand to greet her warmly.

Mrs. Clarey began with an attitude, “You know, Mr.

Desmond always separated friendship and business. He

said…”

Pamela interrupted, “A man thinks a little differently

A Memory Unchained___________ 153

about running a business than we women do, don’t you

think?” Pamela smiled. “Most men really don’t give us

credit for knowing how to make a business really good!”

Mrs. Clarey smiled. “Oh, I agree. For years I’ve felt

that way!”

“Good,” Pamela said. “We should be great partners,

don’t you agree?”

“Oh yes, Mrs. Thornton, Great!” She smiled ner-

vously.

“Calm down. I want us to become very good friends.”

Pamela placed her arm around her. “I will need your

help!”

Mrs. Clarey seemed to relax.

Pamela smiled as she listened at the door as Mrs. Clarey

began shaping up the staff.

“Now, when Mrs. Thornton needs anything, you will

promptly…” Mrs. Clarey continued. Pamela shut the of-

fice door. She felt better about the job now. Things would work. It was another instance that a few kind words worked she thought.

She had to get busy. The show was not too far off and

she had everything to do.

When she remembered promising Rex she would model

his blue chiffon, she felt nervous inside.

She was not a model and the idea of walking in front

of all those people made her shiver!

She had promised her friend and she would keep that

promise no matter how she dreaded it.

Pamela began her plans for the “show.” Her first contact

was Janice Monroe. Pamela knew she was the key to the

social world of Boston and New York. If she could acquire 154 __________________Gloria Graham

her help, that would be a big step forward.

“Darling,” Janice drawled in her own special accent.

“Of course I will do it! All I want in return is one of those scrumptious designs of Rex Dupar’s!” She laughed. “Something very special darling.”

“Fair is fair, you have it,” Pamela agreed. “Come in

tomorrow and I’ll take all your measurements and we’ll

get our list together at the same time.”

Pamela knew Janice pretty well. For all her brassy man-

ner, she had a heart of gold and Pamela liked her. It was also a well know fact that anyone receiving one of Janice’s gold engraved invitations would be there!

Jeff stuck his head in her office, “I’ve been calling you all morning. Don’t you answer your messages?” he said.

“How about lunch, you know, all work and no play, etc.,

etc.,” he smiled.

“Can’t today, too much going.”

“How long are you going to put me off?” His mouth

tightened his tone not quite so jovial.

She had been avoiding him, she knew it. He had shaken

her protective walls once; she couldn’t let him do it again.

It would be so easy she thought as she watched him walk

toward the door.

“Maybe tomorrow?” she called. He closed the door

without answering.

Her face dropped. Why was she so afraid of Jeff Des-

mond anyway? It was hard for her to get back to business.

He always managed to upset her equilibrium.

The next time she looked at the clock it was 11:45

AM.

“Jeff will be lunching at Jason’s like he usual does,”

A Memory Unchained___________ 155

she thought as she quickly tidied up her desk. Her heart

pounded as she left a message with her secretary and started to leave, anticipating surprising him.

The phone rang. Pamela frowned as she looked toward

her desk. It rang again. She tried to ignore it, and then decided she had better answer it.

It was Agatha, head of the dress assembly room. “You

gotta see this, Mrs. Thornton. It’s a real mess!” she said in her abrupt, untactful way.

Pamela rushed to the sewing room. “So much for sur-

prising Jeff,” she grumbled.

Agatha flew into a rage. “It can’t be done. It just can’t be done!” She was in a tizzy.

“Come on now,” she patted her on the arm, “What

can’t be done?”

“This ..?” She held up a piece of fabric and laid it sternly on top of another. “See,” she said, “I could design clothes better than this myself!”

“Now Agatha,” Pamela pampered her. “Let’s see what

we can figure out!”

Agatha calmed right down. She admired Pamela’s

knowledge of the business and soon the problem was

solved. As she left Agatha was spitting out orders as if there had never been a problem.

Pamela went straight home and fell into bed exhausted.

When the phone range she muttered, “Oh no, what

now!”

It was Jill. Pamela sighed

“How’s the new job going Mom?” she questioned.

“I need eight more hours in the day,” she answered

wearily! “It’s good to hear from you anyway. You’re an

156 __________________Gloria Graham

answer to my prayers!”

“Can I help?”

“You could, but school is more important.”

Jill paused.

“How’s Grant?”

“He’s working as hard as I am to get this show together!

I haven’t talked to him...” her voice trailed off.

“Why don’t you come down this weekend? I’ll take care

of your ticket. I could use your help. That is if you aren’t busy.” Pamela added.

Jill didn’t wait for a second invitation. She burst in with,

“Great, I’ll be there Friday, to help!”

Pamela laughed to herself after she hung the phone up.

Jill just might be in love, she thought. She didn’t even ask about Pamela’s love life for a change. She definitely had something else on her mind.