A PORTRAIT OF OLIVIA (14 page)

Patricia regarded him with a skeptical look for a moment. “Very well,” she said finally. “See that you are strong in your attack. No holding back. No weak, half-hearted criticisms. Be the lion of God!”

“Yes, dear lady.” Fellows rose to his feet, trying to ignore the nervous sweat that was coursing down his sides under his shirt. “Now, if you will excuse me, I have a sermon to prepare…”

“Of course.” Patricia turned to go. Fellows lumbered to her side to walk her to the door. She looked up at him, her eyes narrowing. “Do not fail me, Rever-J.P. Bowie

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end. I shall be watching your performance tomorrow night with interest.

Much depends on your testimony.” Her glance fell on the check he still held tightly in his fist. “If you know what I mean,” she added dryly. “Goodbye, Reverend.”

“Goodbye, dear lady. Goodbye.” Fellows closed the door after her, then leaned heavily against it as if she might suddenly push her way back in. “Oh dear God,” he whispered to himself. “What have I gotten myself into? The woman is insane!”

c h a p t e r 9

s

“Oh, this place is really neat,” Peter exclaimed after being given the grand tour of Anthony and Justin’s new home. He, Jeff, Emily and Jerry had driven up to Pasadena together to have dinner with their two friends.

“This is the neatest part…” Justin pulled open the screen door and stepped out onto the patio. “Look at this view.”

They all crowded outside to admire the city lights view the townhouse boasted.

“Yeah, this is what sold us on the place really,” Anthony said. “I didn’t want to settle for looking at someone else’s bedroom window.”

“Well, depends on who’s in the bedroom,” Jerry suggested, then yelped as Emily punched him on the arm.

“Let’s have our drinks out here.” Justin pulled out a seat for Emily. “I’ll get us a couple of folding chairs. Give me a hand Jeff?”

“Sure…” Jeff followed his host back into the living room.

“We’ve got some in the garage,” Justin told him, looking over his shoulder to make sure they were alone. “Actually, I wanted to tell you something too.”

“What’s up?” Jeff asked.

“Anthony got a letter from his mother this morning, and it really upset him.” Justin’s eyes clouded as he spoke. “I thought we were gonna have to cancel this evening, but he insisted he was all right and wanted you guys over here.”

“Is this the first time he’s heard from her since you and he moved in together?”

“Yeah…and Jeff, this letter was really bad—almost threatening.”

“In what way?”

- 85 -

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“Well, telling him that he’s going to hell for being gay for starters…but it’s the last part that really got me…”

“Go on.”

“She says if he doesn’t repent and see the error of his ways she may just have to take matters into her own hands—or into the hands of others. It sounds so damned creepy and unloving.”

Something stirred in Jeff ’s gut. “I know this is going to sound really pushy, but d’you think I could read the letter?”

“Gee, Jeff, I don’t know.” Justin hesitated. “…I already feel I’m betraying a confidence, but I’m so worried about him, you know? I just had to tell someone about this, and Emily has enough on her plate with the kids and all…I think he’d freak if he knew I’d told you…”

“I understand,” Jeff said. “Forget I asked.”

“No, I know you’re trying to help.” Justin smiled at him. “And Anthony trusts you, so maybe if I ask him first…”

“Good idea—but let’s skip it tonight. When you two are alone, you might find a way to bring it up.”

Peter looked at them as they brought the folding chairs out onto the patio.

Jeff caught his eye and Peter nodded. His intuition had told him that something was up, but he was content to wait until he and Jeff were alone before asking any questions. He had felt a strange reticence about Anthony this evening—something was troubling him, he could tell.

“So, what did we all think of Olivia’s show?” Jerry asked.

Peter cocked an eyebrow at him. “What did
you
think, Jerry?”

“I thought all of you were terrific…but then, I am totally biased.”

“As well you should be,” Emily joked.

“Right.” Jerry grinned at them. “But honestly, I thought it might have done a lot of good. You know, make some people who have suffered that same kind of abuse, realize that there can be a chance of leading a normal and happy life at the end of it all.”

“If they’re lucky enough to meet someone as loving and caring as you,”

Emily said, smiling at her husband.

Anthony stood up suddenly. “Can I freshen anyone’s drink?”

“Just mine, by the looks of it,” Peter said. “Here, I’ll come in with you.” He followed Anthony into the living room. “I’ll have some extra ice if you don’t mind, kind sir.”

Anthony gave him a weak smile. “No problem.”

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“What’s up, Doc?” Peter asked him. “Go on, you can tell me,” he coaxed, seeing his friend’s hesitation.

“Oh God, Peter…” Anthony said, his eyes filling with tears. “My mother…she sent me a letter. It was horrible. Filled with recriminations about my relationship with Justin…and how I’m going to hell, if I don’t…” He broke off, unable to continue.

Peter stared at him in shock. That miserable bitch, he thought. How could she do this to him? To the one person who had always defended her even when she had turned her back on him? He put a comforting arm around Anthony’s shoulders.

“I’m so sorry,’ he whispered. “Does Justin know?”

Anthony nodded. “He’s been wonderful, of course. So loving—I don’t know what I’d do without him. I just can’t believe she could be so cold, Peter. Like there’s no love there at all for me. She cut Emily and Paula off a long time ago, and I could never understand why she couldn’t see what all this was really about. She blames all of us for her unhappiness, saying we betrayed her and that God’s wrath will be terrible. She uses words like that…and then she ended by saying if the Lord did not strike us all down, she might have to take matters into her own hands!”

“
What
?” Peter looked at him in amazement. “She can’t be serious…”

“That’s what I told Justin, but he thinks she means every word.”

“Oh, Anthony. We should let Jeff know about this…”

“Know about what?”

Both men turned round, startled by the voice behind them.

“Jeez Jeff,” Peter protested. “You made me jump out of my skin.”

“Sorry. I just came in for more ice. Am I interrupting something?”

Peter nodded at Anthony, allowing him to speak. “I was telling Peter about a letter my mother sent me today…”

Jeff remained silent.

“She said some pretty damning things that I’ve had a hard time accepting.”

He paused for a moment. “I probably shouldn’t spoil the evening with this, but perhaps you should see what I’m talking about.” He walked off toward the bedroom.

Jeff sighed. “How do you do it?” he muttered.

“Do what?” Peter looked at him, all innocence.

“You know what.” They fell silent as Anthony came back into the room and handed the letter to Jeff. “You’re sure you want me to read this?” Jeff asked him.

Anthony nodded. Jeff unfolded the letter and began to read.

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My dearest Anthony,

Yes, I still think of you as my dearest, dearest child—your sisters being forgotten
to me. Having said that, I must warn you that your appearance on that dreadful
woman’s show has left me desolate and bereft.

All thoughts of saving you from your life of sin can no longer be entertained.

Your soul is in danger—your very life is in danger, for the Lord will not be mocked.

He has decreed that those men who lay down with other men must surely be put
to death. Oh my son, why have you chosen this path of sin and degradation? Associating yourself with the wicked will be your undoing. Entering the homes of those
who would seduce and pervert you with their licentiousness will bring you to the
judgment call. Willingly giving into the carnal desires of the man you live with can
only lead you to hell’s damnation.

I wish I could save you, but I am afraid that you have moved beyond the realm
of forgiveness. You have given our Lord no option but to punish you and your
kind. I would give anything to spare you pain, but if the Lord so decrees, it must
be.

The Winters woman says we who complain about her show’s content are part
of the lunatic fringe—her words. She should be aware that if the Lord does not
punish those who defy his laws, then matters must be taken into the hands of his
believers.

With regret, your Mother.

Jeff felt his hand tremble slightly as he read those last words. There was no longer any doubt in his mind. What had been a seed of suspicion while he had talked with Justin, now become a full-blown realization—Patricia Hastings was the one who had sent Olivia the threatening letters.

“Jeff?” Peter was looking at him, a giant question in his dark blue eyes.

“Oh, sorry,” Jeff muttered. He started to hand the letter back to Anthony.

“Let Peter read it too,” Anthony said. “I’m going to have to tell Emily about this, I guess.” He looked out toward the patio where his sister was still listening to Jerry and Justin discussing the merits of the Olivia Winters Show. “My greatest hope in doing that show was that perhaps my mother would understand what we had all been through and, somehow, come to realize that we still love her despite everything—and, if she could see that, we could still be a real family.”

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Jeff hugged Anthony to him. He felt an incredible compassion toward his friend. He could totally relate to how Anthony felt. He had known the heartbreak of an uncaring parent—his father, and it had only been recently that he and his mother had come to a better understanding of each other.

Thanks, in so small part to Peter.

After they had both visited Jeff ’s mother in Arizona, Peter had felt that Rose needed to see Jeff in his own environment, so removed from the one in which he had been raised. Peter had guessed rightly, that Jeff ’s mother had been allowed very little say in her son’s upbringing, and that his father had ruled the roost, having little time for either his wife or his son. Instead of bringing mother and son closer together, the situation had driven a wedge between them. Jeff, on the one hand had been afraid to put his mother in the middle of his and his father’s feud, for fear that the man might take it out on his wife.

She, on the other hand, had been afraid to show too much affection for her son in order to avoid more confrontations between the three of them. It had been many years before it had all been resolved—when Rose had come to stay with them for two weeks in Laguna…

Still, as difficult as his situation had been, he could not compare it to the one in which Anthony now found himself. Jeff looked at his young friend’s sad expression and, not for the first time, wished he could confront Patricia Hastings and make her realize the damage she was doing to her son—and herself.

But this new development was going to be a hard one for him to explain to Anthony. To accuse his mother of writing threatening letters to Olivia Winters?

How on earth could he broach the subject?

He looked over at Peter who sat watching them both thoughtfully.

“Anthony…” Peter began, “Have you thought perhaps that your mother needs some help? I mean, some kind of counseling?” Anthony looked at him but remained silent, so Peter pressed the point. “I’m talking psychological counseling. This letter is a bit scary, isn’t it? It sounds almost like she’s threatening you…”

That’s putting it mildly, Jeff thought. “I think Peter’s right,” he said. “I want you to do me a favor, Anthony. Let me take this letter and compare it with some others we have in the office.”

“She sent you letters?” Anthony looked at him with surprise.

“Not exactly. We have letters that were sent to Olivia Winters that are very similar in tone and content…”

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“Oh my God,” Anthony interrupted. “You think she sent Olivia Winters this same kind of letter? Surely not…she couldn’t be that crazy…” He stepped away from Jeff. “I have to call her before she gets into serious trouble.”

“Wait, Anthony. There’s no proof that she’s threatening Olivia. It’s just a hunch I have right now.”

“But you said the letters were similar…” Anthony turned away in anguish.

“Oh Mom, what are you
doing
?”

“Okay, let’s not jump to any conclusions,” Jeff muttered, worried by Anthony’s reaction. “Let’s stay calm until we know for sure. Anthony, I’m sorry I’ve upset you…this was not cool of me.”

“No, it’s OK, Jeff. Mom has been going off the rails for a long time. Justin and I have talked about it a lot…I just didn’t think she would go to these lengths.”

“
If
it’s her,” Peter said.

“Guys, look…” Anthony appeared to pull himself together as he picked up Peter’s glass. “Look at that, I totally forgot why we came in here. I’ll freshen up your drinks and we’ll go back outside. Don’t let this spoil our evening together.

I don’t think Emily could take much more interference from our mother.” He glanced at Jeff as he threw ice in their glasses. “Take the letter Jeff. I don’t want to read it again anyway. If it’s helpful in your investigation, then so be it. Let’s just not tell Emily about this right now.”

Jeff nodded and pushed the letter into the back pocket of his shorts. He took the proffered drink from Anthony. “I’ll speak to you before we do anything about this, don’t worry.”

“Okay,” Anthony sighed. “Now, let’s join the others before they think something’s up.”

c h a p t e r 1 0

s

Luke pulled up outside his apartment in Dana Point and jumped quickly from his brand new BMW Z4 convertible—a gift from Olivia. He smiled to himself as he strode to the front door. Things were going just so right for him, he thought, pushing the door open—especially now, as Olivia had asked him to move in with her. At first, he couldn’t believe she meant it. True, their relationship had become more intimate over the weeks they had been together, but deep down, Luke had always been preparing himself for the old heave-ho that bitch Brenda predicted would happen at any time.