It's Only Make Believe (11 page)

However, if you agree to leave the city and find work elsewhere I will pay you one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. You have until Saturday to make this decision. I assure you I can, and will, have your child removed from you if you go against my wishes.”

Michele let her hand fall to her side, bewildered and shocked that anyone dared threaten and bribe another person this way. Although, the bribe shouldn’t surprise her. After all, these people had a phobia that everyone was after their money. Patrick O’Neil had just about enough influence in the community to pull off something like this. Michele looked at Louise who stared at her with a pathetic look. Disillusionment and fear filled her dark eyes. Eyes that no longer held a mysterious secret. Michele led the girl to a chair and poured her a cup of coffee. The omelet remained untouched on the table. She tried to think, but frustration welled up in her and turned to tears. How could any parent act this way? She didn’t understand it.

Think, she had to think. She paced the room. Where was Brad when she needed him? Surely, he’d come up with a solution. Today was Thursday. Patrick had given Louise until Saturday to make a decision. How mighty big of him. Anger replaced her frustration. How dared this man play God and interfere in the lives of others?

“Louise, Mr. Lawson will be home tomorrow.” She hoped her voice sounded calm, because her whole body shook with anger. “We’ll come up with a plan. I promise.” She had no idea what they were going to do, or even if they could do anything, but she knew they had to try. “I have to go to work now, but we’ll talk later okay?”

Louise sat unmoving on the chair. Tears streamed down her cheeks. “Can he do that, Miss, take my baby?”

“I promise he won’t take your baby. The Lawson name holds a lot more influence in this community then the O’Neil one does. Trust me on this. You will not lose Mikayla. I have to run, but I’ll be back early, and we’ll talk.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Michele drove to the office, wondering how she and Brad were going to solve this latest development. She’d enlist her parents and grandparents if she had to. They were partly at fault here, hiring Louise like they did. But, would they help? Were they as big snobs as the O’Neil, believing that classes shouldn’t cross? Still, her grandparents hadn’t always had money, had come by it the hard way. Maybe her grandfather would help. Michele often thought he didn’t share the views of the ‘elite’. He often did as he wanted and flaunted the wealthy snobs. Because of his standing and influence, he got away with it and people shook their heads and laughed at the eccentric old Daniel Markey. Surely, he’d help her. Hadn’t he often said how he married for love? He and her grandmother grew up together. They’d been best friends. She smiled remembering the story he often told with a gleam in his eye. “I knew that first day of school when I met Sophie. Right after she sucker punched me for teasing her and pulling her pigtails, that I was going to marry her.”

Michele pulled into the parking lot at work and hurried into the office. Sarah looked up with a worried expression.

“Oh Michele.” Sarah began as soon as Michele opened the door. “I talked to Mark last night and his father did a horrible thing. He’s beside himself and threatened to run away with Louise, but she won’t agree.”

Michele sighed, walked to the coffee pot. Looked like it was going to be one of those days. She turned around and sat next to Sarah. “Okay, Sarah, calm down. I know about the letter. Louise showed it to me.”

“What are you going to do about it? You have to help them, I promised Mark.”

Michele looked at her best friend. How dared she make such a promise? Because she knew her so well. That didn’t change the fact. Sometimes Sarah’s assumption annoyed her. Michele hated anyone taking her for granted. Sarah took a few liberties with their friendship from time to time, and this was one of them. She wondered sometimes at the faith Sarah put in their friendship.

“Do you think I’m a miracle worker?” Her voice reflected her irritation and the look on Sarah’s face fell and turned red.

“I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t have promised without talking to you first, but...” Sarah wrung her hands as she stood and paced the tiny office. “You have to see him, Shell, he’s beside himself.” Sarah put her hands on Michele’s shoulders, her eyes pleading as she stared into Michele’s. “He doesn’t care about the money, but Louise refuses to marry him under these conditions. Mark said she’s terrified that Patrick will take the baby.”

Michele let out a long sigh. “I know. Louise showed me the letter. I wish I had the answer, I really do.” Michele went to the coffee pot and poured another cup, took a sip and looked at Sarah. “I have to talk to Brad I don’t know what to say or how to help. Maybe the best thing would be for Louise and Mark to elope. The only thing Patrick could do then would be to disown him, disinherit him. That’s not the worst thing in the world.”

She sat in one of the chairs across from Sarah’s desk. Her head hurt. Already the morning held too many pressures. “Mark’s a smart man. He’ll be successful on his own he doesn’t need ‘Daddy’s money’.” The remark sparked something in her about why she and Brad had married, wasn’t it for the money. She shook her head, trying to clear her mind. Hers and Brad’s situation was different.

Or was it? Didn’t Brad marry her to satisfy his parents and grandparents to stay in the will? Isn’t that why she married Brad?  She got up and went into her office. “I’ll figure something out.” So what if the Ashcrofts took over the business. Why was that so terrible? She didn’t want it. Wasn’t interested in it, never was. Never would be. She foolishly married Brad to save the business for the family. For Brad, actually. He was the one working there. What good was it doing her? Granted, she’d get half of the profits eventually, when Brad took over. But money didn’t matter to her She had her own business. Brad would make it on his own. She should have stood her ground. Now she had this problem, and it was all her parent’s fault.

She put her hands to her head. This was too much. She couldn’t deal with it, at least not without Brad’s help. He wouldn’t be home until tomorrow, and she had no solution. Maybe he did. At least he remembered it. The ringing of the phone interrupted her thoughts. Sarah put the call through to her.

“Hello, Mother.” Just what she didn’t need right now. She leaned back and rubbed her temples as her mother’s voice droned on, complaining that they never saw her anymore and was she free for lunch.

“Myra and I have something to discuss with you.”

Michele shuffled papers only half listening. They were the last people she wanted to see right now. She took a deep breath, trying to think of an excuse, but nothing came to mind. May as well go and get it over with.

“It’ll have to be a quick lunch. I have an appointment at two,” she lied, “and I can’t get away before one. An hour with her mother and Myra was about all she could handle.

Her mother sighed. “Well, how nice to spare us an hour.”

Michele rubbed the back of her neck, trying to ease the tension. She didn’t bother with a reply.

“Okay then, I guess we should be honored to have you join us at all. I’ll see you at one.”

The phone disconnected before Michele could answer. She leaned back, trying to extract the comfort her office usually gave her. Drawing strength from the calming pewter blue walls, the tension in her neck and shoulders began to ease. Many people didn’t understand how a room and color affected your mental state. Besides being functional, a room needed to express a mood and create harmony. The pewter colors combined with the soft dusty blue carpet and tans, browns, and cream of the upholstery complimented the rich mahogany desk and created a peaceful harmony. She took deep cleansing breaths to help wash the frustration from her.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Michele opened a file and stared at it, unable to concentrate. Between Louise’s problem and Brad being with Ruby, her mind worked overtime. Add her mother and mother-in-law into the mix and the day had become a complete disaster. Putting aside the problems, she focused on one of her clients, Joseph and Linda Kirby. They wanted a room converted into a nursery and a round crib with a canopy. Linda had seen one in a magazine with butterflies and dragon flies on the panels. They wanted to carry the theme of butterflies and dragon flies throughout the room. Their first child was due in two months, so time was of the essence.

Drawing out some plans, Michele smiled, picturing a forest scene. Shaking her head, she knew that wouldn’t do and began creating her own special world. Vanilla colored walls with butterflies and dragonflies of various sizes. The baby’s sex was unknown. Rare in these times of ultra sounds, but Linda and Joe said they wanted to be surprised. The room had to be colorful, yet serene. She colored the ceiling blue to represent the sky, drew in a pond with lily pads and frogs some of them 3D. In one corner an old fashioned ice cream parlor table and chairs in the other corner, a chenille adult rocker with green and yellow plaid covering, and a floor to ceiling bookshelf along one wall.

Michele sighed and set her colored pencils aside, satisfied with the plan. Time for the lunch date, she stood, reluctant to leave. Nothing worse than interrupting the flow of a project. Half tempted to call and cancel but something told her not to. May as well face the music and be done with it.

She wondered what they’d pick on her about this time. She certainly hoped it had nothing to do with Louise. Although they couldn’t know she was mixed up in that, since she hadn’t even had time to talk to Brad about it.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Michele arrived at the club a few minutes late and greeted her mother and Myra with air kisses. Why they went through the ritual if they weren’t going to take the time to at least brush each other’s cheeks, was beyond her.

Sitting down, she placed her napkin in her lap and the waiter arrived to take her drink order. “I think I’ll just have a glass of water with a lemon.”

“Water?” Her mother’s look held a question that Michele ignored.

Both women would like nothing better than to hear they were to be grandmothers. The idea almost made Michele snicker, how was she supposed to accomplish that with her husband gallivanting half way across the country?

“How are things with you and Brad, dear?” Myra’s voice held the same inquiry as her mother’s question.

“Fine, just fine.” Michele rearranged her silverware, avoiding the inquisitive eyes of both her mother and Myra. What did they want her to say? They both knew Brad was in California again, and she figured they knew with whom.

Her mother sipped her martini and cleared her throat. “I hear you’ve been doing some redecorating. I’m sorry what we chose didn’t suit you.”

Michele cringed. The disapproving tone and look always made her feel guilty. Her mother had a way of doing that ever since she was a child. She straightened, tired of feeling small in front of her. What was she afraid of? She was an adult, wasn’t she? She looked her mother square in the face. “No, it didn’t suit me. Besides, I am an interior designer and a darned good one. You could have at least consulted me.” She threw her napkin on the table and stood to leave. She didn’t need this interrogation. “Besides, it’s my home. I believe I’m entitled to change things when and how I please.” With that, she looked at both women and almost burst out laughing at the looks on their faces. “I’m sorry I have to leave.”

“Oh do sit down and quit acting so foolish.” Her mother grabbed her arm. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you. You’ve become so rebellious. Can’t I even ask you a simple question?”

The hurt look made Michele sit down and apologize.

“Of course, it’s your home.” Her mother cut off the apology. “And certainly you can do what you please in it. I was only making conversation. My goodness, Michele, what is the matter with you? You’re so tense.”

Tense, Michele almost laughed aloud. If she only knew. Of course Michele wasn’t about to share that with them. Somehow, she got through the hour and rose to leave. She leaned down to kiss her mother’s cheek.

  “Do bring Brad around soon, dear. We don’t get to spend nearly enough time with him.

“Neither do I,” Michele mumbled under her breath, but Myra caught the words.

“Well, personally I think it’s ridiculous the way he keeps running off to California when most of the problems could probably be solved over the phone.” Myra turned her cheek up for a kiss.

Michele leaned in, blew the expected kiss in the air and hurried to her car. The words weren’t lost on her. Could Brad solve the problems over the phone? Were these trips necessary? She drove with restless abandon, her eyes blurred with tears. She looked up and found herself in front of her office, so engrossed in her thoughts she wondered how she got there.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Sarah looked up as she came into the office. “How was lunch? Never mind, your look says it all. Hey, what’s wrong?”

Sarah came from around her desk just as Michele put her hand to her mouth. She waved Sarah out of the way and ran to the bathroom, barely making it to the sink before she vomited. She leaned against the sink, patting her face with cold water. Sarah knocked at the door.