THE GREAT BETRAYAL (2 page)

That night, after dinner, Jeff treated her to ice cream at Carvel’s.

“
You know,” he said as they sat together in a booth, “you’re so special, Emerald Eyes. Some catch. I appreciate your staying up with me and the books last night.”

Later, when they were saying goodnight, Leslie couldn’t help herself. She took the plunge. “I’m in love with you, Jeff.”

“
And I’m in love with you,” he murmured, staring into her eyes. And that was the night he had christened them
his
gems.

She’d been overwhelmed. Jeffery Phillips had genuine charm, polite sensitivity. He was a true gentleman—the first one she’d ever met.

Leslie was completely and totally enamored.

By the time her eighteenth birthday arrived, Leslie Sanders and Jeffrey Phillips were considered two halves of a whole. They’d become inseparable.

Jeff told everyone, constantly, how captivated he was with Leslie, how he loved her feisty but oh-so-tender spirit.

To celebrate her legal coming-of-age, he took her to dinner at a cozy seafood restaurant along Pier 60.

After dinner, as they walked along the pier in the moonlight, Jeff asked Leslie to be his wife. Without hesitation she’d jumped into his arms chanting, “Yes, yes, yes!”

And that night he became her first lover.

They had been married only three months when Leslie discovered she was pregnant.

Immediately packing up their station wagon, they’d driven to Memphis to break the wonderful news to Jeff’s family in person. This would be Ingrid Armstrong’s first grandchild, and Jeff knew she’d be ecstatic. The news was too good to share over the phone!

While in Memphis, Ingrid took them to visit Graceland, Elvis Presley’s venerated Tennessee estate.

Leslie Phillips had left Florida with a fairly normal husband. But when she returned, it was with an Elvis-saturated radical.

Overnight, Jeff became an obsessed fanatic. He’d bought every keepsake and collectible the gift shops had to offer, and declared Elvis Presley Boulevard the Eighth Wonder of the World.

Within a month there wasn’t an Elvis song he didn’t know or a book he hadn’t read. Their coffee table was covered with books, magazines, and videocassettes—all about Elvis Presley.

While cleaning up, cooking, or simply relaxing, Leslie enjoyed spinning Madonna, George Michael, or Cindy Lauper albums…but once Jeff was in the building, so was Elvis.

And he played his favorites repeatedly, nonstop, until Leslie, too, couldn’t help knowing all the songs by heart. She felt like she, herself, had written the lyrics to the likes of “Jailhouse Rock,” “Hound Dog,” and “Suspicious Minds.”

One day, she called Ingrid to complain. “If I have to hear ‘That’s All Right Mama’ spin one more time…”

“
It’s that bad, is it?”

“
Oh, it’s much worse, Ingrid. He’s possessed! He won’t let me listen to anything else. It’s maddening! He’s driving me nuts. I bet the baby comes out singing ‘Don’t Be Cruel’!”

They’d had a good laugh.

Chapter 2

That Sunday in April was a beautiful spring day, filled with vibrant sunshine and cool, tranquil breezes blowing in from the nearby beaches.

Glen-Frost Memorial Park was one of Clearwater’s biggest recreational prides. Named in honor of two World War II veterans, it boasted six acres of handsome landscaping and featured charming barbecue and picnic areas, blossoming shrubbery, and winding asphalt pathways.

They couldn’t have chosen a better place to have Jeff’s birthday barbecue. They’d invited all of their closest friends and neighbors, and while Madonna blared from a silver-toned boom box, everyone had an enjoyable time dancing, eating, and milling about.

Jeff and his buddies manned the grill, looking Crockett-and-Tubbs cool, while a very pregnant Leslie reclined in a lawn chair devouring barbecued chicken and hot dogs with Ingrid and Beth.

The three women had gone shopping for Jeff’s gifts the day before, and it was no surprise when they’d returned with heaps of bags that had nothing to do with Jeff. As a result of the minispree, Leslie now sported new maternity gear, complete with white leggings and a brand-new pair of jelly shoes, which were all the rage.

“
May I tell you how sexy you are in that pink top?” Jeff whispered into Leslie’s ear. He had slipped away from the grills and knelt beside her.

She turned to face him and their eyes met. They shared a kiss.

On impulse, Beth pulled out her camera and snapped a picture.

When they didn’t break apart right away and began rubbing noses, Ingrid cleared her throat. “Hey, hey, you two. I’ll have none of that in my presence. Jeff,” she joked, “you’d better get back over there to that barbecue and light a fire under something else!”

“
What?” He gaped at his mother. “No way! I’ve been working the grill since we got here, and it’s
my
birthday! No more work for me.” He planted another kiss on Leslie and stood. “It’s time to play, time for the fun! Hey, Brad,” he called out to his best friend, “when was the last time we rode skateboards?”

And off they went like a couple of high school kids, riding skateboards up and down a nearby path while the ladies resumed their chatter.

“
It really is nice having you guys here,” Leslie was saying. “You should come down more often. Especially with the baby coming next month.” Rubbing her tummy, she sighed. “I’m so nervous! It would be great to have you both around to help out.”

“
Oh, please, don’t you fret about a thing,” said Beth, sipping her Tab. “Of course Mom and I’ll come back down to help out when she gets here…Wow, I can’t believe it’s almost time,” she squealed. “It’s so exciting! My first niece!”

“
I know—I’m nervous, but I can hardly wait to meet her. Thank you both so much…everything will be perfect since you’ll be here. I know Jeff will be a big help, but what with how giddy he’s been lately…”

“
I know exactly what you mean,” said Ingrid. “That boy is so excited about being a father. He’s certainly giddier than
I’ve
ever seen him. Look at him over there,” she said, observing the men. “Making a fool of himself—skateboarding!”

They all laughed and turned to see that a few other guys had joined Brad and Jeff, revving around on the skateboards. Beth grabbed her camera, snapping more pictures.

“
But don’t worry, dear,” Ingrid continued. “You’ll be a fine mother to little Audrey. A fine mother.”

“
Thanks, Ingrid. And you’ll both be great company for me, too. It gets pretty lonely when Jeff goes to class. Before walking became a chore, I’d always end up at the mall to occupy my time, or at World of Babies. And Jeff’s constantly nagging at me for buying everything I see on sale!”

Beth laughed. “Well, we’ll definitely get along there, sister-in-law. I’ve been known to use a sale or two as an excuse to buy almost anything, myself!”

Ingrid tossed a napkin at the trash. “Leslie, dear, don’t you have any friends? And what about your folks? Do they live around here?”

Before Leslie could respond, they heard a commotion. All heads spun to see a few of the guys, Jeff among them, sprawled out on the pathway. They had fallen off of their boards. Everyone got up, teasing each other and laughing.

Everyone but Jeff
.

When they noticed no movement from him at all, Ingrid and Beth shot from their seats, running over in alarm, with Leslie waddling behind.

Ingrid rushed to kneel over her son. “What the hell happened?” she cried.

Jeff’s eyes weren’t open.

“
M-my wheel caught and got stuck on a dent in the path,” said Brad. “So then everybody just crashed into me.”

“
Jeff?” Ingrid lifted his head, checking for blood. “Jeff, honey? Come on, open your eyes.”

Dropping to the ground, Beth tapped his jaw. “Jeff? Oh, good Lord, that must’ve been some fall!”

Panicked, Leslie grabbed one of the men standing next to her. “Somebody go call an ambulance—he’s badly hurt!”

But suddenly Jeff opened his eyes.

They all breathed a collective sigh of relief.

“
Oh, thank Jesus,” sighed Leslie, cupping her stomach. “I was about to faint myself!”

“
Ouch,” Jeff groaned, sitting up. “Did I black out? I landed right on the back of my head.”

As Brad helped him over to the picnic table, he joked, “Hey, somebody needs to learn how to skateboard!”

All the guys laughed.

“
Jeff, this is no laughing matter,” Ingrid said, coming up behind him. “You were out for quite a few seconds. Let me take a look at that head.” She carefully parted his blond hair. “Sure enough, there’s a goose egg coming up. You need ice.” She glanced at Beth. “Honey, grab a towel and wrap some ice cubes. How do you feel, Jeff?”

“
I feel fine, really.” He shook his head as if to clear it. “Actually, I guess I feel a little dizzy, but I’m sure it’s nothing that sitting down a few minutes won’t cure. I’ll be fine. Back on the board in no time.”

He glanced about and saw that everyone had gathered around the table. “Hey, everyone, I’m fine,” he said, smiling. “Don’t let me spoil the good time. Eat. Drink. Be merry.”

When Beth brought the ice, Leslie took it and held it against the back of Jeff’s head. “How many fingers do you see?”

She held up four.

“
Uh…” He squinted. “Is that eight or nine? I can’t tell…”

“
What?” cried Ingrid.

“
Eight or nine?” said Brad. “Hey, dude—maybe we really should get you over to Windmoor Memorial.”

“
Not funny, Phillips,” Leslie said, thumping Jeff on the shoulder. “Look at his face—he’s faking! Don’t pay any attention to the man behind the curtain.”

Jeff laughed. “Look, you guys, I’m fine. Trust me. It’s just a little bump on the head, that’s all.”

But they were at Glen-Frost Memorial Park another three and a half hours—and Jeff never left the table. Although he laughed, joked, and talked to everybody who came over, he never left the table.

When they arrived home, Jeff said, “I think I’ll take a few aspirin and go straight to bed.”

“Honey?” Leslie called out, getting the aspirin from the kitchen. “Are you sure you don’t want to get that bump looked at?” Something was wrong. She sensed the fall had been serious—more serious than he was letting on.

“Yes, Jeff. Maybe you should,” his mother said, leading him over to the sofa. “Your eyes haven’t looked well since you fell off that skateboard, you know.” She sat him down, examining the bump.

It was the size of a small plum.

“
Jeffrey, this thing is huge. Let’s not take any chances. We’re getting you to a hospital.”

“
And you haven’t seemed all that steady on your feet either,” added Beth.

“
No, I’m fine, really. Just have a mild headache…and feel a little dizzy…but it’ll go away.”

“
But, honey,” said Leslie, handing him the aspirin with a glass of water, “your mom’s right—let’s not take any chances. After all, it is your head we’re talking about, and dizziness can’t be good. Let’s just drive over to Windmoor.”

He swallowed the pills in one gulp, and then got to his feet. “I’m telling you, you’re all overreacting…which is typical of women, I might add.” He managed a half smile. “I just need to lie down awhile. I’m sure the headache will be gone soon enough.”

They all watched, worried, as he slowly made his way toward the bedroom.

A few minutes later Jeffrey stood in the shower, staring down at the single bar of soap that he held in his hand.

He could see seven of them.

Determined not to be alarmed, he closed his eyes and leaned to the side, resting against the tiled shower wall.

Breathing deeply, he inhaled the hot, moist steam being generated by the spray of water, and waited patiently.

Thirty seconds passed. Then forty-five.

Sixty.

Jeff opened his eyes.

Only one bar of soap.

See
?
I’m fine
.

Chapter 3

The following morning, after Jeffrey left for his eight o’clock class, Leslie told Ingrid and Beth that she was still very worried about that bump.

“
He looked okay this morning, but he’s definitely not himself. Not a hundred percent. He took an awfully nasty hit on that pavement.”
“Well, just keep an eye on that goose egg,” advised Ingrid. She and Beth were scheduled to fly back to Memphis the next day. “It’s very swollen, and this morning he wouldn’t even let me get near it with the ice pack.”

They were in the nursery, the guest room Beth was sleeping in, going through all the baby things they’d bought on their shopping spree, when Jeff returned quite unexpectedly.