The Perfect Deception (13 page)

N
athan checked himself in the mirror. He didn’t feel good. Was it the long hours at the office? The stress from being promoted? Lack of sleep, lack of loving, or all of the above? He’d missed time with Jessica, but she’d been so sweet. She’d brought over juice and soda and more of her soup. Still, some type of bug persisted. But it didn’t matter. Tonight was special. And day after tomorrow his promotion would be announced. Life-changing occasions.And nothing, not even sickness, could spoil his mood.

Halfway from his en suite bathroom to the walk-in closet, his phone rang. One look at the caller ID and he grimaced, then answered. “Sherri, don’t start. I know you’re angry. I was supposed to call you back.”

“Oh, that’s okay,” was the sarcastically cheerful response. “It’s only been a week.”

“Yeah, well, I’ve been on the grind. Long days, short nights. It’ll slow down soon.”

“No complaining, Mr. Vice President. That’s what happens when you join the big leagues.”

“Tell me about it. Oh, happy Valentine’s Day.”

“Back at you, Brother.”

He checked his watch. “I’m surprised you’re calling. You and Randall didn’t do anything special?”

“He got called to London as a last minute replacement for a conference speaker. He promised to make it up to me this weekend.”

“Why didn’t you go with him? That would have been a nice trip.” Nathan selected a suit, then matched up shirt, shoes, and tie.

“You forget I’ve rejoined the workforce? It’s only part-time, but I take my teaching obligation seriously.”

“Of course you do. It’s been so long since you’ve held a job, I forget. So it’s still going well.”

“Most days are very rewarding. But other days I look at these kids with no role models, incompetent parents, bad neighborhoods, and so much more to deal with. They all need saving. It makes me sad.”

“What was that saying? Each one, teach one? You can’t save everybody, Sherri. Just do what you can.” He walked back into the bathroom and reached into a drawer.

“That’s what I tell myself. Much harder to put into practice.”

“You can do it,” he mumbled.

“What are you doing?”

“Shaving, getting ready for a big date.”

“You and what’s-her-name hitting the town?”

He stopped mid-stroke. “Her name is Jessica.”

“I was only kidding. Geez, don’t get worked up.”

“Well, don’t play like that. Jessica is very special to me.”

“Dang, if I didn’t know better I’d think you were about to propose. You almost bit my head off.”

“It’s been a long week. My patience is short. But I know you mean well. Listen, tell the kids that Uncle said hi. Let’s talk this weekend when I have more time.”

“No problem. Enjoy yourself tonight. Don’t do anything foolish! But have a good time.”

Nathan dressed quickly. He double-checked to make sure he had everything he needed, then headed out the door. On the drive over to Jessica’s, he thought about what his sister had said. Sherri’s subtle warning, delivered probably because she knew him so well. To her, what he had planned might be considered foolish. For him, it was simply the right thing to do.

 

She fussed with her hair, straightened her dress, rethought her shoe choice. Nothing was working.
I look like crap!
Thirty minutes later, she’d changed three times—only to go back to her original choice.

And then the bell rang.

Her heart jumped. Placing a hand on her stomach, she took a deep, calming breath. Recalling the conversation from earlier today, she muttered, “You can do this, Jessie. Just like Sissy said.”

She walked to the door. “Hello, handsome.”

Nathan stood there, transfixed, drinking her in like a rare Perrier-Jouët.

His blatant scrutiny was unnerving.

“Do I look okay?”

“You are the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen.”

The resolve for follow-through faltered. She almost believed him. “You’re just saying that.”
Like Edwin did.
“Come on in.”

He stepped in, still staring. “These aren’t just words. Have you looked in the mirror? You look stunning.”

“I look different because I rarely wear my hair up like this.”

“The beauty I see is about much more than hair.” He took a step toward her.Then another, his eyes skimming her body as though a rare treat.

Suddenly nervous around a man she’d known for months, Jessica chattered. “What time are our reservations? Would you like to sit down? I can get us some orange juice, or tea?”

He stopped in front of her. “Jessica Bolton. All I want is you.”

The kiss was soft, delicate, restrained. She knew he held back. The bulge slowly growing against her dress was proof. His tongue whipped across her lips once, and again, before he pulled back, still holding her. So much emotion in such a small act. Such intensity was powerful, taking her breath.

“I ruined your lipstick.”

“I have more.”

“We’d better go. Five more minutes like this and the only place we’ll be headed is to bed.”

They arrived at Chops Lobster Bar just before eight and were promptly seated in a cozy booth. Nathan ordered a bottle of wine. Jessica tried to look calm, as if she belonged. She placed the linen napkin on her lap.

Nathan followed suit. “Have you been here before?”

She shook her head. “Heard about it, though. Some of the partners come here for lunch. They’ve raved about the food. What about you?”

“A couple times for business meetings. Always said when I met the right woman, I’d bring her here.The food is great and the service, superb.”

As if underscoring his point, the waiter arrived and uncorked their bottle. After Nathan’s faint nod of approval, he poured their wine, set the bottle on the table, then bowed and departed.

Nathan picked up his glass. “To the most beautiful woman in the room.”

Jessica smiled, her glass lifted, too. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”

She took a healthy swig, and then another.

“Slow down, now. Or you’ll be tipsy before the entrée.”

“It’s good.”

“Yes. As wines go, this is just about the only wine I like.”

Another sip. “What kind is it?”

“Nebbiolo.”

“Never heard of it.”

“It’s not in many regular liquor stores.” Nathan watched Jessica fiddle with her napkin, her eyes darting around the room. “You look nervous. Is everything okay?”

“I guess I am, a little.” She smiled, unconsciously biting her bottom lip. “I’m not used to this fancy stuff. Plus, I’m worried about you.”

“Why?”

“You look tired.”

“I am. Things are going well at the office. It’ll slow down.” He reached for her hand. “But I don’t want to talk about work tonight. I want to look at this menu, because thankfully my appetite has returned. And I want to talk about us.”

“Okay.” She perused her menu as well. “Have you had the lobster tail?”

Nathan nodded. “Delicious.”

They continued discussing the menu. After deciding on Kobe strip steak and Chilean sea bass, Nathan replenished their glasses.

“Oh, I forgot . . .” Jessica murmured to herself, looking around the room.

“What, babe?”

“I wish I’d remembered to request lemons and a straw for my water.”

“I can find the waiter, have him bring what you need.”

“That’s okay. I’ll wait until he comes back.”

“No need to wait. I was going to wash my hands anyway.”

“Thank you, Nate.”

He stood and placed a quick kiss on her brow. “Be right back.”

As soon as his back was turned, she reached for her purse. She moved without thought or feeling, just focused intent. After returning his wineglass to its position and quickly using her compact to apply powder and a small dab of gloss, she closed her purse and reached for her wineglass.

Nathan rounded the corner, saucer in hand. “Lemons for the lady.”

“Thanks again, babe.”

“I’m happy we’re back in a comfortable groove. Every couple goes through their ups and downs. I can tell right now that with you, I want to experience more of the former.”

“Disagreements are bound to happen.”

“Did you and your ex-husband argue much?”

“I learned it was safer to just go along.”

Nathan’s brow creased. “Why, to not get hit?”

Her eyes were downcast as she answered. “I’d rather not talk about him. Like you said, tonight’s about us.”

“Fair enough.” He took a drink of wine. “I have a question. If you could take a dream vacation, go anywhere in the world, where would that be?”

“Hmm. Good question. Let’s see . . . somewhere really different and far away: Fiji, or Tahiti . . . someplace like that.”

“Maybe we’ll go. I’ve not been to either of those places.” He took another sip of wine, held the glass up by the light to inspect the color. “This is a really good vintage. Great selection, I must say.” He took another long sip.

Jessica gave him a look. “Now who’s getting tipsy?”

“Touché.” He set down the glass. “So I see you like islands.”

“Yes. They’re so beautiful, makes me feel like I’m in paradise.”

Conversation flowed easier than it had in a while. While both slowed down, they continued drinking through the first three courses, and pondered ordering a second bottle as their entrées arrived.

“Ooh, this sauce smells delicious. Your steak looks good, too. Baby, we just might have to share and do a little surf and—Nate? What’s the matter?”

Having clutched his stomach, he now grimaced in pain. His hand gripped the table as if for dear life.

“Babe! What’s the matter?”

“My stomach,” he panted, continuing to bend over until his head touched the table.

Jessica looked around, frantic.
Where is the waiter?
She’d poured more of the arsenic into his glass than intended but hadn’t expected a reaction like this. She leapt from her seat. At the same time, Nathan straightened up and stood.

“Wait! Where are you going?”

“Let me get to . . . the restroom. Cold towel . . . will help me.”

“No, Nathan. Sit down. I’ll go get it for you.” She watched in amazement as large beads of sweat simultaneously popped up and ran down his face.

“No. I need air. I’ll be . . . I’ll be back.”

He took two steps, then two more . . . and fell flat.

“Nathan!” Jessica screamed. “Someone call an ambulance!”

E
verything happened so fast. One minute she was dreaming about fantasy vacations. The next minute she was riding in the back of an ambulance with lights blazing and horns blaring.

“What’s happening?” she shrieked, her arm clutching the EMT worker. “Why are his eyes rolled back like that?”

A second EMT moved her with a firm hand. “Ma’am, you’ve got to calm down and let us help your husband.”

“He’s . . .”
Not my husband. He’ll never be my husband. Or anybody else’s, based on how it looks right now.
She slumped against the window, looking out the window and not seeing a thing. If he died it would be mission accomplished. But a part of her would die, too.

At the hospital, it was even more hectic. He was placed on a gurney and rushed into emergency while she ran alongside in her five-inch heels, then whisked through a door that she could not enter.

Heart pounding, she raced to the nurse’s station. “My . . . he’s . . . ,” she eked out, pointing. “They wouldn’t let me go back there. But I have to be in there. I have to know what’s going on!”

“Ma’am, please.” An older nurse with the face of one who’d handled a crisis or two, came around the counter and took her hand. “What’s your name, dear?” Jessica told her. “I know it’s scary. But you’ve got to calm down. The doctors are going to do all they can to save your husband.”

“But I don’t know what’s happening.” No need for fake crying. The tears were real.

“Right now, they’re getting him stabilized so they can determine what’s wrong. I understand that you’re worried. But he’s in good hands. Why don’t you go have a seat and try to relax. Think happy thoughts. It will help you be okay.”

Jessica looked into sincere blue eyes the color of sky. So compassionate was the nurse’s countenance that she wanted to be wrapped in her arms and held like a baby. “Thank you.” Those words were all she managed to whisper before running to the restroom for a good old cry.

After tears, and toilet tissue to blow her nose, she opened her purse. Too late she remembered. No burner phone. More than ever, she needed Sissy’s advice. He was supposed to get sick, not end up in emergency. This was not part of the blueprint.
What am I supposed to do?
Deciding that nothing would come of her hiding in stallville, she washed her hands, splashed water on her face, and headed to the waiting room.

An hour later she understood more than ever how the room got its name. Waiting was as torturous as the hard, straight-back chairs. Finally, she looked up to see the nurse with the kind blue eyes pointing her way, and then a doctor walked toward her. She was up and out of her seat before he’d taken two more steps.

“Doctor? Is he . . . dead?”

“Jessica, right?” She nodded. “Mr. Carver is alive but he’s pretty sick. He’s severely dehydrated, with a fever and chills.”

“Do you think it’s food poisoning? We were having dinner.”

“Perhaps. The symptoms line up with those of a very severe case. We’ll need to hold him here a couple days, run some tests and determine exactly what’s going on. But right now I’m hopeful that in a few days he’ll be as good as new.”

“Can I see him?”

“He’s still in emergency but should be transferred to a room within the hour. Someone at the nurse’s station will have the correct information.”

“Thank you, Doctor.”

Jessica followed the doctor out of the waiting room, then turned the opposite direction and headed out the door. One hour! Enough time to catch a taxi home, grab the throwaway phone, and hopefully be back before Nathan knew she was gone.

An extra fifty encouraged the cab driver to get her home in just under fifteen minutes. She was in and out of the house in five and back to the hospital in record time. Catching her breath, and walking on sore feet from dashing in shoes not made for running, she approached the desk.

Kind Blue Eyes was still on the clock. “Excuse me. Have they transferred Nathan Carver?”

She looked at the computer. “Not yet, dear. But his room is ready. I know you’re itching to see him. As soon as he gets there, I’ll let you know.”

Jessica nodded. “Thanks. I’ll be right back. Just need to make a quick call.” She stepped outside and walked until she felt a good distance away from potential eavesdropping ears. Then she dialed Sissy. “He’s in the hospital!” was her greeting.

“What?”

“I did what you said and he almost died!”

“That is the plan,” Sissy drawled, before the implication sank in. “But wait! The hospital? Why did you dial nine-one-one?”

Jessica told her what happened. “Even before I instinctively yelled for an ambulance, I saw no less than three people grabbing their phones.”

“This is definitely a problem. The sooner we get him out, the fewer tests they can run. So let’s calm down and figure out how to make this happen.” There was a moment of silence before Sissy continued. “Okay, here is what we’re going to do . . .”

Ten minutes later, Jessica walked back into the emergency ward and up to the desk.

“There you are!” The nurse waved her over. “He’s ready to see you. Come right this way.”

Jessica trailed behind the fast-walking nurse, bracing herself for what she’d see. Entering the room, she realized that there wasn’t a hall long enough to prepare her. Stopping just inside the doorway, her hand flew to her mouth. Nathan looked like death warmed over. Just hours ago he’d looked healthy and robust. Now, his skin looked ashen and tubes from both arms ran to drip bags suspended on steel rods.

With tentative steps, she approached the bed. “Nathan?” she whispered. She cleared her voice and spoke a little louder. “Babe?”

His eyes fluttered open. “Hey.” His voice was raspy, his lips dry.

Her shaky hand covered his. “Hey.”

“What . . .” He cleared his throat and swallowed with effort. “What happened?”

“You passed out.”

His eyes closed, and for several seconds, she watched his even breathing. When they reopened, his stare was searching, curious. “At the restaurant. Felt ill . . .”

Jessica nodded. “You stood to go to the restroom, took two steps and fell.”

“I got dizzy,” he recalled, eyes narrowing in thought. “Felt light-headed and those cramps... What the hell is going on with me?”

“They want to keep you for a few days . . . to run some tests.”

He slowly shook his head. “No. I can’t be here that long. Too much going on at work.”

“I agree.” His eyes quickly shifted from the ceiling back to her. “I mean, I understand how busy you are right now, uh, with the promotion and everything. I’ll do anything I can to help you, take off work, stay at your place to help you get well. Whatever you need.”

He looked at her intensely before slowly nodding. “Thank you. See if you can find the doctor so I can get released.Where are my clothes?”

Jessica looked around. “Probably here.” She walked over to a closet and opened it. “Yes, everything’s here, Nathan.”

He lifted his head in her direction. “Good.” His head wearily fell against the pillow. That small move alone had expended considerable energy. “Get the doctor.”

Ten minutes later a scowling ER doctor peered down at Nathan. “I strongly advise against your checking out, Mr. Carver. In order to pinpoint the cause of your collapse, several tests must be run. Assuming this was a case of the flu or food poisoning or something simple, is not wise. Hopefully, this ailment is something that can be cured easily. But if not, we need to identify it and treat it in these early stages.”

“I appreciate your concern, Doc.” Nathan winced as he moved his hand, causing the needle connected to the intravenous feeding bag to wiggle. “I’ll make an appointment to see my physician this weekend.”

“That’s fine, but the equipment for the types of tests we need to run is here, in the hospital, not a doctor’s office.”

“I want to be released.” Clipped words delivered through tight jaws.

“First thing tomorrow; that’s the best I can do. At the very least, your body needs fluid.” Nathan’s lips thinned into a resolute line. The doctor crossed his arms. “One night for observation.” He leaned toward his patient. “This is your life.”

“Fine. One night. And then I’m out of here.”

“I’ll be right back.” Jessica followed the doctor out of the room. “Is he going to be okay, Doctor?”

“I hope so. But as I’ve stated, the only way to know for sure what is happening is to run a battery of tests. Without that, there is no way to provide a correct diagnosis.”

“Is there something I can do?”

“Keep him hydrated. Record what he eats. There’s a small chance he’s developed an allergy to something and is unaware of it. Encourage plenty of rest, and persuade him to let us test him.”

“Thank you.” A quick nod, and the doctor walked off. Jessica watched his brisk steps down the hall, thinking about what he’d told her to do to make Nathan better and knowing that to carry out her sister’s plans she was going to make him feel much, much worse.

Nathan’s eyes were on her as soon as she reentered the room. She winced as a toe expressed its displeasure at still being in heels. “What is it, Jessica?”

She sat down and removed her shoes. “I’ve been in these heels too long.”

“Why don’t you go change?”

“And leave you?”

This brought a smile. “I can live without you for a little while.”

“Okay. I would like to change into something else, and bring you clean clothes, too.” He nodded. She replaced her shoes and walked to the closet. Suit, shirt, and tie in hand, she returned to his bedside for a quick kiss on his dry lips. “Okay, I’ll see you in a bit.”

His eyelids drooped. “No, you won’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because I need rest and so do you. I also need for you to pick up the car.”

“It’s still at the restaurant! I’d totally forgotten.”

“Can you do that, and come back in the morning?”

“Of course.”

“Will taking the morning off from your job be okay? I don’t want to get you in trouble.”

“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be here.”

“Jessica!” The loud voice in Nathan’s head was a mere whisper in the room.
Hopefully she won’t feel the box.
He was still frowning when moments later sleep claimed him. Jessica, oblivious to Nathan’s attempt to stop her, continued to the door.

She barely remembered the taxi ride to the restaurant or after retrieving his vehicle the ride to his house. Jumbled thoughts competed for dominance. Feelings were all over the place. She reached his loft and stepped inside. After removing her shoes, she headed for the closet in his master suite.

It felt different being in his home alone. Intrusive somehow, though he was aware. Seeing a pair of house shoes, she slipped them on, knowing if she tried those heels again there’d be a toe revolt. This was her first time in his closet. It smelled like him—musky and manly. Still clutching the suit in one hand, she ran the other over his wardrobe, all neatly organized. Suits, slacks, shirts, casual wear, shoes, and accessories all had their place. Several bottles of cologne lined the top of a dresser. She spotted the clothes hamper and walked over, double-checking pockets before throwing in the items. Just before tossing them she felt something in his suit coat, reached in and pulled out a small blue box.

“No!” The word exploded from her mouth through a gust of air. Mouth open, eyes wide, she stared at her hand as though it held a foreign object.
No!
Repeated in her mind, over and over.
It can’t be.

She opened the box. It most certainly was. Taunting her from its silk-lined case was an engagement ring: sparkly round diamond of at least two carats in a platinum setting, with smaller, colored diamonds down the side. Its beauty brought tears to her eyes. The impossibility of it all made her cry harder. Funny, because in years gone by, tears were rarely shed. As one foster parent had asked her, “What’s the use?” Those stored-up tears fell like a Seattle storm. Sinking to the floor, there in his walk-in closet, she cried for many things: never really knowing her parents, losing her sister for so many years, unhappy foster homes, a miserable marriage. But most of all Jessica wept because it appeared that tonight the man she had sworn to kill had planned to propose.