Four Shades of Recovery: Boxed Set (17 page)

“Jillian, you’re efficient,” he responds in kind. “Were there any sparks with Mr. Kingsfield?”

“Well certainly not with me, Matt. However, when Marissa Stone entered the picture, Kingsfield nearly imploded. He changed from being a calculating business professional into some sort of love struck teenager. I’ve never seen anything so strange. He’s obsessed with her.”

Matt laughs heartily. “I thought Kingsfield might be interested in Marissa. Her resemblance to his former wife is uncanny.”

“You definitely knew what you were doing with the matchmaking angle, Matt. At the rate that Kingsfield’s moving with Marissa, they could be engaged by the end of the month.” 

“Let’s hope she can put some brakes on their relationship,” Matt muses. He doesn’t appear to be particularly concerned about it, however.

“Where should I meet you to give you the goods?”

“Why don’t I stop by your hotel? Then, I’ll have my pilot fly you to Portland later this evening.” Matt returns to his command mode.

I end the conversation when Marissa emerges from the women’s room. I need to give Ms. Stone some advice about how she might handle the infatuation that Michael Kingsfield so apparently feels for her.

MEGAN’s POV

Dr. Carl has the hospital call to inform me that Abby has regained consciousness. I am relieved and thrilled with the news. I call Matt and Paul to update them on the change and head to the hospital.

When I enter Abby’s private room, she’s sitting up in her bed with a smile. A nurse chats with her quietly.  I wave and she looks at me with some recognition.

“Mom, welcome back!” I hug her gently as we speak. “It’s wonderful to see the color return to your cheeks.”

“My…Megan,” she cries as tears run down her cheeks. Abby seems just a bit confused but not much.

“You’ve finally awakened after a very long rest, mother!” I’m nearly jumping up and down with enthusiasm.

“I feel so fuzzy, Megan. My dreams were so vivid though.” She speaks slowly and appears tired.

“What did you dream about mom?” I wonder if she remembers anything from the accident.

“Oh my goodness. My childhood, your childhood, real estate sales, boyfriends, husbands. I think I had a life review while dreaming,” she shares. Her mood appears to be cautious.

“You gave me quite a scare. Do you know why you were in a coma, mom?” I tread lightly in case the topic creates bad feelings.

“My rehab therapist tells me that I was in a car accident but I can’t recall anything about it. The last thing I recall is a pickup truck crossing the median strip,” she asserts with confidence.

“The important point is that your memory seems to be returning. What will your rehab therapist help you to do?”

“I think she’ll assist me with any gaps in my ‘personal or skill based knowledge’,” she smiles as she reiterates the phrase from her nurse. I find it hilarious that Abby’s using quotes from other people to communicate but I’m guessing that’s how people recovering from brain damage learn to use their language properly again.

We both look up when Matt enters the room. He looks edible today. I flash on a memory from our reunion in my bedroom at Abby’s condominium. I stare at him with longing. His mega-watt smile appears as soon as he sees me.

“Megan! Abby, it’s wonderful that you’re conscious and talking too.” He gives her a kiss on the cheek and puts his arm around my shoulder.

“Abby, do you remember me telling you about Matt, my boyfriend?”

“No, that’s Michael. Have we met?” Abby gave the wrong answer and I cringe. Matt’s smile quickly turns to a frown. I can feel him tense up immediately. I place my arm around his waist for reassurance and hug him.

“Matt’s my boyfriend now. He’s flown all this way to see me and help us,” I explain as if to a child.

“You live in town, Matt?” Abby seems foggy and sleepy.

He seems irritated now. “No Abby, we live in Portland,” he explains and pulls me closer.

“Thank you for visiting,” she says and tilts her head as if to nap. Perhaps we’ve given her too much information. She turns inward and begins to snore.

At this point, her rehab therapist intervenes. “I think she needs to rest a bit. You’ll find that your mother will be confused and sleepy for the first few days. It’s normal for someone who’s been comatose for a bit.”

Her reassuring manner helps me put the situation in perspective. We need to give Abby time to put her memories into order. She may need training in some basic skills.

“Can we return in a few hours?” I ask with concern.

“We’ll give you an alert when she awakens again. We have your phone number. Just now, Abby needs to rest and she needs quiet time,” the therapist says and pats my hand gently as she smiles.

I look at Matt with sympathy. He certainly didn’t need to hear Michael’s name mentioned in the same context as the term, boyfriend. He leads me outside the room and we talk in a private alcove.

“I wonder if we can have her transferred to Portland for her rehabilitation,” Matt wonders aloud.

“What a terrific idea! Then I can return to work and see Abby on a regular basis.” I also realize that removing Abby from Miami will keep her from any additional damage that Michael could cause.

“Let’s look into moving her as soon as she’s capable of flying. I’ll pay her expenses, of course,” Matt assures me and moves into his CEO mode with ease.

“Matt, that’s more than generous. You don’t have to pay for anything. I think Abby’s insurance will cover most of her rehabilitation.”

Matt must really love me to pay for my mother’s care after she tried to replace him as my boyfriend. I feel more confident about our future as a couple every day. He’s proving that love means putting yourself out there for your significant other. I’m more than impressed by his generosity and care. It’s helping to convince me that love is real and not just a word people bandy about because it’s expected.

“OK, why don’t you look into the insurance issues. But, I’m guessing that her medical coverage won’t pay for a transfer to Portland, however.”

“Of course, baby. Are you worried that Michael will attempt another ‘accident’ with Abby?” I ask and feel grateful for Matt’s thoughtfulness.

He nods and looks into my eyes with concern. “Yeah, I think we should remove Abby from harm’s way!”

I feel an incredible sense of relief. He’s pulling out all the stops to protect me and Abby. “Are you going to tell me about your brilliant plan for defusing Michael’s rage?”

He lets out a long breath. “Yes, Megan so let me begin.” He tells me about the real estate angle. I’m quite impressed but wonder if Michael will become suspicious about third parties.

“Do you intend to make the deal go sour, Matt?”

“Not necessarily. It can be a win-win for both of us. However, if Michael Kingsfield starts making trouble, I can jerk things around somewhat.”

“Then, you can yank his chain but he can’t do the reverse? Do you hold the purse strings on this deal?”

“Yes, I do Megan.” He looks at me with conviction as he indicates his power and wealth.

“Is this real estate deal a peace offering then?”

“Well, it’s actually a major diversion, Megan. He’s drawn to real estate deals as a moth would be to a light.”

“Knowing Michael, I would have to agree, Matt. Alright, so you divert his focus from me for a while. Then what?”

“There’s a second tier to my plan. You won’t be happy to hear the rest.” He adds but looks somewhat ashamed and, at the same time, proud.

My gut clenches as I look into his determined face. “Oh no,” I utter and take a breath. Then I rest my head on his shoulder.

I open my purse and find my tranquilizers. I take one and suggest that we eat lunch before the rest of his schema’s revealed. My stomach churns with acid during our meal but the pill calms me down after half an hour. At that point, I’m ready to hear it.

“Alright,” I announce after we’ve completed our sandwiches. “Let’s go for a walk in the nearby park and you can spill your brilliant plan,” I allow at last. Matt kisses my forehead and takes my hand.

“I’ve put a tempting treat on Michael’s plate, Megan.” His face reflects mixed emotions.

My veins run with cold liquid. “Don’t tell me that you sent one of your former submissives to Michael.”

“Megan, keep an open mind. It’s a bit more elaborate than that!”

“If you contacted Jillian, I won’t be happy,” I’m spitting mad as we talk.

“Baby, let me explain the deal. It’s already underway and appears to be working.”

“Just tell me the rough outline as I’m already feeling rage.” My blood pressure mounts as we speak. I take a second Valium. I realize the process has already begun but I have no control over that fact.

“Michael’s met Marissa and he’s pursuing her with enthusiasm,” he begins the tale with a smile plastered all over his face. Matt reflects a mixture of determination and fear as he speaks. He explains the roles that both Jillian and Marissa are to play in the ruse. My heart palpitates.

“Do you realize the number of risks that you’re taking here?” I ask. “Remember Marissa can be somewhat unstable, and Jillian has no ethics.” My jealousy mounts.

“As we say in business, no risk, no reward.” He holds my hand in his and looks me in the eye. “It’s all to protect you, Megan.” I know how much he’s sacrificing for me.

“Let me get this straight. You’re hoping that Michael will forget about me once things take on momentum with Marissa?”

“I think Michael’s delusional thinking about women who look like his former wife will override his rational mind. If things go well, he may move Marissa to Atlanta. Then, I’ll be off the hook for her schooling and living expenses.”

I’m pleased at the thought that Matt will no longer be supporting Marissa.

“That’s if things go well. What if they go so well that Michael marries her and then she tells him about  you and your schema?”

“Marissa signed a non-disclosure agreement about all things that pertain to me. That’s off limits. However, in both instances I’m doing Michael a favor. I am not hurting him in any obvious way. I’m merely redirecting his attention.”

“So, Jillian pulls Marissa’s strings? Keeps her motivated? How long will Jillian be a player?” I wonder.

“Jillian plays a temporary role in my schema. I don’t want to have any direct contact with Marissa. She may harbor designs on me. I want Jillian to act as a buffer. I won’t have much face to face contact with Jillian from this point forward either.”

Matt’s plan sounds so logical. It’s bound to hit a snag at some point.

“I don’t like the fact that you’ve had direct contact with Jillian, Matt. However, that’s over and done with at this point. Let’s imagine some other outcomes though.”

“There are so many ways that the wind can blow, Megan. I’m counting on Michael’s obsessive pursuit of Marissa to get you and Abby out of his site lines.”

“I agree that Michael can be relentless when he’s pursuing a love object, and I think that dangling Marissa in front of him will work for a limited time. But, what if he decides to reject her once he gets beyond the superficial level  of their encounter?”

“Then, I’ll find a way to reward Marissa,” Matt responds but his brow looks furrowed.

“With what, your presence? Maybe she’ll expect a hookup with you as the reward.”

Matt looks at me with disbelief. “I’m thinking of a therapist and a cash reward, Megan.”

“You’re walking on a tightrope, Matt. Suppose Marissa snaps and does something desperate like getting a gun? What if she decides to take out Michael, Jillian and you?”