STAY THE NIGHT (The Phillips Family Book 1) (39 page)

             
“
Did you contact hers and your family, yet?
”
Nancy asked.

             
“
No, this is going to break her parent's heart.  My family adores her, too.  Right now I can't think of anyone but Angel and how do I begin to tell the family what happened?  I left her alone.
”

             
“
Don't go there, Cray,
”
Matt said. 
“
It's a fruitless emotion and you're too level-headed to blame yourself.  The love between you two is palpable, but I'm sure you don't spend every second of every day in each others' presence.
”

             
Three days later Mona arrived to transport Angelica to a facility in Manhattan staffed and run by women who dealt with wealthy clients who experienced similar situations.  The exclusive residence accepted no more than six patients at a time.  Nancy gave Cray the name and phone number of the psychiatrist and when Cray talked to her, her warm, calm and serene personality convinced Cray that Angelica would like and respond to her.

             
When Angelica slept, Cray stood in her doorway and watched her.  Cray called Mona when the decisions were made, confided the situation to her and asked her to fly to the Cape and drive Angelica to Manhattan.  He considered calling Bekka since she was a nurse, but decided that a direct member of the family might not be the best choice.

             
Mona and Angelica were the best of friends and he trusted Mona's instincts to deal with Angelica whether she wanted to talk or not.  Mona's ability to listen intently if that's what the speaker wanted or to indulge in idle chit-chat while they drove convinced him her persona would suit the best for the long trip.  The psychiatrist suggested flying might not be the best option.

             
Cray met Mona at the airport and when she embraced him, he cried.  She lead him to a quiet corner and let him cry and talk until he exorcised some of the pain that consumed him. 
“
I'm sorry,
”
he said after more than a quarter hour. 
“
Who else knows?
”

             
“
No one, Cray.  They must be told, but you're not alone.  I'll be with you.
”

             
Mona told Cray later that night at his condo the trip proved uneventful.  At one point Angelica asked Mona if she knew what happened.  Mona said she did and Angelica nodded and stared out the window for more than an hour.  Angelica put up no fight when she entered the psychiatric residence, found her clothes and favorite toiletries already in her private room that Mona had arranged before leaving the city.

             
Mona said,
“
Dr. Weinstein gave me a list of psychiatric private nurses for you to interview.  She suggests you choose one who will befriend Angelica and then move with Angelica when she's ready to be released.  She did tell you this could be a long recovery, didn't she?
”

             
“
Yes.  She told me they'll transition Angelica to her home as soon as possible, but I probably won't be able to live with her.
”

             
“
Cray, I'm so sorry.  You're welcome to stay with me.
”

             
“
Thank you, but you already have Dirk living there.  I'll lease something close to our condo.
”

             
Mona made a point of visiting Angelica for an hour every day and reported her impressions to Cray.  Dr. Weinstein kept Cray abreast of Angelica's condition, but each report made him despondent because there seemed to be no progress.  The doctor and Mona kept reminding him she'd been there only a few days.

             
Mona rode with Cray three days after arriving in New York City to meet with both families at Freddie and Bekka's home since it was halfway between everyone.  They gathered in the family room and Mona kept her hand on top of Cray's while he delivered the horrifying details.  The level of shock gripping Celena and Agust worried Mona because of their age.  Celena said she must go to Angelica and Mona sympathized with her, but told her it wouldn't help now.  Bekka, who'd worked psychiatric wards and dealt with rape victims concurred. 

             
Darja and Gwen cried silent tears and comforted each other.  Alex, Lake, Ladd and Birch asked what they could do.

             
“
The bastard is dead,
”
Cray said. 
“
I hope he's in hell where he belongs.  Thank you for your offer.  Mona's been my rock.  Please pray for my wife.
”

             
Freddie said,
“
Cray and Mona, we'll take our cues from you since you're in constant contact with her doctor.  Celena, I trust you to abide by what's best for your daughter and I am aware of the pain you must be suffering.  Cray, we are ready to do anything you suggest when you want us.  Please, don't doubt that.  You need only ask.  Angelica will be in my prayers.
”

             
“
And mine,
”
they said as a group.

             
Days went by and Bekka called Cray. 
“
Cray, it's Bekka.  Mamma insists that she be allowed to see Angelica.  I understand her so well.  She'll encourage Angie to count her blessings, allow you who love her to take care of her and in essence tell her to snap out of it.  I'm so sorry to put this on you.
”

             
Cray sighed. 
“
What do you suggest I do, Bekka?  I empathize with Celena.
”

             
“
If you don't object, talk to her doctor.
”

             
Celena met with Dr. Weinstein before seeing her daughter.  Jackie, the psychiatric nurse stayed in the room, supervising the visit.  A couple of times, Celena began a pep talk and Jackie intervened with a change of subject.  Bekka, her second pregnancy obvious visited Angelica and their time together went well.  Angelica asked about Andy as they called Bekka and Freddie's son and seemed to take pleasure in listening to Bekka describe his attempts to walk and his penchant for pounding on pots and pans with a wooden spoon.

             
Angelica gave a rare smile when she suggested he'd become a drummer with a rock bank in the future.  Bekka gave Cray a full report and his heavy heart lifted when he heard that she'd smiled.

             
When the doctor said that Angelica could move back to their home, Cray followed the doctor's suggestion and removed all vestiges of his life with her.  He leased a furnished condo half way between the office and Angelica's condo.  Jackie moved in with Angelica, two women provided security around-the-clock outside the condo door and Mona continued to visit on a regular basis.  Jackie kept the doctor informed of the progress Angelica made and when she heard Angelica ask Mona about Cray, she reported that.

             
Cray worked in his office the day his secretary told him she had Dr. Weinstein on the phone.  His hands started to shake when he lifted the receiver to his ear. 
“
Dr. Weinstein, please tell me this is good news.  I need some badly.
”

             
She relayed the overheard conversation and said,
“
I paid Angelica a visit today and we talked about the possibility of you visiting.  Cray, she's ready to see you. I suggested you join her for dinner on Friday and she agreed.  Does Friday suit your schedule?
”

             
“
I'd move mountains to be with her.  Of course, it suits.
”

             
“
Do nothing overt with her and don't expect a reunion of any kind.  It's a big step she's taking being willing to be in the presence of any man, including you.
”

             
“
What shall I talk about?
”
  He couldn't believe he had to ask for conversational tips with his wife who he'd spent hours on end with discussing every subject from current events to his business to philosophy to their particular intimacy.

             
“
Let her lead the conversation if she will, otherwise, discuss your business.  I understand you shared everything with her.  By all means tell her details and cite examples of how the foundation is going.  She's wondered about that and asked Mona, but I told your sister to speak in generalities because I wanted you to be the one to fill in the specifics.
”

             
“
May I take her flowers and kiss her cheek.
”

             
“
Flowers are perfect.  I'll trust you to read her body language as to whether to touch her hand or kiss her cheek.
”

             
“
I'm a nervous wreck and she's my wife.
”

             
“
You'll do fine, Cray.
”

             
Friday evening he nodded to the security women sitting outside and knocked on his condo's door with the irony of doing that in the home he bought long before he met Angel.  He carried a bouquet of daisies, clutching the stems so hard they welded against each other.  Jackie opened the door, smiled and said,
“
She's nervous, Cray, but she's ready to have dinner with you.
”

             
“
She's not the only nervous one and it strikes me as ludicrous since she's my wife.
”

             
“
Keep the conversation light and not personal.
”

             
“
Yes, I've been coached.  Will you be dining with us?
”

             
“
No, but I'll be nearby in case she's uncomfortable.  She's in the den waiting for you.
”

             
Jackie preceded her and said,
“
Angelica, Cray has arrived and he has a lovely bouquet of daisies for you.
”

             
He saw her curled up in a chair as though she tried to shrink inside herself and realized a kiss on the cheek could cause her to shriek.  Rather than appear so overpowering to her he sat in a chair a distance from her and said, 
“
Shall I ask Jackie to put these flowers in a vase with water?
”

             
She looked at him through lowered lashes and nodded.  Jackie took the flowers from him and said,
“
These stems look like they're crushed.
”

             
“
I'm sorry.  That's my fault.  I'm so nervous, I squeezed them too hard.
”

             
“
I'm nervous, too,
”
Angelica whispered.

             
He smiled at her and said,
“
My hands are shaking.
”
  He held his hands out so she could see the tremor. 
“
Are yours?
”

             
“
I'll put these flowers in water,
”
Jackie said,
“
and be back shortly.
”

             
A tentative motion brought her trembling hand in front of her to show him. 
“
They're cold, too,
”
she said in a soft voice.

             
“
I guess it would look pretty silly to wear gloves inside the house, but it might warm your hands.
”

             
A half smile graced her face.  She said,
“
Would you like a glass of wine or something stronger?
”

             
“
Wine would be nice.  Shall I get it?
”

             
“
No,
”
she said in a fearful voice and a bit too loud.  She lowered her voice.
“
You're my guest.
”

             
“
Thank you.  Whatever you're having is fine for me.
”

             
She unwound from the chair, walked a circuitous path to the bar to avoid being near him and kept looking over her shoulder to be sure he stayed seated.  She carried the full glasses and set his on the coffee table separating them.  He waited until she settled in her chair before reaching for it in a slow precise manner so he wouldn't startle her with a quick movement.