The Price (35 page)

“Kathryn, wake up,” came a voice outside her. “Kathryn, wake up, you’re dreaming!”

Kate’s eyes fluttered open and saw her mother towering over her.

“Where’s Jack?” She searched the room for her rugged, sandy-haired mate, hoping it was all a bad dream.

“He left you,” Marnie stated rather coldly, before taking a seat in the chair beside the bed. “And I’m not surprised. He was a bad egg from the start.”

“No.” Kate sat up in bed and hugged her pillow. “Something’s wrong. I can feel it.”

“Oh Kathryn, when are you going to learn?” Her mother sighed. “I didn’t want to tell you but now I guess I have no choice.”

“Tell me what, Mother?” asked Kate, feeling the anxiety rise in her chest and constrict her throat. “Tell me, do you know where Jack is?”

“Very well, if you insist.” Marnie withdrew an exasperated breath. “I assume he has gone back to that po-dunk-town of his. He called this afternoon and requested for Maria to return to her duties as housekeeper on that little ranch of his.”

“Maria’s gone?” Kate’s heart sunk.

“She left right after his call.”

“Oh my God, Jesse—where’s Jesse?”

Kate felt like her heart was ready to rip from her chest and she jumped from her bed. But her legs were too weak and she stumbled onto the floor. Frustrated tears ran down her cheeks and she reached out to her mother for help.

“Jesse is fine,” stated Marnie, slowly rising from the chair. “He is in the nursery with Colette.”

“Oh, thank God,” said Kate, as she lowered her head to the floor and continued to sob.

“Really Kathryn, you should be more careful.” Marnie bent down and helped her daughter stand. “Now let’s get you back to bed, shall we?”

Kate wrapped her arm around her mother’s neck and she helped her back to bed. Salty tears ran on-to the thinning blonde strands as Kate laid her head against the pillow.

“Under the circumstances, I think it might be best if you have your chemotherapy therapy at home,” said Marnie. “I’ll call Dr. Bloom and make the arrangements.”

“I don’t care about that,” Kate cried. “Mother, why would Jack ask for Maria and not Jesse? It doesn’t make sense. Did you talk with him directly?”

“Oh, Kathryn, wake up! He’s a weak man. I told you before he couldn’t handle this. Jack is a man that requires constant affection and since you couldn’t provide it, he moved on. It’s as simple as that.”

“No,” Kate cried harder. “I don’t believe it.”

“You need to move on, too,” said Marnie. “You have a good man right here in Santa Cruz that loves you and will stick by your side. I know Paul has made mistakes but he has learned from them. You need to give him a chance.”

“You want me to move on when I am still in love with Jack?” Kate shook her head. “I will always be in love with Jack.”

“Then you’re a fool,” said Marnie, and she tucked a strand of blond hair behind her daughter’s ears. “Rest now. I’ll have the cook bring you up some soup. You must try to eat, otherwise you’ll waste away.”

Marnie leaned over and kissed her daughter’s forehead, then turned and left Kate alone in her room. Kate buried her head in her pillow and cried a river of tears. He left her and he abandoned their son. How could he do that to her now? He told her he loved her.
Was it all a lie? Was it ever the truth
? Kate felt a stabbing pain to her heart and curled up into an agonizing ball.

“Don’t leave me, Jack,” she whispered, as if he could hear her. “If you leave me, I’ll die.”

She cried until she could cry no more. She felt spent and weak. Her head was pounding and her stomach started churning as it had for the last two weeks. She was going to be sick again. This time Kate mustered the strength and made it to the bathroom. Once more, she hugged the commode and retched, but nothing came out. When the nausea passed, she went to the sink and washed her face. She stared into the mirror and saw her sunken cheeks and thinning hair.

“I’d leave you too,” she said aloud, repulsed by her own reflection.

She pushed away from the sink and slowly made her way back into her room.

TWENTY-SIX

HELP IS ON THE WAY

Two weeks went by and Jack was no closer to getting out than he was before. His new court appointed attorney was worthless. The week before, he had a visit from Maria and she told him that Marnie discharged her. She tried to visit Kate at the cancer center but learned she was being treated at home because she was too ill to come to the center anymore.

Jack was desperate. He had no hope of being released any time soon and he was helpless to do anything to save Kate from her mother and Paul. He was having nightmares about her, hearing Kate cry out for him in his sleep. The images were haunting, and in his dreams there was nothing he could do to reach her in time. She was dying, and he felt it deep in his bones.

Jack was left with the only recourse available. If there was one person who could help, it would be Clara. It took him an additional two days to obtain permission to make an outside call. Why, he wasn’t sure since most of the inmates had unlimited phone privileges. In the end, he bribed a guard and was given two minutes to talk before the call would be disconnected.

Jack had a stack full of coins and placed the call at the public pay-phone. He prayed Clara would answer, not recognizing the number. The phone rang and to Jack’s good fortune, she picked up.

“Clara, this is Jack.”

“Jack.” There was a sound of relief in Clara’s voice. “Oh my God, where have you been? I’ve been trying Kate’s cell phone and yours for the past two weeks. I even called Marnie, but she wouldn’t let me talk to Kate. What the hell is going on?”

“I only have a minute and thirty seconds to tell you what’s going on, since you wasted my last thirty talking nonsense,” Jack growled. “Now listen up! I’m in jail, and I need your help.”

“You’re in jail?” Clara shouted.

“Just listen dammit!” Jack banged his head on the side of the pay phone. “I need you to get me out of here so I can go get Kate. Paul’s got a restraining order against me cause I belted him. He and Marnie set me up so I’m in the hoosegow for violating it.”

“Did you violate the restraining order? She questioned.

“Hell no! It’s a bogus charge,” shouted Jack, getting more frustrated as the seconds ticked by. “Clara, Kate’s real sick and Marnie’s got her under lock and key. I need you to come to Santa Cruz and get me out of here.”

“How am I going to do that?” Clara shouted back.

“Hell, I don’t know. You got to talk Paul into dropping the charges,” said Jack as he looked at his watch and saw he was running out of time. “Clara, you’re the most devious person I know and Kate’s best friend. If you love her, help me please.”

The phone went dead. Jack leaned against the wall and sighed.

“Jack…Jack—you still there?” Clara shouted into the phone. “Shit!”

Clara saw the call ended just as Adam walked into the kitchen.

“Pack your bags, we’re going to Santa Cruz!”

“Is Kate all right?” he asked, seeing the frantic look on his wife’s face.

“She’s in trouble, Adam and so is Jack,” said Clara, and she went scurrying from the kitchen with Adam close on her heels. “I’ll pack the bags while you book the plane tickets. I want to leave on the next flight.”

“Are you going to tell me what’s wrong?”

“I don’t have time,” she stated as she rushed down the hall. “We’ll talk on the way to the airport.”

After her last episode, Kate felt drained. She had little energy left, and walking back to her bed exhausted that. She lay there, too tired to answer when she heard a knock at her door. The door opened and her home care nurse entered carrying an IV bag filled with her chemotherapy treatment.

“How are you doing today, Kathryn?” the elderly nurse asked in her usual laissez-faire manner.

It didn’t matter how Kate answered because the nurse never seemed all that interested in knowing.

“I’m still throwing up,” said Kate her voice sounding weak and frail. “Can’t Dr. Bloom give me something to help?”

“I have no orders for medication other than your treatment,” she said dryly.

Kate watched her hook the bag to the IV pole by her bed.

“I don’t want the treatment today.” She shook her head in protest.

“Sorry, but it’s doctor’s orders.”

As if paying no attention to her patient’s request, the stoic practitioner placed the line into the portable port in the sick woman’s arm. Kate felt the instant cool rush of cold liquid run through her veins and a metallic taste in her mouth. She closed her eyes to fight back the tears from forming. They came anyway as large droplets seeped through her lashes and fell on-to her cheeks.

Kate lay in the bed for the next hour as the nurse with no personality sat in a chair and read a book. By the end of the treatment, Kate’s nausea returned with a vengeance. This time, she didn’t make it to the bathroom. Still hooked to the IV, she expelled the contents of her stomach on to the sheets and blankets. The nurse jumped to her feet and rushed irritatingly to Kate’s side.

“You should have told me you were going to be sick,” she scolded, while she bundled the blankets and removed them from the bed, leaving the frail woman exposed and shivering.

“I didn’t know I was going to be sick.” She started to cry as the dry heaves came over her again.

“I’ll call your mother and have someone change the sheets,” the nurse exclaimed, before she pulled out her cell phone and dialed for Marnie St. Claire.

While she waited for her employer, she removed the treatment line from Kate’s hand. Kate went to stand, wanting to make a mad dash for the bathroom but her legs felt so wobbly she couldn’t hold herself up. She clung to the edge of the bed as another violent wave engulfed her. She dropped to all fours and heaved into the waste basket by the side of her bed.

Marnie rushed in along with one of her staff.

“Oh, Kathryn,” she groaned as she knelt down by her daughter’s side and helped her to the bathroom.

“I don’t want to do the treatments anymore,” Kate wailed like a small child. “Mother please make it stop.”

“You have to be strong,” stated Marnie. She ran her hand through her daughter’s hair and small clumps stuck to her fingers. “The treatment will make you well.”

“The only thing that will make me well is Jack,” bawled Kate, hovering over the porcelain commode just as another wave hit her.

“He’s the last person you need,” Marnie said sharply. “Now pull yourself together.”

Kate rocked back on her heels and rested her head against the cool porcelain.

“I’m done,” she whispered, wanting to go back to bed.

Marnie assisted Kate back to the bedroom just as the housekeeper finished putting new sheets and blankets on the bed. Kate crawled in-to the fresh sheets and laid her head against the pillow. Marnie went to take her leave.

“I want to see Jesse,” said Kate, reaching out and taking her mother’s arm.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Kathryn,” her mother frowned. “You’re in no condition to have Jesse visit. What you need is rest. Close your eyes and go to sleep.”

Kate nodded and closed her eyes. She heard her mother’s footfalls and that of the nurse, leave her room and the door closing after them.

“I need you, Jack,” she whimpered. “Oh God, I need you.”

She cried herself to sleep.

TWENTY-SEVEN

REALITY CHECK

Clara and Adam’s flight left two hours later, and as promised Clara told her husband everything she knew. The first stop after landing in Santa Cruz was to the jail. Adam called in a few favors and discovered Jack was being held in a facility right outside Santa Cruz. They rented a car and drove to the facility. It was late when they arrived and visiting hours were almost over. Adam bribed a guard and they were both ushered into a small room waiting to see Jack.

When Jack entered the room, both Clara and Adam were taken aback. His hair was straggly and unkempt and he looked like he hadn’t shaved for weeks. He was thinner than he’d been in years but what was worse was his dull green eyes, casting watery shadows of defeat as if he’d been broken and his overbearing spirit had been removed.

Jack took one look at Clara and Adam, and broke down. He fell into Clara’s arms and she just held him, feeling his strong body trembling against her.

“We’re here, Jack.” She consoled him as his mournful sobs soaked her shirt. “It’s going to be okay.”

She smoothed out the messiness of his hair and Jack nodded. After several minutes, he pulled himself together and stepped back. Adam motioned for them to take a seat at one of the community tables.

“God, you look like shit!” exclaimed Clara, seeing the dark circles under her friend’s eyes as if he hadn’t slept in days.

“Of course I look like shit,” Jack muttered as his old self seemed to return. “I’m in prison for Christ’s sake!”

“We’re going to get you out, Jack,” replied Adam. “I promise you, one way or another, we’ll make this thing go away.”

“You’ve got to work fast,” said a desperate Jack. “I need to get to Kate. She’s in bad shape.”

“Have you spoken to her?” asked Clara.

“Hell, I doubt she even knows I’m here,” he growled. “Maria says Kate’s been too sick to have chemo at the center. They’ve got her locked up in that house. God only knows what they are doing to her.”

“I know Marnie isn’t the most maternal person, but I don’t think she would hurt her own daughter,” said Clara.

“That woman is evil,” snapped Jack. “She’s got Kate wound so tight it ain’t funny. Now she’s got Kate right where she wants her, and I played right into her hands. She got me out of the way and I can sure as shooting guess that good old Paul is right by Kate’s side.”

“Well, Paul is our next stop,” said Adam. “By the time we’re done with him, he’ll drop the charges.”

“You better act fast,” said Jack, getting antsy. “I got me a bad feeling that Kate is in bad shape. I need to see her.”

“Don’t worry, you’ll see Kate soon.” Clara placed her hand on his. “You have to trust us, sweetie.”

For the first time in several weeks, Jack had hope. He knew Clara and Adam wouldn’t let him down. He only prayed, they would make it to Kate in time.