Touching Eternity (Touch Series 1.5) (24 page)

Garrison nodded, waving a hand dismissively. “Oh nothing that I can’t handle. It’s just been very stressful between keeping things running at the lab and things here at home. I honestly don’t know which of those things have been giving me the most grief.”

“
What’s happening at work?” he asked.

Garrison flicked his wrist. “Oh the same old things. Small, petty people trying to interfere in things they don’t understand. My research will change history. I just need time to perfect it. How can I do that when people keep bombarding me with moronic questions? Granted, they are my backers and I suppose it’s necessary, but it’s tiresome all the same.”

Isaiah nodded slowly. “And at home?”

Garrison groaned, closing his eyes. “Amalie’s treatment doesn’t seem to be doing its job.”

It was a struggle not to let himself stiffen. “What do you mean?”

With a sigh, Garrison rubbed a hand over his face. “I’ve been trying for several months to find the proper dosage of medication, but it seems not to be working. Either it’s too high or it’s too low. The fluctuation is putting pressure on her emotions. There are days she’s at an ultimate high, happy, talkative and completely in the present. Then there are days when she’s sour and violent and depressed. But there’s no middle ground. We’re either at an ultimate high or an all-time low.”

“
Well, she seems to be fine now,” Isaiah said, recalling Amalie’s smiling face in the corridor.

“
Today is a good day.” Garrison swept a hand down the front of his blazer. “But I can’t promise it’ll remain that way tomorrow. What is worse are her violent tendencies. I’ve had to put a lock on her door to keep her secure at nights, remove all dangerous items from her room. I even had to replace the windows and mirrors to shatter proof glass so she can’t hurt herself or anyone else. It’s just gotten so bad! I’m constantly worried about her. I’m afraid that if I let her out of my sight, she’ll wind up like…”

Abigail.
Neither of them said the name, but the room seemed to ring with it.

Isaiah swallowed the bitter tang in his throat. His gut wrenched. He tried to focus on how important it was that he talk to the man and not how desperate he was to do the right thing.

“
So what are you going to do?” he asked.

Garrison shrugged. “Keep trying, I suppose. I’m not ready to give up. I know with more treatments, more patience, I can break her of these delusions.”

“
The voices?” Isaiah whispered, feeling his throat constrict.

Garrison shifted in his seat. “Those, yes, but other things.”

“
Like what?”

The other man seemed to hesitate. He stalled, rubbing a hand over his mouth. When he spoke, his voice was low, as if afraid they may be overheard. “I had to find her a new tutor.”

Isaiah frowned. “What happened to Ms. Haddy?”

Garrison shook his head slowly. “I think they’d been together too long. Julia was becoming curious, asking too many questions. She was beginning to doubt my abilities to care for Amalie. She said I was making things worse. I also believe she’d been pouring this nonsense into Amalie’s head because since your departure…” he broke off, exhaling. “Amalie has become defiant, resisting everything I tell her, talking back. I’m almost certain Julia had ceased giving her the medication, which would account for the behavioral issues, but there’s something else.”

Isaiah waited.

Garrison continued. “There was an incident with a backer of mine, Julius Barnabas. As you know I don’t normally bring work home, but this backer was very important to my cause so I invited him and his new bride to dinner. Amalie joined us, which I suppose is my fault. I hadn’t been aware of Julia’s tampering then. In the middle of dinner, the conversation turned to the wedding. I was apologetic that I was unable to attend, but I’d been swamped with work. Julius’ wife was recently widowed. Her husband tragically took his own life by leaping out of his office window. Julius was his partner and that’s how he met his new wife. So during this discussion, Amalie blurts out quite unexpectedly that my backer was the one who pushed his partner out of the window so he could marry the wife. Julius was appalled. His wife was horrified and I didn’t know what to say.”

“
How did Amalie know?”

Garrison barked a laugh. “She claimed the husband told her. That he was there in the room with us and he was furious. Julius of course left. The next day, he pulled his investment. It was at this time I realized Amalie cannot be trusted around people if she’s going to make up these horrible lies. So in light of this, I think it would be best if Amalie was isolated for a little while, just until I’m satisfied with her progress.”

“
But I—”

Garrison cut him off with the lift of his palm. “I understand this is something that may cause some problems, but I think it’s also best for you if you took some time away from her.”

He could have asked for Isaiah’s right hand and it would have been less painful. “But, sir…”

“
I know you and Amalie are friends,” Garrison began slowly. “And, in the past, I never discouraged this because I believed it was vital in your growth that you learn to associate with children your own age. In my professional opinion, you did very well considering your background and your isolation. I chose Amalie for you because, for one, she was available, but also because of her condition, it was not in you to hurt someone weak or sick. At the same time, I’d hoped Amalie would pick up on some of your more assertive behavior and perhaps improve. I’m happy to say some of my experiment was successful. Amalie has been much more…” He made a circular motion with his hand. “Relaxed and sociable since your arrival. I want to explore that a little more, help her improve, but I have to think of you as well. Amalie isn’t good for you long term.”

“
Amalie and I have never had any problems,” Isaiah said, nearly half out of his seat.

Garrison chuckled. “I’m glad you think so, but too much exposure could backfire and hurt you.”

A tight fist closed around his lungs, cutting off his oxygen. “You’re going to send me away?”

“
No!” Garrison waved a hand. “Not at all. This is your home. It always will be. I want to start separating you and Amalie. Realistically, Isaiah, you need to make friends on the same mental wave length as yourself. Friends you can communicate with, have things in common with. Friends who can, in the future, become an asset to you. Amalie is my daughter, but I know she will pull you under if you hang on. It’s not good for her either. She’s not mentally ready for any sort of relationship which she proved. I don’t think she ever will be. This obsession she has with you needs to be channeled into a more structured environment.” He sighed. “I’m not making any sense.”

Isaiah was on his feet before he could stop himself. “No, you make perfect sense. You don’t want me around Amalie.”

Garrison shoved out of his seat as well, both hands out, palms up. “That isn’t what I’m saying at all, Isaiah. But this bond you two have, it’s unhealthy. It’s hurting her. She’s so wound up around you and seeing you and being with you that she can’t focus on anything else. I can’t help her if she doesn’t concentrate.” He paused, his face set. “You do want me to help her, don’t you?”

“
Of course!” Isaiah muttered tightly. “But I—”

“
Then you need to sever ties.”

Isaiah staggered back. His knees caught his chair and he tumbled into it. “What?”

Garrison took his own seat casually. “Not forever, just until I can undo what Julia did. Amalie needs to know that I’m not her enemy and I can’t do that if I have to compete for her attention. You said you wanted her to get better.”

“
I do!” Isaiah protested.

“
Then let her go. Let me take care of her!” He planted his palms down on the table and leaned in. His voice dropped. “I know you want to protect her, but right now, you’re the one hurting her. You have to trust me when I say I know what’s best for her and I would never do anything I didn’t think was absolutely necessary.”

Let Amalie go? He couldn’t let her go. He couldn’t even think of the possibility without feeling as though he was being suffocated. But if it was for her own good? If it would make her better? If it would help her? Could he let her go if it was for her?

“
Do you trust me, Isaiah?”

“
Yes.” The single word was a mere movement of lips incapable of speech.

Garrison beamed, leaning back. “I knew I could count on you.”

Numb. Broken. Cold…so freaking cold, Isaiah could only sit mute as his world shattered around him.

Garrison rose out of his chair and stalked around to stand behind him. He placed gentle hands on Isaiah’s shoulders. “You’re doing the right thing, Isaiah. You’ll see. This is exactly what Amalie needs. This will help her.” He gave a light squeeze and stepped back. “Now, what did you want to talk about?”

“
Nothing.”

Amalie

“
Amalie.”

Five year old feet ran towards the laughing voice. A tiny body draped in sunshine-yellow and white lace broke through planks of light pouring through gleaming windows, chubby arms outstretched.

Her mother, smiling, eyes bright with laughter, swooped down and snatched her up. She was lifted, twirled. Their combined laughter rolled through the corridors.

“
I love you, Amalie.”

“
Don’t leave!” Her voice was older, not fit for the fragile body still suspended in her mother’s arms.

“
I will never leave you.” Truth shone in the pools of blue so like Amalie’s. “I love you so much. So much,” she said again, squeezing Amalie a little too hard.

Amalie squeaked and the hold was instantly relaxed. She was set down on her feet.

“
I want to show you something.”

There was no reservation. Amalie took the hand her mother offered and trustingly let herself be led away from the main part of the house. The servants respectfully inclined their heads, eyes downcast, but no one stopped them. The guards remained rigid in their position. No one even paused to consider anything was wrong. Not even Amalie. Not even when they reached the threshold of the cellar and her mother opened the door to the vast blackness below.

“
Is the surprise down there?” Amalie asked.

“
Yes.”

One tiny hand curled around the banister and the other held firmly in her mother’s grasp, Amalie descended the steps.

“
Careful,” her mother said quietly from beside her. “We’re almost at the bottom.”

Darkness painted over her vision, engulfing her with a blanket of ice. A shiver claimed her small body. Her mother’s hand tightened around hers in comfort.

“
This way.”

She was turned right and propelled with great ease through the catacomb of old boxes, forgotten toys and other dust collectors. Things forgotten by time and people alike.

“
Daddy says we’re not allowed down here,” Amalie said, her voice no more than a whisper.

“
I know.” Her mother stopped. Amalie felt her stoop. Her mother’s warm breath caressed her cold cheeks. “Amalie.” Her mother’s hands were gentle touching her face, brushing back hairs. “My sweet little Amalie. I am so sorry.”

Amalie fumbled reaching for the hand cradling the side of her face, her sense of direction not as fluid as her mother’s. “Mommy?”

“
Shh, it’s all right.” Cool lips touched her brow. “I’m here.”

Without another word, her mother rose, took her hand once more and continued through the dank stench of rot, mold and sewage. Amalie stumbled along behind, no longer sure she wanted to venture into this strange place.