Part 21 (1/2)
”Well, we were all up,” she replied, ”and you were over there. This saves you telling the story four times, Sam.” She handed him a cup of coffee, already creamed. ”So?” she said, offering him a donut from the open box.
”I've got good news and bad news,” Sam Seligmann said. ”Which do you want first?” He took a sip of coffee, and a bite of his glazed donut.
”We know the good news,” Rina said. ”The cops arrested Jeff Buckley.”
”No. The good news is Nora Buckley woke up this morning, and she is absolutely fine, my dears. It's as if she's been sleeping for eight weeks.”
There was a collective shriek of delight from the a.s.sembled women, and their husbands smiled, nodding and looking pleased.
”So what's the bad news?” Rina asked.
”There is none,” Dr. Sam chuckled. ”Where is Heidi?”
”One of the young patrolmen got her into his car, and away to the station house before the news media started showing up. Rick and Joe went with her to make sure Jeff didn't bully her out of filing charges. She's hired them as her local counsel,” Rina told her husband, who, nodding, was already turning to Carla. ”Listen, Carla,” Sam said. ”I'd like you to go over to Sh.o.r.ecrest with me when I tell Nora. And bring your cell. There's no phone in her room, and she'll want to call the kids. I'll speak with them first with the news their mother is alright.”
”When is she getting out?” Rina, practical as ever, queried her husband.
”I told her tomorrow. I don't understand it. She shows absolutely no effects of lying unconscious in a bed for all those weeks. It's a miracle.”
”Let me bring her to my house today,” Carla begged. ”She must be frantic about the kids, Dr. Sam. Please!”
”Well,” the doctor considered, ”she is fine, and if she were anyone else, I'd say no, but why not? I'm just across the street if she should relapse. Alright, Carla, you can have her. Is an hour time enough for you? This is seriously big gossip, and I can guarantee it's all over town already. I don't want Nora to hear anything before I have a chance to speak to her. The shock could be very damaging.”
”Ten minutes is enough time for me,” Carla told him. ”I'll just run home and throw on some sweats, okay? What about Nora?”
She can come home in her hospital gown and coat. It's quicker, and will get her out of the media eye. Jeff was a big shot in town. They'll be all over this one. Girlfriend beaten up. Wife comes out of coma on same day. Husband arrested. Oh, yeah. This has Enquirer written all over it,” Dr. Sam said.
Carla was as good as her word. Dr. Sam came back from the Buckley house with a coat over his arm to find her sitting in his car, already belted.
”Let's ride, Clyde,” she told him.
He laughed and, tossing the coat in the backseat, got in next to her. He turned the key in the ignition and backed out of his drive.
”She's really okay?” Carla probed him as they drove.
”She's amazing,” he replied. ”I don't know what the h.e.l.l happened to her, and I don't know how she came out of it. But she did. And the entire time she appeared to be unconscious, her pulse and respiration were normal. It was more like sleeping.”
”It was a heck of a nap,” Carla said. She was just a little bit frightened by everything that had happened to Nora, yet it hadn't prevented her from visiting The Channel herself. And seeing Nora on her beach, switching men with her, and drinking with her at the pirates' inn was a trip.
They were almost at Sh.o.r.ecrest Nursing Facility. The car turned down Sh.o.r.e Road. The morning sun was sparking on the water to her right.
Dr. Sam parked the car, and they entered the lobby of Sh.o.r.ecrest.
”Ohh, Dr. Sam,” the receptionist at the desk said, ”I hear there was a hostage standoff in your neighborhood!”
”Just came from Ansley Court, Judy, and all's quiet there,” Sam Seligmann responded. ”Turn right,” he hissed at Carla. ”She's on the main floor. Room 112 at the end of the hall. Ah, here we are.” He knocked and then, opening the door, stepped inside. ”Nora, I'm back, and look who I brought with me.”
The two women hugged and sat down in the twin club chairs grinning at each other. They were sharing the most delicious secret.
”Listen, Nora, something has happened, sweetheart. I don't know how upset you're going to get over it, but . . .” He paused, trying to figure the most delicate way of saying it, but there just wasn't any. ”Jeff's been arrested for beating up his girlfriend. She's at the station house now pressing charges.”
”What?” Nora feigned shock. ”When? Where did this happen? OmiG.o.d, the kids! I have to call the kids!”
”I've got my cell with me,” Carla said, ”but wait, and hear Dr. Sam out.”
”The police think it happened during a bout of rough s.e.x. He's mad as h.e.l.l, of course, and threatening everyone,” Sam said.
”My G.o.d!” Nora said slowly as if she were having difficulty understanding.
”That poor girl.”
”I'm releasing you from the facility right now,” Dr. Sam continued. ”I'll drive you and Carla back to Ansley Court. This situation could generate some publicity given Jeff's position in Buckley, Coutts and Wickham.”
Nora began to laugh. ”They really are the most conservative of advertising firms. Blue-chip clients. Veddy proper. They weren't very happy with Jeff and Heidi and the divorce situation. That's how Rick was able to bargain for me. The one thing Messrs. Wickham and Coutts didn't want was a noisy, public divorce; this, however, will send them round the bend. A partner arrested for beating a female employee of the firm while his wife lay comatose! Poor old Jeff. How he looked to the world has always been so important to him.”
”You're staying with me,” Carla told her.
Nora stood up. ”Can we go now, Dr. Sam?” she said.
He nodded, and wrapped her coat about her. ”Shoes! Oy! I forgot shoes.”
”Bring the car around to the entrance, and it won't matter. These little paper slippers are really warm,” Nora said.
Dr. Sam tossed his car keys to Carla. ”You get it while I check Nora out,” he said.
Carla caught the keys and hurried out.
”You ready, Nora?” he said. ”There shouldn't be anyone in the lobby right now. It's still early.”
”I'm okay,” she told him.
At the desk in the lobby Dr. Sam signed all the necessary papers, and Nora signed where she was told. They heard a car horn beep, and knew Carla was waiting for them. Dr. Sam escorted his patient to the car and helped her into the backseat. Then he climbed into the front seat, letting Carla do the driving this time. After they pulled into the Johnsons' driveway, the doctor helped Nora from the car and into the house.
”You're okay?” he asked anxiously.
”Yes,” she said.
”Come on,” Carla said softly. ”We can talk inside.”
They went inside, where everyone was now waiting in Carla's living room. After the other women had hugged Nora and welcomed her home, Rina, Tiffany and Joanne left with their husbands, but not before Dr. Sam had checked Nora's pulse again. Satisfied, he suggested rest, and said he'd be back later in the afternoon. They went into the kitchen, where they found Rina had left a box of glazed Krispy Kremes and made coffee.
”Well, Rick,” Nora said quietly, sitting down and reaching for one of the donuts, ”what now? Do I sign the settlement agreement?”
”No,” he said. ”You're still legally his wife. Trust me when I tell you that Heidi Millar isn't going to back down. She hasn't just accused him of a.s.sault and battery. She's added rape to the charges. Says she came up to bed from watching the television, and he was hot to trot. She wasn't, told him so, said no, but he forced her anyway. Jeff is now in really serious trouble.”
”Everything's still in his name,” Nora said. ”What if she sues him for damages?”
”No judge or jury will award compensation to a woman having an affair with a man who has a wife, especially when the wife and children are as presentable as you and the kids are. And especially if the circ.u.mstances are made public.
”I gotta go to the office,” Rick Johnson said. ”You two going to be alright?”